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Tips to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Social Media Campaigns
Guide Social Media Marketing

8 Expert Tips on Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Social Media Campaigns

branex-logo Team Branex
Believe it or not, the number of active social media users has surpassed 2.5 billion. And this number is expected to rise exponentially over the coming years. People spend a lot of time on different social media platforms such as Quora, Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, and many others. This leads them to spend a great deal of their time on such platforms. Businesses, big and small alike, make use of these platforms by running effective social media marketing to engage the audience and reel them in so they can benefit from it. However, no matter how crowded the online space gets, there’s always room for mistakes. Marketers often commit them unintentionally in the hopes of making a good brand appearance. In an attempt to stand out, it’s not unusual for marketers to make such mistakes. But social media is different; it’s not like writing a blog and scheduling it so it ranks on Google. Social media can be unforgiving, and if you keep making the same mistake, you will eventually see your following dwindle by the day. It’s not just social posting; the same applies to social media campaigns.

8 Common Mistakes Should Avoid When Launching a Social Media Campaign

Here are eight common mistakes you must avoid when it comes to launching a social media campaign:

1. Set SMART Social Media Goals

Without clear goals and guidelines, social media campaigns are bound to fail. Thus, it is critical to create a proper roadmap before making the campaigns live. You can start by defining your objectives, which should be SMART—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Therefore, set your SMART goal today and increase your chances of success! Tom Jauncey, Head Nerd at Nautilus Marketing. Tom Jauncey for Social Media

2. Failing To Have A Crisis Communication Plan

One common mistake to avoid when launching a social media campaign is failing to have a crisis communication plan in place. Often, marketers are taken aback by negative comments or unexpected issues because they are not prepared. This results in delayed responses that can ruin both the success of the campaign and the overall reputation of the brand itself. Without a solid, proactive plan, minor problems may quickly become major crises that ruin brand trust and credibility. Ensure you don't make this error by crafting an all-encompassing crisis communication plan before initiating any campaigns on social media platforms. First, identify potential crisis scenarios that could affect your brand, ranging from product recalls to bad publicity. Clearly state how these should be monitored, responded to, or escalated upon occurrence and establish what steps should be taken during each phase. For commonly known problems, develop a list of pre-approved responses so that every team member can react quickly and uniformly. Thus controlling the overall narrative while minimizing damage. In addition, a dedicated crisis management team well-trained in handling delicate scenarios should be created. The members of this team must be equipped with the necessary tools for effective decision-making. By planning for possible crises, you can navigate through them smoothly without compromising your brand's image, even during difficult times. Having a well-prepared team can help ensure that what could've been a disaster can be transformed into an opportunity for people to see how strong and committed your company is to achieving excellence. Brian Lim, Founder & CEO, EmazingLights, iHeartRaves & INTO THE AM. Brian Lim

3. Relying Too Much on Generative AI

When launching a social media campaign, these days it can be very beneficial to avoid using generative AI to create your content. While these tools can help you create content faster and with less effort, they can often be a hindrance. One reason for this is that people have become far more attuned to what AI-generated content looks like. So if people recognize it in your social media campaign that could result in sowing a seed of distrust and disconnect between you and your audience, which you never want. Another reason is that AI-generated content often ranks lower when it comes to SEO. So, if you are hoping to boost your SEO with your campaign. It could end up having the opposite effect. Edward Tian, CEO, GPTZero Edward Tian

4. Not Being Authentic

One common mistake brands make when launching social media campaigns is not being authentic to their brand voice. As a founder of an agency focused on results-driven Facebook ads. I've seen many companies adopt an overly salesy tone in their social content that turns off audiences. For example, I once worked with a women's athleisure brand. Their social posts came across as overly promotional with headlines like "40% off everything this weekend only". This damaged their aspirational brand image. We helped them pivot to lifestyle content highlighting real customers and staff using the product. Engagement skyrocketed as audiences connected with the brand's authentic story. Sales also increased by over 20% as new customers were drawn to the brand's genuine social presence. The key is staying true to your brand values on social media. Don't just push sales messages. Share behind-the-scenes content, highlight your team, and build real connections. Social media should reflect what your brand stands for. When you get this right, audiences become loyal fans and customers for life. Chase Chappell, Founder, Chappell Digital, Sirge Chase Chappell

5. Allocate Sufficient Ad Budget

A limited budget makes it difficult to leverage a full-funnel strategy. When funds are tight, reaching and engaging prospective customers at every stage of the buying journey becomes challenging. This hinders the overall efficiency of conversion-focused campaigns and means missing out on important opportunities. A low ad budget limits your ability to experiment with different strategies and test various creatives and audiences to determine what works best. Eventually, you will end up with poor outcomes at a higher cost. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to how much you should spend on social media campaigns. I always prefer starting with at least one-quarter of my target revenue as the ad budget. For example, if my target revenue from the campaign is $10,000, my ad budget would be $2,500. I then distribute this budget across different platforms depending on where my target audience is most active. Dan Ben-Nun, Founder & CEO, Adspace Dan Ben-Nun

6. Not Having A Well-defined Audience And Content Strategy

One mistake I often see is launching a social campaign without a well-defined audience and content strategy. You must know who you want to reach and what will resonate with them. For example, when consulting for a craft whiskey brand, we focused on influencers and lifestyle content. We positioned the brand as an aspirational product for urban socialites. The content highlighted cocktail recipes, nightlife hotspots, and influencer events. This precision targeting fueled rapid growth. Conversely, for an organic baby food company, we targeted millennial moms concerned with nutrition. We shared parenting tips, kid-friendly recipes, and product giveaways. Within months, social referrals became their top customer acquisition channel. The keys are researching your audience, aligning content, and choosing platforms that match their interests. Stay active in communities where they spend time. Measure, optimize, and pivot fast based on data. With the right social strategy, you can build highly engaged communities and drive real business impact. Cameron Gawley, Co-Founder & CGO, Arrival Cameron Gawley

7. Prioritizing Quantity Over Quality

Don’t make the mistake of prioritizing quantity over quality with your social media content. Just because you post a ton of content doesn’t mean you will automatically have more success because you’ll be reaching more people. A lot of times, posting too much can have negative results, with people becoming jaded with your content or even becoming distrustful of your motives. So, focus instead on quality posting to establish credibility, expertise, and a relationship with your audience. Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO, Lawn Love Jeremy Yamaguchi

8. Assuming What Works With Others Will Work For You Too

One common mistake to avoid when launching a social media campaign is assuming that what works for others will work for you. Early in Premier Staff's journey, we made the costly error of mimicking the social media strategies of larger, established brands without considering our unique position and audience. We once launched a campaign inspired by a successful luxury car brand's approach, featuring sleek, minimalist posts with little context. The result? Crickets. Our audience of event planners and luxury brands was left confused and unengaged. We quickly realized that while our clients appreciated elegance. They also craved behind-the-scenes glimpses and practical insights into our services. This misstep taught us the importance of authenticity and knowing our audience. We pivoted to sharing more relatable content - like time-lapse videos of our team setting up for a Golden Globes after-party or tips on choosing the right staff for a product launch. This approach not only resonated with our audience but also showcased our expertise in a way that stock images never could. The lesson? Your social media strategy should be as unique as your business. Don't be afraid to let your brand's personality shine through, even in the luxury sector. It's not just about looking good. It's about connecting genuinely with your audience. Daniel Meursing, CEO & Founder, Premier Staff Daniel Meursing

Conclusion: Don’t Make the Same Mistake Twice! 

Whether starting out with your first social media marketing campaign or you’re a seasoned player. You’re bound to make mistakes occasionally. And it’s totally fine because you’re not an AI-powered chatbot. You’re a human and it can happen to anyone. It’s most likely that once you make a mistake, you should not repeat it under any circumstance. Success in social media can come quickly. However, if you fail to manage it or keep making the same mistakes repeatedly, you may reverse the consequences. If you don’t want your followership to dwindle and you want to sustain your online credibility all the while bringing more positive customers and creating more engagement, avoid these mistakes for good.
Cross-Platform vs Native Mobile App
Guide Mobile App Development

Cross-Platform vs. Native Mobile App: Which is the Best Framework in 2024?

branex-logo Team Branex
In just over a decade, smartphones have become more than just tools for establishing effective communication. They have become a ready choice of entertainment, one that’s predominantly used for its support for applications, including both cross-platform and native mobile app. Whether you’re looking to entertain yourself by playing a game, or you simply want to purchase stuff off an eCommerce app solution. You want to keep track of the weather conditions within your city or anywhere around the world. Smartphones have introduced us to a myriad of digital applications designed to deliver the best user experience. However, when we talk about mobile app development, there are different operating systems in the market such as iOS and Android. Which of them is actually worthwhile? That totally depends on the type of phone technology you prefer. Now, there are two ways of developing mobile applications:
  • Native mobile app development that focuses on one particular operating system.
  • Cross-platform app development, one that targets multiple operating systems. 
Are you wondering which mobile app solution is the best option for you? Unsure which solution you should choose? In this article, we are going to shed light on both development solutions. We will talk about the benefits & implications, the type of technologies used to create these solutions, and the type of users who can access them.

How to Choose Between Native & Cross Platform App Development? 

Native and Cross Platform Mobile App A fundamental difference between native and cross-platform app development has its roots in the type of operating system you need to develop the mobile app for. Native mobile app development gives you a chance to build mobile app development for a particular operating system - for instance Android or iOS. There are plenty of advantages of having native mobile app development such as optimizing app performance, leveraging platform-specific features, and providing a consistent user experience across many devices. On the contrary, native apps also tend to be more reliable because fewer components are involved in their development process. The cost of development ultimately becomes flexible. Cross-platform app development allows users to build apps that target several operating systems at the same time. As the name suggests, cross-platform allows developers to build apps that can run on different operating systems, including iOS, Android, and any other available. Such apps are built on cross-platform frameworks which use a platform-specific SDK from a single API. It enables the app to work across both platforms, iOS and Android at the same time. 

What Makes Native Mobile Apps Are Favorable Choice? 

Native Mobile App A native mobile application is coded in programming languages such as Java or Kotlin Java is one of the first programming languages used to create Android app solutions for the Play Store market. Later on, in 2017, Google released support for Kotlin-powered applications. And today many Android apps in the market are supported by Kotlin. One of the best things about Kotlin is its support for object-oriented and functional programming. While Java is limited to object-oriented programming alone. Kotlin supports both object-oriented and functional programming, offering greater flexibility compared to Java, which is primarily object-oriented. At the same time, Java focuses on classes and objects for structuring programs. Kotlin includes robust functional programming features like higher-order functions, lambda expressions, and immutability. This dual paradigm approach in Kotlin allows developers to choose the best tool for the task. This approach enhances code readability and maintainability and enables more concise and expressive code. Consequently, Kotlin can handle a wider variety of programming tasks more efficiently than Java. Some renowned examples of natively developed mobile applications are:
  • Google Maps
  • Pinterest
  • Spotify
  • WhatsApp

Pros and Cons of Native Mobile App Development 

Pros and Cons of Native Mobile App Development 

Advantages

When you are aware of the benefits of a particular mobile app type, it becomes easier for you to understand its capabilities and create a mobile app solution that offers a seamless user experience.  Let’s explore the main benefits of native app development & see why it’s worth considering for your next mobile app project. Here are a few advantages of investing your budget in a native mobile app: 
  • Performance: Native apps are optimized for the specific platform, resulting in faster performance and smoother user experiences. They can fully utilize the device's processing power and native APIs.
  • User Experience: Native apps provide a superior user experience by adhering to the specific platform’s design guidelines and UI/UX standards, leading to more intuitive and responsive interfaces.
  • Access to Device Features: Native apps can easily access and integrate with the device's features such as the camera, GPS, microphone, accelerometer, and more, offering richer functionality.
  • Security: Native apps can leverage the platform’s built-in security features, providing better protection against vulnerabilities and ensuring more secure transactions and data handling.
  • Offline Functionality: Native apps can offer better offline capabilities, allowing users to access and interact with the app without an internet connection.
  • Scalability: Native apps are generally more scalable, as they can efficiently handle growing user bases and increasing feature sets with fewer performance issues.
  • Push Notifications: Native apps have more reliable and immediate access to push notifications, ensuring timely communication with users.
  • Development Tools: Native app development benefits from the use of robust and sophisticated development tools, such as Xcode for iOS and Android Studio for Android, which offer extensive debugging, testing, and performance optimization features.
  • Community and Support: There is strong community support and extensive documentation available for native development, making it easier to find solutions and best practices.
  • Monetization: Native apps often have more straightforward integration with app store monetization options, such as in-app purchases and subscriptions. And they can take advantage of platform-specific promotional opportunities.

Disadvantages

Just like there is a list of benefits of having a native mobile app. There are a few downsides as well to creating one from the business standpoint. 
  • Higher Development Costs: Native apps are developed on multiple platforms (iOS and Android) which requires maintaining separate codebases which eventually leads to increased development costs. You may want to hire React Native app developers from different teams with different skill sets for each platform, which adds up to the final cost of the overall app development. 
  • Longer Development Time: Since native apps need to be developed separately for each platform. The overall development timeline can be longer compared to cross-platform or web apps.
  • Maintenance and Updates: The update and maintenance of native apps for different platforms can be complex and time-consuming. This is because implementing changes on each version of the app is implemented separately leading to greater app development time for each version of the app. 
  • Resource Intensive: Native development requires specialized knowledge in different programming languages and tools (e.g., Swift/Objective-C for iOS and Kotlin/Java for Android), which can be harder to find and more expensive to hire.
  • App Store Approval Process: The app store approval process for native apps can be time-consuming. Submitting apps to app stores involves an approval process that can be time-consuming and may result in delays or rejections, eventually resulting in extending release schedules.
  • Market Reach: Developing separate apps for different platforms can limit market reach initially, especially for businesses with constrained budgets or timelines. They may need to prioritize one platform over another.
  • User Acquisition Costs: Marketing and promoting native apps on each individual & multiple platforms can be costly, requiring separate strategies and potentially doubling the effort needed to attract and retain users on each individual platform.
  • Version Compatibility: A native app is compatible with different versions of the operating systems & devices which can initially become challenging. It requires additional testing and potential adjustments to maintain a smoother functionality of the app. 
  • Risk of Platform Dependency: Relying heavily on a specific platform’s ecosystem can be risky, as changes in platform policies, market trends, or user preferences can magnanimously impact a native app's success and its overall business strategy.

What Makes Cross-Platform Apps a Popular Option? 

Cross Platform Mobile App A cross-platform app, on the other hand, is created from a single codebase.  The goal of cross-platform app development is to target different operating systems and launch an app that works through cross-platform frameworks, which use platform-specific SDKs (Android SDKs & iOS SDKs) from a single unified API. It enables you to access platforms from different SDKs & libraries.  Private organizations usually invest in such frameworks; for instance, here are a few brand names that leverage cross-platform as a popular option for their respective business. 
  • React Native by Meta - The platform uses JavaScript as a programming language. 
  • Flutter by Google - It uses Dart as a programming language. 
  • .Net MAUI by Microsoft (formerly Xamarin) - It uses C# and XAML as a programming language. 
A good thing about cross-platform mobile apps is that they're compiled to use native UI elements. It makes the app look, feel, and appear the same as a native mobile app. However, this app can easily work across a multitude of platforms. It provides an abstraction to the underlying platform SDKs.  Some of the well-known app examples of cross-platform are: 
  • Instagram, Skype, Walmart, and Airbnb (React Native)
  • Google Ads, My BMW App, eBay Motors, and the New York Times (Flutter)
  • The World Bank, Fox Sports, Alaska Airlines, and BBC Good Food (Xamarin)

How Cross-Platform Apps Work Across Multiple Platforms? 

