In the current graphic landscape where attention to detail and diversity of creatives are burgeoning, the strategy of incorporating a cutting-edge hero section seems to be the way to go for brands that want to get conversions and leads. No one in the design space had any idea of how it would become a key element for a website to thrive. The hero section, in our opinion, can immensely help you in standing out from your competitors by establishing a unique persona. If you’ve ever asked yourself “What is a hero section and why do I need a good one?”, well you have come to the right place! <h6>So, what is a Hero Section?</h6> The first thing your viewers are subjected to when they visit your website is the hero section. It lays beneath your logo and menu. We received an email from one of our users the other day asking if it is mandatory to include a human face in the hero section as it is called the “hero” section. As bizarre as this sounds, there is still a lot of misconception associated with what hero sections really are. The answer to the question our dear user asked us is NO! It can be any image that reflects your branding in the best light possible. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664346623683-h1.png"> In the image attached above, you can clearly see that it takes almost all pre-scroll full-width space. The other elements are presented on the top to create an overall cohesive feel to the section. As long as it strikes a thought and captivates your user, your hero section is ideal. If not, you really need to reevaluate your strategy and formulate a hero section that can give you top-notch leads. <h6>Why do you need a good Hero Section?</h6> Well, we know you are thinking about why you need a hero section and how it can benefit you; After all, great minds think alike! Well, all in all – Hero sections are awesome! In this fast-paced world, people do not have the time or the capacity to read each and every word of your website to decide if they want to be associated with you. In fact, what they like to do is to skim through your websites for keywords and appealing visuals to make a decision. If you want to convey your mission and values through your website through visuals and taglines, Hero sections would be your greatest companion. Think of them as a more refined version of billboards in this era of digitalization. <h6>1) First impression is the last impression!</h6> You must have heard of this age-old saying here and there. We cannot emphasize enough how much truth lies in this quote, especially in how users perceive websites. Since the section activates the power of visuals from the minute your user lays his eyes on your website, you have a pretty solid chance to create a captivating first impression and generate more leads. <h6>2) Makes your content stand out.</h6> Since the user pattern nowadays is to skim through the website rather than read every single word, you can leverage this by putting emphasis on the most important information and highlighting it so your user can grasp the keywords you intended to strategically place. Let us be real, all of us make a decision after reading the content above the fold on whether we want to scroll more or click exit. After all, no one likes information overload. <h6>3) Increases engagement, Enhances representation.</h6> On a tastefully designed hero section wherein the elements are balanced, messaging is clear and the brand is represented in the most authentic light, engagement is bound to elevate. With our expertise in this realm, we highly encourage people to adopt hero sections in their strategic plans to see a striking change in their engagement. The more time and resources you spend on it, the better your output would be. <h6>4) Helps in conversion.</h6> Let us be real- Brands ultimately seek conversion, all the efforts are done to ultimately convince the user to hop on to their bandwagon and associate with the brand in any way, shape, or form. Although the hero section helps you enormously in gaining traction, you need to understand that your CTAs have to be aligned with your imagery and content as they can make or break your website. Executing an extraordinary hero section takes a great deal of effort but if done effortlessly, you will reap all the results you desire. To gain any more such insights on hero sections, shoot us an email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">coffee@apric.in</a>&nbsp;and we shall get back to you as soon as possible. Till then, be on the lookout for our upcoming blog. Do not forget to check out our creative personality on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">@Apricweb</a>&nbsp;Ciao!

Hero Section: What is it and why do you need a great one!

In the current graphic landscape where attention to detail and diversity of creatives are burgeoning, the strategy of incorporating a cutting-edge hero section seems to be the way to go for brands that want to get conversions and leads. No one in the design space had any idea of how it would become a key element for a website to thrive. The hero section, in our opinion, can immensely help you in standing out from your competitors by establishing a unique persona.

Hero Section: What is it and why do you need a great one!!

