Category: Insights

E-commerce and AI
Insights

The Importance Of Digital Marketing For A Small Business

on March 2, 2021

In the past few decades, small entrepreneurs never got a chance to compete in the market. From budget limitations to the lack of resources – big businesses always had a monopoly. After all, the only way to grab audiences’ attention was by spending heaps of money on television commercials and billboards. Unsurprisingly, this wasn’t possible for small businesses, but things are changing in the 21st century – all thanks to technological advancements.

The emergence of digital media and smartphones is changing how people engage, interact, and shop. Social media forums are letting brands build business profiles, while search engines open doors to a whole new online advertisement world. Earlier, online marketing was a different way to promote products, but now it has become inevitable for businesses.

Digital marketing lays a foundation on which entrepreneurs build their presence. It establishes their position in communities and niches, creating brand awareness amongst audiences without costing a fortune. In short, it is an opportunity for small businesses to become a part of the industry and win their market share by breaking monopolies.

However, now digital marketing is beyond running ads or having a website. It is more about leveraging tech-savvy tools and analytics to conduct market research and gain an edge over competitors. And your failure to acknowledge its significance can drive you out of the competition. Let us look at the importance of digital marketing and why your small business needs it to grow and thrive.

1. BUILDS BRAND RECOGNITION

These days, it is quite impossible to attract customers by sending out pamphlets and business cards. Since people have a strong presence on online platforms, they expect the same from every small brick and mortar business. Therefore, focus on building brand recognition by exhibiting your presence across multiple marketing channels. Are you clueless about it? Have a look at this marketing guide and learn the ropes.

Firstly, create business profiles on the search engine, social media, and other digital tools. Use the power of content marketing to spread your brand message across. Consistent branding across multiple networks reflects a positive brand image. Remember, customers have a plethora of options in the online world. If they didn’t find your brand, it would take them two minutes to find a substitute and switch. Hence, utilize social media – Facebook, Instagram, etc. to build brand recognition amongst audiences. A great idea is to hire a professional video production company like Signature Video Group and make videos that will promote your brand or your get you noticed by potential customers.

2. TARGETS RIGHT AUDIENCES

When it comes to running a billboard campaign, brands have some target audience in mind. Unfortunately, you don’t have any control over whether that target audience would see the advertisement or not. Amongst the million benefits of digital marketing, targeting the right audience is likely to be the best one. It lets you break clusters into small and focused groups while allowing you to engage with them.

You can run a survey, start a conversation under the comment section, and offer customers solutions. For running advertisements, select demographics – age, gender, location, religion, and interests to connect with potential customers. If you have a women’s apparel brand, the target audience will be mostly women aging 18 to 45 years or above active online shoppers. It helps you reach out to people who have a keen interest in your product offerings, boosting sales and profits.

3. EASY TO SCALE & ADAPT

Every marketing campaign requires initial investment to get the traffic flowing, but surprisingly, this is not how digital marketing works. It doesn’t cost a dime to create a business profile on any social forum, nor you have to spend any money on forming community groups. Only social campaigns, advertisements, and sponsored posts cost you a few bucks. You can choose a daily budget, which can be as low as $1, and schedule the ad.

Similarly, if you see the ad doing well instead of renegotiating the deal, you can keep the ad running by increasing your budget. All these marketing campaigns provide instant results. From the number of people who clicked on your ad to possible conversions – you can analyze data and make informed decisions. The significance of digital marketing to small business becomes more prominent when you recognize how simple it is to grow business online.

4. LEARN FROM COMPETITION

Believe it or not, audiences turn to brands that offer discounts, initiate trends, and provide reliable customer service. Therefore, if you want to win an edge, adopt a different perspective towards your competitors. Instead of seeing them as someone you want to beat, look up to them as a learning opportunity. Are they using content marketing? What is their mode of communication with clients?

With the help of digital marketing, you can find answers to all these questions. Feel free to surf through their website, blogs, and social media pages to track their performance. It will make you apprehend how actively they respond to changing tastes while fostering interactions with customers. Remember, the aim is not to copy your competitors but to learn from their mistakes.

5. PROVIDES REAL-TIME CUSTOMER SERVICE

With utmost reliance on the digital world, customers need support at every step of their buying journey. Alongside providing contact details or email address, use savvy tools to provide real-time customer service. You can hire customer support representatives to assist your social media followers. They would collect responses, answer queries, and take feedback from customers. After all, customer satisfaction is a critical point in establishing an outright market presence.

Moreover, you can also leverage artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning to streamline customer support. It uses human intelligence to provide human-like responses for answering customer queries. It means bots will be catering to queries and helping people make purchase decisions. Although you can integrate AI with social profiles, consider adding live chat options on your website. It will help visitors find products while instantly getting answers to their questions, boosting sales.

6. ENGAGES CUSTOMERS

Unlike conventional practices, digital marketing offers two-way communication. Brands get to promote, and customers respond with comments and feedback. As a result, the online audience has a lot of power in their hands. In addition to promotions, small businesses have to focus on building relationships with clients. If you are wondering how? Have a look below.

i. Initiate conversations on social platforms. You can start a Q&A session through live video to learn more about your potential customers.

ii. If you are bringing a new product, use online polls to get an idea about what customers want.

iii. Run surveys to get honest feedback and reviews of your customers.

Iv. Create online quizzes to learn more about visitors.

Unsurprisingly, customers appreciate the attention and prompt replies. They are more willing to trust a business when they get honest answers to their questions. Thus, interact and engage with them on a personal level to establish brand loyalty.

