The Mindful Content Marketing Trends For 2021 are Here!

How can you make sure you are marketing your business most effectively? Well, one way is to keep your strategy current and line with the latest trends. You can’t be the last one to advertise on Facebook or Instagram. You always have to be on edge to remain relevant, efficient and effective. And, in today’s world, you can achieve all these goals through your content marketing strategy.

We keep hearing that content is king. Marketers emphasise the importance of creating great content to drive traffic. But how true is this statement? Does a good SEO content strategy help you to rank higher in Google? We can’t answer this question with a simple yes or no, but with Google placing so much importance on content, marketers need to watch for content marketing trends in 2021.

How will content marketing shape in 2021? Let’s find out!

Content marketing has been and will continue to be a critical part of the organisation’s marketing strategy. Content marketing is a $400 billion industry, which shows the confidence and investment firms place in it. 2021 will bring a whole lot of changes to a firm’s content marketing strategy, including blogs, videos, infographics, newsletters, podcasts, and more. With 2021 just around the corner, it’s important to review what worked in content marketing in the past and what changes you need to make going forward.

Firms must analyse the surprises and what’s in store for them in the next few months. Keeping up with current trends will help the business determine the right content marketing style. In the midst of planning a content marketing strategy, here are some trends you must watch out for in 2021.

Voice search will shape your content strategy: In 2021, customers will use it to find answers to their questions. Voice search gives you the freedom to avoid the exhaustion of typing your query into Google. Although voice search has been around for a long time, from ordering groceries to checking the weather, people are now using voice search for almost everything. At present, Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant are part of our everyday routine. The search terms marketers split into a virtual assistant are more nuanced than those we use in Google searches. The content marketers produce must incorporate long-tail keywords and entire phrases. Search for long-form of questions customers might ask and include exact phrases of queries in the article’s title.

Social media is still the king: By sharing your content, you can reach people who are interested in your products. Social media platforms allow you to communicate with your relevant audience at zero cost. On social media, you can also share content created by others and reach new, relevant audiences. Platforms like Facebook help you interact directly with your customers, and by sharing behind-the-scenes details, you can build a strong brand-customer relationship.

Podcasts have become a must: In 2021, they became the most essential and fascinating content marketing strategy. Customers can listen to podcasts while performing any task at any time of the day. People listen to podcasts at the gym, while cooking, doing housework, or on their commute. Podcasts are informative, entertaining, and provide relevant content for people on the go. From the marketer’s point of view, podcasts help attract the right people while establishing brands as experts in their industry. Through podcasts, brands can discuss news and trends in a specific niche relevant to their target audience.

User-generated content will dominate content marketing: it’s the new trend and will remain for a long time. The advantages of user-generated content are numerous. It gives businesses the freedom to create their own content and allows them to showcase products and services more authentically. UGC rewards brand fans by featuring them on the company’s channels.

More live streams: Live streaming is a trend to watch in 2021. On Facebook, one in five videos is now a live broadcast. This means the live stream is a service that customers should definitely engage with. A successful leave stream can increase brand awareness and boost traffic to your website. One easy way to use live streaming is to use social media platforms with integrated live streaming, such as Facebook and Instagram Live. You can use Q&A, behind-the-scenes content, an interview with an expert or influencer, breaking news, webinars, or even a product demonstration.

Dynamic content: Dynamic or adaptive content changes to suit customers’ behaviour, preferences and buying habits, etc. In a dynamic email, pictures and text will vary based on customer segmentation. Dynamic content creates a personalised experience for customers. Dynamic content offers customers what they are looking for and also offers direct recommendations. Marketers must deliver content that aligns with users’ desires and moves them closer to purchase.

Featured snippets: The coveted featured snippet will make a mark in 2021. They are the boxes of information you see at the top of the page when customers search. A featured snippet includes:

A how-to list
Summary paragraph
Information table

It saves the user time, and the Google link will link it to your full page. Landing a featured snippet is quite the accolade and drives a good amount of traffic.

Use a visual approach: The content experience is essential, and to achieve a good experience, a visual approach is necessary. You have to make sure content is not only relevant but visually appealing as well. Many user-friendly editing programs enable you to amplify any kind of data, making it more attractive and easier to understand.

Mix marketing channels and break boundaries: One trend in 2020 that you will see in 2021 as well, is taking screenshots of tweets from Twitter on Instagram feed. This content is highly shareable and can be used for humorous purposes as well. Brands can also take advantage of reel feature to post content that they could only upload on TikTok.

These are the upcoming content marketing trends that will dominate 2021. If you need help in creating great visual content, follow these trends and get ready to establish a long-term relationship with your customers.

Top 9 E-Commerce Platforms To Sell Digital Products

Are you thinking of selling your digital products online?  Well, first, answer this question: which software or platform should you use to sell and deliver digital products? The answer depends partly on what type of digital products you are selling.  For instance, if you want to sell online courses through a platform like Thinkific, your selling and delivery will be done through the Thinkfic platform.

Before discussing digital platforms, i.e., e-commerce platforms, we must first define what digital products are.

What Are Digital Products and Features of Digital Products to Sell?

Digital products are software-enabled intangible products that are sold online. Digital products exist as files that customers can download, stream, or transform into tangible products through technological devices. Like, people download e-books and print them using a printing device.