From our experience in the realm of web development, we believe that an intuitive and tastefully designed website can do wonders for a brand. People search for everything on the internet, from things as little as a pair of socks to huge investments like houses. If you are an entrepreneur, you are probably aware of the fact that your prospects have a high chance of sifting through the internet and finding you. This makes it imperative for your business to have a fully functional website that you can easily manage throughout your business journey. A lot of entrepreneurs invest heaps of money in getting a website made but do not think of reoccurring costs associated with managing and maintaining it. This eventually ends up burning a hole in their pockets. That is why the new age technology poses to be a boon to anyone who wants to build a cutting-edge website. Traditionally, you would need two aspects to create a website –A strong sense of creativity and some level of technical knowledge. Content Management Systems (CMS) is one such technology that factors in both variables and helps you build an aesthetic yet functional website. If we go by the books, Content Management Systems are software that helps users create, manage, and modify content on a website without the need for any specialized technical knowledge. In plain and simple words, Content Management Systems relieve you from the stress of managing and updating your website. It provides an interface to help you modify, edit, delete, and upload content directly to the website without the need for coding while simultaneously taking care of all the web infrastructure so you can concentrate on what matters the most – your customers! In the entrepreneurial ecosystem, there is a lot of jargon that you may have been subjected to like CRM, DNS, SaaS, etc. CMS is one such eminent approach that is widely used in web development. A Content Management System is a tool used for organizing, producing as well as automating content. Nowadays, Content Management Systems do so much more than just supplement the management. It also delivers real-time experiences to users across all parallels to satiate their content needs. There are a lot of Content Management Systems available in the market, you may have heard of the popular ones like Wix, and Joomla! , Shopify, Weebly, Drupal, etc which we will be talking about in-depth in our upcoming blog so stay tuned for it if you want to know which out of the lot resonates with your needs and requirements. <h6>Components of CMS</h6> There are two main components in a Content Management System – Content Management Application and Content Delivery Application. A Content Management Application is the front-end component of a Content Management System. It enables the users to design, create as well as manage the website’s content without coding. Content Delivery Application on the other hand is the back-end component of a Content Management System. It helps with the management and delivery of content after it is designed through the Content Management Application. These amalgamated can help take care of the code and infrastructure so your core focus can be on the user experience. <h6>Types of Content Management Systems</h6> As discussed above, Content Management Systems often consist of two components - Content Management Application and Content Delivery Application enabling you to publish content without the hassle of coding. Let us look at the kinds of Content Management Systems available in the market currently. Traditional CMS A traditional Content Management System offers a fully accessible back-end. It is a comprehensive end-to-end solution. Unlike SaaS Content Management System, Traditional Content Management System needs devoted web hosting to run. Despite the cost-effective approach with traditional CMS, one needs to make sure that they maintain and update the relevant technologies to keep the CMS up and running. SaaS CMS SaaS Content Management System, like traditional CMS, is an all-inclusive solution. The key difference is that it is nested in the cloud. This is best suited for companies that do not need server or web hosting overheads. Decoupled CMS Decoupled Content Management Systems that host website content has a different presentation layer from the administration layer. This means that the place where editors and admins manage content is an entirely separate application from the website or app the user is subjected. Headless CMS A Headless Content Management System is any type of back-end content management system that acts primarily as a content repository. It makes content accessible through an API without any particular front-end layer. The quirky name comes from removing the head that is the front end from the body which is the back end. <h6>How does it work?</h6> In order to build a website from scratch traditionally, one would typically begin with HTML to upload pictures, content, and other elements. After this, you would add CSS to place these elements to resonate with your branding. After this, add some JavaScript to put more functionality. This will then be uploaded to your database. The problem with going the traditional route is that even if you want to make minuscule changes, you will have to change the code every time. This makes it very hard to maintain or update the website. This is where CMS can help. People who want to ease the development and maintenance of their websites can leverage CMS. Just open the editor and upload your media just by clicking on a few buttons as opposed to writing codes and Voila! You are done. <h6>Interesting facts about CMS</h6> <ul><li>Projected growth of the CMS industry appears limitless and is expected to nearly double over five years.