Cross Platform Apps Work Multiple Platforms There are different tools and frameworks which are commonly used for cross-platform development. These tools are, namely, React Native which uses JavaScript and React to build native-like apps.  Another reliable tool is Flutter, developed by Google which uses the Dart language for fast & expressive UI; Xamarin, backed by Microsoft, allows developers to code in #C and .NET. Similarly, Ionic technology allows developers to code using programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript All these tools allow developers to write the code once and then deploy it on multiple platforms. 

Pros and Cons of Cross-Platform App Development 

Pros and Cons of Cross Platform Mobile App Development

Advantages 

  • Cost Effectiveness - Cross-platform apps are run on a single codebase for multiple platforms reducing the overall development cost compared to developing separate apps for iOS and Android. 
  • Faster Development - a leading benefit of having a cross-platform app is its shared codebase which accelerates the development process. It allows for quicker deployment across multiple platforms. 
  • Consistency - Also, cross-platform apps offer uniform user experience across iOS and Android which contributes to maintaining brand consistency and establishing effective user familiarity. 
  • Easy to Maintain - Because it is powered by a single codebase, updating and maintaining a cross-platform app becomes relatively simpler and less time-consuming, an added benefit which you don’t receive in native mobile apps. 
  • Greater Audience Reach - Since cross-platform solutions allow the app to operate across multiple platforms. It maximizes the app’s potential user base and increases its overall market reach.
  • Resource Efficiency - An app with a single code database not only performs well across multiple platforms. But also reduces the need for a specialized skill set and streamlining project management. 
  • Reusable Code - The code is also reusable across all platforms which eventually minimizes the chance of code redundancy and increases the overall functionality of the cross-platform app. 

Disadvantages

While there are benefits to investing in cross-platform development. It also has its fair share of disadvantages from a business standpoint. 
  • Performance Problems: Cross-platform apps may not offer you the same level of performance as native apps, particularly for apps that are graphic intensive or highly complex applications. 
  • Limited Access to Platform-Specific Features: Many cross-platform apps have advanced features and unique APIs for different platforms, potentially leading to a less polished user experience. 
  • User Experience Compromises: Giving your website a truly native appearance can be a bit of a challenge, especially with cross-platform apps. You can have an app that’s less polished offering the best user experience. 
  • Higher Initial Complexity: Cross-platform apps have layers of complexity in terms of tools, libraries, and integrations which require specialized knowledge. 
  • Dependency on Framework Updates: Businesses often rely on cross-platform framework developers to keep tools up to date with the latest platform changes, which cause delays if updates are not timely. 
  • Debugging Challenges: With cross-platform apps, identifying and fixing platform-specific bugs can be more difficult because of the abstraction layers used in cross-platform frameworks. 
  • Potential for Larger App Sizes: Cross-platform apps might have larger file sizes due to the inclusion of additional libraries and abstraction layers, which can affect download and install rates.
  • Security Concerns: Ensuring security across multiple platforms can be more complex, as vulnerabilities in the framework or platform-specific implementations need to be addressed. 

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Mobile App?

Cost of Mobile App Development When it comes to native mobile apps, the cost of mobile app development depends on several factors. A few basic ones such as features, device type, and OS support. 
  • Simple Native App - An app with basic functionality like logins and a clean interface can cost anywhere from $30,000-50,000. At an estimate, it can take up to 11 weeks to complete. 
  • Complex Native App - An app with a complex set of features typically offers a more engaging experience. It costs around $100,000-250,000 to develop from start to end. 
  • Advanced Apps - Advanced Apps are the best available; they offer a myriad of advanced features and interesting capabilities, generally where the aim is to become a service or platform. Such an app can go up to $250,000 due to its complexity and the rich feature options it includes. 

Cross Platform or Native - Which One Should Enterprise Choose?

Cross Platform vs Native App Since, it's pretty clear now that both native and cross-platform app development have their own set of pros and cons, which one is the best enterprise mobile app solution for your business?  If you want to pick the right one, here are a few key considerations: 

1. How Much Time Do You Need to Market? 

Ask yourself, when you’re investing in a mobile app, how much time will you need to put it out in the market and gain enough traction so it starts generating revenue?  With native mobile app solutions, the relative time to market is eventually greater compared to what you have to pay for a cross-platform mobile app service.  Let’s say, if you want to go live with your app instantly, then a cross-platform app is your best option as it allows you to collect user feedback, deploy the app quickly & start obtaining results. 

2. Test Whether Your Cross-Platform App Will Function Properly or Not? 

Without proper testing processes, your enterprise mobile app will not function properly. As is the case with native apps, you can have different app versions working on a variety of operating systems.  Cross-platform apps, compared to native apps, are easier to test because quality assurance engineers only have to test a single codebase. With native apps, you can’t rely on a single SQA but you will have to make due investments in a proper native app testing company, as they will have the time & resources. The only downside is overpromising third-party SQA engineers who lack resources and simply want to quickly ship the product without following the necessary quality checks. 

3. How Much is the App Development Budget? 

It’s settled that cross-platform is a much more cost-effective option compared to native mobile app development. With native apps, you have to deploy two standalone apps especially when you’re targeting both operating systems and this will eventually require more developers, more resources & ultimately investing more money. So assuming that you’re an enterprise, we are sure that you’re not tight on budget. However, having to pay an entire team to develop two separate versions of the same app doesn’t sound like it’s a wise choice. Cross-platform app development will eventually be the best solution.  That’s because, 
  • You only have to communicate your requirements to a single developer. 
  • A single codebase will be quite suitable for implementing active maintenance. 
  • You will get a more flexible mobile app solution that will work marvelously across all platforms. 

4. Checking for App Performance 

So how do you want your mobile app to perform?  That will also influence the choice of whether you are looking for cross-platform or native mobile app development. Mobile applications often have high computing requirements because of the number of dynamic elements you introduce within the mobile app. With native apps, you can have an experience and an app solution that delivers excellent performance & a reasonable user experience. Mobile apps such as games often require more computing power; however, if you are an enterprise then you may be looking for a mobile app that streamlines your processes.  When it comes to performance, it all comes down to what is the end goal of making due investment in a mobile app. Whether you want to reach a wider audience or want to quickly market your app. An SQA team will ensure that your app offers greater performance overall. 

5. How Secure Do You Want Your Mobile App To Become? 

While the app’s performance and testing are essential for enterprise solutions, it’s important to emphasize the app’s security as well. Your app’s security is paramount because your app stores and manages large amounts of data. When dealing with massive data, adding security can often become complex. In such cases, a native app is better as developers can tighten security measures and integrate it with the OS environment. Also, with native apps, encryption becomes a whole lot easier compared to cross-platform mobile apps. If you want to prioritize maintenance and want to come across a mobile app that’s easily maintainable and has a shared codebase, then cross-platform is one such solution. 

In Conclusion 

Choosing whether you want to invest in native app development or cross-platform app development, totally depends on your specific requirements.  Cross apps are not as costly as native apps and are relatively quicker to develop, offering broader market reach with a single codebase. Though there might be compromises on performance and relevant features, it can help you achieve your strategic goals proficiently.  While a native app takes more cost to build and a rather diversified team of developers. It offers better customizability, greater app performance, and meeting all security requirements.  Weigh the trade-offs; see which one works best in your case.  At Branex, we offer custom mobile app development services as well as native app development for all our customers. Want to achieve the best outcome? Contact our experts and discuss your project. 
7 Generative AI Tools and Applications
Artificial Intelligence Guide

Top 7 Useful Generative AI Tools and Applications in 2024

branex-logo Team Branex
Ask a digital transformation company and they will tell you the true value of Generative AI.  We are living in a day and age where Artificial Intelligence is gradually taking center stage. Fast forward to the next era, it’s bound to change the world, the one in which we live.  The technology in itself is well-equipped to provide solutions and overcome mundane activities that many companies often experience. Whether it’s generating content for websites, social media, and blogs, creating graphics or even developing a website code, generative AI offers a solution for everything.  Its use in workplaces goes far beyond what one can imagine.  When it comes to AI, there’s no shortage of tools available in the market that can help overcome problems. All thanks to Generative AI, businesses now have a pocket assistant which holds the power to create remarkable content, unimaginable artwork, sophisticated code, and much more. Today, the market is full of such tools that allow business owners and managers to level up their businesses.  In this article, we are going to explore some of the best Generative AI tools and applications available in the market that are helping businesses grow. So buckle up, and let’s learn about them in detail. 

Wondering which AI tool is right for you? 

Have a quick look. Here’s a visual chart guide comparing top AI players and finding your perfect match!
Tool Company Best For Use Case(s) Starting Price
ChatGPT OpenAI Open-ended conversation, creative text formats Brainstorming, generating creative text formats (poems, code, scripts), casual chat ~$0.06 per 1000 words (estimated)
Microsoft Bing AI Microsoft Web search, factual language tasks Research, summarizing factual topics, question answering Freemium (limited usage, paid plans available)
Gemini Google AI Informative conversation, factual language tasks Research, summarizing factual topics, question answering, integration with Google Apps Freemium (limited usage, paid plans available)
GitHub Co-Pilot Microsoft Programming assistance Code completion, suggesting alternative code structures, generating unit tests Individual: $10 per month, or $100 per year Business: $19 per user, billed monthly
Cohere Cohere Tailored chatbots, specific NLP tasks Customer service chatbots, sentiment analysis, text summarization Playground: Free, limited access for non-production use cases Input: Starting at $0.30 per 1 million tokens
Dall-e 3 OpenAI Image generation Generating creative images from text descriptions App embed: Starting at $0.04 per image Via ChatGPT Plus: $20 per month
Midjourney Midjourney Image generation Generating creative images from text descriptions $8 per month, billed annually, or $10 billed monthly
Jasper Jasper Content creation Writing marketing copy, blog posts, social media content, etc. $39 per seat per month, billed annually, or $49 per seat, billed monthly

The Most Useful Generative AI Tools & Applications to Consider in 2024 

1. GPT-4 (ChatGPT) 

Chat GPT-4 GPT 4 is one of the latest iterations of the Large Language Model (LLM) powered by OpenAI.  Because of its enormous success and widespread adoption, the tool’s latest version surpassed the computational capabilities of its previous two versions, GPT-3 and GPT-3.5. The current version is equipped to generate more creative and accurate results from a more stable foundation.  Without a doubt, the OpenAI ecosystem is one of the most mature, well-researched, and well-funded platforms available within the digital realm. To this date, ChatGPT of Open AI is the most renowned & popular generative AI tool available on the market. You can use the previous two versions for free.  The paid version of the GPT-4 technology will require you to purchase tokens. At an estimate, it costs approximately $0.06 per 1000 words which you can pay at the billing in the platform's dashboard.  Here’s the detailed breakdown of how much different versions of the GPT cost. 

GPT-4:

  • GPT-4 Turbo: $0.01 per 1,000 input tokens; $0.03 per 1,000 output tokens.
  • GPT-4 (GPT-4): $0.03 per 1,000 input tokens; $0.06 per 1,000 output tokens.
  • GPT-4 (GPT-4-32k): $0.06 per 1,000 input tokens; $0.12 per 1,000 output tokens.

ChatGPT:

  • Free: $0 for limited features for individual users.
  • Plus: $20 per user, billed monthly; primarily designed for individual users.
  • Team: $25 per user per month, billed annually, or $30 per user, billed monthly.
  • Enterprise: Pricing information is available upon request.

2. Microsoft Bing AI 

Microsoft Bing AI Microsoft Bing AI appears in the realm of artificial intelligence as one of the successful AI models, particularly in search and natural language processing capabilities.  This AI-powered search engine uses sophisticated algorithms to deliver more accurate, relevant, and context-aware search results, making it a formidable competitor in the digital search market. Thanks to its integration with Microsoft's vast ecosystem, Bing AI benefits from extensive resources and continuous improvements. The AI working behind the scenes for Bing AI understands and processes complex queries effectively to deliver the best user experience to its users. It finds the most precise & accurate information quickly & efficiently.  What makes Bing AI better? It’s how it focuses on following ethical AI practices, yet at the same time, offering a secure platform for users.  One of the standout features of Microsoft Bing AI is its conversational AI that attunes to the search engines' more natural and intuitive backend. It allows users to have a more interactive experience, opening doors to carrying out much better conversations in the fields of education, healthcare & more. 

Pricing Overview:

Bing AI is available in different pricing models depending on the needs and wants of the customers. For individual users, there are basic free features, while enterprise solutions come with specific pricing plans.

Bing AI Search:

  • Free Tier: This allows for 1,000 transactions per month for all markets. It includes basic search capabilities such as web, image, news, video, visual, entity, and auto-suggest searches.
  • Paid Tiers: For higher usage, there are paid tiers with varying transaction limits and additional features. Pricing follows a pay-as-you-go model, meaning you only pay for what you use.

Bing AI Writing Assistant:

  • Free Access: Bing AI’s writing assistant is accessible for free but with some limitations, such as usage only within the Microsoft Edge browser and a daily conversation limit.

Bing Chat Enterprise:

  • Included in Microsoft 365 Plans: Bing Chat Enterprise is included at no additional cost in Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium plans.
  • Standalone Service: This service is also available as a standalone offering for $5 per user per month. It is designed to enhance productivity and creativity with features like commercial data protection and visual answers.

3. Gemini

Gemini for Generative AI Gemini AI is definitely one of the revolutionary artificial intelligence platforms, taking the Internet by storm. Powered by Google, this LLM has capabilities that go far beyond the basic LLMs in the market. With its advanced natural language processing capabilities, Gemini AI understands and interprets human language with remarkable accuracy.  The platform is developed by a team of expert linguists and computer scientists. Gemini AI offers a stable foundation for generative AI with remarkable capabilities that bring precise results to the table. The platform's strength lies in its capacity to process intricate requests and generate context-aware outcomes, setting it apart in the competitive AI market.  What makes Gemini more accurate is how it follows all ethical practices while making sure that everything the large language model creates is done observing a greater level of privacy.  The platform is well-equipped to carry out meaningful conversations. Whether you’re young or old, anyone & everyone can benefit from Gemini’s remarkable AI model Here’s a closer look at the pricing structure of Gemini. 

Gemini 1.0 Pro:

  • Input Tokens: $0.0005 per 1000 tokens
  • Output Tokens: $0.0015 per 1000 tokens

Gemini 1.5 Pro:

  • For prompts up to 128K tokens:
    • Input Tokens: $0.0035 per 1000 tokens
    • Output Tokens: $0.0105 per 1000 tokens
  • For prompts over 128K tokens:
    • Input Tokens: $0.007 per 1000 tokens
    • Output Tokens: $0.021 per 1000 tokens

Gemini 1.5 Flash:

  • For prompts up to 128K tokens:
    • Input Tokens: $0.00035 per 1000 tokens
    • Output Tokens: $0.00105 per 1000 tokens
  • For prompts over 128K tokens:
    • Input Tokens: $0.0007 per 1000 tokens
    • Output Tokens: $0.00210 per 1000 tokens

Subscription Plans

Gemini Advanced: $20 per month for personal use and $30 per month for business use. It also offers a 2-month free trial period. 

