Tips to Provide the Best Website Experience

The advent of multiple devices such as tablets and smartphones have forced the idea of responsive web design to steadily evolve over the last five to six years. In reality, the concept has been around since 2001 when Audi unveiled the first variable width browser website. The last few years in particular have seen a few trends taking place that are noteworthy enough for you to keep an eye on.

1. It's All About The User – Somewhere along the last 20 years or so, we went from being merely user-friendly to striving for high usability, and finally in 2016 we are firmly entrenched in ... "The User Experience!" All marketing jargon aside, the key idea is simple: It doesn't matter if you're talking about a website on a laptop, desktop (some people still use these things), a tablet, or a smartphone; the user still needs to be at the center of the design. Implement plenty of user testing early in the process, so that your responsive web design is performing up to expectations. Content is still king in a lot of ways, but that content better be user friendly, or highly usable, or have a great user experience ... you get the point.
2. Don't Just Consider Mobile, Start There – Even as recently as two to three years ago, the mobile experience was more of an afterthought than anything else. Guess what? Don't do that anymore. Everybody from tech savvy professionals to blue collar workers, grandmothers, and even high tech toddlers are using a smartphone these days. Mobile applications need to be at the forefront of your responsive web design or you will be missing a giant portion of your user community.
3. Flat Design 2.0 – There have been some great advances made in the area of minimalist web design that are here to say. But, we're starting to see more of a middle ground with more descriptive icons and navigation menus to let people know what's happening a little better. Like anything else, you can go too flat if you're not careful. Users still need some form of guidance in the form of visual cues to understand what they should be doing, and the evolution of flat design is steering us firmly in the direction of somewhere between minimalism and creative.

"Contensive" is a company dedicated to solving complex mobile and website problems. Please contact us today for more information on how we can work with you on your responsive web design, online integration, and more. Let us show you how we can make complicated look easy. 

Today's world is constantly changing. Every day it seems like technology is finding an increasingly larger role in people's lives, especially since people practically have the world at their fingertips on their smartphones.

Utilizing Mobile App Development for your business can ensure that your business has a spot on your customers' smartphones, and that concept will translate to your business being a huge part of their life.

Having a mobile version of your website is the first step, but nowadays, it's tough to find a company or business that doesn't offer a mobile version of their website. Customers now expect your web presence to be optimized for mobile use, in order cut through the clutter you need to do more. The next step is investing and creating a mobile application to offer to your customers.

When your customers download your application to their phone, it's really a dedication to your business. Your application takes up a spot on their springboard or home screen, and they see it as they are going through their daily activities and swiping through their applications. When you offer an application, and users download that app, they see your logo more often, and are more inclined to remember and engage with your business!

When a user downloads your app, they are using -- often precious -- storage on their phone to house your app. That should be considered an honor, and because of that, developing your mobile app should not be taken lightly! Be sure that your app is done professionally so that you can maximize the advantages of having a mobile app for your business.

If you would like help in taking the next step and developing an app, contact us today!

In many ways, the website development process borrows its strategy from SCRUM, a software development process. Software developers employ SCRUM to speed the development process and catch errors along the way. It encourages collaboration between businesses, customers and developers and reflects a businesses workflow and core mission.

When website developers use iterative processes the result is a company website that is easily redesigned, flexible and set to grow as the business grows. Here's how it works.

Development Sprints

Iterations, also called sprints, are used by software developers working in tandem on a design. Each developer has a task related to the outcome. The developers and other stakeholders meet at two week intervals, or less, to tweak and refine their work. This limits the possibility of ingrained errors and also speeds the development process.

Timely and Relevant

Marketers can't afford to stall their efforts for a long-term site design. Additionally, the data and metrics marketers gather should inform the site design.

The iterative strategy allows quantitative marketing insights to remain fluid and meaningful to the site's users, both in terms of content and design. As new information is gathered, the site is designed to readily incorporate changes.

How does the iterative strategy work?

Software developers use the SCRUM process to build software that is relevant to an ever-changing ecosystem. The reason marketers and website developers borrow elements of this strategy is two-fold.

First, the site design is flexible and open for regular updates, rather than holding static for years at a time. Second, insights gathered by the marketing team are implemented at regular intervals.

In short, design reflects quantitative data to inform the site's appearance and improve the user experience. And all of this is done rapidly so businesses don't waste time with static, out-dated sites.

To find out more about the iterative development process and your business' website, please contact us.

It goes without saying that a business without sales won't stay in business for long. That is why business owners must constantly find new ways to enhance their platforms and brand identity. Doing these things are necessary to maintain a consistent flow of paying customers. Having the right business website development is a key part of keeping customers coming back as well as bringing in new ones. Today, you will learn two simple business website development tips needed to boost your online sales.

• Keep Your Product Pages Clean: When customers are looking for a product on your website, you want to make your pages as clean as possible for them. Ensure that product page organization is optimized and updated when needed. Do an occasional audit to see if there is any clutter that needs to go. Are the products categorized correctly? Are customer reviews in the right place? Changing up these simple things will make a huge difference in what your website visitors see.
• Make The Checkout Lane Distraction Free: When you have customers checking out on your website, you don't want it to look like a real checkout lane. Once your customers have the products they want and are ready to make the payment, the last thing you want to do is distract them. This can ultimately lead them to shopping around more possibly abandoning their original purchase, and leaving your website without buying anything.

For more tips on business website development and ways to optimize your online presence, contact us today.