Top WordPress Trends to Watch Out For in 2018

When it comes to web development and design, WordPress is the leader.  Some stat suggests 27% of the internet today is powered by WordPress. That is evident from the fact that some of the top brands around the world use WordPress for web development.  As a WordPress development company, we regularly get people falling in love with this platform.  Firstly, it is absolutely user-friendly. That makes it easier for novice web admins at our clients’ location to manage the site and even make small amendments like creating blog posts or changing text.  In addition to that, WordPress presents a massive library of plugins that helps with customizing web development to the needs of our clients. Finally, it is worth noting that WordPress sites are all mobile as well as SEO friendly.  All of this makes WordPress stand out in the crowd.

Here are some of the top WordPress trends for the year 2018:

1. WordPress 4.9:

Last year, WordPress 4.8 was introduced in the market.  It presented improved widgets for adding videos, audio, and images to the site.  On the other, there were many other updates available. WordPress 4.9 was recently launched and it even betters the previous version.  It has introduced fixes to the problems that plagued version 4.8. There are updates to make customization easier, make it easier to manage plugins and themes, and improve the editing code.  This new version has also made WordPress easier to use that helps clients to make all their website changes themselves. We expect developers to use this new version more strategically to create customization and more user-friendly websites.

2. eCommerce Websites:

It is a no-brainer that WordPress is also extremely popular with eCommerce websites.  There are so many eCommerce websites around that use WordPress’ WooCommerce plugin. Moreover, WordPress is also popular because it offers easy integration with other platforms such as PayPal and Google Checkout.  Going forward, you can expect WordPress to adopt newer trends in the market. It has also picked up significantly on mobile shopping, but there is more coming in the form of personalized shopping and subscription-based services.  Some of the top WordPress themes for eCommerce include Handmade, Divi, Uncode, etc.

3. WordPress Video Headers:

The fact that videos are going to be the key to 2018’s web designing is no secret.  However, WordPress has gone a step further and increased its focus on WordPress video headers.  Such headers are going to rule 2018. For a WordPress theme developer, it is now easier to make use of the trend of video headers by using popular WordPress themes such as Inpiro, Balzac, and Naila.

4. Drag and Drop WordPress Themes:

Many of the basic WordPress themes are free.  However, there are certain other customizable themes that are charged.  These customizable themes come in different varieties, with some being simple and others being complex.  Last year, there was an increase in the number of themes that sported drag-and-drop facilities. This year, this is only expected to increase further.  Such drag and drop themes makes it easier to create as well as customize websites without even writing any code. As for the WordPress web developer, it makes experimentation easy.  One can drag and drop elements to a theme to see how it works.

5. WordPress Virtual Reality Plugins:

It is time that WordPress website developers appreciated the importance of appending augmented reality and virtual reality into their web designs.  The way these concepts are picking up, they can be the way to stand out of the crowd in 2018 and early 2019.  The good news is WordPress completely supports such virtual reality content as well as 360-degree images and videos.  There are numerous plugins that are already available for the same, and there are more on their way. Some of the top plugins are 360-degree Panoramic Image Viewer, WP-VR View, Momentopress, etc.

Have we missed any WordPress trend?  Let us know in the comments section. Also, if you need assistance with WordPress, you can contact us.  We are a renowned WordPress development company and can help you with all your needs.

Retain Your Shopify Customers by Building Emotional Relations

Many businesses are admitting that retaining new customers is becoming prohibitively expensive.  In this environment, business players have realized the value of customer retention. According to a recent study by Kleiner Perkins, more than 25% of the respondents suggested that it was important for them to spend and optimize ads to maintain and increase customer lifetime value.  What does this mean for you as a Shopify store owner? It means that you have to look for ways of creating engaging relations that evoke positive emotional responses from the customers. Without a physical store, you might be inclined to continue focusing on transactional relations. However, you can ask your Shopify web developers to create experiences that make your relations with customers more emotional.

If you are still asking yourself why you need to build emotional relations with your customers, we can give you the example of Apple.  You would know about the long lines that queue up outside stores whenever a new Apple product is launched. That is because of the incredible emotional relation that Apple shares with its customers.  With the help of your Shopify web designers, you can perhaps create a similar level of emotional connect with your customers.  