7. OFFERS A PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE

Earlier marketing was more about trial and error. Marketers were devising campaigns by following their gut and instinct, but everything has a reason in this digital era. Customers are feeding businesses information round the clock by signing up for newsletters and filling questionnaires. As a result, they await brands to treat them as individuals. Fortunately, digital marketing lets businesses segment markets and offers a personalized experience to customers.

In addition to generating leads, you can use this as your unique selling proposition. If you use email marketing, personalize emails by adding the first name of every customer. Likewise, recognize customers on individual levels – understand their preference, check their purchase history, and customize ads for them. For instance, if a visitor has abandoned his cart, send an ‘email’ with a special discount offer, or remind them of their cart. You can also send an online SMS, as mobile marketing is an extremely effective channel.

8. EXPANDS CUSTOMER OUTREACH

Every business wishes to expand globally, but would that be possible with a store in one corner of the city. Your offerings and services should be for the people of that region and the people around the world. It can put your business on a global forum where people from all around the world can shop from your brand. After all, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon are all international forums accessible by everyone.

If expansion is on your bucket list, devise a digital globalization strategy. Before stepping overseas, concentrate on local expansion by making your products and services available nationwide. Similarly, use social media to set demographics of another country and start promoting. Join hands with a reputable logistics company and cherish your versatile customer base.

9. ENJOY HIGHER ROI

Digital marketing offers a higher return on investment (ROI) than any other type of marketing. It is an ideal opportunity for small businesses to make the most out of a limited marketing budget. Let us unwind the returns of every campaign one by one.

i. Email marketing offers the peak ROI since it works like a conversion machine. Build an email list with quality subscribers and deliver high-quality content.

ii. Content marketing generates three times more leads than television commercials or any other traditional marketing campaign. Alongside website traffic, it brings buyers to your website.

iii. Social media establishes brand image and turns leads into potential customers.

While operating a small business, you have to ensure budget-friendliness. Learn how to stretch every dollar as you grow your brand because each cent counts. Understand the costs and see whether it would provide you with a sufficient ROI.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As a small business holder, you would have multiple questions regarding the benefits of digital marketing. From increasing customer outreach, developing brand image, improving customer service to saving money – digital marketing provides a pathway to success. Hence, look for smaller ways to jump into it. Create a social media account, list your business on Google, develop a web page, and see its impact on your business. With all these overwhelming benefits, what is stopping you from marketing your business online?

AUTHOR BIO:

Danish Mehmood is a senior SEO strategist at a web development and digital marketing agency based in Orlando, FL. He is passionate about digital marketing and loves to analyze the SEO industry in his spare time and stay in touch with the latest happenings. Connect with him at @InboundDM on Twitter and on LinkedIn. 

Insights

Benefits Of Marketing Technology For Small Businesses

on March 1, 2021

An increasing number of people are venturing into the business world. The idea of owning a small business is gaining acceptance. E-companies are replacing brick and mortar firms, and many people are taking benefits of technology and turning their ideas into reality. People running small businesses have their limitations as they do not have the liberty to spend a lot of money, and they need to be vigilant about their expenses. Moreover, businesses do not start churning out profit overnight, and entrepreneurs have to put in earnest efforts and long working hours before seeing fruitful results.

Marketing is a crucial element of running a company, and in this fierce competition of the business world, small companies have to fight tooth and nail to make a name for themselves. Today, people have excess options, and small businesses have to indulge in extensive marketing to make their presence known. Small companies cannot dedicate a large sum of money to marketing, as they have a limited budget. Marketing technology, commonly referred to as Martech, applies to all initiatives, channels, and tools that harness technology to achieve marketing objectives. Small businesses can use Martech and change the game for themselves.

The following are some of the benefits of marketing technology for small businesses:

  1. Higher Conversion Rates

Irrespective of your niche, every small business’s motive is to generate more sales and earn more revenue. Conversion rate tells you about the percentage of visitors that visited your website and took the desired action. Digital marketing enables a small business to achieve higher conversion rates in less duration. Marketing technology helps generate leads and get higher sales through a proper sales funnel.

Small business owners can be innovative with their strategies and try different digital marketing methods to boost conversion rates. Blogging is an effective way of luring customers into purchasing on your website. Unique and informative content on blogs can hike up conversion rates and make a small business successful. Companies can use online tools to view blogging stats, determine keywords and sites ranking high on SERPs, and develop content accordingly.

  • Increased Brand Visibility

Small businesses often struggle in establishing a strong brand identity as other big fish often dominate the space. Digital marketing can help to increase small businesses’ visibility online and enhance their reach. Making people aware that your brand exists is the first step that exposes them to your products and services. The effective use of Martech succeeds in igniting interest in the audience to check out your products. Increased brand visibility can put a small company parallel to big fish in the market by exposing them to the same target audience. Or even more, if you’re offering additional value.

  • Better Customer Experience

Strong customer bonds are the key to success, and Martech has helped companies give their customers enriching experiences. Martech has introduced multiple channels that enable companies to reach their customers and gain insights into their experiences. Customers can use channels like email, social media, or company websites to contact brands for their queries, and brands can use this as an opportunity to strengthen their bonds with them.

Good customer service turns customers into a marketing tool, as they recommend your brand in their social circle leading to widespread word-of-mouth marketing. And we all know that WoM and positive referrals are excellent!

