Tips to Design Mobile Friendly Email Newsletter

Email marketing is the easiest and most effective way to reach out your audience. Though an old way of reaching out your prospects, it hasn’t lost its significance and popularity. In fact it has become more effective and less straining with compare to other marketing tips and strategies. Yes, it’s not new information, you are aware of this fact! But considering the current scenario of ubiquitousness of handheld device, it is imperative to make your email newsletter mobile friendly, your audience can access! This is new to understand and focus! It’s time to design your emails for mobile phones to reach wider spectrum of audience as majority of them browse email through mobile.

Crafting a mobile email takes right planning and efforts. There are certain guidelines and tips that you must consider while designing a mobile friendly email newsletter. Let’s have insight into the different factors that can help make your email design mobile friendly!

Stick to Short and Sweet

Simplicity still rules the roost! One-column format can work best for the mobile friendly email newsletter. Such format is easy to access for time-strapped audiences. It may compel you to tweak some of your standard design works. Such emails will also require a simplified header and clearer navigation. Smaller designs would work to display the start of the email message on the first screen.

Develop Customer-focused Content

Focus more on your customers and their needs rather than your company and its services. You can trigger interest of your audiences by offering solution to common problems that they might face. You can offer them tips to resolve the issues. In addition you can also focus on industry news and trends. Case studies could also be a great read stating how others have improved their functioning.

Stick to Larger Fonts

Readability is ideally one of the biggest problem audiences often face. You should use larger fonts. In addition, do not forget to turn off hyphenation. For making it a standard practice Apple’s iOS has a minimum font size of 13 points that can be automatically adjusted with anything less than that. It is important for mobile read, due to small screen size.

Make a Subtle ‘Call to Action’

Call to actions is also imperative in a mobile email. Every element should be designed in a way that user action is quite obvious. It could be either buttons or text like “Click Here, “Buy Now,” – that appears in the design.

Carefully Include Images

Not all mobile users can actually see images from a mobile email newsletter. It is only Apple’s iOS devices that can automatically display images in emails. So be careful and perform ample research before incorporating any image.

Dig deep into your analytics to understand the types of devices users are opting to view your messages. If you plan to add one, make sure of certain aspects. Just ensure the image is viewable without scrolling. Your message should be understandable even without seeing the image.

Split the Screen in Three Segments

Your mobile newsletter should be fragmented into three sections: Header and branding, introductory message and call to action. Each of the above part should have a space on the first screen of the email format to display the message in totality without the need to scroll.

Focus on Ergonomics and Touch

All the components that need to be tapped and touched with one finger should be easily distinguishable from other elements with ample space in between. It should be easy to touch. Go for the full-width calls-to-action, so it can be easily used by left or right handed audiences.

Leave ample space around the clickable button or text. Better add more texts to the link that need to be touched to make it easier to touch and restrict the number of links close to it. It will avoid the user from touching the wrong one. You must also use color and bolding for all links to make it easier for users to have an obvious visual cue that the text is meant for specific purpose.

Things to Avoid

There are a few things that you must avoid as these can ruin the otherwise awesome mobile newsletter.

1. Forget to Add Navigation: You must not forget to add navigation to your newsletter. It should have an extremely simple navigation to divert users to your website, but remember to optimize it for mobile.

2. Developing a “subtle” Color Palette: Users tend to adjust the contrast and color very frequently on their mobile devices. Do not create color palettes having soft hues or colors devoid of any contrast.

3. Using Small Type: This is a real turn off to your audiences. People scroll. Keep the type sufficiently large for your visitors to read easily. Else they will close it immediately without taking pain to zoom out to read it.

4. Buttons Overlapped by Standard UI Icons: Avoid placing buttons at the bottom of the screen; they will be hidden under the icons when users try to interact with them.

5. Clutter is a Disaster: Opt for a small single message for mobile and rely on it. Users cannot spend time or effort to filter a lot of data from a newsletter on their phones. Keep the design of your email newsletter clear and tidy without any unnecessary data!

