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    8 Practical Tips For Staying Fit And Healthy Even If You Are A Busy Mother

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    There is no job description that is as life-altering as ‘mum’. Right from the day you welcome your patter of tiny feet, you program yourself to make them your top priority – their health, school, clothes and every other thing. In-between the endless nappy changes, homework help, cooking dinner for everyone, most women find themselves losing a grip of their fit lifestyle simply because the periods of the day that were initially used for this are now dedicated to the family and a preparation tactic for the next day. Combined with work, the occasional trips to the paediatrician, constant cleaning and adjusting to the tastes of your children, maintaining your health can become a struggle.

    The struggle can be even more challenging if as a woman you have a natural tendency to get overweight due to physical or emotional stress. In spite of all this, there is every opportunity to introduce several exercises and lifestyle changes, which ensure that a busy mom gets fit and learns with time to pay more attention to her personal health while juggling career and family responsibilities.

    We would list a few aspects that can be retouched to suit a mum’s schedule:

     

    1. Breakfast

    One time, you have it all together – the lettuce, veggies and fruits, and the next moment you are downing four doughnuts with a toddler on your hip because you forgot to eat breakfast. Many fitness women and nutritionists will tell you about the importance of not skipping breakfast. Your first meal sets the pace for your metabolism for that day, and it will determine how you tend to eat for that day. Starting out with lean proteins (broiled chicken or a Greek yoghurt helping) for the day can be the kick starter to the ‘staying fit’ milestone.

    Another thing you can consider is munching on fruits while scurrying about your homely duties. This can keep you sated and contribute to your fitness goals.

     

    1. Cravings – the sweet tooth

    Here the key is not cutting them out altogether but substituting them for healthy choices. Flavored fizzy-free drinks can substitute diet soda, tangerines or apples can go in for those gummy bears you like so much. It is quite understandable that most of us find a need to snack throughout the day; we might as well do it right even when we’re so busy.

     

    1. The food journal

    Literally, this would have implied you carrying a mini-note around, but with technology’s help, you can now make notes on your mobile device, so you don’t even have to worry about losing them. Some women reported this working for them during their pregnancy period, so it is worth a try.

     

    1. Get rid of leeches

    No, not the red slug-like creatures that are quite nasty to even look at – one of the few tips that help everyone and mostly mums involves cutting out extra activities that seem harmless but have a way of clogging up your day. From constant watching the TV in a bid to relax to constantly operating mobile gadgets, these ‘leeches’ cunningly take up most of our time. If you are a young mum and spend a lot of time on your college or university then you can use EssayVikings website to get all necessary help with your paperwork and save tons of your nerves. Make a list of things you tend to do the most, and fish out those taking up your time. This would not only help you focus on your goals, but also would be a sure nugget on how to stay energized.

     

    1. Late night snacking

    We always have that one favorite bowl of ice cream with extra toppings we want to enjoy when everyone is asleep, with a book or a late-night lottery draw. The challenge arises when this is a constant habit. The body’s metabolism rate is not as active during the night as it is during the day. A helpful piece of advice is substituting it for a low-calorie dessert, preferably one made by you; nuts, honey, low-calorie yogurt sound like a yummy idea.

     

    1. Exercises in ‘odd’ places

    The best thing about exercises is that they come in subtler ways than we imagine. This makes it easier to choose fitness tips for moms. Instead of taking the elevator, you can opt for taking the stairs; introduce a few squats while chatting with a bestie. Turn your work chair into a support system for a few simple workout routines during a coffee break. A few stretches while waiting for hubby to come back from work can go a long way in helping boost your metabolism.

     

    1. Water

    Cut down on the tea, coffee, juices – and go for water instead. Keeping yourself fully hydrated is one of the keynotes to make in your ‘fit for mom’ list. Water is a natural cleanser, and it also helps to keep you sated, helps digestion and leaves you feeling fresh and light.

     

    1. Family involvement

    Finally, what cuter and more practical way to get motivated than getting everyone in on the fun in keeping fit? Choose certain weekends to carry out some exciting, simple dance workouts to the tune of 80’s music. Staying healthy together boosts motivation – and you get one extra way to bond with the people you truly care about.

     


     

    About the Author:

    Emma Rundle is a professional writer. She enjoys writing about a wide range of topics, the family being one of the exciting ones. She loves skateboarding with her sons during weekends.

    What Startups Can Learn from Louis Vuitton’s Logo History

    Louis Vuitton is the French fashion house that broke its boundaries and became a worldwide luxury brand. The bag seems to be LV’s most iconic product. Did you know that LV or Louis Vuitton Malletier began as leather trunks and suitcases manufacturers? Its logo is as famous as its bags and clothing. So, below we analyze how a black-and-white monogram helped LV skyrocket. We will also see what startups can learn from this.