  • Enhanced Business Relationships

Businesses can run on their own, but in the modern world, survival without taking other businesses’ support means an extra load of work. Today, entrepreneurs can have a computer and a robust Internet connection, and they can search for like-minded people for their companies. Martech supports small businesses in establishing strong business relationships, and they can also take advantage of technological tools to enhance existing bonds.

Supposedly, as a retailer, you can search for companies that provide coupon codes and collaborate with them. This way, you can give discounts to your customers. The win-win strategy has always benefitted businesses, and Martech provides business owners with multiple opportunities to devise a win-win plan.

  • Automated Marketing

One of the best advantages of applying marketing technology to a small business is automation. Small companies can now take a backseat and let technology handle their marketing. This includes collecting data and running highly targeted ad campaigns.

  • Easy Access

We live in a technologically advanced world. People prefer staying in their homes and browsing options without stepping out. Online shoppers make up a considerable percentage of today’s customer base, and through Martech, small businesses give them easy access to products online. Advanced technology makes small companies more accessible and helps them attract more people.  

  • Accurate Measurements

Business owners have to face difficulties in taking precise measurements of their marketing efforts, which primarily affects their budgets and marketing strategies. Marketing technology has enabled small business owners to integrate software and other tools, giving them accurate measurements of their marketing KPIs and strategy. Key matrices and other tools are significant in measuring effectiveness, and in the light of these measurements, small business owners can devise their different techniques. Besides, it helps business owners to stay aware of the outcomes of their marketing endeavors precisely.

Conclusion

Technology has become essential for small businesses to survive in today’s cut-throat competition. Marketing technology is robust, and small business owners can use advanced technical tools and channels to put their companies ahead of their competitors.

Insights

8 Ways Manufacturers Can Reduce Industrial Energy Consumption

on February 22, 2021

The industrial sector (manufacturing, agriculture, construction, mining, oil and gas industry and similar) is responsible for nearly one-third of all energy usage in the world. Only in the U.S., these facilities spend around $200 billion every year to stay powered, and they waste nearly 30% of all energy they require. All in all, they produce a lot of unnecessary energy waste. So how much energy is actually used for powering big plants? Much less than you think since a lot of energy escapes through leaky compressors, outdated equipment and other energy guzzlers. So how can manufacturers reduce their energy needs?

Infographic created by Resource Energy Solutions, a well management software company

 

Creating Energy Management Teams

One of the main reasons companies don’t achieve good energy saving is because they don’t know which sector is responsible for energy management. If a manufacturer decides to create an energy management team, they will monitor energy usage in an efficient way and implement ways to reduce waste. 

Conducting energy audits

Energy audits that employ professional help from energy specialists can quantify how much energy each department is consuming and identify peak consumption times from month to month. Audits also offer recommendations on best energy efficiency upgrades that provide users with the best ROI. 

Updating the equipment

The equipment also plays a big part in the energy efficiency puzzle. No matter how many computers and analysts a company has on its side, no industry can achieve necessary efficiency without investing in new-generation equipment. Every manufacturer should take note from oil and gas giants who have been working on energy consumption reduction by investing in efficient machines, tools and other equipment. Even small changes like more effective butterfly valves can result in the improvement of output and lower downtime, both of which can reduce energy consumption. 

Using AI

Every industry has certain key processes that can’t be changed. However, the way they are conducted and the waste they leave behind can be cut with the use of big analytics and AI-driven forecasting. This move can improve the efficiency of processes and improve machinery use from 60-70%m, which is something most equipment scores, to 100% as it should be. 

Automating important processes

Artificial intelligence can help with data analysis, but it can also take direct control of certain processes. Infrastructure laid out by the Internet of Things, in the combination with recent breakthroughs in the field, can soon bring us fully automated, safe and energy-efficient manufacturing processes. In some industries, humans will mostly be responsible for maintenance duties. 

Studying machinery energy consumption

The data collected by the Energy Management Teams and energy audits can tell the manufacturer with machinery uses the most energy to operate. If possible, companies can schedule operation of these machines outside of peak hours which can reduce costs and unburden the electric network.   

Switching to sustainable energy sources

Various production processes often require the use of heavy machines that use a lot of power to run. One of the easiest ways to reduce waste and make any industry more efficient and green is to find green ways to power these giants. Many industries and their biggest polluters already invested a lot of money into clean energy projects giving the entire world hope that we will one day be able to forget about nonrenewable sources.

Engaging in recycling

While recycling is still on the margins of many industries, it has the potential to change them from the core. For instance, the oil market is estimated to reach a waste amount of US$ 13,806.2 million by 2026. So, many of the big players are repurposing some of their infrastructure to recycling instead of extraction. In many cases, recycling requires less energy than the extraction of resources and production of new materials and products, plus it reduces overall output while keeping the industry viable thanks to a new source of revenue. 

Due to growing energy demand, diverse energy sources and diverse user needs, many industries are facing energy consumption challenges. Some challenges manufacturers face are also of the legislative nature, concerning regulatory and legislative activity intended to minimize environmental impact from energy use. Many countries are further exploring laws that aim to reduce pollution, energy waste and gas emission. Industries all over the world are asking their bigger consumers to provide energy consumption reports. Still, we have a long way to go to fix the damage we’ve caused to the environment due to our reckless energy consumption. But, hopefully, the future is bright and filled with responsible energy consumers. 

Artificial Intelligence and Test Management Tools
Insights

Artificial Intelligence and Test Management Tools

on February 19, 2021

Artificial intelligence has changed software testing and it continues to improve the processes involved in the software development and testing lifecycle. The success of any product majorly relies on the customer and during the software development process, testers need to ensure their products earn customer satisfaction. Similarly, the use of AI bots in software testing is necessary. Software testing is essential in the software development lifecycle. It helps in identifying any issues in the software that could affect the business or the application of the software in the near future. 