4. GitHub CoPilot 

GitHub Copilot GitHub Copilot is another AI-powered code completion tool powered by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. This generative AI tool works with Visual Studio Code (VS Code) assisting developers by offering them help in a multitude of ways such as suggesting code snippets, auto-completing code, & more.  You may consider GitHub Copilot as an intelligent sidekick programmer working with you.  The GitHub copilot is capable of predicting what code you’re likely to write next and suggesting relevant options. It understands the context of the code, & at the same time, provides accurate suggestions. Copilot also generates entire functions, classes, or methods based on natural language descriptions. Just describe what you are looking for and the tool will create the code exactly the way you want.  Not only does it write code, but it also works like a critic offering comments on documentation improving the code’s overall readability and maintainability. Co-pilot comes with multiple programming language support, including names like Python, JavaScript, Go, Java, and many others. One of the best things about GitHub Copilot is, that the more you use Copilot, the better it becomes in understanding your coding style and preferences. So think of it as a virtual programmer, one that catches errors while you code and suggests suitable solutions. 
  • Copilot Individual: $100 per year if billed annually, $10 per month if billed monthly. Students, teachers, and open-source practitioners may be eligible for free access. A free trial is available to all users.
  • Copilot Business: $19 per user per month.
  • Copilot Enterprise: $39 per user per month. Requires a subscription to GitHub Enterprise Cloud.

5. Cohere 

Cohere AI Platform Cohere is another AI platform that works marvelously well in the ever-evolving market of generative AI models. The platform is known for its advanced retrieval models for enterprise applications making it a favored choice among organizations. Think of Cohere as a powerful toolkit, one that enables developers, marketers, and business owners to create intelligent solutions while keeping in mind human needs and context.  Cohere offers automatic content creation; whether it’s article writing, creating social media posts, or generating high-quality texts based on prompts, Cohere can effectively handle all such tasks allowing people to save time and effort in content creation. Its advanced retrieval model allows efficient searching & quick matching of documents. They work interestingly well for creating personalized content delivery, designing recommendation systems, and optimizing content effectively for search engines.  As a developer, you can use Cohere to fine-tune your pre-trained models on specific tasks and domains. You can eventually create codes that are better in performance overall.  Here’s the updated pricing structure for Cohere:

Command R+

  • Input: $3.00 per 1M tokens
  • Output: $15.00 per 1M tokens

Command R

  • Input: $0.50 per 1M tokens
  • Output: $1.50 per 1M tokens

Fine-tuned Model

  • Input: $2.00 per 1M tokens
  • Output: $4.00 per 1M tokens
  • Training: $8.00 per 1M tokens

Retrieval Models

  • Rerank 3: $2.00 per 1K searches (1 search unit = query with up to 100 documents)
  • Embed 3: $0.10 per 1M tokens

6. DALL-E 3 

DALL-E DALL-E 3 is an artificial intelligence system which depends on text prompts as input and creates new images as output.  DALL-E 3 is a generative model which creates images based on textual descriptions. A user who is using DALL-E 3 simply needs to add a textual prompt and the model will automatically generate a corresponding image. Based on the predecessor, DALL-E 3 offers enhanced image quality, a better understanding of complex prompts, and more creative & accurate rendering.  DALL-E 3 is quite popularly known for its high-quality and well-detailed yet aesthetically pleasing images. What makes DALL-E 3 stand out from the competition is how it adds fidelity and creativity to every image making it surpass all its previous versions and other competing models.  Today many educators and researchers are using DALL-E 3 to illustrate concepts, create educational materials, and increase AI’s creative potential.  DALL-3 has very simple pricing.  $15 buys 115 credits, which you can use to enter 115 image prompts. Each prompt returns four pictures as a result, so it's about 3 cents per image you generate. This simple formula makes it easy to use.

7. Midjourney 

Midjourney Midjourney is an advanced generative AI tool specializing in creating visually stunning digital art and images. It caters to artists, designers, marketers, and digital content creators who seek to bring their visual ideas to life. If you’re struggling to visualize your brand’s essence, Midjourney brings your concepts into breathtaking imagery that talks volumes with your audience.  Today, many creative professionals appreciate Midjourney for its ability to create unique and high-quality images from simple prompts. The platform allows you to produce and refine digital art, enhance social media visuals, and create captivating website graphics as well.  Midjourney also offers complete technical support necessary for creating well-optimized visual content that leaves a lasting impact. Here’s the complete breakdown of the pricing structure for Midjourney.  Basic Plan: Priced at $30 per month if billed annually. This plan is perfect for individual artists and small-scale projects. It includes unlimited image generation, access to a library of pre-designed templates, and basic image editing tools. Pro Plan: Costs $90 per month (or $75 per month if billed annually). This plan is designed for professional designers and small teams (up to five users). It includes all features of the Basic Plan plus advanced functionalities like custom templates, high-resolution image exports, and collaboration tools. Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing tailored to large organizations and creative agencies. This plan offers unlimited image generation, dedicated design consultations, multiple-user access, and premium support with a dedicated account manager and custom integrations for seamless workflow enhancement.

8. Jasper 

Jasper AI Jasper is a generative AI content generation tool, it helps business owners, marketers, and digital content creators to create content for a variety of uses such as website landing pages, social media posts, e-books, essays, newsletters, blogs, guest posts, and more. If you’re struggling to give your brand a voice, Jasper can create wonders by creating AI-generated content that mimics unique buyer personas.  Many marketers enjoy using Jasper because of its versatility in content creation; especially when you just have to add a few prompts and templates and make a creative solution out of it.  The tool is remarkable for creating and updating both text and images.  Whether you want to launch a marketing campaign, start a blog, or create social media posts, Jasper offers all the technical marketing support you need for SEO and performance analytics.  It gives users an accurate solution, one that’s powered by AI-generated recommendations & tangible improvements.  Creator Plan: Priced at $39 per month if billed annually. This plan is ideal for individuals who create short content such as headlines, bios, and descriptions. It includes unlimited word generation, access to over 50 templates, grammar and plagiarism checks, and Jasper Chat.  Team Plan: Costs $125 per month (or $99 per month if billed annually). This plan is designed for small teams (up to three users). It includes all features of the Creator Plan plus additional functionalities like Surfer SEO integration, pre-built recipes, and multiple brand voices.  Business Plan: Custom pricing designed for larger teams and organizations. This plan includes unlimited content generation, custom AI templates, multiple users, and advanced features like a dedicated customer success manager, custom workflows, and premium technical support. 

The Bottomline 

There you have it! These are just a few of the many Generative AI tools that are making waves in 2024.  Each tool has its own unique features and strengths, so be sure to choose the one that best suits your needs. Whether you’re in search of an AI tool to create content, write code, or simply want to explore creative possibilities of AI, this article will provide you with a complete arsenal of tools & applications.  So why wait? Check these AI tools and see for yourself, how the power of Generative AI today can take your project to the next level. Read everything you need to know about Generative AI tools!  Are you looking for exceptionally talented individuals skilled in using Generative AI services to produce remarkable results? Branex is a software development firm where we bring some of the best data engineers and AI enthusiasts to build next-gen solutions for your digital business. 

May it be art, content, or code, we can take care of everything. 

Why Should You Hire Dedicated Software Development Team
Guide Software Development

What is a Dedicated Software Development Team and Why Should You Hire One?

branex-logo Team Branex
Building winning software for your business can be challenging, often resulting in deployment delays or half-baked software solutions.  But don't worry, a dedicated software development team can help you create fantastic digital products that deliver both utility and a superior user experience. You may be wondering, how does a dedicated team fit into the equation? Well, a dedicated software development team is solely committed to working on a specific software project. In contrast, organizations typically have in-house development teams responsible for various software applications and systems. While in-house teams are proficient, they often face challenges when it comes to scaling and maintaining their software solutions while keeping up with market demands. This is where a dedicated software development team shines. Although in-house development teams can build successful software solutions. They may encounter limitations or struggle to adapt to the rapidly changing market.  On the contrary, a dedicated team is adept at quickly adapting to the project's evolving demands. They are well-equipped, knowledgeable, and skilled to handle any challenges that arise. If you're feeling skeptical about hiring a dedicated software development team for your business, we're here to address all your concerns.

What is a Dedicated Software Development Team? 

Dedicated Software Development Team A dedicated software development team is a group of experts who are responsible for designing, building, and maintaining software applications. Since they are tasked with working exclusively on a single software build, it gives them more control over the software. They become more well-equipped to achieve the business goals without taking up the cost which full-time salaried positions might consume.  Dedicated software development teams usually work on a contractual basis. Here, the team that’s working on your particular project usually works from their desired workplace but spends a dedicated number of hours building your perfect software solution. These teams are agile and can produce better results by overcoming the blockers which may arise within the software development lifecycle.  They follow the project, week after week making sure that the implementations are done as per strategy.  What makes a dedicated software development team better compared to an in-house development team is how a dedicated team gives 100% of the engineer’s focus. Whether you’re looking for frontend development, backend development, or code design, they offer the best commitment and relentless focus all the while staying committed to the specific project timeline. At the same time, they also meet the client’s expectations creating the software solution as per the exact client’s requirement. 

Why Consider Hiring a Dedicated Software Development Team? 

Hire a Dedicated Software Development Team According to Statista, the IT outsourcing market is expected to grow by a staggering $129.9 billion by the end of 2028. 
  • As per the 2023 research done by SpareMyTime, more than 48% of organizations across the United Kingdom are currently outsourcing their IT services. 
  • More than 76% of business owners are now claiming that their IT services were delivered by third-party providers in 2022. 
Such statistics highlight the growing preference of large and medium-sized businesses for outsourced development teams. What might be the reason why organizations abundantly focus on bringing on board a dedicated software development team within their particular organization?  Discussed below are just a few: 

Reasons for Hiring a Dedicated Software Development Team 

Reasons for Hiring Dedicated Software Development Team  If you’re planning to launch a new product, whether you’re a startup or an enterprise looking to develop your next-generation software solution, you might consider building an in-house team.  However, the cost of hiring individuals directly from the market can be significantly higher compared to onboarding a dedicated software development team. Opting to build a dedicated software development team at your workplace not only saves valuable time but also ensures that you acquire a team willing to commit fully to the development process. If you have a long-term project that will require updates, your company might need to enhance its capabilities to make the most of your software’s current stack. A dedicated team, like the one Branex can provide, offers the talent necessary to perform essential software development tasks efficiently. With a dedicated software team, businesses can update their requirements while maintaining optimal software quality and delivering excellent service throughout the development lifecycle. If you’re planning to scale up your software, hiring a dedicated software development team can be highly advantageous. Whether you need to outsource your software development or require members with relevant expertise in your specific domain and tech stack for a new office, a dedicated development team is the ultimate solution.

Who to Hire for Your Software Development Team? 

Hire Dedicated Software Development Team The dedicated software development team is a team that’s entirely based on the client’s project requirements. At Branex, we can provide you with a software development team purely dedicated to your particularities. Our project managers will outsource the right resources based on: 
  • The qualification of the dedicated software development team. 
  • The number of developers and other skills & expertise.
  • The largely growing market demands and the pool of talented skills. 

What Are the Different Roles in a Software Development Team? 

Role of Software Development Team A dedicated software team is made up of several distinct roles, and every role contributes to the successful delivery of a software project.  Here are some known roles within development teams:

1. Project Manager:

A project manager is someone who is responsible for coordinating and overseeing a project. From inception to completion, project managers act as the primary link between the development team and the client. They are in charge of communicating any problem that may arise during the software development lifecycle. They also follow up on project statuses, making sure quality standards and benchmarks are well met. At the same time, they also follow up and see if milestones are achieved. 

2. Software Developers/Engineers:

Just like project managers are responsible for coordination and overseeing, a developer is responsible for developing, testing, and maintaining the software code. Many software individuals have a keen understanding of programming and are well-versed in working with complex frameworks. Every software developer on the dedicated team has unique skills and enough practical expertise in specific programming languages. They custom code the software & design software solutions to meet customer’s expectations. 

3. UI/UX Designers:

A UI/UX designer focuses on creating intuitive and visually appealing software interfaces for apps and web solutions. They work closely with software engineers understanding the dynamics of the software and ensuring it has an accessible user interface. They check whether the app’s design delivers a seamless user experience, one that’s enjoyable for the end customers or not. UI/UX designers also make sure the app’s design aligns with the software project’s core objectives. 

4. Quality Assurance Specialists:

QA specialists are the first line of defense for any software project. They are responsible for identifying any bugs, glitches, or performance issues within the respective software. Software engineers conduct test plans & provide the necessary feedback to the development team. QA teams also take care of the important implementations making sure the software meets the quality standards right before its initial release. 

5. DevOps Engineers:

DevOps engineers are tasked with improving the collaboration between development and operations. They are responsible for streamlining the software development lifecycle and automating the necessary development processes. DevOps also manages the software deployment pipelines. These engineers integrate, test, and deploy software to ensure the software is working optimally. They also communicate between development teams and ensure there are no bottlenecks until the deployment. 

6. Technical Architects:

Technical architects work on the blueprints of the software architecture. They make critical technical decisions and ensure the software is designed for scalability. Technical architects are also responsible for security updates and performance enhancements. They check in with the development team throughout the entire process. Technical architects are an integral part of any software team, making them an important asset for any dedicated development team.

7. Business Analysts:

Last but not least, business analysts play an important role in bridging the gap between the business side and the technical side of things. They gather, analyze, and document the business requirements for the project. They stay in constant communication with the client-side business analysts, understand the client’s objectives, conduct market analysis, identify changing trends & suggest the necessary improvements. They make all of these efforts to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of the project’s goals and contributes to its overall progress. 

How Dedicated Software Development Team is Better Than an In-House Development Team? 

In-House Development Team vs Dedicated Software Development Team

1. Specialized Skills:

A great benefit of having a dedicated software development team is that they offer specialized skill experts who operate in specific domains. They bring a large set of skills to the table which is not only limited to programming. A specialized team also has UI/UX designers, project managers, quality assurance engineers, and many other individuals. The specialized knowledge which they bring is often a challenge to find & onboard as in-house teams within organizations. 

2. Cost-Effectiveness:

Another important benefit of having a dedicated software development team is cost savings. While recruitment, training, and infrastructure management can all lead to overhead costs; When you hire a dedicated software development team; they work remotely and come in an affordable category. Besides, having a dedicated software development team, you only pay for the custom software services you need; which means that this model is not only flexible but also cost-effective overall. 

3. Time Efficiency:

When you hire a dedicated software team, you gain access to a well-established group of professionals who are well-versed and have years of technical experience. Because these individuals are well-versed and knowledgeable, it gives you an edge by ensuring you don’t have to spend time on recruitment, onboarding, and team formation. As a result, your project deployment process speeds up and it ultimately reduces the time-to-market for your software product. 

4. Scalability:

Since business needs fluctuate, so do the additional resources that are required to meet the growing project demands. A dedicated software development team can easily scale up projects accommodating the changes, and adding more flexibility; it’s a luxury you can’t afford when you are working with an in-house team. If you’re looking for scalability with an in-house team, you may want to have a more rigid hiring and firing process to let go of people with old concepts & get new ones. 

