The Evolution of Text to Speech in Gaming

In 2021, the video gaming industry is estimated to total $178.73 billion.

As voice technology advances, synthetic voices are no longer a luxury feature for the gaming industry. But rather a requirement.

By providing realistic voice interaction elements, AI text to speech has brought a completely new experience for gamers. From enemy bots to neutral characters, developers leverage text to speech (TTS) for a better gaming experience.

Online text to speech is not just limited to user experience. TTS technologies are transforming the way video games are developed. As a result, tech-giants like Sony and Microsoft have begun to research and experiment progressively with AI for gaming.

Let us see how.

The challenges

It takes years to build plot, gameplay, characters, and game mechanics. Moreover, high costs are involved in a successful video game in terms of design, content, and voice.

Recording audio involves recording voiceovers with actors as well as translating everything for multiple countries. On top of standard video game localization, developers must consider accents, dialects, and even complete languages for gamers from various cultures.

There are just too many events in open-world games for game developers to run through, test, and produce the content for.

In the past, Online text-to-speech technologies could not bring the desired experience to the gaming environment. The voices of evil and silly characters were indistinguishable. TTS had a bad reputation in the gaming industry.

Even after everything is figured out, creators come to the challenges to attract and retain users. It is often contingent on the emotions and attachments a player builds with the gaming environment and characters.

Functionality and Accessibility

When you enter a game, the features, instructions, and suggestions are often presented in the form of text or speech.

A lot of games have storylines, which we consider the glue to make users stick to the game.

A natural-sounding voice, which can actually come with the right accent and expression, can create an emotional connection with the user. Needless to say, for general gamers, text-to-speech will enhance the user experience and help with understanding the game better.

According to NOVIS, over 23 million video game players worldwide are blind or visually impaired. It is impossible for visually challenged players to progress forward in the game without online text to speech.

Prototyping

Prototyping is the phase of game development when the scripts are tested. It involves first-time user experience, guides, game mechanics, animations, and player interactions, among many other things.

Before they get their hands on the actors’ version of the script, game producers frequently employ TTS to get an idea of how long phrases and sentences take to say. In order to optimize the recording process. TTS solutions bring significant financial and time savings to prototyping.

Red Dead Redemption 2’s prototype included 500-plus hours of dialogue recording. Imagine the reduction in the development cost, if they had used online text to voice.

Voice artists iterate and refine their dialogs. They come for multiple recording sessions. It necessitates a significant investment of time and money. TTS reduces the cost and can completely take over the process of recording.

Localization

As mentioned above, a game needs to be translated into different languages across the globe. Pokemon Go has been created in nine different languages. While you may think of other options like dubbing and subtitling, Dubbing is not economical, considering the charges of voice artists. While general public reviews show that people hate reading subtitles. Furthermore, it is not an option for visually impaired gamers.

Hence, for players as well as developers, text to speech is the most efficient solution.

Personalization

Gamers love their avatars. They devote hours of time and a significant number of game credits to adding a personal touch. Personalization has not been extensively targeted yet by companies. But with AI-based online text to speech, it is possible. AI TTS can capture the required voice of users and, furthermore, produce outputs in the same language and accent.

Character Voice

Unlike the tedious voices of the past, every character in a game has a unique voice and accent. Today we witness the heavy and evil voice game villains. Avatars pause and breathe at the right time. It is essential to bring adequate liveliness to the voice of avatars.

Online TTS brings a precise level of intensity to dialogues and narratives.

Voice talents come with a heavy budget. Even with just a few recordings of the hired actors, TTS can expand the dialogue and save a lot of money.

Games and their levels expand. Characters change and grow. AI text to speech is dynamic, with just a click software like Murf can create and edit a new character voice for your video games.

 

How to Add a Live Chat to a Website For Free

How a live chat can benefit a website

Live chat software is a flexible communication tool that you can use on your website for online technical support. If clients need help, they can ask an online consultant a question and get a quick response. That’s not all, though.

Unlike email support or FAQs, when you download live chat, you can provide clients with a live and personal experience. The faster the support, the more satisfaction, trust, and even more sales.

Effective use of live chat software allows generating a huge number of new leads, which will ultimately lead to increased sales. Numerous studies have shown that providing support through live chat can increase conversions by 20% or more.

Using an online consultant leads to an increase in the average cost of the order, as customers receive recommendations and answers to questions in real-time, without delay. You should take advantage of all the benefits of live chat software and download this tool now! The good news is that your business does not even have to spend any extra funds as there is a free live chat software download option.

How to add a chat to a website

The live chat download and setup process takes only a few minutes and does not require any special knowledge. For WordPress websites, txt.me has created a free plugin that makes it even simpler to add live chat to your website. Chat software downloading is typically done by copying an html code.

  1.     Got to txt.me and create an account, if you do not have one yet. Otherwise, log in to your account.
  2.     Navigate to the Widgets tab at the top of the website, then select Installation on the menu on the left.
  3.     Copy the code that appears in the box by clicking the blue button.
  4.     Go to your website and paste the code in the </head> section on every page you would like to have a live chat widget appear.

Installation is complete, so you can now customize and test your widget.

How to use a chat for different communication channels

Instead of sitting and waiting for a client to contact you, you can take a proactive approach and encourage them to interact. Live chat not only helps to provide an answer faster compared to let’s say email but also provides a more personalized level of service. Sometimes, though, clients find it more convenient to use a phone. During non-working times, an email or contact form may substitute for live chat and phone communication.

An omnichannel approach to customer experience assumes that the company uses various sales and marketing channels. The client can make purchases or communicate with it in any convenient way, using any channel, seamlessly, while maintaining the history of communications and sales. The client is the focus of such a strategy.

A holistic customer experience platform helps to show your customers that you care about them. For instance, a customer can click on a banner and go to a website that sells the item they want. There, they are welcomed by the sales team through a live chat message and can ask for more details in real-time.  Then, the customer can make an order on the go using an app, while being assisted via chat by a tech support member. Afterward, the sales team might call back via phone to confirm the order and ask for shopping experience/product feedback that can be provided using a link that was emailed to the customer.

How to use communication with a chat support team to your advantage

Do you want to get something more than just a live chat software free download option? The chat support team is not there only to answer your questions when you have issues setting up and using the software. They can help you get the most out of the new tool and customize it. After all, they know all the available features and how they can be used to your advantage.

If there is a feature you would like to see in the live chat software, you can send the support team an inquiry if the widget can be further customized to meet the specific needs or preferences of your company. Although it is likely going to cost a little extra, the investment will soon pay off in the form of new leads, more loyal customers, and less time spent by your employees assisting them. On that note, it is a good idea to ask chat support if your company can get a discount.

 

 

5 Ways Technology Has Improved Time Management Skills

Photo from Pixabay

With the integration of technology in everyone’s lives, the amount of time to do a task has been significantly reduced. And this is important since managing time can be difficult to do on your own. Technology brought about tools that help people with time management.

Some of the most useful time management tools are Microsoft Excel, Gmail, and Dropbox. They help with communication, consolidation of files for quicker access, and analysis of huge amounts of data. By learning how to use these tools, you’ll be able to build your time management skills. 

Having said that, technology has a huge part in time management, and they go hand in hand. Let’s look at some of the ways technology can help you with managing your time. On the other hand, the article will also tackle the problems with technology when it comes to time management.

