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web design elements

The Web Design Elements That Influence Consumer Decisions

web design elements

It’s no secret that a beautiful and well-designed website can attract new customers as well as keep the current customers coming back for more.

However, a website with amazing web design elements can literally sell itself for you and your business.

In this day and age, customers can go virtually anywhere to find the information and the products that they need. However, they elect for one over the other based on a few key features on the site.

Those key features are what separates a good website from an elite website.

Here are the factors of a great web design that push clients to the point of purchase.

Color Theme

Did you know that colors have different subliminal meanings to them? The colors you choose for your site are secretly sending your customers a message… and it may not be the right one.

Make sure the colors that you use for your logo and your site are lined up with the goals and ideals that your company has.

For instance, if your company is a design company that creates logos for small businesses then you may want to incorporate the color purple (associated with creativity) to your site.

That way, as soon as the customers hop on your site, they know that you have creative avenues at your disposal and that separates you from the competition.

On the other side of that, make sure your color isn’t sending the wrong message.

If you’re an arbitrator, don’t use red (excitement) in your color scheme. While it’s great that you’re passionate about the job, your clients generally don’t share that enthusiasm towards arbitration… adjust accordingly.

High-Resolution Images

Don’t ever allow a photo with a poor resolution to make its way onto your site. The moment it does, you lose credibility with your customers and first-time site visitors.

First impressions are the strongest impressions of all, and they’re hard to shake. So set yourself up for success and offer HQ images of you, your team, and the product/services you sell.

Another thing to consider is trying to match up images with those that tie in best with your site’s color theme. If your site color theme is navy and red, try to use photos that have shades of one of those two colors in them.

That will create an aesthetically-pleasing blend of your website that goes a long way with clients. It shows organization, consistency, and attention to detail!

Easy Site Navigation

Consider this: the more pages you force your customers to go through, the less likely it is that customers will attempt to find the product or service they’re looking for.

Make the transition from the content-to-product page as short as possible. Not all of your customers will be tech-savvy, and the more bouncing they have to do, the more likely they’ll exit your site completely.

From there, it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever get them back to your site again… that’s why building your site is so important.

Keep page tabs to 1 or 2 words as much as possible like “directory” or “contact us” so the visitors become familiar with navigation.

Calls to Action

Nothing shortens the sales cadence quicker than integrating a call to action into the content on your site.

Make sure almost every word on your site’s layout states a firm demand to your client. Using phrases like “add to cart” or “purchase now” gives the site user something to listen to. It can impulse their decision.

Simply put: if you don’t have calls to actions on your site, the client will almost never purchase a product on your pages. Customers want you to tell them what to do, they view you as the expert and are relying on your advice… advise them to buy!

Suggestive Copywriting

In the world you live in today, it’s virtually impossible for you to have too much content on your site. You simply can’t push it out fast enough.

With things like search engine optimization and keywords in play, it takes an expert to tap into the online world and push your pages to the top results page on Google.

First things first, you need to have copywriting on your site that sells itself; that’s why blogs are so helpful to have on company sites… they give your brand a voice!

The content in your copywriting can provide your customer with a sense of urgency, relatability to your brand, and start to build loyalty with your company.

Having helpful content on your site makes your customers feel like you’re looking out for them. It’s also the only evidence they feel that they need to justify buying products from you.

Directing to those products in your copy makes it even easier for them to wind up on the page to purchase your products/services.

Icons

Still not sure that your navigation bar is direct enough? Place icons on them to let people know exactly what they’ll find upon clicking it.

For instance, if your company is a lifestyle site and you have a tab that says “save” on it, put a dollar sign icon above the word. That way they know you’re referring to saving cash, not saving lives.

It sounds silly, but many words have multiple meanings and you don’t want your visitors to get the wrong impression. Setting the expectation ahead of time is always beneficial.

Witness Your Revenue Soar with These Web Design Elements

It’s plain to see that the key factor in a profitable website is the web design elements that it takes advantage of.

Building your brand on your site will help you reach new customers by strengthening your online presence within the marketplace.

Be sure to read this article on the benefits of SiteCore and it’s involvement in building your online presence.

For more inquiries, please reach out via our contact us page and we’ll be happy to assist you further.

insurance technology

6 Ways Through Which Insurance Technology Is Pushing the Industry Forward

The global insurance industry, worth over $5 trillion, has had an extensive overhaul. Previously considered to be a conservative sector, the industry is on the verge of breaking out of its old mold. Insurance technology is now taking the front seat.

Multiple technological inventions and informed customers have paved the way for the industry overhaul. With the help of artificial intelligence and automation, today’s insurance will continue to woo many customers.

The industry is poised to keep on maturing. At any rate, players who adopt the change will survive the transformation and emerge the top.

In this article, we have discussed the main ways in which insurance technology is pushing the sector forward. Hopefully, this information will give you insights on what to look out for to survive in the industry.

1. Machine Learning

Machine learning is a specific branch of artificial intelligence. It is based on the idea that we can change our machines to process data without supervision.

Machine learning is not new. So why are we mentioning it here? Until now, this technology was restricted to routine activities such as data entry and compliance checks.

Currently, machine learning is applied in underwriting and other crucial insurance activities. Since the main aim of machine learning is to automate, it improves speed and accuracy.

2. Internet of Things

IoT devices, telematics, and sensors are now utilized in the insurance industry. For instance, location-based sensors coupled with other tools help to improve risk assessment.

Many customers are willing to share their personal information to save on their policies. Luckily, the internet of things helps to automate the data they share. It also encourages them to buy certain policies to avoid losses.