Customers can purchase digital products through mobile devices without any need for face-face interactions. Selling physical products comes with its own set of hassles, which are overcome by digital products. Digital products are in their league. They are easy to distribute, more sustainable, and are simpler to create.  To make a digital product worth selling, sellers don’t need more than one or a few devices. For selling digital products, you don’t need any physical material, factories, or staff. Just a computer, a sprinkle of passion, drive, and some time and you are all set to go. Some of the top trending digital products to sell in 2020 include:

  • E-books
  • Software
  • Video
  • Audio & music
  • Photography
  • Graphics & digital art
  • Documents
  • Courses
  • Professional services
  • Tickets
  • Web-based applications

Features of Digital Products That Make Them a Hit Amongst Sellers

They are easy to sell: With no physical interaction, selling digital products becomes a cake-walk. In the case of digital products, users don’t need any physical interaction with buyers. Sellers only have to upload their products on sites like Memeberpress or Woocommerce and then leave it to buyers to interact with the platform to make an immediate purchase.

Cheap to create: Digital products are cost-effective to develop. For instance, in e-books, sellers only need an online platform to write and upload the file without dealing with expensive printing costs. For web-based applications, sellers only need to write a programming language to create digital products to sell.

Note: It is important to craft a compelling e-commerce RFP  when looking for a reliable vendor for your digital product.

You can sell it online: Since digital products are intangible, you can sell them only online. If you want to gain access to any digital product, you have to first connect to an online platform through any technological device. A digital product will become a physical product when it is available for sale online.

No stocking required: In physical products, sellers don’t have to pay to stock, package, and ship. Also, there is no fee associated with stocking and managing digital products. Once buyers upload digital products on a platform, you will gain access to it as many times as you want.

Top E-Commerce Platforms Where You Can Sell Digital Products

1. WooCommerce:

WooCommerce Tutorial: How to Build an eShop in 60 Minutes [2020]

If you want to sell a few digital products, Woocomemrce offers more functionality than you need. On the contrary, if you want to sell subscriptions or a bunch of digital products, you need to consider this tool. The best thing about this platform is that you don’t need an existing website to use it. It comes with a customizable online store you can use for selling your digital products. Don’t have an existing site? Fret not! WooCommerce is a plugin you can add to your WordPress site on a click of a button. Since WooCommerce is an open-source platform, you can use it for free. However, you will have to pay for web hosting, and for extensions, you will also pay more. For example, for installing PayPal Pro on your website, you will have to pay an additional $79.

2. Podia:

Why Choose Podia?

It’s a website designed for selling goods online. This platform is ideal for selling digital goods online, like courses for online learning and digital memberships. Podia helps you to share expertise, content, and other services online. The best thing about the platform is that it replaces a multitude of other products in your sales environment. Some of the features of the platform include:

  • Website functionality
  • Custom URL
  • Free migration of exciting content
  • Messaging for customer service
  • Email marketing and drip campaigns
  • Membership site support
  • Online courses
  • Digital downloads

The online platform allows you to customize your storefront and sales pages. It comes with unlimited hosting with your pricing package and supports 11 languages and 22 currencies. The integration with Google Analytics and Facebook pixels makes marketing easy; you can also add images, videos, testimonials, etc.

3. Sellfy:

sellfy

It offers a simple and popular solution for selling digital products online. The platform simplifies ecommerce and supports more than 60,000 creators across the globe. Sellfy comes with a video builder that helps in running the store quickly with minimal need for coding knowledge. Popular features of the Sellfy include:

  • It comes with multiple payment options.
  • Provides mobile optimization for people on the go.
  • Shopping cart support
  • Provide subscription models
  • In-depth analytics
  • Easy to use visual builder
  • Custom domain
  • Multiple store languages

4. Gumroad:

Gumroad Review: What You Need To Know About This Platform!

This software solution supports creators from artists to writers and educators and podcasters. The platform simplifies the process of getting paid for doing and selling what you love. We are talking about books, comics, and even music. You can use the platform for free. However, if you use premium features, get ready to pay $10 per month plus a charge of 3.5% and 30 cents for each transaction. The platform has everything from an affiliate center for building conversions online to a user-friendly interface for video hosting and gated content. other features include;

  • Support for various payment types
  • Embeddable checkout buttons for your website
  • Provides customizable checkout pages
  • Discount and coupon creation
  • Includes affiliate marketing tools and management

5. Selz:

Selz - Get to know Selz | Zapier

This platform is ideal for creating custom stores where you can sell both physical and digital products. Whether you want to sell digital files like videos or physical assets like clothes, you can use this platform. The popular feature of the platform is that it automates product delivery. When selling digital products, you can give streaming, downloading options to buyers; other features include:

  • Hassle-free inventory management and shipping
  • Comes with intelligent marketing tools
  • Offers digital download management
  • Video and software support
  • Provides staff accounts for multiple users
  • Integration with existing websites
  • Business insights and analytics

6. Shopify:

It’s a one-stop online marketplace for both digital and physical products. In Shopify, like Amazon, users can create an online store to sell their products, customize their options, and incorporate a directory for plug-ins. Some of the features of Shopify for digital sellers include:

Comes with endless free and premium themes

  • Custom editing for web pages
  • Mobile customer support
  • Unlimited bandwidth and hosting
  • Unlimited checkout and payment tools
  • Abandoned cart recovery

7. MemberPress:

Memberpress Review (September 2020 ) Pros And Cons!