3 Ways of Building Emotional Relations with your Customers

Here are ways in which you can establish an emotional relationship with your customers.

1.Define a Clear Brand Story:

Till now, you might have believed that story telling was an art that was confined to novelists.  However, that is something you and your Shopify website designers need to do as well.  There was a research conducted where authors Joshua Glen and Rob Walker attached stories to regular thrift store items.  The research found that such items sold more often and customers were even willing to pay more for the same. How can you or your Shopify certified designer tell a story without even having a physical store?  That is where the art of using the right photos, videos, and copy comes in.  In fact, the site design and the colors can say a story too. They talk about the personality of your brand and say a story.  You should be absolutely honest and transparent in your brand story because that is what customers like. Eventually, people work with people they like.  In the brand story, you should include things like:

  • Your brand’s purpose
  • Your passion for the product/service you offer
  • How you reached your current position

2. Build Trust and Loyalty:

The next step is building trust among your customers.  When they trust you and enjoy the experience of working with you, they will be more loyal to you.  With more loyalty will come more business and introductions of friends and family. There are a few things you can do:

  • Use language that connects with your customers
  • When customers have something to say, listen to them emphatically.  If your customers have left you a comment online, be responsive and human.
  • Focus on always delivering what you have promised them.

3. Personalized Experience:

Right through the customer journey, you should provide a personalized experience.  That is what the customers love. You should have information of who and where they are, what their experience is like, and what they are looking for.  Being on the online platform, this becomes possible for you to achieve.

Try these tips to build an emotional relationship with your customers.  If you have any other tip in mind, please share those with us in the comments section.  

We are DIT Interactive, a Shopify development company.  We have Shopify certified developers and designers.  If you have any requirement for Shopify development, we will be happy to assist you.

6 Tips For Creating A Beautiful Ecommerce Store Home page

It’s not 1998 anymore. You’ve got no excuse for an ugly website. Ecommerce with Shopify offers you a world of opportunity, so don’t waste it by having the first thing your customer sees being a messy homepage. You want to dazzle your customers from the get-go, so sit down and listen up! I’m going to give you my six tips on how to create a beautiful ecommerce homepage…

Negative space is positive space

Remember that episode of The Simpsons where Homer makes a website? Do you remember how slick and user-friendly it was?

Maybe not. When your customer arrives at your homepage, you don’t want to greet them with noise and fanfare, blinding color and a whirlwind of movement. You want their first experience of your brand to be calm and clear. To that end, you should try and reduce the amount of clutter on your homepage. Unnecessary sidebars and images only serve to distract your viewer, forcing them elsewhere.

The fashion retailer Hera has nailed this. Designed by a professional Shopify web designer, their homepage is the digital equivalent of a zen garden. Lots of negative space and just a single photo creates a positive user experience which is crisp and clean.

The rotating carousel is dead

Rotating carousels used to be the visual darling of ecommerce. Showcasing your products, promotions and offers in a constantly moving merry-go-round of images was the go-to for web developers everywhere.

These days though, carousels tend to only irritate and distract the user. They have low click-through rates, and take up valuable space on your homepage. On top of that, they slow down your website, which in turn has a negative impact on your SEO.

Leave the carousel where they belong, in Facebook ads and carnivals, and instead embrace some alternatives. Try focusing your homepage on one specific offer instead to grab your customer’s attention, and maybe add a few other small offers below it.

A Shopify development company knew the importance of this when they designed Buff Her House of Exfoliation’s online store. The first thing you see when you hit their homepage is a huge special offer, guaranteed to hook even the most sceptical of shoppers.

Buff Her House of Exfoliation

Avoid information overload

Have you ever ordered a coffee and been offered extra espresso, soy milk, flavored shots, marshmallows, chocolate sprinkles, vanilla dust, a biscotti and all the rest? You just want a coffee, not a full meal!

When your customer clicks through to your homepage, you need to keep them hooked by keeping it simple. You’ve got the information they want, but let them find it naturally. Include relevant links to broad topics, where they can funnel down to what they need. And keep it intriguing too — a little mystery is a great way to draw your customers in. When you start thinking about

how to build your first online store, don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to hit all your value propositions on the first page. Just focus on a few key messages instead.