How Technology Helps You Manage Your Time

Whether you’re a professional or a student, you are expected to finish a lot of tasks. Fortunately, you’re living in a digital world where you can use tools that help delegate your time to more important tasks. Some of these tools are straightforward, and some require a little bit of training for you to maximize their use.

But don’t worry! With platforms like Acuity Training, you can also attend online courses to build your technical skills. They provide a medium for you to learn how to work your way around different Microsoft Office programs. Not only that, but you can find courses for other apps and programs like Adobe Photoshop, SQL, and AutoCAD.

We provided a list of how you can use technology to manage your time better.

  1. Provides Easy Access to Documents With Cloud

With technology, you don’t need to fill out bookcases with important documents that are at risk for any natural disaster. You can save your library of work-related documents online through cloud-based programs. This eliminates the need to look for a specific document in a pile of paper, reducing the time to get the information you need.

Below are some software and tools that can assist you with a cloud-based filing system.

Dropbox

Dropbox is one of the most well-known cloud storage services available right now. It’s free, and your account initially comes with 2GB of storage. You can increase the storage and gain some perks by purchasing specific plans.  For example, their standard business plan lets you have 5Gb storage and can share to more than 3 users.

It is a great application since it syncs instantly across all of your devices wherever you may be. As long as you’re connected to the internet, your files are automatically uploaded to the cloud. You don’t have to worry about saving work files to a USB drive again. And more importantly, you are given access to your files through your smartphone, laptop, or tablet.

Google Drive

Google Drive is ideal for generating documents and spreadsheets. Through apps like Google Docs and Google Sheets, you don’t have to remind yourself to save every once in a while. As you work, the system saves the file to the Drive automatically. 

You can simply log in to Google if you need to make changes or view files from home.

Sharing and collaboration are other important features of Google Drive. You can organize projects into folders, share them with others, and work on papers at the same time. This will help get your project done quickly.

  1. Helps You Plan Your Day and Manage Your Tasks

Technology makes it easy to keep track of your schedule. You don’t need to go through paper calendars, emails, or old text messages to know which tasks are scheduled for the day. Some apps are integrated into other apps where they automatically remind you of the tasks you need to do.

Google Calendar

Google Calendar is such a useful tool as it syncs with the majority of third-party task apps. This significantly makes it easier to manage your time to do tasks across many apps.

nTask

nTask is a project management tool with a wide set of features that are flexible to use. It allows you to schedule, plan, and manage your tasks through a calendar view. You also get access to the meeting management feature. This enables you to schedule and manage meetings easily.

Most importantly, it has third-party integrations, which let nTask remind you of your to-dos for the day.

  1. Helps Keep Track of Your Time

Knowing where you focus your efforts is a vital aspect of time management. This doesn’t mean you need to keep track of every minute of your work. This just means that you need to have a basic idea of how you spend your time. And technology can help you in this aspect.

Toggl

Toggl is an essential tool where you can accurately monitor the time you spent working on each task. Perfect for allocating enough time for more important projects. It’s a useful program that works on both your phone and your PC. You can manage your time according to projects and tasks, and you’ll obtain a detailed report in the form of graphs and charts.

It’s also useful for getting a sense of how you spend your time. You may think you’re being productive for the majority of your day, but sometimes, that’s not really the case. 

Toggl can help you see your workflow during the day by showing how much time is spent doing non-work-related activities. Knowing this can help you revisit your process and make it more efficient in the future.

  1. Provides a Medium in Delegating Tasks

Whether you’re a manager, a corporate director, or a team member, delegating tasks is an important aspect of your job. Fortunately, technological advancements provide an efficient way of managing a team. You won’t have to do meetings or conference calls as this can take up much time for both you and your team. 

Trello

Trello is an incredible tool for visualizing tasks, especially for groups. It allows you to create boards used to represent projects and simply assign tasks to each team member. You can also create various lists inside each board and include tasks in the form of cards.

  1. Helps You Focus on Your Task

While technology is useful in many aspects of your job, it can also distract you from important tasks. Receiving texts, emails, and calls, for example, disturbs your focus on the task you’re currently working on. 

The only solution to this is to turn off your phone and concentrate on the task at hand. Luckily, you don’t need to be rude to other people when they try to reach you. There are apps with features that automatically send a message that you’re currently away.

Auto Response Feature in Emails

You need to stop responding to emails as soon as they arrive. It distracts you from your concentration and ruins the momentum while you’re working. Is the email urgent? Do they really need an immediate response? If not, you can set an auto-response email to let them know you’re currently unavailable to answer their questions.

To maximize such features, you need to establish a system where you only respond to emails during specific times of the day. If it’s an emergency, they can contact you through other means. 

Create an email auto-responder that informs recipients when they can anticipate a response. Schedule a time of your day for responding to emails and leave the others to the auto-responder.

Final Thoughts

It’s a known fact that technology helps people improve their time management skills. The list above provides some of the examples of tools that you can use to manage your time better. However, some challenges also arise when it comes to using technology. And these can get in your way of doing tasks.

The key here is to avoid becoming distracted or overworked. Schedule a time in your day for non-work-related activities and avoid being on your phone all the time. Technology has its pros and cons. Use technology to your advantage and make it work for you rather than against you.

Want to share other apps and programs for time management that are not on the list? Let us know in the comment section below!

 

The Ultimate Guide: Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses

As a small business owner, you may be wondering whether or not social media marketing is worth your time and effort. The answer is yes – social media can be an extremely effective way to reach new customers and grow your business. In this guide, we will provide you with everything you need to know about social media marketing for small businesses.

The Value of Social Media for Small Businesses

The use of social media for small businesses can be extremely valuable. It provides a way to connect with customers and promote products or services. In addition, it can help build brand awareness and create customer loyalty.

Tailoring Your Social Media Marketing Campaign

When you tailor your social media marketing campaign to your small business, it becomes more effective. You need to find the networks that are most relevant to your customers and target them with content that is interesting and useful. Additionally, be sure to respond to comments and questions on time; this helps build customer loyalty.

Another important aspect of tailoring your social media marketing campaign is using the right tools. Many free and paid tools can help you manage your campaigns more effectively. For example, Hootsuite allows you to track multiple social networks, schedule posts, and measure results.

Finally, be sure to keep up with changes in the social media landscape. Networks are constantly evolving, so it’s important to adapt your campaign as needed.

Best Social Media Platforms for Small Business

Many social media platforms are great for small businesses. The ones that you choose to use will depend on your business’s goals and the demographics of your customers. Here are some of the most popular social media platforms.

Youtube

Youtube is a great way to market your small business. You can create videos about your products or services, and post them on your channel. You can also create playlists of related videos, and add links to your website or blog in the descriptions.

You can also use Youtube for advertising. You can create a video ad that promotes your business and target it to people who are interested in what you offer. 

Instagram

Instagram is a visual platform that can be used to show off your products or services. You can also use it to build relationships with potential and current customers by providing valuable content.

You can post photos and videos of your products, behind-the-scenes footage of your business, or posts that show off your company’s culture.

You can also use Instagram stories to engage with your followers. Stories are a series of photos or videos that disappear after 24 hours. You can use them to share sneak peeks of new products, answer customer questions, or give a tour of your office.

