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Advertising products and services effectively usually involve various trial-and-error approaches for businesses. In our current digital era, attracting prospective customers’ interest and keeping it has grown progressively more challenging and increasingly expensive. 

Though traditional marketing methods can still provide results, video marketing has become an indispensable tool for modern marketers. When executed effectively, video marketing has the potential to become an incredibly effective advertising lever for businesses. 

By creating enticing content restricted to 60 seconds or less, businesses have the ability to maximize the impact of their video campaigns – propelling outreach and engagement across wider audiences.

Why is Video Marketing So Effective?

Over the years, video has become an increasingly popular tool for marketing and advertising. Unlike traditional marketing methods, video allows you to express your brand’s message in a more creative and effective manner. Below are some of the reasons why video marketing is so effective:

Captivating Visuals

One of the primary reasons video marketing is so effective is our innate attraction to visual content. The human brain is geared to process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. This means that video content, with its dynamic and vibrant visuals, can instantly capture viewers’ attention in a way that written content simply cannot match.

Imagine scrolling through a social media feed full of text posts and suddenly coming across a compelling video. You’ll likely stop and watch the video, even if only for a few seconds. This ability to grasp and hold the viewer’s attention is one of the first steps to effective marketing and video content excels in this aspect.

Emotional Connection

One significant advantage of using video content is its ability to elicit emotional responses from viewers. Unlike written communication or even still images, video makes use of both verbal and non-verbal signals to convey messages effectively. 

Elements like tone of voice, facial expressions, and accompanying music are just some examples of how these signals work together to create videos that have an impact on audiences – making them an essential aspect of modern-day communications strategies.

Making an emotional connection with video content can improve recall value while fostering deeper connections between brands and their audience. Emotionally connected customers tend to be more loyal since they have invested themselves in the brand at a deeper level.

Simplifying Complex Information

Videos are an excellent medium for simplifying and explaining complex information. Whether it’s a technical product feature, a complicated process, or a data set, videos can break down these intricate concepts into digestible chunks. 

With the help of visuals and animations, viewers can easily understand and retain the information presented. This clarity and ease of understanding make video content invaluable, particularly when explaining products or services to potential customers.

Higher Retention Rates

Research shows that people remember 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to just 10% when reading it in text. This stark difference underscores the power of video in improving message retention. 

When your audience retains your message, they’re more likely to recall your brand and your offerings. Consequently, this high retention rate makes video marketing an excellent brand recognition and recall tool.

SEO Benefits

Finally, video content is highly favored by search engines. Including video on your website can significantly improve your Search Engine Optimization (SEO), helping your site rank higher in search results.

Higher visibility in search results leads to increased traffic to your site. More website traffic can ultimately result in higher sales or conversions, making video content a powerful tool for boosting your online presence and profitability.

The Importance of Attention-Grabbing Video Introductions

An attention-grabbing video introduction is the key to captivating your audience in the first crucial seconds. It sets the stage for what’s to follow, initiates a connection with viewers by addressing their needs or interests, and dictates the mood and tone of the entire video. This can make your video stand out from all the other content viewers can find online.

An effective introduction also serves as a platform to successfully convey your video’s value proposition. By answering the viewer’s question, “What’s in it for me?” right at the outset, you provide a compelling reason for them to continue watching. Investing time and creativity into crafting a captivating introduction is integral to retaining viewers, building rapport, and ensuring effective message communication.

How to Create Compelling Videos in 60 Seconds or Less

It is crucial to create videos that effectively hook your viewers right away and sustain their interest until the end. Below are some helpful suggestions on composing compelling stories in under a minute.

1. Define Your Core Message

Before filming, it’s important to clearly understand your video’s fundamental concept. What key takeaway do you wish your viewers to derive from your video? This ought to be succinct and powerful and easily communicated in minimal words. Maintaining a brief and clear message will steer the direction of your video, preserving its sharp focus.

2. Understand Your Audience

Knowing your audience is key to creating videos that resonate. What are their interests? What problems do they face that your product or service can solve? By understanding your audience, you can tailor your content to speak directly to them, increasing the likelihood of engagement.

3. Use Strong Visuals

Visuals are the cornerstone of any video. They have the power to captivate viewers and convey your message quickly. Use high-quality images, engaging animations, or compelling footage to attract your viewer. Remember, every second counts, so make sure each visual contributes to your overall message.

4. Keep it Simple

When you only have 60 seconds, it’s important to keep things simple. Avoid jargon and complicated concepts that might confuse viewers. Instead, focus on delivering your core message in a clear and understandable way.

5. Hook Your Viewers Early

The first few seconds of your video are crucial. Use them to hook your viewers with a surprising fact, a provocative question, or a bold statement. Once you’ve piqued their interest, they’re more likely to stick around and watch the rest of your video.

6. Include a Clear Call to Action

Make sure you don’t forget about the importance of having a concise yet persuasive call-to-action (CTA) once your video concludes. Encouraging viewers towards actions like purchasing a product or sharing the content requires you first to provide clear instructions that are easy for everyone to understand and follow through with.

Start Creating More Engaging Video Content

Video content is one of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal. It can increase brand recognition, simplify complex information, boost SEO rankings, and drive higher sales and conversions. With these tips, you can create captivating videos that engage your audience and help communicate your message more effectively.

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

The post Video Marketing in the Era of Short Attention Spans: Crafting Compelling Stories in 60 Seconds or Less appeared first on noupe.

The term Bento Box originates in Japan, where it refers to a meal divided into its constituent parts and packed into a box. But in the design world, Bento Box is a design trend that is having a huge impact on how we design user interfaces.

Let’s talk money, specifically the kind that sneaks into your bank account while you’re kicking back and binging the latest Netflix sensation.

You see, passive income is the dreamy scenario where your money’s breaking a sweat so that you don’t have to. Think of it as the financial equivalent of a magical oven that bakes cakes for you in the background. And with it, you’re not only having cakes – you get to eat them too! It’s income that you get to enjoy without actively working for it on a day-to-day basis.

The power of passive income lies in the idea of financial security and independence. It adds an extra layer of financial cushion, increasing your wealth over time without the stress of trading hours for dollars.

Plus, you’ve got only 24 hours in a day. If you’re relying solely on active income, there’s a cap to your earning potential. But with passive income, the sky’s the limit. You’re essentially uncapping your earning potential, and that’s a game-changer.

So if the thought of your money working hard so you can take it easy sounds appealing, let us help you with a few ideas.

Below, we’ll dive deep into the world of passive income and navigate through five effective strategies, cluing you in on the potential risks that tag along with each one.

Dive into Dividends: Your Ticket to Consistent Income

First things first, what’s a dividend stock? It’s a share in a company that regularly pays you a piece of its earnings, or dividends.

Now, how do you make money from dividend stocks? It’s simple. You buy shares in a company, and that company sends you a regular dividend payment – usually every quarter.

So, how do you get your hands on some solid dividend stocks? You’ll need a brokerage account to start buying shares. There are tons of platforms out there, some with zero fees. But don’t dive in blind. Do your research. Look for companies with a strong track record of paying dividends.

Of course, with any investment, there’s some risk. Companies can cut dividends whenever they want because they aren’t required to pay them. But a solid strategy can help mitigate this risk. Diversify your portfolio, spreading your investments across different industries and sectors. That way, if one company cuts its dividend, you’ve got others to fall back on.