&nbsp;Experts predict that the web content management market will grow from $6.9 billion in 2021 to $14.3 billion by 2026. —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5342779/web-content-management-market-by-component" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">Research and Markets</a></li></ul> <ul><li>Organizations turn to a wide variety of CMS options.&nbsp;Content Science’s recent study of content operations found organizations are turning to CMS options ranging from open source (e.g., Drupal, WordPress) to enterprise and traditional CMS to headless CMS and content marketing platforms. —&nbsp;<a href="https://content-science.com/content-operations-study/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">What Makes Content Operations Successful?</a></li></ul> <ul><li>Web content management is the backbone of your digital experience.&nbsp;Web content management systems must deliver highly personal digital experiences on any device directly into a customer’s immediate context and moments of need. —<a href="https://go.forrester.com/blogs/pick-the-right-web-content-management-system-its-the-backbone-of-your-digital-experiences/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">&nbsp;Forrester</a></li></ul> <ul><li>Today’s CMS must go beyond supporting just your website.&nbsp;“The days of creating, managing, and delivering digital experiences in a single channel are dying. This paves the way for a new era of web content management (Web CMS) technologies and strategies built on agile, open foundations that support digital experiences beyond the website. —<a href="https://www.cmswire.com/web-cms/does-web-content-management-have-an-agile-future/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">&nbsp;CMS Wire</a></li></ul> <ul><li>The headless CMS has introduced an entirely new way of publishing content.&nbsp;“By eliminating the front end, a headless CMS delivers content through the API, enabling it to do so in any format and on any device. This option provides greater flexibility, scalability, and security, and means you can write your sites or apps with the tools that suit you. The headless CMS…provides the foundations for Content as a Service, which allows content to be created and stored on a central hub before being published across numerous channels, thus streamlining workflows and increasing profitability.” —<a href="https://kontent.ai/blog/top-10-content-management-trends-2020" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">&nbsp;Top Content Management Trends, Kontent by Kentico</a></li></ul><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://review.content-science.com/content-management-fact-sheet/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://review.content-science.com/content-management-fact-sheet/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">)</a></h6> <h6>Why should you use CMS?</h6> Now that we have discussed what Content Management Systems are and how they work, let us deep-dive into the benefits. No Coding Required Content Management Systems do not require you to have any specialized knowledge about coding. In fact, it was developed for users who possessed little to no technical knowledge. Content Management Systems allow you to update and manage your website without any help from developers or third parties. CollaborationContent Management System enables multiple users to access and collaborate on projects. By providing access to the project, these people can log in through their respective accounts and update media according to their convenience. Content Management Systems also allow you to access and work at the back end simultaneously. Security and Protection In this day and age where people are so prone to security breaches, it is vital for systems to have top-tier protection. Content Management Systems go through periodic testing to ensure that any kind of security issue never surfaces. Content Management Systems also offers third-party integrations and add-ons to strengthen the website's protection. Tools and Plugins Content Management Systems encompass various tools and plugins for SEO. These tools can help your website get great traffic. Even though most of the tools and plugins available in the market go through recurring updates, your website will stay optimized regardless of any changes. Economical If you have ever gotten a website made or know anyone who has, you are probably aware of how much it costs. In order to update or maintain a website traditionally, you need to update the code every time which results in high maintenance costs even if you want to make slight changes. Not just money, a lot of time is invested in this process. In the business landscape where time is money, one has to be very mindful of their choices. By incorporating Content Management Systems into your strategy, you can save a lot of resources and get the work done instantly without reliance on anybody. <h6>4 Pivotal Content Management System Features</h6> Content Management Systems offer various useful tools and functionalities for your website. A lot of Content Management Systems exude different types of features. Some focus on publishing and creating content, while others focus more on Search Engine Optimization&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/what-is-search-engine-optimization" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">click here</a>&nbsp;but how do you know which one to invest in? Look for 4 of these pivotal functions! Multilingualism The burgeoning diversity calls for systems to be multilingual. Nowadays, if you want to cater to a wide audience, you need to provide offerings in their native languages. Content Management Systems can either encompass a process in their database to offer different languages or offer language-based plugins. Either way, embracing diversity is a win-win situation. Content Distribution Content Management Systems offer different content distribution options in accordance with their API capabilities. This is an element that allows your records to distribute content to your end