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Emerging Video Marketing Trends for 2022

Why Video Marketing is gaining importance?

Everything changes and evolves. Marketing trends and strategies are no different. Every year, every season, a new trend begins that works better than the previous trend. For so many years, long-form blogs were the “King” of online marketing for brands and companies. However, over time, the term blog has been changed to “Vlog”, simply meaning a blog but in the form of a video. Video marketing trends have come a long way over the past few years and have become indispensable to any ambitious marketing strategy. Almost 86% of the businesses were using video marketing as a marketing tool in 2021 and the figures are only slotted to rise further.

One of the main reasons why video marketing is better is because they are more believable and interactive than other tools of marketing. Research indicates that for 84% of people, video content is the deciding factor before making a product purchase. Almost 82% of all online traffic is directed to video content and that is only the beginning. Businesses have already upped their ante when it comes to their budget for video marketing. So, what are you waiting for? Read on to get a fresh insight on the upcoming video marketing trends and jump up the bandwagon to increase traffic to your page.

How to create a successful video marketing strategy?

Are you new to this trend and are wondering how to incorporate video marketing trends into your digital marketing strategy? Take a walk with us briefly to understand the steps that make for an effective video marketing campaign.

Step 1: Just like for any content marketing strategy, understanding your audiences is crucial for setting up well-rounded and well-researched campaign goals. Once these goals are set, you know exactly what you want from your marketing campaign.

Step 2: Ensure that your videos bring out the essence of your brand and deliver the required message efficiently. Do not stray away from the core message, as too many messages will end up confusing the audience. Stay true to your brand identity and market the same values to your customers via videos.

Step 3: Set a Budget for the video marketing campaign. A campaign without a budget will run rampant and would rather make you lose money in the end.

Step 4: Choose the channel (social media platforms) where these videos will be marketed and optimize the videos following each of these channels. For instance, Customers on Facebook might prefer silent videos, while those on Instagram might prefer shorter ones.

Step 5: Keep improving and improvising on the videos. Test and Retest over and over again. Keep experimenting with the different types of videos. In the section that follows, we have included a comprehensive list of different types of videos and other video marketing trends that have proven to be quite successful amongst the audiences of late.

Upcoming Video Marketing Trends

Audience engagement is found to be the highest (almost up to 56%) with video content posted by businesses online. Research indicates that almost 60% of consumers follow the brands they purchase from on social media platforms. Almost 35% or more agreed to view the video content posted by their favorite brands regularly. This only highlights the fact that video marketing trends are an asset for any digital marketing campaign and should not be ignored. Without any further ado, let us introduce you to the latest video marketing tools that will help in making your digital marketing campaign successful.

  1. Silent videos with captions – Research indicates that more than 86% of the videos on Facebook are watched in silent mode. Silent videos that are captioned, thus enhancing the video content, make for more viewable content than non-captioned silent videos. You can achieve this by adding subtitles to your videos or providing close-captioned content. There are several online apps and software that allow you to add subtitles to your videos without you having to put in much effort. Therefore, even for people who do not have the know-how of editing videos, adding enhancements such as subtitles or content can be as easy as ABC.
  2. OTT video advertising – OTT or Over-the-top platforms such as Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, Prime, etc are platforms that are increasingly being used by users to view online video content in the form of movies, documentaries, etc. These OTT Platforms have deep insights into the kind of content viewers prefer and can show personalized and selective marketing content to the viewers. This increases the chances of the marketing videos being received by the target audiences positively. The only thing to keep in mind while creating an OTT advert is to ensure that the viewing experience of the consumer doesn’t change and is adaptable to all modes of viewership – television, mobile phone, or laptops. Further, the message in these OTT advert videos should be concise and delivered at the very beginning of the video – before the users can press the “skip video” option.
  3. Social Media Advertising videos – As the name suggests, social media advertising videos are a must-have in your digital marketing kitty. Most people prefer interacting with the brand before making a purchase decision. In fact, for businesses with a less organic customer base, promoting your business through social media platforms is the best way of reaching out to your prospective customers. Advertisements in the form of videos help users understand the type of brand they are and the kind of product being offered. This eases the customers into making their purchase decision.

Now there are two types of social media advertising videos that businesses can offer the viewers – Vertical (which is presently the most common form of videos being offered by businesses) and horizontal (these have rising prospects). We would suggest, that for best results, developing video content that is viewable in both formats would be the best strategy to follow.

  1. Short form videos – What began as a form of entertainment, quickly turned into a marketing revolution for marketers and small businesses worldwide. Tik Tok began the culture of short user-generated videos that became a rage with the population across the world. Later social media platforms too adopted this short-form video feature into their platforms, thus emerging the reel trends.

Research indicates that almost 68% of the viewers watch complete short-form videos if the video lasts within 60 seconds. Even user content gets a boost when short-form videos are posted on a business’s page, more than any other form of content. Most businesses – irrespective of their size, are now adapting to short-form videos and posting social media stories to increase audience viewership and engagement. For starters, you can begin by showing behind-the-product videos to the viewers to get engagement. Further, you can also try making short testimonial videos by the users. Such videos help in creating a sense of trust amongst the audiences concerning your brand.

  1. Interactive videos – A comparatively new type of video, but one that gets the most audience interaction with the brand, are interactive videos. Giving options to the audiences to “give feedback on the videos-within the video-while watching the video” is one ingenious piece of software development. Emoji sliders and other ways of providing feedback are fast becoming a rage amongst the marketing community. Further, marketers can also design branching videos – videos that play depending on the selection of feedback given by the audiences in the previous video. This helps in providing selective and customized video marketing content to the audiences.
  2. Shoppable videos – When developing content that aims toward pushing the audiences into making a purchase decision, having shoppable videos – videos that direct the interested users to the shopping site – are a must. These videos seem like normal videos, with the addition of a clickable pop-up that launches the shopping website of the business. This type of video gives great results when it comes to consumer conversion rates.
  3. Video SEO – Just the way the blog posts used to be optimized for search, video content too can be optimized for search. The point to remember is that people still use search engines to make the initial search for their choice of content. Therefore, optimizing videos for SEO is a must to increase your viewability and accessibility. Make sure you enter all the right keywords in the video content to ensure that your videos pop up first in any related search.
  4. User-generated, unedited video content – These videos are the most commonly viewed as viewers feel connected with the sometimes unedited and other times edited user-generated content. One of the main reasons for the same is that this type of content has a certain authentic feel about them that viewers find desirable. Unedited videos are a sure-shot way even for marketers, to get more views and people to trust their brand.
  5. Vlogs – Vlogs can never go wrong. From being touted as the most popular type of video content, Vlogs are the most commonly viewed content. Vlogs offer a more personalized approach to the content of the video, thereby appealing to the audiences.
  6. AR and VR video content – Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are the most expansive software technological advancements to have come our way. Including AR and VR content in the advertorial videos helps increase the holistic user experience. Not only are videos embedded with VR and AR content more immersive in nature, but they are also more engaging, providing users with more interactive content.

How to increase your video views?

For businesses looking to increase video views of their content, incorporating a few techniques mentioned below should prove helpful.

  1. Clear Message Delivery — Always ensure a direct and clear message is delivered. The first few seconds of your video content are crucial. Make use of them and insert as much information such as your products, services, etc as possible.
  2. Influencers — Use influencers and celebrities (if budget allows) to showcase your product or services. It ensures an enhanced reach to your potential clients.
  3. Experimenting with video formats — Try new formats of video content creation. Test these options, and keep experimenting till you are satisfied with your results.
  4. News and insights — Share news and insights concerning your business in the videos.
  5. Advice or Tips — You can also try giving advice or tried-and-tested tips to your customers for enhanced viewership and engagement.
  6. Content Collaboration — You can engage in collaboration with other content creators. Thus, you can cross-promote each other’s pages and content, enhancing the overall exposure to your content.
  7. Professional Video creators — Lastly, using interesting frames and techniques can help you enhance the quality of videos you offer to the customers. For the same, you can also take help from professional video development service providers such as eOrchids Techsolutions, who provide you services including digital marketing strategy conceptualization, execution, and even follow-up and tweaking facilities – all for a minimal amount.

To Conclude

Video content marketing is a trend on a hop and ensures the most exposure of your brand to the customers. For the same, keeping certain factors and processes in mind, you can successfully create content that works best for your brand and make a successful video marketing campaign. So what are you waiting for? Put the suggestions provided above into action and build your business – video by video. Contact us for more information.

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UAE Launches National Programme To Build A New Generation Of Coders

Image copyrights: WONDERWARE CALIFORNIA

Amongst the many nations in the world, UAE is the one making news with its intent to advance in the field of next-gen technologies. While the “Museum of the Future” made headlines a few months back, the new initiative by the UAE government called the Coders HQ is another one making waves in the world of coding and technology. Both the initiatives are meant to foster the interest of the new generation in the advancing technology while introducing concepts of the future to the public at large.

The Museum of the Future

The Museum of the Future is an architectural marvel in itself being built in the shape of a Taurus shell in stainless steel and has achieved the rating of LEED Platinum, the highest amongst the sustainability standards. Officially opened in February 2022, the Museum has showcased several futuristic exhibitions so far such as Artificial Intelligence, Climate Change, Augmentation of human body and mind, Robots with feelings, etc. These are concepts that might seem inconceivable to the masses in general right now, but are being worked upon and might see an emergence in near future. The museum aims towards fostering solutions to future problems while bringing great minds from the varied field of research, invention, design, and finance under one head. One of the exhibits in the Museum of Future is “Today Tomorrow” which presses on the environmental challenges faced today and the probable solutions to these challenges. For instance, the newly discovered Notpla, a biodegradable material that is slotted to replace plastics in the near future, or ways to permanently lock carbon dioxide to limit the carbon emission into the atmosphere.

Not just being a museum or an exhibit, The Museum of Future also aims at serving as headquarters for the Great Arab Minds Fund. This is a five-year initiative that aims towards funding exceptional Arab talents in the field of science, philosophy, and innovation, inspiring young minds and generations to do the same. the Government of Dubai is offering AED 100 million ($27.2 million) for this initiative.

What is Coders HQ?

Keeping true to their ideology of expanding their technological base, UAE has now announced the launch of their newest initiative called the Coders HQ. Coders HQ is a part of the National Program for Artificial Intelligence. The entire initiative aims towards having coders from all over the world come together under one roof and work towards achieving great heights in the field of coding. Developed in partnership with more than 40 tech companies worldwide and in UAE, the initiative will be a breakthrough in inviting the new generation to learn to code and foster their skills in technology. The initiative aims at bringing the required knowledge and information along the lines of coding and technology to interested people from around the world, providing them the opportunity to learn, and develop at the same time.

Why is it formed?

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the one with a futuristic bent of mind and can be given all the credit for these new-age initiatives being launched in UAE. According to Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Teleworking Applications, the main aim of the initiative is to bring UAE onto the world map for the digital economy and become the global hub for start-ups, talents, and innovation.