Due to the new software technology that simplifies how large data is collected and analyzed, it is possible to mine software defect data from past releases and exploit the data to improve your organization’s software development testing practices and while using the test management tools. This approach employs artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, that allow teams to make better and more intelligent testing decisions right from the start. 

AI helps in the identification of complex areas of companies. Software testing is essential during the product development lifecycle. When developers lack the time and resources to ensure exhaustive testing of the software apps, QA aids in detecting areas within a QA process that requires attention. Generally, software testing is a time-consuming process, for this reason, AI aids in speeding up software testing as all the processes are automated. 

Another way AI is changing software testing and testing management systems is that it does not require too many human efforts since AI is used to detect issues and defects, thus speeding up the QA process. It simplifies the software testing process. Software developers work with huge amounts of data and testing scripts. AI utilizes sophisticated algorithms that can analyze large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. It also improves the accuracy of the test management tools. AI eliminates the need for guesswork and developers can get a hang of what needs to be changed as the defects in the software app need to be detected and developers need to be provided with complete information on where testing is required and where they need to make a change. 

While conducting manual testing, AI will reduce the number of bugs. Although it is not an easy process, software testing is important to ensure they are detected and eliminated before the software reaches the QA stage. Typically, bugs enter the program undetected, but with the help of AI, software developers get to know when the bugs enter the program, how and where they came from. AI is also capable of testing for bugs and identifying errors that developers can use to improve the code. Testers can use the information AI generates to find out whether more coding is required to protect the program against the bugs. This way, bugs can be eliminated during the software development process.  

AI has given birth to automating the software testing processes. The lack of time during the software development process makes the developers push software apps to the market without testing them thoroughly at each stage. This is how the users end up with software that is full of errors and mistakes. The budget also becomes an issue in the software testing process. Since software testing is a repetitive process where each application needs to be evaluated at every phase, and repetitive manual testing is time-consuming. AI uses a set of algorithms to analyze software functions and identify errors through automated testing, thus minimizing the pain of repetitive testing tasks to improve accuracy. 

AI improves the test capabilities. As testing needs to be done at each stage of the development process, manual testers may find it challenging due to the stress associated with each test. When AI is combined with machine learning (ML) it helps in generating test data where testers can feed the data into an AI machine allowing it to perform different tests are each stage without the need for manual testing, thus improving reliability and the security of the software application. 

Conclusion 

Artificial intelligence is dominating each area of our daily lives. AI has found its way into the software development process. AI has changed software testing and it continues to improve the testing processes are still to adopt AI within their practices of software testing. There is no doubt that AI is here to stay. With the help of AI, QA teams can save time by using an optimized test list that provides a complete test suite with the necessary test management tools. 

InsightsProducts

Best Wix influencer tools

on February 16, 2021

OSI Wix Affiliate Software

The first one on our list is the OSI affiliate software that can help you with a lot of the stuff. If you are looking for affiliate marketing software that can help you manage the referral programs and help view with other promotions and marketing, this might be the one. It will help you with better promotions using the influences and make your brand more visible to the customers. That will help you find out the best products for the customers using the email server process, and it will also provide you with the landing page templates available. Isn’t it the best? We would recommend it to be one of the best Wix influencer tools that you can find because of its excellent services and features. It will help you with the basics and the complex promo code tracking features and for social media sharing as well.

Growth Hero

Growth hero is another one of the affiliate applications that is counted as the top-rated software. You must be wondering what it offers? Well, it will help you with affiliate marketing and with referral programs. Moreover, it will also provide your help with multi-level marketing on social media platforms and creating a network. The seamless setup and improving features of this affiliate software will make it an even better choice for businesses such as Drum Set Lab.

Advocately

Advocately, it will help you increase your sales and make the profit more effective and faster. This is the tool that will help the customers and especially the businesses to create more customers. Moreover, it will help you with collecting the reviews regarding the customer in no time. The tracking and responding process have become a lot easier with this software. It will also assist with the Search Engine Optimisation ranking that has tremendously helped Hunting Bow Lab gain a competitive advantage.

Bamboo referral program

This bamboo referral program is another application that is considered one of the best Wix influencer tools you can use. For better marketing and better influencer actions, you can get this tool. It will not only help you with networking and social media promotion, but it will also help you with the referral programs and cracking the promo codes available. All this application is an excellent choice for people who are looking to promote their website. It is an application that will help you with getting more referrals in no time.

Carro 

Need to get another one of the Wix influencer tools? Don’t worry because we have found another one of the excellent tools that you can use. It is not only exceptional because of its performance but also significant because of its features available. You can enjoy the referral marketing, and also you can get the best promotion and marketing on your business with this application.

Viral loops

The viral loop is the referral marketing platform that will help you with better marketing of your business. It is a simple process that provides you a referral solution. You can quickly launch your campaigns within a few minutes, and you can also find out the best customers. It is a double click sharing and inviting software that will help you with quick programming and marketing of your business. It is not only perfect for Wix, but it is also great for Shopify and other applications and platforms. It will offer you the newsletter referral, and it will also provide you the option of referring it to a friend. Some features are just perfect for your website. And the templates will help you even more.