You know who does this right? The health food supplement Nutri-Rich, created by a certified Shopify developer. Confident declarations and tantalizing promises followed by bold calls to action entice the viewer to seek out the details at their own pace.

Nutri-Rich

Focus on the quality of what you have

What would you rather have: a single Porsche 718 Boxster or a fleet of worn-out old pickups? Unless you run a user car traders, I think I know you’re answer.

Yes, it’s true what they say: quality really is better than quantity. So instead of spreading your homepage thin with mediocre photos and lacklustre design, focus on doing one thing perfectly. Hire or invest in a decent camera to take high quality photos, and use great stock imagery to fill in any gaps. Make sure your menu is intuitively organized and your brand logo is clearly distinguishable.

Case in point: the exquisitely designed Fulton & Roark’s online store, courtesy of expert Shopify web developers. Their homepage features insanely detailed photography and a clear menu, with the distinctive Fulton & Roark logo front and center of the page.

Fulton & Roark

Nail your navigation mechanics

Hark back to your school days. You might remember the fun you had creating a PowerPoint presentation for the first time. The slide backgrounds! The WordArt! And perhaps the most exciting feature of all, the custom animations. Star wipes, ripple effects — the world was your oyster.

Unfortunately, while it was fun and maybe acceptable at school, those days are behind you. When you’re designing your website, you need to make sure your navigation is fluid and not too flashy. While some sites do use dynamic navigation menus, and they do it well, it’s tricky to get right. Keep it simple for now, or get one of Shopify certified developers to do it for you.

Learn from Homer. Keep your homepage uncluttered and minimalist. It should be a zen garden for the eyes. And remember: high quality photos makes for a high quality website. When your brand is nothing but that, you’re going to want to make sure the rest of your online store follows suit.

Victoria Greene

is a branding consultant and freelance writer. For all the latest on developments in ecommerce, marketing, and design, check out her blog, Victoria Ecommerce. Victoria has a drive for helping store owners get the best return on their ecommerce businesses.

What’s the Future of Ecommerce? Here Are Some Speculations

At DIT Interactive, we are an eCommerce development company.  By that virtue, we get to see the emerging trends in the industry very closely.  In the last year or so, eCommerce has gradually transformed. There is an increasing amount of traffic on mobile sites and there are many new exciting trends that have emerged.  We got out eCommerce web developer and designer team to come together to compile this list of top trends that are expected to dominate the industry in the near future.

Future Speculations for Ecommerce

As we look ahead, several trends may shape the future of ecommerce. One such trend is the continued rise of mobile commerce, with smartphones becoming the primary device for online shopping. Additionally, advancements in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology could revolutionize the way customers experience products online, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates.

More Integration of AI & Machine Learning:

Modern day companies have developed a penchant for machine learning technology.  Given this preference, there is no doubt that the technology will soon disrupt the eCommerce industry.  At the basic level, it is already being used to improve product recommendations and eCommerce search functions.  Going forward, we expect this integration to further deepen. Take the example of Chatbots. Facebook was among the first ones to have launched automated chatbots, and various other service providers have followed suit.  In the next few months, we expected Chatbots technology to be refined further for them to be able to manage more complex tasks including problem resolution, assisted transactional functionality, and more. On the other hand, advertisers will also use machine learning to place bids for ad positions.  Software such as Smart Goals and Smart Bidding are already picking up in importance.

Mobile-based Storefront Apps:

eCommerce shopping has gradually moved to mobile devices.  This beckons the need for the creation of more mobile-based storefront apps.  Some of the big retailers have been offering mobile applications for years now.  In the same way, the shoppers have a good knowledge of making use of dedicated storefronts too.  In the following few months, we expect even the smaller retailers to enter the scene and offer storefront applications to their users.

ROPO to become More Popular:

In an anticlimax, we expect the concept of Researching Online and Purchasing Offline will pick-up.  Customers are slowly coming to terms with the fact that online is a great way to hunt deals. Therefore, these customers will spot a deal online and make a purchase for the same offline.

Voice Search Functionality:

In today’s time, it has become mandatory to talk about Voice Search when we mention mobile technology.  We expect this Voice Search to be the catalyst of eCommerce innovation in the coming year or so. There will be an increased adoption of smart home appliances like Google Home and Amazon Echo.  While they will make it simpler for users to get their work done, they will also allow for an increased level of loyalty. Researches have proven that customers who order using Amazon Echo are among the more loyal customers who spend more than their counterparts who don’t use Amazon Echo for ordering.  Additionally, there are many other upselling opportunities that will also emerge with Voice Search.