    The Louis Vuitton Logo

    LV logo is a monogram on black, white, yellow, pink, or blue which occasionally also includes the brand name. The logo may be part of the asymmetric model or featured a product label. Louis Vuitton is an active brand that manages to keep the luxury and casual clients together.

    The monogram doesn’t feature many adjustments, changes or updates. You can read more about Louis Vuitton logo history on LogoRealm.com. This helped it become highly recognizable to its potential clients and fashion enthusiasts. However, the company surprises through its marketing campaigns and product initiatives.

     

    1. Speak Your Name

    The first monogram canvas that is now visible on many LV bags was first used in 1896. This happened four years after the company founder died. The geometric monogram was placed on the case of a trunk bed designed by Italian Pierre Savorgnan Brazza. The case contained copper and zinc for higher quality.

    The first and foremost lesson of branding is to make your brand name as visible as possible. Make your logo part of a visible yet reliable. When you pay attention to context, your logo stands out as much as the overall product. Also, when presenting your products, make sure to include objects that increase its utility. A case placed under a truck bed is more useful than a case on a white background.

     

    2. Quality Makes You Trustworthy

    Your logo stands for all your products. This is a lesson that LV learned when it began creating products for the French elite. Awhile after, Coco Chanel, Hélène Rochas, as well as the Duck and Duchess of Windsor had cases in their homes. They supported the LV products thanks to their quality and reliability. Of course, they were also seen carrying them in public.

    Your clients make your brand visible through its logo. If you don’t compromise on quality, you will gain customers that might lift your brand power. The more durable your products are, the higher are the chances to have a more visible product and gain new clients.

    3. Develop Concepts

    The LV logo includes an artistic and symmetrical pattern that made some of its bags famous. This pattern was developed by Marc Jacobs as a protection from copycats. Ironically, Louis Vuitton is the most luxurious and counterfeited brand worldwide. So, it also became the most aggressive in fighting against copied versions. However, this fight integrates into a concept that became a statement of elegance.

    Don’t decide to fight for a cause and just fight it. Create a concept around every idea you have. Try to take it to an artistic level. You might create a product that becomes the symbol of your values and mission.

     

    4. Remain Constant

    The Louis Vuitton logo comes in two versions – as a simple monogram and a monogram that also include the brand name. For marketing purposes, the first choice is the most common and visible. Moreover, the font has never changed throughout the years. The typeface is inspired by Roman fonts. However, it is also simple enough to be elegant over the years.

    Brand consistency is necessary when you want people to remember and notice you. If you’re unsure about the strength of your logo over the years, decide on an element you won’t change. Make sure it is visible. This way, people will recognize you throughout the adjustments and corrections you might make.

    5. Make Challenging Partnerships

    The collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs boosted the brand even more as an accessible one. At the time, this artistic initiative was considered pioneering. Products became more colored and bags seemed a bit more affordable. Meanwhile, LV remained exclusive thanks to its all-leather products and background.

    Don’t be afraid to extend to another public category once your brand begins to rise. Even though this public might not be your regular one, it will see your products through the lens of your past. You can try to collaborate with innovative designers or professionals for a more insightful charm.

    Your brand is essential, together with your products and communication. Logos are the essential parts of visual branding. By exploring them accordingly, you also let them take you to your target. Pay attention to your logo and don’t be afraid to show it off, whenever you think it’s necessary!

    Images: 1, 2, 3.

    Benefits and Importance of Mobile Apps For Any Business

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    When mobile apps entered the market, they were a reserve of large businesses and corporations. However, this has changed rapidly in recent years. According to app developers India, smaller companies and businesses realize better returns and serve clients better using mobile apps. Understanding the benefits of Android apps can help you understand their importance.

     

    Visibility to clients at all times

    In the United States, the average mobile device user spends a minimum of two hours on their device every day. There are more than a billion smartphones globally. The fact that people spend more time on mobile devices than PCs is great for any business, as long as you match this shift by adjusting your marketing plan.

    When you have a mobile presence, your business will be exposed to a larger audience. Your logo, name, and image need to be seen when people unlock, scroll, and use their phone on the move.

     

    Direct marketing

    Mobile apps provide a lot of pertinent information to your business about your clients. For example, you receive geographic locations and demographics. An additional benefit is you can provide your customers with a lot of information about your services and products.

    Information may include, but not limited to, special rates, promotions, prices, new features, product specifications, and news feeds. A mobile app will give you the chance of meeting individual client needs by providing you with their preferences. According to top app development companies in India, apps have a high probability of growing your business.