5. Fresh Perspective:

When you bring aboard an external team, be ready to be mesmerized with unbiased and fresher perspectives for your project. A dedicated software team has many innovative ideas that allow it to overcome the challenges that your present software version might be experiencing. They also suggest improvements, allowing business owners to think outside the box. It often leads to more creative digital solutions with a high-quality finish and a product that’s error-free and good. 

6. Risk Mitigation:

With an in-house team, you are always on the verge of experiencing the risk of employee turnover. This can ultimately disrupt the project timelines; whereas, with dedicated software development teams, you are usually backed by third-party companies which offer better continuity. Even if a team member leaves at their end, they can quickly be replaced, which in turn minimizes the risk of ending up 

7. Access to Latest Technologies:

Dedicated software development teams have access to many different tools and technologies. They are well-versed and knowledgeable in industry best practices. Because they stay up-to-date with the latest trends, they ensure that the software they design is up-to-date with modern implementations and is backed by innovative approaches. Having access to a greater pool of technologies can offer you robust solutions that go a long way. 

8. Focus on Core Business Models:

When you decide to outsource software development, you often free up internal resources so you can better focus on your business’s core competencies. As a result, your in-house team can better concentrate on strategic implementations, product development & market expansion. At the same time, you can leave all technical executions behind for the experts to take care of. With a dedicated development team working on your software, you can eventually focus better on business models. 

9. Better Project Management:

Dedicated software development companies often have robust project management practices. They provide project managers who ensure timely delivery, effective communication, and seamless collaboration between your team and theirs.

How Much Will it Cost to Hire a Dedicated Software Development Team? 

Cost to Hire Dedicated Software Development Team Hiring a dedicated development team in the United States is a decent investment. The cost of hiring them depends on a multitude of factors, including details such as who are the developers, their level of expertise, and above all, where they are located in the United States.  Since a dedicated vendor assembles the team according to the client's requirements. This team may consist of experts with a particular specialization, such as engineers. Alternatively, it may include a full-stack team with business analysts, project managers, UI/UX designers, developers, and QA specialists. The cost of hiring a dedicated development team in the United States can vary depending on the region. According to Talent.com, the average annual salary for software developers in the United States is $73,999. However, this rate can vary greatly from state to state.  Here's a breakdown of average salaries by region:
Region Average Annual Salary
New York $114,140
California $112,690
Washington $108,090
Massachusetts $105,440
Texas $94,490
Florida $83,490
To give you a rough estimate of how much it will cost you monthly to hire a dedicated development team in the United States: 
Team Size Monthly Cost
1-3 developers $15,000 - $30,000
4-6 developers $30,000 - $60,000
7-10 developers $60,000 - $100,000
Just remember that these are just average estimates based on research and the actual cost can be different depending on your app’s specific needs and requirements.  To give you a better understanding, here's a comparison of the costs of hiring different types of developers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany:
Type of Developer United States United Kingdom Germany
Frontend Developer $73,999 £45,000 €55,000
Backend Developer $80,000 £50,000 €60,000
Full Stack Developer $90,000 £60,000 €70,000

How to Hire a Dedicated Software Development Team? 

How to Hire a Dedicated Software Development Team Onboarding a dedicated software team for your next digital project requires strategic decision-making. This can only be achieved when your teams have specialized skills and required expertise. At the same time, you’re also looking for a custom software development company that can work flexible hours and accelerate project delivery. So when you’re onboarding a dedicated software development team. Here are a few prerequisites that one needs to keep in mind.  Define Your Business Requirements - First, when onboarding a dedicated software development team, you can start by outlining project requirements. Start with the timeline, understand the business goals, and ask around if your client has any other specific requirements. Once you are aware of your client’s needs, now outline the technical skills, and your project management expertise and share industry knowledge.  Communicate Your Expectations - Next up, clearly understand and communicate your expectations with the dedicated software development team you’re planning to onboard. Start with understanding the vendor requirements, and bring everything in the clear, both verbally and in writing. Also, understand that your vendor is hearing about your software solution for the first time, so go easy if they don’t relate to everything clearly. Form a Team of Your Choice - Ask if your dedicated software development team vendor is offering you a chance to customize the team based on the required roles, expertise, and skills required to accomplish the software project. The vendor gathers a team of software experts as communication including project managers, software developers, designers, quality assurance engineers, and testers. A fully custom development team adds greater value and offers better results overall. 

Concluding Thoughts

Hiring a dedicated software development team is a strategic move that empowers businesses to create exceptional digital products.  With a dedicated software team, you gain access to specialized skills, cost-effectiveness, greater flexibility, and an accelerated time-to-market.  By choosing a dedicated team, businesses can access fresh perspectives, mitigate risks, and stay updated with the latest technologies. Dedicated teams also offer you better expertise in different roles, from project management to software development and quality assurance. This model allows organizations to focus on their core competencies while benefiting from efficient project management and enhanced collaboration. Are you looking to hire a dedicated software development team for your next big project? Branex offers you the best dedicated software development service! We are your one-stop shop for all software development requirements. Contact us today & hire the best specialists. 
iOS App Development Trends
Guide iOS App Development Tech Trends

Trends To Watch For iOS App Development in 2024

branex-logo Team Branex
In today’s digital environment, it’s clear that business owners want to develop an iOS App for digital solutions that allow them to stay on top of the growing trends and yet meet customer expectations. It all started back in 2008 when the App Store launched its first-ever 500 applications. Today, the App Store stands at an astounding 2.29 million apps available for download. With such numbers, it’s no secret that companies are greatly investing in iOS app development and developing feature-rich iOS applications that entertain iPhone users globally. According to a recent report, the Apple App Store will touch $89.3 billion market value alone in 2023. Sensor Tower’s forecasting states the App Store will eventually see a CAGR of 21% by the year 2025, reaching almost $185 billion. This gradual app market share increase is expected on a Y-o-Y basis. If you want to maximize profit returns on your iOS app development services as well, here’s an article that’s going to guide you on some of the top trends to develop the most interactive applications. These trends will eventually help you capture the heart of your customers and outpace the marketplace.

Swift UI and Declarative UI Development

Swift and Declarative Development for iOS app SwiftUI is a declarative UI framework for the iOS platform powered by Apple in 2019. It allows app developers to create dynamic and interactive user interfaces for all Apple platforms including iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Swift UI uses declarative syntax to enhance code readability and maintainability. On the other hand, Declarative UI development enables developers to achieve desired UI outcomes contrary to imperative programming without programming the sequence of steps to achieve the outcome.

1. Advantages of Swift UI

  • Declarative Syntax: Developers describe what the UI should look like and how it should behave, rather than specifying the step-by-step instructions to create it.
  • Unified Framework: One framework for all Apple platforms, simplifying cross-platform development.
  • Live Previews: Real-time preview of the UI in Xcode, allowing developers to see changes instantly as they code.
  • Automatic Data Binding: Simplifies data handling and ensures UI components automatically update when the data changes.
  • Composable and Reusable Components: UI elements are modular, making it easier to reuse components across different parts of an app.

2. Advantages of Declarative UI

  • Simplicity and Readability: Code is often more straightforward and easier to read, as it focuses on the desired outcome rather than the process.
  • Reduced Boilerplate Code: Developers can write less code compared to imperative programming, as the framework handles much of the underlying complexity.
  • State Management: Declarative frameworks typically offer better ways to manage and react to changes in application state.
  • Consistency: Ensures a more consistent and predictable UI, as the framework handles rendering and updates based on the declared state.

5G Technology and Enhanced Connectivity

5G technology It’s no secret that 5G technology promises a revolutionary impact in the iOS app development market. The technology will allow faster data processing speed, lower motion, and high availability networks. In the coming days, 5G will open newer channels for iOS app multimedia content, fully equipped to deliver remarkable quality iOS app solutions, offering real-time streaming and more immersive experiences. 5G’s high-speed internet will minimize latency and revolutionize streaming and cloud development services. You can stream FHD and 4K content with an improved overall responsiveness. 

Advantages of Implementing 5G Technologies 

  • Immersive Multimedia Experiences: 5G's high-speed connectivity supports 4K video, AR, and VR, enhancing user engagement and entertainment.
  • Edge Computing and Latency Reduction: Edge computing processes data closer to users, reducing latency and improving app responsiveness for instant interactions.
  • IoT Integration: 5G supports many connected devices, enabling smart city initiatives and enhanced control through iOS apps.
  • Enhanced Healthcare and Remote Monitoring: 5G allows real-time patient monitoring, enabling faster diagnoses and better healthcare access, especially in remote areas.
  • Transportation and Autonomous Vehicles: 5G's low latency and reliability improve transportation apps, support autonomous driving, and enhance road safety.
  • Accelerated Development and Innovation: 5G enables the creation of next-generation apps, driving innovation and transformative user experiences.
  • Improved Network Slicing and Customization: 5G network slicing offers tailored connectivity for specific applications, ensuring reliable and secure connections.

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Integration 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in iOS App Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are becoming the two widely adopted concepts. Its implementations will not only be limited to a certain specificity, but it will also extend into the iOS app market. App designers and developers will eventually leverage AI and ML algorithms to create personalized app experiences for customers. It will carve a path for a smarter and more intuitive mobile app experience for users. Not only will it make the interaction of the end user seamless, but it will also make the app’s processing more efficient. The benefits of AI and ML integration are vast; from user satisfaction to increased operational efficiency for businesses, it will offer a smart choice for everyone. 

Tools & Libraries for AI & ML Algorithms 

  • Core ML: Apple’s Core ML framework allows developers to configure trained ML models into iOS apps. The Core ML will allow on-device inference for image recognition, sentiment analysis, and text analysis. 
  • TensorFlow Lite: TensorFlow Lite, Google’s open-source framework offers on-device inference with reduced model size and improved performance supporting a wide range of ML tasks, including image and text recognition. 
  • Create ML: Create ML is Apple’s own machine learning framework allowing developers to create and train models using Swift. It offers an intuitive interface making it easier for iOS app developers to create. 

Voice Interface & Conversational UI

voice interface for ios app The growing demand for voice-based interactions and a more conversational UI is becoming quite a popular choice among app users. It’s somewhat contributing to the growing iOS app ecosystem and shaping the landscape of iOS development as well. Voice interface and conversational UI help users control their devices with voice recognition in a hands-free natural way. It’s no secret that its implementation in the iOS app market is creating a much better convenience in the iOS app user experience. App integrations with virtual assistants such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant with iOS devices have definitely made it easier for apps to respond to natural language queries & commands.  Today, the app market has hundreds and thousands of apps which are powered by voice interaction. 

Advantages of Voice Interactions 

  • Improved User Engagement - Enable voice interactions to offer improved user engagement and loyalty using voice commands and chatbots. It makes the overall interactions more intuitive and accessible. 
  • Natural Language Processing - Natural Language Processing (NLP) advancements enable better voice recognition. With NLP, you get more contextually relevant responses, & an improved accuracy of voice assistants. 
  • Sirikit for Development - Developers make use of SiriKit which allows easy integration into the iOS app. It empowers them to create Siri-based innovative app solutions which are backed by voice-controlled functionalities. 

Augmented Reality (AR) Application Integration

Augmented Reality Application Integration Augmented Reality is one of the emerging technologies, it has now become a popular concept and a way to engage with digital content. With the launch of Apple’s AR Kit, it’s no secret that AR integration has become quite a popular iOS app trend. Its implementations are now observed in the retail industry, gaming, healthcare, and education and have earned significant dominance across multiple domains.  Today, app developers are using AR technology to create immersive gaming experiences.  AR allows retailers to offer customers a virtual try-on experience and allows them to actually observe a product before its real-world purchase.

Differentiation and Competitive Advantage

Adopting AR sets businesses apart as it introduces innovative features which attract and engage users. It also nurtures a sense of trust, breeds loyalty, and creates the ultimate satisfaction for customers. 
  • Gamification and User Engagement: AR naturally supports gamification, allowing developers to add gaming elements to non-gaming apps, boosting user engagement and interaction.
  • ARKit and Developer Tools: Apple's ARKit provides a robust framework for incorporating AR into iOS apps, offering tools and support for creating seamless AR experiences.
  • Social AR and Collaboration: Social media platforms integrate with AR to create social AR experiences, allowing users to interact and collaborate in augmented reality.
  • Enhanced Shopping and Retail: AR enhances online shopping by letting users visualize products in their space before purchase, increasing confidence and reducing returns.
  • Education and Training: AR revolutionizes education and training with interactive, immersive learning experiences, improving knowledge retention and engagement.
  • Constant Innovation: AR technology is continuously evolving, and Apple regularly updates and enhances AR capabilities in iOS, keeping AR implementations fresh and exciting.

Sustainability & Green App Development 

Green App Development Businesses have now become more environment-centric. By adopting green app development practices, they are now creating app solutions which reduce energy consumption. Green app development begins at the coding level. Most app developers optimize the code to improve its efficiency. Its trend is becoming quite the popular choice in the iOS market as well. Many iOS developers now employ techniques such as code splitting, lazy loading, and the use of efficient algorithms to create apps which are both fast response and environment-friendly. Sustainable development practices give developers a chance to become a part of this environment conservation movement.

A Few Examples of Green App Development 

Here are a few good examples of eco-friendly apps.  
  • Ecosia - A search engine app that allows users to plant real-life trees with their searches. It uses ad revenue from searches to fund tree-planting projects and promote sustainability.
  • Olio - A food-sharing app that connects people with neighbors and local businesses so surplus food can be shared instead of thrown away.
  • JouleBug - This app gamifies eco-friendly activities by rewarding points for each sustainable action. It provides instructions and context for each action, making it fun and educational.
  • iRecycle - Helps users find convenient recycling solutions near them. It includes a database of recycling centers and provides information on various materials that can be recycled.
  • EcoEasy - An informative eco app designed by Robyn Roux that likely provides tips and resources for sustainable living.

Privacy & Security Enhancements 

Privacy and Security We all know that Apple is very concerned about user privacy. It’s one of the reasons why Apple keeps adding exciting new features and advancements within their ecosystem ensuring they guarantee maximum user data protection. In the future, there will be many updates that will provide admin freedom for iOS users and make sure that these apps are reinforced within the iOS platform. 

Best Strategies for Implementing Robust Security Measures 

  • Secure Coding Practices – App developers must implement secure coding rules, including input validation, output encoding, and secure session management. These practices help mitigate and eliminate various security vulnerabilities.
  • Regular Security Audits – App developers should conduct frequent vulnerability assessments to identify security issues within an iOS app. This proactive step helps uncover potential malicious intent and protects against exploitation.
  • Compliance with Regulatory Requirements – App developers must adhere to privacy laws and data protection regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA, to ensure legal and regulatory compliance. By doing so, they can avoid hefty fines and penalties while maintaining user trust.

Blockchains & Cryptocurrency Integrations 

Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Integration Blockchain and cryptocurrency integrations are more likely to become a prominent trend in the iOS app market. It will eventually shape the future of mobile applications in the coming days. One of the amazing things about blockchain technology is how such integrations offer a secure and transparent framework, one that’s more relevant for storing data and conducting important transactions. Transactions performed through iOS apps which are powered by blockchain & cryptocurrency protect user information and are relatively easy and secure compared to traditional practices. 

