You have for sure googled “how to create [shape_name] with CSS” at least once in your front-end career if it’s not something you already have bookmarked. And the number of articles and demos you will find out there is endless.
Good, right? Copy that code and drop it into the ol’ stylesheet. Ship it!
The problem is that you don’t understand how the copied code works. Sure, it got the job done, but many of the most widely used CSS shape snippets are often dated and rely on things like magic numbers to get the shapes just right. So, the next time you go into the code needing to make a change to it, it either makes little sense or is inflexible to the point that you need an entirely new solution.
So, here it is, your one-stop modern guide for how to create shapes in CSS! We are going to explore the most common CSS shapes while highlighting different CSS tricks and techniques that you can easily re-purpose for any kind of shape. The goal is not to learn how to create specific shapes but rather to understand the modern tricks that allow you to create any kind of shape you want.
Table of Contents
You can jump directly to the topic you’re interested in to find relevant shapes or browse the complete list. Enjoy!
Why Not SVG?
I get asked this question often, and my answer is always the same: Use SVG if you can! I have nothing against SVG. It’s just another approach for creating shapes using another syntax with another set of considerations. If SVG was my expertise, then I would be writing about that instead!
CSS is my field of expertise, so that’s the approach we’re covering for drawing shapes with code. Choosing CSS or SVG is typically a matter of choice. There may very well be a good reason why SVG is a better fit for your specific needs.
Many times, CSS will be your best bet for decorative things or when you’re working with a specific element in the markup that contains real content to be styled. Ultimately, though, you will need to consider what your project’s requirements are and decide whether a CSS shape is really what you are looking for.
Your First Resource
Before we start digging into code, please spend a few minutes over at my CSS Shape website. You will find many examples of CSS-only shapes. This is an ever-growing collection that I regularly maintain with new shapes and techniques. Bookmark it and use it as a reference as we make our way through this guide.
Is it fairly easy to modify and tweak the CSS for those shapes?
Yes! The CSS for each and every shape is optimized to be as flexible and efficient as possible. The CSS typically targets a single HTML element to prevent you from having to touch too much markup besides dropping the element on the page. Additionally, I make liberal use of CSS variables that allow you to modify things easily for your needs.
Most of you don’t have time to grasp all the techniques and tricks to create different shapes, so an online resource with ready-to-use snippets of code can be a lifesaver!
Clipping Shapes In CSS
The CSS clip-path property — and its polygon() function — is what we commonly reach for when creating CSS Shapes. Through the creation of common CSS shapes, we will learn a few tricks that can help you create other shapes easily.
Hexagons
Let’s start with one of the easiest shapes; the hexagon. We first define the shape’s dimensions, then provide the coordinates for the six points and we are done.
.hexagon {
width: 200px;
aspect-ratio: 0.866;
clip-path: polygon(
0% 25%,
0% 75%,
50% 100%,
100% 75%,
100% 25%,
50% 0%);
}
We’re basically drawing the shape of a diamond where two of the points are set way outside the bounds of the hexagon we’re trying to make. This is perhaps the very first lesson for drawing CSS shapes: Allow yourself to think outside the box — or at least the shape’s boundaries.
Look how much simpler the code already looks:
.hexagon {
width: 200px;
aspect-ratio: cos(30deg);
clip-path: polygon(
-50% 50%,
50% 100%,
150% 50%,
50% 0
);
}
Did you notice that I updated the aspect-ratio property in there? I’m using a trigonometric function, cos(), to replace the magic number 0.866. The exact value of the ratio is equal to cos(30deg) (or sin(60deg)). Besides, cos(30deg) is a lot easier to remember than 0.866.
Here’s something fun we can do: swap the X and Y coordinate values. In other words, let’s change the polygon() coordinates from this pattern:
clip-path: polygon(X1 Y1, X2 Y2, ..., Xn Yn)
…to this, where the Y values come before the X values:
clip-path: polygon(Y1 X1, Y2 X2, ..., Yn Xn)
What we get is a new variation of the hexagon:
I know that visualizing the shape with outside points can be somewhat difficult because we’re practically turning the concept of clipping on its head. But with some practice, you get used to this mental model and develop muscle memory for it.
Notice that the CSS is remarkably similar to what we used to create a hexagon:
.octagon {
width: 200px;
aspect-ratio: 1;
--o: calc(50% * tan(-22.5deg));
clip-path: polygon(
var(--o) 50%,
50% var(--o),
calc(100% - var(--o)) 50%,
50% calc(100% - var(--o))
);
}
Except for the small trigonometric formula, the structure of the code is identical to the last hexagon shape — set the shape’s dimensions, then clip the points. And notice how I saved the math calculation as a CSS variable to avoid repeating that code.
If math isn’t really your thing — and that’s totally fine! — remember that the formulas are simply one part of the puzzle. There’s no need to go back to your high school geometry textbooks. You can always find the formulas you need for specific shapes in my online collection. Again, that collection is your first resource for creating CSS shapes!
And, of course, we can apply this shape to an ![]()
:
It may sound impossible to make a star out of only five points, but it’s perfectly possible, and the trick is how the points inside polygon() are ordered. If we were to draw a star with pencil on paper in a single continuous line, we would follow the following order:
It’s the same way we used to draw stars as kids — and it fits perfectly in CSS with polygon()! This is another hidden trick about clip-path with polygon(), and it leads to another key lesson for drawing CSS shapes: the lines we establish can intersect. Again, we’re sort of turning a concept on its head, even if it’s a pattern we all grew up making by hand.