Facebook

Facebook is the perfect place to start when it comes to social media marketing for small businesses. It’s a great way to connect with your customers and create a community around your business. Here are some tips for using Facebook effectively:

  • Create a page for your business. This should be separate from your profile.
  • Make sure your page is complete and up-to-date. Include a profile picture, cover photo, and description of your business.
  • Post regularly. You should aim to post once or twice a day.
  • Engage with your customers. Reply to comments and questions.
  • Use hashtags. Tags help people find your posts when they search for related topics.
  • Promote your page. Share it with your friends and followers on other social media platforms, and add a link to your website.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a powerful platform for small businesses to connect with their target audience. With LinkedIn, you can build relationships with potential customers, partners, and employees.

To get started on LinkedIn, create a profile that highlights your business’s strengths. In your profile, include a link to your website and describe what you do in detail.

Next, join relevant groups and start networking. Share your content with group members and connect with people who might be interested in what you do.

Finally, use LinkedIn Ads to reach more people. Target your audience by location, job title, company size, or other factors. You can also use LinkedIn’s Audience Insights tool to learn more about your target audience.

Twitter

Twitter can be a great way to connect with customers and followers. It’s also a great way to share news and updates about your business. Here are some tips for using Twitter effectively:

  • Make sure your profile is complete and up-to-date, including a link to your website.
  • Create interesting and engaging tweets that will capture the attention of your followers.
  • Include a call to action, such as asking followers to visit your website or sign up for your email list.
  • Respond to comments and questions from followers on time.
  • Use hashtags to reach a wider audience.
  • Monitor your Twitter analytics to see how well your tweets are performing.
  • Use Twitter advertising to reach a wider audience.

Tips for Small Businesses Social Media Marketing

  • Establish your goals and objectives

What are you hoping to achieve through social media marketing? Increased web traffic, more leads, higher customer retention rates? Once you know what you’re aiming for, it will be easier to determine which channels and tactics will work best for you.

  • Define your target audience

Who are you trying to reach with your marketing messages? Knowing your target audience will help you craft more relevant and effective content.

  • Choose the right channels

Not all social media platforms are created equal – some work better for certain businesses than others. Do some research to figure out which channels will be most effective for you.

Quality content is key to success in social media marketing. If you can provide your audience with useful, informative, and engaging content, they will be more likely to stick around and interact with your brand.

  • Engage with your audience

Social media is all about interaction – the more engaged you are with your audience, the more successful you will be. Respond to comments and questions, and join in on conversations.

  • Monitor your progress

Keep track of how well your social media marketing efforts are performing by tracking key metrics such as website traffic, leads generated, and customer engagement rates. This will help you determine what’s working and what needs to be tweaked.

  • Be patient

Social media marketing takes time and effort – don’t expect to see results overnight. Persevere, keep creating valuable content, and you will eventually see positive results.

Conclusion

Social media marketing is an incredibly powerful tool that small businesses can use to reach a larger audience. By creating valuable content and engaging with your followers, you can create a strong social media presence that will help you grow your business.

Also, don’t forget to use social media advertising to reach even more people. By targeting your ads correctly, you can get your message in front of the right people and see a big return on your investment.

Social media marketing can be a great way to connect with customers and promote your small business. In this article, we’ll discuss what platforms are best for small businesses, how to create a social media strategy, and more.

Author-Bio

Mark Hensley is an ex-Senior Hardware Engineer at Hewlett-Packard, an IT Professional, and the Founder of Povverful, contributor to ByRossi.  Website – https://ca.byrossi.com/

8 Website Design Trends That Will Make an Impact on Your Business

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/web-design-webdesign-web-design-1668927/

A website is a powerful, robust, and flexible marketing tool for any business. It is a platform that can reach millions of people, without huge spending on advertising.

The company has total control over the content. This gives tons of flexibility to the marketing team. They can use it to showcase products and services. Blogs and whitepapers are also fantastic ways to build authority in the industry.

So, an impactful business website should have some critical elements. The content should be relevant and provide enough information on the business. Pages must be fast loading and easy to navigate.

An e-commerce website design has specific requirements. Such include the proper arrangement of page elements to allow for easy browsing. Think of it much like an aisle or counter arrangement in a brick and mortar establishment.

There must be a contact page for anyone who needs to reach the company. Tech-savvy companies are integrating some technologies to improve the user experience.

AI chatbots, for example, assist customer service. Voice search provides convenience to online visitors. It works well for those who prefer to speak rather than type requests.

But, there is so much more to website design. Our article explores some trends that could have a significant impact on a business.

Why Web Design Matters

Why should web design be such a big deal? In seeking answers, we spoke to Chromatix web design and conversion agency founder and CEO Irwin Hau. The Melbourne-based digital agency has been in operation since 2009.

This is what he had to say. “Web design is more than the act of putting together different elements. There must be a thought process behind everything the web designer does.”

He goes on to say; “a business website is a robust sales tool. It needs an engaging design, and user engagement persuasion techniques to achieve ROI. The web designer must have a good grasp of human psychology and human behavior to achieve this.”

The business website design matters because it should elicit a specific response. Think engagement, interest, interaction, persuasion, and finally conversion. 

“Staying on top or in the know about the latest trends is not negotiable. It is a requirement for modern web design companies. There is so much competition, noise, and clutter in the online space. The designer will be doing the client a disservice in using outdated practices,” concluded Chromatix CEO Irwin.

We went on to ask the web design specialist what he felt were some impactful business website design trends. Read on to see what they are.

     1. Accessibility is Taking Center Stage

We will place accessibility as the number one trend for business websites. To make it in the business world you must reach everyone. 

That means taking into account people who may have disabilities or specific impairments. The site should cater to those with visual, hearing, or mobility challenges. 

Screen readers, special keyboards are some elements that can help. Others are descriptive alt text in images and easy-to-read fonts. What you may not know is that your business can get into trouble if you do not consider accessibility.

There has been a significant rise in lawsuits within the last few years. In the US, there were 11,053 cases in 2019. One case involved a blind man suing Domino’s because he could not use the website. 

Federal agencies have been on the receiving end as well. Such include Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.

The web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG), standardize compliance and accessibility issues. What we are calling a trend right now, may very well become a must-have feature on all business websites.

     2. Technology in Web Design

Business owners need to take time to understand the online user. The first thing is that there is so much content in the digital space. Competitors are doing all they can to get to the target audiences. 

The modern, tech-savvy consumer is more demanding. Your offering must evolve beyond the basic product or service offering. What do you have that will set you apart from everyone else? 

The competition is now revving up. It is becoming commonplace to find some of the latest technologies in web design. Such include:-

  • AI chatbots to assist with customer service. Online visitors get prompt responses to queries or concerns. The chatbots can also recommend products, based on past purchasing behavior. They are also a fantastic way to collect data that helps in decision-making.
  • Voice assistants provide convenience on the website. They help in communication, fulfilling orders, and responding to other customer demands.
  • Voice search for those who prefer not to type out requests.
  • Virtual and artificial intelligence to provide immersive shopping experiences. Customers use the technologies to explore products without touching the tangible item. You can try on makeup virtually before deciding what to buy. IKEA has an AR app that allows you to pick and arrange furniture in a virtual room. It helps customers in decision-making. It is easier to buy when they see what the pieces will look like once in position.