ISORAW Reward done right 

ISORAW Reward, done right, is a platform that will help you to find out the influencers for your business in no time. It is a reward program that will help not only the influences but also your business. It is an easy platform that allows you to promote and market your business and connect to the brands and influencers in no time. It offers various features, including a reward program and influencer marketing. There is fantastic support available that will help you even more. With the account analyzer, you can get the best services. Moreover, a social calendar is available to help you better organize your events, and the gallery visit will help you showcase your pictures and posts on Instagram.

Affiliatify

Affiliatify is another one of the best tools that you can find for external links or better support. This is the software that will not only help you with better affiliate marketing, but it will also help you with other promotion and marketing features. It will help you link to the affiliate offers and the other external products that you can connect your website to. It is a quick and easy formula to generate earnings. Check this website for better earning and easier marketing and linking of affiliate products.

Mention me

The last option on the list is the Mention me; a platform is another one of the best tools that you will find on the internet to help you with Wix influencer marketing and earn more revenue. It is a platform that will maximize the customers and will help you with engaging the customers. It will help you with driving the referral and making your referral program even more robust. It is the award-winning Marketing software that can help you in a lot of various ways.

Above, we have compiled the 10 best Wix marketing tools that can work just correctly for you when looking for the best options available. Make sure you are making the right choice and finding out the best and the most appropriate option. However, we would recommend you to go for the OSI affiliate.

The Rise of Digital Nomads: Benefits of Remote Workers
Insights

The Rise of Digital Nomads: Benefits of Remote Workers

on February 8, 2021

Working remotely and being able to create your own schedule is something we’ve all heard about, but nobody could anticipate how common this idea would become in 2020. With so many people being quarantined and not being able to leave their homes, we’re all slowly turning into remote workers, whether we like it or not. However, those original digital nomads – i.e. the people who work while traveling around the world because they want to and not because they have to – are still everywhere around us, introducing changes into traditional business models and doing things their own way. One of them is Andy Sto. Andy is a digital nomad and remote work enthusiast. He believes that digital nomads are the future of remote work and has been traveling to various locations around the world for the past six years while running a full-time remote digital marketing agency, Sendabee. Andy is interested in cultural differences and the local mindset of each destination he lives in. He also enjoys hiking in nature and discovering hidden gems in the places he visits.

 So, whether you’re one of these remote workers or someone who’s thinking about hiring them, here are a few benefits of this concept you need to know.

Ultimate freedom

Instead of working from 9 to 5 and spending hours commuting every single day, working from home means you can create your own schedule and come up with the setup that works for you the most. If you want to, you can get up at noon, stay in your pyjamas, download the latest GTA 5 realistic car mod and play video games all day long – as long as you complete your projects on time, you can do basically whatever you want!

This kind of freedom is something people in the past knew nothing about, but creating your own schedule and doing things your own way can be more beneficial than you can imagine. You’ll feel relaxed and well-rested, and that’s the best way to boost your motivation and become more productive than you’ve ever been. In the end, feeling that way will help you do more work in less time, which is why so many people actually prefer working from home whenever they can.

No more expenses

It doesn’t matter where you work and how long it takes you to reach your office – doing this day after day means you have to spend tons of money just to get to your work in the morning and then return back home in the afternoon. And it doesn’t really matter how you’re doing that because every form of transportation costs quite a lot in this day and age – except if you’re using your bike.

But, if you work from home or work remotely, you won’t have to spend money on transportation. You’ll just have to work from your bedroom to your kitchen, your living room, your outdoor deck, or any other space you’ve converted into a home office. You’ll also save money on food and clothes because you won’t have to buy new work clothes anymore, and that’s always a great way to boost your monthly budget.

Explore the world

In case you decide to turn into a real digital nomad and work while traveling the world, find a way to make the most of this idea. Doing this isn’t easy, and it will take some getting used to, but once you adapt to this lifestyle, you’ll be able to make it work.

You can travel wherever you want to and have as many new adventures as you want, and still be the employee of the month. You just have to find a place to stay while traveling – for instance, a comfortable studio apartment that comes with all the amenities you may need is an awesome solution – and make sure you get some work done every single day.

Explore new careers

If you’re tired of your job and the people you’re working with, making a change is a must. And the best way to introduce a massive change into your life is to change your job and become a digital nomad. What’s great, though, is that life as a digital nomad can give you more opportunities than you can anticipate, and finding a new career shouldn’t be too hard.

Depending on your preferences, skills, knowledge, and previous work experience, you can pick different industries and businesses, from IT and marketing to administration and software management. Doing something you’ve never done before might be challenging, but if you’re dedicated to your new job and exploring the life of a digital nomad, this might be the best decision of your life. 

The best thing about this idea isn’t the number of people who are living as digital nomads at the moment, but the number of people who are going to become digital nomads in the future – ultimately, this is the biggest reason why you too should join this movement today!

Penetration Testing Improves Cybersecurity Defense
Insights

Penetration Testing Improves Cybersecurity Defense

on February 8, 2021

Penetration testing is a primary means for an organization to test its security stature and readiness to combat cyberattacks. So, when firms are looking for a cyber security solution that will protect their network, they should be prepared to respond to whatever these attacks target, thus it needs to test it rigorously. Penetration testing is a common part of deploying a new tool for cyber security and it helps in identifying weaknesses in a firm’s defense system. This holds true for AI-based cyber security solutions, as they have tremendously grown over the passage of time. Thus, businesses look for a penetration testing company to prevent future breaches by identifying weaknesses in their systems. 