Finally, let’s get to the juicy part – calculating your potential returns. Each company decides its dividend payout, but it’s often expressed as a percentage called “the dividend yield.” To estimate your potential income, multiply the dividend yield by the amount you’re planning to invest.

Property Play: Real Estate Investment Trusts

Here, we’re not going to be talking about buying property, dealing with tenants, or playing handyman every other day. No, we’ve got something far smoother up our sleeve: Real Estate Investment Trusts, aka REITs.

What exactly are REITs? Simply put, a REIT is a company that owns income-generating real estate. You can buy shares in that company as an investor.

REITs are a smart way to dip your toes in real estate without needing to stump up the cash to buy a property outright or the hassle of dealing with day-to-day property management. They’re legally obliged to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders each year in dividends, making them a consistent source of passive income.

To get started, you can buy and sell REITs like stocks on major exchanges. The smartest way is to invest in REITs that focus on everything from shopping malls to data centers, so you can diversify your investment portfolio.

Of course, there are risks. Just like any stock, REIT prices can fluctuate. Also, REITs are somewhat dependent on the real estate market, which can be quite unpredictable.

However, the rewards can make it worth a shot. Besides dividends, there’s also potential for capital growth if your REITs increase in value.

Automate and Accumulate: Robo-Advisors and Automatic Investments

Ever dreamed of having your own personal robot? Well, it might not do your chores or whip up breakfast, but a robo-advisor can help you make money while you’re out living life. 

We’re actually referring to online platforms that use algorithms (a fancy word for computer-based decision-making) to manage your investment portfolio.

Here’s how it works: you hop on the platform and answer a few questions about your financial goals and risk tolerance. Then, the robo-advisor creates an investment strategy tailored just for you. The best part? It manages your portfolio around the clock, adjusting it as needed to keep you on track toward your financial goals.

Getting started is easier than teaching your parents to use emojis. Open an account, deposit some funds, answer the questionnaire, and let the robo-advisor do its thing.

Automatic investments are another stellar way to make your money work overtime. You set up recurring transfers from your bank account to your investment account, and your robo-advisor invests it according to your strategy.

Sure, there’s risk involved – your investments could decrease in value. But the diversified portfolios robo-advisors create can help manage that risk. Plus, the cost is usually lower than hiring a human advisor, and the convenience factor is off the charts.

Some of the best and most popular platforms that offer robo-advisors include Wealthfront and M1.

Rental Revolution: Making Money through Short-Term Rentals

Modern investors are all about short-term rentals. You know, the ones that turn your property into a profit machine while you chill out or work on your hobby.

The sweet thing about this passive income stream is the flexibility it offers. Got an empty apartment in the city? List it. An unoccupied vacation home? Perfect. Spare flat in your house? Works just great! 

Short-term rentals are the rage in our digital age. It is now super easy to rent out a property for a few days or even weeks. Also, they always pull in a higher income than their long-term counterparts.

All you need to do is create a listing on a platform like Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking. Snap some eye-catching photos, write a catchy description, set a competitive price, and you’re in business. Remember, the trick is to consider what extras you can offer to make your guests’ stay unforgettable.

But let’s not sugarcoat things; there’s work involved. Cleaning between guests, answering questions, dealing with the odd late-night lockout – it can happen. Luckily, you can automate much of the process or hire a property manager to handle everything for you.

With the right property and a creative approach, the income potential of short-term rentals can be downright impressive.

Go Digital: Earning Passive Income Online

Believe it or not, the online realm is a treasure trove of passive income opportunities. You’ve got everything from blogging and online courses to affiliate marketing and dropshipping. And don’t get us started on digital products – ebooks, printables, photography, you name it. 

Take blogging, for instance. Write what you’re passionate about and monetize it with ads or sponsored posts. Leverage the power of affiliate marketing to promote the products or services you like, and bag a sweet commission for every purchase made via your referral link.

Sure, it won’t catapult you to millionaire status overnight. But give it time, and it can morph into a nifty stream of passive income.

If you’re rocking some serious skills in a specific area, why not spin that expertise into an online course? With handy platforms like Udemy or Skillshare, reaching out to a global crowd is a piece of cake. As soon as your course is up and running, it can generate income with little to no maintenance.

Just remember, creating a significant passive income stream online takes time and effort upfront. It’s all about building a solid foundation that’ll keep paying off in the long run.

Wrapping Up

We’ve zipped through the world of dividend stocks, navigated the landscape of REITs, teamed up with robo-advisors, jumped aboard the rental revolution, and even surfed the digital waves of online income.

The key to passive income is starting with what you know, diversifying your strategies, and staying patient. It’s not about overnight riches; it’s about setting up systems that keep the cash coming in while you’re off doing, well, whatever you want!

So, start where you’re comfortable, take calculated risks, and watch your financial future transform.

Image by macrovector on Freepik

The post Generating Passive Income: How to Make Your Money Work For You appeared first on noupe.

In the contemporary digital age, social media and email marketing are the most effective digital tools for b2b businesses to reach their target audience and grow their client base. Though both are capable of executing their respective tasks, however, the overall efficacy of both is further enhanced when integrated and used together. 

Integrating social media with email marketing can yield more compelling outcomes than their respective work. All said, some frequent algorithm updates by the social media platforms did impact the overall efficacy of integrated email marketing campaigns. But with the right marketing tips, techniques, and strategy, businesses can overcome all the hindrances and fully leverage email marketing and social media integration. Below we have discussed all the impacts and strategies to gain the most from the two digital tools. 

How Does Social Media Algorithm Works?

To answer this, let’s start by understanding the social media algorithm. In general, algorithms for social media are a set of mathematical instructions using which social media posts are sorted. Further, based on relevancy, posts are showcased to the users irrespective of the time of online posting. The algorithm of social media networks determines the nature and type of content a user sees on their timeline. It is executed by understanding the user’s online behaviour using social media algorithms to determine the content that needs to be delivered to any particular social media user. 

Time and again, social media platforms update their algorithms to deliver the best user experience with relevant content. To accomplish this, all social media channels imply more or less similar approaches, which are described below. 

Data Study: Social media platforms study user data, such as their interests, previous activity, and interactions with other users and content.

Data analysis: This process analyses the collected data to identify patterns and trends.

Content ranking: The content is then ranked based on its relevance to the user and its likelihood of garnering engagement. 

Content delivery: The ranked content is then delivered to the user in their feed.

Some Common Algorithm Factors Used By Social Media Platforms:

Algorithms are complex and ever-evolving systems, but they are critical in determining what content users see in their social media feeds. By understanding how these algorithms work, businesses and individuals can create email content more likely to engage and get higher viewer traction.

Some common algorithm factors are:

Relevance: Based on the user’s interest, the algorithm tries to showcase content relevant to the user’s interests.

Engagement: The algorithm decides on the content that needs to be shown to the users, which is likely to be engaging. In this category, the content that has received a lot of likes, comments, and shares is enlisted.

Timing: The algorithm will also consider the time of day and the user’s location when delivering content. For example, a user is more likely to be interested in travel content during the summer and may see more travel content in their feed during that period.