     3. The Mobile-First Approach to Website Design

The reality for businesses is that many people use mobile devices to browse the internet. Research shows that as of 2020, there were over 4.28 billion mobile internet users. 

Without a doubt, the number will keep on increasing. The figures show that mobile internet traffic stands at over 55%.

Astute web designers realize the importance of a mobile-first approach. That means they design for small screens and scale them to larger ones. The whole idea is to get the layout right for mobile devices first. 

And, search engines like Google use mobile-first indexing. That means they base their ranking on how the website looks on such devices. When designing for mobile there are some critical things to have in mind. 

The design should be intuitive and simple. Navigation and links must respond to finger scrolling. Font sizes should be easy to read. Image sizes should allow for quick loading while maintaining clarity.

     4. Minimalism is Here To Stay

https://unsplash.com/photos/bs2Ba7t69mM

If there is one web design trend that remains relevant year in year out, it is minimalism. Just look up the best web design trends, and it  is sure to come up. 

Minimalistic web designs are attractive for various reasons. They scream professionalism, simplicity, and elegance. Web designers incorporate a lot of white space for a non-cluttered look.

It all goes back to Chromatix CEO Irwin’s position of understanding human psychology. White space is inviting and provides a subtle nudge for the online user to browse through the pages. 

Think about it much like you would visiting a brick-and-mortar store. How likely are you to stay if everything is everywhere? The clutter will evoke feelings of confusion and disorientation. Yet, the typical  human mind appreciates order. That is why clean aisles with lots of space bring in a calm feeling. 

Minimalistic designs aid in easier browsing. The online visitor views each unit independently. Crowding elements together forces the eyes and mind to view them together as one. 

But, put some space between each element. The eyes pick and concentrate on each one. It provides a fantastic way to communicate without distractions. The right positioning of elements like CTAs can elicit the right response. 

     5. Ultra Minimalism is Replacing Minimalism

The beauty of web design trends is that they keep on transforming. While minimalism is here to stay, a new concept is creeping in. And, that is ultra-minimalism. Think about it as an extreme version of minimalism. 

The website design team only includes the most basic elements. Think minimalism, then slash it down to 75% or less. Remember the white space we talked about? Now, add a little more blank space. Color use should typically not exceed two tones. Forget lengthy paragraphs, excess details, and so on.

For the business, you get to achieve so much. The most obvious is a professional-looking website that is clutter-free. You also get fast loading speeds because of the few elements on the site. Communicating with audiences is pretty simple with such designs. 

And, you get the opportunity to draw their eyes to the products or services, without any distractions. The web designer will focus on elements that spark interest and make you want to click on the site. 

     6. Dark Mode Adds an Element of Mystery

https://unsplash.com/photos/i1VQZsU86ok

There is something so mysterious and alluring about the dark mode. It evokes feelings of drama and curiosity while being very attractive. Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are some of the forerunners in its use. 

Some people find that dark mode makes screen reading more comfortable. There may be no substantive research to support this. But, those who use mobile devices for long sessions find it more comfortable.

And now, the trend is finding its way to e-commerce website designs. There is so much flexibility, allowing for tons of creativity. The right combination of contrasting colors will make images and fonts pop. 

Those who are not ready to make the full transition have alternatives. Such include night shift or low light interfaces. That means the user can adjust the setting depending on the light. Providing toggling options is a great way to get people to engage better with the website pages.

Is the dark mode for everyone? We would say no, but it depends on your target audience. Younger audiences, millennials, and Gen Z would gravitate towards such a site. It has a ‘cool’ factor that is sure to catch their interest. 

     7. Custom Images Increase Engagement

It is not uncommon to find the same images on many websites. To cut costs, some designers will suggest to the client the use of stock images. Such are pretty inexpensive. And you also have the option of free ones on platforms like pixabay.com and unsplash.com. 

But, web design companies are starting to offer clients the option of custom images. There are several options available. 

  • The first is image treatment. The web designer tweaks or customizes photographs using different treatments. They can include shapes, layers, textures, or colors onto existing photographs. The resulting image is unique to your business website. 
  • Another option is to use illustrations. The web designer has complete freedom to ‘draw’ images that fit into the design aspects. 
  • Collage images combine graphics with images. Done in the right way, it provides a powerful way to communicate 
  • Cartoon characters are playful and fun
  • Organic or abstract shapes bring more depth to the pages. Forget straight lines to break sections within the page. Directional wavy lines are a fun and easy way to pull the visitor’s eyes to specific parts within the page.

Taking this approach frees you from the copy and paste culture that exists in the digital space. There is no limit to creativity, which increases engagement.

     8. Movement Makes Things More

 

Image source: https://www.vertbase.com/

The other interesting trend is to add some movement to the website. The advantage is you increase interaction and engagement with whoever is on the site.

There are so many ways to achieve movement including:-

  • User triggered micro animations like hover effects
  • GIFs
  • Shifting shapes or icons
  • Floating elements to remove the rigidity of static layouts
  • Dynamic scrolling
  • Embedded videos, and so much more.

Final Thoughts

Keeping an eye on web design trends is always very interesting. Some manage to remain relevant year in year out. One of the golden oldies that still trumps newbies is minimalism. It is a safe option for any business that wants a professional-looking site. 

But, some new designs show signs of a progressive company. Before making major changes, have a good understanding of the target audience. Gen Z is more accepting of change than older generations. 

The latter find safety in the familiar. So, if your business targets such groups, some trends may not be for you. 

The best piece of advice we can give is to consult a professional web development and design company. They have relevant experience to advise you on the best options. Consider the cost of hiring experts as an investment towards the success of your company.

How can SEO help you build brand recognition?

Having a recognizable brand is perhaps the most important thing to a business. Branding is your logo, motto, and color scheme. It’s what customers remember about your business. If your potential customers don’t recognize your brand, they won’t engage. 

One of the best ways to build brand recognition is through SEO. Through this article, you’ll learn how they are related. You’ll also learn SEO strategies that will ensure consumers will easily recognize your brand.

But why do you need to focus on brand recognition in the first place?

Importance of brand recognition

If your potential customers don’t know who you are, you can’t sell to them. Customers engage with brands they recognize and trust. According to a report by Edelman, 81% of customers must trust a brand to buy from them. If your brand is familiar in the customer’s minds, they are more likely to choose you over your competitors. 

Having a recognizable brand gets customers to engage with your marketing and enter your sales funnel. It also helps you get new leads which results in sales. 

Think of it as a cycle. The better your brand recognition, the more likely you’ll generate sales again. The more sales you have, the more likely consumers will, again, recognize your brand! 

Why SEO matters for brand recognition

Statistics by SmallBizGenius show customers need five to seven impressions to remember a brand. So, how do you get these impressions? Through an effective SEO strategy. You want to appear as high as possible in SERPs to increase your chances users will see you. 

The more time a person spends interacting with your brand through your website, the more they are likely to recognize you the next time around. If they purchase from you, you’ll get even better brand recognition! Not to mention increased sales.

Simply put, the higher you are in SERPs through good SEO, the more visible you are to consumers. That translates to improved brand recognition the next time around.

Ways to improve SEO for improved brand recognition

So, now the question is this: How do you improve SEO to improve brand recognition? Let’s look at some ways.