Here’s how those five points translate to CSS:
.star {
width: 200px;
aspect-ratio: 1;
clip-path: polygon(50% 0, /* (1) */
calc(50%*(1 + sin(.4turn))) calc(50%*(1 - cos(.4turn))), /* (2) */
calc(50%*(1 - sin(.2turn))) calc(50%*(1 - cos(.2turn))), /* (3) */
calc(50%*(1 + sin(.2turn))) calc(50%*(1 - cos(.2turn))), /* (4) */
calc(50%*(1 - sin(.4turn))) calc(50%*(1 - cos(.4turn))) /* (5) */
);
}
The funny thing is that starbursts are basically the exact same thing as polygons, just with half the points that we can move inward.
Figure 6.
I often advise people to use my online generators for shapes like these because the clip-path coordinates can get tricky to write and calculate by hand.
That said, I really believe it’s still a very good idea to understand how the coordinates are calculated and how they affect the overall shape. I have an entire article on the topic for you to learn the nuances of calculating coordinates.
Parallelograms & Trapezoids
Another common shape we always build is a rectangle shape where we have one or two slanted sides. They have a lot of names depending on the final result (e.g., parallelogram, trapezoid, skewed rectangle, and so on), but all of them are built using the same CSS technique.
First, we start by creating a basic rectangle by linking the four corner points together:
clip-path: polygon(0 0, 100% 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%)
This code produces nothing because our element is already a rectangle. Also, note that 0 and 100% are the only values we’re using.
Next, offset some values to get the shape you want. Let’s say our offset needs to be equal to 10px. If the value is 0, we update it with 10px, and if it’s 100% we update it with calc(100% - 10px). As simple as that!
But which value do I need to update and when?
Try and see! Open your browser’s developer tools and update the values in real-time to see how the shape changes, and you will understand what points you need to update. I would lie if I told you that I write all the shapes from memory without making any mistakes. In most cases, I start with the basic rectangle, and I add or update points until I get the shape I want. Try this as a small homework exercise and create the shapes in Figure 11 by yourself. You can still find all the correct code in my online collection for reference.
If you want more CSS tricks around the clip-path property, check my article “CSS Tricks To Master The clip-path Property” which is a good follow-up to this section.
Masking Shapes In CSS
We just worked with a number of shapes that required us to figure out a number of points and clip-path by plotting their coordinates in a polygon(). In this section, we will cover circular and curvy shapes while introducing the other property you will use the most when creating CSS shapes: the mask property.
Like the previous section, we will create some shapes while highlighting the main tricks you need to know. Don’t forget that the goal is not to learn how to create specific shapes but to learn the tricks that allow you to create any kind of shape.
Circles & Holes
When talking about the mask property, gradients are certain to come up. We can, for example, “cut” (but really “mask”) a circular hole out of an element with a radial-gradient:
mask: radial-gradient(50px, #0000 98%, #000);
Why aren’t we using a simple background instead? The mask property allows us more flexibility, like using any color we want and applying the effect on a variety of other elements, such as ![]()
background property instead of cutting a hole.
Here’s the mask working on both a
and
![]()
:
Once again, it’s all about CSS masks and gradients. In the following articles, I provide you with examples and recipes for many different possibilities:
Be sure to make it to the end of the second article to see how this technique can be used as decorative background patterns.
This time, we are going to introduce another technique which is “composition”. It’s an operation we perform between two gradient layers. We either use mask-composite to define it, or we declare the values on the mask property.
The figure below illustrates the gradient configuration and the composition between each layer.
We start with a radial-gradient to create a full circle shape. Then we use a conic-gradient to create the shape below it. Between the two gradients, we perform an “intersect” composition to get the unclosed circle. Then we tack on two more radial gradients to the mask to get those nice rounded endpoints on the unclosed circle. This time we consider the default composition, “add”.
Gradients aren’t something new as we use them a lot with the background property but “composition” is the new concept I want you to keep in mind. It’s a very handy one that unlocks a lot of possibilities.
Ready for the CSS?
.arc {
--b: 40px; /* border thickness */
--a: 240deg; /* progression */
--_g:/var(--b) var(--b) radial-gradient(50% 50%,#000 98%,#0000) no-repeat;
mask:
top var(--_g),
calc(50% + 50% * sin(var(--a)))
calc(50% - 50% * cos(var(--a))) var(--_g),
conic-gradient(#000 var(--a), #0000 0) intersect,
radial-gradient(50% 50%, #0000 calc(100% - var(--b)), #000 0 98%, #0000)
}
We could get clever and use a pseudo-element for the shape that’s positioned behind the set of panels, but that introduces more complexity and fixed values than we ought to have. Instead, we can continue using CSS masks to get the perfect shape with a minimal amount of reusable code.
It’s not really the rounded top edges that are difficult to pull off, but the bottom portion that curves inwards instead of rounding in like the top. And even then, we already know the secret sauce: using CSS masks by combining gradients that reveal just the parts we want.
We start by adding a border around the element — excluding the bottom edge — and applying a border-radius on the top-left and top-right corners.
