 As Covid-19 vaccinations increase around the world, life is back to normal. However, it is no longer the world before the disease. The long-term nature of this global crisis has changed the needs of consumers and everyday life. So, it will change what I hope the world will look like in 2022 and beyond. In this article, our a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency has teamed up with Webster Solutions, to explore the top five technologies and digital advances i.e. SMO in digital marketing we are likely to encounter in the coming year. 1. Python These days, the Python programming language is used by many websites. Major platforms have developed robust applications using python development services. The future is definitely in Python. Technology has developed rapidly over the past eight to ten years, especially in information technology. As a result, the area of innovation is constantly evolving with new programming development and practices, for instance, product pricing calculator will help people let know about the price of different variables of the same product. However, one thing remains in this universe: it is continually changing. You might have guessed that Python is the most popular programming language. Significant and widespread media such as Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, and Uber reach out to a python development company to build their most popular mobile phone apps. These large organizations hire Python developers or Python specialists to grow their business. In 2022, Python Trends will achieve more status and recognition. 2. Java While Java has been around for a quarter of a century, new trends in Java development pop up every day. Incorporating these features into your next Java project ensures that you stay up to date with the latest developments in the modern client. Java tools such as Apache Hadoop, Apache Mahout, and Deepearning4j suggest that Java is the top competitor for any significant data project that may arise. Because of the security of Java and its unique foundation, development solutions using the Java language are the most efficient. For example, creating a desktop application that provides remote access solutions for remote workers is a great way to use Java technology. The Spring Framework is a clean, easy-to-use Java technology that any Java professional or Java development company should have in their arsenal. However, Java developers must always look for new updates to old technologies to stay on top of the Java tradition. And because of Java’s ease of maintenance, high portability, and clarity, Java development services are a popular choice for companies looking for good results. Business growth does not happen in a vacuum. Therefore, it would be best to drive change by exploring new ideas and creating challenges for the company. One way to do this in a Java-centric development environment is to educate your team about Java technologies and practices regularly. Java is a unique and powerful language that has a lot to offer. But, unfortunately, you have to use the tools to make it work. 3. React Over the years, more and more developers are turning to ReactJS, and their number is also increasing. However, compared to the popular Python language, the need for ReactJS is higher, which leads to fierce competition between them. The demand for ReactJS developers is growing in various business niches. This will increase the need for React professionals to work together. That means 2022 will see an increase in businesses investing heavily in ReactJS developers. Any business wants to expand its limit by keeping its costs minimum. This means they must find a way to find a digital solution that fits their business needs. Many technologies have been deployed in 2020 and 2021, and ReactJS has proven to be a robust solution that offers a wide range of development solutions. As disease forces businesses to develop technological solutions, ReactJS’s role in helping them push their boundaries has also grown. ReactJS has worked over the years; its impact will be seen on the digital front in 2022. ReactJS will pave the way for creating new solutions. 4. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning AI has become an integral part of our lives. From improvement in classification, analysis, product ordering, machine knowledge, and control to create better environmental models and industrial applications, we see a wealth of technical expertise in anticipation of 2022. The benefits of using AI at scale are undeniable, but there are also challenges. For example, some algorithms may introduce bias and violate privacy, and technologies such as eye-tracking may be biased. The critical challenge is to incorporate robustness and transparency into the model to expose AI in ways we haven’t done before. Therefore, there are few instructions or rules in this area. In addition, the cost and effort required to place complete trust in AI applications can be prohibitive, and fear of public scrutiny and cultural implications has prevented organizations from using AI in the recipe — until now. ML is the technology that has become one of the most popular technologies by 2021. Today, almost all the famous companies are associated with machine learning techniques, such as Netflix, Google, and some small companies. They are known for their business which is also involved in machine learning to understand user behavior. 2020-2021 is the year of the epidemic, and no one knows what will happen in 2022. But developers and engineers are working to change the world by combining science and technology. Machine learning development company’s integration with some large enterprises such as financial business, cybersecurity, healthcare, and accounting can be very successful. Today, large companies such as Google, Microsoft, Facebook are using machine learning. Still, many small companies are also involved in acquiring human behavior used in adaptation and new purposes. 5. Liferay The Liferay Digital Experience Platform (DXP) is designed with future technologies in mind, such as microservices, digital experience management, and rapid build management. It is designed to enable digital transformation and help model-full companies address the challenges of cloud computing, digital tools, and customer experience management. With Liferay, businesses can quickly and easily solve critical business challenges. The Liferay development will help you quickly master businesses, multi-channel support, personal information, and collaborative action. This makes it easier for users to process tasks with captions. It also improves customer experience and engagement by implementing a personalized service portal that facilitates users, partners, and customers. Closing Thoughts As technology emerges and improves us all, these five technologies offer successful job opportunities now and for the foreseeable future. And since many of these modern technologies welcome professionals, it means that this is the right time for you to choose someone, educate and present the basics of these technologies, setting you up for success in the future. By Vishal Dudhal, partner, Webster Solutions and consultant for Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.