    Provide value

    If you have a loyalty program you should try to digitize it through a mobile app. You can move to smartphone reward collection and do away with traditional methods. Clients are interested invaluable services and products. Since there are many outlets offering the same services or products, customers find it a challenge to make a decision. You can take advantage by creating a mobile app that nudges customers to your store.

    For instance, your app can have an area-sensitive push message. When clients are near your brick-and-mortar location, they get invited to your store using a notification. Potential shoppers will enter the store trying to see if you have anything they need. When they purchase an item, send them a thank-you notification. The move has been effective for many offline businesses.

     

    Brand recognition

    Whether you are starting a business or rebranding an existing one, a mobile app can assist you to enhance its recognition. App developers India discovered that creating an app with likable features will have a mesmerizing effect on potential and current clients. A functional app has more value than a billboard.

    Customer engagement

    Every customer needs a way to reach the service or product they want. If your business cannot be reached, you are likely to lose customers. Mobile apps have been found to be handy in enabling clients to reach a business. Creating a help desk on the app is helpful. App developers India say customers can use it to post complaints, comments, orders, questions, and even compliments.

    You will have a great customer engagement when you can reply to all the post from your clients. Make sure reordering and booking is as simple as possible. People are usually bored and discouraged when such processes are lengthy. Some may opt to click the “Cancel” button instead of the “Next” button.

     

    Stand out from the crowd

    It is a fact a mobile app will set any business apart from its competitors who do not have the same. Take advantage of the benefits of this marketing tool while your competitors are still trying to figure out how to get one. By the time your rivals notice the importance of an Android app, you will have grabbed the biggest market share.

    It is not important what you are selling. An app will ensure you lead among your peers. Your clients will see your services and products with a single touch of their phone’s screen. You need to capitalize on the fact that these apps are simple, fast, and easy to operate.

    Increase customer loyalty

    Do you know the number of clients who come back to your business for a second purchase? This is an important question and part of your business in need of cultivation. Customer loyalty is best achieved when they are reminded of your business and services or products you have.

    Currently, there is a lot of advertising noise out there. Examples include social media marketing, flyers, flashing signs, billboards, and so forth. Do you think adding your communication to these platforms is helpful? Your message risks getting forgotten or lost amidst all this noise. It is wise to re-think your marketing strategy. App developers India realized mobile apps offer a sincere and truthful connection between your clients and business. The fact that it is a fingertip away means increased loyalty and recognition.

    Make the app a social platform

    You can integrate your app with numerous social features. There is a study that has revealed a good number of people log into social media platforms to have an update on what their friends are up to. By incorporating this idea, people will catch up with their friends while seeing your brand.

    Features such as in-app photo-sharing capabilities, likes, comments, and messaging are examples of where to start. Furthermore, you can allow users to log in using social platforms like Twitter and Facebook. This approach is effective in increasing client retention, repeated sales, monetization, and customer engagement.

    Compliment your website

    Majority of marketers usually question the need for an app when they have a functional website. The fact is a mobile app will always complement a website’s capabilities. They work in tandem in that a website will attract potential clients while the app creates loyalty among existing customers.

    A website needs users to enter URLs of the website in browsers. An app only needs a single touch on the screen. With this in mind, a website is great for providing information and content such as photos, video, and copy. At the same time, it may lack the two-way communication that you find on apps.


    Conclusion

    It is wise to have a functional website before you get an app. Once you have potential customers, urge them to download your app. Follow by using the app to generate profitable opportunities. Create engagement by encouraging user interactions and reviews. App developers India and internationally agree this is a great way to ensure your business’s success.

    How to Easily Set Up a CDN to Speed up Images in WordPress

    Most websites contain images unless you’re Craiglist that is. And these images eat up a lot of bandwidth and slows down your site. You can optimize WordPress and minify JavaScript and CSS files all you want, but no other optimization technique has more of an impact than by reducing image sizes. And one of the most effective ways to make your images load faster is by using a CDN.

     

    What is a CDN?

    CDN or Content Delivery Network is a network of servers and data centers that are distributed globally. The main goal of CDN is to provide high-performance service with higher availability to end users.

     

    How to Easily Set Up a CDN to Serve Images in WordPress

    There are many ways to add CDN to a WordPress site. If you are looking for a complete CDN beyond just images, there are premium services for that. In this article, we will cover two ways to set up CDN for images on your WordPress site.

    Using Pull zone feature with Premium CDN Providers

    Step 1: Sign up a CDN Account with Pull Zone Feature

    There are so many CDN service providers for WordPress, such like MaxCDN and KeyCDN. Sign up for any CDN provider that supports Pull Zones. Pull zone is a way to use CDN where you don’t have to upload your files to CDN server. CDN will automatically copy all your files from your server and act as a mirror of your server. Every CDN provider has their own settings to set pull zone. So you may have to consult with your CDN provider in this case.