Insurance companies can use data from wearable technologies to mitigate risks. They also use it to prevent losses and determine rates.

If many companies continue to use this technology, it will provide first-hand data and improve the risk assessment process as well. Eventually, this will bring positive impacts on insurance policy pricing.

3. Social Media Data

Social media has the power to influence a large number of people, including in the insurance sector. Besides marketing, many insurers are now using it to improve risk assessment and bolster fraud detection.

For instance, consider Kroodle, a Dutch insurance company. It only interacts with customers through social media.

Customers log into their Facebook accounts and get quotes, and also file their claims and get other services through the app.

How does insurance technology help to investigate frauds in social media? Insurance firms observe the social activities of the insured people. The firms use the posts or other details that the customers post to compare to the claim records. 

4. Drones

Unmanned drones are efficient technology tools. The insurance industry is utilizing drones to manage risks.

Drones reduce operational costs and facilitating better collection of data. Drones help to collect data, calculate risks, before giving feedback to any claim. In case of a disaster, a drone is deployed to provide feedback on the extent of the disaster.

Farmers Insurance is an excellent example of firms which use drone technology. The company deploys Kespry drones to help in identifying residential property damage. 

5. Mainstreaming Blockchain

Data is a core element for every insurance company. For easy decision making, it is advisable to have a smooth and uninterrupted flow of data from one source to the other.

This is where blockchain comes into play. It guarantees secure data management across stakeholders while maintaining integrity. Also, from fraud management to underwriting, blockchain technology reduces operational costs and offers extra benefits such as smart contracts.

6. Artificial Intelligence

82 percent of the companies that have invested in AI, including insurance companies, report to have made financial returns.

Customers seek personalized experiences when dealing with insurance and technology. This is because insurance is a highly sensitive industry. Artificial intelligence gives them satisfaction by creating unique experiences for their demands.

AI has also improved the claims cycle by making the underwriting process straightforward. 

According to an Accenture survey, 68 percent of insurance companies use chatbots to settle their claims. Through the use of chatbots, the insurance industry has been able to personalize human interaction.

As per a report by PWC, the primary purpose of artificial intelligence is to automate and increase business efficiency. With time, its impact becomes more profound, making it possible to identify new sources of revenue.

How Have The Above Trends Improved Insurance Technology?

The above-discussed technologies have brought seismic impacts in the insurance industry. These include:

Wearable devices and fitness apps – The above technological trends have brought many fitness apps. The main aim of these apps is to help people maintain a healthy weight. They help to reduce insurance costs, and that’s why many insurers recommended wearable devices and apps.

Fraud prevention – Fraud can cost insurance companies billions of dollars. The above technological frameworks help to manage insurance related scams.

Billing efficiency – automated systems remind customers when the due date for their premium approaches. This helps to lower the unintentional defaults.

Internet – Connected devices provide real-time information. Insurance firms use that information for better pricing. This helps to lower underwriting costs.

From distribution to claims to pricing, all activities are examined prior. If more insurance companies continue to embrace these trends, the entire insurance industry will change.

Optimize Your Site

Are you looking for the best web developer for your site?? Worry no more as Databerry got your back. We have been in the industry for more than two decades. In that period, we have supported more than 500 enterprises.

Our commitment to you is to put in place proper marketing strategies such as search engine optimization and offer top-notch insurance IT services. We upgrade mobile applications, web portals, and provide the best infrastructure migration services. Contact us today to learn more about insurance technology.

 

cloud computing in healthcare

7 Core Advantages of Cloud Computing in Healthcare

The healthcare industry has a lot of challenges when it comes to implementing new technologies. It’s a heavily regulated industry, which can place a tremendous burden on your resources.

Cloud computing has been a revelation for healthcare providers. There’s a reason why it’s due to grow at least 15% over the next six years. It can help organizations in many ways.

Do you want to learn more about cloud computing in healthcare? Keep reading to learn about the advantages organizations can gain from migrating to cloud computing.

What Is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing consists of having a number of servers off-site to manage, store, and access data. Before the cloud, you would have to have data stored locally on computers or invest in expensive servers to manage your data.

There are different levels of cloud computing services. Most people are familiar with SaaS, or Software as a Service. This is where you use a program like electronic medical record (EMR) software. This keeps patient information in one place that your team can access in real-time.

There’s also Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). This is a complex cloud solution, but one that offers organizations more control while gaining the benefits of cloud technology.

Cloud computing solutions can be Platform as a Solution (PaaS). This is when your organization creates customized apps to help your employees access and manage data.

1. Cost-Effective Computing Solution

When you make the move and migrate to cloud computing, you’ll notice the impact on your organization’s bottom line.

Cloud computing means that your organization doesn’t need to constantly invest in hardware and IT maintenance onsite.

Another advantage that makes a difference is that cloud solutions limit the amount of downtime in your organization. If your network goes down, your business has to wait until you or your IT staff can get everything back online.

This can take an extended amount of time and resources. Cloud providers work around the clock to maintain their systems, limiting downtime and keeping your productivity high.

2. Data Compliance

Healthcare organizations are under tremendous pressure to keep patient data secure. Privacy standards set forth in various regulations like HIPPA or the upcoming California Consumer Protection Act place a lot of demands on budgets and resources to manage and secure data.

Cloud computing means that since your data is stored with another vendor, they will keep your data compliant.

You do need to be aware that not all cloud computing providers understand these regulations or even comply. Your organization would be responsible for non-compliance since you own the data. You need to ensure that your third-party vendors all comply with all regulatory standards.