Understanding B2B Email Marketing And It’s Evolving Landscape:

When analyzing decade-old email marketing techniques, it is often noticed all the email marketing templates had been created in a generalized way – from content to design. Now social media algorithm provides value through personalized recommendation. These personalization approaches influenced people in how they consume media in recent times. 80% of prospects are most likely to make deals with businesses that engage in personalized advertising or marketing. And one of the best mediums to send customized communication is via email. This is one of the essential reasons that email marketing has to emerge with the personalization trend to get a better impact on B2B email campaigns.

Adapting B2B Email Marketing Strategies to Social Media Algorithms:

Often, marketers think that email and social marketing belong to different dimensions, and are meant to be separate. However, email and social are compelling platforms for enriching marketing strategies and can give incredible results when utilized side by side, whether group targeting, individual targeting, or outbound marketing approaches.

How social media algorithms can help businesses:

·   Assists marketers in identifying their target prospects

·   Builds brand awareness by showing relevant content

·   Provides better exposure of the brand in front of the target audience

·   Helps in empowering effective email lists for email campaign

·   Helps in understanding audiences’ preferences and problems

With all the above mentioned information, a marketer can strategies a better campaign for its business email marketing. For example, know the prospects’ needs through social media and create an email campaign to reach out to them with possible solutions to their problem with business-associated products or services.

What Impact Does Social Media Algorithms Have on Email Marketing?

Previously, businesses used social media platforms to engage and reach their target audience with their content. However, as algorithms have become more sophisticated, they now show users content more relevant to their interests. This means businesses may reach fewer people with their social media posts than they used to.

How to Overcome Frequent Algorithm Change by Social Media?

Build A Strong Email List Based On Social Media Traction: A bucket full of an extensive email with a rich data list is critical for successful social media integration. Businesses with a comprehensive email list can ensure their emails reach people interested in their products or services. Email marketing also allows companies to track the effectiveness of their campaigns, which can help them to improve their results over time.

Create High-Quality Content: Another impact of social media algorithms on email marketing is that it has made it more essential to create high-quality content. Businesses need to create attractive, informative, and engaging content to minimize the cutthroat competition from competitors. The content must be relevant and unique and prompt the target audience to encourage them to take action, such as visiting the website, purchasing, or signing up for a newsletter.

Visually Appealing Emails Template: In addition to creating high-quality content, businesses also need to ensure that their emails are well-designed and easy to read. Emails should be visually appealing and should use clear and concise language. They should also be free of errors, as even small mistakes can damage the business’s reputation.

Ensure the Use of Email Marketing Best Practices: Finally, businesses need to ensure they use email marketing best practices. This includes sending emails at the right time, segmenting their lists, and using various email marketing techniques and tools. By following these best practices, businesses can enhance the effectiveness of their email campaigns and reach more potential customers.

Constant Strategy Modification: With social media algorithms changing frequently, email marketers must constantly modify their strategies to stay ahead. Though this process is time-consuming and challenging, it’s essential for success.

Utilize social media to nurture your email list: Incorporating a link to your email sign-up form when you post on social media will help you grow your email list and reach additional potential clients.

Send personalized emails:  When you personalize your emails, you show your recipients that you care about them and are interested in their needs. Increasing emotional quotient through personalization will help increase email open and click-through rates.

By following the above tips, businesses can use email marketing effectively in the age of ever-evolving and changing social media algorithms.

How Is Social Media & Email Marketing Integration Beneficial?

Integration of both is recommended to get the best of social media and email marketing.

Increased Traction: Social media helps reach a broader audience than email marketing alone. Whenever something is posted on social media, it becomes visible to followers, friends, and people with mutual interests. This process allows content to reach a wider audience, generating more impressions and get.

Improved engagement: In general social media helps to engage with the audience more deeply. Responding to comments and questions can build relationships with followers and make them feel like part of a community.

Higher conversion rates: Email marketing is a great way to convert leads into customers. It is well known that of all digital marketing processes, email marketing has the highest ROI. This can be further enhanced by integrating email marketing with social media. The integration process ensures higher conversion rates by using social media to nurture leads and a follow-up email with a call to action button. 

Conclusion:

In B2B marketing, getting the prospect’s attention is a constant battle. Email marketing is the essential element with the highest potential of generating ROI. The most significant difference between social and email marketing remains the ability to target prospects — specifically, a group targeting with social media and targeting individuals with email. Integrating both lets you avail the best of the two, but some hiccups are experienced now and then with the algorithm change for social media networks. These are just some minor blocks that can be tackled with dynamic marketing and business strategies to negate the algorithm change and ultimately keep yourself ahead of your competitors.

Featured image by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

The post How Do Social Media Algorithms Impact Email Marketing? appeared first on noupe.

The modern digitally-driven business landscape relies heavily on various types of data. The sheer volume of data being generated, collected, and stored across the digital environment globally is nothing short of mind-boggling. From personal information to sensitive corporate data, robust data privacy measures have become paramount, especially with the ever-increasing risk of potential data breaches. 

According to PWC, 92% of customers believe that a proactive approach to data privacy and management can mitigate data breaches and significantly reduce the misuse of their personal information. So, it’s not too strange that, when data breaches happen, over 6 out of 10 Americans blame the company instead of the cyber attackers. 

This is why 97% of companies plan to invest more in bolstering their data privacy plans and reap the benefits that come with it, including competitive advantage, consumer trust, or investor appeal. 

Archiving, the practice of systematically storing and managing data for long-term preservation, is crucial in ensuring data privacy. Let’s delve deeper into the significance of data archiving and explore the reasons why organizations and individuals should prioritize this practice.

Compliance with Regulatory Standards

Data privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), have stringent requirements for the handling, storing, and retaining of personal information. 

Archiving enables organizations to meet these regulatory standards by securely storing and managing data for the required periods. Organizations that successfully implement proper retention policies, data classification, and privacy controls can ensure their data is handled according to legal requirements. Compliance avoids legal repercussions and helps build trust with customers, clients, and partners who value their privacy.

Protecting Sensitive Information

In today’s highly interconnected business environment, data breaches and cyberattacks pose a significant threat to sensitive information. Archiving safeguards this invaluable data by ensuring it is stored securely and that it remains inaccessible to unauthorized individuals. 

By implementing strong access controls, encryption, and data masking techniques, archiving reduces the risk of data breaches and unauthorized disclosures. Additionally, archiving solutions often offer advanced security features such as user authentication, audit trails, and tamper-evident logs, further enhancing data privacy.

Mitigating Data Loss

Data loss can have severe consequences, ranging from operational disruptions to reputational damage. Data archiving serves as a reliable backup strategy, protecting against accidental deletions, system failures, or natural disasters. 

When a business preserves multiple versions of data and maintains off-site backups through solid archiving methods, it can restore lost information and maintain business continuity. This enhances data privacy and ensures data availability when needed, minimizing the impact of potential data loss incidents.

Long-term Data Retention

Specific industries, such as healthcare, finance, and legal, have regulatory requirements for retaining data for extended periods. Archiving enables organizations to fulfill these obligations by securely preserving historical records while maintaining data privacy. 

By leveraging efficient storage and indexing techniques, archiving solutions ensure that data can be easily retrieved when required. Long-term data retention also supports data analytics, research, and trend analysis, providing valuable insights while still adhering to privacy protocols.

E-Discovery and Legal Preparedness

In the event of litigation or investigations, organizations must be prepared to produce relevant information promptly. Archiving facilitates e-discovery, the process of identifying, preserving, and retrieving electronic data as evidence. 