0 Comments
 Earth Day inspires consumers around the world to look at their footprint on the earth and make an effort to improve this beautiful planet. In the food industry, Upcycled Foods inspires consumers to novel ways to use food scraps that would have ended up as waste. Did you know . . .
Allen Marketing Communications, Inc. a boutique food and beverage public relations agency, showcases how upcycled foods helps with food conservation and recycling. What is it? Upcycled foods are essentially food that is completely fine to be consumed, it may be excess of vegetable or fruit products, or produce which simply is not visually appealing but is still safe to be consumed. “The upcycled food movement sees a place for misshapen, soft or bruised fruits and vegetables, edible stems and leaves, leftover pulp from juicing.” (Source: Forbes) One example of an upcycled food product is Noon’s Chocolate – this company uses the pulp and remainder of the fruit once done using the seeds and they reuse the remainder of the Cacao plant to make the new form of chocolate. Benefits? Upcycled foods reduce food waste by finding unique ways to use disfigured foods. Roughly “28 percent of agricultural land goes to food that is never eaten, whilst food waste and loss generate four percent of greenhouse gasses in the U.S. alone.” (Food and Beverage Insider) One emerging company making use of this new phenomenon is The Ugly Company. They upcycle “imperfect” fruit into dried fruit. The Ugly Company saved 142,866 of “ugly fruit” from becoming waste last year and aims to save 4.6 million pounds from becoming waste this year. The powerhouse fruit and vegetable company Del Monte is one company which just invested into their own upcycled food branch of their company. With this new installment into their massive corporation, through using upcycled fruits to make juices, as well as dried fruit products, the company predicts they will take approximately 25 million pounds of food waste from landfills. Trends Upcycled foods are growing in popularity as more consumers discover the benefits of minimizing food waste. “Key focuses for companies wanting to meet consumer expectations are carbon reduction, packaging commitments, and targets relating to food waste reduction, the circular economy, and UN Sustainable Development Goals.” (Source: Upcycled Food Association) Speaking of “imperfect” comes an upcycled weekly grocery subscription company named “Imperfect Foods.” Imperfect Foods does exactly what is in the name by taking imperfect fruits and vegetables as well as other food products and selling them for a marked down price. Several companies have introduced “upcycled snacks using the by-product of plant-based products that would have otherwise gone to waste.” (Source: Upcycled Food Association) Upcycled snacks are creating new markets in the food industry, as well as healthy snacks. Our talented team of food and beverage professionals are here to help companies navigate the innovative upcycled food industry. Give us a call. By Robert Goldsmith at Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.  The Covid-19 pandemic has made wellness and self-care important for one’s overall physical and mental well-being. As we evolve during the third year of this pandemic, wellness enthusiasts are embracing urban bathhouses, wellness in the Metaverse, sound healing, as well as holistic trips to rebalance the mind, body and soul. Did you know . . .
Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency based in New York City, spotlights the key wellness trends for 2022. Wellness Travel Wellness tourism – travel focusing on yoga, meditation, mindfulness, healthy eating and outdoor adventures– to improve one’s physical and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. “World travelers made more than 500 million international and domestic wellness trips in 2020, down from 936 million in 2019. International wellness tourists on average spend $1,601 per trip in 2020, 35 percent more than the typical international tourist,” according to Global Wellness Tourism. Spa therapies have always been a key component of wellness tourism. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced many individuals to focus on self-care and pursue opportunities to bond with nature, recharge and rebalance one’s mind, body and soul. As we evolve in the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has emerged a need to maintain a work-life balance and escape to improve one’s overall physical and mental well-being. Urban Bathhouses Urban Bathhouses have been known throughout the ages for its healing mineral waters. In fact, “bathing in natural waters has been referred to as “taking the cure,” and different waters have been sought, depending on the type of “cure” needed.” (Source: Global Wellness Institute) The Covid-19 vaccines and booster shots have sparked a renewed interest among wellness enthusiasts in indulging in the healing waters at bathhouses. The Global Wellness Institute predicts “pent up demand fuels annual growth rates of 18 percent for thermal and mineral springs through 2025.” “New and renovated bathhouses have begun peppering our urban landscapes, providing a new kind of “social wellness club” that not only brings urbanites together to relax, but also provides a gentle reboot of the mind, body and soul through the discovery and sensory delight of traditional bathing rituals,” according to Global Wellness Institute. Urban bathhouses will make this wellness experience much more accessible for city dwellers. Wellness in the Metaverse The Metaverse is all the rage at the moment. It is quite simply “a 3D virtual world focused on social connections.” Consumers simply wear “virtual and augmented reality headsets” and duplicate real world interactions in a virtual world. For example, “designed for Oculus Quest and paired with the user’s smartphone, Supernatural delivers precise coaching, fitness tracking and immersive workouts that blend the worlds of exercise and entertainment. As such, the move is expected to usher in a new era for VR experiences, a market predicted to grow at an annual rate of 18% to hit $69.60 billion by 2028,” according to WellToDo. In terms of the wellness industry, there is an unprecedented growth as companies pivot and offer wellness experiences in the virtual world. Several companies are already using “virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (VR) have been used in therapeutic capacities, have been used in therapeutic capacities.” (Source: DesignWell 360) Sound Healing Sound healing is “an ancient meditative practice that uses different musical implements to create healing vibrations around the body in a meditative state,” according to WellSet. It is not a new meditative practice since several cultures – Tibetan monks, indigenous Australians, and ancient Greek healers – have used sound vibrations to heal individuals. Sound healing has been shown to support traditional medical practices by helping to “reduce anxiety and insomnia, lower blood pressure, improve circulation and reduce respiratory rates.” (Source: Pure Wow) The Covid-19 pandemic has made self-care the buzz word during the pandemic and sound healing is another way to help individuals cope during these stressful times. Our travel and lifestyle public relations professionals are here to help you tap into the lucrative wellness industry. Give us a call. By Joanna Allen, chief executive officer, Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.  As the 21st-century ushers in the digital era, websites become the backbones of businesses. With this said, it’s imperative businesses enforce effective means and systems for maintenance. In this article, our a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency has teamed up with Webster Solutions, to provide a step-by-step guide in website maintenance that up-and-coming businesses in the digital era are likely going to find useful: Conduct Regular Reviews At a minimum, annual reviews and testing are necessary for websites. Reviews and testing are also essential after any updates on websites have taken place. It’s important to note, though, that quarterly reviews and testing are likely more effective, given the fact that many changes are digitally taking place. Website maintenance experts may find content errors, URLs that don’t work, site components that are not loading appropriately, if at all, the sites’ download speed, and typos in the content of websites, among others. Conduct Device Compatibility Tests Semi-Annually Devices and browsers upgrade in version modernity as time passes by. The only way of finding out the functionality status of websites accessed from devices is by conducting semi-annual tests. The best way to conduct these tests is to do them via Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple Safari browsers along with the latest models of mobile devices and tablets. Conduct Crucial Contact Testing Points Quarterly All components that websites have had in contact with must undergo testing every quarter. After every update, websites must go through testing, as well. In other words, such testing involves the verification of websites’ forms, CTA’s, and properties