3. Security

One of the biggest technology challenges that every business, government agency, and healthcare organization faces is cybersecurity. There is a lengthy list of reported security issues that are under investigation. You don’t want your organization to be one of them.

Cloud computing providers take security seriously. They’re also better equipped to deal with the constant threat of attempts to gain access to their systems. It doesn’t mean that they have perfect solutions. Unfortunately, there is no such thing.

They have the resources and tools available that you aren’t likely to have to handle these issues.

4. Deliver Better Services to Patients

You likely got into the healthcare business to help people. It’s hard to do that when you don’t have efficient systems in place at your organization.

Your patients have come to expect superior service from healthcare providers. One way to do that is to make patient data easier to access.

You can do that with cloud computing. Patient records are available to you and your staff through apps that can be accessed on mobile devices.

It also creates a collaborative environment. Patients rarely have only one provider. They have a primary care physician and a team of specialists.

Every team member involved in patient care can have access to patient data, which breaks down treatment in silos.

5. Scalable with Business Needs

Cloud computing in healthcare allows you to scale up or down to meet your needs. For example, if you have a small office, you can start off with a smaller cloud computing solution. You can add on more users and features as your office grows.

That saves you from having to invest more money and resources to purchase a large software solution right away. In this instance, you won’t use all of the features and it’s more than you need.

6. Data Storage and Backups

Healthcare organizations produce a lot of data. Some organizations would have t invest in a large room full of servers just to keep up with the amount of data that is stored and used every day.

What would happen to your organization if you lost all of that data? It could pose a privacy risk and it could be devastating to your organization.

It’s very easy to have a backup of your data when you use cloud computing solutions.

7. Make Sense of Data

With all of the data that is produced and stored within healthcare organizations, how do you make sense of it?

Cloud computing solutions are doing more to deliver better reporting to healthcare providers. Better reporting means that you can make better strategic decisions.

Cloud Computing in Healthcare Delivers

Healthcare organizations are under pressure to deliver high-quality healthcare while keeping costs in check. They also have to do everything to protect and secure sensitive data.

Fortunately, cloud computing solutions can help healthcare organizations do all of that and more. Cloud computing in healthcare has other advantages.

One big advantage is that cloud computing solutions organize data in a way that decision-makers can understand. That can lead to better decision-making based on data.

Do you have questions about migrating your existing networks to the cloud? Contact us today to find out more about our IT management solutions for the healthcare industry.

server migration

Helpful Tips to Survive Server Migration

With nearly half of businesses reporting hacks every year, companies are constantly looking for more stable data solutions. One of the ways to ensure a more secure company is to run a server migration to a more secure location. However, if you’re underprepared, you could throw a wrench into productivity at your company.

Here’s how you can ensure your migration goes smoothly.

Start Housecleaning

Before you decide to migrate, you need to clean up what’s on your current servers. Old sites, email accounts, unnecessary backups, or outdated assets should be jettisoned. Migrating this data will not only cause it to take longer and cost more, but you could be moving security issues from one server to the next.

For data that you might need, consider archiving it from your production server. You can keep data somewhere else but your production server should be as lean as possible.

Having less data also means fewer post-migration issues. You need your migration window to be as tiny as possible so that you can get back to work. By cleaning up the junk from your server, you’ll be able to keep things moving and start off on the right foot.

Run An Inventory

While it might be grueling and take some time, you need to inventory the contents of your server. If you’re running just one site, email accounts and pages should be easy to handle. However, most enterprises have multiple sites which multiples the complexity of the problems.

Subdomains, databases, and email accounts make your whole system run slower and take up more space. Creating an inventory of what you have can help you understand what you actually need.

Take an inventory that counts your server’s many domains, subdomains, aliases, add-ons, databases, and email accounts. If you have redundant or unnecessary email accounts, get rid of them. Zombie user accounts or email addresses can be instrumentalized by nefarious actors to hack into your system.

Your inventory is a checklist to ensure that all of the data you need is migrated to your new site. You get to ensure that no accounts are skipped and that DNS is properly set up for each domain.

Size Matters

When you’re ordering a new server, it’s easy to underestimate your size needs. Disk space is growing everywhere but lots of companies fail to realize that it’s not growing by a percentage. It’s growing exponentially.

As more users are more productive with smaller devices on faster connections, they expect lots of server-side processing. You can’t send a video to a browser and let them optimize it for your users’ screens. You need to do that processing on your end.

That means you need lots of space and lots of power. You need lots of space to both move your data and then unpack it all. You also want to leave plenty of room for your business to grow.

Take your most generous estimate for your size needs and double it.

Email Matters Too

If you’re going to be migrating email, you need to let your staff know they should clean out their inboxes and save important files. In fact, now would be a great time to implement a limit on how long emails will sit in company inboxes.

Give your migration company a set of organized information on your current email service. Check that they don’t need more information from you before the migration.

Update Passwords

Moving data leaves your data vulnerable to be intercepted. If your old server wasn’t as secure as your new one, old passwords could be added, with hackers following you to your new server. Make sure that everyone updates every password.

If you haven’t implemented two-factor authentication yet, now would be the time. During a migration, it’s much easier to implement and test new systems than afterward. Your staff will want to move past the interruptions and get to being productive again.

Set Access Levels

Your migration team is going to have to be able to access everything on your server before they can begin. That’s the only way that they can match up your server environments and move you seamlessly from one server to the next.

Create accounts to give them root access and user-level ssh. This access will make their job easier and the whole process smoother.