Conclusion

Mobile email design is a unique perception with distinct considerations. There could be many a things you should consider are altogether different than with any other project.

Still it is recommended that all of your email newsletters or other related correspondence must be optimized for mobile. Develop and craft every message using the above tips and then contemplate about any smaller changes that are required for larger formats. This strategy will work as you will develop a single and unified message across all platforms with a focused vision. Your vision will be clear about what you want to achieve with the email before you go too far along and make necessary content decisions early in the process and won’t think that you are being compelled to cut down content for mobile users.

Maulik Shah lives in Ahmedabad, India and runs an IT company offering Web Design solutions to enterprises across the globe. Being a technocrat, he holds years of experience in IT sector, and acts as a mentor to his employees.

Quick Tips Fixes Slow WordPress Websites Issues

Do you own a website built on WordPress platform? Is it lacking better performance? It is possible that your website might get slow with the passing time. Your website visitors can get annoyed, by waiting for the web pages to load. According to the surveys, customers would leave the website if it does not load within 5 seconds. To cut down this issue, it is beneficial for website owners to check their WordPress websites on regular basis.

If you own an online store operated through CMS, and if its loading time exceeds than the usual, you might lose valuable customers. As they won’t visit such slow website again, though there might be quality products with attractive deals and discounts. As per a survey conducted, it was concluded that, a delay of around 1-2 seconds can decrease the customer satisfaction around 16-17%(figures may vary according to the time).

There can be several reasons like more images, excessive content etc. for your website having more loading time. Here in this article, we have listed some tips that would help you to speed-up your website.

Quick Tips for Speeding WordPress Website

Use Image Compression

WordPress web solutions with images can attract more visitors than the websites with no images. Use images in your website but don’t forget to compress it. Unfortunately, they are the biggest files on the website. If the images are used in their original size, it will affect the loading time of the website. There are several tools available for image compression. It is better to use them for compressing your files.

WordPress plugins like WP Smush.it, Tiny PNG, Image Lazy Load WP etc. are used widely by professional developers for image compression. You can speed-up your website by reducing the loading time with this technique.

Use Caching Plugin

Caching is the technique to store the elements of the website that requires one-time loading whenever a user visits your website. It is helpful when there are static images, CSS files and JavaScripts which will load only once when the user loads your website for the first time. All this details are cached and when the visitors return to your website, the web page with stored details, will load quickly.

Modify the Code Structure

Keeping the code clean and readable is the sign of a good developer. White spaces in the code structure makes the view simplified rather than making it complex. But what if, it decreases the loading time?

It is a good practice to write the code that other developers can easily understand. But removing the white spaces will help the browsers to load your WordPress website faster. WordPress plugin like WP Minify and W3 Total Cache can remove the white spaces without disturbing the code structure.

Simplify Tables in Database

Optimizing database tables will help your database run smoothly, without any error. Database tables can be optimized either manually or you can also use a plugin called phpMyAdmin. Other WordPress plugins like WP-DBManager and WP-Optimize are also helpful for cleaning the database and making your website load faster.

These are the quick fixes for the websites to retain its speed. Don’t let your customers leave your website without exploring it. Speedier the website, happier the customers!

What to Consider Before Hiring CakePHP Development Company?

CakePHP is the leading framework offered by PHP, which is an open source web development platform. It has gained much popularity since it was introduced in the year 2005. It is based on MVC architecture, so it complies prominently with the business logic, supporting website elements like designs, better performance and simple functionalities. Due to the huge range of features like open source nature, easy customization, simple integration etc., it has become the first choice of professional web developers around the world. They are either shifting to this framework or placing it on the top of their list of skills.

If we compare CakePHP with other open source frameworks, no other framework offers benefits and features as this framework does. Its popularity is more than any other PHP frameworks, thus it holds the peak position on the hit list.

You will definitely opt for CakePHP web development after reading the impressive details stated about this magnificent framework. We have listed some considerations that will help you select CakePHP solution provider for your required solution.

Does the CakePHP Service Provider Hold Fair Experience?