.tab {
--r: 40px; /* radius size */
border: var(--r) solid #0000; /* transparent black */
border-bottom: 0;
border-radius: calc(2 * var(--r)) calc(2 * var(--r)) 0 0;
}
Next, we add the first mask layer. We only want to show the padding area (i.e., the red area highlighted in Figure 10).
mask: linear-gradient(#000 0 0) padding-box;
Let’s add two more gradients, both radial, to show those bottom curves.
mask:
radial-gradient(100% 100% at 0 0, #0000 98%, #000) 0 100% / var(--r) var(--r),
radial-gradient(100% 100% at 100% 0, #0000 98%, #000) 100% 100% / var(--r) var(--r),
linear-gradient(#000 0 0) padding-box;
Here is how the full code comes together:
.tab {
--r: 40px; /* control the radius */
border: var(--r) solid #0000;
border-bottom: 0;
border-radius: calc(2 * var(--r)) calc(2 * var(--r)) 0 0;
mask:
radial-gradient(100% 100% at 0 0, #0000 98%, #000) 0 100% / var(--r) var(--r),
radial-gradient(100% 100% at 100% 0, #0000 98%, #000) 100% 100% / var(--r) var(--r),
linear-gradient(#000 0 0) padding-box;
mask-repeat: no-repeat;
background: linear-gradient(60deg, #BD5532, #601848) border-box;
}
As usual, all it takes is one variable to control the shape. Let’s zero-in on the border-radius declaration for a moment:
border-radius: calc(2 * var(--r)) calc(2 * var(--r)) 0 0;
Notice that the shape’s rounded top edges are equal to two times the radius (--r) value. If you’re wondering why we need a calculation here at all, it’s because we have a transparent border hanging out there, and we need to double the radius to account for it. The radius of the blue areas highlighted in Figure 13 is equal to 2 * R while the red area highlighted in the same figure is equal to 2 * R - R, or simply R.
We can actually optimize the code so that we only need two gradients — one linear and one radial — instead of three. I’ll drop that into the following demo for you to pick apart. Can you figure out how we were able to eliminate one of the gradients?
I’ll throw in two additional variations for you to investigate:
These aren’t tabs at all but tooltips! We can absolutely use the exact same masking technique we used to create the tabs for these shapes. Notice how the curves that go inward are consistent in each shape, no matter if they are positioned on the left, right, or both.
You can always find the code over at my online collection if you want to reference it.
More CSS Shapes
At this point, we’ve seen the main tricks to create CSS shapes. You will rely on mask and gradients if you have curves and rounded parts or clip-path when there are no curves. It sounds simple but there’s still more to learn, so I am going to provide a few more common shapes for you to explore.
Instead of going into a detailed explanation of the shapes in this section, I’m going to give you the recipes for how to make them and all of the ingredients you need to make it happen. In fact, I have written other articles that are directly related to everything we are about to cover and will link them up so that you have guides you can reference in your work.
Triangles
A triangle is likely the first shape that you will ever need. They’re used in lots of places, from play buttons for videos, to decorative icons in links, to active state indicators, to open/close toggles in accordions, to… the list goes on.
Creating a triangle shape is as simple as using a 3-point polygon in addition to defining the size:
.triangle {
width: 200px;
aspect-ratio: 1;
clip-path: polygon(50% 0, 100% 100%, 0 100%);
}
But we can get even further by adding more points to have border-only variations:
We can cut all the corners or just specific ones. We can make circular cuts or sharp ones. We can even create an outline of the overall shape. Take a look at my online generator to play with the code, and check out my full article on the topic where I am detailing all the different cases.
Section Dividers
Speaking of visual transitions between sections, what if both sections have decorative borders that fit together like a puzzle?
I hope you see the pattern now: sometimes, we’re clipping an element or masking portions of it. The fact that we can sort of “carve” into things this way using polygon() coordinates and gradients opens up so many possibilities that would have required clever workarounds and super-specific code in years past.
See my article “How to Create a Section Divider Using CSS” on the freeCodeCamp blog for a deep dive into the concepts, which we’ve also covered here quite extensively already in earlier sections.
Floral Shapes
We’ve created circles. We’ve made wave shapes. Let’s combine those two ideas together to create floral shapes.
These shapes are pretty cool on their own. But like a few of the other shapes we’ve covered, this one works extremely well with images. If you need something fancier than the typical box, then masking the edges can come off like a custom-framed photo.
Here is a demo where I am using such shapes to create a fancy hover effect:
See the Pen Fancy Pop Out hover effect! by Temani Afif.
There’s a lot of math involved with this, specifically trigonometric functions. I have a two-part series that gets into the weeds if you’re interested in that side of things:
As always, remember that my online collection is your Number One resource for all things related to CSS shapes. The math has already been worked out for your convenience, but you also have the references you need to understand how it works under the hood.
Conclusion
I hope you see CSS Shapes differently now as a result of reading this comprehensive guide. We covered a few shapes, but really, it’s hundreds upon hundreds of shapes because you see how flexible they are to configure into a slew of variations.
At the end of the day, all of the shapes use some combination of different CSS concepts such as clipping, masking, composition, gradients, CSS variables, and so on. Not to mention a few hidden tricks like the one related to the polygon() function:
- It accepts points outside the
[0% 100%] range.
- Switching axes is a solid approach for creating shape variations.
- The lines we establish can intersect.
It’s not that many things, right? We looked at each of these in great detail and then whipped through the shapes to demonstrate how the concepts come together. It’s not so much about memorizing snippets than it is thoroughly understanding how CSS works and leveraging its features to produce any number of things, like shapes.
Don’t forget to bookmark my CSS Shape website and use it as a reference as well as a quick stop to get a specific shape you need for a project. I avoid re-inventing the wheel in my work, and the online collection is your wheel for snagging shapes made with pure CSS.
Please also use it as inspiration for your own shape-shifting experiments. And post a comment if you think of a shape that would be a nice addition to the collection.