Amazed to see this platform on the list? This platform is a little different from the rest of the platforms we have discusses so far. It’s a plugin for WordPress, allowing you to extend your WordPress site’s functionality to include membership support. With the platform, you can instantly change your user’s access to certain goods with subscriptions and VIP accounts. It also integrates with wooCommerce so you can enhance features of your online store without the need to use an external system. Some attractive feature of the platform include

  • It’s powerful and easy to use
  • Membership subscription tracking
  • Comes with an in-depth integration options
  • Works seamlessly with WordPress and WooCommerce
  • Multiple membership options to choose from

8. FetchApp:

FetchApp: Digital Downloads Made Easy? | Elegant Themes Blog

The platform depends on digital downloads and helps you deliver videos, music, photos, eBooks, and even custom software to your target audience. With FetchApp, it becomes easy to sell content that you create from a social network, blog, website, and even an ecommerce platform. It comes with an option to accept payments via a range of tools like Shopify, PayPal, etc. The app sends a secure download link to your customers whenever a payment is received. The features of the app include:

  • Comes with automated download and order fulfillment
  • Accept payment through a range of services
  • It includes hosting
  • Reopen and re-send orders at any time
  • Unlimited downloads and order fulfilment

9. BigCommerce:

Learn BigCommerce Development: BigCommerce Tutorial - Freelance To India

It’s one of the most important ecommerce platforms on the web today. The platform’s best feature is that it gives you more tools you need to keep your business running. The platform allows you to track revenue from your digital sales using real-time analytics and reports.  It comes with in-built features than any other leading platform. The key features of the platform are:

  • Customizable website developer
  • Flexible and scalable design
  • Support for brick-and-mortar stores
  • Secure SSL built-in
  • Support for multi-channel selling
  • Offer strong SEO performance.

Well, there are plenty of fish in the sea; you only need to determine your need and then select the ecommerce platforms that will support your digital products. Many tools operate for free, while others involve specific fees. Compare each of these platforms and select the one that works best for your digital product.

The Rise of Augmented Reality and Its Impact on SEO

 

When you hear the term augmented reality, your mind plays flashes of science fiction films where technology brings out real-life experience on screen. But, at present, AR is not only limited to movies; the way it blends’s in our daily life is just incredible. AR provides you with visual information layered on the physical world. The new-age technology uses a live picture and aligns it with the user’s real-world environment, resulting in an excellent virtual experience. AR has changed the game altogether for business houses, especially for firms offering SEO (search engine optimization services).

AR is the new buzzword and has plenty of features in store for SEO specialists. We can say without any doubt that augmented reality and SEO eventually go hand in hand. AR can add value, enhance user experience and solve problems online. Hence there is a dire need for firms to include AR in their marketing campaigns. But, before we talk about the impact of AR on SEO, let’s delve into some technical details.

What Exactly is AR, and How is it Related to SEO?

Have you ever tried your hand at Pokemon Go or applied filter to your face on Snapchat? If so, without knowing you have had the first-hand experience with augmented reality. However, there is much more in store for you. AR deals with using computer-generated images and putting it into the real world via the camera on a smartphone, tablet or any other digital device.

While most of the applications of AR deal with the world of gaming, we are now moving towards other applications that influence user reviews, find information about a place. AR will also change how customers shop ad work online. What does this mean? This means there is a great potential for business to up their SEO game by making use of game-changing technology.

We know all major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo use the primary search results technique. With the boom of AR, websites with AR-based content will rank higher in SERP via visual search. It’s just a matter of time when everything from digital content and activity to offline advertising, physical locations, product images will be searched through AR. There is a dire need for organic search professionals to include augmented reality technology into their marketing strategies.

5 Ways Augmented Reality Impacts SEO

 1. Growth of Local SEO:

For small businesses, local SEO is the point of focus. But, AR reality has made it more critical than ever. AR applications give a boost to local SEO by making it easy to use mobile devices to gain information about the surroundings. Now, using your phone camera, you can scan business around and acquire information about products, services, ratings, reviews and business operating hours. To stay at the top of local SEO, first firms have to maintain and optimize Google My Business Listing. You have to include full information on your GMB so that people using AR can reap the benefits. Use strong citations, reviews and ratings and build a directory of reviews that will appear when using AR.

2. Social Media:

AR can give a boost to your brand’s performances on popular social media accounts. By utilizing AR within your social media is a way to improve user engagement. You can use 360-degree images that use AR, Snapchat filters, Lens studio to entice your target audience. According to a study conducted, 74% of users within the age group of 12-24 use Facebook, and 57% use Snapchat. So, you can use AR to improve brand engagement and create a buzz for your brand on online platforms.

3. Make the Website More Interactive:

Social media is great for building and engaging the audience. But, for higher conversions, you have to make your website more interactive. You must offer interactive elements on your website that can be brought to life by using a camera. Just imagine AR on your webpage. Scanning it with your phone cameras and watching the webpage come to life.

Wow, can be the only way to express your feelings. Although this idea is still in its initial stages, it has great SEO potential. The motive of the technology is to bring user engagement, and this is what AR does. With this feature, there will be a decrease in bounce rate, increase in session rate two factors that affect your web page rank.

4. User-generated Content:

When it comes to optimizing content, storytelling can play the role perfectly. People like the idea of becoming a part of the story when it comes to business engagement. It delivers a way to impress potential consumers through entertainment and information sharing. And, AR is going to amplify this experience, making customers feel like they are inside the story. What if you want to acquire information about the statue of liberty? With AR, you can see the live representation of the monument while being able to walk around the statue, see it from various angles. All this while text will appear on the screen where you aim the camera. This is how AR helps in creating creative content.