Coders HQ is a part of the National Program for Coders and involves providing coders with a supercomputer, workspaces, and space for events. The plan includes the launch of six other Coders HQ around the UAE that will be inaugurated in near future. The main objective of the program is to assess the coding skills of the coders while developing them further and getting them in touch with coders across the world. Several big names in the field of technology such as Meta, IBM, Microsoft Middle East, Africa, DP World, VMware, LinkedIn, Amazon AWS, Cisco, etc have joined hands to provide the necessary skills and training to the coders under this initiative.

Goals of Coders HQ

  • To build the strongest coding community – This step enables a step closer to building a strong digital economy. With the influx of talented coders and technically passionate individuals, the digital economy is sure to benefit and improve. Already, the contribution of the digital economy to the total UAE economy has doubled amounting to 9.7%.
  • Provide Coders with the best opportunity – Providing coders with continuous resources and opportunities will ensure the talent pool grows while attracting more coders into the initiative.
  • Generating a higher Coder ratio per capita – By providing the essentials required to attract more talent, the initiative aims towards engraining the topic of coding into the young minds to generate more talent.

Initiatives launched so far

So far, ten initiatives have been launched under the scheme of Coders HQ with the aim of becoming the highest number of coders per capita in the world. Several Hackathons and live events have been introduced for the benefit of coders. Some of these initiatives are:

  • Get Inspired – This initiative aims towards attracting and inviting global tech influencers to share their life stories and challenges faced with the global coder’s community.
  • Assessment – This initiative provides coders with tests and assessments that help them compare their standing as a coder locally.
  • Ambassador – This one aims towards providing the local ambassadors with the important resources to empower their programs while spreading the message of technical knowledge into the community. Basically, this program provides coders with a chance to work for the technical ambassadors on their programs, thereby enhancing competitiveness, while providing the ambassadors with the best of the talent pool.
  • Learn – As the name suggests, dissipating learning, and implementing globally is the motto of this initiative.
  • Meetups – Meeting people from the same field and combining their technical skills is the main aim of this initiative.
  • Hackathons – Providing the coders with a problem and assigning the task to the coders with a time frame to compete against each other is the main aim of these hackathons. The winners get rewarded too.
  • Challenges – Solve corporate-level problems related to AI, Big Data, and Blockchain and stand a chance to win prizes.
  • Conferences – Creating a large ecosystem of like-minded people to meet up together and discuss challenges.
  • Internship – Providing graduates with opportunities to intern with the best companies.

These initiatives make use of LinkedIn statistics, providing challenges with Majid Al Futtaim, Collaborations between Emirates, and Evaluation Headquarters, which provide coders with unique opportunities and career options; Global DevSlam which helps in empowering coders in UAE (approximately 15000 of them).

These initiatives aim at building UAE as a hub for programmers, thus enhancing the digital economy.

Impact of Coders HQ on UAE economy

According to a study by recruitment firm Michael Page, the most rewarding jobs in the global market require writing code, creating mobile applications, and developing computer software. These jobs are the best-paid jobs and can considerably enhance the digital economy of the UAE with the help of these newly launched initiatives. Coder HQ initiative is aiming towards training more than 100,000 coders and establishing 1000 technology companies that function on a global platform. The government also aims to enhance investments in these companies from Dh 1.5 billion ($408 million) to Dh 4 billion ($1 billion), as said according to Sheikh Mohammed. A dedicated coding school and collaboration with global companies to train and teach students about coding is an extension of the National Program of Artificial Intelligence.

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Top Reasons Why Do Businesses Hire Indian Companies For Software Development?

Why Outsource Software Development

The times are changing, and most businesses are crippled today without a proper software solution to run their day-to-day affairs. Aside from that, online presence in the form of a proper website or an application, have become a must for any business to thrive and be recognized. In such a scenario, developing the websites, applications, and software in-house is an added liability for businesses that have no prior experience in doing the same. Therefore, hiring a reliable software development company becomes imperative for businesses.

A few of the reasons that businesses opt to outsource software development are:

  1. Saves time to focus on business – Spending valuable business hours on software development, when the same amount of time could be spent improving the business, seems a waste of time in hindsight, especially when you can have someone else do the same job more effectively for you.
  2. Budget-Friendly – Not just time and efficiency, outsourcing the task of software development makes more sense because it turns out to be budget-friendly in the end. Imagine the number of hours spent on working and reworking software development; while skilled experienced software development companies can do the same thing in half the time.
  3. More Efficient – As mentioned above, hiring a reliable software development company increases the overall efficiency of your business because you save precious time and money by outsourcing the task. You can plan while a team of efficient and skilled developers works to develop your software. In this scenario, you get the finished product at the time promised to you, without you having to deal with the trouble of testing, retesting, fixing glitches in the software, and all other issues that require attention to make for successful software.

Outsourcing vs Out staffing

One of the points of confusion that several businesses face is the differentiation between outsourcing and out staffing and which option proves to be better overall?

Outsourcing, as the name suggests, means hiring a firm outside of your own business to do the job work for you. In this case, businesses will be hiring IT development companies or offshore software development companies to develop software for them. When a business outsources the job work – say outsourcing mobile app development – the software development firm hired is responsible for the entire process involving the development of the mobile app. It begins with conceptualization based on the requirements received from the business, designing, prototyping, testing, editing, retesting, and delivering. The task does not end there. These software development companies will also be responsible for giving the developed product lifetime of service, when and if required.

In out-staffing though, the business hires software developers from another company. Most commonly though, the out-staffing team is asked to join the business’s office remotely or be relocated to the nearest office. The out-Staffing team can consist of one or all, depending on the kind of work you ask them to do – developers, analysts, marketers, etc. The whole point of out-staffing is that the business remains in charge of the entire process of software development. They have the team and they can monitor the process, molding it according to their needs and requirements.

While the functioning of the two types of outsourcing and out-staffing processes are different, the decision to choose lies in the business and its requirements. If the business is looking towards expansion, not leaving much time to focus on the task of software development – it is best to choose outsourcing as your option. However, if you have had a prior experience in the field of software development and do not mind the extra task of developing the software, out staffing can be the thing for you. Depending on your requirements, therefore, you can select between the two.

Present Scenario

50% of Fortune 500 companies worldwide prefer Indian software companies for outsourcing their software development requirements. Considered amongst the top countries to be delivering the software development services, software outsourcing contributed to a revenue of USD 191 billion for the Indian economy in 2020 alone. Indian IT services have been growing at a pace of more than 10% annually for the past 5 years, while this growth is forecast to be 7.5% over the next five years. Excelling in Fintech, network security, Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G, IoT (Internet of Things), product engineering, and SaaS technology, Indian software companies are much sought after worldwide to outsource software development. The first half of the year 2020 alone saw a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of approximately $45 billion.

Reasons for Hiring Indian Companies for Software Development

While there are undoubtedly several countries that offer good software development services, there is none like India. India has some of the most reliable software development companies. As also mentioned above, they are recognized worldwide for the quality of services offered, making them the top choice for offshoring amongst IT companies worldwide. Mentioned below are some of the reasons that make hiring Indian software development companies the best choice for businesses across the globe:

  1. Stable Government policies

Amongst other nations that offer software development services, Indian IT services stand on the top because India is one of the most stable countries, policy-wise. The Indian government offers friendly policies concerning the use of the Indian talent pool for software development. This makes Indian software development companies an ideal choice for those businesses worldwide looking for an offshore software development company.

  1. An abundance of Talented Developers

Indian developers are amongst the best in the whole world. Learning from the best software development schools (Indian Institute of Technology aka IIT is amongst the top institutes around the world to study engineering), software developers in India also know how to think outside the box. Considered to be amongst the most ingenious people, Indians can think outside the box to give you the best solutions. Another added advantage is the size of the talent pool found in India. With its population, India produces a sizeable number of software developers each year. At present, India has a talent pool comprising more than 800,000 software developers, while more get added each year to this number. Overall, the Indian IT sector employs more than 13 million employees directly and indirectly.

  1. Cost-effective

One of the most considered reasons to opt for an Indian software development company is the underlying cost of it all. India is one of those countries that offer you the best of the product at the cheapest the rates. It has been noted that Indian companies offer almost 30% lesser prices than their counterparts in other countries. This means that the business can cut down up to 30% of their total IT spending simply by choosing India as their offshore software development partner. This budget-friendly software development avenue provides you most professional services at the best price, ultimately making it a win-win situation for your business.

  1. Ease of Communication due to English proficiency

One of the major reasons, aside from the budget that most MNCs choose an Indian software development company for their software development requirements, is the communication factor. Unlike other countries that offer software development services, Indian developers are quite proficient in English – the global language – making it easy for businesses to communicate directly without any misunderstandings. India is the second-largest English-speaking country in the world.

  1. Work Transparency

Indian businesses are up to date when it comes to the current business trends. They understand that transparency in business is of utmost importance to stay focussed & enthused, and gain the trust of the working partners. The costing is upfront and no hidden charges are popping up to surprise the clients at the later stage of the product development. Therefore, for most businesses looking to outsource software development, Indian companies are a go-to place.

  1. Consistent Quality

True to all products and services at any point in time, consistency of the quality of the product offered matters. No matter how good the other factors, if the quality of the end product is not good, nobody would like to make a repeat purchase or even a recommendation to others. Understanding this principle, be rest assured that Indian software development companies are very well capable of delivering consistent results time and over again. Adding to the equation is the fact that most Indian software development companies are ISO certified. This ensures that the product development process they follow, involving – requirement analysis, designing & wireframing, development & coding, prototype development testing, and quality assurance — is accredited and their quality standards are maintained. Therefore, the quality of the services and products offered by Indian companies are incomparable, adding to the overall value of the product.

  1. Time-Zone Benefits

Indian developers work round the clock, giving them the benefit of the time zone differences. Unlike other countries where the time zone difference is not much for the employees to function this efficiently, Indian developers have the added benefit to be able to work efficiently in any given time zone. This pattern of working also makes them more productive, while improving communication between the client company and the developer firm. This makes it easier for the Indian developers to present on-time deliverables.

  1. The plethora of world-class services on offer

Being the top country to provide software development services, India offers a wide array of world-class software development services such as outsourcing website development, mobile app development, application development, and several other specialized services. India ranks number 1 when it comes to developing custom software solutions. Simply take your pick and relax while the expert Indian developers take the lead in addressing all your software woes.

  1. Proficient in most development languages

Indian developers are ingenious and this is very much visible in the ease with which they adapt to coding in the preferred language of their clients. Indian developers can work effortlessly on Java, JavaScript, Python, C, C++, C#, PHP, and other such languages (like TypeScript, Kotlin, etc). Ranking amongst the top 5 countries in the proficiency of using these coding languages, Indian developers offer you the choice of your coding language.

  1. Better continued customer support

Due to the round-the-clock presence, hiring Indian developers is an added plus as it lends better 24×7 support to your company. The fact is that Indian software developers are well adjusted to working the hours according to the time zone of their clients. This enables the clients, as well as, the developer company to work in tandem with each other, delivering better results, and being more productive. This also allows for around-the-clock service support, which is always a bonus in times of crisis.