Choose a company having adequate experience in providing CakePHP web solutions. Don’t just ask them about their experience, but check the projects they accomplished till date. Review all the projects to check what type of work they do and what procedures they follow.

Who are their Clients?

A company’s credibility can be calculated by the list of clients it has served. Their core competencies can be measured by reviewing the testimonials and feedbacks given by their clients. You can even ask them their client’s details to ask them about their experience while working with the company you are thinking to approach. Once you are sure about the company’s services and its quality, you can proceed by consulting them for your web solution.

How impressive is their Portfolio?

Review their project portfolio. It will narrate company’s story about the work they accomplished. You can find how proficient is the developers’ team. You might check their creativity and can even relate it with your requirements.

What Work Procedures They Follow?

Well, if you have selected a web service provider, check their working model and the procedures they follow. It is better to be on a safer side by reviewing their method of project execution rather than getting dissatisfied. You can come to know about the work quality they implement in the web solution they provide.

Does the Company Fit in your Budget?

Budget is the factor that no customer can neglect. Ask the service providers for the quotations and select the company that fits in your budget. Don’t just compare the price, but also match the services they offer and time of delivery they promise. Read the documents carefully before accepting them to avoid any issues.

All these points will help you choose a reliable and trustworthy web solution provider. Thus, in turn you will receive a prominent web solution for your business.

Android L vs Android M

Google’s Android Lollipop, when debuted, was the biggest update till date. With the multitude of features and functions, it won millions of hearts of technology lovers. Simple yet attractive material design it offered was totally different than its earlier versions. Android also released its dotted version after the source version Android 5.0. After serving the world with a truly innovative operating system, Android is ready with it’s another version i.e. Android M. Its preview version is out currently and the main version is expected to hit the market by end of this year.

Quick Insights

Android Lollipop is the most liked operating system version offered by Google. Let us see, how well Android M would perform when it will hit the market in 2015.

Android L

Google launched Android L in the last quarter of 2014. After this release, Android received much appreciation holding the tag “biggest upgrade of Android” given by Sundar Pichai, head of Android. It has also received its first dotted version, which included some basic fixes. Earlier, only few manufacturers were able to acquire this version. But in the current scenario, almost all the smartphone manufacturers are able to offer this version to their customers.

It is a remarkable opportunity for Android app development companies as they can now implement fresh and interesting features in the apps they build. Android L apps offer great user experience.

Android M

Google has recently launched a preview version Android M, which is preceded by Android Lollipop. The full version is not yet made available for downloads. But it is expected to hit the technology market in the last quarter of the year 2015. It is expected that this new version will have myriads of new features and functions to offer. Android fans are eagerly waiting for this version as there are many surprises wrapped under the name “Android M”.

Android app solution offered by web service providers will be completely off beat as this version offers fresh and creative features. Let us see how it will impact the technology market when it will enter the market.

Attractive Gains

There are so many reasons why Android is the first choice of millions of hearts. It’s two different operating system version L and M offers excellent user experience.

Android L Features

• Lock Screen Notifications
• Secure Face Unlock
• Improved Quick Settings
• Attractive Material Design
• Double Tap to Wake
• Reduced Energy Consumption

Android M Features

• App Permissions
• Biometric Support
• Android Pay
• Direct Share to Send Stuff
• Text Selection with Floating Toolbar
• Simplified Volume Controls

Final Words

Whether you stick with Android L or upgrade to Android M when it arrives, Google will surely provide you an amazing user experience.

Should you Keep Android L?

Well, this question can be answered only when you have the next Android version i.e. Android M. Till then, enjoy your smartphone experience with Android Lollipop and stay tuned for more updates from Android M.

Should you Upgrade to Android M?

With the launch of preview version of Android M, it is expected that the user version will have many surprises packed into it. Let us wait for the launch of the complete version for answering the above question.

Well, keeping Android L or upgrading it to Android M when it is made available, entirely depends on your personal choice. But trying the new version might give a better mobile experience for sure. Let us wait for the version launch to review, if Android M can make the record breaking entry. Who knows?