5. More Informed Purchases:

AR should be a part of your website, app or in-store application to simplify the shopping process for customers. Through AR, customers can try outfits, see how good they look, try out a different hairstyle or a pair of glasses. This feature makes it easy for customers to complete their purchase leading to fewer abandon carts. AR-based services enhance customer experience giving you a great selling point over competitors.

Augmented reality is constantly moving and has a bright future for SEO. With the above points, marketers will get an idea of how AR is going to change the world of SEO. Local SEO will be the key focus as the AR features for boosting local SEO are enormous.

Top 5 Futuristic iOS Application Development Trends in 2020

Technology never fails to amaze us. With time technology brings something new, which opens doors of opportunity for businesses. In today’s tech world, one thing is certain; if you capitalize on the tech opportunity, you will come victorious in the fierce competition. Today in this blog, we are going to talk about one such technology that has changed the way users interact with their smartphones.

By now you would have guessed it that we are talking about mobile app technology. And, it’s impossible not to include iOS mobile development trends when we talk about the latest game-changing mobile app development trends. Going by the statistics, iOS apps will hit the 2 million mark soon, so it’s essential for the development community to stay up to date with the latest iOS application development trends. There are approximately 4 million apps for users. From the developer’s point of view, the more the apps, the more essential it’s to keep a tab on the latest happenings.

The future of iOS app development is right here!

What the future holds for iOS app development? What are the crucial iOS development trends? We will answer all your questions right here, right now! We can say it with 100% conviction that iOS is the platform of the future. In 2008 when the Apple store was first launched, there were only 500 apps. A decade later, 20 million app developers were registered on the platform, catering to 500 million weekly visitors. Impressive, isn’t it? And, what’s more, impressive is that the number is going to increase further in 2020.

Do you know iOS apps have surpassed the 2 million mark, making it the leading mobile development platform along with Android? This means there a great opportunity for developers to boost their business by keeping a close eye on the latest iOS app development trends.

Here are some of the iOS app development trends that will take the tech world by storm.

 

• Swift 5 programming language:

Recently, Apple launched its Swift 5 programming language, which comes with a stable application binary interface and binary compatibility. Now, the company is looking for a means to integrate this new language into their business. The mobile company will integrate Swift libraries with the present and future versions of macOS, iO, wearable OS, and TVOS. This means mobile application developers will no longer have to include these libraries, and application will become easy to build. The new software is compatible with Linux. Hence developers can easily upgrade their knowledge base for new Swift 5 while developing apps.

• Wearables and IoT:

Thanks to IoT, users can connect digital, mechanical, and computing devices to exchange and transfer data. According to a recent study by the end of 2020, there will be around 31 billion interconnected devices. iOS app developers can harness this technology to build apps that will attract new audiences and retain existing ones. iOS apps powered by IoT will help users to connect bands, wristwatches, and other wearable’s to smartphones. By integrating iOS apps with IoT technology, developers allow users to control anything remotely by using the apps.

• Apple HomeKit:

With Apple HomeKit, users can communicate as well as control the connected devices and accessories in the home while using the apps. With the HomeKit, users control the connected devices and get the option to create a group to trigger Siri’s voice command. Developers can create smart home products that they can integrate into such devices. Apple HomeKit will bring revolutionary changes in home automation, and the elements of IoT will grow simultaneously with these innovations.

• Improvements in-app security:

One trend that developers must watch out for is the improved app security. To maintain the privacy of users, it’s essential to stay upto date with the security measures. Customers prefer Apple because of its high-security policies. Hence, security is the first thing to look out for in iOS app development. iOS apps should protect user data without compromising the performance. To improve security, developers can add App Transport Security for every app they build. Developers and designers must include more security features in the beginning phases of the app development process.

• Transformation through AR and VR:

One IoT mobile app development trend that reflects the power of innovation and technology is AR and VR. Many eCommerce giants like IKEA, Gap, and others have already used AR and VR in their iOS applications to boost their sales. By 2020, AR and VR based ideas will be fully functional in iOS applications. By utilizing new technology, developers can build real-time applications to increase user experience and build a strong connection with customers. All this has been possible because of ArKit by Apple, which helps build standalone AR integrated iOS applications. Examples of iOS AR-VR based applications are Dance Reality and Houzz.

In the end, we can say king is the one who utilizes these trends on time. With these trends, one thing is sure that there will be fierce competition amongst developers. By integrating your application with the new trends, you will get the upper hand over competitors.

Mobile APP Acquisitions: Take on 5 Ways of Attracting New Users

Have you created an excellent mobile app, but are still not getting those satisfactory sales conversions? Have you ever wondered what the reason might be? Without any doubt, it’s the visibility of your mobile apps. What’s the point of spending your precious time on creating a mobile app when customers are not aware of it? But the question is how you can stand out from the crowd of millions of app users and developers. Acquiring new customers when most smartphone users don’t download any app in a month is a tough nut to crack.

Trust us when it comes to mobile user acquisition; there is only one certain thing. And that’s you have more than one way to strike gold. The old saying” if you build it, they will come” does not always hold true in the mobile app market. Mobile app developers spend considerable money creating apps only to see their dreams crash when customers pay no heed to their newly developed apps.

Do you know that more than one-third of all the retail website traffic comes from mobile devices? This means businesses can create an accessible mobile platform for customers on the go. Since 35,000 new apps are introduced on Android devices every month, marketing your latest app to reach the right people can be challenging and daunting. With over 8 million apps in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, acquiring new customers will become harder. Businesses need to generate revenue and market their app. Firms need to establish a personalized user acquisition strategy to acquire new customers. So, without further delay, let’s talk about effective ways to acquire new customers.