of the checkout systems. Site administrators determine whether or not they have done such testing successfully by intentionally keying in inaccurate data to generate user errors. If such errors materialize after administrators enter incorrect information, it means the websites have not had any contact with harmful online elements. Check the Backups Quarterly Backups for websites are likely to change within a short period. Checking backups frequently minimize the chances of loss of files and other information in case websites incur serious damage and cyberattack issues. Review the Websites’ Monthly Analytics Reviewing analytics every month is the key to determining the websites’ performances. Performances reviews cover measurements of key performance indicators (KPIs), reviews of SEO ranks, and analyses of reports. Reviews of websites’ performances are also the sources of resolutions to problems or matters that may turn into problems. Reviewing the analytics at least once a month is a key to swiftly verifying and fixing potential error issues before it’s too late to do so. Conduct Monthly Safety Check-ups Software and other related apps need to be installed in their updated versions. Installing such apps is one way of conducting monthly safety check-ups for websites. Examples of these apps or software are security patches, bug fixes, and other updated tools concerning web servers, databases, CMS, and operating systems. It’s always a good idea to install patches on websites once the former is distributed in the market. However, any updates that site administrators may oversee can be fixed when monthly safety checkups are done. Study and Update (if needed) Contact Details Monthly Countless websites don’t get good regular management in the distribution of contact details. These sites have outdated contact details, with the likes of phone numbers, physical addresses, and team members’ data. There’s no way potential clients or customers can get in touch with businesses if the contact details posted are inaccurate. Update Copyright Dates on an Annual Basis Normally, the copyright dates posted on the primary pages of websites apply to other subsites, as well. As years pass by, the content on all pages of websites changes. So, it’s objective to update the current copyright years on home pages. Update Legal Disclaimers Yearly Annually, there are normal changes in websites’ privacy terms, site use rules, and sales policies, among other disclaimers. Customers have to be aware of such changes. Being aware of these changes protects businesses, website administrators, and clients. By Vishal Dudhal, partner, Webster Solutions and consultant for Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.  For any e-commerce website, ranking at the top of search engines is the number one priority. While paid exams can put you at the top of the exam results, the long-term cost of staying there can be prohibitive. You need number one, and eCommerce SEO can help you get there if you do your part to find trending products to sell online. In this complete eCommerce SEO guide, our a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency has teamed up with Webster Solutions, to provide invaluable insights about SEO strategies for “eCommerce websites,” as well as tips and tricks to help you successfully satisfy your website. 1. Boost Local SEO Local SEO focuses on ranking effectively on your site map. Whether you own a grocery store or sell online, almost every business is connected to the local community in one way or another. You can use local supply chains, offer countermeasures or a unique supply option, or sell defective products under specific codes. A massage parlor that offers services and sells products online requires local solid SEO to show up in search results for its customers. 2. Optimize Product Pages to Improve Ranking If you want to attract and attract new users, look at the user interface. This is very important because your website receives higher rankings, which means new traffic and more conversions. Not every aspect of your eCommerce website needs improvement, so in this section, let’s focus on the things that matter most to online shopping: product descriptions, images, and reviews. The product page is interesting because there are so many different things that need attention. You also want a few things to stand on the page to draw visitors in and get them to click. 3. Find Keywords Through Competitor Research If you have competitors ranking higher than you in search results, you can use their site to steal critical scores. First, submit your website to Google, select a competitor, and search for relevant information on their categories and product pages. However, don’t blindly use the exact words as your competitor! Just because they’re better than you doesn’t mean they picked the best terms – they may have a higher level of control (DA) than you. The DA is Moz SEO’s Ranking of a website’s authority based on its link information and other factors (such as the number of backlinks pointing to the site from another site). It’s time to mention flour, an alert tool that helps Google crawl and index your site. 4. Add FAQ Content Having the best content that meets user needs is the key to high SERP rankings. If customers don’t find value in your products, your sales will be increased, and customers won’t be able to buy from you. Most product sections and pages have very few features, and no FAQ section is tagged in the customized FAQ data. Instead, they rely on user-generated content (UGC), which is a mistake. 