Mobile Checkout:

Our eCommerce website designer team has worked on many mobile checkout and payment systems in the recent times.  It only indicates towards the rise of the system. This has brought about a dramatic change to the way people shopped.  There are many technologies in the mobile checkout space that include Google Pay, Chase, Apple Pay, and Softbank among others.  We believe that further expansion of this space is imminent.

Internet of Things:

Another emerging trend is that of Internet of Things.  Many devices are now being potentially made smarter. Advertisers and marketers are realizing that any device that can be connected to the internet can be used as a marketing tool.  Soon, there will be a rise in the use of Internet of Things and its various applications.

Augmented Reality will almost be Mainstream:

Anytime you hear a representative of an eCommerce web design company, you would see them talk about Augmented Reality.  It is a much-celebrated technology, but most of its applications till date have been nascent.  This year, it is expected that Augmented Reality will move closer to becoming mainstream because of more innovation in the field.  Let’s take the example of Ikea that launched its Place App recently. What it does is it les you see how the product would look in your home.  Although the app had a rough beginning, but the recent iterations have been smoother. Amazon has a similar app too. This elevates customers’ user experience, and hence expected to be very useful.

Faster Delivery:

Top companies realize that delivery is one of the ways of differentiating in the competitive eCommerce space.  Amazon has lead the pack with its innovation and the recently launched on hour delivery service. This is expected to further expand.  The possible launch of driverless freight may also give more impetus to this goal of retailers.

These, according to us, are the trends to look out for in the eCommerce space.  If you have any other trends to share, place share them with us in the comments section.  If you would like to know more about our eCommerce website design company.

Your BigCommerce Developers Would Like You to Know These Things

Many eCommerce website owners feel the need to pick their developers’ brain.  We understand your desire and have compiled a list of 8 things that your BigCommerce development team expects you to know.  The knowledge of these will hold you in good stead to grow your business further.

Insights from Your BigCommerce Developers: Key Points You Should Know

1.Data over Logic:

There are times when you make a change request to your BigCommerce developer.  Is that proposed change a sure-shot key to your business growth?  In other words, your BigCommerce developer would like you to have a functional understanding of Google Analytics’ Metrics.  This will help you better comprehend your website; which products are generating the returns for you and which ones are a burden on the website.  We get clients talking to us about User Experience improvement and best practices for the same. However, data based decision making is the key as user experience is no general principle but a customized solution to meet your users’ needs.

2.Think of Content as an Asset:

Think of general business logic.  What is one of the best ways of growing your business?  It is to invest in assets that will pay off. The same applies to your online business too.  For your website, it is your content that needs to be invested in. This includes having compelling copy and enticing product photos.  These 2 can be the key to getting your customers’ buy-in. If you provide great content to your BigCommerce developers, they will turn that into a successful website.

3.Size Does Matter:

When it comes to images and product photos, most people think that bigger is better.  However, you need to realize that bigger images adversely affect your website speed and thus your search engine rankings.  This, however, is the Achilles’ Heal for most merchants. Our developers frequently receive large images. Another problem is clients putting text right on top of the image file.  This again hurts your SEO. You would instead be requested to provide your text to the developer who can place it as an image headline at a position where Google robots will read it and consider it positively.

4.Speed Affects Experience:

Did you know that most of your customers expect your website to load in 2 if not 1 second?  If your website takes any longer, your rate of abandonment increases. That is why our BigCommerce development team is extremely focused on page speed.  However, the story doesn’t end with the completion of the development work.  We want the clients to look at the bigger picture. Everything you will do to your site in the future will affect your page speed.  As an example, if you decide to install a Chatbot; that will reduce your page speed too. Therefore, it is highly advisable to work with a good development team that can help you reduce the effect of website amendments on its page speed.

5.Checkout Abandonment:

Have you had instances when customers have dropped out at the time of checkout?  There are many websites who see as much as 60% checkout abandonment. This brings us to the importance of optimizing your checkout page.  At DIT Interactive, we are very keen on making the checkout user friendly and have created a single page, easy-to-decipher checkout process to encourage the users to complete their transaction.