5 Mobile App User Acquisition Channels You Must Know About

• Paid advertising: Want to draw more eyes to your newly developed mobile app? If so, take leverage of paid advertising as an effective user acquisition channel. In paid advertising, social media platforms will display your app’s advertisement to users. You have the freedom to select your target group of audience and set the visibility of your ads to target a broad category of audience. You also have the option to add actions to the ads to direct them to the landing page and give users an option to download.

• Influencer marketing: At present, social media platforms provide a great opportunity for app developers to boost their app downloads. Also, there has been a rise in the number of influencers who run paid user acquisition campaigns. If you can create a larger influencer follower base, it will be better for your mobile app. Well-known influencers have followers across different social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. Their followers can drive a diverse set of audiences to your app. Recommendations from famous influencers will motivate people to explore your product/service application and even download and use it. According to a recent study, 89% of marketers believe that influencer user acquisition can generate more ROI than any other marketing platform.

• Email marketing: Yes, you heard it right. Email marketing can generate massive traffic to your mobile app. Do you know that 70% of emails are opened on mobile? Here lies the opportunity for firms to drive more users to your mobile app. Let’s look at the potential of email marketing as a mobile app acquisition strategy.

1. Direct users to your store page or information content present in your mobile app.

2. Inform users whenever there is an update and send users targeted messages.

3. Take feedback from users, which will help in improving your app.

Note: When you send emails to target customers, insert deep links in it. According to a recent study, $3,000 in revenue is lost for every 1 million emails sent if they don’t contain deep links.

• App store optimization: Without any doubt, an app store is the one essential driver of app discovery. App store optimization is an essential user acquisition strategy that will help you gain more customers. App store optimization (ASO) is no rocket science. It’s the practice of attracting users to download an app based on title, keywords, ratings, and other ranking factors. If done right, ASO can help generate high-quality traffic to your app. In app store optimization, you have to focus on three things: page elements, localizing app store pages, and optimizing search discoverability and conversions.

• Video marketing: Interactive videos can drive more users to your app. A simple 30-second video of your app can do wonders for your business. YouTube plays an essential role in targeting the majority of the crowd. In addition to YouTube, you can use other video streaming platforms to reach a diverse audience. You can also reward users on the gaming app for watching an entire ad.

Use the channels above to put your mobile app in front of the masses. Mobile user acquisition is a tough task, but with dedication and continuous efforts, you will reach your goals.

Role of Data Science in Understanding the COVID-19 Crisis!

As the world is fighting its worst battle, data scientists work their fingers to the bone to understand the science behind COVID-19. In this technological era, data science can play an essential role in preventing the onset of pandemics. Data scientists can use their skills and give their best shot to develop technology to deal with the crisis. Data science is the bright light in the dark, which helps educate and empower those on the ground about the situations and help reduce the impact of COVID-19.

Epidemics and pandemics have threatened the human race in the past as well. But, with each outbreak, we learn new ways of fighting and managing the unknown diseases that can eradicate the human race. And, all this is possible because of technology and data science. With the rise in COVID-19 cases, people are feeling helpless and scared and look up to technology for some respite. Data science provides glimmers of hope to people to deal with the unknown virus.

At present, the field of data science is gaining a lot of attention from across the globe. People at the helm of affairs have realized its potential in dealing with the current crisis. Data science, AI, and machine learning communities publish data that are of immense help to front line doctors. In this blog, we will talk about how data science offers a modern approach to combat the COVID-19 crisis faced but the entire human race.
Data Science and COVID-19 pandemic

When we hear the word medical emergency, the only thing that comes into mind is the health care professionals. How can data scientists a white-collar job, working from the comforts of their home, repair the unprecedented loss of a human tribe? To answer this question, we first have to understand how data scientists work. Data scientists use available genomic data to understand the reactions of various kinds of drugs and their effect on the deadly disease. From giving accurate information to increasing transparency by sharing data, data science can contribute a lot amidst the current situation. Here we have enlisted some essential facts about how data science can help during COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Gives an accurate picture of coronavirus outcome:

In the fight against COVID-19, front line workers and doctors rely on the correct and up-to-date information. This is where data science comes to the rescue. Many IT firms, including IBM and Tableau and organizations like Johns Hopkins University, have created an interactive database that offers a real-time view of what’s happening with the virus. Any misinformation about the number of fatalities, diagnosis, and treatment options can make the situation worse and create panic amongst the general public. The result of this information can be more fatal than the virus itself. Widespread chaos, panic buying, hoarding of essential commodities are some of the outcomes of the spread of incorrect information. To overcome such situations, organizations like Google, Facebook, and YouTube work tirelessly to provide the right information to people. Correct information creates a transparent scenario informing people about the proper steps to follow to prevent the spread of the virus. Data scientists help in creating a database about the number of confirmed cases, fatalities, and recoveries.

Data science helps in contact tracing:

Contact tracing plays an essential role in reducing the spread of COVID-19. In contact tracing, we get in touch with individuals who have tested positive for the virus and ask them to self-isolate. Contact tracing can time-consuming; this is where data scientists can help front line doctors. Data scientists help in creating mobile phone-based solutions to overcome the less efficient traditional methods of contact tracing. In such situations, mobile-based IT solutions can be a real savior. Given the market penetration of phones and the extensive usage, using mobile-based solutions for contact tracing makes more sense.

