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Top 5 Mobile User Experience Nightmares and How to Avoid Them

With the number of mobile phone users globally expected to rise to 5 billion by 2019, it is paramount that businesses are at the top of their game when it…

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With the number of mobile phone users globally expected to rise to 5 billion by 2019, it is paramount that businesses are at the top of their game when it comes to mobile. Not only do you have the pressure of customers’ expectations but also you need to adhere to Google’s Mobile-First Index. With nearly 60% of all traffic coming from mobile devices and expectations for this number to continue to grow – should businesses prioritise the mobile experience over desktop?

The short answer is yes, the importance of mobile is essential when establishing your online presence. Yet, many sites continue to subject their consumers to mobile user experience (UX) nightmares that could easily be avoided. Here’s how:

  1. Page speed too slow

One of the most frustrating experiences for users is waiting for a page to load; in fact 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load. A fast site provides a good user experience and a satisfying UX leads to a greater percentage of conversions.

Looking to limit the number of files required to download, keeping images at a low resolution and reducing the use of JavaScript are all valuable options when it comes to providing a faster mobile site speed.

  1. Different content across devices

The average household has 10 connected devices and this is predicted to increase by 2020. It’s paramount for sites to maintain consistency in their content across all devices, particularly as more and more of us are using multiple platforms for searching.

Say you’re browsing to purchase a new car. Early one morning, you start researching new cars on your laptop and find something you like. In the evening, whilst you relax on the sofa, you grab your mobile to relook at the car you had found earlier. However, what you saw and read on your laptop is different to what you see on your mobile.

This could be confusing for the customer. Inconsistency of content through different platforms could significantly disrupt the customer journey to conversion.

First of all it’s important to maintain good content balance on mobile sites, especially between having enough necessary information and not overloading the content which could require too much scrolling.

Some sites edit their content drastically from their mobile to desktop platforms. If you condense your information, ensure you’re consistent with the key detail of any product or service on all platforms rather than cutting or changing content dramatically.

Ensuring your mobile site is of a high quality and that it provides the best user experience could require additional funding. Should a redesign be needed to allow your site to be suitable for all devices, it could mean switching to a new content management system (CMS). Consider your budget or the loan alternatives available to you when looking to fund the improvements on your mobile website.

  1. Barriers when checking out

An example of a barrier a customer may experience when checking out online is if they’ve taken the step to purchase and clicked ‘checkout’, yet find themselves facing mandatory sign ups or returning customer logins to complete before they can purchase their goods. These barriers could stop the customer in their tracks and lead to them abandoning the transaction all together.

If the user is a returning customer, you are asking them to remember which email they used previously and the correct password. If your user is a new customer, you are asking them to decide whether they want to register their details with you. Either way, it unnecessarily stops the customer in their tracks from attaining their goal – buying your product or service.

As we mentioned earlier, over half of all traffic is now coming from mobile devices. With this in mind it may be worth allowing consumers the option to sign in as a guest to ease the process of purchasing from you. If they become a repeat customer, they are then more likely to sign up once they have got to know your brand better.

  1. Long and fiddly forms

When browsing on your mobile you are looking for quick and easy answers. How many times have you gone to fill in a form on your mobile that has frustrated you?

Whether that’s because the form is clunky, too long and because you haven’t got the time to fill it out, you decide to look elsewhere: or you experience scrolling problems, continually changing keywords from letters to numbers; or the field boxes are so tiny that your fingers keep pressing the wrong box. Forms that are too long and fiddly to complete could be putting your customers off and you could be losing potential conversions.

Try to keep forms as simple as possible by only requiring details that are really necessary and that will lead to the next step towards conversion. Consider implementing dropdowns for quick answers or checkboxes. To make it easier for the user use input type ‘number’ for fields that require phone numbers, this way the numerical keyword will pop up automatically.

  1. Scrolling to the menu

Your mobile is only a small screen in comparison to your desktop and can only display so much information, so it’s no wonder you’ll be scrolling down for far longer to find what you are looking for.

However, if you wish to navigate to a different part of the site, this could mean scrolling all the way back up to the top to access the menu. This can be annoying and repetitive for the customers.

This is a simple problem to solve and could provide a smoother user experience. Consider implementing a sticky menu, so no matter how the user scrolls or uses your site, the menu is always easily accessible. This could even be a smaller version of your main menu so your content still stands out on the page.

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Why Your Business Must Not Overlook Instagram

It is a well-known fact that for any business to truly succeed in today’s world, they must have a strong online profile. The internet is very much the new high…

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Wondering Why Your Business Must Not Overlook Instagram? this post will fill you in...

It is a well-known fact that for any business to truly succeed in today’s world, they must have a strong online profile. The internet is very much the new high street and each year sees more and more consumers hitting the internet to purchase items compared with those who are visiting physical shops. The internet is not only the place where you sell, it is also the place where you can grow your business and your brand.