The history of penetration testing or ethical hacking exists since the 1970s, where the U.S military and RAND Corp used tiger teams to test the ability of computer networks against attacks. However, penetration tests today, are available in the form of a standardized service, it includes discovery scans, vulnerability scans and limits the attempts to exploit the discovered vulnerabilities. Although the traditional techniques still continue to be available in the market, yet penetration testers are utilizing new and improved methods of testing defenses, including new attack techniques, capturing the flags, and bug bounty programs. 

5 Major Benefits of Performing Penetration Tests:

Following are a few major benefits that organizations can achieve by leveraging penetration testing efforts:

Identify High-risk Vulnerabilities:

With the help of penetration tests, organizations can identify high-risk vulnerabilities that are often left undetected with an automated network or app vulnerability scan. It is a type of test that allows a realistic approach to measuring the actual risks to their systems. Vulnerability scanning can help is spotting some weaknesses but ethical hackers have access to the networks and systems that might not be compatible with scanning and can use a manual process to verify the extent to which these weaknesses can be exploited. 

The Ability of the Defensive Tools:

Pen-test can help organizations in assessing their ability to detect and respond to attacks successfully. It is a technique to test and gauge the ability of defensive tools to respond to potential attacks. The efficiency of tools like antivirus, intrusion detection systems, and firewalls is defined when organizations are able to use them to stop malware and attacks.

Investment in Security Programs:

Testing is conducted to support investment in security program initiatives, technology, etc. So, firms hire a penetration testing company to perform pen tests and assess the effectiveness of these security investments. They perform an initial or complete evaluation of the defensive strength of a system, or if they should perform tests before the budget is being set for a new project. 

Prevention of Future Incidents:

Pen-tests also help organizations in preventing future incidents, by detecting weaknesses before they can be exploited by attackers. These tests help organizations prevent potential breaches. Vulnerability scans are not designed to uncover weaknesses beyond software vulnerabilities. Thus, can help them in improving their security posture and if a firm is ready for an attack, it is easier to remediate it. 

Compliance with Standards:

Penetration tests also allow organizations to meet compliance standards such as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), HIPPA, 201 CMR 17.00, etc. 

Red Teams

Organizations that have more advanced techniques are using red teaming to simulate attacks on their cyber systems. A red team exercises a more in-depth penetration test. They are required to simulate cyber-attacks in more depth as compared to a pen-test, without a limited scope. 

Bug Bounty Programs 

Another way for organizations to test and strengthen their cyber-defenses is by using bug bounty programs. These programs are used to offer compensation to the white hat hackers for reporting bugs, exploits, or vulnerabilities on their systems. This helps an organization in patching them before they can be exploited by malicious attackers. 

Capturing the Flag 

Some organizations also make a choice to convert their pen-testing into a type of competition, by placing a flag in a secure location on their network. Pen testers are supposed to access this file or capture the flag, by any means. While, there is a Blue team, also known as the incident response team that is evaluated during a simulated attack, testing their ability to detect and respond to an attack. This allows penetration testers to their capabilities in a realistic manner, focusing on the protection of sensitive data rather than the entire network. 

InsightsProducts

You Shouldn’t Be Missing Out On These 8 App Design Trends in 2021

on February 5, 2021

There’s no doubt that pretty much everyone has a smartphone these days. After all, you just have to look around you to see everyone hooked on to their phones. 

And with so many mobile phone users, it is only logical for your business design apps to promote your services.

According to statistics, by this year’s end, app downloads in both Apple and Google Play Store will reach 130 billion. 

Developing and using apps come with a lot of benefits, including: 

  • It helps you increase your brand’s visibility.
  • Clients can contact you whenever they want. 
  • It gets much easier to send promotions and sales notifications.
  • You can offer more value to your clients thereby earning their loyalty. 

However, the competition out there is stiff. In order to attain your goal, you will need a mobile app that stands out. Creating a faultless mobile application design will help you to outsmart your competitors. 

Here are eight app design trends in 2021 that you shouldn’t be missing on:

  1. Mobile apps will increasingly adopt voice interfaces. 

With the increase in the number of voice searches, the voice interface is becoming increasingly popular too. In fact, it is one of the most popular mobile app design trends.

When you use an app with voice interfaces, you just have to speak. It will interpret your context. For instance, if you get a notification, you can simply say, “read it for me,” and the mobile assistant will read it out to you.

Voice interface makes it possible for people to interact with their smartphones. It improves user experience and builds trust.

  1. 3D graphics 

3D graphics make it easy for designers to not only display more information, but they can do it in a more presentable way as well. 

The graphics allow apps to add more space to showcase products. Users will also be able to get faster results as compared to switching between pages.

Apart from that, with graphics, there is no need for physical prototypes. Moreover, they make data perception simpler and describe product visualization.

Though 3D graphics can slow down the loading time, incorporating it will give you many benefits. Just don’t overuse it.

  1. Functional animation

The animation will add new life to mobile apps. The movement not only adds rhythm to the interaction but gives information. Animations are a great way to gain the user’s attention while they scroll down. It paves the way for easy in-app interactions, improves app usability, displays page hierarchy, and navigate users via interface elements.

Since the animated elements add emotions to the app product, you should figure out the kind of feeling you want to awaken in the user’s heart before you plan the layout. 

In 2021, you will see more improved animated elements in apps. Users can look forward to an exciting experience.

  1. Face ID

You need security to safeguard the information on your devices. In the past, passwords, pins, and pattern locks used to offer a sense of security. Then in recent years, a fingerprint lock was developed that can safeguard passwords.