  1. Disciplined work ethics

Indian firms work with a global mindset, therefore, showcasing an extremely disciplined work culture. Software developers are quite learned, and innovative and can bring creative solutions to problems by looking at them from a different perspective. Further, Indian work culture does not exceptionally adhere to hierarchy, thus offering the developers all the creative freedom to bring something new and innovative to the table. This only works for the benefit of the clients who are always looking for a unique product as an answer to their requirements.

The long list of reasons to select Indian software development companies to develop content for your business reasons enough for you to choose India as your off-shoring partner.

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10 Most Common Types of Security Vulnerabilities in eCommerce and Their Solutions

E-commerce and hence eCommerce security solutions have been steadily gaining ground amongst consumers over the past few years. Easy access to the internet and smart devices has further exponentially increased the demand for eCommerce. The chart below clearly showcases the percentage growth of eCommerce businesses worldwide.

Source: statista.com

The statistics above indicate the rising demand curve for eCommerce solutions. The peak was observed during the pandemic when almost every utility was delivered through online portals. The point to understand, however, is that with every business possibility and the opportunity to make profits, also comes hazards. The hazard of having an eCommerce business is its vulnerability to security-related frauds. Annually, eCommerce businesses experience more than 32% of successful cyber-attacks (i.e., cyber threats that end up doing damage) in the form of data breaches, or financial frauds. Without a proper eCommerce website security solution, businesses risk harming the company’s profits while losing the consumer’s trust. In worst cases, there might even be legal implications for the business, though for no fault of theirs, aside from not following proper eCommerce security protocols.

Top 10 Types of Security Threats

According to the Global Ecommerce Security Report, almost 78% of the businesses surveyed reported one cybersecurity incident. Cybersecurity attackers work by finding eCommerce security vulnerabilities in your platform. In most cases, it is a lack of a proper eCommerce security solution to filter out harmful bots, spam, malware, etc. According to the GES report, below is a chart that showcases the percentage of security-related attacks on eCommerce businesses in 2020 alone. This percentage is calculated by comparing the data from the year 2019.

From the chart above, it is clear that the cybersecurity of the eCommerce platforms is much compromised, and if proper measures are not taken, it might lead to considerable losses. As it is, reports suggest that 62% of eCommerce businesses lose between $100 to 250,000 due to these eCommerce security threats.

Mentioned below are ten types of cybersecurity threats that compromise eCommerce platforms and businesses.

  1. Financial frauds

For every facility to make online payments, there is a risk of getting involved in financial fraud or scams. From the beginning of the eCommerce solutions, businesses have been plagued with the eCommerce security threats involving payment gateways and finances. While the list is never-ending, listed below are the most common cybersecurity threats faced by eCommerce businesses.

  • Credit card – Ever since credit cards came about, people have been facing frauds where cybercriminals steal credit card details and information to make purchases in an eCommerce store. Another way hackers commit credit card fraud is by getting a new card issued by changing the verification details of the previously stolen credit card credentials.
  • UPI payments – With emerging times, financial frauds have emerged. Moving on from credit cards, the new system of payments on eCommerce platforms is through UPI payments. It requires a unique identification ID or a QR code, which, when scanned, allows the user to make a direct payment. This ID is linked to the user’s bank account and allows them hassle-free, quick payments. These days, however, hackers have found a way to commit financial fraud through UPIs as well. Sending their own UPI code to the consumers, and asking for payments on behalf of the eCommerce store, has become a frequent mode of financial fraud.
  1. Phishing

The practice of impersonating a business and sending fraudulent communications to consumers is quite common. This practice has resulted in huge business losses, not to mention the financial loss faced by the consumers. In most cases, hackers pose as some eCommerce retailer, even having a website similar to the original business that makes the customers believe them as the original. When the consumers purchase from such platforms, the payments get deducted from their accounts, however, no product is delivered. Not only does this cause disrepute to the original business, but it also causes enormous financial losses to both the parties involved – the business and the consumer.

  1. Spamming

Spamming is the practice of sending infected emails or links to the consumers. These infected links can be either emailed or posted on websites in the form of contact forms or other clickable links. When clicked, these links direct the users to the spam website, where consumers are most likely to be conned. Aside from the fact that these links are connected to fake websites, a spamming deluge also results in slow internet speeds, browser issues, and website loading delays.

  1. Malware

Malicious software used as Spyware, Trojan viruses, or ransomware is generally referred to as Malware. Hackers generally develop such software and install them into your management software or IT devices without your knowledge through a random click on unseemly links. Not just eCommerce software, but such malware can also affect your consumers and their devices. Malware also has the capacity of deleting all your important data files from your computer, which might ultimately impact records such as orders, inventories, consumer details, etc.

  1. BOTS

Special Bots are developed by hackers that take advantage of vulnerabilities of your website code. For instance, a website that uses SSL encryption but lacks HTTPS code can easily be taken over by bots. There are typically four types of bots used:

  • Impersonator Bots – Almost 24% of the Bots attacks fall under this category. These bots have a false identity that helps them pass through the website security.
  • Scraper Bots – These types of Bots are used to steal unauthorized information or data from websites. Such bots can also be used to override pricing models, misguiding the consumers concerning the price of the product. In most cases, scraper bots are used by competitors to understand the pricing methodology of their competitors.
  • Spammer Bots – These types of bots are used to insert spam links into discussion forums, chats, or comments.
  • Scavenger bots – Such bots are always on the lookout for any vulnerabilities in your website coding and can exploit such vulnerabilities to get unauthorized access to data, or any other illegal activity.
  1. Existing vulnerabilities

Most eCommerce websites have embedded vulnerabilities that hackers can take advantage of. Such vulnerabilities make the eCommerce websites susceptible to SQL injections or cross-site scripting.

  • SQL injection – In this cyber attack, hackers insert a SQL code through your data submission forms, corrupting your entire database. This allows the hackers to get hold of your database, while later deleting the entire trail and your data.
  • Cross-Site Scripting or XSS – This type of attack involves planting a spy JavaScript code within your eCommerce store. This allows the hackers to gain access to your consumers’ cookies and compute. Cross-site scripting focuses on exploiting the eCommerce web applications.
  1. DoS and DDoS attacks

DoS or Denial of Service and DDoS or Distributed Denial of Service is a type of eCommerce website security threat that prevents legitimate users from accessing the web portal, causing functional and sales disruptions. This attack is generally launched by sending a deluge of requests from untraceable IP addresses to the website server in a bid to overwhelm the servers, thereby shutting down the service access by the users. The difference between DoS and DDoS attacks is that while DoS attacks are directed from the hacker’s device to the target, DDoS hacker targets the business’s computer using several other computers.

  1. Credential stuffing

As the name suggests, credential stuffing is when hackers use leaked/stolen usernames and passwords to gain access to systems that have weak authentication methods. In most cases, the reason for this type of attack is weak passwords or reusing old or compromised passwords. Oftentimes, though, alphanumeric passwords to are compromised by phishing or keystroke tracking. In more cases, credential stuffing-type cyberattacks are on a rise due to the ease of getting access to the business systems.

  1. Brute force attack

A brute force attack is where hackers crack your admin ID and password using several combinations to take control of your eCommerce website. In most cases, this happens when websites keep generic usernames and passwords like “admin” and “password” or “1234” and so on. The best way to stow away such attacks is by maintaining a good password hygiene and authentication system.

  1. Man in the middle

Many a time when the users logging onto your eCommerce platform are not using a secure network, hackers might be able to listen to the communication between the eCommerce website and your consumers.

Ways to ensure eCommerce Website Security

  1. Security hygiene

SSL and HTTPS – Always ensure that your eCommerce website is up-to-date with the recent security protocols. Following HTTPS safety protocols and obtaining SSL certificates from the host of your websites will ensure that several of the eCommerce security threats are addressed and taken care of.

Password Hygiene – One of the most important aspects of it all is the password. Ensure that you keep changing your passwords from time to time, not repeating the old ones, and following alphanumeric guidelines for a strong password. Never share passwords with strangers and for eCommerce websites, install authentication procedures including OTP (One Time Password, etc.).

API protection – APIs and mobile applications are as much exposed to cyber threats as websites. Therefore, follow proper security protocols to develop a secure interface for the API and apps to function.

  1. Anti-virus and anti-malware software solutions

To safeguard the eCommerce website from most of the bots and malware, installing anti-malware software solutions is a must. The anti-malware software detects and removes any infectious software before it can infect the computer or the IT system dealing with your eCommerce platform. Antivirus helps by preventing viruses from attacking your system, thereby saving your system files and other sensitive data from being corrupted.

  1. Firewall Security

A firewall enables your eCommerce website security to successfully deal with cyberattacks such as SQL injections, XSS, insecure networks, and others like these. Firewall helps regulate the inbound traffic towards your website, ensuring that only legitimate traffic gets directed to your site.

  1. AVS or Address Verification System

AVS is the ultimate weapon for merchants to ensure that credit card frauds are minimized. AVS is provided by the banks issuing the credit card, which works by identifying suspicious credit card transactions online. AVS checks the billing address on the eCommerce website and matches it with the billing address of the credit card. The check report is sent back to the merchant site, and then the merchant decides if the transaction is legitimate or fraudulent activity.

  1. Educating Staff and Clients

Spread the word amongst your clients about ways to ensure safe access to the eCommerce website and its services. Keep revising the user IDs and access to ensure no ex-employee has access to the system after they leave service. Further, reminding customers to keep resetting their passwords is a good practice to ensure that proper password hygiene is maintained, thus saving your eCommerce platform from hackers and cyberattacks.

  1. Lastly

Getting a dedicated website security solution for your eCommerce store will prove to be much beneficial for your business in the long run. Apart from that, always have a plan B in place, and keep a data backup at all times. Have your IT team regularly scan your website for any malware or such threatening plug-ins. Develop a multi-layer security system that enhances data protection.

Is there any vulnerability in your eCommerce platform that needs fixing?

E-orchids Tech Solutions offers to check your platform and fix any vulnerabilities that make your eCommerce website susceptible to cyber-attacks. Contact us to know your options, or drop in your details in the contact form and we will surely connect back with you. Act today to save your tomorrow.

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Mobile Application vs Mobile Website: What Would Best Suit a Start-up?

Having a digital presence has become one of the intrinsic features of any marketing strategy that a business – irrespective of its size – needs to build on. In modern times, the number of people using smartphones and devices is more than 7 billion worldwide, making up almost 92% of the world population. With mobile phones becoming such an integral part of our lives, they make for the biggest platform to access any target audience. Research suggests that advertisers spend more than 50% of the total digital marketing budget on mobile advertising. This percentage is slotted to increase further in 2022. In such a scenario, start-ups require to build upon the mobile platform, to begin with. Here arises a question of what solution is better suited – mobile apps/mobile websites.

Best Suited for Start-ups – Mobile Application or Mobile Website?