    Set up Pull Zone

    Once you set the pull zone, you get a URL to access your file which looks something like this.

    mk124.yourcdn.com/yoursite/

     

    Generally, when you upload a new image to WordPress, the normal URL will look like this:

     

    mysite.com/wp-content/uploads/image.jpg

     

    However, you will automatically have the same image on the CDN server too. You can access the same image using the CDN URL which looks something like this:

     

    mk124.yourcdn.com/yoursite/wp-content/uploads/image.jpg

     

    By using this new CDN URL link on your website in place of the original, you can make the images on your website load much faster.

    Step 2: Set your WordPress to automatically display files and images from CDN server.

    You can automatically get WordPress to modify the images’ URLs so they reference the CDN server’s version, simply by adding a few lines of code to your theme’s functions.php file.

    function my_cdn_upload_url() {
     return 'http://mk124.yourcdn.com/yoursite/wp-content/uploads';
     }
     add_filter( 'pre_option_upload_url_path', 'my_cdn_upload_url' );

     

    In the following code, you have to replace the CDN URL with your own. Once you save the function file, all your images will be served via the CDN server instead of your own. If you ever want to reverse the process then simply delete these code from the functions.php file.

    Free CDN using Jetpack Plugin Instead

    There is also a free solution to add CDN for images that exist for WordPress already. The solution is to use the Photon add-on by Jetpack plugin. Here are the three simple steps to do this:

    Step 1: First, install a popular plugin called Jetpack on your WordPress

    Step 2: Go to Jetpack > Settings, and then activate “photon”

    Step 3: Finally, you have to set up your site to access the CDN. You can do this by logging in or creating a WordPress.com account.

     

    Proton

     

    Just check the Photon option to enable it. That’s it! Photon is an add-on that comes with Jetpack and is considered a basic, pseudo-CDN. It will automatically cache and store all your images.

    You can also find some alternate free CDN services over at Cloudinary, CloudFlare and Incapsula.


     

    Conclusion

    CDN does not optimize or compress any image. If you upload a large size image it will still take a long time to load, even from a CDN, so make sure it’s properly sized. Form your end make sure you properly optimize the images before you even start thinking about CDN. We hope the article helped you with setting up CDN to serve images in WordPress.


     

    About the Author:

    This article was written by Jon Muller, founder of Ergonomic Trends and an avid technology enthusiast. Check out his popular 20-20-20 app to remind you to rest your eyes every 20 seconds while at work.

    Why Content is the Key to Increasing Leads and Conversions

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    If you’re frustrated because your marketing team is pumping out tons of content but sales isn’t using it, what is the solution? You know that content is important, especially if your company does a lot of business online, so then why are those well-researched eBooks and carefully crafted emails collecting virtual dust on your server?

    The answer often has to do with poor alignment between sales and marketing teams. Unfortunately, this tends to be a common issue in general, but it’s an especially obvious pain point when it comes to content marketing.

    Fortunately, the solution is simple: improve communication and get both teams on the same page. Sales have the pulse on prospect and customer needs; marketing has the messaging platform. Through collaboration and a continual feedback loop, it’s easy to start creating content your sales reps will actually use.

     

    Hold Regular Meetings Between Sales & Marketing

    This is by far the simplest action you can take that will have the most impact. Ask your sales department what they need. Ask for feedback about past, current and future content. Meet as often as you need to get feedback quickly, and keep in mind that the more feedback you receive, the easier it is to tweak your strategy and change your content to meet the needs of your sales team.

    Know What Type Of Content Your Customers Need Throughout Their Journey

    The type of content a generic lead requires, versus the type of content a high-level prospect about to sign on the dotted line needs, varies drastically. Both sales and marketing must understand your sales cycle and what leads, prospects and buyers need and expect from you in terms of content.

    Rein In The Promotional Content

    Yes, the ultimate goal of your content is to sell your product or service, but many buyers are turned off by a hard sell and overtly promotional content. Instead of “me, me, me” content, focus instead on content that says “you, you, you.” Get feedback from sales about common customer concerns and how they overcome them; use content marketing to answer those concerns and explain how your solution is the answer.

    Make It Easy For Sales To Find And Send Your Content

    A shared file system on a cloud server is usually the best setup as everyone will have access to the most recent content in real-time. Organize your content by persona and touchpoint within your sales cycle, and make it easy for sales to find and send content quickly.

    Only Create Content That Satisfies Your Goals

    A case study whitepaper that you spent $1,000 to create is only effective if it fulfills its intended purpose. If you expected sales to send it to 100 prospects every month, but your analytics are showing that the file was only downloaded 30 times, it’s important to figure out where the disconnect is. Are sales doing a poor job of promoting the content, or is the content itself not what prospects need or want at a particular point in their sales journey? This is why it’s so important to meet with sales and get continual feedback about your content.