Why Companies Tend to Enforce SugarCRM?

Customers are superior for any business. For building unbeatable strategies, sales professional study the customer-purchase lifecycle. This is how you can get the best out of your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software implemented in your organization. Studying purchase life cycle method can be used when the sales team has few customers to manage; otherwise following this method will make your organization less productive. When the customers’ increase in your organization, you will need a strong and powerful solution that will help you fulfill the challenges of managing number of customers and their data easily.

Implement SugarCRM application in your company to simplify the process of data management, business activities etc. It will help you, bridge the gap between the sales professional and remarkable CRM solution along with boosting the sales ratio.

Top web service provider offers SugarCRM development solution to the companies seeking profitable solutions. Consult professional web developers or hire them for building CRM solution that can help you generate revenue.

Here are some of the great reasons why huge enterprises are selecting SugarCRM solution as their CRM solution.

Reasons Why SugarCRM is much popular?

Here are few features that would make companies rely on this magnificent and beneficial CRM software.

Open Source – Easy Customization

The architecture of this leading CRM solution allows you to customize its features and functions to fulfill the requirements of the organization. The paid versions of SugarCRM solution like Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise edition will allow you to modify the source code. Redistribution of the source code is not possible with these paid editions. SugarCRM integration will make your business platform more flexible offering simple user interface to the employees and higher authorities of the organizations.

Seamless Functions – Smooth Workflows

Huge organizations have numerous tasks and several employees to work for it, thus, making and managing concrete strategies for smooth workflows becomes important. SugarCRM solution helps organizations to conduct marketing campaigns for enhancing sales ratio. With SugarCRM software solution, you can also setup alerts or reminders for tasks like sending emails, making calls etc. for simplifying business processes.

User Roles Management – Simplifies Task Assignment

SugarCRM solution offers flexibility in assigning roles and responsibilities to the employees of the organizations. It allows giving specific rights to the users, like managers can be assigned all the rights while employees can be given only the view-role. You can divide the roles according to the designation to simplify task management.

Sales and Marketing Strategies – Allows Business to Grow

With SugarCRM solution companies can build various marketing campaigns like emails, web, phone calls etc. for lead generation. The reports generated in your CRM software will give a clear view of your business performance. Thus, by considering these reports, you can make strong strategies to boost the revenue.

Here we have listed only few reasons, why companies are selecting and relying on SugarCRM application for better business performance. The feature list might be long. Thus, we can conclude that “SugarCRM is the solution that will bring a definite success.” Implement it to receive extensive success.

What Foils ERP Project Implementation

ERP is comprehensive software that runs your company efficiently. The biggest challenge is getting it properly implemented. But a great correlation has been found between the problems that result in frustration in the selection process and the issues that can foil the implementation. Some of the widely witnessed implementation factors that have often derailed the overall ERP project, leaving the business in lurch, have been discussed in this post.

Let’s have an insight what those aspects are that can derail ERP implementation.

•     Unclear Objective
•     Lack of Accountability
•     Improper Resourcing
•     Scope Creep
•     Inadequate Change Management

Unclear Objective

Clarity in the ERP goal is of the essence. It may lead to even more conflicts on the goals. Failure to streamline the objective prior to starting the project will ensure that you will fall victim to scope creep.

In case your vendor is professional they may lock down the scope early, ensuring that they know how to success, thus protecting you. You also need to terminate all the assumption that you may have made in the sales process about what could be included. Better get the objectives documented and well evaluated before you finally sign contracts otherwise there is always a possibility of scope creep as your expected scope will be wider than the vendor’s.

Lack of Accountability

Ownership of any project has to occur at every level of the organizational framework, but it must be taken forward in word and action both by the leaders who are at the top of the pyramid.

Understanding the executive ownership is very vital to every company for effective implementation of the project.

Improper Resourcing

After having your goals clear before you and once you have nailed down your project scope – what comes next?

Involving the right people in the project after relieving them from their regular work to devote time to the implementation is difficult but essential. The ground reality is that the resources you need to work on the project are the people who are running your business now and they are already damn packed with a full week’s work.