For start-ups especially, gaining their customer’s trust is essential for increasing the conversion rates. The modern consumer is quite smart and research-oriented. Before investing in any product, consumers ensure to do a thorough background check by checking product websites and catalogs if any. In such a scenario, investing in a mobile website/mobile app is an essential step for a start-up willing to establish its brand image. However, developing a mobile app or application always costs a lot more than developing a mobile website. Hence the dilemma arises concerning a better solution for your business.

Understanding Mobile Application

A mobile application is a native application built for a mobile device. This device can work with or without access to the internet. These mobile applications are built specifically for the mobile platforms they will be used on – that is, separate applications for iOS and Android platforms. The users require to download these mobile apps through app stores before being used.

Benefits of Mobile Application

  • Inbuilt features for better user experience
  • Interaction with other mobile device features
  • Provides immersive user experience

Understanding Mobile Website

Built using HTML5 pages, this is like a standard website but the one that scales down to fit the screen on a mobile device. Mobile Websites require internet access to connect through a web browser to showcase their content. These websites are designed specifically to suit the features of a mobile device.

Benefits of Mobile Website

  • No platform-specific application required
  • No need to update the installation
  • No need for any software downloads to get access to content

Factors that influence the choice

Here is a checklist you need to browse through before making the final choice to choosing between a mobile app and a mobile website. This checklist will help identify the requirements of your product and the users, thereby enabling you to make the right decision based on the factors listed below.

  • User Preference – First and foremost, understand what your consumers need. If your target audience is more of the type that requires accessing your product on the go, then developing a mobile app will be a better choice. However, if your consumers prefer careful browsing through the product catalog, and taking their time to decide, a simple mobile responsive website would suffice. These days, mobile websites can utilize complex functions within their scope of functioning.
  • The Financials – As also mentioned earlier, developing mobile websites is more economical (read: cheaper) than developing mobile applications. When developing mobile applications, you need to develop separate apps for separate Operating Systems. Distinct apps will have to be created for the android and iOS platforms. For this reason, the cost of mobile app development is higher than those of developing mobile websites. Mobile Websites, since they are browser-based, require web developers to code only once as this code can function on all OS alike. Another reason mobile applications are costlier than a mobile website is the additional cost of updates development.
  • Usage type – A mobile application is considered a success only when and if its users use the mobile app frequently. Most eCommerce applications such as Amazon, Flipkart, etc are a success due to the relative frequency of usage by individual customers. Further, mobile applications like Google maps, Swiggy, Uber, etc are also doing supremely well due to their usage frequency. For businesses where your product is a one-time buy or not frequently brought, as is the case with most start-ups, developing a mobile website would be the best strategy.
  • Product complexity – The key decision-making point is your product. When your product offers features, and experiences that are complex, and cannot be fabricated with the mobile website, a mobile app is your solution. For instance, if you are simply offering glasses and sunglasses to your customers, a mobile website with app-like features would do it very well for you. However, if you also add to your product by providing users with features of trying on the glasses or the model selected (virtually, of course) using phone features such as a frontal camera, then a mobile application would do a better job than a mobile website. Depending on how complex your product is and the number of features you want to offer your customers to stand out from the competition, you can choose between a mobile app or a mobile website.
  • Need to use phone’s features – Some products require using certain features of the smartphones for proper functioning, or product delivery. For instance, Google Maps requires constant location tracking to function, and showcase product features such as distance, the time required to reach your destination, road blockades, traffic situation, etc. Another example of the same would be where AR or Augmented Reality is used to help the user make decisions regarding the purchase of the product. IKEA, for example, provides users with the option to view the specific corners of their house by placing the product they are interested in virtually by using the smartphone’s camera. It gives the users a rough idea about how that particular space will look with the piece of furniture they are interested in buying, thus, enabling better decision making. The point is, for products that require access to the phone’s features for better product delivery and user experience, a mobile app is a better choice. Nonetheless, with technology advancing each day, certain advanced features can be included in mobile websites to enhance the end-user experience.
  • Need for Updating – While developing mobile applications, you need to keep in mind that mobile applications require constant updates to keep up with the software changes of mobile devices. Different mobile apps need to be developed for various OS systems, mainly iOS and Android. So the costs of developing separate apps, plus the cost of updating these, should be calculated beforehand to save you from surprise costs mounting up later. Secondly, updating the mobile apps constantly also means that the users will also require to update these apps on their devices, proving to be a hassle. Therefore, if your product can do well without a mobile application, it is better to opt for a mobile website. A mobile website can be regularly updated within the scope of the browser, and users do not need to worry about these updates. No separate update development for different OSs is required for mobile websites since these are operated via a web browser. Overall, when it comes to hassle-free operation, mobile websites are better than mobile applications.
  • App speed – The speed of the content being loaded is also a big considering factor when deciding between a mobile app and a website. For certain products such as games, a downloadable mobile application works better than a mobile website offering an online gaming experience. The reason for the same is the speed at which these games function. Certain games require large data transmission for the best animation and other gaming features to provide users with an immersive experience. For such games, developing an app-based product is a better option compared to a browser-based product since the speeds of a mobile app will be faster than the speed of a game operating through the web browser (if both games have the same features, animations, and data usage).
  • Offline or Online – Depending on the kind of product you are offering; you can analyze if your product can be accessed offline or requires constant internet connectivity. In cases where internet connectivity is a must, a mobile website can work equally well as a mobile application. The benefit of mobile applications is that they can function without the internet if you choose this. One of the examples of a successful mobile application using the offline mode feature is Google Maps. With an offline mode, Google Maps is one of the most trusted mobile applications for users who fear the loss of internet connectivity on their travels. Google Maps can be downloaded and operated in an offline mode, as it downloads the maps and terrain onto the phone to use and can function without the internet. Amazon Kindle is another brilliant application that has revolutionized the way the world reads. Providing the users with access to books offline (of course, you have to download the books beforehand when you have internet connectivity), Kindle has reduced the weight of the books people would carry during travel. You can read multiple books on your smartphone, even when there is no internet. Netflix has a feature where you can download the movies or serials you want to watch offline. If you have a similar product that can function in an offline mode, then mobile app development is the best thing you can do for your business.
  • Ease of use – Research indicates that 57% of the users do not trust businesses with poorly developed websites or applications. 8 out of 10 users responded that they would rather not interact with content or media that does not open well on their devices. Therefore, the ease of using the content you make available for the customers should be one of the key points of interest. Further, mobile websites are more approachable than mobile applications since no downloads are required.
  • Competitor’s choice – Understanding the branding and marketing strategy of your competitors can also be a deciding factor when it comes to choosing between mobile apps/mobile websites. If your competitor is doing well on a mobile application platform, it is advisable to go for the same and vice versa.

Finally, the guru speaks.

It suffices to conclude that for most standalone start-up businesses dealing with eCommerce, a mobile website works as well as a mobile application. Having a mobile website is an absolute must for start-ups. Mobile websites provide users with a complete and wholesome experience while also providing added benefits for the businesses, such as lower development and maintenance costs. That said, mobile applications cannot be ruled out altogether. The kind of immersive experience provided by mobile apps is unique in itself. By using mobile phone features such as a camera, mobile applications can help provide users with a mesmerizing experience. Therefore, choosing between a mobile website/mobile app depends explicitly on your product.

When in Doubt…

When choosing between the two becomes difficult, select the option to develop PWA or Progressive Web Applications. These mobile applications are developed and meant to function within a web browser. So, the PWAs are essentially a combination of a mobile website and a mobile application. PWAs are being preferred by most start-up businesses these days because they provide added features like mobile applications while providing the ease of maintaining and developing these like the mobile website.

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Top Healthcare IT Trends in 2022

There is no denying the fact that healthcare and medicine are an integral part of all of our lives. With the pandemic of covid 19, the importance and the lagging of the technological innovations in healthcare were made strikingly evident. However, that proved to be the beginning of a new era of technological innovations in healthcare. Some of the fast-growing healthcare technology trends worldwide happen to involve telemedicine, personalized medicine, wearables, and genomics.

The very reason that potent covid 19 vaccinations could be produced quickly was thanks to the advancements in genomics and informatics. Further, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) helped improvise the probable vaccines and their effect or potency on the virus.

The use of technology in healthcare has taken a new turn. It is developing new scenarios which are not only convenient but also more competent, to begin with. Some of the major healthcare technology trends to look out for this year have been compiled in this blog. Read on for more information.

  1. 1) Virtual care for enhanced reach

Apps for online consultation – Online consultation has been taken up by half of the world population as per recent surveys, thanks to the situation led by the covid 19 pandemic. In most cases, hospitals are offering specialized applications which are holistic in nature, providing patients with a comprehensive range of options such as – online consultation, prescription, medications, pathology, diagnostics, etc. With reduced logistics and hassle, this concept has been wholeheartedly welcomed by people around the world. Reports suggest that as much as 64% or more companies involved in healthcare are investing to develop a virtual healthcare infrastructure.

Chatbots to reduce nurse loads – AI-powered chatbots help understand the symptoms of the patients and pass on the relevant information to the doctors before the consultation begins. It has helped free up the redundant tasks of the nurses, thereby freeing them up for putting their effort and energy elsewhere. Also termed as Robotic Process Automation or RPA, these help by improving healthcare processes through automation and improving professionals’ performance by more than 30%. Some of the tasks that fall under the premise of RPA are data management for patient information, scheduling patient appointments, accelerating data processing, and improved efficiency.

Automated Ordering diagnostics and medicines – Understanding badly written prescriptions is a thing of the past. Applications and algorithms now help you order the medicines prescribed by your healthcare consultant (through online consultation) on the online platform directly from associated pharmacies. Further, the tests prescribed too can be ordered online, while a healthcare professional can reach your residence to perform the requisite tests. Long gone are the days of standing in long queues and long waiting times. Convenience is the keyword in 2022 when it comes to key healthcare technology trends.

Virtual ER – Consulting with patients through devices such as iPad or smartphones, doctors are now equipped to provide consultation to remote places. It is quite beneficial, especially in cases such as the recent Covid 19, where the infectiousness of the disease posed a threat to caretakers and doctors. Even when such communicable diseases are out of the scene, the functionality of remote virtual ER is undeniable. In places where the number of doctors is less proportionate to the population such as India and China, virtual ER brings about a ray of hope to the patients in need.

Better resource allocation — Another benefit of the same is that panic calls that are not an emergency can be taken care of through virtual ER, leaving the hospital ER wards free to take care of those who need emergency support. Further, automated processes have eased the load of data processing on healthcare professionals. Thus, this talent pool that was unavailable till now owing to redundant processes is now free to work for the patient’s welfare.

  1. 2) AI-powered processes and Predictions for Better management

AI-enabled healthcare – While research work has been going on in the field of AI-enabled healthcare procedures such as minor operations or minimally invasive procedures, recent years have seen more hospitals and medical practitioners adopting this technology. AI-powered robotic hands and machines are more precise, with minimal scope of mistakes, thereby increasing efficiency. Further, diagnostics such as involving radiology can easily be handled and reported by AI-enabled bots even as imaging technicians and professionals can guide remotely. It saves the professionals a lot of energy and time to spend where it matters more, even as bots take over to perform such repetitive tasks.