References
These days, businesses look for different ways to engage with their consumers and build long-lasting, healthy relationships. Gone are the days when SMS was just a promotional tool. Today, the scenario is totally changed. Businesses use SMS marketing to send automated messages to their prospects to keep them engaged for a longer time.
These automated SMS campaigns are popularly known as SMS drip campaigns, which are similar to email drip campaigns. However, text messages have an open rate of 98%, whereas emails have an open rate of 20%.
Let us understand drip SMS automation using the following simple formula.
Automated + personalized text messages = not missing a single opportunity + delightful consumer experience.
Drip SMS automation lets you be on top of your consumers’ actions and deliver on-time messages to drive more sales and retain consumers. It will also increase consumer lifetime value.
This blog will discuss drip SMS automation for e-commerce along with its pros, cons, and examples. So, without further ado, let’s dive into it.
What is drip SMS automation?
First of all, let us understand what a drip campaign is. It is the scheduled set of emails or text messages or, in simple terms, automated communications. The drip campaigns get activated whenever your subscribers perform specific actions like viewing products on your online store or adding products to the cart.
In the SMS drip campaign, a sequence of automated text messages is sent through the SMS. This approach helps you quickly engage with your consumers with customized content to build personalized, solid connections.
What are the advantages of SMS drip automation in e-commerce?
SMS drip automation is an effective and efficient communication strategy that offers various benefits. As per the study, 69% of customers prefer to connect with businesses through SMS, and 86% of SMBs believe that SMS automation offers improved consumer engagement compared to email marketing.
However, only creating drip SMS automation is not enough; you must offer an exceptional consumer experience to increase engagement and build genuine consumer connections.
Here are a few benefits that automated SMS drip campaigns can offer.
1. Improved Engagement Rate
Automated SMS drip campaigns are an effective marketing tool that runs on autopilot. Therefore, you can communicate with your target audience consistently and promptly. Besides, there is a higher chance that consumers will open text messages than email. So, it will let you result in higher engagement, open, and click-through rates than email. As per the study, with each passing year, SMS conversion rates have increased by 102% for eCommerce businesses. Therefore, you are making a serious mistake if you are not collecting customers’ phone numbers.
2. Save Time & Efforts
When you go for drip SMS automation, you need to spend less time managing these campaigns. It will boost productivity and efficiency. Let’s understand it better through examples. You can set up automatic message replies for a few events in the buyer’s journey, such as welcome messages, delivery notifications, birthday greetings, discount offer notifications, order confirmation messages, etc. In short, automated SMS campaigns need little to no manual intervention, so you can focus more on the other important tasks of your business.
3. Better Consumer Control
When it comes to drip SMS automation, it delivers a tailored and consent-driven consumer experience. Therefore, customers can have complete control over their engagement with the brand. Besides, consumers can easily opt-in or out of receiving brand messages.
So, customers can engage with businesses on their own terms, which can lead to increased trust and loyalty. Brands can experience increased engagement and drive sales through highly targeted drip SMS automated campaigns.
4. Increased ROI
Drip SMS automation improves the consumer experience by sending personalized content to the targeted audience at the right time. It helps nurture leads and drive more sales.
Increased consumer experience leads to improved ROI.
Through automated SMS drip campaigns, brands can send scheduled messages at specific intervals and encourage leads to take some action. This approach will save you valuable time and effort, and there is a high chance that your leads will convert into high-paying customers.
5. More Touchpoints
In automated SMS drip campaigns, you can automate the process of sending text messages at specific intervals. So, it will increase touchpoints, and there is a high chance that consumers will read your message and engage with your brand.
More touch points = high chances of strong consumer relationships
It will motivate consumers to take action, which can result in higher conversion rates.
Higher conversion rates = Increased ROI
So, if you are searching for an effective marketing technique to connect with the target audience and drive more sales, you should consider the SMS drip automation campaign.
What are the best practices for building SMS drip automation campaigns for e-commerce businesses?
Here are the best practices/tips that you need to follow while building a drip SMS automation campaign.
- First, understand your target audience by segmenting them by gender, demographics, interactions, and behaviors. Based on it, send them personalized messages to increase engagement.
- After that, get consent from consumers before sending them an SMS.
- Decide on the drip SMS campaign’s objectives, such as conversion, lead nurturing, consumer retention, or something else.
- Once the objective is clear, it’s time to create customized, compelling messages that suit your audience. Include a clear CTA in the message.
- After that, test the various elements of the drip SMS campaign, such as content, message timing, and frequency. Then you should optimize the campaign based on performance metrics such as conversions and open rates.
- Now, implement the automation and make sure the messages are delivered on time and consistently.
- In the next step, based on your audience’s preferences and behaviors, send them messages.
- Keep monitoring performance metrics and, based on them, refine and optimize the campaign. So you can enjoy better results.
How can you set up an SMS drip campaign for your online store?
You can set up a drip SMS automation campaign by following these steps.
- First, you need to identify the SMS campaign type, such as lead nurturing, conversion, product promotion, etc., and based on it, customize your strategy.
- After that, it’s time to find out the right audience base. You can segment them according to preferences, demographics, and behaviors and craft tailored messages for them.
- Now, use SMS marketing software that can help you achieve your SMS campaign goals by letting you create automated workflows. It will send SMS to the right audience at the right time.
- After that, you can select the automation workflow and craft clear, concise, and compelling messages based on your audience’s needs and interests.
- Once you launch the drip SMS automation, you must measure and optimize the campaign based on performance metrics like conversions, click-through rates, and open rates. Review the campaign regularly and refine your strategy to achieve better results.
Where can you use an SMS drip campaign?