The Benefits of Having Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Integrations

  • Blockchain introduces a decentralized platform for the central authorities or intermediaries. The centrally distributed system offers better trust and greater control over all kinds of digital interactions. It also provides a secure and autonomous experience ensuring all financial assets are highly secure. 
  • Blockchain also holds significant potential to revolutionize different industries including finance, supply chain, and retail. iOS developers can make use of multiple creative innovative ways to design iOS applications, such as secure digital wallets & decentralized supply chain tracking. 
  • Blockchain and cryptocurrency integrations expand the global reach of iOS apps. iOS app developers are capable of developing app solutions which can inclusively be used by users from around the world. Regardless of where you’re located in the world, blockchain & cryptocurrency-powered integrations help iOS apps expand their financial infrastructure limitations. 
  • The rise of Web3 and decentralized finance (DeFi) is closely tied to blockchain & cryptocurrency. iOS app developers can tap into this trend by creating "super apps" bringing a range of financial services, such as decentralized banking, lending, and investing, all within a secure and autonomous environment.

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) for iOS Apps 

Progressive Web App for iOS App Progressive web apps (PWAs) are a type of web app that offers an app-like experience with all the important features such as offline support and more. It includes interesting features such as push notifications & also offers a responsive web design which can easily be accessed through a web browser. iOS is considerably strong as a platform offering maximum support for PWAs. It may have its fair share of limitations; however, the OS on these platforms allows iOS devices to adapt to PWA by offering a rich experience. It’s no secret that this particular platform will not become a growing trend for the iOS app market. 

Conclusion

The iOS app development landscape is constantly evolving.  Businesses must stay ahead of the curve to maximize their success. By embracing these trends, developers can create innovative and engaging apps. These apps will stand out in the crowded App Store. Key trends include SwiftUI and 5G integration. AI/ML and AR enhancements are also important. The future of iOS apps is bright. The focus will be on delivering immersive, efficient, and sustainable experiences.  Apple continues to raise the bar for user privacy and security. Developers must prioritize these aspects to earn user trust. The integration of blockchain and cryptocurrency is another significant trend.  This will offer secure and transparent transactions. The iOS app market is set to reach new heights.  It will cater to the evolving needs and expectations of users worldwide. Are you in search of a custom mobile app development company to build your next-gen iOS mobile app? Branex is your ultimate destination for mobile app solutions.  From wireframing to initial mockups, we take care of everything right until we create the final prototype and launch your app in the beta phase. Let’s create the perfect iOS app for you. 
How To Grow Your Business with Socially Responsible Marketing
Digital Marketing Guide

How To Grow Your Business with Socially Responsible Marketing?

branex-logo Team Branex
We live in an era where consumers are increasingly conscious of social responsibility and diversity. As a social media manager, you understand the importance of creating inclusive and impactful marketing campaigns that not only resonate with your audience but also reflect your business’s values. The goal is to create a positive social impact that leads to scalable business growth. In contrast, staying true to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). In today's day and age, standing out as a socially responsible business is important. It involves more than just a superficial gesture; it requires a deep-rooted commitment to making a positive difference. As you navigate the challenges of running social ads, A/B testing, & crafting effective social media strategies, incorporating a socially responsible and diverse approach will set you apart. As we connect the dots between social impact and diversity, allow us to help you rediscover how you can grow your business by implementing DIEB marketing within your business. 

The Power of Diversity - Transforming Marketing for the Better

power of diversity The world we live in is a vibrant tapestry of diverse cultures, beliefs, and identities, and the heart of successful industries lies in embracing this diversity. This is especially true in the realm of social media marketing, where resonating with a wide range of audiences is pivotal for maximizing business success.  According to industry expert Troy Sandidge, with over 15 years of experience in strategic growth, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are critical components of marketing strategies. Sandidge's marketing implementations are fueled by a diversity-led experiential approach. His work underscores a powerful truth - embracing DEIB drives sustainable growth & establishes deeper connections with target audiences.  The potential of this approach is immense, especially when considering the purchasing power of the BIPOC (black, indigenous, and other people of color) community, which stands at a substantial $3.7 trillion. A multitude of brands and agencies are now recognizing the importance of the DEIB principle. By integrating it into their marketing strategies. They are not only doing the right thing but also unlocking new avenues for growth.  A recent study found that diverse and inclusive ads resonate strongly with consumers, with 64% taking action after seeing such advertisements. This demonstrates the tangible impact of diversity in marketing and its ability to influence consumer behavior. For instance, Coca-Cola's "Taste the Feeling" campaign celebrated diverse cultures and lifestyles, resulting in increased brand loyalty and a more inclusive brand image.  This is a prime example of how inclusive marketing can expand a brand's reach and foster a deeper connection with its audience.  By representing diverse audiences in marketing campaigns, businesses are more likely to engage with a broader spectrum of consumers and drive purchasing decisions. However, embracing DEIB goes beyond the campaigns we see. It requires a long-term commitment, from diverse hiring practices to ongoing education.  Marketing teams must also address their own unconscious biases, utilizing tools and frameworks to ensure that diverse perspectives are genuinely considered in the creative process. This ensures authenticity and respect in the representation of diverse audiences. The impact of DEIB initiatives can be measured through key performance indicators (KPIs) such as increased brand loyalty, improved customer satisfaction, and higher sales among diverse consumer segments. By tracking these metrics, businesses can quantify the success of their inclusive marketing strategies and continuously improve their approach. 

How to Connect with More People Through DEIB Marketing 

How to connect people through DEIB Marketing

1. Understanding The 'Conscious Growth Pathways' Framework

Troy Sandidge, the expert we've been referring to, has developed the "Conscious Growth Pathways" framework to guide organizations in embedding DEIB principles into their marketing strategies.  This framework adds an important human-centric layer to traditional marketing models like the "5 Ps" and "7 Cs." The "4 Es"—engagement, exclusivity, experience, and emotion. At the heart of this approach, recognizing that people crave exclusive communities where they feel safe, accepted, and emotionally connected. The "Conscious Growth Pathways" emphasize the intersection of experience, entertainment, education, and empowerment, with a focus on the human element. It's about understanding that consumers want more than just a transaction; they want to feel like they belong and that their values align with the brand. By meeting audiences at this intersection, agencies can form deeper bonds and foster long-lasting loyalty. Troy highlights the importance of starting DEIB efforts internally by examining your organization's capacity, utility, and performance around these issues. It's about practicing what you preach and ensuring your team reflects the diversity you want to see in your campaigns. A diverse team brings a wealth of perspectives, increasing the chances of converting customers who share those viewpoints. The "Conscious Growth Pathways" framework also incorporates a sustainability focus, recognizing that social responsibility and environmental consciousness are increasingly important to consumers. By embracing this framework, agencies can create marketing strategies that not only drive profitable outcomes but also have a meaningful and positive impact on the world. By embracing the "Conscious Growth Pathways," agencies can deliver authentic, diverse, and socially responsible campaigns that truly resonate with their target market. An excellent example of a brand that has embraced the "Conscious Growth Pathways" framework is Ben & Jerry's, the iconic ice cream company known for its delicious treats and progressive values. Ben & Jerry's has long been committed to social and environmental causes, and their marketing campaigns often reflect this. One of their notable campaigns, "Justice ReMix'd," focused on criminal justice reform and racial equity. The campaign centered around a limited-batch ice cream flavor, "Justice ReMix'd - Cinnamon and Chocolate Ice Creams with Gobs of Cinnamon Bun Dough & Fudge Brownie Batter," with a portion of the proceeds going to the Advancement Project National Office, a nonprofit organization working to end racially motivated inequalities in America. In this campaign, Ben & Jerry's utilized the "Conscious Growth Pathways" framework by creating an engaging experience centered around a unique flavor and tying it to a larger social issue. They entertained them with delicious ice cream, educated consumers about racial injustices, and empowered them to take action by supporting organizations working toward change. The campaign also acknowledged the human element, featuring real stories and faces of those affected by the criminal justice system. By doing so, Ben & Jerry's created an emotional connection with their audience, inviting them to join a community advocating for a more just world. 

2.  Integrate the “Conscious Growth Pathway” Framework

The "Conscious Growth Pathways" framework is a powerful tool for brands aiming to enhance their diversity and social impact. Troy Sandidge, the creator of this framework, offers the following guidelines to help organizations implement it effectively:
  • Introspection: Encourage honest self-reflection to identify areas for improvement. Seek external perspectives to uncover blind spots and ensure a comprehensive understanding of your brand's position.
  • Genuine Investigation: Have authentic conversations with a diverse range of stakeholders, including clients, leads, and those who chose not to purchase your product or service. Their insights will provide valuable feedback for strategy refinement.
  • Incremental Initiation: Recognize that embedding DEIB is a journey. Start small with pilot initiatives, adapt based on feedback, and focus on progress. Perfection isn't the goal; it's about continuous improvement and learning.
  • Collaboration: Partner with DEIB experts and individuals with lived experiences. Join diverse communities, attend industry events like Black@INBOUND, and actively participate in conversations to broaden your perspective and stay informed.
  • Accountability: Set clear metrics and regularly go through your progress. Create surveys, host workshops, and pay attention to audience sentiment and indicators of belonging. Evaluating the impact of your DEIB initiatives goes beyond vanity metrics; it's about measuring genuine connections. 
An excellent example of an organization that has followed the "Conscious Growth Pathways" framework to the tee is Patagonia.  As far as introspection is concerned, Patagonia has long been committed to environmental causes, but they regularly engage in self-reflection to identify areas where they can improve. They actively seek feedback and insights from environmental organizations, scientists, and their own employees to ensure their practices are aligned with their values. Patagonia underwent a genuine investigation, where the company frequently engaged in conversations with various stakeholders, including customers, environmental activists, and community leaders. They listen to diverse perspectives and use these insights to shape their strategies and campaigns. For example, their "Don't Buy This Jacket" campaign encouraged consumers to reduce their environmental impact by buying only what they truly need. Taking a step as an incremental Initiation, Patagonia understands that change takes time and often starts small. They test new sustainable materials and practices on a limited scale before rolling them out across their entire supply chain. This approach allows for adaptation and ensures that their initiatives are effective and feasible. As a collaborative effort, Patagonia actively partners with environmental organizations and activists to amplify their message and drive change. They've collaborated with groups like Greenpeace and 1% for the Planet, using their platform to support various environmental campaigns. By working with experts and advocates, they ensure their efforts are informed and impactful. For accountability, the company sets clear environmental goals and regularly assesses its progress. They publish annual sustainability reports, detailing their efforts, challenges, and achievements. Patagonia also actively involves its customers in this journey, providing transparent information about its supply chain and the environmental impact of its products.

3. Choose Sustainability; Then Begin with the Scaling Process 

Troy's guidance underlines creating a foundational structure at the onset of your growth journey. "Don't dwell on your current position; instead, focus on your desired destination and the path to get there. Overthinking your present circumstances will hinder your progress towards your goals."  Perceive your enterprise as one driven by ambition, and develop an in-depth understanding of sustaining that growth. More often than not, businesses become overwhelmed by their success, leading to operational bottlenecks, dysfunctional team structures, inadequate employee support, and many other challenges. Without proactive measures, their business empire may go in the dumps.  So what’s the solution that Troy proposes, it’s the one he advocates strongly which is putting sustainability first, then pursuing scalability. It’s where he talks about how one should take a look at the current organizational framework before stepping into the hyperdrive of exploding growth. As soon as things start coming into perspective and goals become more aligned, you can set up the infrastructure and scale up the brand to achieve long-term success.  Forming a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and bias-free community has numerous benefits for any business. When you create an environment where people feel valued, respected, and connected, they are more inclined to support and advocate for your business. By fostering genuine connections, you establish a network of loyal customers, advocates, and brand ambassadors. They become your biggest supporters, willingly providing referrals, positive reviews, and constructive feedback. 

4. Redefine Relationships by Creating a Market for Everyone   

If you want to redefine your relationship with important prospects and leads, "Conscious Growth Pathways" implementation is one of the best methods. We always have this innate drive for more sales, and in pursuit of this goal, we often prematurely sever ties with those who don't make immediate purchases. This is where Troy emphasizes the importance of having a group of not just buyers but also advocates and elevators for your brand. These individuals are just as valuable as those ready to purchase. Troy highlights the idea that agencies must commit to serving and assisting leads, regardless of their immediate conversion rate. Some may become buyers, while others shift into different roles, such as brand advocates or elevators. They may not buy from you right away, but because of your dedication to providing a personalized experience, they may want to add value to your brand over time. By building trust and expanding your network of allies, they can contribute to your resilience and success. For example, Mailchimp, an email marketing platform, understands the importance of building relationships and providing value beyond its core product offering. They recognize that not everyone who interacts with their brand will immediately become a paying customer, but that doesn't mean those leads are any less valuable.  Mailchimp provides a wealth of free resources, guides, and tutorials to help businesses improve their marketing efforts, regardless of whether they are Mailchimp customers or not. Mailchimp offers a freemium model, allowing users to access their platform and send emails for free up to a certain subscriber count. As businesses grow and their needs expand, they may then be inclined to upgrade to Mailchimp's paid plans.

5. Invitation for Introspection 

Last but not least, Troy encourages businesses to begin their journey of introspection & investigation. It opens doors to diversity-led growth that brings your business closer to sustainability. Diversity-led growth can be different for every organization based on its unique context & audience. However, if you have a curious mindset and you’re open to new implementations, you can commit to bold experimentation, and continuous learning and set a humble course.  We believe transformation happens within, especially when you take a courageous step. You can always read case studies of companies such as Procter & Gamble or Microsoft which have sequentially contributed towards diversifying their teams. Based on values such as race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and other factors, such companies have created a workforce that reflects the diversity of their customer base. 

Key Takeaways

  • Consumers increasingly value social responsibility and diversity, and incorporating these values into your marketing campaigns can create a positive impact and drive business growth.
  • The "Conscious Growth Pathways" framework, developed by industry expert Troy Sandidge, emphasizes the importance of engagement, exclusivity, experience, and emotion in marketing, recognizing consumers' desire for exclusive communities and emotional connections.
  • Embracing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in your marketing strategies can lead to stronger consumer resonance and unlock new avenues for growth.
  • Diverse and inclusive ads have a tangible impact on consumer behavior, with 64% of consumers taking action after seeing such advertisements.
  • Internalizing DEIB efforts and diverse hiring practices are crucial for authenticity and ensuring diverse perspectives are considered in the creative process.
  • The "Conscious Growth Pathways" framework incorporates sustainability, social responsibility, and a focus on the human element, allowing agencies to create meaningful and positive impacts.
  • Ben & Jerry's "Justice ReMix'd" campaign is an excellent example of using the framework, engaging consumers with a unique flavor while educating and empowering them about racial injustices.
  • Implementing the framework involves introspection, genuine investigation, incremental initiation, collaboration, and accountability, ensuring continuous improvement and learning.
  • Putting sustainability before scalability is key to long-term success, and forming diverse and inclusive communities fosters loyal customers, advocates, and brand ambassadors.
  • Redefining relationships with prospects and leads by serving and assisting them, even if they don't immediately convert, can lead to valuable brand advocacy and elevation.
  • Businesses are encouraged to embark on a journey of introspection and investigation, embracing diversity-led growth and a courageous step towards transformation.