     1. Use structured data

In the world of SEO, structured data refers to a type of markup on a webpage that allows search engines like Google to interpret how it will display your data in SERPs. So, for example, the code that would tell Google that random numbers on your website are your business contact number looks something like this:

Source

When a bookstore like Full Circle Bookstore in Oklahoma, for instance, uses that type of markup in its site and appears in SERPs for a specific search query, users may see something like this:

You might ask, but what does structured data have to do with SEO? Well, even if structured data isn’t a direct ranking signal, it can help you rank higher in SERPs indirectly. When you give people additional data about your business, you increase the chances someone clicks on your link.

An improved clickthrough rate can lead to improved SEO rankings. That’s because when a URL is frequently visited, Google concludes that the page is valuable. 

     2. Ensure a great user experience

If you want to rank well on search engine results pages, you must ensure your website provides a great user experience. Google’s algorithm, after all, takes into account just that when ranking websites. 

Besides, having a good website user experience is great for your brand image. When people can easily navigate your site, they’ll associate your brand with great service.

But what exactly should your website have to ensure a great user experience?

Here are the fundamentals:

  • Fast website load time 

Few things frustrated customers more than a slow website. According to Portent, website conversions drop by an average of 4.42% with each additional second of load time. So, optimizing your website for fast load times is essential. Optimize your images and remove render-blocking JavaScript. Assess your page speed with Google’s PageSpeed Insights.

  • Easy access to content 

Your content needs to be accessible to customers. The more customers have to click through pages to find what they need, the more likely they will leave your website. 

  • Seamless customer journey 

Tools like Google Analytics allow you to see the paths customers take on your site. If one element is letting you down, fix it, as this is where you are likely losing your customers. 

Make sure your logo features across the website. The idea is for your website visitors to associate that logo with your brand. Don’t forget to ensure consistent branding as well. Visit professional brand agencies websites for more examples. 

Create content in line with user’s intentions

If you want to increase your chances of appearing in SERPs for improved brand recognition, you need to make your content relevant to user’s queries. So, two things. 

One, you need to know what your target audience is searching for.

Two, you need to include those keywords in your content to maximize the chance of it appearing at the top of the SERPs.

Let’s talk about that first point.

Start by defining your audience. That’s where customer personas can help you.

Customer personas are fictional representations of your ideal audience. They contain important data about them, including their problems. These are the problems they are probably looking to find solutions to on Google.

Source

Having a customer persona will help you define your brand voice and the pain points to address in your content. Once you’ve gone through this process, you’ll need to use relevant SEO tools to optimize your content for the search results.

Tools like Clearscope, Frase, and Surfer SEO are invaluable for content creation and content optimization. These tools will help you to identify the keywords to include in your content, the headings to use, questions to answer, and more. All of this data is gathered from a review of the ranking content in the search results.

Here’s an example of the UI for Frase, one of the SEO optimization tools I mentioned.

On the right side of the dashboard, you can see that you have a list of keywords alongside the suggested frequency. There are tabs for questions to answer, content ranking for the term you are targeting, and more on the right menu.

Utilizing all of this data to optimize your content drastically increases the chance of it ranking.

There are many examples of companies that use these types of tools to optimize their content. Nextiva’s SIP trunking provider sales page is a nice example of best practice.

Above the fold, they have the initial sales copy with a call to action.

The sales copy is not optimized for SEO. Immediately below the fold is where the magic happens. You can see they have a definition of SIP trunk. That definition targets the Google featured snippet.

Below that definition, you have sections that address SIP trunking. The page goes on to explain why you might want SIP trunking and has a whole section with Frequently Asked Questions.

The page outline does a great job of addressing customer pain points, answering questions, defining terms, and including all of the relevant keywords. Creating SEO optimized content like this for your site dramatically increases the likelihood of your content ranking.

     3. Invest in link-building 

Another crucial part of a successful SEO strategy is link-building. If you can get backlinks from sites with high domain authority, it will have a huge effect on your search rankings. Google looks at backlinks as votes of confidence made by sites that link to you. So, if many authority sites link to your content, Google is likely to conclude that your content is high-quality and should therefore rank.

But how exactly can you get those backlinks? Well, sure, you can wait for other sites to discover your high-quality content. That, however, might take too long. You need to get your content in front of them.

Guest posting is a great way to generate backlinks. Write a great blog post that contains links to your content on your site, and have that blog post (guest post) published on another website. Check out this sample guest post from Neil Patel on Geekwire:

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The guest post contains a link to Kissmetrics, one of his companies.

The more backlinks a piece of content gets from relevant authority sources, the higher the likelihood Google will show that content on the front page of the search results. When that happens, Google can analyze user quality metrics like bounce rate to assess whether the content deserves to be shown on the first page of Google.

 

Optimizing images in WordPress for SEO

In a time where we have cut-throat competition in almost every sector, it gets very crucial on our part to make sure our product, site, or business stands out. In a virtual world, you can make your content or site visible by optimizing it according to the latest algorithms. That’s the way you can rank better in Search Engine Result Pages (SERP). People who use WordPress know that this platform allows you to build your own site from scratch and requires almost zero programming information. But creating a site through WordPress doesn’t mean the admin will get the highest rank on SERP. Again, there are many more pages that have quality content and can give you competition. For that part, you need to learn a few tricks about WordPress SEO. You need to understand which tools can help you coax more traffic to your content.

Now with time search engines are also revolutionizing to make it a more efficient experience for their users. One of the features which define this revolutionary take is ‘image search’. Around 1 billion searches are made on Google Images every day, and that number is quite big. That’s why people have initiated to optimize their images for WordPress SEO.

We have jotted down 10 really constructive tips to optimize images in WordPress for SEO. Go through each point and build a better optimization strategy.

     1. Use Images

The foremost tip to optimize your page through images is to add images to your site. Many people just believe in writing a good piece of content for their website and don’t pay much attention to the visual outlook of their pages. Images help your readers/visitors to understand better. They are a visual representation of your ideas which might not come across through words but definitely through images. As it is said, a picture is better than thousand words. Sometimes what your content fails to do, images can do that like a child’s play. Now, comes a very important clause to this trick. You can’t put TOO MANY IMAGES in your blog post either. If it has been advised to use images, that doesn’t mean we can overload our pages with that and don’t have any useful content for our readers.

     2. Choose The Right Image Format

Search engines are evolving every day. They are getting better each day. So, it will be wiser to choose the right image format for your site. A large image will make your website big and it will take a longer time to load. When everything in this virtual world is just one click away, you can not even take an extra second to revert to your user with apt information.

Images saved as JPG are usually smaller in size as compared to PNG and GIF. However, when you have to maintain the quality of the image you must use PNG images which are better for high-quality images, and WordPress Seo.

     3. SEO Friendly Alt Text

Before we start with how to put your Image Alt Text, let’s clear out the idea of what it is. Alt texts are generally used to describe your image to Google. You have to put words in Alt Text which describe your image best so that the search engine can rank your image better in searches. Now, the next important question that arises here is how to optimize your images through Alt Text. That’s quite simple, stick to the basic rule: elaborate with minimum words.

For example, do not just write ‘Books’ instead write ‘Steve Jobs Biography’. This way, you can make it more clear about what your image is. In case your image doesn’t load, at least the viewer can understand it by reading the Alt Text.

     4. Work on Your SEO Title and Description

By default, Google uses the title and description you have used on your page to show under the description space of an image. You must take care of what title and description you are putting on your page, whether it matches with the image or not.