Contribute in search of drugs:

In the morning, when waking up, the first thing we do is look at the news in the hope of a vaccine. While the world is in desperate need of a vaccine, it may take time for doctors to come up with a magic formula. To speed up the process, technology plays an essential. Data scientists suggest components of a vaccine by understanding the viral protein structures. Scientists have created AI tools, shared data sets, and research results to support vaccines’ search.

Track people with facial recognition:

In the present pandemic, big data analytics can help identify infected individuals. Facial recognition technology, along with data, can accurately identify people even if they are wearing masks. Facial recognition technology helps in monitoring movement and keeps track of people even when they are quarantined. Big data also helps in keeping a tab on people and determine if they come into contact with an infected person.

 You can play a part in fighting coronavirus:

Many developers have created an app that makes use of data sharing to support medical experts in learning more about the virus. People can contribute their bit by adding their data in the app, like their age, postal code, plus disclose their pre-existing condition. This information will help medical professionals in determining groups that are most affected or at risk.

Data scientists play an essential role in learning more about the virus and contribute towards a safer and better world.

Impact of Coronavirus Outbreak on On-Demand App Industry

Is your on-demand business ready for the increase in demand due to the spread of COVID-19? If not, fret not, we are going to help you out.

Well, whether we like it or not, coronavirus is on the rise! The COVID-19 outbreak has caused chaos in not only people’s lives but bought the global economy to a standstill. With billions forced to stay indoors due to the pandemic, the demand for essential services has skyrocketed. There is an acute need for essential services to meet the daily needs amid the lockdown. This is where on-demand services come in the picture. With the rise in coronavirus cases, the global economy has faced an abrupt downfall. It’s not a theory but a reality that because of the virus, countries will face the biggest jolt on their economy. Due to this sheer panic and distress, companies are experiencing massive losses and debt.

However, being said that, there are specific industries that are enjoying a significant gain in revenue and profit, which they only dreamt of in the past. Yes, we are talking about the on-demand app industry. But, before we talk about the impact of the pandemic on the on-demand industry, first, we should get our basics right.

Do you know about on-demand apps? Let’s find out!

 

In layman’s terms, on-demand apps refer to the mobility solutions that allow customers to acquire services that, too, in real-time or at their doorstep. These services include on-demand food delivery, on-demand beauty services, on-demand ATM services, and more. The on-demand apps come with a list of technical features that make real-time delivery possible. These features include tracking, creating a wish list, a suitable payment service, multiple bookings, ability to give reviews. With these features, the on-demand industry has made a significant difference in the market today amid the pandemic. And, going by the stats, the market growth of the on-demand apps will be higher than expected.

Keys in the hands of coronavirus tighten the locks on doors. With the strict government regulations and social distancing being followed everywhere, there has been a sudden surge in demand for on-demand services. Modern technology has made it easy for businesses to come up with an innovative solution to meet the growing demands of people. With the use of smartphones, companies have made it easy for customers to purchase the daily need products in the comfort of their homes. From food delivery to ecommerce and healthcare to home services, everything is now accessible to customers on a single click of a button.

How are on-demand apps rising?

Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, people are looking for ways to live their life peacefully and stay away from the deadly virus as far as possible. And, this is what on-demand apps have been focusing on for a long time. So, without any delay, let’s explore why on-demand apps are increasing.

• Social distancing and lockdown: People are in a desperate need of vaccine to protect themselves from the deadly virus. While it may take time for scientists across the globe to come up with a magic formula, till then, social distancing is the way to go. Because of social distancing, people don’t prefer to come out of their houses. This leads to an increase in the use of on-demand services to meet daily home needs. Pandemic has changed the way of life, and these apps are here to make the new era hassle-free for customers.

• Contactless delivery: As advocated by WHO, people have to avoid contact with others. And, this is what on-demand apps focus on. The apps have multiple payment options making it easy for people to choose their desired mode of payment. And, with the virtual payment method, customers can purchase their favorite products without coming in contact with the delivery agent.

• Quick service: Trust us; on-demand apps are capable of delivering services to customers quickly as compared to conventional methods. It’s the instant gratification and trust, which has led to the popularity of these apps. They serve the basic needs of people which can’t be compromised at any cost.

• Increase in revenue: Without any exaggeration, on-demand apps have taken a boom amidst the pandemic. People prefer to buy products from such apps as compared to stand-alone shops. The greater the demand, the higher will be the revenue for business owners. So, on-demand apps create a win-win situation for customers and businesses alike. People are happy with the real-time service of products, and business owners are content with the increase in revenue.

• Rise of multi-niche delivery apps: This pandemic has resulted in the rise of on-demand multi niche delivery apps. With these apps, now, customers can order food and do grocery shopping at the same time with the same app. Exciting, isn’t it! These apps provide more control to users over their orders. Some examples of on-demand multi niche apps include:

1. Food delivery
2. Grocery delivery
3. Medicine delivery
4. Essential products delivery

In the end, we hope the world comes to terms with the new normal. And, on-demand apps play a crucial role in adjusting with the new way of life. As a business owner, you must take the opportunity and make use of the technology to contribute your bit amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

6 Effective Ways to Boost Your SEO with Google Podcasts

Flashback to 2019, when Google CEO Sundar Pichai made the big announcement that Google would add podcasts to search results. Since then, digital marketers, SEO professionals, and content creators have been looking for ways to brush up on their technical skills and make effective use of the new technology. However, there are many people out there who have no idea of what Google podcasts are and how they help in enhancing search engine results. And, the sad part is, many of them have been a part of the digital community for a long time.