With a well-organized and searchable archive, organizations can efficiently respond to legal requests while maintaining data privacy and confidentiality. Archiving solutions often offer robust search capabilities, metadata tagging, and legal hold functionalities, enabling organizations to navigate the complex legal landscape effectively.

Streamlining Data Lifecycle Management

Effective data privacy requires a comprehensive data lifecycle management strategy. Archiving plays a vital role in this strategy by allowing organizations to identify and classify data, determine retention periods, and implement appropriate privacy controls. When you streamline the data lifecycle, proper information archiving helps reduce the risk of data privacy violations and ensures data is handled in a compliant and secure manner. 

Archiving solutions offer features such as automated data classification, retention policies, and disposition workflows, enabling organizations to enforce consistent and auditable data privacy practices throughout the data’s lifecycle.

Data Sovereignty and Residency

Archiving solutions often provide options for data sovereignty and residency, allowing organizations to store their data in specific geographic locations. This feature is critical for companies operating in multiple jurisdictions with differing data privacy regulations. A business that ensures its data remains within the legal boundaries of a particular region is capable of maintaining compliance and adhering to privacy requirements specific to each jurisdiction.

Preservation of Intellectual Property

For many organizations, intellectual property is a valued asset. When using archiving to safely keep and guard trade secrets, patents, copyrights, and other private information, it plays an important role in maintaining intellectual property. This is how businesses gain a competitive edge and avoid unwanted access or infringement, as they use data archiving best practices to secure the integrity and confidentiality of this valuable information.

Enhancing Data Governance and Auditing

Archiving supports robust data governance practices by providing organizations with a centralized repository for data management and control. It allows for auditing capabilities, tracking changes, and monitoring access to archived data. By maintaining a comprehensive record of data activities, archiving assists in demonstrating compliance, identifying potential privacy breaches, and supporting internal or external audits.

Facilitating Data Transparency and Accountability

Adequate data archiving promotes data transparency and accountability, which is essential for maintaining trust between organizations and their stakeholders. When organizations incorporate proper archiving practices, they can rest assured their data is accurately preserved, retrievable, and auditable. 

People may now see more clearly how their data is being managed, enabling them to exercise their right to privacy and decide whether to share it. Additionally, archiving promotes accountability by providing a reliable record of data access, changes, and disclosures. This can help organizations demonstrate compliance, address privacy inquiries, and build credibility with their customers and partners.

Conclusion

Data privacy has grown to be a significant concern for both individuals and corporations as the digital world develops. Information archiving acts as a fundamental pillar in ensuring data privacy as it helps with adhering to legal requirements, protecting sensitive data, minimizing data loss, enabling long-term data retention, assisting with legal readiness, streamlining data lifecycle management, and addressing additional needs like data sovereignty, intellectual property preservation, and data governance. 

Businesses that embrace archiving as a best practice can fortify their data privacy efforts, build trust across their customer base, and navigate the complex terrain of the digital age with the utmost boost in confidence.

Featured image by Dan Nelson on Unsplash

The post The Importance of Archiving for Data Privacy: Safeguarding Information in the Digital Age appeared first on noupe.

Why is it so important to take into account older adults? One person in eight on the planet is over 60, and they are more online than ever. Approximately one billion people aged 60+ are alive today. Most of them are healthy and active and have discretionary income. Moreover, it is growing faster than any other age group and is projected to be 20% of the world’s population (~2 billion people) by 2050. They are also the fastest-growing category of e-commerce shoppers.

Older people today are adopting technology more than ever before. From the use of the Internet, smartphones, tablets, and wearables to smart TVs and speakers, a growing number of older people are users. Ownership of smartphones, for example, increased from 70% to 77% among the 50+ population in the United States between 2017 and 2021. Moreover, during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a significant rise in older adults’ motivation to use digital technology.

However, many older people still lack sufficient Internet connectivity or technological skill to use devices and consume digital services. It is estimated that two in five feel technology is not designed for them (pdf).

Opportunity To Integrate Older people Into The Digital World

More and more aspects of life are conducted on digital platforms: interpersonal communication, banking, healthcare, personal consumption, and exercising one’s rights are just some of them. Therefore, digital platforms that are challenging to use for older people have a negative impact on their quality of life. It prevents them from accessing essential services and integrating equally into society.

According to the inclusive design approach, one should take into account the needs of as many users as possible without stigmatizing or excluding a specific group by designing niche products.

If you adopt this principle, you can design a digital platform that serves a wide range of people, not just those aged 65+. Usually, a service that meets the needs of people aged 65+ will serve other audiences as well.

Adopting Age-appropriate Navigation And Orientation Practices

Advancing age can also bring with it a decrease in the rate of information processing, whether in understanding, thinking, or remembering. Plus, the ability to ignore distractions, focus on one stimulus, and perform several complex actions simultaneously also decreases.

Additionally, due to their age, some suffer from a decrease in executive functions that enable planning, executing, and delaying reactions. Therefore, there is a higher chance they will perform random actions such as clicking on unintended places, closing pages, or making errors when using apps. Some may have difficulty understanding that icons carry the same meaning across different apps or in dealing with situations that do not correspond with their expectations of the digital world. Despite such difficulties, it is essential to stress that the ability to learn from feedback — for example, via affirmations — does not diminish with age.

What Should We Do If We Want To Increase Their Engagement?

Here are a few guidelines to help you design a more inclusive product. Those guidelines can increase the usage of younger users but are highly crucial for older users:

Minimize The Number Of Required Actions And Create Shortcuts

Some people over 65 find it challenging to cope with information overload and multiple options.

Proper information architecture and hierarchy will indicate what is important to the user and require less effort. We should ensure that the required actions appear immediately and easily so that the user does not have to search for them. Some important ones to mention are white space, content placement, space, language, number of actions, and others. Below are these and some others listed with explanations:

• White space
  Reducing the number of elements on a screen, increasing the spacing between them, and retaining whitespace will make the screen feel less crowded and, therefore, clearer and more inviting. The added value is in the feeling of simplicity it creates. This improves the user’s sense of competence and ability to focus. Clear typography following one of the established typographic scales is relevant for websites, apps, and complex data systems.

• Dialog box
  A limited number of options prevents cognitive overload. Therefore, conduct a careful mapping of the digital platform, distilling out the most important actions and contents.
• Central placement
  The most important themes should be positioned at the center of the screen.
• Large & spacious
  The most important buttons should be enlarged and positioned prominently to allow immediate recognition.
• Clear language
  Topics should be clearly labeled, and the labels should be verified in usability testing. Complicated terms should be avoided since they might not be familiar to the target audience.
• Limited number of actions
  The number of steps (clicks and scrolls) necessary to achieve a goal should be minimized.
• Shortcuts and multiple/redundant paths
  Make it easy for users to reach their goals by providing multiple options, such as Quick Links, as seen in the example below.

What To Know About Navigation & Orientation?

Some people aged 65+ can experience a decline in memory recall. Some are also unfamiliar with the principles of the digital world. Therefore, to enhance their sense of control, the following principles should be adopted: rely on recognition, not memory; allow going back; design clear navigation keys; be consistent in design and operation; and provide indicators. Below we will discuss several principles to facilitate navigation.

• Recognition, not memory
  This principle means creating an interface where users do not have to use their memory to recall information. Instead, they will be asked to identify familiar and prominent components, such as quick access to previously visited pages or actions. The illustration below is an example of how Korea’s post office presents the main tasks on the main screen in a way that doesn’t require memory but recognition. Additional support is the use of color to help the users recognize how to navigate the site once they return to it.