For your eCommerce business, you can use drip SMS automation for the following use cases. We have covered a few types of automated SMS drip campaigns here. You can customize it as per your requirements.
1. Order Confirmation
Here is an SMS template that you can use to confirm the order.
Confirmed: Thank You For Your Shopping On [your business name]. We are preparing your order, and it is expected to be delivered by [date] – Team [your business name]
2. Shipping Confirmation
Team [your business name]: Hey, [consumer name], Your order has shipped! We hope you loved it. Contact us if you have any queries: [link]
3. Welcome Message
[Business name]: Glad We are an official text partner now. Welcome to [business name]. Here is your first 10% off coupon code [code]. To activate, click here [link]. Happy shopping!
4. Lead nurturing/ Abandoned cart recovery.
Hello [lead name], We have noticed you added the [product name] to your cart and filled in all the details. However, you didn’t purchase it. So, complete the purchase. Is there anything else that we can help you with?
[website link]
Checkout
Conclusion
In summary, drip SMS automation is powerful and works well for e-commerce brands. Although we live in the 21st century, text messaging is still one of the most preferred communication methods.
Employing drip SMS automation can help you connect with your consumers directly and let you build lasting relationships with them. SMS drip campaigns are an effective way to engage with consumers and drive more sales. However, you should properly set them up. It requires proper planning and execution. So, to create a customized and successful SMS drip campaign, visualize your consumer journey and analyze touchpoints where you want to engage them. You can use automation tools to streamline the entire process and deliver timely messages. Therefore, use such tools to automate your SMS campaigns and establish a long-lasting relationship with your consumers.
Featured image by Daria Nepriakhina ?? on Unsplash
The post What is the Role of Drip SMS Automation in E-commerce? appeared first on noupe.
The world of education is changing faster than ever before, thanks to the continuously developing field of AI. Among the powerful subsets of AI, generative AI has started making its mark as a game-changer by transforming how teachers teach and students learn. This wide-ranging investigation therefore provides an in-depth understanding of using generative artificial intelligence in school settings; it does this by looking at what it can do, where it can be applied best in terms of personalizing learning experiences for different individuals or groups, automating some tasks which are time-consuming for educators and producing better quality content among others but also recognizes there being challenges and ethical considerations around its implementation too.
What Is Generative AI?
Looking at the past, traditional AI has been great at analyzing data it already knows, finding patterns, and predicting what will happen next. But then there’s generative AI—it moves in a completely different direction. Think about a place where artificial intelligence doesn’t analyze information alone but conceives fresh pieces of work as well. That’s what generative AI does. Contextualized language models that use deep learning algorithms can write text, translate languages, compose music, and create life-like images among others. Education has never had so many opportunities for lively learning!
Role of Generative Al in Education
Generative AI is a very complex tool in education. It does not only change how students learn but also affects how teachers teach. Here are some areas where generative AI has made a big impact:
• Personalized Learning:
One of the most interesting uses of generative AI is personalized learning. Just think about a classroom where every student gets taught according to his/her unique needs, preferences, and learning style. Generative AI takes advantage of student data, and performance as well as identifying their learning gaps thus creating individualized lesson plans for them while suggesting appropriate resources too giving this kind of feedback leads to better understanding which makes learning more enjoyable.
• Automating Tedious Tasks:
When it comes to record-keeping or grading assignments teachers find themselves spending too much time on them hence being overwhelmed by such tasks that are monotonous because they have been doing them over again. However, with generative AI these chores can be done quickly since this kind of technology works faster than humans do besides it does not get tired at all; therefore, if used well then educators could take up strategic initiatives like curriculum designing and providing support to learners one-on-one.
• Improving Content Development and Delivery Methods:
The use of books that have fixed content along with dull lectures should be discouraged now that we live in an age where everything changes at lightning speed thanks partly due to artificial intelligence which enables machines to think creatively just like human beings so as to generate other ideas too apart from what was inputted into them initially thereby making these devices even smarter than ever before especially when it comes down towards being knowledgeable about various subjects around us hence helping people become better-educated consumers unlike before when they were limited only within certain limits based upon irrelevant factors such as location or any other factor for that matter.
Use Cases of Generative AI in Education
AI in Education is currently experiencing a huge transformation caused by Generative AI. This type of technology, more powerful than traditional AI that only assesses available data, is designed to produce brand-new content. It presents various fascinating applications for learning such as personalized modules and automated grading among others. In this article, we are going to look at ten such uses in education
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Individualized Lessons: Just think about an educational system that adapts to the needs and preferences of every student it serves. Through analyzing students’ information, knowledge gaps as well as performance levels; generative AI can be used to create custom-made lesson plans so that no one feels left behind in school again.
-
Course Designing: Static course outlines are now outdated since many factors need consideration while designing courses these days; this is where generative AI comes in handy too! With its ability to suggest topics based on national curriculums or state standards – teachers may find themselves having more time for other important aspects like teaching methods selection or even assessment types of identification.
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Content Creation for Courses: Many times, books fail because they lack the interactivity required during lectureships therefore through using generative AIs lecturers can come up with engaging materials that will enhance students’ comprehension further and still enable them to learn better by heart too. Imagine generating interactive quizzes from any topic under discussion which also touch different areas hence catering to all learners’ styles of understanding.
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Curriculum Planning: Preparing a curriculum can be quite tedious especially if done manually but when supported by generative AI it becomes easier since reports generated after utilizing learner’s records together trends could show what needs to change so that it aligns with educational objectives within a set period.