Technology-enabled health services — Virtual Reality or VR is also being used for treatment purposes. Children with autism or other such illnesses are being treated with VR for better social skill development. Further, people suffering from cognitive illnesses such as schizophrenia, etc are also being given CBT or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy using Virtual Reality to help patients overcome their fears and phobias.

AI for repetitive, redundant tasks – Artificial Intelligence is slotted to take over the redundant tasks like scheduling appointments, taking patient history, etc. It will free the nurses in charge of these processes, thereby enabling them to better utilize their talent and services.

AI for predictions – The AI algorithms have advanced and are now being used to predict the rate of spread of pandemics or epidemics. The AI-enabled healthcare systems are also adept at identifying the physical statistics of large groups of people. It has enabled healthcare in several countries to monitor the rate of infections, people requiring immediate medical aid, etc. Connected cameras and ML computers have brought healthcare to every doorstep, ushering in better and fast responses from healthcare professionals.

  1. 3) Better improved talent pool due to remote collaborations

Remote training for better performances – Healthcare professionals and hospitals are now collaborating to train professionals remotely. Not only does this enhance the overall talent pool available, but it also reduces the total cost of training. The remote training and functioning have offered the patients a chance to get better healthcare services. With an expert supervising from a faraway location, trainees or subordinates can perform critical procedures with ease and perfection.

Augmented Reality (AR) for Training – With Augmented Reality coming in big time, the quality of training has also significantly improved. AR enables students and trainees to get hands-on experience in conducting procedures, without the risk to the patient. AR also allows the users to understand the scope of improvement and repeat practice sessions, making the training process more effective. Surveys indicate that as much as 35% of training institutes and colleges are already adapting to AR and VR technologies (a combination of which is termed extended reality (XR)) to enhance the overall training experience. The year 2022 is bound to see a rise in this percentage.

Remote access and operations by talent pool – With the advent of robotic surgeries and camera-assisted surgeries, the scope of remote access to these devices by doctors has distinctly increased. Therefore, for specialist doctors to conduct high-risk surgeries at different locations has become a possibility with remote ER and OT systems.

Worldwide access to the best services due to remote collaborations – The earlier dearth of competitive services at all corners of the world posed a threat to critical patients and their care. However, with virtual care and remote collaborations, patients worldwide can get the best healthcare opinions from the best doctors irrespective of the location. It has improved the overall quality of healthcare systems, thereby increasing the chances of survival of critical patients. For instance, ultrasonography performed elsewhere can be shared live with an expert healthcare professional sitting in any corner of the world. Thus, virtual collaborations have increased the chances of patients getting the best consultation and treatments.

  1. 4) Enhanced Data pool for innovations and developments

Usher Innovation — Data is the king, and this holds true in every field looking for innovation and creation. Healthcare is one of the industries that has undergone a massive transformation since the pandemic struck. In such a scenario, big data is the need of the hour to bring about innovations, and understand what the consumers need. The pandemic brought forth the need for remote monitoring and consultation to minimize physical interaction between people. The same was intercepted, and applications developed where teleconsultation and reports sharing were made easy. The next few months saw the need for remote or mobile ICU. Healthcare companies understood the requirement and developed solutions that provided the customers with the same. Several lives have been saved due to this innovation, especially when there was a shortfall of ER availability.

Analyzing Health Data — What needs to be understood is that with most of the healthcare data online now — starting from HER (Electronic Health Records) to IoT devices (fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, etc) and diagnostics reports — the need for assessing and analyzing this data is evermore. When this data is used properly, it will help identify the risks that a person faces in terms of health, thereby allowing for a timely intervention to reduce the chances of critical conditions later.

Identifying Consumer need to Build on new Products — Further, it is not wrong to say that healthcare companies looking for innovation and new product offerings can easily use this big data to understand their consumers better and their needs. With reports and medical data of the consumers available online, research companies can work on developing better technological advancements in the field of medicine.

  1. 5) Integrated diagnostics and patient-care for improved critical care

Remote Patient Monitoring and Digital Therapeutics — Critical care has transformed with mobile ICU and AI-powered critical care units. Regular monitoring of the body statistics by AI reduces the chances of missing out on new crucial developments. It helps in identifying risks and providing timely interventions to prevent serious implications. The concept of digital therapeutics, though new, is gaining traction in the healthcare world. Digital Therapeutics is where AI-enabled systems determine and deliver the medications, right dose at the right time to the patients, monitor blood sugar and pressure levels, and initiate exercise if required by the patients.

  1. 6) Ushering Energy Efficient Technology

SaaS (Software as a Service) Models for increased efficiency — SaaS helps in remote collaborations as doctors, staff, and patients can all access information online. It is Cost-effective and enables the hospitals and management financial flexibility. The SaaS model is also energy efficient. On average, using SaaS models for management purposes has seen an increase in server utilization by 65%. Thus, it requires fewer servers when the cloud is used for data processing, thereby reducing carbon emissions and waste. The Healthcare industry attributes 4% of the global carbon emissions. Transitioning to SaaS models is the key to reducing this carbon footprint. Today, efficiency is the key to growth, and reducing the financial burden is essential without compromising the quality of services provided to the patients. Adopting SaaS models, therefore, is the best solution for the same.

Renewable Energy Consumption – Needless to say, when discussing energy efficiency, no discussion remains complete without focussing on the need to use renewable energy sources. From designing green buildings and hospitals to using clean energy to power the hospital operations and machines, this concept is catching up fast. The need to collaborate with green developers has increased over the years and the year 2022 is bound to see a rise in this healthcare technology trend.

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Top 8 Ways to Gain Insight From Your Customers and Grow Your Business

Understanding Consumer Insight

The world of marketing revolves around its customers and their satisfaction. Grasping customer insights is the crucial aspect of formulating an effective marketing campaign. While traditional marketing focuses on a larger target audience, the advent of digital marketing has made the entire process a little more complex. For a digital marketing campaign to be successful, marketing needs to focus on minute customer details. Understanding the way an audience reacts, feels, needs, or behaves around a product is Customer Insight.

Interpreting consumer behavior helps develop a digital marketing strategy that focuses on certain behavioral aspects of the consumer, thus increasing the chances of being noticed by the target audiences. Adapting specific techniques and features into your digital marketing strategy also helps enhance the conversion rates, thus increasing your sales and revenues.

Importance of Customer Insights for Your Business

In case you are wondering about all the hullabaloo surrounding customer insights, let us explain how interpreting customer insights help you and your business grow.

  • Provide Better Consumer Support – Understanding the needs and requirements of your customer helps you understand what makes them happy. It further enhances the way you provide support to your customers. Better and prompt customer support, on the platform of their choice, is a sure-shot way of satisfying your clients. Did you know that satisfied clients tend to always come back for more purchases? It builds a brand loyalty of sorts, helping you solidify your customer base, thus giving your sales a huge push.
  • Enhanced Consumer Experience – Consumers these days have become quite demanding and need to be engaged with care. Consumers need to interact with the brand or the product to solidify their relationship with it. To this end, businesses are required to cater to their needs in a way that the overall consumer experience with the brand – from surfing to shopping to post-sales – is enhanced. A better consumer engagement with your business results in a long-term relationship increasing the chances of conversion and improving the overall brand image.
  • Optimize a Product or Service – Businesses are constantly on the lookout to develop a new offering or service for their customers. However, what is a way of knowing if that particular offering, product, or service will be acceptable to the consumers? To develop a product, optimize an already existing product, or create new services, businesses need to understand what is it that customers require. By way of using certain methods, that we will be discussing further in the article, businesses can determine the exact product and how the customers need it. This helps develop a product that will be in demand from the very day of its conception. Providing the customers with an exact product will ensure that you have customers from the very first day of launching the product.
  • Create a Brand Reputation – Establishing a positive brand reputation is one of the main aspects of marketing. Customer insights are critical in identifying if the projected brand image matches the perceived brand image. When a brand gets associated with a negative image, businesses that are actively interpreting consumer insight can make timely changes in their marketing strategy to bring about a change in customer perception.
  • Informed Marketing Decisions – By staying abreast of the habits of the consumers, the ongoing trends, and future developments, businesses can take crucial strategic decisions related to product development, marketing strategies, mergers and acquisitions, and other developmental areas. Staying informed helps businesses develop or improve based on customer feedback.

8 Ways of Getting Consumer Insights

Customers these days have become smarter. No customer indulges in impulsive shopping these days. The customers decide to make a purchase only after carefully examining all aspects of the brand by reading reviews, checking websites, browsing policies, comparing with competitors, etc. In such a scenario, what makes you stand apart?

Marketing your brand in the right way, providing interactive customer-brand engagement, better products, and services, better communications with the customers by proactively answering all queries, etc are a few ways for businesses to establish a bond of trust with the consumers. However, it is a two-way process. The only way that businesses can provide consumers with exactly what customers want is when the customers tell them about their needs and requirements. Interpreting customer insights is one of the keys to a thriving, consumer-happy business.

Mentioned below are eight simple ways that help you get customer insight, thereby helping you grow your business.

  1. 1) Personalized approach –

It is a proven point that personalized communications always help your customers feel connected with your brand. For instance, when a new customer joins your community, send a personalized email to them welcoming them onward signed off by the name of the company CEO or brand ambassador. It helps the consumer feel welcomed and creates a bond of trust with the brand.

Research proves that sending emails relevant to the consumer choices and past purchases gets more clicks than sending randomized emails. Therefore, regularly mailing the consumers using their first names, sending customized messages based on their past purchases, ongoing discounts, new launches, etc help initiate a sense of familiarity with the consumers enhancing their overall experience.

  1. 2) Consumer Surveys –

One of the simplest ways of getting consumer insights is by asking consumers to take a short feedback survey. Consumers of the modern age are more than willing to participate in such surveys or provide feedback to you. In most cases, platforms such as Amazon or other marketplaces always ask for consumer feedback post the purchase. Reading this feedback will help you understand which aspect of the product to work on better. Further, businesses operating through standalone websites or portals can also ask customers for feedback regarding their products.

Keep in mind that when asking for consumer feedback, it is always best to ask in quantitative terms (rating or scales). Most consumers reply to feedback where they only have to select quantitative options rather than where they have to type out their answers.

While there is software that helps businesses develop surveys, online surveys are one of the best ways of asking for customer feedback. Several platforms offer customized or ready templates for quickly creating and sending surveys to your consumers. For instance, Google Forms, Got Incite, etc are a few online survey creator platforms. Using these survey platforms benefits you in three ways: First, they are free of cost or come at a nominal price. Second, they are effortless to use. Lastly, they auto-analyze the results of the responses you get from your surveys.

Got Incite, for instance, helps you create your survey. Got Incite provides you with several question types (multiple choice, scale-based, rating-based, text-based, etc), condition-based questions, and much more, while also helping you analyze the results in several categories. You also get the option to decide how to send the survey to your customers – through text or email. You can upload your entire consumer database and send all consumers the survey with a simple click. You also get the option to add single consumers and send them the survey link individually.