A methodology design workshop conducted in the absence of right people involved is an absolute disaster and just a waste of effort, time, and money.

Better do not start the project in the lack of right people to work on this project. Finally if your business is seasonal in nature or depends on repetitive boom/bust cycles you must draw a down cycle to keep your executive busy on a business morph projects. Earning enough revenue when times are good is very important, so that in the next down cycle you can keep your executive busy in ERP project.

Scope Creep

The scope creep can be your biggest enemy. You might have an undocumented variation to your project plan that can add a week and $15,000 to the cost impacting other stakeholders or the expanse. It is very much possible. It may happen anytime, if it is not aggressively managed initially.

Inadequate Change Management

People are usually averse to change, which is threatening at multiple levels. An accurate and effective change management should be in place to streamline the work processes before attempting to implement and automate them in the new system. Implementation of a brand new ERP solution is an excellent opportunity to terminate current business processes. Are your people and executives ready to digest this wider change in the day-to-day functioning?

To make your ERP implementation successful, you must ensure:

•     Be focused on results to understand what your goals are and what success looks like
•     Ensure each one of your team has clear vision of project goal
•     Make sure scope is efficiently and aggressively handled
•     Ensure that impact of change on the people and processes is planned and organized

Nonetheless, all these are not that hard actually when you think about it clearly. Aligning all the aspects and factors with the project goal is the core behind a successful ERP implementation. Having a great plan and right implementation process can create almost anything on it as your business evolves.

Websites are Acquiring Responsiveness. How it Impacts eCommerce Industry? – Part 2

Several surveys are carried out, which states that the invention of digital devices like smartphones, tablets, wearable devices etc. has boosted the access of eCommerce websites. This era of internet demands every digital device to support and offer easy access to internet ecosystem. Well, this trend has affected eCommerce industry immensely. Majority of the web traffic is generated from the internet enabled digital devices. With this study, eCommerce websites owners can observe the importance of online stores to have responsive design.

To compete with the current online market, store owners need to think over the type of features to add in the website to make it popular and better UX. Responsiveness is one such feature that needs to be added in the online store.

Hope you all liked the first part of this post, which was about the latest trend of websites acquiring responsiveness. This is the concluding part of the article posted previously. It will talk about how eCommerce industry is affected by this trend.

Let us have an insight about benefits of making your online store responsive.

Websites Access Regardless of Screen Resolution

If there would not be any barrier like, you require specific screen size to access websites then web traffic towards your website would increase notably. Consult web development companies for building responsive website, which would help your eCommerce business to grow seamlessly. Today’s modern buyers do not like conditions or limitations while satisfying their online shopping requirements. Giving them freedom to access your website from any device would help them access your e-store easily thus boosting your eCommerce business.

Be it a smartphone display, a tablet screen or a desktop resolution, the design elements like buttons, text boxes, icons etc. should provide similar view. The visual objects should adapt the screen size and adjust themselves with the display automatically.

Cost Effectiveness Balances Business Budget

Cost is the biggest factor any eCommerce business would look upon. Building responsive website costs too much, is just a myth. The reality is the development cost of a responsive online store is slightly more than the unresponsive website development cost. But, the cost does not exceed too much that it becomes unaffordable for companies to implement it.

A single website fits across the devices with varied shapes and sizes, isn’t it great? Just one solution for multiple devices would be the trend in the near future.

Enhanced Search Engine Visibility

Among myriads of development platforms available in the market, Magento development platform is the solution used by several eCommerce giants to get better search engine ranking.

Are you thinking – why only Magento? Well the answer to this question lies in the list of features packed in Magento platform. It offers your online store search engine friendliness, which helps your business get a vigorous push.

Responsive websites are crawled on the priority basis by popular search engines. Thus, Google will easily find your website, if it is well created. Optimize your eCommerce website and reach out your target audience faster.

Get new customers by implementing responsive design in your website. Every eCommerce business owners should follow this design strategy as soon as possible to generate sales. We promise to be back with some more such sequential articles very soon.