6.Knowledge About Your eCommerce Platform:

How long have you been with BigCommerce?  Many of our clients have been with their current eCommerce platforms for years, but know very little about it.  However, knowledge about the various native features and functionalities of your eCommerce platform is pertinent.  With proper knowledge, you will be able to draft your requirement better and that will ultimately benefit your business interests.

7.Mobile is the Future:

Change is the only constant, they say.  That is valid for your website as well. In today’s day and age, more than half of your search traffic is coming through mobile devices.  Despite this, many merchants still have a clumsy mobile experience. Not only does this mean that you lose out on your site’s user experience but your search ratings get hit too.  Some of the people we meet tell us that they optimized for mobile a few years ago. However, you need to remember that change is the only constant. You need to stay abreast with the new technology and changes that come about with it.

8.We are a Team:

For some reasons, clients tend to think developers are only interested in coding, but don’t think about making the website look good.  That is actually not the case. Think of us as your team. We want to generate superlative end results. However, reasonability is what we consider. If your graphics are compromising the user experiencing or your website’s page speed, we need to advise you to skip that.

If you need to know more about the development process or are looking for a highly experienced and adroit BigCommerce development company, you can contact us.

Here are Some of the Exciting New Features that Shopify is Offering

If you want to set-up an online business, Shopify is one of the best platforms to consider.  At DIT Interactive, we work with various platforms and we have certified shopify web designers and shopify web developers team for our customers. By this virtue, we understand that Shopify is a robust system, and that reflects in the fact that it powers over 500,000 online stores. Merchants and shopify website designers alike love the ease of use, array of features, and customization options available with this platform. However, there are various new features & functionalities that shopify has added lately.  By making use of these great features, you will be able to further enhance your online presence and increase your chances of garnering higher sales revenue.

Here’s a quick wrap-up of some of these new features:

New Developer Tools:

A total of four new APIs have been created for developers. These include APIs for marketing events, reporting, resource feedback, and draft orders. This will help merchants gather insights into marketing efforts. They will be able to know which products/services are selling and which ones aren’t moving. This way, merchants will be able to make informed product decisions.

Multi Location Inventory:

One of the biggest pains for merchants is the management of inventory across multiple locations. Shopify is expected to launch its multi-location inventory system this year.  This would mean that merchants can have a single Shopify account, and be able to manage inventory from different locations. It will be a complete changeover of the existing inventory management system.  Bulk order fulfilling will be much simpler now.

Custom Storefronts:

Shopify can be seamlessly integrated into any platform for selling your products or services online. This could include in-game mobile purchases, listing your products on websites, desktop aps, mobile apps, etc. A new storefront API has been developed which will help developers assist online merchants in creating a Shopify custom design and buying experience that is standard across different sales avenues.

Multiple Sales Channels:

Shopify is already actively engaged with multiple sales channels. You can sell your products across such platforms as Facebook, Pinterest, and Wanelo. However, 3 more platforms have recently been appended to the system. These include Kik, Buzzfeed, and Wish. These 3 platforms will bring new audiences to your products and services, and help you grow your business.

Improved Discounts:

The new API for price-rules makes it easier to build as well as manage discounts. With the help of this new API, more sophisticated discount rules can be created. Plus, there are 2 new price rules that can be used – Discount Code Creation and Free Shipping.

New Theme Settings:

The theme editor interface has been updated to make it more customization and functional. Shopify developers can add their own HTMl code without worrying about the breach of the templated theme’s UI. Moreover, images can be directly uploaded and alt text can be edited. Finally, there are over 150 complimentary fonts that can be implemented.

Shopify Polaris:

This Ecommerce platform has come up with a complete revamp of its admin interface’s appeal for mobile as well as desktop. Moreover, the UX language has also been updated into a new design system called Polaris. The beauty of this new system is that it is feature-rich.  Moreover, not only can it be used internally; it can also be used externally to create user interfaces for applications that assimilate with Shopify API.

New Chip & Swipe Reader:

The beauty of Shopify is that it encourages selling of products and services from anywhere. The launch of its new chip & swipe reader is a case in point. Payments can now be accepted on smart phones and tablets. It is going to take personal selling to the next level.