When you think of SEO, what are the things that come to mind? Keywords, how to target them, or strong content strategies. People don’t associate podcasts with search engine optimization, which is why they miss out on key growth opportunities. Trust us, including podcasts in your marketing strategy is an excellent way of boosting your ranking authority with Google. Since mid-2019, Google has been scanning audio files, creating a favorable environment for podcasts and content marketing.

Podcasting and SEO, is there a relation between the two terms? Let’s find out!

Podcasts offer excellent opportunities not only to producers and consumers but also to advertisers and SEO experts. You can either include your advertisement in somebody else’s podcast or create your own from scratch. Now sit back and see the perfect blend of textual and audio content as it will help in increasing website traffic and bring you soaring profit. By adding podcasts to search results, firms can tackle the notorious discoverability problem. If you want to share your expertise with the target audience, make use of podcasts. It also provides an opportunity to create a new page on the website where you can discuss your content and podcasts with the target audience.

When it comes to SEO content marketing, podcasts can be of great help. You can promote your podcast via email, encouraging listeners to subscribe to your newsletter. Well, you can also use social media platforms like Instagram to create a unique cover for your podcasts. By doing so, you will be able to establish a positive relationship with your audience and ultimately boost your brand awareness. Do you know if podcasts allow you to collaborate with leading distribution and hosting networks? That said, does this feature offer any opportunities for SEO marketers? Well, the answer is crystal clear. By collaborating with hosting networks, people will find your content even if they are not aware of your brand. According to experts, it’s advisable to always choose reliable podcasts to transfer data without any hassles.

What are the SEO benefits of podcasting? How does it help boost your SEO?

Natural backlinks: Yes, you heard it right! Podcasts offer an effective way to get the most natural backlinks for your website. We will explain this a little further. Let’s say you are a guest on someone else’s podcast: the host will include show notes that help the audience read a quick summary of who you are, along with a transcript of the episode. Also, hosts include links to your website, social media profiles, or exclusive offers. In this way, your website gets natural backlinks.

Effective optimization: In simple terms, podcasts are nothing but audio blogs. And, this means podcasts can be optimized just like other blogs. For better content optimization, you can use targeted keywords when creating meta titles and meta descriptions. Another trick to encourage the audience to click and listen to a new episode is to add relevant text and optimize images. This means you can use a perfect blend of podcasts and traditional blogs and have the freedom to focus on podcasts only whenever you want.

Affordable: Many people mistakenly think podcasts are expensive. But, this is the opposite of the truth. Podcasts are one of the cheapest marketing methods you can imagine. According to recent stats, if you have at least a 1% customer conversion rate, podcasts will cover all your production costs. The best thing is, podcasting has a much higher conversion rate, which means it is worth all your efforts.

No expiration date: Trust us, podcasts don’t have one. Even if you post new videos regularly, the old ones continue to attract customers’ attention. Also, to create effective podcasts, consider not only who it’s for but also how your audience will use it and how it will fit into their lives.

Regular content updates: By regularly updating your website’s content, you can secure a high position in the SERP. The more relevant your content, the higher your podcast will rank on Google. By doing so, you will give your audience a reason to come back. You can post transcripts and show notes of your podcast. Also, add a blog to your podcast that contains headings with your targeted keywords and recaps of your latest episode.

Use authoritative websites: Search engines love content with inbound links, especially from high-ranking sites. Create a list of reputable sites that will feature your episode and add a podcast description. By doing so, you will get more traffic to your podcast, and, in turn, the podcast will drive traffic to your website.

Although creating effective podcasts involves a lot of hard work and determination, but the plethora of benefits it has for your SEO will take you by surprise. So, it’s time to make use of Google podcasts to boost the visibility of your brand.

Working from Home during COVID-19 Crisis? 6 Hacks to Boost Efficiency

By now, we all have heard about the deadly COVID-19 virus. As much as we want to escape the truth, the sad reality is that the virus is spreading like fire. With classes canceled, malls being shut, industries on a halt, the COVID-19 virus has defiantly put the entire economy on a standstill.  With the surge in the coronavirus cases, IT companies are in a desperate lookout for ways to carry out their daily operations without any hiccups or loss of productivity. And, this is where work from home, the new normal comes to the rescue of small as well as established IT firms.

Amid the Lockdown order from the government, there has been a growing concern about the dip in sales and loss of revenue across the globe. In the battle between life and livelihood, work from home comes as a savior for IT-enabled firms. With business organizations voting for work from home, the question is, is it that easy to carry out the new strategy? Executives and managers are scrambling madly to put together contingency plans to make work from home a success. But, what about employees, can they contribute to the struggle to improve work from home efficiency. Let’s find out!

Tips to improve productivity while working within the four walls of our home

In ordinary circumstances, our home is a relaxing space, where we find solace from the hustle and stress of work. On the other hand, when we walk through the office door, we carry a different mindset, like we are embarking on a mission with only one aim that is to achieve success. However, amid the COVID-19 crisis, the distinction between office and home is slowly fading. As soon as we wake up, we check updates from the team, get ready for the team meetings over a group video call, and set up your workstation at home.  When work and home life merge, it can take a toll on the productivity level, resulting in an increase in stress due to the inability to fully switch off.

While you will be spending a lot of time at home in the coming days, it’s essential to learn some skills to improve productivity while embracing the work from home culture.