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Automated Grading and Assessment: After assessing several assignments, one tends to get bored hence employing generative becomes vital here as well because coming up with various tasks that will be checked automatically by a machine leaves teacher responsibilities more towards giving individual feedback based on these generated answers which might have been done wrongly or right so far.
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Task Automation: Many times, teachers are overwhelmed by the workload hence spending most parts of their day doing administrative works such as scheduling and record-keeping among others, but this could change if we introduce generative AIs into schools since they can automate such tasks thus freeing up teacher’s time for student engagement activities.
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Avatars in Different Languages: Learning foreign languages has always posed challenges particularly where there is very little cultural exchange taking place within classrooms however with the emergence of generative AI it becomes possible to create virtual characters capable of conversing various tongues. This would enable learners from different cultures to interact while at school thereby enhancing the language acquisition process even further still fostering an appreciation of diversity within educational settings.
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Revision And Practice Questions: Students need to be provided with revision materials and practice questions after completing a given topic or subject matter area therefore through using generative AIs they can now get customized ones depending on how well each performed during previous tests.
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Bridging The Timeline Gap: History comes alive when students can visualize the flow of time; this is what generative AI does best! By organizing current events alongside past happenings in an easily understandable manner – interactive timelines may help children connect dots between various historical incidents eventually leading them to realize why certain things happened as well as appreciate relevant highs and lows experienced throughout human civilization to date
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Generating Feedback: Besides assigning grades for work done by learners teachers are also supposed to provide adequate feedback about the same but unfortunately due to the limited time available many instructors opt to give only marks without indicating specific areas of strengths or weaknesses were observed instead pointing out merits and demerits made during preparation phase accordingly which could have enabled individuals to come up with suitable learning strategies aimed at overcoming such challenges in future
Challenges and Considerations: Navigating the Generative AI Landscape
Generative AI, though providing many advantages, has several challenges which must be recognized and dealt with:
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Concerns over Data Privacy: The proper collection, storage, and usage of student data is very important. Teachers and institutions need to have strong security measures for data in place as well as abide by privacy laws so that learners’ information remains confidential.
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Algorithmic Bias: Educational AI algorithms are capable of inheriting biases from the data they train on. This can result in unfairness or discrimination within education. Educators should know about possible prejudices and actively seek diverse representative training data. Moreover, it is necessary to introduce methods that reduce bias in algorithms thereby ensuring equity and fairness in artificial intelligence-based education systems.
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The Human Touch: A Balancing Act: Though generative AI has many benefits it must not replace the role played by human teachers who cannot be substituted. Empathy development, critical thinking skills growth, and social-emotional learning nurturing are fundamental elements of schooling that cannot be replicated by machines. The best approach therefore is one where teachers are empowered through generative AI while still maintaining their unique teaching practices.
How does Generative AI work in Education?
Integration of Artificial Intelligence into educational settings brings forth various ethical questions requiring continuous discussion. Here are some areas to focus on:
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Transparency and Explain ability: Educators as well as learners need to understand how generative AI works and why it produces certain results. This openness creates confidence amongst users which enables them to make informed decisions regarding its use within classrooms. To achieve this objective explainable AI techniques may be employed to enhance transparency during decision-making processes involving machines.
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Access and Equity: All schools regardless of their level should be able to afford generative AI solutions which means these systems need to be cost-effective. Digital equality issues must also be addressed since failure to do so will lock out some students from benefiting from such innovative learning tools based on their socio-economic backgrounds.
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The Potential for Misuse: Like any other powerful technology, generative AI can also be misused. For example, people might utilize AI-generated content for purposes of plagiarism or spreading fake news. Teachers, therefore, must stay watchful and come up with preventive measures. Critical thinking skills among students will have to be fostered to enable them to differentiate between reliable information and that produced by machines.
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The Road Ahead: AI can transform education through the personalization of learning experiences, automation of tasks, and enhancement in content creation thus making it more dynamic and engaging especially for those with diverse needs or learning styles. However, this calls for the responsible application of generative AI considering issues like data privacy, algorithmic bias, and ethics. As technology advances further within these fields teachers need not only shape its integration but also ensure learners’ safety which should remain our priority as we strive towards better education using such tools. Without a doubt, there is much still ahead of us if we want artificial intelligence to become truly transformative in schools.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. Is it possible for teachers to be replaced by generative AI?
Not! Generative AI is an addition to the teacher’s toolbox and not a substitute for them. It allows them to personalize lessons, automate tasks, and make content more interesting thereby enabling them to concentrate on student interaction and critical thinking skills development among others.
2. What are some of the ways that educators can guarantee the ethical use of generative AI in education?
Transparency and fairness should be prioritized. Educators need to select AI tools that reflect these values while having a clear understanding of how algorithms function within them. Also, they should be conscious of potential biases present in training data alongside nurturing critical thinking abilities among learners so as not to misuse artificial intelligence systems.
3. Does generative AI only apply when creating fancy visuals and text? What about other disciplines?
The capability of generative AIs goes beyond just images or words; think science simulations powered by AI models or even personalized maths problems for practice – this technology can adapt across different subject areas and learning preferences as well.
4. Aren’t generative AI tools costly? Can schools afford them?
The price tags attached to some generative AI applications have been known to be quite high, but this situation is rapidly changing with time as the availability increases too. Open-source alternatives are being made available which could benefit institutions through subscriptions or grants depending on their needs alongside affordability becoming more realistic going forward.