Have we missed any important change? Write to us in the comments section. hire certified shopify development partner base company for your store. you can contact us via email or phone.

Instagram Has Launched Shoppable Posts for Bigcommerce Retailers

We are a Bigcommerce development company, and know for a fact that various social media platforms are exploring the great opportunity that online retail provides.  By selling products on social media, online merchants get a larger audience to work with.  On the other hand, social media platforms get to create an additional revenue stream for their business.  One of the best examples of the same is Instagram’s shoppable posts program.  Businesses in USA that use Bigcommerce will now have access to the same.  This program can transform the way in which online businesses sold products and services on social media.  We are a team of Bigcommerce developersand designers.  Being in the field, we believe that this new approach is going to be a big hit in the industry.

More about Instagram Shoppable Posts

Instagram doesn’t allow clickable links in post captions.  Therefore, such shoppable tags are quick and easy in helping you attract more people to your online store.  Before this option was launched, people had to rely on 3rd party services.  However, it is a much convenient option to do it all from the same platform.  Therefore, Instagram Shoppable posts carry significant importance to Bigcommerce merchants and the entire industry of Bigcommerce designand Bigcommerce development.

Access to Analytics

We are currently living in the world of knowledge and data.  Such data is driving many business decisions.  Moreover, it is also important for online merchants.  Those Bigcommerce retailers that take advantage of Instagram’s shoppable posts will get analytics from this photo-sharing social media service.  Here are the things that businesses will be able to access:

  1. How many people viewed product information
  2. How many people clicked on the link through to the product page

What is Instagram’s Benefit?

So, how would Instagram benefit with this new service?  There are 3 major benefits that Instagram will receive by the launch of this service:

  • Monetizing:  The first is the additional revenue stream that Instagram can add.  There is news that Instagram would not take a cut of the purchase amount.  Instead, Instagram has devised another strategy.  To be able to display such shoppable posts in those users’ feeds that are not followed by the business, these business accounts will need to pay a fixed amount.
  • More Advertisers:  Because of the uniqueness of this service, Instagram will get more advertisers.  The effects of the same are already visible.
  • More Time:  Finally, this is a subtle benefit to Instagram for launching the service.  Because of these engaging posts, users will find another reason to spend more time on Instagram. The social media platform will be able to get a larger share of the users’ time.

This was a basic overview of Instagram Shoppable posts.  If you need a Bigcommerce developer or an entire team, we can help you with affordable and high-quality service.  Contact us today via phone or email.

How Can WordPress Help to Improve Your Website Development

We are a WordPress development company, and we are in absolute love with the tool.  It is loaded with features, and at the same time it is not difficult for professionals or even beginners to use.  Additionally, WordPress is open source and that makes it cost effective for you.  Most small and medium sized businesses have a budget constraint, and therefore this cost effectiveness can go a long way.  It is because of these reasons that a WordPress web developer would not even consider WordPress for blogs, but even for content management systems and feature-rich websites.  All of this development can be used while just using a web browser.  That is the power of WordPress.

Here are some of the benefits of using WordPress for website designing & development:

1. Cost Effective:

We mentioned this upfront as well.  Wordpress is completely free and readily available for use.  That means that your cost of the website project drops significantly.  The money that is saved can be directed towards marketing your website or using it for business operations.

2. Updates:

The world of technology is moving very briskly.  This means that your new version of a software system will be outdated in a few months’ time.  That is an extremely scary proposition.  With WordPress, though, the upgrades are constant and you can download them without a hassle.  There are multiple web developing minds that are working on continuously upgrading and evolving the system.  For you to be able to have an access to the latest version of the software means that you have all the latest tools & features at your disposal.

3. SEO Friendly:

Search Engine Optimization is an extremely important element of marketing for businesses.  When your target audience searches for a certain term on search engine, you want your website link to come up on top.  Efforts need to be put in by specialists to get this done.  However, the good news is that WordPress is optimized for search engines.  This means that you don’t have to spend the extra effort in making your website search engine ready; it already is that way.

4. Social Media:

Another feature of WordPress is the various social media tools that come connected with your website.  You can link them to your Social Media and start marketing from there.  Social media marketing is becoming big in the modern time, and this tool available with WordPress will go a long way.