  1. 3) Social Media Listening –

An emerging trend, Social Listening accounts to brands keeping an eye open for any social media discussions regarding your product. Establishing tracking cookies and bots to track conversations is one of the newest ways of making your presence felt even before the consumer realizes it. Have you ever wondered how the moment you send a chat to your friend regarding a product, say toothpaste? The next moment all the web pages you visit or surf online, start showing you advertisements for toothpaste? It is uncanny how when you look up a product on a website shows up as an advertisement on the next page. It is all attributed to social listening. With you listening to your consumer’s social media conversations, search history, keyword history, etc, you can showcase your product at the very beginning of the consumer funnel or the decision-making process.

  1. 4) Creating Consumer Profile

Another way of getting consumer insights is by creating consumer profiles and segmenting. Profiling consumers help in sending better-personalized communication to the consumers, thereby increasing the chances of being converted in real-time. To provide consumers with a personalized approach, you need to collect customer information such as past preferences, browsing history on your website, products that got clicked on, purchase history, if any, etc. All these can easily be tracked using cookies and tracking bots that come embedded with your website or mobile applications. Further, if a consumer registers with you to receive regular communication, you can also get insight into details such as gender, demographics, age, etc. It helps send even more structured and personalized communication content to the consumers, enhancing the overall consumer experience.

  1. 5) Holding Contests

Contests, where there is some prize (preferably an experience with your product), are always a great way of interacting with your consumers, collecting information regarding them, and interpreting their decision-making process. By registering for the contest, you get a database of interested customers. This database provides all the central details concerning your consumers, such as age, gender, location, job profile, education profile, family profile, etc, depending on how much you need and what you ask. These demographical factors help interpret your customers and develop suitable products, brand image, services, or marketing strategies to suit your purpose.

  1. 6) Hosting Events

Hosting events in a community is a sure-shot way of getting noticed by the consumers within that society. It also helps build a database of consumers interested in your brand. At any event hosted by a business, most people who visit will be filling out a visitor form or provide some feedback (you have to ask them for it, preferably at the time of their exit). This feedback is pivotal for you to identify the needs of the consumers. The consumer details as well that are provided to you at these events help you segment your clientele, thereby enabling you to understand your consumer better and create a powerful marketing strategy.

  1. 7) Virtual Tours of Products or Facilities

Consumers love various ways of interacting with brands or learning how brands develop their products. These virtual tours of your facilities or products also help educate the consumers regarding your brand, the values they imbibe, and the principles they stand for. Similarly, this being a two-way process, you get to interact with your consumers, asking the consumers about their needs and requirements, their expectations from the brand, their feedback, etc. Such interactive sessions are influential in creating a positive brand image of your business while providing you with valuable consumer insights at the same time.

  1. 8) Consumer Reviews

It is one of the most critical ways to get essential consumer insights. Reviews of your product are the most genuine feedback you can get from your consumers. This feedback helps become a deciding factor for new consumers while making their purchases. The point to understand is that new consumers always depend on reviews before deciding whether to make a particular purchase or not. More positive reviews would mean more purchases as the new consumer would trust your brand better. Customer Reviews are also great to understand if the direction of your marketing strategy, product development, or service is correct. Negative reviews are bitter but help highlight central problems within your business processes, thereby giving you a chance to improve these problems. By acknowledging the negative reviews, your consumers get a sense of being valued, thereby reversing their negative experience to a fairly pleasant one.

Finally…

Understand your consumer at the granular level to understand how you can be there for your consumer at every point of the customer journey. It helps make your brand trustworthy in the eyes of the consumers, increasing their brand loyalty. Understand that loyal consumers mean sure-shot and repeat purchases. The key to any successful business is a base of loyal clientele. Beating the competition and creating value can be achieved only by understanding your consumers in the very best way that you can.

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5 Biggest Security Challenges for Enterprise IoT

What is IoT?

When it comes to networking technologies, we had only experienced the basic infrastructure comprising of desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. However, over the past few years, information and communication technologies have undergone a massive revolution. It has led to a surge in the number of devices that utilize network consumption. Smartwatches, smart kitchen appliances, smart household appliances, vehicles, traffic controls, medical appliances, etc are all a few of the recent developments that have made their way into our lives. Such devices connect with and function by using our network technologies. Reports suggest that by the end of 2021, there were more than 30.9 billion units of IoT devices connected to our network. Enterprise IoT security is essential for any organization that wants to deploy IoT solutions and at the same time lessen the risk of data leak, ransomware attacks, and other forms of IoT attacks on physical devices and the underlying network.

Need for Cybersecurity in IoT

While businesses and companies have been striving hard to develop more IoT devices to fore, the truth is that most often than not, the security of these IoT devices has been an ignored fact. Most IoT devices collect and store personal information and data. For instance, a smart vehicle collects information about vehicle movement, locations visited, etc. Medical appliances collect sensitive health-related information about people. Household appliances collect security and other household-related information, and the list goes on.

It may suffice to say that by analyzing the information collected by these IoT devices, one can understand the habits and the way of life of people using these devices. Therefore, keeping these devices secure should be the utmost priority of all companies developing and manufacturing them. Sadly, IoT security is the most undermined of all processes. Most IoT devices seldom get software upgrades or security updates for long-term security, and safety. Already, research indicates that 40% of the global smart household appliances are infested with botnets (a form of malware), which when controlled by hackers on a mass scale, can destabilize connected electric grids.

According to a recent survey, most companies are worried that a cyber-attack on their system may originate from an endpoint or an IoT application. Due to the lack of a secure IoT device management infrastructure, most businesses are helpless when it comes to securing their networks. As it is, 2021 saw 1.51 billion breaches of IoT applications, almost doubled compared to 639 million breaches in 2020. In such a scenario, the situation looks bleak unless steps are taken to make the IoT devices more secure.

Let us look at a few challenges to the IoT device and network security that businesses and companies face.

Security Challenges to IoT

In the list below, we have tried covering all the major threats to the IoT-related infrastructure.

  • 1) No Global Standards for IoT Security

One of the reasons IoT security is underdeveloped is because there are no global guidelines and standards for the security of IoT devices. For the same reasons, most IoT device manufacturers are clueless about or take IoT security lightly. IoT devices seldom get any security or software updates after they are purchased. Owing to an underdeveloped security framework, there is a probable compromise of information collected by these performing IoTs.

In most cases, even the consumers are not aware of the risks associated with a less secure IoT device. Such devices are capable of compromising their data and information. Further, the network connected to these IoT devices and other systems associated with the network is also at risk of a probably cyber-attack.

How to Rectify:

  • Define minimum safety standards — One of the ways to resolve this is by fast-forwarding a movement where businesses and consumers worldwide force authorities to define minimum safety standards to be followed by the manufacturing companies.
  • Increase employee awareness – Employees should be made aware of the potential risks of linking their IoT devices to the company network. Additionally, providing them information about ways of using their IoT devices securely will help strengthen the IoT security in the organization.
  • Access Management – The organization should consider the type of access they want to give to the connected IoT devices. They can customize the extent of network usage or information control that the IoT devices have within their network.
  • Segmenting network access – Developing a separate network to which IoT applications connect will ensure the complete safety of the company network and data.
  • Regular security updates – By regularly fixing security bugs and updating the security encoding of the IoT devices and applications, the overall IoT security can improve and stay safe from emerging cyber threats.
  • 2) Weak Passwords

One of the reasons cyber attackers gain access to your network or devices is the lack of a strong password. In most cases, default passwords are provided by the manufacturer to enable an easy log-in process. However, these default passwords should be changed by the consumer for safety. But as is seen in most cases, the consumers using these default passwords are either not aware or simply fail to change the passwords into their own personal or complex passwords. It makes it extremely easy for hackers to hack their devices and network therein.

Additionally, making easy passwords or passwords based on common personal knowledge also make it easy for hackers to attack your IoT device and network systems.

How to Ensure safety?

  • Strong Password Hygiene – Firstly, consumers should always ensure they have a strong password that they can remember. Further, changing the passwords often and trying to keep them complex will ensure that hacking into your password and accounts is difficult, if not impossible. Lastly, never share your password details with anyone. If at all you have to, change your passwords immediately.
  • Using OTPs – Secondly, manufacturers using default passwords should rather opt for one-time passwords (OTP) that change every time the user logs in, and the details of which are sent directly to the user on their email Id or via SMS on their phone.
  • Implementing Multi-Factor Log in – Asking the users information that only they have will ensure that the cyber security of the IoT devices is maintained.
  • 3) Data Security and Privacy

According to the recent data, 84% of the companies surveyed reported data security breaches because of unsecured IoT devices connected to their organization’s network. Apart from the network breaches and resultant data theft, the IoT devices themselves collect monumental amounts of information about their users. Since these IoT devices have a compromised security system, owing to the lack of security features, the data associated with these are at a massive risk of being stolen or misused by cybercriminals. Further, most IoT devices have basic coding where the data and communications use plain text. Without encryption therefore this data is at risk of being stolen by hackers.

In one of the incidences of such thefts, a casino had a portion of its database stolen when a cybercriminal hacked into the temperature monitoring system of a fish tank and used that as the base for getting into other systems connected to the same network.

How to fix this?

  • Data Encryption — Data encryption is amongst the first steps that can enhance data security. By encrypting all information, even though the hackers might breach the security levels and get access to the data, they cannot convert the encrypted data into readable text. It, in the end, saves the data from being used illegally.
  • Limited Access — Secondly, limiting the access control for the data and the device will help enhance the security of the IoT applications and related data.
  • Using VPNs — Lastly, VPNs or Virtual Private Networks hold the key to establishing a secure connection between the devices, and the network. VPN allows the users to share data through an encrypted tunnel, thus keeping the data transmission safe from any theft or attack.
  • 4) Lack of IoT device management

At any given point in time, there are several undetected IoT devices, also called shadow IoT, connected to a company’s network. Most of the time, these shadow IoT devices are the starting point for any cybercriminal to begin the process of hacking into a private network. Since there is no information within the system regarding shadow IoT devices, it is extremely easy for hackers to make an entry through them.

At other times, a few essential IoT devices connected to the network have weak security. This allows their system to be used for running other applications in the background. The most commonly misused interfaces are MRI and CT machines. This has led to a massive jump in the cases of ransomware in the field of the healthcare industry. In most cases, cybercriminals attack healthcare organizations via their smart appliances like MRI or CT machines and threaten to stop key operations or leak customer data unless their demands (usually financial) are met.

Further, with an increase in the number of Shadow IoTs, the amount of unstructured data has increased. This has led to data analytical problems for companies and organizations. An estimate records more than 41.6 billion IoT devices to be in use by 2025 which will amount to unstructured data amounting to more than 79 zettabytes! How do companies deal with such humongous data analytics?

How to Fix This?