5. What are some concerns with using generative AI in education?
In terms of security, nothing is more important than Data privacy needs strict protective measures put in place especially where student information is stored. Moreover, there must also be a balance struck between accuracy within biased algorithms used by machines and ensuring that such technologies serve educational purposes rather than promoting plagiarism or spreading false news
Conclusion
Generative AI in education is a new era of limitless possibilities for personalized learning, content creation, and teacher empowerment. If we recognize the hurdles and address them carefully we can tap into this great potential that generative AI has in making education more interesting, and accessible to all learners with different abilities than ever before as well as exciting The road ahead needs collaboration, constant growth, and ethical commitment; Let’s embrace this tool which transforms everything because there are no boundaries on how much better we can make teaching or learning experiences look like while fun becomes its foundation.
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Web designers employ user testing to evaluate a website’s functionality and overall UX (user experience). Various methods are used to gather feedback, but they all boil down to observing how users interact with the UI (user interface).
In May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) revolutionized the landscape of digital privacy, directly impacting how businesses across the globe approach email marketing. With its stringent rules on consent, data access, and the rights of individuals, GDPR has reshaped the principles of customer engagement in the digital era.
This article dives into the strategies for navigating the challenges and opportunities of email marketing in a post-GDPR world. Let’s dive in!
Key GDPR Requirements Affecting Email Marketing
Here are some key GDPR requirements affecting email marketing:
Right to Access
GDPR empowers individuals with the right to access their personal data held by companies. For those in email marketing, this means being prepared to provide individuals with a copy of their data upon request. This level of transparency aims to enhance consumer trust by giving them insight and control over how their information is used.
Data Portability
The regulation also introduces the concept of data portability, allowing individuals to move, copy, or transfer personal data easily from one IT environment to another. For marketers, this emphasizes the need to keep data in formats that are accessible and easily transferrable, facilitating a smoother experience for users wishing to take their data elsewhere.
Right to be Forgotten
Also known as the right to erasure, this gives individuals the power to have their personal data deleted under certain circumstances. This challenges marketers to implement efficient ways to manage and delete data as requested, which may require adjustments in data management and retention policies.
6 Strategies For Effective Email Marketing In A Post-GDPR World
GDPR has established stringent rules to protect personal data in the realm of email marketing (as well as the European digital ad market overall). Your understanding of these regulations is crucial for both compliance and the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. Here are key email marketing strategies to ensure they are GDPR-compliant and still impactful:
1. Gaining Consent with Transparency and Integrity
A fundamental aspect of GDPR is its emphasis on clear, explicit consent for data collection and processing. Email marketers must now ensure that consent is freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous. This means using clear language when asking for permission to send emails and being transparent about how you plan to use subscribers’ data.
Practical Tip: Instead of simply aiming to increase your email list size, focus on quality. Use double opt-in methods where users first sign up and then confirm their subscription through an email link. This not only ensures compliance but also builds a list of engaged subscribers.
2. Segmenting Email Lists for Better Engagement
Segmentation involves dividing your email list into smaller groups based on set criteria, such as demographics, purchase history, or behavior. GDPR has made it more important than ever to use data wisely and responsibly for segmentation.
Practical Tip: Use the information that subscribers have willingly provided and their engagement with past emails to tailor your content. This personalized approach not only respects the privacy of your subscribers but also significantly enhances the relevance of your emails, improving open rates and engagement.
3. Crafting Personalized Content within GDPR Guidelines
Personalization and GDPR compliance can go hand in hand. The key is to use the data you have permission to use, to craft messages that resonate with your audience.
Practical Tip: Leveraging data such as purchase history and subscriber preferences can help you create content that feels tailor-made. Ensure that you’re transparent about how you use data for personalization and give subscribers easy options to control or opt-out of data usage for personalization.
4. Implementing Rigorous Data Hygiene Practices
Regularly cleaning your email list is not only a best practice for engagement but also a requirement under GDPR to ensure you’re not holding onto data without a legitimate reason. This involves removing inactive subscribers and those who have not engaged with your emails over a specified period.
Practical Tip: Conduct periodic audits of your email list to identify and remove subscribers who have not engaged with your emails for an extended period. Offer an easy re-engagement process for those who may wish to remain on the list but haven’t shown recent activity.
5. Utilizing Data Minimization Principles
GDPR encourages the principle of data minimization, meaning only collecting data that is directly relevant and necessary for your email campaigns. This approach not only complies with GDPR but also reduces the risk of data breaches.
Practical Tip: Regularly review the data you collect at sign-up and through other interactions. Eliminate any fields that don’t directly contribute to the customer experience or the effectiveness of your campaigns.
6. Create Referral Campaigns to Encourage Organic Growth
Referral campaigns can be a powerful tool in your email marketing arsenal, especially in a post-GDPR landscape where acquiring new subscribers through compliant methods is crucial. By incentivizing your current subscribers to refer others, you can encourage organic list growth while ensuring new subscribers are genuinely interested in your brand.
Practical Tip: Design a referral program that rewards both the referrer and the referred for signing up and engaging with your content. Rewards can range from exclusive content, discounts, or access to premium features. Ensure that the referral process is as straightforward as possible, with clear instructions on how to refer new subscribers and how rewards can be claimed.
Common Misconceptions about GDPR and Email Marketing
A common misconception is that GDPR spells the end for email marketing. On the contrary, GDPR presents an opportunity to refine email marketing strategies, making them more targeted, personalized, and with a base of subscribers who are genuinely interested in your brand.
Another misunderstanding is that GDPR compliance is too complex and costly for small businesses. While compliance does require an initial investment in time and resources, the regulation applies equally to all organizations processing the personal data of EU citizens, regardless of size.