• Indicators and feedback:
  • Emphasize the performed actions: Use breadcrumbs to indicate which links or buttons the user has clicked on and their location.
  • Create a conspicuous and permanent back icon that takes the user to a previous page/stage. This is in addition to the browser’s back and homepage icons.
  • Clear and prominent navigation buttons: Emphasize navigation buttons and add text to explain their function.
• Consistency
  Create an ongoing, consistent user experience using recurring items. Allow the users to learn the interface, generating a sense of success and building anticipation for the next stage. Pay attention to the location and design of fixed buttons that have the same function.
• Progress
  Create obvious hints, such as a progress bar, that help users to understand where they are in the process.
• Success & mistakes
  Highlight progress and successful actions. Additionally, indicate errors clearly and provide ways for easy recovery.
• Contact Us
  Choose a prominent location for the help options. Provide contact information using various channels, e.g., telephone number and email address.

Choosing components with an age-inclusive mindset can change our day-to-day decisions and allow us to create an easy-to-operate interface.

The following guidelines relate to changes in motor functions.

Creating An Interface That Is Easy To Operate

As age increases, it may be accompanied by difficulty in touching a specific spot accurately, regulating a click’s intensity, or performing quick actions, such as double-clicking. Therefore, the following principles should be ensured: space out the keys, avoid the need for a high degree of precision, avoid gestures requiring sensory regulation, and enable users to progress at their own pace.

• Large & spacious
  Design large and well-spaced elements.
• Individual pace:
  • When creating pop-up/toast messages, allow users to initiate closing or at least leave the messages visible for longer for slower readers.
  • Avoid menus that open on hover. Always use click-tap menus instead.
• Indication
  Provide clear scroll indicators (e.g., side arrows). Reduce the need for precision: Avoid small clicking areas, mouse hovering, and double-clicking.
• Ensure that the interface is responsive on all screens.
  For touch screens:
  • Click actions should not rely on touch intensity or precision.
  • Avoid, as much as possible, long strokes and drag gestures, and reduce scroll options. At the very least, provide clear indication and instruction, and offer alternatives, such as an arrow or button directing to specific places.
  • Avoid the need for very precise actions, such as in small clicking areas, and try to keep to the minimum size for comfortable tapping/clicking of at least 44×44 px.
  • Avoid actions requiring fine motor regulation such as spread, pinch, and rotate.

Let’s examine the homepage of three famous e-commerce websites in the eyes of an older user without going into details.

Aliexpress website, as seen in the image above, is a good example of an “unfriendly” website — it suffers from visual overload. Too many buttons and tags are emphasized, which makes it hard to focus older user attention. Moreover, given the visual overload, the side menu is easy to ignore, and many users will be required to use the search bar, which needs to be more dominant and rely on their recall of items, not recognition.

On the Amazon website (see the image below), the size of each category image may be distracting, requiring the user to scroll a lot and challenging his ability to navigate.

In contrast with these previous sites, eBay does better regarding visual overload; the dominance of the search bar and even the menu placement make it easier for older users to navigate.

Wrapping Up

Every designer would probably state that they want their website and app to be inclusive, easy to navigate, and user-friendly. Yet, as we have seen in our examples above, we need to create awareness to integrate details that would make it easier for older users to navigate the Internet. As we age, all of us will experience longer reaction times, changes in selective attention, attention-splitting, and changes in our motor functions. Therefore, designing for an older audience will achieve the goals of having an inclusive, easy-to-navigate, and user-friendly for our future selves as well.

To sum up, in order to create an easy operation and orientation of an interface, we should pay attention to the following:

• Large, spaced-out objects;
• Operation does not require fine gestures and precision;
• A minimum number of actions to achieve goals;
• The user should control the rate of progress;
• Reassuring notifications upon successful actions;
• Consistency of design and operation;
• Minimizing the number of choices the user must make;
• Highlighting the actions performed by the user.

The article is based on one of the chapters of the Log In guide. The guide was created within the framework of the National Initiative to Promote Digital Literacy Among Older Adults, which is a partnership between the Israel National Digital Agency and JDC-ESHEL.

Further Reading On SmashingMag

• “Creating Online Environments That Work Well For Older Users,” Barry Rueger
• “Keys To An Accessibility Mindset,” Daniel Yuschick
• “Useful Accessibility And Usability Examples To Help Improve Your Designs,” Thomas Bohm
• “Unconscious Biases That Get In The Way Of Inclusive Design,” Trina Moore Pervall

Retail management software helps businesses streamline operations and achieve efficient management of their retail activities. From inventory control to point-of-sale systems, this comprehensive software solution offers a range of features designed to enhance productivity and profitability. In this article, we will explore the benefits and functionalities of the retail management system and discuss how it can positively impact businesses of all sizes. 

Whether you’re a small boutique or a large chain, implementing the right retail management solution can revolutionize your operations and drive success in the competitive retail landscape. Consider the features and prices of these solutions and find the best fit for your business.

Key Features of Retail Management Software

Let’s explore the key aspects that top retail management software should encompass and how each feature contributes to enhancing efficiency and streamlining processes.

Point of Sale (POS) Systems

A reliable and efficient POS system is essential for seamless transactions and a smooth customer experience. The best retail management software includes advanced POS capabilities, such as barcode scanning, sales tracking, loyalty program, and integrated payment processing.

Inventory management

Managing inventory is one of the best factors that every retailer needs to focus on. By maintaining accurate inventory data, businesses can minimize stock outs, reduce excess inventory costs, and ensure optimal product availability. Now advanced inventory software will include features such as managing inventory level, syncing real-time inventory data, forecasting inventory demands, and creating purchase orders to send to suppliers.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Retail management software with CRM functionality allows businesses to track customer information, purchase history, and preferences. With a centralized CRM system, retailers can provide personalized experiences, targeted marketing campaigns, and effective customer support, ultimately fostering customer loyalty and retention.

Reporting and Analytics

Data-driven insights are essential for making informed business decisions. These insights help retailers identify trends, optimize pricing strategies, and identify areas for improvement, leading to data-backed decision-making and improved profitability.

Integration Capabilities

The best retail management software offers integration capabilities with e-commerce platforms, accounting software, and third-party applications. For example, Magestore retail management software can seamlessly integrate with Magento platform, ERP systems such as Netsuite, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, and accounting systems such as QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage.

Top 5 Best Store Management Software

Magestore Retail Software PWA

Magestore is a leading retail management software provider known for its comprehensive and customizable solutions. With a focus on enhancing the efficiency of retail operations, Magestore retail software offers a range of features designed to optimize inventory management, streamline point-of-sale systems, and provide personalized customer experiences.

Key Features:

• Inventory Management: Real-time stock tracking, stock transfers, low stock notifications, automated replenishment, and advanced demand forecasting, ensuring optimal stock levels and minimizing stockouts.
• Point of Sale (POS): Integrated POS system, barcode scanning, multiple payment methods.
• Customer Management: Customer data, loyalty programs, personalized promotions, self-checkout system.
• Reporting and Analytics: Sales reports, real-time inventory reports, and performance analytics.
• Integration: Seamless integration with Magento eCommerce, accounting tools, and ERP systems.
• Multi-Store Management: Multi-store retail management software, centralized management of multiple store locations, including inventory and sales.
• Supplier management: Create and automate purchase orders based on the available stocks and demand forecast. 