• Set up a schedule

Work from home or not; developing a strict schedule is a must to achieve your set targets. Tight schedules not only help your team to plan better but also convince your employer that you are working with great efforts to achieve the desired output. Amidst the state of panic, it can be challenging to stick to your deliverables and goal. In such situations, you can continuously check your targets, create a summary of tasks you have performed, and constantly communicate with your manager. Communication is the key to achieve success will working remotely.

• It’s essential to create boundaries

Do you want to separate your workspace from your living room physically? Well, even the shortest distraction can kill your productivity. According to a recent study, a three-second interruption can increase the number of mistakes you commit to your work. Also, there is a need to self-isolate yourself from the great dependent, yes, we are talking about your Smartphone. Your phone can be a roadblock in your path to perform work with zero errors. We know working for 8 hours in front of your laptop can be daunting. To release stress and to stay motivated, you can occasionally take a break from technology and shift to pen and paper.

• Make sure you have the necessary tools

Well, you might be thinking to work effectively from home what tools do you require, right? For the majority of the workforce, a simple laptop and a working network connection will do the thing. But, having these tools is not enough. You need to incorporate some productivity hacks to achieve quality standards. Here are some tips to improve the quality of the work:

1. Make sure your laptop is charged at all times.
2. Always use an excellent handset for calls.
3. Makes sure when you are on a video or conference call, you isolate yourself from the family members.
4. Get a set up you are comfortable with.

• Staying social will improve the quality of work

Do you know when people feel tired or alienated from their work from home productivity falls? This is where the HR department can develop some interesting home office hacks to boost the morale of employees. For instance, the HR department can arrange a competition for the best work home station. HR can develop a social calendar, which includes various kinds of office events they can organize to develop a normal working vibe amongst the employees.

• Find something you love

With no social events and activities to perform, we all are finding our-selves with an excess of free time. And, this excess time can be frustrating. While working, you can set aside some time to perform something you love. Or, you can take up a hobby during the weekends to make sure weekends feel like one. So, get up and move and get the fresh air if you can to break the monotony.

• Take care of your mental health

Waking up to the scary news and unfamiliar situation can lead to stress and anxiety amongst the employees. Mental and physical strength is directly proportional to your work from home productivity. To stay upbeat, there are some strategies you can use to keep track of your mental health.

In the end, we can only hope and pray for the sun to shine bright on us again. Till then, embrace the work from home culture and use these tips to improve your productivity. Also, if you don’t want to fall in the trap of short term thinking, plan as much as you can. While nobody knows how long we have to fight these battles, its best to develop long term plans for your business.

Deftsoft New Year 2020 Celebrations

A reminiscent walk down the memory lane of achievements, milestones, new technologies, projects, learnings, team bonding, and much more!

Nothing screams louder like a happy team of “Defsoft Family” shouting “High Sir!”, when asked to show excitement with auspiciousness on question- “How’s the Josh?”

Of all the days in Deftsoft, Christmas has always come up with smiles and desires, awakening the strongest associations among teams. Remember the time of year hot chocolate, Santa’s gifts, lighted trees and finger licking treats on table?  We took our employees through this memory lane by ideating it all for real for Christmas celebrations in the office.

Delicious treats, heart-warming games and activities were just a glimpse of on-the-floor Christmas Celebrations. Christmas is all about getting presents, presents and of course presents!

What could have been a better occasion to enjoy the togetherness and achievements with awards, than Christmas and New Year? Everyone joined in a happy and renewed spirit for the beginning of something brand new this time. The turn up of new decade was marked with a powerful start of felicitation ceremonies, as awardees were given feather on their caps with “Employee of the Month” Trophies for exceptional professionalism and team spirits extended, throughout the year.

The hidden talents of dancing, motivational speakers, poems and group performances came out of nowhere, making the part a lot more happening. Don’t be surprised if you see Managers dancing with their partners on the floor, making everyone groove on their beats with them. It’s surely was a classic experience, with a live speech by Honorable Mr. Amaneet Brar (Managing Director) and words of wisdom by Worthy Mr. Amaninder Brar (Director of Operations).

A trophy stands for one of the kind team – Especially when they’ve worked hard all year to be the “Department of the Year” and the award was bagged by Mobile department!

Props and everything related to “Instagram post of the year” was waiting for our in our Photo booth, designed to bring festive spirit on the floor. The photo sessions indeed brought out immense joy, and laughter, adding colorful vibes to the venue.
The New Year is the reason and season to junk out and scrub bad habits out of their life, turning a blind eye to secretly piled up personality that we know nothing about. The resolutions activity remarked this and the winner was treated with the best resolution 2020, making it a great way to break the ice between teams.

No party is party without dance and music. With a playlist, that you cannot resist, everyone got musical and got everyone singing along.

So here’s a toast- no matter what all happened in the past- a toast to a great year left behind, a toast to shining future of the DEFTSOFT, a toast to having worked with such a talented team beside, and cheers to our clients for continuous support throughout 2019! The whole team at Live Deftsoft Informatics Pvt. Ltd feels proud to associate with you for many years to come. We thank them whole heartedly for their tenacious commitment, and always being right on point and time with our teams.

While approaching 2020, all the departments including Web Designing, Web Development, Mobile Development and Digital Marketing have set realistic goals and are all set to hustle hard and stretch themselves to make things happen, and breathe out Milestones, one after another!

The family at Deftsoft is ready to ring in 2020, with some high-powered business goals. And with the ending 365 days of 2019, it’s time to bid adieu to a whole decade of the 2010s.

Happy New Year from our team to yours!