Conclusion

In today's socially conscious landscape, businesses have the opportunity to create meaningful change and drive growth by embracing social responsibility and diversity.  The "Conscious Growth Pathways" framework provides a powerful tool for agencies to connect with their audiences on a deeper level, fostering emotional connections and a sense of belonging. By integrating DEIB principles into their marketing strategies, businesses can expand their reach, strengthen consumer resonance, and create a positive impact in this digitally savvy world.  Are you ready to take your business to the next level with impactful and socially responsible marketing? We understand that embracing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is about more than just campaigns; it's about a long-term commitment to making a positive change. Get in touch with us today and let's work together to create a brighter future for your business and the communities you serve! Schedule a call with Branex, your next step towards digitalization. 
How to Hire Python Developers
Guide Python

How To Hire Experienced Python Developers in 2024

branex-logo Team Branex
Are you in search of expert Python developers to give you a game-changing website or app for your business? Hiring the right Python developers/programmers for your next big idea can be a bit of a daunting task. The whole emphasis of bringing someone on board is someone who understands your business nuances and handles the project most effectively.

Mastering the Hunt - Strategies for Recruiting Exceptional Python Developers

how-to-recruit-python-developers Today, many startups feel like there’s a gap in the industry especially when it comes to hiring a professional Python developer to give them a solution that works best for their business. Hiring a developer can also become more challenging, especially if you’re a tech startup and you’re not that familiar with the nuances of Python development. If you’re the kind of business owner who is not sure what soft skills to possess, then here’s a guide that’s going to help you. We have put together this amazing guide just for you so you can become exceptionally well-trained in onboarding Python developers. Python developers are not only limited to creating websites, but they are also predominantly used in data engineering, data science, automated infrastructure, and DevOps. So without further ado, let’s delve into the details of things.

A Tech Startup's Guide to Hiring Success

Python has become one of the leading programming languages in the development community and its presence is no accident. Due to the simplicity of its code, and its powerful computing capabilities, Python has become the go-to choice for developers around the world. Today, Python is massively used in different industries because of how it provides an edge to development teams to build scalable applications. Thanks to Python’s readable syntax and its comprehensive library, developers are now more well-equipped to handle the language’s capability across a wide range of domains. Python is a powerful programming language and because of its increasingly reliable use in data-driven decision-making, Python has become the programming language of choice for tech startups.

What Makes a Good Python Developer, Good Enough? 

good-python-developers A professional Python developer stands out from the crowd because of his deep technical expertise and his capability to solve complex problems. If you’re a tech startup and planning to onboard Python developers, a few key things that you need to develop an understanding of Python’s core principles. And how well he can apply those principles in solving complex problems. For Python-based projects to become truly successful, you (as a business owner) must onboard Python developers capable of understanding new development challenges and adapting to these challenges accordingly. As a tech startup business owner or an entrepreneur, here are a few things you need to look out for in Python developers before onboarding them for your next digital project.

Do They Have Proficiency in Core Python Coding? 

python-developers-for-coding Some developers may have Python experience or skills due to its wide use in the industry and syntax similarities; however, it is not guaranteed that all Rails developers will have deep proficiency in Python. However, developers are often capable of learning and adapting to new languages and technologies, so it's worth discussing specific requirements and expectations with potential candidates to determine their suitability for Python-related projects.

1. A Basic Understanding of Logic & Problem Solving Capabilities:

Logic development and exceptional problem-solving capabilities are the first few things that set the foundation of a programmer. If you’re looking for a Python developer, check if they are good at breaking down problems into logical steps and are good at writing effective Python code. This can be achieved by simply calling in a Python consultant or hiring a freelance Python expert for consultancy and letting them evaluate your chosen candidate.

2. Check if They Are Familiar with Algorithms and Data Structures:

Next up, check if the Python developer whom you’re about to onboard is familiar with algorithms and follow step-by-step instructions to solve a problem. Data structures, although organized, can be complex and require a professional hand to manipulate data. Many Python data structure sets utilize listings, dictionaries, and sets. An adept Python developer should be capable of playing around with algorithms and data sets effectively.

3. Are They Comfortable Working with a Text Editor or IDE:

Although Python developers are skilled in running command lines, proficiency is the key. Most programmers use a text editor or integrated development environment (IDE) for writing complex codes and editing them in real time. A text editor such as Sublime Text or Notepad++ are tools which are sufficient enough for beginners, while IDEs such as PyCharm or Visual Studio Code offer much better features for syntax highlighting, code completion & debugging. Check if your Python developer is comfortable working on a text editor or IDE or not.

Have They Achieved Mastery in Python Framework & Libraries? 

python-framework-and-libraries Besides having core Python skills, it is also essential that Python developers are well aware of the frameworks and libraries. Having a thorough knowledge of both is what sets an exceptional developer apart from someone who is a beginner or an intermediate. Once again, you will need to hire a professional consultant or someone who has prior in-depth knowledge of the different types of Python frameworks & libraries to better assess their capabilities. Frameworks such as Django and Flask are known for their extensive features, high-end security, and adherence to the DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) principle. These frameworks help developers create complex web applications that go a long way. Similarly, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn are popular frameworks abundantly used for deep learning. Frameworks such as NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and others are used for data analysis and manipulation, data visualization & numerical computing. Suppose a Python developer does not possess the skill to manipulate data and build robust machine learning models using the following frameworks. In that case, they might not be the perfect fit for your organization. Mastery of such frameworks & libraries allows teams to analyze large datasets & provide valuable insights in real-time, driving innovation and building robust digital solutions for their businesses.

Is Your Python Developer a Good Team Player? 

python-developer-good-team-player While many Python developers are skilled in facilitating services, they often fall short in performing well when they are working with teams. You must ensure that the Python developer whom you’re about to onboard is a skilled team player or not. You can start by facilitating introductions of the developer with some of the key team members and leaders. Give them a bit of insight into the tech culture by bringing them on the company’s communication channel, such as Slack or some other project management tool which you commonly use. Here, the Python developer can have some level of communication with other professionals who can better explain their development workflows, development cycles, code review processes, and deployment procedures. They will also get a sense of company culture, understand organizational values, and understand business expectations. If the Python developer you’re about to onboard is a good team player, he/she will eventually gel in with the whole process & get along.

Are They Aware Of Their Responsibilities as a Python Developer? 

responsibilities-of-python-developer Just like any other resource, a Python programmer also has a set of responsibilities besides creating clean and efficient codes. Some of these basic responsibilities and duties are: Developing the back-end components - A Python developer must have the basic knowledge and understanding of how to develop the server side of a website or application. For that, they should possess deep-end knowledge of server-side logic building so they create an app that doesn't suffer downtime. Familiarization with tools to create faster web apps - There are many tools available in the Python developer's arsenal that allow them to code and build web apps with low latency, fast loading speed & adequate security. When onboarding a Python developer, make sure they are well aware of using them. Can they test and debug - The testing phase is crucial to ensure the Python code is running smoothly. A professional Python engineer is capable of testing applications using tools such as PyUnit, Behave, Pytest, and others. They are also fully capable of debugging applications & fixing errors right before deployment. Effective collaboration with clients and team members - For a Python developer to be able to put a workable syntax, it’s essential that they should be able to effectively collaborate with everyone involved in making an application. It’s the only way they can make a user-friendly app that meets business goals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Onboarding a Python Developer 

common-mistakes-hire-python-developers To ensure you only hire the best developers, it’s important to address a few common mistakes/pitfalls that you may often come across. In the case of a Python developer, here are a few for you to pay attention to.

1. Don’t Settle for Passive Recruitment:

One common mistake that many tech firms make is running job advertisements across a multitude of platforms and waiting for candidates to send their resumes. While this method is effective for the short term, it eventually doesn’t work long-term as many individuals who apply aren’t even aware of the basics. Therefore, instead of going for passive recruitment, take a more pronounced approach of active recruitment. Active recruitment constitutes monitoring the best programmers and the projects that they are working on. By tracking reviews and checking their ratings on previous platforms, it becomes easier to find someone who can effectively fit within your particular corporate culture.

2. Not Assessing Developer’s Skillset:

Another pitfall that many befalls are not being able to employ a programmer who holds practical and theoretical knowledge. Many business owners make the common mistake of hiring candidates with little to no expertise in Python development. They may possess the necessary skillset but their professional experience and corporate exposure are the bare minimum. When they don’t have enough knowledge, they may not turn out to be a good Python engineer. One way to overcome this problem is to onboard a tech lead who will conduct interviews and analyze them before hiring. By doing so, your organization will have a more streamlined recruitment process for hiring developers.

3. Keep in Mind, Soft Skills Matter:

Just like startup founders pay attention to creating the pitch-perfect product and forget about customer requirements, most employers pay attention to technical skills and often forget about soft skills before onboarding them. Effective soft skills equip a Python developer with the ability to effectively communicate; it keeps the project owner well informed about the progress. In case, a developer is unable to communicate, it may lead to problems on the management level which will eventually lead to stagnation. Besides, soft skills are not only essential for corporate environments, but it’s also significantly important for other parts of our lives making them interactive & friendly.

Questions to Ask a Python Developer During Recruitment

questions-to-ask-python-developers-during-recruitment An interview only becomes successful when you ask the right questions. A good Python developer is well-equipped to answer any of the questions that come their way. The right questions will show how much experience the developer has in core concepts, data structures, object-oriented programming, error handling, and whether or not they have a solid foundation in evaluating expertise. Questions should also focus on practical experience aspects such as frameworks, libraries, and knowledge application in real-world scenarios. It will also showcase their familiarity with different development tools, version control systems, and approaches to debugging and Python code optimization. It will help you better analyze their proficiency as well. Here is the complete list of questions that are most commonly asked by Python developers on various skill levels.

1. Core Python Skills (for all levels):

  • Basics:

    • What is Python?
    • What are the key features of Python (interpreted, dynamically typed, etc.)?
    • What are the benefits of using Python?
  • Syntax and Data Structures:

    • Explain the difference between lists and tuples.
    • How do you iterate over a list in Python?
    • What are functions and how do you define them?
    • Explain the concept of arguments and return values in functions.
  • Object-Oriented Programming (OOP):

    • What are the pillars of OOP (encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism)?
    • How do you define a class in Python?
    • Explain the concept of inheritance with an example.
  • Modules and Libraries:

    • What is the difference between a module and a library?
    • Name some commonly used built-in Python libraries (os, math, etc.).
    • How do you install external libraries using pip?
  • Exception Handling:

    • How do you handle exceptions in Python using try-except blocks?
    • What are the different types of exceptions you might encounter?
  • Testing:

    • Why is it important to write unit tests for your code?
    • Are you familiar with any Python testing frameworks (e.g., unittest, pytest)?

2. Intermediate/Advanced Skills:

  • Decorators:

    • Explain what decorators are and how they are used.
  • Generators and Iterators:

    • Differentiate between generators and iterators.
  • Context Managers:

    • Explain the concept of context managers using the with statement.
  • Asynchronous Programming:

    • How do you achieve asynchronous programming in Python (using async/await keywords)?
  • Web Development with Python Frameworks: (if relevant to the position)

    • Have you worked with any Python web frameworks (e.g., Django, Flask)?
    • Explain the Model-View-Template (MVT) design pattern used in web frameworks.
  • Data Science and Machine Learning Libraries: (if relevant)

    • Are you familiar with libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and Scikit-learn?
    • How do you use NumPy for numerical computations?

3. Beyond Technical Skills:

  • Problem-Solving Skills:

    • Present a coding challenge relevant to the position and assess the candidate's approach to solving it.
  • Project Experience:

    • Discuss the candidate's past projects using Python.
    • Ask them to explain the challenges they faced and how they tackled them.
  • Version Control Systems (VCS):

    • Do you have experience using Git for version control?
  • Learning Agility:

    • How do you stay updated with the latest advancements in Python?

What Are Some Good Places to Find a Python Developer? 

Where-to-Hire-Python-Developers The best way to onboard a Python developer is to find them on a freelance basis. However, as a tech startup or a business, you need someone who can dedicate themselves to your particular project. To hire a Python developer as an in-house resource, there are several online resources where you can find talented Python developers, depending on your needs and budget. Here are a few places that you need to look for a Python developer.

1. Job Boards: 

  • Python.org Jobs: This is a job board specifically for Python developers, so you're sure to find qualified candidates.
  • General Job Boards: Platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn can also be a good source for Python developers, though you'll need to filter the results more carefully.

2. Freelance Marketplaces:

  • Upwork: A vast online marketplace with many skilled freelance Python developers. You can post your project details and have developers submit proposals.
  • Toptal: Focuses on top-tier freelance talent, with a rigorous screening process for developers.

3. Other Resources:

  • GitHub: You can search for developers based on their public repositories and contributions to open-source projects.
  • Stack Overflow: This Q&A platform allows you to find Python experts by looking at their contributions and engaging with them in relevant threads.

Assign The Test Task

Once you have found the right Python developer, the next phase is to conduct the interview. But before you get into a room with the Python developer, it’s essential that you at least know that he/she possesses the required developer skills and experience. After all, you don’t want to engage with incompetent personnel and end up wasting your precious time and money. So first things first, assign the developer a test task and check if they have the knowledge & expertise to handle a Python project (a real-life use case scenario). If they are capable of handling the task with proficiency, then you can proceed forward to the next stage which is the interview.

Agree on Deliverables, Sign a Business Contract

Last, but not least, ask them to finalize the hiring process by signing a contract. List all the deliverables that you want to include within the project, and agree on when and how they will be delivered. Once the terms and conditions are decided, decide on the payment method so you & the developer ensure the total cost you spend falls under budget. Sign a contract with the programmer, and voila! You can always go for a full-time agency such as Branex where we provide you with your very own dedicated Python developer to code the perfect app.

Concluding Thoughts 

If you are a tech startup and looking to hire a developer for your digital product, Python is a versatile language making it the best choice for web developers, data scientists, and more. Look for developers with strong core Python skills, experience in relevant frameworks, and a knack for problem-solving. Avoid passive recruitment and assess candidates thoroughly through technical interviews and test projects. Utilize job boards, freelance marketplaces, and developer communities to find top talent. By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to finding the perfect Python developer to propel your startup's success.
Ecommerce Website Development Guide
eCommerce Guide Web Design & Development

Ecommerce Website Development: A Detailed Guide in 2024

branex-logo Team Branex
Imagine walking into a crowded mall with over 24 million stores (that's online stores!).  Standing out in this online heavily crowded space can be tough. But your secret weapon? An amazing eCommerce website experience that keeps customers coming back. While online stores handle payments and stuff, they're about much more than just selling.  Think sleek design, easy navigation, and security that makes grandma comfortable. Sounds complicated? Don't worry! 

Do you build an Ecommerce store? Essentials tips to keep in mind

This guide will explain custom eCommerce development, helping you understand and find the best place to build your dream online store.  Get ready to ditch the confusion and unlock your ecommerce success!

Define the Objective of Your Ecommerce Website’s Purpose 

Forget crowded malls and waiting in line! E-commerce businesses offer a convenient way to shop for anything you need, right from your computer or phone.  ecommerce shop Think of it as your virtual mall, packed with a vast selection of products like clothing, electronics, groceries, and even pet supplies.  From household essentials to hobbies and crafts, you'll find it all in one place. The internet is booming with new businesses every day, making it easier than ever, to find what you want, when you want it. That's the beauty of online shopping! But before you dive in, let's get you started on the right foot. The first step is figuring out what your online store is all about. Ask yourself:
  • What's your vision? Where do you see your business in 3-5 years? Are you aiming for explosive growth, niche domination, or building a loyal community around your unique products?
  • What problem are you solving for your customers? Are you simplifying their lives with convenient access to essential items, or offering something truly special and worthwhile?
By defining your goals and understanding your customer's needs, you'll lay the foundation for a successful online venture.