devices. Responsive Designs We have done a dedicated blog on Responsive Designs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/fundamentals-of-responsive-websites" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">click here</a>&nbsp;that entails everything you need to know about the topic so be sure to check it out. Basically, Responsive designs are practices and principles to create web pages that look great across all devices. In Content Management Systems, the content stays consistent, only the layout adapts to the screen size. Open-Source Platforms A lot of Content Management Systems are open source, meaning their base codes are available free of cost. Having an open source elucidates that there is a strong community backing up the Content Management Systems development. <h6>Conclusion:</h6> Content Management Systems can be a boon to your business’ success. Rapidly growing technologies have now transformed the way CMS interacts with businesses. Choosing the right kind of Content Management System can help you save a lot of resources and enhance your productivity. Not just that, it saves you the hassle of maintaining and updating your website without any external help. Well, now that you are well-versed with the concept of Content Management Systems and how they can help you, shoot us an email at<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">&nbsp;coffee@apric.in</a>&nbsp;to let us know your thoughts on the same. In addition to that, if you have any questions about CMS, feel free to drop in a query on Instagram <a href="https://instagram.com/apricweb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@Apricweb</a>. We love to interact with all of our followers. Until then, stay tuned for our next blog as it is going to be a topic deeply loved in the design community. Ciao! ☺

Easiest ways to build websites : Content Management Systems

Even though the word “Headless” translates to gore and carnage, I assure you the concept of “Headless CMS” is something completely opposite to it. Being a techie, I had never really given this translation much thought until I asked the daunting question to my mother if she knew what a headless CMS is! Do not get this twisted, my mother is one hell of a tech-savvy woman but her reaction after hearing the question was rather hilarious. After a long pause and what seemed like 10 minutes of utter horror, she mumbled “Is it… Is it some sort of a technological cult?” Needless to say, we look back at it now and share a good laugh. So, what is a “Headless Content Management System” and how in the world did it end up with such a horrid name? Well, a headless CMS is a back-end-only content management system built and developed from the ground up as&nbsp;a content repository that makes content accessible via a RESTful API or GraphQL API for display on any device. If you aren’t a techie, this probably hovered over your head.&nbsp; Think of it as this – In a headless Content Management System, the content repository, the “body,” is separated or decoupled from the presentation layer, the “head” enabling you to manage content under one roof and still be able to deploy that content anywhere you want.The “head” here relates to where your content ends up and the “body” is where your content is essentially stored. <h5>What is the need for a Headless CMS?</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664361950906-one.png"> Although Traditional Content Management Systems ruled the archetype for web design and development, it was not very flexible or scalable. What a headless Content Management System does is that it does not interact or integrate with the front-end part of the development AT ALL, unlike traditional Content Management Systems. This is why more and more companies in the modern day and age prefer Headless Content Management Systems due to the flexibility and scalability to get their content out in a myriad of ways. Due to the complexities associated with Traditional Content Management Systems, Headless Content Management Systems were curated to meet the demands of brands and creators who have relatively lesser technical experience. When switched to Headless CMS,&nbsp;35% percent of marketers&nbsp;have felt better user experience, and&nbsp;43% think they are less reliant on IT.”–<a href="https://www.openxcell.com/blog/future-of-cms-industry-facts-figures-trends-and-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Source</a> <h5>Advantages of using Headless Content Management Systems</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664361977772-two.png"> We can go on and on about the advantages of Headless CMS over Traditional CMS but let us look at 6 main benefits that you need to be aware of!<h6> </h6><h6>Lets you create and distribute content among all verticals</h6> Type “ best campaign” or “best advertisement”, and you will find an endless list of brands - some known and some unknown with a cutting-edge content strategy. You must have heard of the phrase through the grapevine - Content is King. Well, it truly is. It is the need of the hour for brands to create and distribute content anywhere they want. In a traditional CMS, due to the monolith structure, one needs to manage each platform separately leading to complexities. With Headless CMS, you can sell across all touchpoints and leverage the market to the fullest! <h6>Headless CMS will not burn a hole in your pocket</h6> Brands, no matter how big or small, need to carefully spend their resources - both from a marketing and technical standpoint. In my opinion, mindful choices translate to great success. As opposed to traditional Content Management Systems, Headless Content Management Systems offer lesser technical requirements thereby resulting in lesser costs associated in terms of development. Also since expensive hostings are not required, Headless Content Management Systems are the ideal choice for companies who are