One such area of your online profile should feature social media and whilst many businesses are highly active on Facebook, they must not overlook the importance of Instagram, and here is why.

Second Best

Facebook is the most used of all of the social media channels and their sister site Instagram is not far behind in second place. A recent study by comScore, internet users in the US alone send just short of 12 billion minutes on Instagram each month, can you really afford to miss out on such a large market?

Purely Visual

We live in a world where content is incredibly disposable and external links and written content can be easy to ignore. Instagram, however, is purely visual and the real Instagram followers that you have i.e. those who are regularly active will be able to only see visual content from your business which means that your message will land in a better way than through links and writing.

High Average Orders

According to Shopify, the average Instagram referral order sits at $65 higher than almost all of its social media counterparts. This means that Instagram users are ready to spend on the things that impress them and if you are offering online sales, this is a tool that you need to be making the most of.

No Filter

Facebook recently began to alter their algorithm so that the news feeds of its users would show things that it considered to be the most relevant. Once the social media channel began doing this, many businesses lost great traction in terms of their organic reach, forcing many of them to pay Facebook for what they had lost by way of ads. Instagram, however, does not do this and you can guarantee that if your Instagram follower is online with regularity, they will see what you are trying to promote.

Mobile Ready

Instagram is very much designed for mobile users and you can see evidence of this in the fact that you are still unable to post things from their desktop site. This is great news for businesses as mobile sales are growing rapidly year on year. As smartphones and other mobile technologies advance, they are in some cases replacing the tasks that we used to do on our desktop and for that reason, mobile-specific sites such as Instagram are the perfect places for you to push your business.

If you are not on Instagram yet, it is time that you were.

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Don’t get caught out whilst driving

There is nothing worse than being blamed for an accident that you know was not your fault. If this has happened to you, or even if it hasn’t, as potentially…

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There is nothing worse than being blamed for an accident that you know was not your fault. If this has happened to you, or even if it hasn’t, as potentially it could, then consider purchasing a camera for your vehicle that constantly records your every driving move, giving you great peace of mind.

Ensuring you have an irrefutable, independent witness in the event of an accident via your camera is not the only benefit from installing one in your vehicle. Licence plate camera installation can result in your car insurance firm significantly reducing your insurance costs and it is a measure applauded by the police, as they often use captured film footage to prosecute traffic violations. Another benefit is with regard to ‘Crash for Cash’ incidents which sadly, are on the increase and film footage can lead to the prosecution of the perpetrators and also means that you do not get penalised by your insurance company, for something that was outside your control.

Which camera to pick is a decision that many find difficult to resolve, as there are so many different ones to choose from. Some cameras record with accuracy, whilst some do not produce images with such clarity. As long as the images are of an acceptable quality, which the majority are, most will suffice. Greater picture clarity, usually equates to a higher cost and obviously budget issues will dictate which range of cameras can be afforded by each individual. There is a vast price range available, from relatively cheap versions to exceedingly high costing models.

Cost and picture quality are not the only issues to consider when purchasing your camera. The color of film used needs to be thought about. Color versions tend to be more expensive than the black and white models and it needs to be noted, that when it comes to using film footage to prove a claim or to prosecute, it does not affect its viability as evidence. Larger monitors are some peoples choice, while others prefer to opt for smaller ones. It is just down to personal preference as it does not affect the performance of the camera in any way.

Installing your camera should be a fairly simple operation and again there is choice with regard to how your device is fixed into your car. Cameras can be directly mounted onto the dashboard, suspended with velcro ties from the rear-view mirror or directly appended to the windscreen using strong suction cups. When placing the camera, care must be taken to ensure that the location of the camera in no way impedes the view of the driver and that the view of the camera incorporates the road directly ahead.

While the use of cameras is perfectly legal, if you decide to have the sound option of the camera on, as a measure of courtesy, you should make any passengers aware that their conversations could potentially be captured on tape and give them the option of asking you to turn the sound facility off whilst they travel in your vehicle.

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Everything You Need to Know About the iPhone X

Apple recently revealed its new line of devices including the iPhone X. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, refers to this new innovation as “the future of smartphones”. Aside from its sleek…

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Apple recently revealed its new line of devices including the iPhone X. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, refers to this new innovation as “the future of smartphones”.

Aside from its sleek design, the iPhone X offers several features that are sure to attract savvy smartphone users. This premium smartphone device promises to be Apple’s most innovative offering yet.

Think you have seen all that Apple iPhones have to offer? Think again. Here is everything you need to know about Apple’s new iPhone X.

1. The iPhone X comes with a hefty price tag.

With a starting price of $999, purchasing the iPhone X requires a significant financial investment. Since most cell phone companies offer no-interest installment loans on their devices, paying for this phone will not present a problem for Apple enthusiasts.