Power of Keyword Research 

With your vision and mission defined, it's time to unlock the power of keywords! keyword research for ecommerce website The ultimate dream - dominating search results and driving customers to your online store. To make that dream a reality, keyword research is highly important.  Remember, it's not just about chasing "top products". The secret lies in low-volume, long-tail keywords that deliver targeted traffic and boost sales. While Google Keyword Planner is a valuable tool, don't neglect other gems like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and UberSuggest. These tools help you uncover hidden keywords that can propel your ranking faster than you think. But hold on! Remember Google's ever-evolving algorithm? It now prioritizes content semantics, search intent, and topical relevance. Keyword research has adapted to this shift. Here's the key:

1. Go Beyond Just Keywords

Understand the search intent behind them. Are users looking to buy, learn, or compare? Targeting the right intent is key to attracting the right customers.

2. Think Semantically

Don't just stuff keywords in - create content that naturally flows and uses relevant synonyms and related terms. This signals relevance to search engines and users alike.

3. Embrace Long-Tail Keywords

While less competitive, they attract highly targeted customers ready to convert. Think "best vegan leather hiking boots for women" instead of just "boots". By mastering this new approach to keyword research, you'll unlock the true potential of your online store and outrun the competition.

What is Semantic SEO Marketing? 

Semantic SEO is a user-focused marketing strategy that boosts website visits by using clear metadata and content that directly reaches what people are searching for.  It goes beyond individual keywords and instead organizes content based on topics and related concepts, making it easier for search engines to understand the context and recommend relevant pages to users.  Think of it like a well-organized library where information is grouped by themes, making it easier for visitors to find exactly what they need quickly. For example, an eCommerce site employing Semantic SEO might have a pillar page on 'running shoes' with cluster content pages focusing on different types of running shoes for specific user needs (marathon, trail, casual).  This topical organization not only helps users visit the site easily but also signals to search engines the depth and expertise of the content, leading to higher rankings and increased organic traffic.

The Secret to Successful Keyword Research on Ecommerce Website

The secret to successful keyword research is Semantic SEO. Modern keyword research is all about searching terms based on user intent. So first things first, if you’re planning to start an e-commerce website, begin with identifying and meeting searcher’s intent for a given keyword. Your content will more likely rank higher in the SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages) if it engages potential customers. Our four-step process will show you how to make it happen: 
  • Step # 1: Avoid common keyword research mistakes that have been rooted in past techniques; avoid the ones that no longer work for you. 
  • Step # 2: Make use of intent marketing to drive better rankings so you can bring more organic traffic. 
  • Step # 3: Select the best keywords for your eCommerce website content. 
In the past, relying solely on keyword volume for keyword research was common, but today, a more nuanced approach considering user intent and search engine algorithms is necessary. 

Why Google’s Algorithm Started Prioritizing Search Intent? 

keyword variation for ecommerce website Back in the day, keyword placement and placing backlinks would be the primary focus of Google’s algorithm. They are still an important aspect of SEO but there’s more to it than before…  People started realizing how keywords and backlinks are being abused and so did the machine learning algorithm behind Google. Such spammy practices like keyword stuffing & bulk buying of low-quality backlinks for websites offered little to no real value.  As a result, unhelpful and useless content took center stage and low-quality content started appearing more on the SERPs. It became quite contradictory to Google’s universal goal of bringing useful content to searchers.  Therefore, Google released several updates to improve its algorithm; 

1. Panda Update (2011):

Aiming to combat manipulative SEO tactics, particularly the mass production of low-quality content by "content farms", the Panda update launched in 2011. It shifted the ranking algorithm to favor unique, high-quality content that offered genuine value to users. Panda penalized websites with:
  • Thin content: pages lacking substantial information or depth.
  • Duplicate content: content copied from other sources without adding value.
  • Low user engagement: websites with high bounce rates, limited time spent on page, and minimal user interaction.
By rewarding user-friendly content, Panda ushered in a new era of SEO emphasizing quality over quantity.

2. Penguin Update (2012):

Targeting manipulative "link building" practices, the Penguin update launched in 2012 analyzed website backlink profiles. It aimed to identify and devalue spammy backlinks from low-quality or irrelevant websites while recognizing and rewarding backlinks from authoritative sources. Penguin encouraged a natural approach to link building, focusing on acquiring links from credible and relevant websites in the same niche or with a clear connection to your content. Moreover, Google introduced the "disavow tool" allowing website owners to report bad backlinks they cannot directly remove. This tool helped websites recover from negative impacts stemming from manipulative link-building strategies.

3. Hummingbird Update (2013):

Marking a more significant shift in search understanding, the Hummingbird update launched in 2013 focused on interpreting user intent. Moving beyond keyword matching, Hummingbird aimed to grasp the context and purpose behind a search query. This update enabled Google to:
  • Analyze and rank content based on topics, including subtopics and synonyms, rather than just exact-match keywords.
  • Understand the connection between entities within a search query, identifying relevant results even if keywords used directly don't appear on the page.
By prioritizing search intent, Hummingbird revolutionized SEO, urging websites to create content aligned with what users truly seek and answer their questions directly, not just match specific keywords. The Hummingbird update (2013) was a pivotal moment in keyword research, marking a shift from exact-match keywords to understanding user intent and context.  However, several other significant updates further transformed the keyword research landscape:

4. RankBrain (2015): 

Introduced machine learning to interpret complex and long-tail searches, understanding nuance and relationships between words and entities. This emphasized creating content that aligns with natural user queries, going beyond just individual keywords.

5. BERT (2019): 

Further advanced natural language processing capabilities, allow Google to understand even more complex and conversational search queries. This pushed keyword research toward identifying user pain points, interests, and motivations, rather than focusing solely on specific keywords.

6. Passage Ranking (2020): 

Prioritized ranking of individual passages within web pages relevant to specific search queries, even if the keyword might not be present on the entire page. This encouraged creating content with specific answers and information distributed throughout the text.

7. MUM (Multimodal Unification Model) (2021): 

Announced, but not fully implemented yet, MUM promises to understand different information formats like text, images, and videos together. This implies the need for comprehensive content strategies that encompass various media formats to cater to diverse user needs and search intentions.

8. Core Web Vitals Update (2023): 

While not directly related to keyword research, this update emphasizes page experience factors like loading speed, mobile-friendliness, and visual stability. It moved the direction from creating content that was well optimized for both, user experience as well as satisfying the user search intent.  Eventually, it summed up to;  “Today, Google encourages "covering every topic in depth and detail" not just for keywords, but to truly address user needs, provide comprehensive information, and deliver an excellent user experience. This involves understanding searcher intent, creating high-quality content, and optimizing for various content formats. It's about meeting users where they are, with the information they truly seek, not just matching specific keywords.”

Branex Strategy for Implementing Best Keyword Research Practices

1. Find a Domain Name and Relevant Hosting Service 

domain for ecommerce website The next step is to find a fitting eCommerce website domain name. Finding the best domain name can often feel like searching for a needle in the haystack. However, with the right keyword research & resources, you can easily find an eye-catching choice that meets the current business trends. A few tips to find the perfect domain name and relevant hosting are: 

2. Check Domain Trends:

Search up what other businesses within the industry are doing. See if there are any emerging keywords or themes that you could try incorporating within your domain name. 

3. Use a Domain Generator Tool:

If you can’t come up with ideas yourself, you can always make use of a domain generator tool. Such tools are great for quickly generating ideas & eliminating associated stresses.   Once you have come up with a suitable domain name that suits your preference, the next step is to set up web hosting for your eCommerce website. The Internet is full of many web hosting service providers; it’s important to thoroughly evaluate options & find one that meets your business needs. A few things that you need to pay attention to are:
  • The level of customer support offered
  • Security features
  • Pricing
  • Platform compatibility
Finding the right domain name and web hosting for your eCommerce website can be a time-consuming process. But, once you've found the right one, your digital store can go live. 

Choosing the Right Platform for Your Ecommerce Website 

eCommerce has come a long way and using an eCommerce platform can be daunting. Making the wrong decision can often leave you with a website that’s broken and full of errors.  After all, you don’t want to go to and fro your website.  When you make the wrong decision, it can be catastrophic for your overall business.  E-commerce website development platform selection can be a complex process as there are a lot of technologies out there. Selecting the right one should be at the top of your list!  Here are a few things you need to consider when deciding the platform for your eCommerce website: 
  • Ease of User & Functionality - The first factor to consider is the ease of use and functionality of the chosen platform. Does it have all of the features that you need to build a successful website? Such as integrated payment gateways and mobile responsive design. Does it have a user-friendly online store that is intuitive for your customers to use? And is your eCommerce website easy to manage once it's up? 
  • Support & Community - The second is to consider how to access support documentation, user groups, & training support. The support can come in many forms, including but not limited to online user groups, detailed support documents, social media groups, business forums, and more. Organizations take time to provide quality support which is often rewarded in the later stages of your business. 
  • Scalability & Flexibility - Nowadays, customer experience is dependent on customization and expansion capabilities which are far-reaching. Understanding what your store offers is critical when choosing a platform that supports long-term growth. With careful consideration, you can create digital experiences that are enjoyable and worthwhile for shoppers, online visitors, and more.  

Deciding Whether to Go For Custom Website Design vs Template 

If you want more control over your eCommerce website design, you might want to go for a custom website design option instead of a template. If you’re low on budget and can’t afford to hire a designer, you may consider using a template or pre-built theme.  While choosing a website design, you should check on factors like website responsiveness, user interface design, SEO optimization, eCommerce functionality, advanced analytic tools & customizable templates. The choice of whether to use a custom design or template depends on these factors, regardless of whichever approach you choose for your next web design. 

How Do You Know Custom Web Design is Right For You? 

You may consider the following factors
  • Website responsiveness: Will your website be responsive on all devices, from desktops to smartphones?
  • User interface design: Does your website offer an engaging experience that guides users towards desired actions? 
  • SEO optimization: Is your website built with search engines in mind, for maximum visibility?
  • E-commerce functionality: Does your website include shopping features like product listings, checkout processes, and secure payment gateways?
  • Advanced analytics tools: Can you track and analyze user behavior to understand what's working and what’s not? 
  • Customizable templates: Do you need a unique design that reflects your brand identity and sets you apart from the competition?
If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, a custom website design might be the best investment for your e-commerce business. However, even if you're on a tight budget, there are ways to achieve a high-quality eCommerce website look and feel.  Consider partnering with a UI/UX design agency that specializes in crafting user-centric e-commerce experiences. They can help you create a website that not only looks beautiful but also takes your business up a notch giving it a significant upscale. 

Planning What Features You May Want in Your eCommerce Website? 

There are several important features that your eCommerce website must have at all costs. If these features are not present, there’s a high chance your website might not perform as effectively as you think it may. Listed below are a few necessary options that you must include: 
  • User-Friendly Navigation - One of the most important features of an eCommerce website is to be able to find products that you’re looking for. When the products are organized in proper categories, intuitive menus, and a powerful search function, it becomes easier for customers to navigate through different parts of the website. 
  • High-Quality Product Pages - Another important feature that will make an eCommerce website standout is to find high-quality product images. Alongside images, it is also highly important to have detailed descriptions, zoom functionality, and customer reviews on their website. 
  • Mobile Responsiveness - Just as much as high-quality website images are concerned, so are website looks and functionality. If your website doesn’t work effectively across all devices such as smartphones and tablets, you can experience roadblocks and your website or app may not perform as effectively across different devices as you expect it to. 
  • Fast Loading Time - When it comes to the online shopping experience, nobody wants to spend time waiting for a website to load. Therefore, it is important to optimize your website, so it has a fast loading time and you do not avoid losing customers. 
  • Security & Trust - Last but not least, securing a website is of the utmost importance. These may include practices such as implementing SSL certificates, applying for strong password protection, and clear privacy policies to build trust among customers. 

Make Sure to Collect & Track Payments on Your eCommerce Website 

payment option for ecommerce website For any eCommerce business to handle payments efficiently, it should support different merchant accounts and payment gateways.  While PayPal and Apple Pay are commonly considered quick payment processing services, there are many other renowned payment options that one can choose to easily handle small and large transactions not just locally but also internationally.  If you’re planning to launch your own eCommerce website, here are a few options that you should consider while setting up your eCommerce web. 
  • Stripe: A popular option for its ease of use and wide range of features, including recurring payments and subscription billing.
  • PayPal: A well-known and trusted brand with a large user base. Less suitable for high-risk businesses.
  • Amazon Pay: A good option if you sell on Amazon or want to reach Amazon's customer base.
  • Square: A good option for smaller businesses with simple payment needs.
  • Authorize.Net: A popular option for larger businesses with more complex needs.
Many merchant accounts are already integrated with different CRM (customer relationship management) platforms which offer additional benefits like automatic tracking of billing data, keeping customer records up-to-date, and simplifying the acquisition of payment details.  Having the right payment gateway well-integrated with your eCommerce online presence will offer secured payments all the while keeping the transaction process simple & easy. 

Picking the Right Type of eCommerce Shipping & Delivery 

More than 50% of the people in the United States receive Amazon packages almost every week. With the rise of eCommerce, there are many third-party logistics providers which offer shipping and delivery. Services such as Amazon FBA, FedEx, and DHL are a few popular third-party providers worthy of consideration for businesses that are looking to optimize shipping & delivery platforms. To ensure your customers have a smooth customer experience, choosing the right type of eCommerce shipping & delivery becomes more than eminent.  No matter what third-party eCommerce shipping provider you select for your next eCommerce store, make sure to have an impactful strategy in place for efficient delivery. 

Integrate the Correct Ecommerce Customer Support 

Every successful e-commerce store needs robust customer support in place.  This includes a combination of best practices, such as a knowledge base, live chat support, phone support, FAQs, and AI-powered tools. Here's how you can ensure perfect customer service across different channels:
  • Live chat apps: Make use of platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp to offer personalized and convenient experiences. Customers appreciate the real-time interaction, minimizing the need to wait on hold or for email replies.
  • Phone support: Don't underestimate the value of offering a phone line. This direct communication channel remains important for some customers, allowing them to address complex issues or simply prefer voice interaction. Make sure your representatives are equipped to handle concerns most effectively. 
  • Knowledge base: Create a comprehensive FAQ section or knowledge base. This lets customers find answers to common questions independently, reducing support load and saving everyone time. 
  • AI-powered tools: Consider implementing AI-powered chatbots to handle basic inquiries, freeing up human agents for more complex situations. Moreover, AI-powered shopping assistants can personalize product recommendations & answer product-related questions, improving the overall shopping experience.
To deliver exceptional customer support in your e-commerce business, blend creativity with best practices. This winning combination keeps your customers engaged & meet efficiently.  Traversing the crowded online marketplace can be daunting, but a user-friendly, secure, and well-optimized website is your secret weapon. This guide explores the process, equipping you with the knowledge and strategies to build a successful e-commerce store. Here are the key takeaways to remember:
  • Define your vision and target audience. What are you selling, and who are you selling it to? Understanding their needs and search intent is significant.
  • Embrace "Semantic SEO" for effective keyword research. Focus on content that answers user questions and provides value, not just ranking for specific keywords.
  • Choose the right platform based on your needs. Consider ease of use, functionality, scalability, and support before making a decision.
  • Prioritize user experience with features like:
    • Intuitive navigation and search
    • High-quality product pages with detailed descriptions and images
    • Mobile responsiveness for seamless browsing on any device
    • Fast loading times to keep customers engaged
    • Secure payment gateways and clear privacy policies
  • Offer multiple payment options and integrate a reliable shipping & delivery service.
  • Implement a robust customer support system including FAQs, live chat, phone support, and AI-powered tools to assist customers & answer their questions effectively.
Don't forget! Creativity and best practices go hand-in-hand.  By implementing these strategies and adding your unique touch, you can build an e-commerce website that attracts customers, drives sales, and thrives in the online market.