     5. No Attachment Pages

When you use WordPress, in case you upload images on your site it creates a page for all the images being uploaded. These pages are called attachment pages. Now the thing is, these pages just display the bigger size version of your image. Search Engines usually consider such pages/sites as lower quality with little or no content. This could result in bringing down the ranking of your page. The good part about WordPress is that it is one of the most SEO-friendly CMS which gives you plenty of options to work on WordPress SEO. In this case, as well you can disable your attachment pages by using the plugin.

     6. Image Structured Data

Google Images categorize some images as a rich result and show them along with prominent badges on search result pages. You can get that badge for your images as well. All you need to do is work on adding structured data to your site. This way Google will consider your image as a rich result and rank it better with badges. These badges give quick info that what your page is all about which increases the chance of bringing traffic to your site. Google Images display schema markup for categories including products, videos, and recipes.

     7. Turn to Social Media Platforms 

We know this well that the amount of traffic social media has these days can’t be matched with any of the other online platforms. Social media has immense traffic always available for doing great business. Under your WordPress SEO strategy to optimize images, make sure you select the right images which can be shared on social media for your site. Social platforms like Facebook and Instagram are quite image-based, users are generally there to check out interesting stories or pages through images. So, that can be a great opportunity for you to optimize the kind of images you may use for your site and bring traffic through it.

     8. Speed Up Using Plugins

If your site has some large files and images, you can try up the idea of browser caching. The cache stores all the large files on the user’s web browser which can enhance the speed of your website. There also another way in which cache contributes to WordPress SEO is that when your site’s first page is loaded cache copies that page and then shows the copied version of your page to other users. In this way, it speeds up the load time of your site for the user. We are already in a time-space where everybody is in so much hurry that they need everything available online within seconds. So, this trick can do wonders for your SEO strategy.

    9. Compress The Size of Images

Google has already shared in their algorithm that speed of site matters in SEO. You have to build your website in a way that it takes less time to load everything online. That’s the key to ranking higher on any SERPs. Google uses this as a factor to serve the user with rich results including fast and relevant sites. One way through which you can speed up your site is by compressing the image size. This way your images used on the site will take lesser time to load without compressing with the quality. There are plenty of free online platforms available where you can compress your images before use.

     10. Create Mobile Friendly Site

Earlier the sites were accessible through browsers only until smartphones came. Now everything is just right in the hand of your user and a click away. So being a good and efficient website, it must be mobile-friendly. Google even ranks mobile-friendly sites even higher on search result pages. All you need to do is select a good responsive WordPress theme that can adapt to different sizes and shapes.

Try on these 10 tips to optimize images in WordPress for SEO and make your site even better.

 

What is a Lead Campaign on Google Ads? How to Set it up?

Google has captured 92.42% of the market share in web search by capitalizing on its ability to provide users with relevant information quickly and easily through Google Ads campaigns, according to a 2017 report from eMarketer .

But as SEO becomes more competitive than ever before, organic clicks are no longer profitable enough for advertisers who can choose from over 1 million keywords that cost them upwards of $2 per click or 2¢ per view.

Creating a lead-generation campaign on the Google ads platform is incredibly simple. You need only follow three easy steps and you’ll be ready to start getting more customers for your business or organization! 

Advertisements are now taking up a significant amount of space on mobile devices. While Google search ads used to occupy only 25% of desktop clicks and 55% of mobile clicks from 2015-2017, this trend has continued until they can take up the full screen above your result before you even click through or reach page one.

These results are bad news for advertisers who want to capture a high percentage of search traffic. In the past three years, ads have started appearing above or below organic links on mobile devices and desktop computers as well (full screen). Now that Google has made it so difficult to get through even the first page in most cases, ad campaigns seem like an unnecessary investment.

What is Lead Campaign on Google Ads ?

An online advertising campaign is a lead generation tool that draws in high-quality, relevant leads for businesses.

To make more sales, businesses that have long sales processes need to use lead campaigns. Lead campaigns supply their employees with opportunities for making a sale when there are many customers in the market who might be interested (in buying insurance or real estate).

By driving traffic to landing pages, insurance companies are able to acquire their customer’s contact information in exchange for a free quote.

People visit insurance landing pages to get a free quote in exchange for their contact information.

Google Search Ads are ads displayed in relevant search results and can be the most profitable type of ad. As Google has expanded its advertising program, these now include YouTube video ads as well as display network text-based advertisements that appear on websites across the internet.

 

Google Search Ads are ads that display relevant search results. They typically generate a positive ROI and drive an average of $2 for every dollar spent on them.

Google is one of many companies that uses paid advertisements to generate revenue for their business. These types of digital marketing tools have become very popular among small businesses due to how easy they make it for a startup company with little resources compared to other forms such as television or radio commercials which require much more time and money spent before seeing any return on investment (ROI). While some online advertisers struggle finding success from using traditional methods like PPC or CPM platforms, starting out with Google’s

So let’s start with the lead campaign

1.Find The Right Keywords

The first step in starting a business is to find the right keyword. The best way to do this is through research and testing, so it’s important that you don’t rush into anything blindly or spend too much time on one particular keyword before moving onto another.

The very first thing someone should consider when they are looking for keywords for their business is whether there has been enough search volume recently within Google Keyword Planner Tool – meaning these words have just started gaining popularity as of late which might make them more relevant and useful than previously used ones such as “buy now” rather than something like “how can I help”

Google encourages advertisers to target generic keywords, but users are more attracted by a targeted approach. Google Ads actually show the search term in parentheses next to organic listings and paid results for that particular phrase or word on the page.

This is an example of how it’s easy for people who don’t know what they’re doing with their campaign targeting strategies can cause major problems when trying to get leads/customers from Adwords campaigns because there isn’t enough research done before starting them up about which words would be best suited towards getting conversions easily – instead just using terms like ?electrician.? People should look into whether these types of keywords, if used, will draw interested parties through ads so that companies won’t waste time and money resources advertising a product. This is why it is really important that you focus your efforts on understanding your customer expectations. A customer centric business has a clear advantage regarding its strategic keyword campaign as it has a deeper knowledge about its customers’ needs and mindsets, and knows the exact words that will trigger them.

2.Optimize Your Landing Page 

you have to optimize the page to convert as many visitors into leads. Google has set out best practices in order for their ads to not be paused/removed from search results if they are followed properly.

ohh no! the pop-ups

Google Doesn’t Want You Using Pop-Ups or Interstitials

While most marketers are using popups and interstitials to make money, Google doesn’t like them. This means not only no annoying popup ads that you probably weren’t planning on including anyway, but also no lead-capture interstitial ads.

Full-screen landing pages don’t always have to be long and informational. Google is fine with them as long as the content is relevant, but there are still some rules that users need to follow for their page not to get penalized by search engines or catch user attention in a negative way.

3.Run and  Test

Testing ads can improve the quality score, CTR, and CPC/CPA.

The secret of successful marketers is that they run tests to improve quality score and lower cost per click. Google defines ‘quality score’ as a metric which measures the relevance between ads, landing pages, search queries on GOOGLE Ads. Some advertisers think it’s just for vanity but really this holistic benchmarking algorithm helps with finding new ways to place your ad in front of relevant users according to their keywords searches thus helping you make some revenue from them!