While you’re in there, make sure to revoke access from anyone who no longer works for you, anyone who no longer needs access, or any old accounts. Only a select few admins should have such intimate access at any given time.

Don’t Create Any New Sites

If you’re moving a major operation from one server to another, it can take several days or even weeks to migrate, test, and finalize the move. During this time, you’ll have to make some content changes to your server. If adding posts, files, or new pages is a necessary function of your company, then it needs to be done.

Just be aware that adding any new accounts or new websites during the migration is going to add complication. Wait until the migration has been completed and testing has been run first. This ensures that all the kinks are worked out from the move and that any new data will be preserved.

Server Migration Can Be Seamless

When you hire server migration professionals to handle your company’s data, you hire people who know common pitfalls to look out for. You’re less likely to lose essential data or even have your customers and clients know that you’re migrating data.

If you need help with strategic planning before or after, contact us for tips to keep your company growing during the migration.

moving to the cloud

Benefits Offered by Moving to the Cloud

Did you realize that business owners around the world will spend nearly $4 trillion on technology this year? Most business owners understand that in order to keep their competitive edge, they have to stay on the cutting edge of technology. Failing to embrace the latest tech tools at your disposal can lead to issues with productivity and efficiency.

One thing you can do for your business is moving to the cloud. Some business owners are intimidated when approached with the idea of embracing cloud computing. The best way to avoid mistakes during this process is by working with information technology (IT) professionals.

These professionals will help you migrate the existing data and information on your servers to the cloud. Trying to handle this process son your own will usually lead to lots of problems. An experienced IT professional can make the cloud migration process easier and more enjoyable for you and your employees.

Here are some benefits you can gain by moving to the cloud.

Reduce Operational Issues By Moving to the Cloud

The biggest misconception that most business owners have is cloud computing is too complicated for them to work with. In reality, cloud computing has far fewer issues than server-based IT infrastructures. The cloud servers you host your network on will be maintained and updated by professionals.

These professionals have one job, which is keeping the cloud services they provide bug-free and functional. The cloud provider you use will probably closely monitor the performance and reliability of their servers. This means as soon as a problem is detected, these professionals will be on the case getting it fixed.

However, with onsite services, a business owner will be left to their own devices when it comes to noticing and addressing problems. Instead of making mistakes that will compromise the security and functionality of your network, now is the time to embrace the power of cloud computing.

The Cloud Can Save You Money

Staying on budget is something you should be adamant about as a business owner. While you will have to spend money to get the best technology in place, you can still get a good deal with some research. Most business owners fail to realize that using the cloud can actually save them money.

Housing and maintaining on-site servers can be extremely expensive. Not only will you spend a lot of money maintaining these servers, it will cost a great deal to repair them as well. Using cloud servers allows you to avoid the cost of repair and maintenance for good.

As your business starts to grow, scaling a cloud-based server will be a breeze. If you have scale an on-site server system, you are in for a major blow to your budget. Taking the time to find a reputable and experienced cloud-based server provider is essential when trying to get the affordability and functionality you are after.

Increase Team Collaboration

The backbone of any successful business is a team of dedicated and hard-working employees. One of your main goals as a business owner should be providing your employees with the best tech tools on the market. If you are looking for a way to enhance the level of collaboration in your workspace, then cloud computing is a must.

Having the cloud in place allows you and your team to share files and other information at lightning-fast speeds. Allowing a few different team members to work on one project will help you get it done quickly.

While getting used to the cloud will take some time, eventually your team will fully embrace this technology. Once you see just how much this technology enhances productivity, you will wonder how you ever got along without it.

Provide Employees With More Freedom

Attracting the top talent in your industry is a difficult task. Modern workers have more options than ever when it comes to the jobs they can take. If you are looking for a way to attract great employees, offering a remote work option is essential.

Most people will jump at the chance to work from home a few days a week. The only way you can fully embrace the remote worker revolution is by using the cloud in your day to day operations.

By offering a remote work option, you can help your employees achieve a better work-life balance. Not only will this remote work option help your team, it can also help you increase productivity levels substantially.

Keeping Sensitive Information Secure

Data security breaches are something business owners have to remain vigilant about. Each year, lots of businesses around the world have their data compromised by cyber-criminals. Not only can does this affect the customers a business has, it can tarnish the image a company has as well.

If you are looking for ways to protect sensitive data, then using cloud-based servers is an excellent idea. The companies who provide these servers offer a number of tools like data encryption to their clients.

With the help of these cloud server providers, you can help to keep hackers at bay. Before choosing a cloud provider, be sure to find out more about the security measures they have in place.

Don’t Get in a Hurry

Before you being the process of moving to the cloud, take the time to map this process out. Getting in a rush will lead to lots of problems, which is why hiring IT professionals to spearhead this process is essential.

Are you looking for an experienced IT consulting company? If so, contact us now to find out more about the services we offer.

it managed services providers

9 Qualities to Look for Before Hiring IT Managed Services Providers

If you are tired of spending your time on things other than your core business objectives, it may be time to hire IT managed services providers.

Decreasing focus is only one of the many reasons you might be considering bringing on help for your IT needs. Even a small amount of downtime can cost big bucks which means — you can’t afford downtime.

Hiring and managing IT staff isn’t likely what you had in mind when you started your company so outsourcing to managed IT services makes sense. While outsourcing might make sense, you do need to be careful who you hire.

The safety of your company’s data and other information is in their hands. Continue reading this article to learn what you need to look for in the company you choose to hire.

Choosing the Best IT Managed Services Providers

The following qualities are a must when you are choosing an IT company to work with. Security breaches and other IT problems can cost your company so you want to have reliable professionals on your side.