Pricing: 

The price is flexible and depends on many factors such as the number of stores, complexity, and your support demand.

Lightspeed Retail

With a user-friendly interface and robust features, Lightspeed Retail offers comprehensive solutions to manage inventory, streamline point-of-sale transactions, and drive customer engagement.

Key Features:

• Inventory Management: Centralized inventory control, automated purchasing, and stock tracking.
• Point of Sale (POS): Customizable POS system, integrated payments, offline mode.
• Customer Management: Customer profiles, loyalty programs, targeted marketing campaigns.
• Reporting and Analytics: Sales reports, inventory analysis, employee performance tracking.
• Integration: Integrations with e-commerce platforms, accounting software, and more.

Pricing: 

Starting from $99/month. Lightspeed Retail offers different pricing plans based on business size and specific requirements. 

Square for Retail

Square for Retail is a comprehensive store management software solution offered by Square, a well-established and trusted brand in the payment processing industry. Designed specifically for retailers, Square for Retail provides user-friendly features and integrated payment capabilities to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences.

Key Features:

• Inventory Management: Automated stock tracking, purchase orders, and inventory alerts.
• Point of Sale (POS): Easy-to-use POS system, contactless payments, offline mode.
• Customer Management: Customer profiles, email marketing, customer feedback collection.
• Reporting and Analytics: Sales reports, inventory analytics, employee sales tracking.
• Integration: Integrates with Square’s ecosystem, including Square payments and other tools.

Pricing: 

Starting from $60/month. Square for Retail offers transparent and competitive pricing, with additional transaction fees based on payment processing. 

Epicor Retail Cloud

Epicor Retail is a comprehensive retail management software solution designed to meet the complex needs of retailers across various industries.

Key Features

• Point of Sale (POS) System: Epicor Retail offers a flexible and scalable POS system, enabling retailers to efficiently process transactions, accept various payment methods, and provide personalized customer service.
• Inventory Management: The software provides robust inventory management capabilities, including real-time inventory tracking, automated replenishment, and advanced demand forecasting, ensuring optimal stock levels and minimizing stockouts.
• Customer Engagement: Epicor Retail offers customer relationship management tools to help retailers build customer loyalty through personalized promotions, targeted marketing campaigns, and enhanced customer service.

Pricing: 

Epicor doesn’t publish their prices on the website, so you can contact them directly for more information

Retail Pro

Retail Pro is a widely recognized and comprehensive retail management software solution trusted by retailers worldwide. It provides a wide range of features and capabilities tailored to meet the specific needs of retail businesses.

Key Features:

• Point of Sale (POS) System: Customizable POS interface, barcode scanning, and support for multiple payment methods.
• Inventory Management: Real-time inventory tracking, automatic reordering, and stock transfer capabilities.
• Reporting and Analytics: Sales reporting, inventory analysis, employee performance tracking, and comprehensive analytics.
• Integration: Integrates with various third-party systems, including e-commerce platforms and accounting software.

Pricing: 

For detailed pricing information and tailored solutions, it is recommended to visit the official Retail Pro website or contact their sales team.

Which Types of Businesses Need Retail Management Systems?

Retail management software is suitable for a wide range of businesses operating in the retail industry. Here are some types of businesses that can benefit from using software for retail stores:

Brick-and-Mortar Retail Stores

Whether it’s a small boutique, a department store, or a chain of retail outlets, retail management software helps businesses efficiently manage inventory, streamline point-of-sale transactions, track sales, and analyze customer data.

Omni-Channel Retailers

Retailers with both online and physical store presence can benefit from a retail management solution that enables seamless integration between various sales channels. This helps maintain consistent inventory, pricing, and customer information across different platforms. Besides, to help increase customer satisfaction with omnichannel support, retailers can use an AI chatbot to interact with their customers on eCommerce platforms.

Specialty Retailers

Businesses specializing in specific product categories, such as electronics, fashion, or home goods, can use retail management software to effectively manage and track their unique inventory requirements, including product variants, sizes, and colors.

Wholesalers and Distributors

Retail management software can be utilized by wholesalers and distributors to manage inventory levels, handle sales orders, and track shipments to retail customers efficiently.

Franchise Operations

Franchise businesses operating multiple retail locations can benefit from retail management software to ensure consistency in inventory management, pricing, and reporting across all franchise units.

Conclusion

It’s important for businesses to assess their specific requirements, scale, and budget when considering this software for retail shops. Pricing plans may vary based on factors such as business size, additional features, and implementation scope. Consulting with the respective software providers and exploring detailed pricing information will help businesses make informed decisions.

Featured image by Clark Street Mercantile on Unsplash

The post Best Retail Management Software to Streamline Your Operations appeared first on noupe.

You may wonder to know that Microsoft Outlook has more than 400 million active users globally, making it the most used platform for email communication. Most businesses, even tech giants prefer it using Outlook Add-ins development to streamline their business communication and generate leads faster. 

In this blog, we will learn about Custom Outlook Addins, and their step-by-step process of development, setup, and installation. Let’s get started. 

What exactly is an Outlook add-in?

An Outlook Add-In is a small piece of software that works in conjunction with Microsoft Outlook. An Outlook Add-In is often used when a user is viewing or composing an email to provide a limited but useful set of functionalities.

Add-Ins may be created by developers for all of Microsoft’s major Office programs. A Word Add-In may allow you to insert specific content (for example, from a text or image library) into a document.

What functions does an Outlook Add-in have?

•   Outlook add-ins may help in searching the content of an open email for a certain Customer or Case number, allowing you to show them relevant information from your main system.
•   It allows users to effortlessly copy and paste emails into your CRM system. Alternatively, it may scan the body of an open email for a specific Customer or Case number, allowing you to show them relevant information from your main system.

Is Outlook Add-In Development Difficult?

Outlook Add-Ins are, indeed, the most advanced members of the Microsoft Office 365 Add-In family. They frequently demand lengthy platform capability determination, the usage of the Graph API (or, in some cases, the EWS API), the exchange of an Outlook token for a Graph API token, and so on.

How Do I Set Up Outlook Add-Ins?

•  Users install your Outlook Add-In (either individually or for their entire association). Some Add-Ins are available through App-source (Microsoft’s business software store), while others can be installed directly by your clients using Outlook or their Azure Active Directory tenant.
•  When you open an email after installing your Add-on, the icon(s) for your Add-In should appear on the ribbon (the position varies by platform). When the user clicks on your Add-In’s icon, your Add-In appears, typically in a window on the right-hand side of the email.
•  The Add-In works in the same way that an App does within Outlook. The operations of the Add-In generally read some information from the email and make it available to your primary programme.
•  Access to the email server from which the email was served may be required for more complex Add-Ins. For example, these Add-Ins require access to attachments or threads. To obtain critical information, Microsoft exposes APIs such as the Graph API to these Add-Ins.

 Prerequisites

1. Install create-react-app

npm install -g create-react-app

2. Install Yeoman

npm install -g yo

3. Install Office Add-in Project Creator

npm install -g yo generator-office

How to create an Outlook Add-in using React?