The way I understand marketing campaigns such as AdWords (specially when we talk about Quality Score) is almost like running an experiment where one gets data back after every step taken during the execution process so understanding results becomes easy & effective at deciding what next steps need be done based off past

A/B testing landing pages can improve your conversion rates by as much as 550%. You could also perform simple changes like adding extensions to your ads. This may help you increase CTR and ultimately boost ROI!

With drastic improvements like this, you will see a huge improvement in your quality score and lower CPCs & CPA.

Try to Split-Test Ads

To test different ad combinations, simply enter in the description and headline variations you want. Then select an aggregate function to automatically generate ads for testing.

If you aren’t already an AdEspresso user, there are still some testing options within Google Ads. You should make sure that the ad group to test ads in has disabled its “optimize” setting by default.

A new Ad Variations feature in Google Ads will help advertisers create more varied ad groups for campaigns.

This update to the original automated tool, called “Ad Group Experiments” was created specifically with small businesses and marketers without large advertising budgets in mind. The tools allow users to automatically experiment within their existing ads instead of having one option always be shown while another is being tested on its own separate campaign or even entire account level.

This can interfere with impressions shared and prolong time needed to get conclusive results from tests so it’s important that only two options are ever running at once during experiments which this updated version allows you to accomplish easily through manual set up or via an improved AdEspresso integration .

Then, you only have to monitor the individual CTR, CVR, and CPC. also switch the ads on and off based on your  performance.

Conclusion

It only takes a few clicks to create an effective lead-generation campaign on the Google ads platform, but it requires more effort than that in order for such campaigns to be profitable month after month.

Instead of creating an individual landing page for each search query, you can create a few general pages that are optimized to drive people towards your CTA.

A campaign manager’s true test is their ability to improve upon results over time. You can also utilize external digital marketing CRMs to manage all leads at one place. Campaign managers must continue testing, or they will lose out in the end due to rising costs and a shrinking margin for profit.

 

 

 

Dropshipping: The Best Platform to get started

What is Dropshipping? 

You may have heard it spoken or mention before in the online space, but what exactly is dropshipping, and how does it work? Today, we will learn what dropshipping is; we will know where is the best place to get started and who can be of help to us.

But first, let’s understand the traditional way of doing business. You, the seller, meets the buyer. The buyer wants to buy something that you have, and he gave over the money to you. You then hand over the goods to the buyer, and a business transaction is made. It has been the way of doing business since men started to barter trade.

Now – this is how dropshipping works. You, the seller, meets the buyer on the Internet. The buyer sees what you have and likes what he sees and wants to buy it. He then gives you the money, and instead of handing over the products to him directly, you tell him wait for your assistant to send the goods later that day. Your assistant acquired the goods from the designated warehouse in town, shipping the goods to your customer – the business transactions completed. Now that’s dropshipping. It’s a business model that allows you to keep ZERO inventory but still making sales and money. 

Where Can I Start Dropshipping Business? 

There are a few established platforms that you can quickly get started. We will examine three specific platforms in this article today.

  1. Shopify dropshipping

Started in 2006, Shopify has evolved and becomes one of the most popular dropshipping platforms of choice. Shopify is a subscription plan-only platform; you will need to subscribe to either one of their three plan offerings.

Being a paid platform offers you tremendous support, and plenty of third-party Shopify assistants mushroomed to provide beginners with the expertise to create a store from scratch right down to managing your Shopify store. The ease of use coupled with many plugins makes Shopify one of the best platforms to get started.

  1. WooCommerce dropshipping

Another popular dropshipping platform is WooCommerce. WooCommerce is an e-commerce plugin that turns any WordPress-based website into a full-fledged dropship store with just a few clicks. WooCommerce is an open-source plugin, meaning anyone can use it however they wish – for free.

WooCommerce appeals to drop-shippers who like to maintain control of their domain and web hosting. This platform is an excellent choice for new drop-shippers who wanted only to spend minimal initial investment on starting their dropshipping store. You will also find plenty of support from web developers worldwide if you have a problem with your website.

  1. eBay dropshipping

As one of the most established e-commerce sites, eBay gradually pivoted away from its bidding-only selling platform into a dropshipping platform. It’s an instantly recognizable name and a huge loyal customer base, a lot of drop-shippers leverage eBay strength to propel themselves to success by starting an eBay store.

New drop-shippers who prefer the reputation and the vast customer reach of eBay should consider starting their store on eBay. eBay offers various subscription store plans that cater to multiple levels of sellers. We recommend you study them and subscribe to the appropriate store plans before you get started.

Who can help me get started?

So now we know where we can start our dropshipping store; let us talk about how we can begin. Who is this assistant that we were reading about earlier in this article? This assistant is called a dropshipping sourcing agent, and today we are going to talk about EPROLO.

EPROLO – The Best Order Fulfillment Supplier 

EPROLO is a forever free dropshipping platform designed with new drop-shippers like you in mind. Established in 2015 and with 30 million fulfilled orders and counting, you can be sure that we have what it takes to make your dropshipping business a successful one. Here is what EPROLO can do for your business.

Product sourcing: There are thousands of products listed in the EPROLO platform that you can choose and begin immediately at your dropship store. They constantly monitor the current market trends and refresh their offering list so that you will always have the hottest product at your fingertips.

Quality Control: EPROLO will ensure that the product that you sell to your customers will be of the highest quality with the lowest cost possible. This service provides you with peace of mind when engaging EPROLO as your immediate order fulfillment supplier.

Fast Delivery: EPROLO sends worldwide! Most delivery will take place within 6-12 days. Coupled with their strategically placed EPROLO warehouses in the USA, UK and China, you can be sure that your client will receive their products in the shortest duration possible at a low cost.

No MOQ and forever free: EPROLO doesn’t impose any Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ), and starting an account is free. You can begin to take advantage of what the platform can offer without paying a single cent.

Print on Demand service (POD) – Thinking of selling t-shirts or mugs with your design printed on them? EPROLO got you covered too! And there is no MOQ for it! The platform offers easy-to-use tools for you to make your dream a reality.

Ease of use & support: EPROLO provides detailed and step-by-step instructions on integrating its platform with your store. The supported plugins ease your product listing as easily as a few clicks without complicated procedures so that you can list hundreds of products to your store in a short time. Support staffs are easily reachable via the displayed chatbox, or you can Skype with them if you wish, so you can be sure that you are doing the right thing all the time.

The three best dropshipping platforms – Shopify, WooCommerce, and eBay – you can start your new store. And EPROLO, the reliable dropshipping sourcing supplier you can count on. So what are you waiting for? Start a new account at EPROLO today and begin your brand new exciting journey into the world of dropshipping!

The Top 9 Sales Tools for Small Businesses in 2021

Article summary: Without revenue coming in every month, your small business won’t last for long. To overcome the hurdles that get in the way of converting your leads such as recurring tasks, you need tools to help you get things done faster so you focus on critical tasks that require your undivided attention. 

Conversions are your lifeline. And since they don’t only involve your customers making a payment for your product or service, then it’s highly likely that you have a solid strategy that helps you convert your leads into customers.  

Are you converting your leads to customers as fast as you’d like to? Are you hitting your revenue goals? Is your sales team productive?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, chances are that you’re struggling with your sales strategy. And if you’re already doing well, then there’s still room for improvement. 