  • Adopt IoT Device Management — The above incidents and reasons have led companies and businesses to evolve a concept of IoT device management. Under this precept, no IoT device gets permission to access the network without proper authentication, configuration and provision. This ensures that all devices which are connected to the system are secure, with proper protocols and encryptions.
  • Monitor Linked IoT Devices — IoT device management also lets the organizations analyze the usage, access points, and other security-related information of all the IoT solutions connected. Since monitoring becomes easy, the chances of blocking a potential threat are increased, thus enhancing the overall security of the data and the network.
  • Regularly Update Software and Security — By way of IoT device management, all the devices connected can be ensured to have updated software and security mechanisms. Regular updates can be installed to keep the device optimized and secure.
  • 5) IoT Skill Gap

IoT is a relatively new field and its full scope is yet unexplored. For the same reason, there is a huge skill gap among professionals in the field of IoT development. Adding to the woes is the dearth of the standard security guidelines for developing or manufacturing such IoT applications.

Organizations, while having an IT security cell in place, are unaware or incompetent in dealing with security issues related to the IoT segment. Further, even consumers using the IoT devices are not acquainted with the risks involved with the usage of IoT applications or ways of enhancing the security of these devices.

How to fix this?

  • Train Professionals — Professionals dealing with IoT security need to be properly trained concerning the developments of threats to the IoT devices and ways of dealing with them. Preventive measures, coding, and encryptions need to be placed to enhance IoT device security.
  • Inform Consumers — Secondly, consumers should be made aware of all the risks associated with using unsecured IoT devices. They should be able to identify secure and unsecured IoT devices before making a purchase. This will help in reducing the load of unsecured IoT devices which pose a huge risk to data protection and network security.
  • Make IoT Security Departments — All organizations should make a separate department that specializes in IoT security and devices attached to the company network.

To Conclude

Being a comparatively new concept, IoT security and associated threats have not been explored completely. Nevertheless, it is not to say that the risks brought forth due to shadow IoT devices and others are not real-time. With so much at stake, it is high time that industry and regulatory organizations look up to the matter and take steps to strengthen IoT security and implementation.

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8 Graphic Design Trends in 2022: What’s New + Expert Tips

Each year brings a plethora of trends followed by people the world across. However, where do these trends stem? Designers from across the world work year-round on developing concepts, testing, tweaking, and retesting them, ensuring that these designs and trends appeal to consumers all across the world.
While most of us understand the tough work done by fashion designers, the truth is that graphic designing is not very different from that. Developing design concepts that work best for people all over the world is a task more daunting than it seems. Graphic designers understand that a static picture is not very appealing to the eyes of the consumers at all times. For the same reason, creating different concepts that are eye-catching is of utmost importance to them. Let’s discuss the graphic design trends that will dominate the creative industries in 2022.

Importance of Graphic Designing

The way a product looks is the first thing that registers from the viewpoint of the consumers. This first impact is what propels the consumers into making a purchase. Graphic designing helps refashion this first impact into a dynamic impression, thereby helping the business attract consumers and increase their ROI.

For most businesses, their brand image is everything. Their vision, mission, and business ethics are all reflected in the kind of business logo they have. Business logos and overall visual definitions help establish the business’s identity in the minds of the consumers. To this extent, developing a different and consistent visual identity helps. It helps manifest the very nature of the business while increasing its recall value in the minds of the consumers.

Top Eight Graphic Designs to Lookout For in 2022

The year 2022 is especially important, though, when it comes to graphic design trends. The last two years have seen the entire concept of life, and work is transformed due to the deadly virus pandemic. This transformation is reflected in the designs created by graphic designers. The lines between the real and unreal have blurred, and people are opening up to different abstract designs. While that is one of the main underlying themes of all the graphic design trends for 2022, we have curated especially for you a list of the 8 topmost trending graphic designs for 2022.

  • 1. 3D Designs

In a bid to provide unique designs and viewing experiences to the consumers, Graphic designers have introduced the concept of 3D images. While 3D concepts were used in the past, the mash-ups between 2D and 3D designs are a comparatively new approach.

Mixed 2d 3D designs, themes, templates and downloadable graphic elements on Dribbble

Pic source: Dribbble

The use of the mix of 2D & 3D designs applies not just to illustrations and pictures but also to animations, web designs, and typography. Some of the emerging apps are also using the 2D-3D mashup. The point is, combining 2D and 3D brings about a multitude of benefits – the first is it adds to the depth of the picture/illustration/animation. Secondly, it cuts down the time and cost of production.

What is this style of mixing 3D elements with 2D elements and perspective called? - Graphic Design Stack Exchange

Pic source: Graphic Design Stack Exchange

Furthermore, the recent trends seem to have introduced 3D characters into the fore to breathe life into your message deliverers.

22 of the Best Animated Commercials of All Time

Picture Credit: Breadnbeyond

ChouChou “Macarons” - 3D character animation in Blender - BlenderNation

Pic Source: BlenderNation

Not only do these 3D characters excite the child in us, but make the whole viewing experience fun for the viewers. In the end, the characters help register the brand’s message in the viewer’s mind.

  • 2. Innovative Font Styles

Long gone are the days when sticking to the standards was thought to be proper. Thinking out of the box is the new trend, and marketers want the shock value of their marketing illustrations and images to catch the attention of the consumers. Imperfect is beautiful, and the same is being reflected in the ways people are distorting and designing new fonts to bring about the feel of their product.

Pic Source: Bashooka

The images here showcase what we are trying to explain here. The fonts are unconventional and abstract. Yet they can impart to the viewers the feel of the message.

6,512 BEST Distorted Font IMAGES, STOCK PHOTOS & VECTORS | Adobe Stock

Pic Source: Adobe Stock

However, to say that distorted fonts are the only in-thing would be wrong. The classic fonts too are making a comeback, especially when you want to impart a vintage feel to the product. The elegance and nostalgia that these old font styles (SERIFF) exude have helped many companies increase their ROI by attracting more consumers.

Stunning Serif Fonts | Creative Market

Pic Source: Creative Market

HOW TO DESIGN A VINTAGE BRAND LOGO– Heritage Type Co.

Pic Source: Heritage Type Co.

  • 3. Surreal Chaos

Yes, you read that right! Chaos. A chaotic picture showcases the designer’s mind – full of images, objects, graphics, and sublime messages. Combine this clutter with bright colors and you have a message that instantly grabs the eye of the viewer.

10 ways to create amazing maximalist design

Pic Source: Canva

Five designers who show that maximalism is back in fashion

Pic Source: Dezeen

When it comes to graphic designs trends, More is More. Filling the image or illustration with maximum objects like hoarding is being considered to be amongst the top trending graphic designs. The antithesis of minimalism is maximalism. Maximalism converts into chaos, and this chaos sells huge in the market. It may have something to do with the psychological state of the human mind, that given the state of affairs around the world, is in a state of chaos itself.

Another distorted version of maximalism is where designers unfollow the conventional design guidelines. They put into their design asymmetry, striking fonts, crowded elements, contrasting/nonsymmetric color schemes, etc.

12 inspiring graphic design trends for 2022

Pic Source: 99Designs

Anti-Design Poster on Behance

Pic Source: Behance

Another aspect of the same theme is also seen in psychedelic designs which are abstract and somehow reminisce the good old days. Abstract designs combined with a plethora of colors are making a comeback amongst artists. Chaos clubbed with symmetrical patterns and colors is becoming the next big thing.

Colorful Psychedelic Advertisements From Between The 1960s And Early 1970s

Picture Credit: Design You Trust

Psychedelic Art designs, themes, templates and downloadable graphic elements on Dribbble

Picture Credit: Dribbble

  • 4. Candy Love

Each year brings a different color theme that rules all others. The trending color scheme for the year 2022 is Candy. Remember how we loved the brightly colored candies, m&ms, or the sprinkles we would want over our ice-creams? Our love for these was so great that eventually, they made their way into the illustrations and graphic designs. The craze about this candy scheme is such that it is topping the charts when it comes to the top graphic design trends for the year 2022.

Delicious Interior Design Featuring Candy Colors and Bold Shapes

Pic Source: Decoist

While candies come in all colors, there are certain gradients to the various color schemes. For once, there are the bright-colored candies, like in the image above. Second, there come candies in pastel shades. Depending on the designer’s choice, one may decide which scheme to use.

Premium Photo | Urban summer look. vanilla purple girl. kawaii vibes. candy colors design. bucket hat trends

Pic source: Freepik

5 summer 2021 color palettes to help your brand stand out | by Jingxi | Bootcamp

Picture Source: Bootcamp – UX Collective

This trend of using candy colors is generally clubbed with stark contrasting colors to create a shocking effect on the viewers. Combining contrasting colors helps create vivid images and illustrations, generating viewer curiosity and delivering the target message.

Simultaneous Contrast designs, themes, templates and downloadable graphic elements on Dribbble

Picture Source: Dribbble

  • 5. Not So Monotonous Monochrome

In keeping with the trend of creating unusual and striking images, monochrome is going big and strong in the top graphic design trends list. By using more than three color variations of the same color palette, designers create an image or illustration where lighter or darker tints of that one color give depth to the design.

The Best Print Adverts of All Time

Picture Credit: InDesignSkills

The image above uses simple grey and black as the color palette to create that monochrome effect. In the ongoing trend, however, you are free to choose any color of your choice.

Monochromatic Color: How to Use It Effectively | Design Shack

Picture Credit: Design Shack

Picture credit: Pinterest

Monochromatic | Monochromatic color scheme, Color schemes, Cool designs

Picture Credit: Pinterest

Monochrome is used by advertisers and marketing teams because it helps focus on the message of the illustration rather than the striking colors. Further, monochrome helps balance and unify the colors and illustration scheme.

  • 6. Muted Minimalist Approach

Minimalistic designs as we know it has undergone a revolution in the past year. While the earlier definition of minimalism was black text on white background, this has been replaced by neutral colors or muted colors.

Neutral Color Guide (When to Use Neutrals) · CMBell

Picture Source: CMBell

Muted color palettes are widely used to create sophisticated, simple designs. Muted colors are bright colors toned down using white, greys, or blacks. It gives the colors an earthy feel and adds a gradient to the illustrations or pictures.

Simple Retro Floral Design in Muted Colors Stock Vector - Illustration of natural, garden: 163307147

Several big companies are making a shift from stark bright colors to muted tones. One of the examples of the same is LinkedIn. LinkedIn has transformed its logo design. While the company always insisted on using a minimalistic logo design, it recently adopted a muted blue as its representative color.

LinkedIn Logo 2011 Linkedin logo
Old Logo New Logo

According to the company representatives, the color blue brings about a warm, friendly feel to the entire platform.

  • 7. Geometric Affair

Abstract shapes are being increasingly replaced by geometric shapes in 2022 when it comes to graphic design trends. It has brought about a change and an element of surprise for the viewers.

25 Inspiring Abstract Geometric Designs – Bashooka

Picture Credit: Bashooka

In most cases, graphic designers combine geometric shapes with contrasting colors and add a dash of scribble here and there. It creates an interesting image full of little details that take your mind off the simple shapes.