5. Work on Your Site Architecture Improving the architecture of your site by simplifying its structure is the cornerstone of any successful SEO strategy used effectively. For e-commerce websites, this means using your website’s hosting and search engines. But how? Organize your website so that visitors can make only a limited number of clicks (the rule of thumb is three or fewer) to go to any product from the main page. By doing this, you will improve the user experience and help reduce the spam caused by cyberbullying on websites. 6. Start a Link-Building Strategy Off-page SEO for eCommerce sites and backlinks are powerful for stores looking to improve their search engine rankings. Backlinks are when other websites include a link to your site. This is also called internal or external communication. The more links other sites provide to your website, the better for your SEO position. But there is also a significant downside: it’s essential to make sure you’re building good links from other trusted, quality websites. Google Ultimate is one of those smart cookies, and it detects if you act on a shadow backlink (and penalizes you accordingly). 7. Add Rich Snippets Display snippets allow you to provide search engines with additional information about specific types of content — products, reviews, recipes, events, and more— so they understand more about your pages. Further information will also be displayed in the survey results, showing the increase in click-through rates. 8. Fix Crawl Errors Crawl failures occur when Google bots encounter problems crawling your content. If search engines cannot find all of your pages, products, and sections, they will not be indexed or displayed in search results. But how do you know if there is any issue in crawling? Start by setting up a Google Search Console account, which allows you to connect directly to Google, resolve any problems, and view important information. If you create a new account, fill in the data in Google Search Console and wait for a few days to fix all the crawling errors on your site. By Vishal Dudhal, partner, Webster Solutions and consultant for Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.  As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, we can all agree that there are significant changes in culinary tourism, also known as food tourism – vegan menu options and alfresco dining at restaurants, chef-inspired gourmet meals and artificial intelligence as it pertains to restaurant reservations. “AAA’s latest travel survey found that an estimated 22 million Americans expect to take a culinary-focused vacation in the next 12 months. Seventy-five percent of Americans feel that food and dining are an important part of their travel experiences and four in five say they have engaged in such unique activities as touring wineries and distilleries, eating with local families and engaging in hands-on experiences such as cooking classes led by local chefs while traveling." (Source: Travel Agent Central) In fact, “The younger generation is particularly interested in culinary travel, AAA said, with 88 percent of Millennials having participated in food-related experiences while vacationing, outpacing members of Generation X and Baby Boomers.” In this blog, Allen Marketing Communications, Inc., a boutique food and beverage public relations agency in New York City, highlights key trends as it pertains to culinary tourism. Chef Selected Gourmet Menus As the Covid-19 restrictions are being lifted across the country, chefs are starting to put their creative hats on again by making meals to showcase their culture. Chefs are inspired to show off meals native to their country that they grew up on as a child. Not only this, but chefs will continue to use more locally grown, fresh and organic ingredients with healthier items on menus. This year, food lovers will discover menus featuring chef collaborations, meaning dishes will culinary influences from multiple chefs. Artificial Intelligence AI Technology Restaurants have started to use much more artificial intelligence technology-oriented systems during the pandemic – to order food or make reservations. These minimal contact forms of technology have been found to be considerably easier to operate and are here to stay. In addition to AI technology, restaurants are moving towards implementing deposits or ticket sales when it comes to reserving tables. As restaurants have fully felt the pain of a no-show guests, restaurants are moving in changing the traditional way to make a restaurant reservation. Alfresco Dining Alfresco dining, also known as outside dining, is one of the most significant implementations of social distancing during the pandemic. Alfresco dining has also been a lifeline for restaurants by providing customers with more sustainable, conventional outdoor seating structures. Restaurant goers liked these outdoor dining so much that many restaurants have decided to keep them permanently. In addition, cities around the world are shutting down car passage in streets to accommodate the new world order of outdoor dining. Vegan and Plant-Based Options As we enter the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a plethora of vegan and plant-based menu options at restaurants and fast food establishments. Self-health and living healthier lives became tremendously more popular. Disney has implemented plant based and vegan options at nearly all of the restaurants and food businesses in its parks. Epcot, for example, where guests are encouraged to “eat around the world” are now able to do so with far healthier options, such as their Boneless Impossible Korean short rib dish. This change to the dining world is truly an exciting one as chefs are getting their hands on new ingredients which we haven’t seen before and are coming up with recreations of some of our favorite meat-heavy dishes or even creating never before seen dishes for customers to try. Food Festivals Food festivals have traditionally presented an immersive platform for consumers to savor a diverse selection of foods. During the pandemic, food festivals have pivoted online to provide a more intimate experience for food lovers to have virtual tastings at home. There has also been a new twist on something old by offering a drive through experience – servers bring food to cars – at the festivals. The Covid-19 vaccines and boosters have also injected a desperately needed lifeline for in-person gatherings for food festivals Our talented team of food and beverage professionals are here to help clients maximize the potential from food tourism. Give us a call. By Robert Goldsmith at Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.  