1. Strong Technical Expertise

Not all companies are staffed equally. You want to make sure that you know what you’re getting when you hire a company.

How much experience does each of the staff have? Will they know how to deal with major challenges if they arise? 

2. Wide Range of Skills

Your IT needs may change as your company grows. Choosing managed IT services with a wide range of services gives you access to a variety of skilled professionals that you might not need right now but may need them in the future.

As your business grows, your IT needs will grow. Knowing the company you are with has the ability to scale continue serving you will keep you from having to change companies.

3. Experience in Your Industry

Does your IT services provider know your industry? The basics of IT management can apply to all industries. But your specific IT needs are different than companies in other industries.

Having someone with experience in your industry can allow your mind to rest at ease knowing that they’ve dealt with the common challenges that arise.

4. Extended Availability

You may clock out at 5, but you don’t want your IT managed services provider to stop working. Your computer network stays online 24/7 and so should your service provider.

You never know when someone could try to hack your system or there is a fire or power outage. You need someone that is paying close attention to your systems so they can take care of any problems right as they arise.

5. Service Customization

You don’t want a one size fits all IT solution. You need to ask for customization so that you can get what you need for your company — no more and no less. You don’t want to pay for services you don’t need but you definitely don’t want to under serve your IT needs.

6. Response Time

Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you know what kind of response time you can expect from them.

Do you have a dedicated customer support professional that is going to help you if something comes up and you have questions? Or are you going to be dealing with a new customer support person each time that you call?

Understanding how long it is going to take for them to answer questions is important but you also need to ask how long it will take for them to start fixing a problem.

You don’t want to find out you have a major problem but everyone is too busy working on other things to get around to your challenge. Check the contract to see if it states the maximum amount of time they have to start working on your project.

7. IT Security and Maintenance

Keeping your servers secured and maintained is a top priority. Find out what they do to secure and maintain your systems. Even if you don’t understand all of it, you need to know what the processes are so you’re sure they are being taken care of.

8. Established Processes

Don’t choose IT companies that don’t have established processes. They should know what they are doing and how they go about doing it. Having systems in place will allow for less human error and better results for you and your company.

Ask them to walk you through some of their processes so you can get a sense of how prepared they are for day-to-day tasks as well as any technical emergencies that might take place.

9. Reliable Reputation

With customer reviews available online, it is hard to hide if your company isn’t a good one. Look at all of the popular review sites to see what people are saying about the company you’re considering.

You may also ask them to speak with one of their clients to ask how they are at servicing their needs. Companies understand if you want them to provide references and usually have a few people that are more than happy to talk to you for a few minutes to put your mind at ease.

Using the Best IT Managed Services Providers

If using the best IT managed services providers is a must for you, we can help. We provide not only basic support but we can also help with major projects like complex full deployments.

Contact us today to see how we can make your life easier while making your business better.

website based database

An In-Depth Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Website Based Databases

Statistics have shown that CRM databases will reach more than $81.9 billion in revenue by 2025. A database is a handy way to keep an organization’s information in safe storage. With this collection, multiple users have an opportunity to access all the collected data with optimal speed.

Unlike when you keep physical files of the company’s progress, with a database, essential information can be shelved safely from unauthorized users.

Due to the love of technology, humans find themselves in the need for better storage all the time. However, it is not enough to talk about a database without the mention of a website based database.

This blog will share in-depth details to ensure that you understand what web database is. You will also understand its significance in your organization.

What Is a Website Based Database?

A web database is an application designed to be accessed and managed through the internet. It allows operators to manage data collection and present analytical results, even without access to physical data.

Web databases were first introduced to the market in the 1990s and it has been a must-have asset for growing businesses since then.

With a web database, you will not be worried about losing data even when your server is corrupted. The data collection storage is, however, hosted on a website and can be comfortably accessed through a web browser.

Applicable Uses

Both large and small business use web database to create feedback forms, website polls, inventory lists, and client data. Additionally, a personal web database is ideal for storing personal email accounts and personal website analytics.

Data Organization

With web database, collecting and categorizing information into various parameters is quite easy. It does not require any advanced computing skills or database programs to classify products or services into one group. Additionally, you don’t require any coding skills to organize your website.

It allows you to fill and save each record separately, hence making it easy for other users to access anything they want at ease. Whatever means you find appropriate to save your data can be used here.

After saving your data, users are able to access whatever they want without having to go through the entire website search. For instance, a customer is able to find the product they are interested in your store without going through all other products in the store.

MySQL

MySQL is the structured query language and it’s often used in the world of web databases. It is a relational database management system, which makes managing different web databases possible. MySQL is an open resource project that operates as a server.

It is often used with web hosting for small businesses or personal website database management. However, using MySQL is a little challenging as it has a difficult programming language.

Benefits of Web Database

Using web database storage gives you the assurance that your data is safe and accessible regardless of the server you use. Cloud storage technique guarantees that any information about an organization is not trapped in a particular computer.

Therefore, if you have access to the stored information, you don’t need to get to the initial computer that was used to develop the information.

Another advantage of using web database is the program usually comes with its technical support team. Therefore, your IT team will have an opportunity to concentrate on other essential matters to build your organization.

It also allows you to update information, hence making it highly convenient. Therefore, whatever techniques were instrumental for building your business can be updated to push it to the next level.

Depending on your business expectations, using web database application gives you the freedom to pay for subscriptions based on your uses. Therefore, if your business shrinks or expands, you are able to use the same server space to accommodate your interests.