Sale Banner with Geometric Abstract Trendy Shape for Advertisement Design Element Background Vector Illustration Stock Vector - Illustration of sign, concept: 142041500

This love affair with geometric shapes works best when integrated with other graphic designing trends for 2022. Consider, for instance, the image below that has geometric shapes combined with the muted minimalistic color scheme.

Danielle Weinberg . דניאל ויינברג | Poster design, Poster prints, Music poster

Picture Credit: Pinterest Danielle Weinberg

The trend is also following up with interior designers, and companies are adopting logos and designs based on geometric patterns.

Orange Creative Office Design With Geometric Pattern. Elements Of Interior Advertising. Corporate Identity Royalty Free Cliparts, Vectors, And Stock Illustration. Image 148387536.

Picture Credit: 123RF

  • 8. Textual videos

The trend of textual videos has emerged solely due to the pandemic that has forced people to change the way they view the world and their surroundings. Ever since people were forced to stay indoors and distance themselves socially, the trend of creating advertisements that focussed on the image more than the text has gone for a spin. With a lack of photograph options, graphic designers worldwide are using more text-centric designs to convey their message.

25 typographic advertisements to inspire your next design

Picture Credit: Canva

The point to notice is that text is not being used simply in print advertisements but also in videos. Shooting without a subject is easier to assemble and execute, requiring few things. Simply create a few animation slides, fill them in with your text message, and you are good to go. Post the video / animated slides on any platform of your choice, and you will surely receive good views for your product.

Don't Blink: 12 Awesome Fast Typography Templates

Another distortion of this trend is using data visualization, which is nothing but data placed in a creatively narrative fashion that makes it quick for the viewers to browse through and understand the message.

Data Visualization Examples: A Look Into Modern Visual Innovation - TapClicks

Picture Credit: TapClicks

The Do's and Don'ts of Data Visualization - Atlan | Humans of Data

Picture Source: Humans of Data – Atlan

In the images above, the information is engaged creatively. The text is placed nice and clear, and anyone viewing the image/illustrations/videos can understand the data within no time.

Expert Tips

Most of the upcoming graphic design trends for 2022 have made it to the list above. However, the fact is that there is no exact definition of right and wrong when it comes to graphic designing. Anything that works in capturing the fancies of the viewers is good.

The point to remember is that while creating a graphic design for a particular business, first understand its core business values. The whole point of graphic designing is to create a visual identity of that business. Therefore, its business values must reflect in the designs.

While the trends mentioned above create stand-alone results, they work equally well when combined. For instance, using muted colors in a geometric-shaped illustration, candy colors with data visualization, maximalism with stark fonts, and the list of permutations and combinations go on. Ultimately, have fun with the picture/illustration/video you are working on and enjoy the process of creating something unique and beautiful.

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10 Benefits of Using WordPress as A CMS

As the world leaps into the digital revolution, almost everyone in this world wants to be a part of this. The world is slowly becoming one – where borders, language, and ethnicity are blurred and all that remains are the ideas. In such a time where anyone can shine up and make something out of their ideas, people are clamouring to showcase their talent. The question, however, arises about the platform where to publish these. If you answer the following questions affirmatively, you too need what we are about to tell you in this post.

– Do you have a lot of ideas about creating content but do not know what platform to publish on?
– Are you worried you will be left behind in the race due to a lack of digital knowledge?
– Are you a beginner with knowledge but lesser funds?
– Do you have a burning urge to get recognized for your ideas?
– Do you have things you want the world to know?

If you answered all these questions as “YES”, look no further. What you need is a comprehensive, user-friendly CMS website or Content Management System.

What is a Content Management System?

Before we begin, for those uninitiated, let us answer what is on your mind – what is a CMS solution or a Content Management System? Just as the name reflects, CMS is a platform that allows you to manage, modify, or create content and publish it online. When we say content, it may be creating a website or a blog and publishing them online – all this without needing to learn any coding languages like HTML, CSS, etc. You can design your website or blog using several (and we mean thousands) of the pre-existing templates and designs that suit your requirements and fancies.

How does CMS Website work?

CMS platforms comprise of two parts – content management systems and content delivery systems – which take care of all coding and database requirements. This leaves you free to simply select the templates and fill them in for a fully functional website. In fact, with all the plug-ins available, you can publish a functional e-commerce website with payment integrations – all this for a minimal price, or as in some cases, completely free of cost!

Some of the most commonly used CMS platforms are WordPress(also our favorite), Drupal, Joomla, etc. We will get back to these sites in more detail. But let us first make you understand why selecting a CMS website for content creation and publishing is the best option for you.

Benefits of Content Management Systems

While we have hinted at a few of the benefits of using a CMS platform for publishing or making your website, here are a few more to help you understand better.

While several other benefits come by using a CMS Platform, the ones mentioned above are enough to get you to begin your dream project.

Which is the Best CMS Platform?

Once you have understood the reasons for selecting a CMS Website for creating content and websites, the next question that users ask us – Which is the best CMS Platform?

While we did mention a few content management systems above, our personal favorite happens to be WordPress. Several established magazines and institutions use WordPress to host their website. Vogue, The Sun, BBC America, Microsoft News, Bloomberg, Sony Music, TED Blog, etc are only a few amongst the many of the established brands using WordPress as their CMS Website.

Why WordPress?

With a total market share of 62%, WordPress happens to be the most widely used CMS platform in the world. The second CMS platform that comes nearest to this is Joomla, with a 5.2% market share worldwide. With a gap this huge, there is no doubt of the ability WordPress has to attract its clientele. Being open-source in nature, it constantly keeps updating and increasing its options what with the very versatile community of developers, bloggers, and web designers working for it. Due to its customizable features, WordPress is especially famous amongst hobby bloggers and businesses alike.

WordPress Website Development platform offers the users extremely user-friendly, cost-effective solutions providing the users with thousands of design templates, plugins, and options for a world-class website. To date, WordPress hosts more than 455 million websites online, almost 37% of all websites live on the internet today. Using coding language MySQL and PHP, WordPress integrates several functional plug-ins to increase your website productivity and sales.

10 Benefits of WordPress Website Development

While we have already explained some of the benefits of using a CMS Website, the benefits of using specifically WordPress as a CMS are several. We have curated a list of ten of these benefits just so you understand the importance of using WordPress as your beginner Content Management system:

1) Free Platform. You own what you make.

WordPress is an open-source platform meaning it is open for developmental use by all. No single company owns it or charges its users for their service. Therefore, people who develop their websites on this platform are the owners of these websites. WordPress cannot add or delete content from these websites nor decide to take these running websites off the internet.

2) No need for prior coding experience. Saves Time.

For people with no prior coding experience, developing a website is nightmarish or cost-consuming. WordPress comes to the rescue of such people and lets them develop websites using pre-existing design templates. Not only is this an effective way of developing websites, but it also saves WordPress developers a lot of time. Further, for those who are lost on WordPress, help is simply a click away. WordPress also conducts regular webinars for those wanting to learn more about various ways of using all of the WordPress features to make a world-class blog or website.

3) Scalability

WordPress Website Development allows the users to expand the scope of their websites as and when required by their business. You can use WordPress to create a website with multiple logins and user ids. Apart from this, there is no website length or pages limit on WordPress. That means you can add or remove as many or few pages as you wish. You have the complete freedom to scale up or scale down your website.

4) Variety of templates, designs, and plugins

WordPress gives you the freedom to choose your design and build your website the way you wish. The variety of pre-made templates makes the entire process smooth and time-saving. Further, WordPress has over 54,000 plugins and 7400 themes available. All you need to do is understand the requirements of your business and select the design and plugins accordingly. Viola! Your fully functional and equipped business website is ready and loaded for your customers to make use of. Just to give you an idea of the scale of WordPress plugins: the most popular plugin is WooCommerce which is an e-commerce plugin having a market share of 25% and amounting to 7% of all online sales.

5) Cost-effective

Due to the availability of free tools for website development, using WordPress as CMS turns out to be cost-effective for start-ups and businesses looking to increase their overall ROI. Further, since there are no running maintenance costs, your business gets on the digital platform cost- and hassle-free. You do not require a dedicated team of WordPress developers to look after the building and maintenance of your website. You can do it yourself, saving you a lot of time and money!

6) Easy management and analytics

If you are wondering about all the glitches and maintenance issues that crop up during the functioning of the website – worry no more! WordPress is the most loved CMS platform for a reason. The entire scope of website maintenance falls to WordPress, and you only have one thing to worry about – the design and scalability of your website. All the backend processes such as maintenance, glitch resolution, updates, etc are taken care of by WordPress.

Further, WordPress also offers its clients website analytics through the MonsterInsights plugin that allows Google Analytics to integrate with WordPress. All the analytics and reports required to make informed decisions regarding your strategies are available on WordPress. The analytics provide you with information and details regarding:

– the number of visitors per day basis,
– the sources diverting most traffic to your website,
– popular pages on your site,
– user activity on your website, etc.

7) Constant updates

You can use WordPress in more than 60 languages. It enables users to develop websites without knowing English, especially as the instructions are available in several languages. It makes the WordPress website one of the most universally accepted websites used as CMS. It also allows businesses and users from regions where English is not the primary language to develop websites using regional languages.

Apart from the language aspect, WordPress constantly allows users to update their existing websites and content online. WordPress also allows for regular webinars and training for the users, to enable them to understand the features better and learn about various ways of improving their existing websites.

8) SEO facility available

WordPress developers can develop SEO-enabled websites making it easier for these websites to be indexed by Google Search Engine. WordPress website development has special features where meta tags, keywords, titles, etc against images, posts, and pages can be posted. This makes these pages SEO efficient, increasing their chances of being looked upon in Search Engine Result Pages (SERP). Further, you can use plugins such as “SEO by Yoast” to boost the SEO in your content or website.

9) Security

One of the major concerns of people when selecting a web hosting service is the security provided by that web-hosting service. WordPress offers continuous updates, giving out improvements and bug fixes to ensure the safety of your website and data. Be it WordPress core or plugins, WordPress developers strive to provide the best version of it all proactively, thereby reducing the potential risk factors. Further, since WordPress offers open-source, its processes are transparent, and the users can stay informed about all updates and plugins.

10) Compatibility

WordPress is easily compatible with any of your company or business’s existing software base. It helps by enabling you and your colleagues to manage the WordPress website with ease, without shelling out more money on achieving integration. Another feature that makes WordPress the best option for developing a website is that it allows for easy integration with payment gateways such as Paypal, Amazon, PayMill, POS, etc. All you have to do is download the requisite plugins, and add those to the fundamental design of your website. It is as easy as that!

Your Takeaway

With so many benefits on the platter and such a user-friendly platform, hide no more behind your coding or financial fears. WordPress offers to make all your dreams come true. All it takes is a simple click of your mouse. If you still feel intimidated, you can take the help of WordPress Developers to develop a website for you on WordPress CMS. Decide now and act fast. You are losing your potential to grow with each passing day!

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