The benefits of compliance, such as enhanced consumer trust and improved data management practices, can outweigh the costs.
Wrapping Up
In navigating the post-GDPR landscape, your email marketing strategies must prioritize compliance to foster trust with your audience. Aligning your practices with GDPR not only adheres to legal requirements but also demonstrates respect for user privacy—crucial for your brand’s integrity.
Refine your approach, viewing GDPR as an advantageous catalyst. This shift can lead to higher-quality subscriber lists and more engaged customer relationships. Remember, this regulatory environment affords a chance to enhance your marketing communication’s relevance and value, leading to increased trust and potential customer loyalty.
By committing to these principles, you’ll set a strong foundation for sustainable success in your email marketing efforts.
Featured Image by John Schnobrich on Unsplash
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Link building is important for bringing in organic visitors to your website. And HARO link building can make it possible for you to raise the likelihood of prospective clients finding you by enabling you to be mentioned on reputable websites.
HARO link building, however, is not just spending some hours during the day sending generic pitches to journalists. It is a lot more than that. HARO link building is about people’s real value, becoming a trusted voice, and creating long-lasting connections in your vertical.
This is why HARO link building is extremely important. You get to enjoy all these perks and many more.
Want to know more about the awesome benefits of using HARO for link building for your business?
Keep reading to find out.
What is HARO?
Also known as Help A Reporter Out, HARO was developed to assist journalists in obtaining timely and pertinent opinions from experts for their publications. However, SEO specialists realized how important HARO’s link-building resources can be. As a result, they also found out how simple it was to use the platform to obtain a backlink from a well-performing online newspaper like Forbes or the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
In simpler words, HARO is a newsletter published and delivered straight to your email three times a day, Monday through Friday. CEOs, CMOs, and CTOs signed up for it all at once when it became famous. These high-profile people might reply to a question related to their niche or area of expertise get published or featured in a blog online.
Benefits of Using HARO for Link Building
You can take your link building strategy to the next level with HARO.
By tapping into HARO’s network, you gain access to a pool of journalists actively seeking expert opinions and insights, paving the way for organic and authoritative backlinks.
Here are a few more benefits of HARO link building:
1. Increased Recognition And Awareness
HARO link building can increase your brand’s recognition and awareness. People get more familiar with your brand when they see links to it from other websites (websites they like to visit frequently). Therefore, one benefit of this could be better name recognition for you and your brand.
In the end, it will assist you in becoming more respected in your field. People are therefore more likely to share your content. An upward spiral in traffic and search engine rankings may follow from this.
2. Building Lasting Connections With Journalists
You can build meaningful and long-lasting connections with journalists by interacting with them on HARO. This is more than just a one time thing; it’s a collaborative effort that will hopefully lead to future media relations opportunities for you.
3. Access to High-Authority Backlinks
Finding credible websites to provide you with high-authority backlinks is one of the main benefits of using HARO. Answering pertinent questions that journalists submit on HARO increases the likelihood that your input will be included in their publications or articles with a backlink pointing to your website. In addition to increasing visitors, these backlinks will raise the authority and search engine rankings of your website.
4. Long Term SEO Benefits
Obtaining high quality and credible backlinks to your website is your only option if you want to rank highly on Google’s first page. HARO actually makes it possible for you to acquire these backlinks at a reasonable price so you can climb the Google search results page.
In other words, Help A Reporter Out is the place you need to be at if you are a blogger or a website owner if you want to boost your site’s backlink profile.
5. It is Cost Effective
Using HARO for achieving your link building to achieve your marketing goals presents a cost-effective marketing opportunity for you, as compared to the run-of-the-mill advertising strategies that frequently need large financial inputs in order to work. You can get significant results without going over budget if you put effort into creating persuasive pitches and quickly responding to pitches relevant to your niche on HARO.
6. Higher Click-Through Rates
Your website’s Click-through rates (CTRs) will also increase when you use the credible backlinks acquired through HARO. Plus, since those backlinks have a higher level of trustworthiness, articles with HARO backlinks encourage readers to click on the internal links.
Higher CTRs are a sign of well-written content and well placed links, which can further convince search engines that a website is a useful resource. This can therefore have a favorable effect on your website’s visibility and SEO.
Furthermore, when the website becomes more visible due to HARO backlinks, there is a greater chance that it will be shared and mentioned on other platforms, which will raise the CTR and your website’s online presence.
7. Wider Target Market Coverage
HARO makes it easy, quick, and free for journalists looking for expertise to connect with companies that are willing to offer it. As a result, you get increased visibility and an authoritative presence in your target market.
8. Insights into Niche Trends
Getting to know insider info about current events and industry trends is another advantage of using HARO for link building. By keeping an eye on HARO queries on a regular basis, you can spot new subjects or areas where your knowledge can be put to use, helping you establish yourself as an authority in your industry and giving journalists insightful information.
The Final Words
A lot of people believe that link building is a completely technical activity best left to the professionals. However, one of the most crucial elements of any SEO strategy is link building, as any seasoned digital marketer or SEO expert will tell you. It’s so crucial, in fact, that ignoring it will negatively impact the exposure and rating of your website.
The importance of link building can be attributed to several factors. The fact that links are a primary factor in how Google and other search engines assess the authority of a website is among the most significant. A website’s likelihood of ranking highly in search results increases with the number of high-quality links it possesses.
Although there are numerous link-building techniques, one of the greatest ways to obtain organic editorial links is through HARO link-building resources. So, if you want to enjoy all the benefits listed above, you need to get started on HARO link building ASAP!
Featured Image by The Climate Reality Project on Unsplash
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