Create the add-in

An Office Add-in may be made using Visual Studio or the Yeoman Office Add-in generator. In contrast to Yeoman, which creates a Node.js project that can be maintained using Visual Studio Code or any other editor, Visual Studio creates a Visual Studio solution. To create and test your add-in locally, make the appropriate selection and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Create the add-in project

1. Go to the Visual Studio menu bar, and choose File  >  New  > Project.
2. In the list of project types under Visual C# or Visual Basic, expand Office/SharePoint, choose Add-ins, and then choose Outlook Web Add-in as the project type.
3. Name the project, and then choose OK.
4. After Visual Studio generates a solution, Solution Explorer shows the two projects in the solution. The Message-read.HTML file opens in Visual Studio.

<body class="ms-font">
    <div class=”content-main">
        <h1>prop</h1>
        <table class="ms-Table">
            <thead>
                <tr>
                    <th>Prop</th>
                    <th>Value</th>
                </tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody>
                <tr>
                    <td><strong>Id</strong></td>
                    <td class="val"><code><label id="id"></label></code></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td><strong>class</strong></td>
                    <td class="val"><code><label id="class"></label></code></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td><strong>Message</strong></td>
                    <td class="val"><code><label id="Msg_Id"></label></code></td>
                </tr>
                <tr>
                    <td><strong>From</strong></td>
                    <td class="val"><code><label id="from"></label></code></td>
                </tr>
            </tbody>
        </table>
    </div>
</body>
'use strict';


(function () {


    Office.on Ready(function () {
        $(document).ready(function () {
            loadItemProps(Office.context.mailbox.item);
        });
    });


    function loadItemProps(item) {
        $('#id').text(itemId);
        $('#class').text(class);
        $('#Msg_Id').text(Msg_Id);
        $('#from').html(from.displayName + " &lt;" + from.emailAddress + "&gt;");
    }
})();
HTML,
body {
    width: 100%;
    height: 100%; 
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}


td. val {
    word-break: break-all;
}


.content-main {
    margin: 10px;
}

    });

Can I use the generator for Office Add-in development?

• Yes, you can. You can use pure HTML, Angular, React anything you like!

Is it good to use TypeScript for Office Add-in?

• Yes, VS Code has great support for TypeScript

How do I install an Outlook add-in?

1. Open Visual Studio, click the menu bar and select File > New > Project.
2. In the list of project types under Visual C# or Visual Basic, expand Office/SharePoint, choose Add-ins, and then choose Outlook Web Add-in as the project type.
3. Name the project, and then choose OK.
4. Here you will see two projects appear in Solution Explorer. The MessageRead .html file opens in Visual Studio.
5. Navigate to the Settings > Integrated apps > Add-ins page in the admin center.
6. Choose an option and then follow the steps.
7. Make your add-in selection if you chose to add an add-in from the Office Store.
8. You can sort the available add-ins into three categories: Suggested for you, Rating, and Name. The Office Store only provides free add-ins. Paid add-ins are not currently supported. Accept the terms and conditions after selecting an add-in to proceed.
9. To designate whom the add-in is deployed to, select Everyone, Specific users/groups, or Just me on the next screen. To find certain users or groups, utilize the Search box.

•    Choose Deploy.
•    When the add-in is activated, a green tick displays. To test the add-in, follow the instructions on the website.
•   When you’re finished, click Next. If you’ve only deployed to yourself, you can change who has access to the add-in to add more users.

Step-by-step process of Outlook Add-in development using React.js

Given below is the step-by-step process available for Outlook Add-in development using React.js. 

Step 1: Create a Development Environment

• To begin, ensure that Node.js and NPM (Node Package Manager) are installed on your machine. These tools are required for installing and managing dependencies. Make a new directory for your project and launch a terminal or command prompt from within it.

Step 2: Develop a new React.js application.

• To build a new React.js application, enter the following command in the terminal:

npx create-react-app outlook-addin

This command will generate a new directory named “Outlook-addin” that contains a basic React.js project structure.

Step 3: Install Outlook Add-in Requirements

• Enter the project directory by typing:

cd outlook-addin

Install the following dependencies for developing Outlook Add-ins with React.js:

npm install @microsoft/office-js-helpers office-ui-fabric-react

Step 4: Set up the Office.js Helper and the Office UI Fabric.

• Open your project’s src/index.js file and add the following import statements at the top:

import { initializeIcons } from '@uifabric/icons';

import { initialize } from '@microsoft/office-js-helpers';

• Then, before rendering the React app, execute the initialize Icons() and initialize() routines. This guarantees that the required Office.js Helper and Office UI Fabric configurations are correctly set up:

initializeIcons();
initialize();


ReactDOM.render(
  <React.StrictMode>
    <App />
  </React.StrictMode>,
  document.getElementById('root')
);

Step 5: Create an Outlook Add-in Component 

• Make a new file called OutlookAddin.js in the src directory. The core component for your Outlook Add-in will be contained in this file. Add the following code to the file:

import React from 'react';


function OutlookAddin() {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Welcome to Outlook Add-in Development!</h1>
      {/* Add your Outlook Add-in UI components here */}
    </div>
  );
}


export default OutlookAddin;

Step 6: Integrate the Add-in Component 

• Remove the old code from the src/App.js file and import the OutlookAddin component. Substitute the OutlookAddin component for the App component:

import React from 'react';
import OutlookAddin from './OutlookAddin';


function App() {
  return (
    <div>
      <OutlookAddin />
    </div>
  );
}


export default App;

Step 7: Create and test the add-in

• To build the React app, enter the following command in the terminal:

npm run build

• When the build process is finished, a build directory is generated in your project directory. Modify the SourceLocation value in the manifest.xml file in the public directory to point to the generated app:

<bt:Urls>
  <bt:Url id="messageReadTaskPaneUrl" DefaultValue="https://localhost:3000" />
</bt:Urls>

• To start a local server, save the file and then run the following command:

npm start

• This will open a new browser window with your Outlook Add-in.

Step 8: Install the Add-in in Outlook.

• You must side-load your Add-in to test it in Outlook. Navigate to the “File” tab in Outlook. Choose “Options” and then click!

Conclusion

Creating Outlook add-ins using React.js has a number of advantages, such as giving front-end web developers a comfortable environment to work in and enabling the development of dynamic, reusable UI components using the React component model. We looked at the step-by-step approach to creating an Outlook add-in with React.js.

In this blog, we explored the architecture of Outlook add-ins, the structure, and requirements of Outlook add-ins as well as how add-ins interact with Outlook.

Featured image by Kevin Ku on Pexels

The post A Step-By-Step Guide on Outlook Add-in Development appeared first on noupe.

Words — both good and bad — travel far.

So, what your customers experience and then talk about with their peers (online/offline), sets the tone for your sales graph.

Plus, customer feedback is important for businesses to better understand their needs, wants, and desires. This key information can then be used to improve the product or service you’re offering and make it more attractive to future customers.

For example:

You may have seen ads for a new car model with a statement like — The features that set this vehicle apart include: X, Y, and Z. This means that the manufacturer has taken customer feedback into account when designing the car. In fact, they want to know what features are most important to potential customers so they can make sure to include them in their product lineup.

Interestingly, customer satisfaction plays a much bigger role in influencing consumer behavior than price and other factors. That’s why most companies look for repeat business — they know that happy customers lend credibility to their brand and are less likely to defect to competitors.