Worried that hackers are trying to access your WordPress website? You have the right to be worried about a hacker and your website. Hackers use error metaphors and techniques to guess signed and corrupted data on WordPress sites. The most attacked page is the login page. In this article, our a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency has teamed up with Webster Solutions, to provide invaluable tips to prevent a hacker from accessing your website. Once a hacker comes into your control panel, they can take complete control of your website. They will install malware, backdoor, damage your website, advertise and sell illegal products, steal your personal information, distract your visitors to the site, and engage in other malicious activities. Fortunately, you can protect your signature page by limiting the number of times a user tries to enter the correct information. Why Should You Limit Login Attempts? While WordPress is a stable solution, it does not protect your website from hacks. A powerful hacker is a method that uses examples and errors to crash your WordPress website. The most common type of solid attack is to guess a password. Hackers use software to control your information so that they can access your site. By default, WordPress allows users to enter passwords as many times as possible. Hackers can take advantage of this by using scripts that enter different combinations until they guess the correct login. You can prevent cruel attacks by limiting the number of failed login attempts per user. In WooCommerce, you may integrate Role-Based Prices for WooCommerce, but still, you should restrict their login attempts. For example, you can temporarily block a user after 5 consecutive failed login attempts. What are WordPress Limit Login Attempts? By default, WordPress allows an unlimited number of login attempts to your site. You can try as many username and password combinations as you like. Hackers are aware of this and take advantage of this device. First, they compile a database of frequently used usernames and passwords, along with stolen or purchased data. They then program robots to visit WordPress sites and test thousands of username and password combinations in less than a few minutes. By doing this, hackers can enter many WordPress sites. This is called a brute force attack because they crawl your area with thousands of login requests in minutes. Using this hacking method, hackers have a reasonable success rate (around 10%) because WordPress users typically assign weak login credentials. Although 10% seems small, they can quickly hack into thousands of websites with millions of sites in WordPress. By limiting the number of login attempts, you can stop pirates and their robots. The user will receive a limited number of times to enter the correct login credentials. For example, you can give three tests. If a user fails to enter the right credentials every three times, they will be locked out of their account. They are presented with options for restoring login credentials, such as:
Benefits and Drawbacks of Limiting Login Attempts There are good sides to limiting login attempts in WordPress, but there are also some downsides. Benefits The main benefit of restricting sign-in attempts is that it prevents robots and humans from accessing your WordPress blog or website (we’ve already said that). This is useful even if you have a password that is difficult to guess. It also prevents excessive pressure on your server. If a hacker enters too many passwords into your site in a short time, the strain on your server will increase. Therefore, speed and performance suffer. You don’t want that. It is usually sufficient to lock the hacker to prevent further login attempts temporarily. Drawbacks Genuine users may also be disabled if they have multiple failed login attempts, and it’s pretty awkward. However, you can fix this problem with an allowlist of all known WordPress users so that they never have access. Second, the easiest way to limit sign-in restrictions is to use a plug-in. Although the plug-in itself is easy, many WordPress users are exhausted by using it. You can use an alternative method by modifying your theme in the function.php file to resolve this. More Security Tips Restricting sign-in attempts is just one part of WordPress’s security. There are other security tips to keep hackers away. Here is some more information. Use Strong Passwords Your password is the gateway to your website. If it is weak, anyone (desired and unwanted) can enter without resistance. If this is strong, only legitimate users will be able to access it. So use a strong password as much as possible. Two-Factor Authentication This is a security process in which a WordPress user accesses the website only after two authentication factors have been provided. This is another way to prevent brute force attacks. Once you’ve set it up, you’ll receive your phone code every time you log in. This authentication method works well, especially if connected to a strong password. WordPress