    Publish On Platforms Where Your Target Audience Already Is

    It’s easy to think of content marketing as emails, web content and downloads, but savvy brands know that they can use a variety of content published in unexpected places to build authority and connect with potential customers. LinkedIn is an excellent source of leads and traffic as it has more than 400 million users across many industries. Your target audience is already on LinkedIn and likely looking for a solution just like the one you provide. Making sure you optimize your LinkedIn profile is the key to unlocking the opportunities gained through this versatile social media site.

    If you’re frustrated because sales aren’t using the content you work so hard to create, you need to get to the root cause of the issue. Partnering with a website management company can help you analyze your existing content strategy and make suggestions for improvement.

    What is an OBS – How to Use it for Live Streaming

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    Anybody who is connected to social media and uploads video has merely heard the word OBS, So what is an OBS. OBS stands for Open Broadcaster Software, The primary use of this software named as “OBS studio” is to stream live/prerecorded videos on social media.

    You can for sure directly go live on many social media sites and may think that if you can go live directly then whats the use of an OBS?. Well, OBS has many advantages, first of all, it gives you the facility of streaming your pre-recorded videos as live and secondly it lets you display “scenes” and change them during your live streaming. Now you must be wondering what is a scene over here?

    So, A scene can be text, image, prerecorded videos, Screen recording or a collection of all these on a single screen.

    How to use an OBS

    By now you must be wondering, how to use OBS. If you really want to learn, visit Answer Slave.

    What does an OBS do?

    1. OBS is used for Live streaming and real-time audio/video mixing
    2. By using OBS you can also mix audio with the intuitive audio mixer and it also gives you the choice of per-source filters such as noise gate, noise suppression, and gain.
    3. OBS let you add screen recording in between your videos or as a part of your video by providing a small space on the same screen.
    4. You can always Pause in between your live session and display a preselected banner or video to your audience during your break.
    5. Furthermore, OBS allows you to display screen recording to your audience during your live sessions and also allows to share your screen

    OBS Technically

    Technically, OBS is a Software that provides real-time source and device capture, broadcasting, encoding, recording, and scene composition. In OBS transmission of the data is done via the RTMP – Real Time Messaging Protocol and can be sent to any RTMP supporting destination, which includes few preset for streaming websites like youtube and facebooks.

    It is an Open source streaming and recording program distributed by the OBS project. The software is named as “OBS Studio”. This software has support for Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.10, Ubuntu 14.04 and later version of all.

    OBS Studio is capable of using the x264 free software library, Intel Quick Sync Video, Nvidia NVENCand the AMD Video Coding Engine to encode video streams into the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format and the H.265/HEVCformat

     


    Conclusion

    OBS is a free software compatible with windows, mac Linux which let you live stream videos with additional features on social media.

    7 Expert Tips On How to Write Captivating Content

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    Copywriting can be challenging and different from the normal writing style, but it is essential for improving a blog’s click-through-rate (CTR). If you want to improve your CTR, you need to learn the basic copywriting rules.

    What matters most, is your readiness to take the action required to get your readers attention. Do you want to write irresistible copy that makes your readers fall wildly in love with your products or posts?

    SEOGuestPosts presents seven most important copywriting tips that you can use to express yourself in your blog and hook your readers.

     

    1. Create Captivating Titles

    The title of content is the most important piece of copywriting. The truth is that you can have the best, most life-changing, amazing content and not get a single click. The defining and changing factor is your title.

    Your title inspires readers to see what you have to say. Or, it repels them.

    No one has the time to comb the net for relevant contents by reading them. All they need is to read the title and determine whether it is compelling enough for them to click. Thus, you need to make your title more compelling for improved CTR.

    For more information on writing headlines, check out the research performed by Buzzsumo on how to specifically craft headlines.

     

    2. Prioritize the First Paragraph

    After the title, your first paragraph is the most important. This is where you have to deliver fast and hook people to read further. The biggest mistake that you can make is to dive straight into the details without priming your reader.

    Take the first paragraph to drop the most important and most emotional information. For example, you will always see news sources that are reporting some horrible tragedy start their articles directly with the event. The reason being is that it gets readers emotional, it makes readers want to know how something like that happened and why it happened.

     

    3. Use Concise ParagraphsSEO Guest Post Stock Pencil Image

    If your paragraphs are succinct, your readers will quickly absorb your information even by scanning through it.

    A huge paragraph will distract people from paying attention to your content. This turnoff may defeat the essence of writing the post which is to pass information.

    Keep your paragraphs short at four lines max.