Additionally, you don’t have to invest in installing the entire program to enjoy its uses.

Why It’s Important

Using web database software is highly profitable for both personal and business websites. It makes it easy for you to track your progress and monitor all your steps.

With a small business database software, keeping your business development up-to-date with technology will not be tough.

Additionally, it gives you an Intel on how your web page is connected to the database too. Therefore, optimizing its performance with a new webpage will not be a challenge.

Examples of Database Driven Websites

As a developer, it is essential to have an idea of the type of website you are building. When you know what you are developing, it will be easy for you to determine what practice will best suit your clients. Common website based databases include:

Blogs

Blogs and other online forums enter the database driven websites category due to users regular updates. Once the target audience gets access to your blog and like or leave a comment, it experiences an increase in usage.

E-Commerce Platforms

If you are starting a business website where you sell products or services, there will be changes in price and services more regularly. Therefore, your customers expect to find updated information any time they visit your store.

CMS (Content Management System)

If your website will use CMS, then it automatically qualifies to the category of database driven. With CMS, you don’t require to have particular programming skills to update your content.

Some of the most common CMS sites include Joomla and WordPress. They have an easy-to-use editor that makes editing, deleting, or publishing content easy.

Getting Started

A website based database is a convenient way of ensuring that your business operations are smooth all through. It also guarantees that you will have every information necessary to grow your organization to the next level.

With a secure database, the fear of losing track of your business due to theft or other disasters will not be an issue for you. This is because such information can only be retrieved by persons with authorized access to the file.

Additionally, it enhances your organization’s performance online and helps drive your expectations. However, if you are not sure how to develop your website into a database driven category, you can always contact us through our page for development assistance.

database programs

Programming Complete: 7 Crucial Database Programs To Use In 2019

Did you know that the database management system industry will grow at a rapid rate within the next three years? After all, it’s expected to have an industry size of $63 billion by the end of 2022. It will have a CAGR of 8%–higher than a lot of other IT-related industries around.

This showcases that utilizing a database is now a necessity, not a bonus option. Like social media marketing, databases are now an essential tool to keep up with the competition.

That said, these programs are expensive. Which are the best database programs fit for your budget? It’s best if you ensure that it’s secure, easy to use, and easy to learn.

So, what are the best free database software? Read on and find out more today.

1. TeamDesk

This database solution is powerful while maintaining its ease of use. It gives you the means of making custom databases without the hassle of learning a lot of technical knowledge. Another great thing about this software is that it runs through the cloud, using its own secure servers.

With TeamDesk, you won’t need to invest in your own cloud server hardware. Also, the company flaunts that its uptime rate is 99.96% over the last six years. That makes it a more reliable choice than a lot of other software.

The software can function on different platforms like the PC, Mac, and mobile phones. You can choose between predefined templates or build your own when setting up a database. As soon as you’re done, you can add or remove features as you see fit.

2. Knack

Knack is one of the most diverse database solutions in the market. It’s targeted to organizations regardless of their size without compromising ease of use. This cloud-based platform has companies using it all over the world, including companies from the Fortune 500.

This software gives a large variety of tools that help you organize your business data. You can use metrics to structure your data and link the records together. With the use of formulas and equations, you can gain a better understanding of your data.

You can set up dashboards that have charts, graphs, and pivot tables. This allows you to get data insights in real time. You can also check datasets and do some searches with the use of flexible filters.

3. TablePlus

The software is your best choice if you’re looking for an on-premise database management platform. TablePlus is available for the Mac, helping you make and manage relational databases. You can do this using one user interface like MySQL and others.

You can make, query, edit, and save databases with the use of a native app. It’s easy to do since it’s fast and easy to use. But TablePlus’s defining feature is that it has its own TLS encryption, ensuring that your data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Its other features include multi-tab and multi-window modes. This helps you get a quick overview of the different datasets. You can also use the Code Review function to check on the changes made to the databases.

4. Oracle

This software is one of the most popular solutions available in the industry. It has world-class database products with great features like Edition-Based Redefinition. With this, you can decrease the impact of data coupling.

Oracle is a multilayered database product that has a Database Cloud Service. It’s designed to help ensure that it supports workloads no matter the size. It also has encryption solutions that run out of the box, designed to support application development to production deployment.

The software also has an easy to understand web console. This allows you to make and manage databases in a quick, simple fashion. If you’re interested, you can ask the company to give you a demo software to set expectations.

5. Microsoft Access

This is the oldest commercial database solution in the market. Regardless, it’s still easy to use when making databases for your business. It also runs on the cloud with built-in encryption, meaning you can share it without worrying about security.

The software lets you make custom databases, provided that you’re good with the technology. You also have the option to pick from their professional database templates. If you want, you can integrate the SQL Server and Azure SQL to help scale large datasets.

6. MariaDB

This solution’s makers are the original developers of the MySQL. A lot of tech giants like Facebook and Google use this software for their operations. This database server has a great drop-in replacement functionality for MySQL.

MariaDB developers place a lot of concern about security. That’s why whenever they release a new version, they merge in all the security patches available to MySQL. They also enhance these security functions whenever it’s possible.

Its main draw is its high-scalability that comes with an easy integration capability. It also gives users real-time access and the core functionalities of MySQL. MariaDB has an extensive knowledge base since it’s been around for more than 20 years.

7. CUBRID

CUBRID Manager is a great database administration tool. It’s free and open source, optimized to cater for web-based applications. Its usefulness increases when you have complex web services that process huge data amounts and concurrent requests.