Updates The most significant cause of WordPress security breaches is a vulnerability in plug-ins. Keeping the WP kernel, plug-ins, and themes up-to-date is critical. Uninstall plug-ins and themes that you don’t need. Use Only a Recommended WordPress Host WordPress has not left us unconscious. WordPress hosting requirements are clearly stated, and using an unauthorized host could compromise your site from attacks. Not Using SSL Certificate Data sent over the web without SSL will be made public. This means that data can be stolen and used for illegal purposes. An SSL certificate encrypts your data and prevents hackers from accessing your data. Concluding Remarks Brute force attacks are a common vector of hacker attacks, and WordPress sites are often the preferred target. Hackers constantly target WordPress sites. So it is even more vital that you put appropriate security measures on your site. The WordPress login page is the most attacked, so restricting login attempts is a good place to start. All you have to do is prevent hackers and robots from performing many consecutive login attempts. By Vishal Dudhal, partner, Webster Solutions and consultant for Allen Marketing Communications, Inc.  The internet will be marking its 40th year of existence on January 1, 2023. Since its introduction, the way people live today has drastically changed. Everything is connected to the internet. Even in the way we sell products or services. It is transforming the marketing landscape in ways we never thought possible. In this article, our a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency has teamed up with Webster Solutions, examines the relationship between the internet and marketing has become so intertwined that traditional methods are starting to shift towards the digital era. Thus, the term “digital marketing.” As defined by Investopedia, it is “the use of the internet, mobile devices, social media, search engines, display advertising, and other channels to reach consumers.” The Evolving Marketing Landscape While technology has enabled multiple ways to reach a target market, the demand for more strategic marketing has increased. Traditional marketing relied on mass media like television, radio, and print to get messages across to their intended audience. But it only guarantees a certain percentage. In the digital age, reaching the intended market is now more precise. Digital marketers call this “hyper-personalization”. Marketing tools being used today are a stack of apps, all geared towards an individual or a specific target group. With the help of AI, machine learning, and automation, people can receive messages that are tailor-fitted according to their profiles, interests, hobbies, and so on. But two specific digital marketing tools stand out from the rest: emails and push notifications. Both are technology-driven methods to reach a target market. But they differ when it comes to structure, process, and form of delivery. It is important to know their advantages and disadvantages and when to use which tool strategically. Email Direct Marketing While emails have sprouted in the labs of MIT as early as 1971, it wasn’t widely used until the early 90s. Today over 333 billion emails are sent and received every day worldwide according to Statista. And this number is projected to grow to over 376 billion by 2025, a 30 percent increase from this year. Shockingly, an average person or employee receives around 121 business emails per day. When it comes to its structure, email marketing content allows more information to be downloaded to the individual. Ideally, you can attach one or two videos and images with an accompanying text no longer than 200 words. Identifiers like mastheads or logos also help make an email more legit and credible. The process of email marketing can be quite laborious especially when you have a long email list. Some marketers rely on email automation services and mass email platforms like MailChimp to help ease the burden of sending the same message to many email addresses. Using mail merge also helps personalize each message according to the names listed in a database. Emails are mostly read on desktops or laptops. But a growing percentage of people are checking their emails on their mobile phones. This has an impact on the content you put in your email. Large files and long texts are most often “delete-worthy”. Some emails are also sent to the junk folder. The average email click-through rate is 2.13 percent. That means for every 100 emails sent, you’ll get 2-3 people who will click on your content. Push Notifications Push notifications on the other hand are like little sticky notes popping up on phone screens of individuals. They are usually reminders for upcoming events or a product that has gone on sale. An average smartphone user in the US receives 46 app push notifications in a day. Compared to emails, push notifications to have a simpler structure, with words kept at a minimum of 15 to 20. Push notifications may not have the option to embed or attach media so it is important to be strategic about the choice of words. These are also only available mostly smartphones. The process for push notifications can be less complicated and the click-through rate on Android is at 4.6 percent and 3.4 percent on iOS, slightly higher than emails. With basic personalization, CTR can improve by 9 percent. While push notifications allow for a more personal approach to marketing, they must be used sparingly. Constant bombardment will push the subscriber to cancel his or her push notifications and that’s the end of your marketing engagement. Our talented team is here to help. Give us a call. By Vishal Dudhal, partner, Webster Solutions and consultant for Allen Marketing Communications, Inc. 
