Tips to Provide the Best Website Experience, Page 8 of 25

Just about everyone uses a mobile device of some kind on a regular basis. Some people can't go an hour without checking their smartphone while others use their tablet to surf the web and play games. If you're thinking about creating a new mobile app to encourage customer engagement, here are a few mobile app creation tips to increase your chances of success.

Consider Your Users' Needs

You should consider the needs of your users in your approach of the mobile app creation process. If your mobile app doesn't meet any of the needs or desires of users, they will refuse to download it. Simply because your mobile app is free doesn't guarantee that a user will download it because space on mobile devices is limited. Before you even start the mobile app creation process, you should make a list of the needs and wants of your target audience.

Offline Use Is a Must

Despite the prevalence of hotspots, users will not be able to access 3G/4G or WiFi all the time. Therefore, access to the Internet should not be necessary to use your mobile app. Offline use of the mobile app should be useful and seamless as is possible for users. Of course that is not always easy especially if there are any dynamic data requirements in your app. It's best to consider what and how you can provide content even if the device is offline.

Simplicity is Best

People from all walks of life are getting smart phones and tablets nowadays. Therefore, mobile app developers can no longer afford to create apps for only those who are "masters" when it comes to technology. Your mobile apps should be easy-to-use even for those who are new to smart phones and tablets. Make sure you remember the thumb rule when creating links and actions if it's too small for a thumb to click it's too small for your app.

If you need to generate leads and advertise your products and services, mobile apps are definitely the way to go. For more mobile app creation tips, don't hesitate to contact us.

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.

Agile development sprints are an essential portion of agile work methods. During the sprint stage, a development project truly starts to take shape. It also un-shapes and emerges and then shapes itself again. If this doesn't seem possible, then read on to find out how a sprint works.

Mistakes and Dynamics

Very rarely do software programs work correctly the first time around. Code gets wrapped around itself, interfaces don't respond in the manner designers planned, and sometimes the client changes their requirements and specifications mid-stream.

Agile workflows take rapidly changing scenarios into consideration with the understanding that it is better to correct flaws as they happen than it is to apply bandages to a product.

Sprints and Iterations

Sometimes called iterations, sprints are the work portion of the agile development workflow. They usually last two weeks and end with a presentation of the work that was accomplished during the previous fourteen days.

Un-Shaping and Emerging

Sprints are a way to correct product flaws as soon as they happen.

At the end of the two-week period, when all parties engaged in the project put their pieces together, issues with the product tend to emerge. Since the product is still in development, its designers, developers, UI and UX experts, as well as others involved in product development can collaborate new solutions.

Flaws and strategies that don't work are un-shaped and new strategies emerge. These strategies are put into place during the next sprint. And the next, until the final product has fully formed.

Documenting Your Sprint

During the sprint, clients use the existing product and test for efficiency. Make certain to document your ideas and experiences during the sprint. Your notes and even your abandoned ideas might prove useful during collaborative sessions. What you abandoned in one sprint may very well hold the solution to a future issue.

For more information on building your software project with a collaborative and agile team then please contact us.

Developing a more engaged and focused team is what any business needs, especially with large goals, complex projects, and important objectives in mind. But what can allow you to reach that goal? In agile development, "scrum" has been a popular answer to businesses wanting greater production, speed, and engagement from their employees. But What is the "scrum" framework in Agile development, and how does it build success? Here's a simple breakdown of the scrum process and its results.

A Breakdown of Scrum

The scrum framework is broken down into 4 major parts:

1. Sprint Planning: A "sprint" is a designated timed period to complete certain stories and projects. The sprint planning meeting determines which tasks need to be done to meet the sprint objectives.

2. Daily Scrum: The daily scrum is a short meeting dedicated to just the sprint goals, and reviews what was completed, what needs to be done, and what might be in the way of completion. It helps keeps members focused, up-to-date on finished components, what tasks are left, and how to better manage and prioritize tasks.

3. Sprint Review: At the end of the sprint, members review their achievements and completed tasks. Typically, members will be able to demo or present their contributions informally.

4. Sprint Retrospective: The sprint retrospective allows for members to reflect on their own performance and adjust the process for greater efficiency. Together, the team could talk about what works, what doesn't, and what to tweak or stop doing for greater success.

By moving through these 4 motions, teams can improve their efficiency and complete necessary tasks together. In addition, it allows for members hold themselves accountable as individuals and as a team. In all, the team engagement with scrum helps move projects along quickly and give employees a measurable goal to work on. This focuses their energy on the most important jobs.

Contensive can help you reach your goals with scrum and agile development. To learn more about how agile development can move you forward, contact us.

It is not unusual for some small businesses to place too much focus on bringing in new customers and not enough on keeping their existing customers. However, this is a mistake because retaining existing customers is less costly than finding new ones. Depending on advertising and marketing expenses, getting a new customer may cost seven times more than keeping the repeat customer.

Repeat customers are already "sold" on your products and services but this fact can't be taken for granted. Efforts must be made to connect with them and to make them feel cared for. This will reduce repeat customer attrition and induce them to increase their purchases. The same efforts at retaining repeat customers should also be made with one time customers.

Increasing Customer Loyalty with Mobile Apps

Provide interesting and useful content. Providing content that your customers value retains their awareness of your brand at times when they have no immediate need for your products and services. Regular content updates will keep people checking into the app. The content will depend on the niche market that you serve and can be of a more general nature or personalized to the types of purchases made.

Provide customer loyalty rewards. These can include coupons, discounts, vouchers, prizes, and other incentives that only exist for the app user. This is important because it creates a feeling of exclusivity that makes them feel they are special to you. Loyalty apps that track purchases can segment their users into one time purchasers who require inducements to become repeat customers, as well as various tiers of repeat customers.

Tier your repeat customers according to their spending patterns. The metrics for measuring spending patterns would include average amount spent per purchase, purchasing frequency, and purchasing recency. The 80-20 principle often applies in that 20% of your repeat customers are often responsible for 80% of your profits. Retaining the loyalty of the top 20% should be your highest priority and your loyalty rewards should reflect this.

If you require mobile app creation that increases your customer's satisfaction and loyalty, contact us. We can build it and make it happen.