     

    4. Keep Your Sentence Simple

    The ideas that you have in your head only make sense to you. This means you have to make it as easy as possible for readers to comprehend what you are saying. The less mental RAM they have to spend trying to understand you, the better.

    Keep your sentence simple. Avoid unnecessary conjunctions or run-on sentences. Make sure that your content has only a subject per sentence.

    Keeping your sentences simple will help the readers comprehend your content better.

     

    5. Be Unique – Stop Regurgitating Content

    How will you feel if someone plagiarized your work and you read it? What will you think if your readers comment that you copied another person’s work? Will plagiarism affect your site reputation?

    People and search engines want unique articles. You will not rank well in plagiarized posts. In fact, it will bring your site reputation down among readers. Worse yet, your readers will lose trust in you if they see that you are just regurgitating old content.

    If you are going to say something, say it in a new light.

     

    6. Be Useful

    SEO Guest Posts Workshop Tools

    No one will read a post that is not useful. Give your audience a reason to read your post by giving them a compelling and useful title.

    People would prefer to read “5 tips on how to have a beautiful tourist experience in the United States” to “My experience in the United States.”

    Though, the two talk about the same theme but the former makes the title and post more useful to the readers.

     

    7. Insert a Call to Action

    Call-to-Action is one of the essential ways of improving your readers’ engagement. You can ask your readers a question and tell them to participate in a discussion.

    A simple call to action could improve your blog’s CTR.

    Follow these tips strictly and watch how your readers will appreciate your blog post. In fact, you would have an improved CTR.

    Finding Balance: SEO Vs. Web Design Trends

    With the rapidly growing market, every brand faces a new contender almost every day. Brand visibility becomes a top priority to keep the business afloat, and it all focuses on how potential customers perceive you and your company. This is where many CEOs begin investing in web design and SEO, in hopes of boosting their exposure. However, many are left wondering whether to use both, just one or the other, or which suits their product or service best. We are here to dispell these illusions, and prove that the perfect balance in using both Web design and SEO is not only possible but essential to customer returns and sales increase.

    Where does the divide start?

    It all begins with the user’s, or – your potential customer’s experience. Before you even begin to plan out how to present your brand online and which of the two strategies to use, you need to know your users. The user is a core factor dictating all other potential problems and solutions because people are visual beings, first and foremost. Those first few seconds on your website are crucial, so depending on how long they stay on, where they click, where they look… it will all give you an insight on what you’re doing wrong and where to improve.

    Time spent on your website dictates the conversion rate, referrals, return of investment, and even word-of-mouth advertising between the users themselves. This is why web design and SEO are meant to work together – where one will dominate, the other will fall back, and sometimes, they’ll have to be in balance. In the next few points we’ll show you which situation calls for one of the three solutions.

    Set your priorities straight

    Next, you want to be absolutely clear on what your priorities are. Yes, we discuss brand visibility here, but it drips into all other aspects that you find important for your business – the return of investment, testing for a new market, or expansion. Set some time aside to clearly define your goals for the company. Discuss with your team on how to get that goal and message across. Focus on determining your KPIs for those goals. Knowing your KPI will make it much easier to decide whether you need stronger design or better content.

    For example:

    • To increase the number of referrals, you’ll have to look into your link building and content quality, which considers SEO
    • To raise the average session time on your website, you’ll have to make the pages more user-friendly and easier to navigate, which falls on design

     

     

    Know what’s best for your product or services

    Another point we’d like to cover is the product or services your business offers. SEO and web design are merely the pathways between the two key points – the user and your product. The product itself plays a large role in balancing out the use of the two strategies. For example:

    If you specialize in retail, you’ll want to focus more on images, and a sleek design, keeping the SEO part oriented towards brief, creative descriptions and customer reviews, and not lengthy, blog-like entries that do nothing but sidetrack the user’s attention.

    Businesses offering, say, accounting services will expand on what retailers avoid – a blog for customers, with emphasis on informative texts and practical advice. Their design is sleek and simple as well, but with more emphasis on the business-like layout and fonts that will exude professionalism and hold certain gravity.

    Check out the competition

    Studying your competition is also a good way to know what you did wrong or right, and what to improve on. But this should go beyond just visiting the website on your own. Pick the most prolific contenders of your niche and those who aren’t doing so well. If you have both SEO and design professionals on your team, rally them up and go through the websites together. Sign up for their newsletters, read their user reviews, see where they rank in Google analytics and study their SEO strategy.

    The benefits come not from trying to beat the competition, but in learning from it. More often than not, seeing how they solved design layout or content-related problems will help you with your own dilemmas. This is a learning process which undoubtedly makes you into a better contender in the market.