You might decide to reorganize your team to make it more effective, and sometimes, all you need is the right tool that helps you save time by automating and managing business processes, so you focus on critical areas of your business.

In this post, we’ll talk about the top 9 tools you’ll need to enhance your sales strategy and boost your conversions. Let’s get started;

     1.Wix

Also ranked as a top website builder, Wix has a ton of templates to help you create stunning landing pages to boost your conversions. These templates help improve the usability of your landing pages through;

  • Eye-catching design to hold your visitors’ attention
  • Sufficient whitespace to improve the readability of your copy
  • A responsive layout for easy navigation no matter what device they are using to visit your site 

The result? Reduced bounce rate and more conversions. Take a look at this app landing page; 

Source

Additional features

  • Allows you to customize your landing page elements such as colors, call to action buttons, and social sharing icons
  • Integrates with other tools such as Google Analytics, Facebook pixel, Google ads, and Mailchimp
  • Automatic mobile optimization for each of your landing pages
  • Allows you to provide different payment methods on your landing pages

Pricing

Start with Wix’s free plan that allows first-time users to give it a test run. Once you’re satisfied, head over to their pricing page and choose a suitable premium plan that you will pay for monthly or annually.

     2. Reply.io 

Reply.io is one of (if not) the best multichannel sales tools out there. Integrating all of your sales channels from social media to phone calls to emails, you can track customer data for a single source of sales truth. 

This allows you to sell smarter, rather than working harder. 

With plenty of automation and integration, Reply handles heavy sales-lifting and keeps your data organized better than most CRMs. 

Additional features

  • Reply academy to walk you through every feature and ensure you extract the most value from the tool
  • Can be used for inbound, outbound, account-based marketing, PR, business development, and even recruiting / HR
  • Countless integrations to automate everything from contacts to outreach
  • Useful resources on building sales development processes 

Pricing

  • Reply has different pricing for individual, business, and enterprise usage

Pro tip: check out their ultra-detailed outbound sales playbook for tons of useful sales tools and tricks.

     3. Woven

Back and forth emails to plan sales meetings are unproductive. Besides, how often do you find yourself canceling a sales meeting with a prospect because of a conflicting schedule?

Using Woven, this will be a thing of the past. It comes with scheduling features that prevent double booking. Eliminate back and forth emails by sharing your availability with others, so you both find a suitable time that works.

Source

Additional features

  • Has smart templates for the meetings you hold frequently. Customize these templates to include details of your meetings, location, and time to help you schedule the meetings faster
  • Allows you to schedule meetings across different time zones and avoid conflict in timing
  • Integrates with iOS to help you plan meetings faster on your mobile device

Pricing 

  • Free (still in beta testing)

     4.Forms On Fire

Source

Once you sign up a new client, how you onboard them determines whether they stick with you or choose to work with your competitors. And if it’s taking too long to onboard them, then there’s a high likelihood that you might lose them. 

When you’re dealing with clients in person, Forms on Fire helps you to speed up this process owing to its offline capabilities then translates that data online. This way, you don’t have to enter customer data manually. 

Besides, Forms on Fire offer you a ton of customization options and templates to help you create beautiful forms that people want to fill in. Whether you’re collecting payments, work orders, or creating user onboarding checklists, forms on fire have you covered to help you automate your processes. 

Additional features

  • Serves more than 15 different industries
  • Works on Microsoft, Android, and iOS
  • Integrates with other apps to boost your efficiency

Pricing 

  • Start with their free trial then choose any of their paid plans that suit your needs. 

     5. Time Tackle

Source

In an age where productivity is your greatest asset, it’s no longer enough to track your time. You need to analyze how well you’re using it and identify loopholes in your schedule. Enter: Time Tackle

For instance, given the different responsibilities that your sales reps have, you need to know if they are doing their work and how much time they spend on each of their roles. 

If they have sales calls, you also want to know how much time they spend and compare that with the number of customers you get. 

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If you feel like they’re spending too much time on sales calls, it could be due to several objections that they can’t overcome. Train them on how to overcome these objections or tweak your sales materials to overcome these objections long before they get on a call with your sales reps. 

Additional features

  • Allows you to export your calendar to an excel sheet
  • Converts your calendar data into an invoice for projects you worked on in a given period
  • Helps you track mileage for parcel deliveries and other appointments

Pricing

Their basic plan is free, but you can upgrade to their professional or business plans to suit your needs.

     6. Venngage

     

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Using our sales rep example from TimeTackle, tweak your sales materials to overcome common objections that your sales reps encounter during sales calls by creating beautiful infographics with Venngage.

Visual content holds people’s attention, and they remember more information as compared to when they read written content. Start by using their comparison infographic templates to compare your business with a competitor, highlighting what sets you apart from everyone else. 

Additional features

  • Its does not require you to have design skills
  • Share your infographic on social media
  • Provides live and email support

Pricing

It has three pricing plans: Free, business, and premium.

     7. Mailshake

People sent and received 281.1 billion emails in 2018 and this means that you need to stand out when sending emails- especially if you’re doing link building and PR campaigns.

Use Mailshake’s link building email templates to promote your landing pages to earn more links and traffic.

 

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It also allows you to personalize each email you send, schedule follow-ups, and see how your emails are performing in their analytics reports. 

Additional features

  • Integrates with other apps such as Hubspot and Salesforce to track direct metrics and KPIs from profit margin to conversion rate
  • Allows you to A/B test your emails 
  • Analyzes your email copy and provides suggestions on how to improve it

Pricing

  • The basic plan starts at $39/month.

     8. Rightinbox

RightInbox is one of my favorite email tools out there, especially if you’re a solopreneur/consultant working with a small number of clients and want to automate your emails. Add it to Gmail or use it as an addon in Firefox, Safari, and Chrome browsers then create a drip sequence to nurture your prospects. 

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Set reminders to help you keep up with important conversations with clients such as contract signing, onboarding, or even consultation calls. 

Additional features

  • Provides you with email templates that you can optimize
  • Embed GIFs in your emails to make them more engaging
  • Sync with other CRM tools you want to use

     9. Buzzsprout

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Another great sales tool and this one comes with a twist. While won’t convert your listeners into customers immediately, Buzzsprout helps you:

  • Reach a new audience that prefers to listen to content hence bring in a new stream of leads  
  • Build trust faster with your listeners (your voice is unique therefore it allows them to connect with you)
  • Create multiple touchpoints with your audience leading to more opportunities to create brand intimacy 

Besides, 54% of your listeners are likely to buy from brands advertisements they hear on podcasts. With over 70 million monthly downloads of podcasts, you’re guaranteed to reach a wide audience. So, instead of focusing on immediate conversions, you’ll be playing the long game. 

Additional Features

  • Helps get your podcast listed on major directories
  • Provides you with podcast statistics to show you how well you are doing
  • Allows you to customize your podcast to maintain brand consistency
  • Transcribe your podcast shows inside Buzzsprout to take care of those who have trouble listening to your shows

Pricing

It provides you with a free 90-day trial. Upgrade to any of their paid plans to scale your podcast efforts. 

So, which tool will you use?

You know what you need to do to fix your sales strategy to achieve your sales goals in the next quarter. Besides, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to do that.

And the best part about most of these tools is that they offer a free trial to help you learn the ropes before you commit to them. Go ahead and grab the tools you need and get things done.