But now, with the evolution of technology, face recognition on phones has been developed, a fast and convenient way to unlock a phone. It requires no buttons, and it automatically analyzes several parts of the face. 

Several Apple, Samsung, and Google phones have already implemented Face Id as a basic hardware feature. However, in 2021, designers will improve this feature and make this security feature secure enough.

  1. New, improved typography

In 2021, typography will be the key to designing creative mobile apps. Emphasis will be on having scalable and eye-catching typography so that people who scroll fast can read the statements. 

Bold fonts aren’t new, but this trend will gain popularity in 2021. Bold fonts will be used to make eye-catching titles and captions and to add a sense of information. 

Also, 3D typography, which adds an artistic flow to typography, will gain momentum. The realistic lettering, 3D animation, texture, and pattern will become a sign of innovation in typography.

You can also consider getting an expert SEO consulting session from a reputed SEO agency to up your SEO game.

  1. Including swiping experiences

Swiping is much more fun than clicking, even though clicking can be decidedly fast and easy. In 2021, app designers will be focusing on making swiping more fun, engaging, and memorable.

There are different approaches to improve the user’s swipe experience so that you can use your creativity. For instance, you can add an animation to your swipes so that users will get a better experience. Or you can add it for more functionality and streamline user tasks.

  1. Abstract and geometric art

Abstract and artistic styles are typically used for startups and apps to substitute photography. It will draw attention with lively colors and simple abstract shapes. Moreover, it is easy to view.

This trend is the right balance between intricate detail and simplicity. It also has plenty of variation and creativity woven in. In 2021, app designers will be experimenting with more abstract art that is simple and delicate at the same time.

  1. Easy on the eye visuals

No doubt app design should be beautiful, but it should also be delightful to use. These days, people are always looking at their phone screens, causing eye strain.  

Thus, app designers are focusing on offering a more comfortable viewing experience. The designs created are easy to comprehend and matched with soothing colors and visuals to reduce eye strain.

The app designs used are calming, natural colors, and have simple layouts so that it doesn’t overwhelm the users. The users can look at the screen for an extended period of time without getting an eyesore. The trend is all about incorporating minimalism to avoid distraction.

Wrapping-Up

The app design trends of 2021 share the same goal of making app usage more comfy, engaging, and enjoyable. Apps are more than tools. They are fast becoming companions that users spend time with all day long. App designers are thus focusing on ensuring that the app designs are easy to use and appealing, and fun at the same time. 

Moreover, the mobile app industry will continue to evolve, leading to high competition. Thus, app designers and developers should keep themselves updated with the latest trends and technologies.

How marketplaces have made it easier for you to choose your next car?
Insights

How marketplaces have made it easier for you to choose your next car?

on January 28, 2021

At the macro level, the automobile sector continues to be a profitable industry. Even in 2020, despite the hiccups, as per Statista, 62 million units were sold worldwide, with the revenue of Volkswagen alone amounting to 275 billion USD.

Are you planning on contributing a bit to this sector by purchasing a vehicle of your own? You are surely in for a ride. After all, there are so many factors to consider and such thorough research to be done. You cannot take this decision lightly, considering the monetary investment required.

Remember the good old days when you had to go around to different dealerships physically when trying to buy your car? Well, not anymore! One of the many good things the modern world has provided us with is the rise of online marketplaces.

Marketplaces allow different car buyers and sellers to come together, thereby simplifying the car buying process. Here are specific ways such marketplaces have made life easier for us all.

  1. Variety of options to choose from

Since marketplaces connect buyers and sellers from across different areas (and sometimes different countries), they provide a plethora of options for cars for buyers to search and select from. For instance, let’s take the example of Carvago. The platform connects buyers to used car sellers from different countries.

This is starkly different from the experience people are used to having at dealerships. Here, choices are limited to a few brands and models. The fact that marketplaces overcome this hurdle means that car buyers can look at a lot of options, compare their specifications and narrow down their options according to their requirements.

  • Ease of comparing prices

According to Autotrader, an average car buyer spends over 59 percent of their time researching potential vehicles online.

Marketplaces make this researching process extremely easy and convenient. This is because rather than having to visit multiple websites to get information, everything is condensed into one platform. This also makes it quite easy for car buyers to compare prices.

Previously people had to trust dealerships with prices. After all, there are only so many dealerships you could visit to compare prices. This was especially true for used cars whose prices couldn’t be accurately found online. With marketplaces, different vendors offering the same car can be accessed. This transparency allows that no one buyer gets away with charging an unfairly high amount for the car.

  • Different payment options

One challenge faced by some marketplaces is regarding payment processing.

While fiat currency continues to be the preferred method of payment for most people, it does create a lot of volatility in prices when you are purchasing vehicles from places that have a different currency than yours.

Not to mention that people are very cautious about sharing their payment details over the online medium these days.

It turns out there are some marketplaces that have turned this challenge into an opportunity and source of convenience for their customers. Many platforms now allow people to transact in cryptocurrencies, which features decentralized network, thereby ensuring better data protection.

For instance, Auto coin cars accept payments in bitcoins and other forms of cryptocurrency for making transactions seamless. Such solutions are likely to resonate well with those who want secure and discreet payment methods.

  • The convenience of purchasing used cars

Not everyone can afford to purchase a new car. In fact, you might be surprised about just how popular the used car segment is within the world of automobiles. According to Grandview Research, in 2019, the used car market was given a valuation of 1.3 billion USD! However, we must mention a recent phenomenon of cars worth more used than new, and you can read more about it in the article by Rachel Bodine.