Ready to Launch Your ECommerce Journey?

Branex, a custom website development company is here to help!  We offer comprehensive e-commerce development services and strategic SEO solutions to create a winning online store for your business.  Contact us today for a free consultation and let's discuss how we can help you achieve your e-commerce goals.
Improve Core Web Vitals for Website Performance
Guide SEO

How To Optimize Your Core Web Vitals To Improve Website Performance

branex-logo Team Branex
How many times have visitors bounced off your site because it took a long time to load or it failed to perform optimally? Are you struggling to get your site to the top of SERPs? As a site owner, you are often searching for ways to boost page load speed and offer a seamless user experience but aren’t sure what to do. Fortunately, the Core Web Vitals metrics determine the things that are bogging down your site and give you insight into the speed, interactivity, and visual stability of your site. Improving your core web vitals not only enhances the user experience but also helps you rank higher on Google. Here’s what site owners and developers can do to enhance their site’s performance, and boost user satisfaction, engagement, and conversion.

Boost Your Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) Score

lcp-improve-core-web-vitals If your goal is to display the most useful content to your users in the smallest possible time, achieving a high LCP score is the key. LCP is basically the time it takes between the browser starting to load a page and the largest content element (image or text block) on that page appearing on the screen. An ideal LCP score of 2.5 seconds or less, will help you rank higher on Google, reduce bounce rates, and get higher conversion rates. To locate the largest content element, head to the Diagnostics section within the PageSpeed Insights tool. There, you'll find a breakdown of elements contributing to your LCP score. If your largest element happens to be a heading or a paragraph of text. Consider enhancing it by breaking it down into smaller paragraphs and incorporating titles for better readability. Not to mention, the font families you use and how you deliver them to your users can also impact your LCP score. To increase your LCP score, consider using system fonts, or web-safe fonts that are the default fonts on a user’s device. This removes the need to download any fonts during page load. Additionally, if you are going for custom website development, you can create sets of fonts to include only the characters that you will need. Try not to burden your site with a large font set, especially when you don’t use all the characters. If media files dominate are lowering your LCP score, try resizing larger PNG and JPG images into smaller dimensions. You can also compress them with the help of tools such as ShortPixel, Imagify, Kraken, or Optimizilla. Opt for images with smaller file sizes, as larger ones tend to slow down the loading process and increase the overall page size. It’s also prudent to choose a performance-friendly image format, such as WebP to deliver high-quality images at a lower size, without compromising on image quality. You can also implement lazy loading if your site contains lots of graphics, animations, or videos. So that images are only downloaded when someone scrolls down your page, rather than loading below-the-fold content all at once when the visitor lands on the page. Lazy loading can have a significant impact on your page loading and LCP score.

Improve First Input Delay (FID)

fid-improve-web-vitals This metric quantifies the responsiveness of a site when users interact with it for the first time, such as by clicking a button to expand an accordion section, entering their email address into a form field, or choosing an option from the menu. This indicates how quickly the page responds to user input and is one of the best ways of gauging responsiveness. As they say, first impressions are often the last. If a user’s first interaction with your webpage is delayed, they are likely to bounce off. A page's First input delay should never exceed 100ms for 75% of all recorder page loads. Here’s what you can do to minimize the FID:

1. Minimize JavaScript:

Users cannot interact with a page while the JS code is loading. This is why reducing the amount of JS code or delaying execution on your page is important for minimizing First Input Delay.

2. Divide Lengthy Tasks:

Your primary focus should be on breaking down lengthy tasks. These tasks hinder the Main Thread from promptly responding to user interactions. Enhance your website's performance significantly by breaking up these tasks.

3. Condense and compress Code Files:

Minimizing code through techniques like removing unnecessary whitespace and line breaks (minification) is crucial. Additionally, compressing code files reduces their size. Some hosting and CDN providers incorporate these methods by default.

4. Delay or Eliminate Non-Essential External Scripts:

Occasionally, third-party scripts such as Google Analytics, heatmaps, etc. can thwart the timely execution of your scripts. Determine which scripts offer the most value to users and prioritize them. Generally, you can do away with ad and pop-up scripts.

5. Streamline CSS:

Although JavaScript is often seen as the culprit for FID, CSS can also be render-blocking by default. Excessive CSS negatively impacts user experience. In addition to implementing Critical CSS and minifying and compressing CSS files, consider minimizing unused CSS on your site.

Set Up Page Caching

page-caching-for-web-vitals Implement server-level caching to decrease server load and minimize the server response time. When a visitor lands on a cached page. There is no need to render its content and elements from scratch every time the visitor accesses the site. Instead, what they see is a saved (cached) version of the page, resulting in faster subsequent page loads. Most site pages are cached automatically as soon as a visitor lands on them. The same page also loads faster for other visitors who share the same parameters (geographic locations, device types) as the first visitor. Setting up page caching automatically boosts performance metrics such as LCP and FCP, and significantly improves the site's core web vitals score.  To enable caching on the server level and boost your website’s performance and overall page speed. WordPress users can make use of plugins such as WP Fastest Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, and WP-Optimize.

Minimize JavaScript (JS) Execution for Core Web Vitals

How-to-Optimize-Your-Site-for-Googles-Core-Web-Vitals Unused JS code, often referred to as “dead code,” can downgrade your website’s performance, increase loading times, and negatively impact the user experience. Reducing your JavaScript Execution would definitely improve your Google core web vitals. You need to keep the FID (First Input Delay) score at a minimum if you wish to keep users engaged on your site for over 300 milliseconds. To optimize your website, you only need to load the CSS and JS code that your page requires to appear correctly and defer the rest that is needed later. To identify and eliminate unnecessary CSS and JavaScript files on page load, right-click on the web page and select “Inspect”.  Next, click on ‘Sources’ and look for three dots at the bottom of the page. This is where you add the ‘Coverage’ tool and click on the load button. This will show you the amount of unused CSS and JS files as well as how much code is used within each resource so that you can minimize the parts of code that can be loaded later. Doing so will help you speed up your page load and save your mobile users' cellular data. If you have a WordPress website, you can make your web pages load faster without waiting for JavaScript to load altogether. Applying this Deferred JavaScript technique on your WordPress website will automatically reduce the FID score. For this, you need a cache Plugin to move selected JS files to deferred loading.

Optimize for Mobile Devices

mobile-optimization Google‘s mobile-first indexing has made it absolutely indispensable to prioritize your mobile users and optimize your website to deliver a buttery-smooth and seamless user experience. You can hire a professional mobile application development company to create a fully responsive site that automatically adapts the layout and content to the screen size and device of the user. If you wish to improve speed and performance, your website should be fully optimized for all devices. Eliminating the need for separate mobile-specific versions. It also helps to implement caching techniques specifically designed for mobile devices. So static resources, such as images, CSS files, and JavaScript files, are saved locally on the user’s device, thereby decreasing load time and increasing access to offline content. You can also enable Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), a mobile-specific page format (a separate lightweight, stripped-down template) that allows you to create web pages that load quickly on mobile browsers, offering better mobile experiences. While we are still on the subject of mobile optimization, you might also consider limiting or even eliminating popups. Considering the smaller screens of mobile devices, pop-ups can wreak havoc on the user experience. Freeing your mobile real estate from pop-ups will enable you to offer a seamless experience to users. Last but not least, it also helps to have a more intuitive navigation menu on your mobile site. More and more software development companies in the USA are using collapsible and hamburger menus to keep the website clean and clutter-free and enhance usability.

Minimize Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

tips-to-cls Cumulative Layout shift refers to a page’s visual stability after rendering or more specifically how long it takes for a page to appear stable when it loads. If the elements on a page shift unexpectedly without user input instead of appearing stable as the page loads. You are dealing with a high CLS. As a general rule of thumb, an optimized CLS score should be less than 0.1 seconds if you want to offer a stable, user-friendly experience. Unexpected layout shifts mean that your users have to re-learn the location of links, images, and fields due to a sudden displacement of text. Or accidentally clicked something that wasn’t there a moment ago due to the appearance of dynamic ads or popups. Perhaps a user is reading a block of text on their hand-held device just as embedded video loads above it, making the entire content move down, making them lose their place in the article. Believe it or not, CLS is one of the main causes of frustration for a web user. Here are a few ways to meet the CLS threshold.
  • Steer clear of placing ads and pop-ups above other content. When you insert content at the top of a page, it causes everything below to move around, resulting in a less-than-ideal Core Web Vitals CLS score.
  • When you're dealing with images and videos, be sure to add width and height attributes. These little details help the browser allocate the right amount of space for each element in advance, significantly reducing layout shifts.
  • For elements like ads, iFrames, and dynamic content, it's crucial to reserve space. Just like images and videos, these elements can cause layout shifts if there's no designated space for them. Use containers with proper dimensions and the overflow: hidden property to make sure the content stays within its designated area.
  • Font delivery is another area where optimization matters. By using link rel="preload" and font-display: optional together, you can prevent layout shifts and those annoying flashes of invisible text.
  • Refrain from using “popup” calls to action that occur a short while after the user visits a site. Doing so can really hurt your CLS Score. If you still need to incorporate any popup CTAs. We recommend that you delay triggering them for the first few seconds of browsing.

Improve Loading of Third-Party Scripts

improve-javascript A lot of external elements come into play to bog down your website. For instance, if your site relies on ad scripts, it leaves you at the mercy of the ad provider. If their ads are fully optimized and performant. All is well – but if God forbid the ads load slowly, you are better off switching providers. If third-party scripts are making your website sluggish, you shouldn’t brush it off. Ask yourself, do you really need that specific ad? Are these scripts adding any value to your site? There might be a more efficient and less server-stressing alternative out there. Perhaps give it a shot? If you can swing it, try hosting the script yourself to have more control over the loading process. If that's not an option, see if you can speed up the preloading process. At the very least, load those scripts in a way that won't bring your site to a crawl. Go for asynchronous loading or defer them until the last minute. This way, the browser can put together the page before dealing with those external scripts. If the script is crucial, use async–like for analytics. If it's not as urgent, defer it.
How to Start a Business in Dallas Texas
Business Tips Guide

How To Start a Business in Dallas, Texas? 6 Profitable Small Business Ideas

branex-logo Team Branex

Dallas is a big city and you know what they say about big cities? They are a treasure trove of opportunities. With a sub-tropical climate and a population of around 1.25 million, Dallas has become the third-largest city hosting the highest number of Fortune 500 companies in the US. Just take a walk down any of the main streets and you will find scores of businesses enjoying great fortunes.

As far as the city’s economy is concerned, it is mostly based on technology, healthcare, telecommunication, transportation, banking, and research. The city is also dotted with shopping malls, which makes it a haven for shopaholics. It also has many tourist attractions so it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Dallas is a highly prolific location for doing small business ideas in Texas.

Are You Wondering How to Start a Business in Texas?

A lot of people plan to move to Dallas and start their business there. But often they’re stuck in deciding where to begin their journey. What kind of business should begin? Or how to start a business in Texas? 

We have come up with seven profitable small business ideas that will help you score big in Texas if you play your cards right.

Let’s see what those ideas are and maybe one of them might be the one for you.

1. Sports Good Supplier

sports-goods-business

If there’s one thing Dallas individuals have a strong affinity for, it is the heavy sports culture. People in Dallas are simply crazy about sports. And where people crave sports, they equally crave sports goods. If you can’t come up with a business idea, to begin with, how about you invest in opening a sports goods store? Perform market research and learn about the six major sports leagues that take place in Dallas. Among the many small and startup business ideas in Texas, a sports goods supplier is one where you won’t require any skill to sell your services. Branded products will sell on their own.

2. Pet Grooming Services

Pet-Business-Ideas

If you’re a pet lover and have experience managing cute furry friends and want to make a small investment, then opting for a pet grooming service isn’t a bad idea. You can start small by offering an on-demand pet grooming service to individuals who want to get their pet hairs and nails trimmed. All you have to do is buy the necessary equipment and a truck to initiate the business. You will find yourself serving clients in different locations of Dallas before you know it, making quite a profit margin on earnings. Pet grooming is indeed one of the best businesses to start in Texas

3. Advertisement Agency

small-business-advertising-ideas

No wonder Dallas is home to many businesses. However, every business wants to be heard and the only way they can be heard is through effective marketing. If you do have some investments, start an advertising agency in Dallas, Texas. If you have a background in marketing and communication, you can use plenty of ways to make your business flourish.

An advertising agency has immense potential and can bring a great deal of profit, so there’s no chance other businesses will even negate the idea of making investments. As long as you have a promising pitch and a strong portfolio, you can crunch some great numbers. Choose the most feasible location for your small business ideas in Texas and begin your journey.

4. On-Call Tech Support & Repair Service

Customer-Care-Service

With COVID-19 affecting our lives and forcing us to go into lockdown, people are confined to their homes and work remotely. While we are working in an organization, there are IT teams that resolve your tech woes. However, when you are confined at home, there isn’t any technical team who can come to your aid and assist. Among the many best business ideas in Texas, on-call tech support & repair service is quite profitable and can be highly rewarding for you.  

In such times, people seek professional help to fix their computers and resolve internet/network-related issues at home. A great small business idea in Dallas, Texas, can be to start on-call tech support. The on-call repair business will be a successful model as there will be plenty of people who would require this service.

5. Mobile Restaurant Business

mobile-business

Stuck with wondering which small business is going to turn out profitable? If you’re good at cooking or can invest in an eatery business, then a mobile restaurant isn’t a bad option. Not only is it movable, but it also helps you earn quick cash daily. If a particular location isn’t working out for you, you can always choose a different location and move your mobile eatery someplace else. It will require some investment like custom mobile app development and other expenses, but it is definitely not a bad bet. If you are in for a quick earning profit, then the mobile restaurant business is quite a lucrative option for you.

6. Launch a Hardware Store

hardware-store

Dallas is home to enthusiastic individuals who love to do things by themselves. There are so many DIY products that are massively sold all across Dallas and people love to build their stuff. In a market where people love to create stuff on their own, every other person requires a set of tools or hardware to work their way through DIY products. How about you launch a hardware store so it can fulfill their requirements? From screwdrivers to light bulbs, from electric wiring to hose pipes, a hardware store has plenty of products that are more commonly used by people daily.

In Conclusion

Dallas is rich with creative people and entrepreneurs with brimming mindsets. If you have a knack for doing something, Dallas can be a great state to initiate your venture. You can start with just about anything you want. The possibilities of making investments are beyond your imagination. Brainstorm crazy ideas and implement them. And no matter how small you begin, the city supports those who have the will to strive and flourish.

The above discussed are a few ideas that I believe can work wonders for you. Do you have anything more interesting in mind? Feel free to share it with us at Branex - A fully digital and web design agency in the USA.

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