Design Rush, a premiere B2B Marketplace, has recognized Allen Marketing Communications, Inc. as one of the emerging PR agencies in New York City. Our industry experts researched and ranked the top-performing public relations companies in New York that help brands execute meaningful press coverage and build authority.  The terms user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are frequently used interchangeably, but, are completely different from one another. User experience (UX) refers to the benefits users acquire from using products and utilizing services. Meanwhile user interface (UI) pertains to the features and structures that comprise the products and services users use, access, and enjoy. In this article, our a boutique travel and lifestyle public relations agency has teamed up with Webster Solutions, to share insights about the difference between the UX (user-experience) and UI (user-interface). Processes of UX/UI Designing The step-by-step processes of designing UX and UI overlap, and, thus, are normally combined into a single guide. Below are the steps involved in designing UX/UI: Define Products The nature of businesses and ambiances of workplaces define the requirements of organizations. Designated specialists need to be aware of these requirements, before any work that involves UX/UI designing can be started. Studying the attractiveness and benefits of products is a pre-requisite to studying customers’ desires and preferences. Without having the awareness of what the products and services offer, specialists won’t be able to predict the nature of resulting user experiences. In-depth studies of products are necessary to maximize chances of producing accurate predictions of the creation of user experiences and interfaces. Do Research Doing research is the most important step in the process of designing UX/UI. Experts plan the direction where the business is going. To successfully implement this plan, experts study the ways consumers utilize the systems of purchasing products and services. The first step in studying consumer behaviors is to conduct clear analyses on the market and industry competitions. Conducting these analyses is the key for businesses to have great chances of beating their competitors in the general market. The digital era of the 21st century ushers in widespread use of the internet and other technological tools and resources. With this said, it’s highly observed organizations that make use of the internet and technological materials have increased in the past twenty years or so. Analyzing how the websites of businesses rank in Google search’s SEO results, thus, makes a huge difference in predicting the chances of successful businesses have in beating their competitors. Adopting competitors’ retail and marketing techniques enables businesses to do trials and errors. Organizations get glimpses of the strategies that work, and don’t work by adopting these business techniques. Conduct Thorough Analyses of Other Kinds Specialists gather the data obtained from the research stage. Specialists, thereafter, produce personas that are hypothetically-based, and experience maps. Hypothetical personas refer to the people envisioned as potential customer. Hypothetical personas and experience maps are the sources for useful predictions of various scenarios that’ll surround the usage of products and access of services the businesses offer. Design the User Experience and User Interface Specialists produce the end products of the ideas collected in the above-mentioned process, thus, finally generating the final versions of the UX and UI. The first step in doing the designs for both the user experience and user interface is the creation of the final graphic styles. As the final graphics are integrated, the specialists begin working on the approved styles or designs of the UX/UI. The following are the steps involved in the designing processes themselves of user experience and user interface:
Conduct Final Testing In this final stage, specialists would need to have already come up with answers to these two questions: Do users need the created apps? (User Interface) Are the apps usable? (User Experience). In order to successfully integrate the above-mentioned steps, specialists need to have systematized and organized modes of working. Successfully designing UX/UI is the key to retaining current customers and acquiring potential new long-term customers, as well. By Vishal Dudhal, partner, Webster Solutions and consultant for Allen Marketing Communications, Inc. |
Archives
June 2022
Categories |
RSS Feed