2. It features an all-glass design.

A glass smartphone might seem like a deal-breaker for you if you have a tendency to drop your cell phone. According to Apple, the phone has been constructed using an extremely durable type of glass. When you purchase the iPhone X, you can be sure that you are getting a sturdy phone that will not crack under pressure.

3. The front of the iPhone X is completely covered by the display screen.

The screen has a diagonal measurement of 5.8 inches. This is about an inch bigger than the iPhone 7.

4. The X stands for the Roman Numeral 10.

The X signifies the 10-year anniversary of the Apple iPhone. Now that you know this, you can go to the store and shop for this phone with confidence.

5. The iPhone X does not feature a home button.

With this phone, Apple engineers are changing the way iPhone users interact with their phones. If you are concerned that you will not be able to access your data easily, you shouldn’t be. You can get quick access to your home screen with an upward swipe of your phone.

6. The iPhone X uses facial recognition to unlock your device.

On other Apple devices, your fingerprint unlocks your device. The new Apple iPhone X has eliminated this feature and opted for a more advanced safety feature.

7. The iPhone X offers an extended battery life.

This phone offers two more hours of battery life than its previous offerings. With this new smartphone offering, Apple is working hard to make this phone worthy of its retail price.

8. The iPhone X is available in only a few colors.

In fact, the only two colors that are being rolled out at this time are space gray and silver.

9. The iPhone X offers wire-free handling.

Apple understands that any device that requires the use of too many cords can cause frustration for its users. For that reason, they have eliminated the need for wires. The phone features QI wireless charging.

10. The iPhone X will be available in late fall.

Pre-order for the iPhone X begins on October 27, and shipping begins on November 3. If you are still not sure about investing in a new smartphone, you have plenty of time to think about it.

True to form, Apple has set a high bar for its competitors. The Apple iPhone X will be an industry game-changer.

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Keeping Track of Your Small Business Finances Using Online Tools

Starting a small business is, of course, an incredibly overwhelming experience. There are always factors that you haven’t accounted for, and trying to keep a good overview on everything that’s…

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Starting a small business is, of course, an incredibly overwhelming experience. There are always factors that you haven’t accounted for, and trying to keep a good overview on everything that’s going on can sometimes feel completely impossible.

Nevertheless, tracking your finances can be a much easier burden to manage than you may originally have thought. Using the tools we’ll be sharing with you today, you can start to keep a closer eye on your finances without needing to become the kind of number-crunching accountant you always thought you needed!

Wave

Since it first hit the market back in 2010, Wave has grown in popularity exponentially; in fact, over two million people have used it to handle their account, payroll, and invoicing requirements.

To make things even easier, the app has its own receipt scanner, meaning that you don’t need to use a bulky desktop alternative just to track the costs of the lunch you treated your latest client to!

One of the most useful features the app has is its ‘Find an Accountant’ option; should you run into any serious financial trouble or concern, you can find someone to help you sort things out without even needing to leave the app!

Wave is free, and we definitely recommend it for anyone who needs to track invoices and accounts, whether you’re a freelancer, business owner, or an accountant yourself.

Due.com

While Wave is an incredibly useful app, Due.com does have a significantly prettier design on its side. The invoices it allows you to generate wouldn’t look out of place next to those produced by an actual accountant, and the unique colour-coding system allows you to keep an eye on the progress of your affairs at a quick glance.

If you have less than five clients per month, Due is free. Otherwise, pricing options start at just $3 and this will open up some seriously useful features, including unlimited invoicing, recurring payments, and paypal integration.

You Need a Budget

We recently wrote about You Need a Budget (YNAB) in another article where we were discussing useful apps for tracking personal finances; but would you believe it, it’s also a great tool for small business owners to use to track finances.

Much like its behaviour with personal accounts, YNAB helps you to make informed decisions based on actual calculations. This means that you’re not spending money that you expect to have at a later time, only the funds that are already in your account.

You can use it to automatically pencil in payments, split transactions, and schedule upcoming bills.

And even better – if YNAB appeals to you and you find it works well for your needs – there’s no need to subscribe to a monthly or even annual plan. Instead, you’ll be given a free trial upon signup and, once it expires, you can by an unlimited license for $60.

So there you have it; a selection of our favourite tools to use when managing your small business’ finances. Keep checking back for more great articles like this in future, as we’re just getting started!

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Investing in Apps for Future Profits

Thanks to the app ecosystem growing in such a significant fashion, there’s now a booming market of mobile apps designed to help you make money. Whether you’re a seasoned FOREX…

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Thanks to the app ecosystem growing in such a significant fashion, there’s now a booming market of mobile apps designed to help you make money. Whether you’re a seasoned FOREX trader or a rookie, everyone can do with a little extra cash in their pocket at the end of the year.