5. Community Building

WordPress has brought together a large and dedicated community of users and developers.  These are people with technical and non-technical backgrounds who are working tirelessly to make WordPress the tool of choice.  Their work helps make WordPress better with the passage of time.  The better that WordPress gets, the more options that you will have with you.

6. Easy to use Software:

The tool is very easy to use.  Wordpress isn’t complicated.  Designing, therefore, is easy for even a non-technical person.  However, if you need customized designs and options; you will have to engage a professional WordPress theme developer

7. Customization:

Finally, WordPress lets you completely customize the theme to suit your business requirements.  If you are with a professional WordPress theme developer, they will generate a theme for your business that suits your specific needs.

So, these are some of the benefits of using WordPress for website designing & development.  If you are looking for a WordPress website developer, you can contact us

Easy Process of Handling Shopify Spam Bot Registration

We are a Shopify development company.By that virtue, we are in touch with many Shopify users.  One problem that these users generally run into is spam bot registration.  That’s why we decided to write this blog to tell you more about spam bot registration and how to manage such registrations.  It is a simple process and this general process can work equally well with other eCommerce platforms too.

WHAT IS SPAM BOT REGISTRATION?

There are many customers in your email list.  That is perfect because you can send them regular emails and newsletters.  That is an effective way of staying in touch and improving brand recall.  However, information of some of the people in your list may look odd.  As an example, some people might have real emails but their first and last names are number strings.  What does that mean?  That means that these registrations were made by bots with stolen email addresses.  So, what does this mean?  Your Shopify web designers may have done a great job stitching together an appealing store front, but your marketing isn’t driving enough traffic.  That is because your email list is polluted and emails are being sent to people who haven’t subscribed.

HOW DOES THIS HURT YOUR BUSINESS?

There are many ways in which this phenomenon hurts your business.

  • Your email campaigns’ open rates and click-through rates decline.  That skews your data.
  • There are high chances that the recipient could mark you as spam.  Remember they didn’t actually register on your list!  That makes your emails default to the spam folder.  That will also raise flags with other email providers.
  • If your very first interaction with a user is spammy, you lose your opportunity of dealing with them in the future.
  • If you are using merge tags in your email, your email will start like ‘Hi 5513413242.’
  • Your list size will grow, which would mean that you will pay more money to your email providers.  However, there are fake subscriptions pushing your cost up.

HOW TO FIX SHOPIFY SPAM BOT REGISTRATION?

This is how trained Shopify web developers will resolve the situation.  It is simple enough for you to do it yourself.  Here’s what you need to do:

1. Identify the Bot Subscribers:

So, the first step in the process is for you to identify which of your subscribers are bot subscribers.  

  1. If you haven’t connected your Shopify store to an email provider:In this case, you will have to be first logged into your account.  From there, you need to visit the ‘Customers’ tab.  When you see your list of customers, sort them by name and see if there are a bunch of entries that stand out.  You will perhaps see a trend.  In one of our customers’ case, all these bot registrations started with 55.
  2. If your store is connected to an email provider: In this case, you will be logged into your email provider’s account.  Now, you need to go to the synced list and sort it by name.  Try to look for anything that stands out.  What you are looking for is strings of numbers in the first and last name box.  In many cases, you will see a common denominator.

2. Automate Bot Scrub Flow:

Now is the time for you to automatically scrub out bot registrations.  However, you want to first give yourself a chance to convert these real emails into real registration in your list.  In this case, we are going to use Mailchimp as the email provider.  However, you can essentially do the same with other providers as well.  The goal of this step is to establish an automation flow.  This is meant to remove any bot-like subscriptions from your list.  Moreover, you also want to try to convert your bot subscriptions into real ones.

  1. The first step in the process is to create an Automation Flow.  You can name it anything, say Bot Removal.  Edit the Action to delete from list.  You need to also amend the Trigger to make sure that you check the option of Import.
  2. Once this is done, you need to amend the ‘Segment.’  This it in order to look for all list entries that have a bot pattern.  If you remember, my customer was looking for first names that started with 55.
  3. Now, you design an activation email for these subscribers.  Your hope is to convert as many of them into real subscribers.  In the email, you should tell them upfront that they registered with you but their information looks off.  Give them a call to action to create a real account.  Also inform that that this email will remove them from the list.