     

    Get a focus group – experiment try out new designs and different layouts

    Along with the previous point, you’ll also do much better if you actually make a focus group, depending on the demographic you chose. Experts advise making it a little more challenging, by expanding the demographics of the focus group, to see how your brand exposure appeals to other users, regardless of their (dis)interest in it. Try out several different layouts: go SEO heavy, with blog posts, descriptions, user reviews, then try a more visually oriented approach. Have questionnaires ready and track the feedback.

    Trial and error is perhaps the best way to find the perfect balance between flawless SEO and impressive web design features. However, there’s no universal formula that can be applied to any product or business. It all needs to be custom made by your team, for your website. However, there are certain points that you can’t go wrong with: use clear call-to-action buttons, most relevant products always displayed on the landing page and clear navigational tools with your design. When it comes to SEO, employing catchy, personalized descriptions or phrases will make the user feel welcome, while a customer review page will make them more adamant to purchase a product.

     

    Content management system

    Lastly, we’d like to mention the importance of choosing the right content management system. Quality web design is pricey, and you won’t always be able to afford to refurbish your website when a newer brand appears. Content management systems are different types of software that help you easily update content to stay on top of search engines. They make it less pricey and more layman-friendly to update the site with fresh new content, give access to HTML and use text editors for quick updates on website changes.

    WordPress is a no-brainer for most. But the young up-and-comers of the branch include Wix, with dozens of different layouts depending on the business, Squarespace, Concrete5, and Joomla, to just name a few.

     


    Conclusion

    In the battle between SEO and web design, one is not necessarily better than the other. They both serve different purposes, and in the right hands, and after a lot of research, they immensely boost the brand’s visibility together. By creating a focus group, trying out different layouts, knowing what your company goal is, and how you want the brand to come across to users, you will have studied both web design and SEO essentials closely enough to be able to confidently decide the kind of user experience you’ll provide.

    Benefits of Shopping Online – Online Shopping Vs. Offline Shopping

    With the digital era, people have almost forgotten that offline shopping is a thing. The growth of e-commerce has made shopping with offers online a trend that is here to stay for a long time. Offers online is something we have all used at some point, even with our Uber rides.

    So, I am here to reinstate why online shopping is here to not just stay but grow.

    Online Shopping works like a magic wand

    How?

    Time Saver

    Nobody wants to stand in long lines to buy their things anymore or even avail offers. Online Offers are not that attractive is we have to spend time in encashing them.

    Online shopping facilitates the marketing strategy of online perks. Because it saves a human time and gives your customers motivation to go after what they want in your business.

    Online shopping perks are something every large and small scale business has implemented in their marketing strategy because marketing analyst has tested and tried these gimmicks.

     

    Happiness in Online Shopping

    One of the most adherent things customers identify with online shopping is sharing it with their friends and family. I personally have shared online gift cards with my peers. Because of its something personal at the end of the day.

    What does the business gain out of online sharing? It gives you cost effective mass promotion through your online shopping offers.

     

    Cost Comparison Options

    If you are going to go to the store directly then I am sure you would have to buy the product off the shelf. But who does that nowadays when we want to make sure we are getting the best deal on non-bargain stores.

    I can’t bargain at Macy’s but I can compare the price of the product with other stores to know if I am buying it at the best bargain possible. That is what online shopping gives you. It gives you cost effective options to choose from.

     

    Delivery is no longer a problem

    have you tried to go and buy something that has taken the life out of you carry back home?

    Online shopping does not burden you with shipping. Some stores have free shipping too. So delivery of your purchase is now to your doorstep. Convenience and uncompromised quality is a parallel set up for online shopping offers.

     

    Online Shopping means you get reviewed quality

    I would not buy something, that I have not seen a proper review for. Why? because it is good shopping sense to know what I am buying.

    Online shopping gives you the review section that helps you interact with real-time buyers of the product you are looking to add to cart. Understanding the need for online reviews has revolutionized how digital marketing strategy works.

     

    Refund Policies are easy Online 

    refund policies online are easy, and they deliver to their name. To the point nowadays businesses give you no questions asked a refund and return policies on spot of delivery.

    Then why would you even spend the fuel and energy to drive down somewhere to return a faulty product?

     

    Online perks boost sales 

    Coupons, discounts, loyalty cards, gift cards, cash back offers are all marketing strategies have worked very well in the past. Digital marketing has changed rapidly and these perks have positively boosted sales growth for businesses.

    Customers are proven to have shown greater interest in sharing these perks giving businesses the upper edge of mass promotion.

     

    Online Shopping & Mode of Payments 

    Remember the cash only stores? Yes well, those days are long gone. Online Shopping gives you the convenience of making your payments right from your card or even on cash on delivery.

    You are no longer dependent on store rules of modes of payments for purchases.