This solution offers multiple granularity locking as well as online backups. It also has the GUI tools and drivers for some popular development languages like PHP, Python, Perl, and Ruby. The only major drawback is that CUBRID doesn’t work with Apple systems.

Get the Best Database Programs Today!

There are a lot of other database programs you can use. But if you’re unsure of where to start, the solutions mentioned on this list are excellent choices for starters. You can always search for other database solutions out there if these aren’t fit for your database needs.

If you don’t have the time to learn how to use these tools, you can always ask experts to help you build a great database. You can contact us today and let us help. We’re looking forward to working with your business.

5 Solutions for an Effective Healthcare Digital Marketing Strategy

In 2018, healthcare digital marketing grew to a $2,84,000,000 industry: a 17% increase from 2017. A growing number of patients are open to virtual healthcare methods and the majority of consumers do internet research on healthcare providers before making a decision.

If you want to craft an effective digital marketing strategy for your healthcare business, now is the time to take action. 

Unfortunately, many healthcare businesses are unaware of the modern solutions. They continue to use the same methods that were popular thirty or forty years ago.

The good news is that you can gain an edge over your competitors by creating a modern healthcare marketing strategy. This can help build trust in your service, drive traffic to your site and get you new patients.

Use these five effective solutions to maximize your online reach and see your numbers climb.

1. Optimize Your Site’s Usability

Potential patients will shop around for the best deal. That means you need to make their experience of your website easy, accessible and with flawless presentation.

Attention to detail is vital, as patients will be far less forgiving of sloppy web design than they will for other product websites. If your site doesn’t look professional, how can they trust that your approach to medical care is going to be the very best they can get?

Here are some quick wins:

  • Put your main CTAs on the front page above the fold – these should include your Book An Appointment, Register Now and Contact links
  • Do a website audit and correct any broken links, confusing menus, spelling mistakes and any other flaws
  • Take a little time to optimize your formatting (allowing for white space, using headers and sub-headers, bolding appropriately etc.)
  • Make sure your site loads quickly by using plugins to compress content and stripping out anything unnecessary

A well-designed site should reduce your bounce rates and build trust in your brand by providing an excellent first impression.

2. Invest In Mobile Optimization

Most web traffic comes from phones. Mobile optimization is one of the easiest and most effective ways of marketing in the healthcare industry.

Most of that traffic is also from app usage, so building an app is an obvious move for anyone serious about marketing effectively.

There are several ways to do this and which method you choose will probably depend on budget.

For a simple solution, you could go for a progressive web app. This isn’t a true app, as it’s accessed via a browser. It will provide a scaled-down version of your existing site that will behave like an app and load fast on mobile. 

This is a great option for a small budget. However, it will need patients to already know about your site to find it (i.e. it won’t be available on an app store). It also can’t integrate the same level of special functionality as a native app.

Investing in a native app that lives on the customer’s phone is an excellent way to keep patients engaged. You could also offer services like virtual appointments or chatbot services.

3. Optimize For SEO (Including Voice Search)

According to Google, search engines are by far the biggest way for patients to find healthcare providers online. To drive traffic to your site, investing in Search Engine Optimization is the best thing you can do.

As a healthcare provider, your business is likely to be tied to a specific area, so do these things to maximize your SEO for your local area:

  • Target specific locations with geofencing
  • Publish location-specific content to drive traffic to your site
  • Optimize for local keyword searches

Voice search is also on the rise. Brands are responding by making their own audio content for voice assistants like Google Assistant and Alexa.

By doing the same, you can give your customers a flavor of what they can expect if they engage with your brand, which can be fantastic for building trust.

4. Retain Your Audience With Great Content

Trends in healthcare marketing are moving towards prevention and maintenance rather than the “crisis management” approach of past decades. In this climate, healthcare businesses have a fantastic opportunity to build and retain an audience.

Create helpful health-based content that your customers will keep coming back for. This will help you gain more business from your existing patients and develop excellent word-of-mouth.

Here are some ways to produce engaging content.

Blogging

Blogging is a key marketing strategy for businesses in 2019. Health and fitness content online has exploded in the past two decades as gym memberships have increased 50% in the US.

Blog consistently and provide helpful, actionable content that will make your customers want to come back to your site.

Video Content

5 billion videos are watched on YouTube every single day. It remains the most popular search engine in the world besides Google.

Video content should be in your marketing plans if you want to reach more customers.

Story-based content is extremely powerful from a healthcare perspective. Think about including this in your marketing strategy, as well as videos about the services you offer.

Newsletters

Keep your customers engaged with a patient newsletter. Ask for their feedback and opinions, let them know about new services you’re offering and link to your best content from your blog.

5. Use Pay Per Click To Engage With Customers On Social Media

Social media marketing is an easy way to build brand familiarity and fine-tune your marketing strategy.

You can use Pay Per Click advertising to filter your ad’s audience by device, location, interests, background and more. If your service caters to a very specific type of client, this is a great way to test how effective your marketing methods are for the particular customer persona that you have in mind. 

It’s very cost-effective, as you only pay when someone clicks on the ad. Because you can see clear, quantifiable results in real time, you can also make adjustments while the campaign is still running. 

Stand Out With Effective Healthcare Digital Marketing

By embracing the modern techniques used by digital marketers in other fields, you can tap into a market that many of your healthcare competitors are neglecting as they continue to follow old methods and trends.

However, for the best results in healthcare digital marketing, you need to understand how your business differs from other types of brands and how to adapt these methods to suit your unique audience.

Invest in mobile optimization to reach the widest audience possible. Use social media marketing like PPC to build brand familiarity. Maintain your patient base by providing useful, reassuring content that will keep them coming back.

