Change the Direction with Web Design for 2016

Design, pattern, color scheme and many other factors make or break the popularity and appeal of a web page. Whether it’s a new or redesigned one these dominant factors rule the roost but what keeps changing is the trend. The New Year should usher in its own tide of a fresh approach to make the world of web designing more exciting. Last year’s trends remain and most of what will be constructed in Web Design 2016 will revolve around responsive designs and better mobile experience. Read on for the possible trends of the New Year.

1 Scrolling and long pages:

Long pages that need to be scrolled are in because on smart phones and tablets scrolling is easier than tapping. It saves tedious time while you are travelling or working. The card design which is used nowadays can actually perk up the mobile experience and make it easy to list similar information together.

2 Responsive design:

This trend was well on its way since 2015 with the rise in the number of mobile and tablet users. But according to surveys nearly 43 percent websites still need to be mobile-friendly. The beauty of responsive designs is better navigation on any platform with minimal resizing and scrolling. Business owners have become more aware of the widespread need for responsive designs and the benefits it brings. So, the chances of more responsive websites are better in 2016.

3 Flat designs:

Following in the footsteps of Android and iPhone flat designs made its way into web designing and has become quite popular. Everything from icons, banners and even webpages are becoming flat. The focus is on white spaces so most designs are being stripped of glows, shadows and Photoshop filters. Simple typography is used with bold colors to increase readability.

4 Interactive storytelling:

This method is great for converting viewers into customers and is great for Search Engine Optimization or SEO. Storytelling is appreciated by all and draws kudos from most viewers.

5 Video backgrounds:

Interesting videos can get across any message with least effort. They not only make the website more popular with people spending more time in it but also help in improving the rankings. Display videos that come with icons and headlines and are full-page set the page apart from the competitors. They are more communicative and tell a different story.

These trends and more will enliven the web design service scenario but what is most important is the target audience. Every website has a different set of viewers with different understanding and tastes so it is important to cater to it for increasing popularity. It also helps in carving a particular style and originality that makes the website unique

8 Ways SEO and Content Marketing Strategy Can Work Together

Search engine optimization or SEO has always been the backbone of internet marketing until recently. A couple of years back content marketing entered the scenario as the search engines started giving more priority to quality and original content. Since then, it has gradually gained huge prominence with the result that the scramble for never-before-written content is extremely high. But it does not mean the death of SEO. Optimization techniques along with proper content marketing strategy can actually improve online marketing techniques.The main difference between content marketing and SEO is that while the former is broader in concept, the latter is more technical. What should be remembered is that without proper content the optimization framework is useless and without proper SEO groundwork the original content is useless. So, the SEO and content teams should go hand-in hand for best online marketing and proper indexing of pages.

1. Original content:

Thin content was accepted by the search engines earlier but now the scenario has changed and the stress is on producing well-researched blogs and articles that are useful for the readers. These raise the level of the content and make it more engaging which attracts more audience thereby increasing the number of clicks and visitors to the websites.

2. Evergreen optimization and content:

Engaging and evergreen content is something that will always find appreciation and improve the rankings of websites. It is one of the prime reasons why most websites use news and relevant articles in its columns to make it more reader-friendly. But using engaging topics that the search engines are looking for makes more sense and is more likely to improve rankings. It is part of a virtuous cycle which can be highly beneficial for online marketing and bring in both SEO and content marketing.

3. Keyword research:

Inserting proper keywords is very important whether you are into content marketing or SEO. The content should be of high quality and relevant to the selected keywords. Lucid language that smoothly incorporates the keyword is bound to create a better effect on the reader and attract more of them. Thus, as the number of visitors increase the rankings improve as well making optimization easier.

4. Are the keywords creating the desired effect:

Monitoring if the right keywords have been selected or not is important for the success of optimization and content marketing. If the selected ones are not creating the desired effect then the process has to be reviewed and any necessary shift has to be made. A proper optimization strategy has to be followed so that the goals can be fulfilled.

5. Link Building:

Good content and posts help in building effective links which is again useful for SEO. Generally any good post generate between 200-1000 backlinks.

6. Internal linking:

Internal linking is very essential for allowing the search engines to crawl the websites properly and help in improving the page rankings.

7. Measuring the effectiveness:

Good content helps in improving page visibility but the only way to measure it is by proper page optimization. It gives a different boost to see the website among the top ranks on the search engine page.

8. Appealing titles:

Good content should come with strong titles that interest the audience without giving away the thrill of reading the blog or article. It should be promising without being too long which can hamper the chances of proper optimization.

Content management teams should have a thorough knowledge of SEO to churn content that naturally fulfills all the requirements for optimization. SEO services teams, on the other hand, should share the technical knowledge to achieve the goals.

Website Maintenance: How often should I update my website?

Maintaining and updating a website is essential whenever there is anything worth updating. That— is the usual logic. Though it is irreversible and true for any website what any business owner should remember is the threat from malware which only constant updating can prevent. Any security gap that may have cropped up over time needs to be fixed immediately. Similarly, new software and programs have to be updated on the website as well to stay in tune with the times. Staying on top and constantly keeping the websites updated and threat-free can be a huge challenge for any website owner. Plus, it is crucial for proper marketing to keep the websites updated and always have something new to offer to the clients. Search engines are happy if the websites offer something new from time to time because it keeps the sites on top of the listing and make sure that the customers always get what they want.

1 Maintenance for interesting reads:

Maintaining a website and creating an interesting look or adding must-read articles increasing readability which in turn affects the number of viewers. It always ensures that you have the relevant information available which keeps it in tune with the current trends.

2 Make a better impression:

Websites carry the “last updated” date which makes a good impression on viewers and clients. An addition on the latest technology or beauty trends with well-researched inputs can really make a difference. Outdated information on a website can seriously harm the reputation and put off clients who are always looking for new people and updated information.

3 Updating your own content:

If your website was built using a content management system then you can update your own content. But if such is not the case then hiring the services of a web maintenance agency or signing a website amc can be a good idea. It offers you expertise and helps in leveraging strength because in all probability it lets you do the work while someone takes care of your website.

4 What to update:

Website Maintenance involves updating the information present on the website. Blogs need to be updated with new ones all the time because it helps in building credibility and presence in the search engines. The news section in a website informs people regarding all the information of an organization including the number of employees etc. The “Home” page contains one-liners regarding all the changes made in the website and directs the viewers towards the same. The “About” page is like a virtual business card and contains the dates regarding when and how the organization was formed and how many people are on its board and such other information. If it not updated properly then the age of the company may be several years behind. The “Products and Services” section is very important and help in increasing the number of clients and traffic. “Testimonials and Case Studies” raise the credibility towards a website and should be updated accordingly.