Getting the perfect used car is quite a hassle. People tend to have a specific requirement in terms of mileage, car condition, and budget. And finding a car that fits aptly in all categories can be a tussle.

Marketplaces make it easy for used car buyers to find their dream car. This is because if the car you want is popular in the used market or if the budget is reasonable, you are likely to find more than a few sellers for it. You can then see which of the car best suits your condition related needs.

  • Lower prices than dealerships

Did you know that the prices dealerships charge for a given vehicle is valued at a higher number than its actual market value? This is because there are various hidden costs associated with purchasing a vehicle via the traditional medium. This includes:

  • Documentation Fee: Cost dealerships charge for completing the administrative paperwork associated with purchasing a vehicle.
  • Extra protection: Separate charges are levied for services like paint, fabric, and/or rust protection.
  • Service Plans: Prepayment of service costs for a given time period.

One must make sure to truly understand each of these costs prior to the transaction. This can get quite complicated.

  • Saying no to haggling

You might already know this, but traditional car sellers rely on commissions for a significant proportion of their income. This means they have more to gain from haggling you to purchase a car as well as to tempt you to opt for a pricier model. Since salesmen are professional at this task, people are often swayed.

However, the best deal for them is not necessarily the best deal for you. Compared to this, in marketplaces, sellers are incentivized on volume rather than price. This means you are likely to have more control over this car buying experience.

Ending Remarks

As you can clearly see, marketplaces have surely revolutionized how people can shop for vehicles. To be honest, it has become as easy as purchasing anything!

If you are thinking of an option for this medium, make sure to select one that is reliable, transparent, and trustworthy. Once you find the perfect platform, the rest of the process will become extremely convenient for you.

At least in this regard, one can say, there is no better time to be alive.

Why opt for OTT while theatres are still shut?
Insights

Why opt for OTT while theatres are still shut?

on January 27, 2021

With theatres shut during the lockdown, OTT platforms have quickly gained popularity among movie buffs. Although this trend emerged as a result of the temporary closure the cinema halls, it is expected to stay for a while even though the halls have reopened already. This is primarily due to the two following reasons:

  • Those who didn’t stream movies on OTT platforms earlier are starting to realise its benefits.
  • Not visiting the theatres for more than six months has broken the habit for movie buffs. They are now getting habituated to streaming movies online.

That being said, it is pretty evident that watching movies on an OTT platformcomes with a number of advantages for the viewers.

What makes OTT a viable alternative for theatres?

While OTT can’t deliver the exact experience of watching the movie on the silver screen, it is much more convenient for the viewers. This convenience is the main reason behind the popularity of OTT. OTT is a good alternative for theatres mostly because of:

  • Convenience: You do not need a high-end device to stream movies on an OTT platform. A smartphone and a stable internet connection are enough. Moreover, you can stream your favourite movies from the comfort of your home, without even having to travel to the theatre. This also helps the viewers to save on costs like conveyance and expensive food at the theatres.
  • Flexibility: Unlike theatres, the show timings on the OTT platforms aren’t fixed. You can watch any movie you wish at any timing which is suitable for you. Those who find it hard to make time for visiting the theatres can even stream movies with intervals if necessary. Moreover, the OTT platforms allow the viewers to watch a movie as many times as they want.
  • Affordability: OTT services are much more affordable compared to watching movies in theatres, especially for those who watch a lot of movies. While some of the OTT platformsmay charge a certain amount of money per movie watched, others charge a monthly subscription for an unlimited number of views. Some of them also allow the viewers to buy the subscriptions for specific playlists or content category. In these cases, the viewers have to pay only for the type of content they would watch. 
  • Diversity of content: You can pick from a wide selection of movies when watching them on an OTT platform. This is evidently a major advantage that OTT offers over theatres as a theatre can screen only a specific number of movies within a certain period of time. Even if a movie is no longer available in theatres, you can still stream them on an OTT platform. Moreover, many of the OTT platforms also produce quality original content or serve as a live streaming platform during sports events. This diversity in content gives OTT an edge over theatres.
  • Safety: Even though the theatres have now been reopened, the risks remain. Going to a public place like a theatre might result in getting infected with COVID-19, in spite of maximum precautions. Is it really worth the risk while you can actually watch movies without even having to step out of your home? At a time when staying at home is the best way to keep yourself safe from the virus, there is no wonder why the popularity of OTT continues to grow even after theatres reopen.

Does OTT offer new content like theatres do?

Even though one can watch a seemingly unlimited number of movies on an online platform, theatres were a popular destination even just before the lockdown. This is because people prefer to watch the new releases as soon as they can, rather than wait for the movie to be released on an OTT platform. However, several of the leading OTT companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. also produce a wide range of content which are of no lesser quality than mainstream movies launched in the theatres. Currently, with the potential of returns from theatrical release low, many of the film producers are starting to launch their movies on the OTT platforms instead.

Is the trend expected to stay and why?

Observing the current trend of increasing OTT subscriptions even after the reopening of the movie halls, OTT is expected to continue to be the preferred choice for at list as long as the pandemic lasts. However, it is believed that even when normalcy returns, OTT would retain its popularity. While choosing between visiting a theatre and subscribing for OTT services, the wide range of content available at an affordable cost on OTT platforms easily makes it the better choice.

Television, the other alternative, too has fallen behind in the competition as they function like a live streaming platform, offering only limited content and at fixed times. In the long run, OTT is expected to stay ahead in the race.

1 … 6 7 8 9 10 … 44