In this article, we explore the key differences between reviews and testimonials (the two forms of customer feedback) and a few ways you can land more poppy words of customer appreciation.

Reviews vs. Testimonials — What’s The Difference?

Length And Detail

Reviews

Reviews are to-the-point assessments that allow customers to share their opinions and experiences regarding a product or service. They provide a quick summary of the customer’s viewpoint — enabling potential buyers to make informed purchase decisions. Plus, this conciseness allows quick scanning, efficient information gathering, and comparison of multiple products with ease.

[Source]

They often focus on specific aspects — like quality, durability, functionality, and customer support efficiency. For example, reviews are critical in eCommerce as they offer insights from previous customers, helping you weigh pros and cons. They can be in the form of star ratings accompanied by comments that highlight strengths or weaknesses.

Testimonials

On the other hand, testimonials are more detailed and personalized accounts of a customer’s experience. They delve deeper into the customer’s narrative — providing a comprehensive and in-depth perspective. 

[Source]

They often highlight specific challenges faced and the outcomes or benefits experienced from using a product or service. Service-based businesses utilize testimonials to showcase their expertise and build trust.

Plus, they include additional details like the customer’s name, photo, and sometimes their profession or location — making them more credible. Testimonials can be featured on websites, social media, marketing materials, or shared in video format to effectively communicate positive impact.

Source And Platform

Reviews

When customers want to share their experiences and opinions about products or services, they often turn to third-party review platforms — like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Amazon, Google Reviews. And dedicated review sections on ecommerce websites act as central hubs for customer feedback. If you run an eCommerce or subscription business on Shopify, there are plenty of third-party apps that can help you capture reviews from your customers. 

These third-party review platforms are the goto resources for potential buyers and users who are seeking information and insights before making a purchase. 

[Source]

Unlike testimonials, which are carefully selected and displayed by businesses, reviews on these platforms are typically un-curated. They provide a more authentic and balanced representation of the customer’s experience, as they include both positive and negative feedback.

Also, while testimonials are a direct testament to the brand and their offering, reviews can often relate to elements that are external. For example, if your business uses a billing system that is unreliable, or if your physical store is located in a mall that does not offer free parking, these criticisms can often show up against your own product or service. 

The transparency offered by these platforms allows future buyers to assess the reputation and quality of a product or service. They can gain access to a range of perspectives and consider the various positive and negative aspects highlighted by different customers.

Testimonials

Testimonials are feedback directly provided to a company by satisfied customers. They’re usually obtained through specific requests or surveys. And are displayed on the company’s own platforms — such as their website, social media profiles, or marketing materials — to establish trust and credibility with potential customers. A sales-driven organization may also showcase testimonials in their PowerPoint slides to prospective clients. 

[Source]

Unlike reviews, testimonials are carefully handpicked by the company, and usually undergo some level of editing to correctly reflect their strengths. Companies seek out testimonials to gather positive feedback that clearly demos the value they provide.

While testimonials may be edited for clarity or grammar, the core message conveyed by the customer remains intact. The editing process aims to present the testimonials in the best possible light without compromising the brand authenticity. Given that testimonials are pivotal in conversion optimization, marketers typically run a lot of A/B tests with respect to the specific words used, presentation, and associated call to action. 

Content And Tone

Reviews

Reviews provide a diverse range of feedback — from positive and negative to neutral perspectives. This offers a well-rounded view of a product, service, or experience. 

Customers share specific details about their experience in reviews, providing an in-depth assessment. They discuss the pros and cons, highlight liked or disliked features, and address any encountered issues. By including such specific information, reviews offer key purchase worthiness insights for other customers or users.

[Source]

The tone of reviews varies based on individual experiences and writing styles. They also reflect the level of customer engagement and satisfaction they experience. Some convey enthusiasm and satisfaction, praising the positive attributes, while others express frustration or disappointment, pointing out the lacks.

Reviews offer customers a free-speech platform to express their genuine opinions and feelings about a product. This emotional element adds depth and authenticity to the feedback which directly translates into true buying advice — which they may not get any other way (well, because company’s sales reps only shine a spotlight on the pros and almost never the cons).

Testimonials

Testimonials at their core exist for promotional purposes, focusing on highlighting the positive aspects of a product or service. They aim to showcase benefits, value, and success stories associated with the customer’s experience, creating a positive perception.

To do so, they emphasize transformation, improvement, or satisfaction, demo-ing how the customer’s situation or life improved due to the product or service in focus.

[Source]

Plus, testimonials highlight measurable success metrics, reinforcing the effectiveness and value of the endorsed product or service.

Testimonials have a highly positive tone — often expressing gratitude and admiration for the company’s offerings. This is precisely why the best and most compelling feedback are carefully curated and edited, to build trust and credibility.

How To Capture More Reviews And Testimonials For Your Business?

Before you start collecting more testimonials and reviews from your happy (or unfortunately, dissatisfied) customers, please make sure you’re respectful of their time and preferences. Make it clear that their feedback is valuable and appreciated. 

Let’s take a quick look at a few ways you can increase the likelihood of capturing more reviews and testimonials to promote your business and build trust with potential customers:

• Reach out to your happy and satisfied customers directly and request their feedback. You can send personalized emails or SMSes asking them to share their thoughts about their experience with your product or service.

• Implement survey tools (like Jotform) to capture customer feedback and reviews. This can be done through online surveys, email surveys, or even feedback forms on your website. Make sure to ask specific questions that encourage customers to quickly share their experiences and opinions.

• Offer incentives or rewards to customers who leave reviews or provide testimonials. This can be in the form of discounts, exclusive offers, or entry into a giveaway. Incentives can motivate customers to take the time to drop a review.

[Source]

• Reach out to the satisfied customers who have provided positive feedback and request their collaboration for creating video or textual testimonials. Offer assistance and guidance in the process — such as providing interview questions or helping with video recording/editing, if needed.

• Simplify the process of leaving reviews or testimonials. Provide clear instructions and direct links to review platforms or testimonial submission forms. The probability of your customers dropping a review is directly proportional to the ease of doing so.

• Get social with your customers on social media platforms. Encourage them to share their experiences publicly by mentioning or tagging your business in their posts. Monitor social media mentions and reviews to respond promptly and encourage further engagement.

• Focus on delivering exceptional customer service and a positive overall experience. Ultra-happy customers are more likely to voluntarily leave reviews or provide testimonials without being prompted. An omnichannel customer service that maximizes positive experiences make customers happy.

• After a purchase or interaction with your business, send follow-up emails or messages to customers. Thank them for their support and encourage them to share their feedback or leave a review. Timing is crucial, so consider sending these requests while the positive experience is still fresh in their minds.

Final Words

The game is all about happy customers. If you keep your customers satisfied, they’re likely to refer you, and it won’t really matter which format you use to land chest-puffing reviews or testimonials.

However, it is worth considering the differences here, because each form of feedback has a unique place in your overall business strategy. Review these formats side by side and see what makes sense for your business and for your customers.

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

The post Reviews vs. Testimonials [Differences + What’s Best for Your Business] appeared first on noupe.

Microsoft is making the bold decision to replace its iconic Calibri default font with Aptos, a sans serif typeface based on 20th-century Swiss typography. This change may come as no surprise to those familiar with Microsoft’s hunt for a new font style in recent years. But for anyone who has grown accustomed to Microsoft’s trademark typeface, the decision to switch to Aptos might be an unexpected shock.