     

    Privacy in Online Shopping

    If you are looking to buy something discreetly then Online Shopping is the only way you can. Because let us be honest, some of us may find it a little embarrassing buying a sex toy openly.

    Online shopping maintains your privacy in purchase very importantly. Your privacy matters to the survival of online shopping industries.

     


     

    EndNote 

    Online Shopping and offers are one of the most used and yet untarnished marketing strategies that are a sure cut result to boost sales.

    It has worked because it adopts the basics of marketing theories. Give people reasons to come back and they will. So, go ahead and use them to your will to boost your business sales growth.

    9 Time Management Tips to Organize Your Life

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    When was the last time you’ve slept for eight hours and the next day to have some spare time? As time management apps and tools continue to rise, it seems that this task is the most difficult among us. We optimize our work as much as possible. Yet, we are constantly busy and unable to complete all our responsibilities.

     

    Undoubtedly, time is of the essence for productivity and success. We have compiled 9 updated and thorough tips from business professionals and productivity experts. The below list outlines the changes that your schedule might need to fully optimize.

     

    1. Get a Calendar

    The most efficient way to track your time for work is by using a calendar. If you make a habit out of checking your calendar, you will constantly know if you’re available for a meeting or event. Calendars should not require opening time, as digital tools do. Print a calendar 2018 and mark the days when you are off duty, busy with meetings or when you should work on a specific project!

     

    2. Make Your Goals Smart

    Goal settings fail so many times. Experts claim that this is due to unrealistic goals and purposes. Since it’s 2018, you should make your goals smart. Do you know what smart stand for? The acronym appeared back in 1981, but it highly used by businessmen today. So, your goals need to be:

    • Specific
    • Measurable
    • Achievable
    • Relevant
    • Time-based.

     

    3. Evaluate Yourself

    The most efficient way to optimize your time is to evaluate it weekly. Record the time you spend daily completing a specific task. Monitor your timing and set up a 30-minutes weekly session and see how much time you spend working on new and recurrent tasks and try to minimize it. Once a session is completed, minimize your time for a task with 10 minutes. Then, continue minimizing until you have reached your speed limit without creating pressure.

     

    4. Place Tasks Before Emails

    According to experts, the most productive hours of the day are between 9 and 11 AM. Meanwhile, the lowest productivity is recorded around 2:55 PM, after lunch. Complete high priority tasks and the ones that last less than 5 minutes to solve before embracing in a trip to your inbox. Checking and responding emails requires time that you can use to solve other tasks faster. Also, by emailing after you complete urgent tasks, you create a boundary between them and more complex business responsibilities.

     

    5. Assign Timing

    Once you begin those complex tasks, make sure you assign yourself a timing to complete them. Knowing how much time you can spend on a task motivates you to keep your schedule and avoid any distractions that may come along the way. However, timing needs to be realistic. Don’t set an hour for a task that lasts double than that, just because you have many tasks to cover. Prioritize your work, to obtain the best timing for your projects.

    6. Schedule Your Breaks

    According to a business study, you should take a 17-minute break for every 52 minutes of your work. Entrepreneurs usually miss out these breaks these occasions, due to the amount of work. However, you should take frequent breaks away from your laptop, smartphone or any other screen. You can take a walk or breath some fresh air. By scheduling breaks, you manage to monitor them, and you avoid prolonging the time you need for work.

     

    7. Plan Your Days Ahead

    End your working day by planning the next one. When you keep track of your future activity, you can manage your time and assign priorities easier. Consequently, you save time the next morning and make appropriate use of the least productive hours of the day. Make sure you also include breaks and the minutes you need to respond to emails.

     

    8. Declutter Your Desk

    Time management requires organizing skills. Before beginning your week of work, make sure you clean your desk and place all documents in the right order. A messy desk might make work difficult, as you’ll spend time finding paper to write notes on. Also, you might fail to see essential information, because there is a document which hides your agenda. Scenarios as the above can continue, but they can also be avoided.

     

    9. Disconnect

    Procrastination was a trendy word, a few years ago. It seems that today social media is the most common distraction you can encounter. Make sure you turn off the networks and websites you are logged on, before you begin work. Avoid checking notifications regularly, to avoid spending more time than planned on a break. Also, you can assign special breaks for social media and log on by following a time limit.

     


    Wrapping Up

    Time management is difficult for both your personal and professional life. By pursuing the above tips and making habits out of them, you can easily evaluate and improve your work. However, your schedule should also include a small amount of spare time for potential emergencies.

    Improve your time as much as possible. Then, audit yourself and develop new product strategies for your future activity. At the end of the day, you might notice that time management leads to productivity, motivation, and success!

    Images: 1, 2.