That’s why, today, we’re going to show you how you can invest in apps and start making a small nest egg for yourself. By signing up with any of these services, you can get to work on your portfolio and start seeing some serious gains; you won’t be like Gordon Gecko (though that’s a good thing, right?) but you will have a little change to throw around.

Acorns

Investing in Apps can turn your phone into a profit center

Acorns is a pretty ingenious idea for an app. Basically, it’s an iOS and Android app (which you can download for free) that helps you turn your spare change into returns that are actually significant – over a long-term basis, of course.

So how does this work? Well, first, you download the app and sign up to their service. Link your account to whichever bank card you’d like to use, and then forget about it. Whenever you use that card to pay for items in the real world, Acorns will deduct it from the next highest dollar value (which is a fancy way to say that it rounds the price up to the next dollar).

The difference is then invested into your portfolio, and Acorns allows you to decide how risky you’d like your trades to be. The lowest risk will, of course, offer the steadiest returns, but at a rate some of you might find boring. The higher risk, on the other hand, may pleasantly surprise you one day – but don’t say we didn’t warn you if you end up broke!

Betterment

For those of you who’d like a more traditional type of experience, Betterment is somewhat like having your own personal stock trader, except its behaviour is completely controlled by a series of algorithms.

You’ll create your own account, and then pledge an investment of anywhere between 0.15 to 0.35 percent of your annual salary. By specifying the kind of returns you’d like to see (whether that be to build wealth or create a nest egg), Betterment will start to make the kind of investments that are suited to your goals and hopefully get you there.

Openfolio

Openfolio is a great idea for an app which isn’t directly related to making trades, but will definitely be of use to anyone concerned with keeping a comprehensive overview of their financial affairs.

Essentially, you can connect the app to every aspect of your financial life. In fact, Openfolio proudly boasts compatibility with over 100 banks, meaning that you can keep an eye of your cash flow and assets while also being presented with some very easy-on-the-eye analytics to help you understand how all of them are working together.

Likewise, it can provide advice on how you can make your cash work better for you without needing to actually do any work. This one is highly recommended by us!

For more great posts about trading, remember to keep checking back. It’s obviously a notoriously intricate thing to get involved with, but these apps can help you start to build a better future for yourself with a minimum of time invested.

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Awesome Apps for Managing Your Finances

We live in an age of constant stimulation; if you’re not being told exactly what to buy by the television, internet ads, blogs, and YouTube videos, then you it’s just…

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We live in an age of constant stimulation; if you’re not being told exactly what to buy by the television, internet ads, blogs, and YouTube videos, then you it’s just as likely that you’ll be consumed by work or addiction to online technology.

With this fast-paced lifestyle, it’s not hard to lose track of what’s going on in the background; namely, the state of our own personal finances. Thankfully, there’s a slew of great apps out there which we can use to keep tabs on how much we’re spending.

Today, we’re going to look at a selection of our favourites for doing just that.

You Need a Budget

Also known as YNAB within its community, this app is pretty spectacular. Its goal is to help you visualize your finances, so that you can stop living on a paycheck-to-paycheck basis. In fact, its emphasis on assisting you in tackling your debt and dealing with unexpected circumstances is a breath of fresh air in the free-flowing world of app releases; because, when all things are considered, the only thing better than an original app idea, is an original app idea that helps you to drastically improve your standard of living.

Instead of allowing users to set their own disposable spending limits, YNAB analyses your funds by gathering information about your regular income and expenditure, and then creates a budget around that. This means that, instead of merely having saving goals, you’ll be living within the most realistic income of all – your actual earnings! Genius.

Acorns

Another great tool for helping you to build your own nest egg is Acorns. By helping you to develop good financial habits, this simple app can let you start making the steps you need to build up a considerable nest egg.

How does it do this? Well, every time you make a purchase using a bank card which you’ve pre-configured with the Acorn app, it will round the amount to the next-highest dollar. By investing the difference between the price of your purchase and how much is actually deducted from your account into low-cost exchange-traded funds (and you can actually tell the app how risky you want your investments to be), you’ll start to see your rate or returns significantly grow.

After all, who doesn’t want to find an extra $500 or $1,000 in their investment account at the end of each year? We’re serious guys – try this one!

Microsoft Excel

Yes, it’s ghetto, but it gets the job done. In fact, in the years before the proliferation of genuinely useful mobile apps for managing finances, I used to manage all of my expenses using a fairly straightforward Spreadsheet I put together in Excel.

Even with the most rudimentary formulas, you can tally up how much you’ve been spending, how much has come in to your bank account, and identify those sinks where you’re spending too much money and take the necessary action needed to close them up.

Of course, there are countless ways to manage your personal finances using today’s mobile technology. In fact, for those of you who are really into it, you can combine several different tools to create a kind of monolithic, terror-inducing master method for saving money. However, for those of you who just want to save a little, any of the above options are going to get you on the right track starting today.

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