If you’re ready to take action, take a look at our service plans to see how we can help you craft a fantastic digital marketing campaign.

law firm website design

5+ Successful Law Firm Website Designs and Why They Work

Clients expect a professional appearance and tone with a law firm. The law firm website design should reflect this image. Great design with authoritative content improves visitor satisfaction, leading to more service inquiries.

Imagine the opposite:

What if someone were to land on a website looking frozen in time since the ’90s? What if they had trouble navigating, preventing them from learning about services?

That’s no good.

Unfortunately, many law firms operate out-dated websites. They’re clunky and actually detrimental to the firm’s practice and lead generation intent. In some ways, the clunky site is turning potential clients to competitors!

What goes into a successful law firm website? What design features are a must to compete with nationwide firms? Keep reading to find out.

A Lesson in Law Firm Website Design

Picking apart a competitor’s website is one of the best ways to make improvements to your own. Larger firms have likely spent thousands developing their website. And, likely even more money refining its experience, conversion rates, and SEO.

Keep this in mind when browsing:

  • What stands out
  • What they push

Answers to these two keep the site simple yet effective. Your site isn’t bogged down by superfluous features and distractions. 

Have a look at the following for your law firm web design inspiration:

1. Small.law

Small.law takes the minimalist approach to web design.

You’re greeted with a stark bonsai tree and a simple header: “Vancouver business lawyer. Nothing Fancy”. As you scroll, you learn about Jeremy’s legal services with up-front pricing. 

The page flows straight to a contact form. Simple and effective.

What makes it good

It’s not so much what it does great but what it avoids: bloat. Visitors get a complete overview of legal services without dancing around the topic. 

  • SEO-focused
  • Fast loading
  • Simple, distraction-free

The storytelling conveys a personality as if you’re in direct communication. This is great for connecting with its visitors. The personal experience helps visitors overcome their objections to the services.

2. ForThePeople.com

What stands out the moment you land on the page? A warm, greeting smile from the firm’s center, John Morgan. As you scroll, you’re prompted not by their services but by their work. This includes testimonials, winning verdicts, and nationwide coverage.

What makes it good

  • Branded
  • Personalized
  • Detailed

A glance through each service page shows a keen eye for design. On-page SEO is extensive, supported by stats, structure, and reviews. The sense of family is strong, building an emotional connection with potential clients.

The front-and-center contact is a perfect example of a refined sales funnel. Users get reminded of the firm’s expertise and value through reviews and verdicts. Plus, the pop-up creates instant engagement — something worth exploring in your design.

3. FKBeatty.com

The offices of Feldman, Kronfeld, and Beatty displays your standard law site. Yet, it feels at home if you were a New York resident. The site displays NYC images, relevant NYC keywords, and tailored NYC content.

The use of buttons and extensive interlinking makes navigation a breeze. This, alone, will deliver the appropriate content and offers to visitors. Add an instant calling feature and sidebar contact and they’re surely gaining leads.

What makes it good

  • Embraces its location
  • Intuitive navigation
  • Decluttered

The FKBeatty website is a perfect starting point for fledgling law firms. It’s nothing special, but worth noting because it’s simple and effective. The effectiveness is what matters, after all.

4. JLongtinLaw.com

JLongtin Law takes a page out of the minimalist playbook. Disregarding the hero image, what stands out is the use of “compassionate”. As you scroll, you get the sense the attorneys care for the wellbeing of their clients.

The simple design of the site prevents distractions. This drives visitors to services pages where they’re greeted by a host of videos. This firm is a great example of leveraging video marketing for lead acquisition.

What makes it good

  • Video content
  • Soft but striking wording
  • Approachable personalities

There are ways to improve the law firms marketing. Adding a prominent call-to-action is one such addition. Yet, the whole experience flows, keeping you engaged until you’re on the phone with the firm.

5. ChicagoLawyer.com

A keyword rich domain and keyword use set ChicagoLawyer.com a frontrunner in its space. It may not have the charming personality of our other examples. But, it does an amazing job in using content and SEO to lock in leads.

What makes it good

  • Strong site structure
  • Extensive SEO use
  • Refined sales funnel

Those with a budget should consider this law firm design as a top-tier example. Point your dev at this site and they’ll have everything needed to work off of when developing yours. In fact, you can likely use their work as a template for much of your law firm marketing and content ideas.

The Common, Must-Have Features in Law Firm Web Design

What is the TL;DR of legal web design? Consider the following:

  • Personality — Ditching stock photos for real images of the team. And, conveying their message as they would in-person (jargon-free).
  • Boldness — Large, striking hero images conveying power. This includes the team or legal images one associate with expertise and law.
  • Up-front Messages — Not burying the important information like fee structures. They value a visitor’s time, letting them get in, educated, and primed.
  • Strengths and Weaknesses — They’re refined in this message and service. They tout their expertise while admitting their faults. They use transparency as a selling point.
  • Simplicity — Avoiding redundant contact forms and fields. Business gets discussed in-person or over-the-phone. They don’t place contact hurdles because they know many clients are in dire needs.

There are, of course, dozens of microfeatures that make a great law site. But, if you can nail the power, authority, and value then you’re 80% of the way there.

Like What You See? Let’s Make It Happen

Whether you want to replicate the look of a great law firm website design. Or, want to add features you found in the examples — count on us to get it done.

We’ll help you build or redesign your online presence.

Call now, (855) 350-0707, or browse our expert web design services. We’d love to work with you in developing a law firm website you can be proud of.