This is it.  All your bot subscribers will now be removed.  Once this is done, you should check back with your Shopify list every month or two.

We hope this article was helpful.Tell us what you think in the comments box. If you need Shopify website designers or are looking for a professional full-service Shopify development company; you can contact us.

How to Improve Your BigCommerce Store? Here are Some Tips

BigCommerce is an eCommerce platform that is packed with robust features and tools. If effectively used, these features and tools can help to grow an eCommerce store.  We are a BigCommerce development company, and understand the various areas where many stores need improvement. Our BigCommerce developers suggest that the following 5 aspects of your BigCommerce store can be improved to grow your online retail business.

1.Make It Easier to Find Products:

You need to streamline search on your BigCommerce store to make it easy for your customers to find the right products.  Here are a few things that can help:

    1. On-site search:  This is where your customers are interacting with your site.  They are putting in a query.  By tracking these searches, you will get to know which products your customers are interested in.  When you perform such examination and try to improve your search, you will see immediate benefits to your BigCommerce store.
    2. Identify Misspellings:  You can’t expect your customers to know the exact term all the time.  There are going to be mistakes.  You need to make sure they see appropriate search term correction.
    3. Google Analytics:  BigCommerce Expertssuggest that you should enable site search in Google analytics.  This will give you a breakdown on the various metrics of onsite search.  It will tell you about such things as:
      1. Things that people are searching for

      2. People that left the site after they attempted a search

      3. New trends or products that are worth exploring

      4. Most common search queries that should be on your navigation menu

    4. Keywords in Product Pages:  Finally, it is also important to add keywords to your product pages.  These are expressions that your customers use to represent your products.  Use of keywords will help you improve SEO for your website.  Moreover, it will also make it easier for customers to search for your products.

2.Revamp Your Navigation Menu:

You have to find different ways of improving your customers’ shopping experience.  For that you will need to gain insight in what products they are interested in.  There are a couple of things you can do to get the desired information and then revamp your navigation menu.

    1. Customer Use Data: You need to collect data on what navigation menus your customers use the most.  There are also tools that you can use to track where your customers are interacting with your website.  Tools like CrazyEgg and HotJar can be helpful.
    2. Design for Mobile: You need to consider how your navigation acts on mobile devices.  If there are too many navigation items, it can make it cumbersome for your mobile users to navigate your website.
    3. Keep it Simple: You need to design your navigation in a way that your customers find products and items where they expect them to be.  If you have useful links on your website, you should have them available in the footer.  These links include contact information & shipping/return policies.

3.Image Optimization:

Photography is critical to all eCommerce stores.  Images are being used extensively these days on product pages as well as marketing material.  It is a way of luring the customers as well as giving them more description of the product.  In that case, you need to make sure that your images are optimized and consistent.

    1. Maintain Consistency:  You need to make your images consistent in terms of content and dimension.  Using a white background with a consistent backdrop can help with the cause.  This can also help with your store’s brand.  When you are exporting your images, you need to make sure that they are consistently sized too.  You don’t want to provide odd-shaped product thumbnails.

    2. File Size Optimization:  You need to ensure that your file sizes are not excessive.  If you are using photos from cameras or phones, they tend to typically be much bigger than needed in the case of your BigCommerce store.  You need to reduce the image size by reducing the dimension of the images.  Your BigCommerce product photo should be 1028px Wide by 1028px High.

4.Product Page Improvement:

Product page is where you can really sell your products.  This is where you convince our customers to buy from you.  Now that this product is expected to have the bigger impact, it is expected to have the biggest room for improvement too.  You need to take a look at your product names.  Make sure that the product name is description enough for your customers to find the right product.  The name should accurately describe the product and the name should also match with hat the customers are searching for.

5.Optimize Shopping Policy:

One of the most important eCommerce factors is shopping cost and speed.

    1. Clear display of shipping policy & costs:  Shipping policy as well as the cost should be clearly displayed.  It should be ideally on the product page itself.  This will ensure that customers are not shocked and they aren’t abandoning the cart.
    2. You should also consider a free or flat-rate shipping policy to make it easier for your customers.

These changes will help you make your store effective and more customer-friendly.  

If you are looking for an expert BigCommerce developeror you need help with BigCommerce design, we can provide unmatched expertise in the field. Contact us.