a little tight on budget. <h6>Security breach? Not under a Headless CMS’s watch</h6> On September 6, 2021, WordPress users incurred a major setback after a security breach took place that opened information on 1.2 million active and inactive users that used and managed WordPress. This was detrimental to their users as it powers a whopping 42% of all websites currently on the internet. Since Headless Content Management Systems does not interfere with the presentation layer, the chances of a breach messing with your data are minuscule. <h6>Headless CMS and Compatibility are a match made in heaven</h6> Let me tell you an interesting story. I am a part of a tech group on social media that discusses new trends, technological advancements, and basically all things design. Although I do skim through it once in a while, there was this one post that caught me off-guard. “My brand is falling as I can not keep up with the development side of the website. My competitors regularly update their website in accordance to the industrial trends but my budget does not allow me to spend more than a certain limit on development.”, it stated. I obviously did the honors to make her aware of how a Headless CMS would be best suited for her needs. How you may ask?&nbsp; Since the presentation layer is separate from the Headless CMS, one can easily make adapt and scale content. It is also extremely compatible with almost all kinds of technological frameworks so even heavy technical changes would be easily adapted. This is probably the USP of Headless Content Management Systems if you ask me.&nbsp; <h6>It’s just Easy, Breezy, Lemon Squeezy!&nbsp;</h6> Technology does not have to be hard. I always believe that technology was meant to supplement mankind and not make people’s lives harder. If you live by this narrative, you will grasp the essence of technology effortlessly. Headless Content Management Systems are extremely user-friendly. Whether or not you know how to code, your outcome will all be under your control. The execution is relatively neater as Headless Content Management Systems store content and the platform is not stuffed with unnecessary things that may be irrelevant to your brand so you can focus on what matters the most- YOUR BUSINESS. <h6>Market Overview and Predictions for Headless CMS</h6> <ul><li>Headless CMS Software Market was valued at US$ 328.5 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 1,628.6 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.6% from 2020 to 2027.</li><li>The headless CMS market is segmented on the basis of deployment, enterprise size, and geography. By geography, North America held the largest share of the headless CMS software market in 2019, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific.</li><li>Asia Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. Based on deployment type, the market is bifurcated into cloud and on-premise. The cloud segment represented a larger share of the market in 2019. Based on enterprise size, the headless CMS software market is bifurcated into SMEs and large enterprises.</li><li>In 2019, the large enterprises segment accounted for a larger market share.</li><li>Headless CMS adoption rates are expected to&nbsp;double in the next year.</li><li>86 percent of people feel positive about headless CMS.</li><li>63 percent&nbsp;of people who use a headless CMS love it.</li></ul><h6> </h6><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/23/2180124/0/en/Global-Headless-CMS-Software-Market-Forecast-Report-2020-2027-Market-Opportunities-in-the-Rising-Deployment-of-Headless-CMS-in-BFSI-Sector.html%20,%20https://www.contentstack.com/blog/all-about-headless/state-cms-industry-content-management-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/23/2180124/0/en/Global-Headless-CMS-Software-Market-Forecast-Report-2020-2027-Market-Opportunities-in-the-Rising-Deployment-of-Headless-CMS-in-BFSI-Sector.html%20,%20https://www.contentstack.com/blog/all-about-headless/state-cms-industry-content-management-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Headless Content Management System Use Cases</h6> You may be wondering by now, “ How do I know if I am a good fit for Headless CMS? Should I really invest my resources in this? “. Let us discuss use cases to help you get clarity on whether or not you should consider a Headless Content Management System in your current strategy.<ol><li>If you are someone who has a website that runs on Javascript Framework.</li><li>If your website is created with static site generators.</li><li>If you want to separate your content from the tech stack of your website for speed and performance.</li><li>If you have an Application.</li><li>If you are someone who wants to amplify your e-commerce stack.</li><li>If you want to communicate with users across different touchpoints.</li></ol> <h6>Strapi</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362018057-three.png"><a href="https://jamstack.org/headless-cms/ghost/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">-Source</a> Strapi calls itself the next-gen headless CMS, open-source, javascript, enabling content-rich experiences to be created, managed, and exposed to any digital device. It is one of the most popular Headless CMS in the market and a lot of cult brands like Walmart and IBM use strapi for their operations. I love the NodeJS integrations as well as the modern interface that Strapi offers but getting the hang of the documentation part may take time and not every feature is directly useful to everyone’s needs. Pricing: Paid but Free trial available. <h6>Apric</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362043059-four.png"><a href="https://www.app.apricweb.com/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">-Source</a>Apric is a Growth-First Content Management system that helps you manage your content, marketing and analytics to supercharge your website growth. The Enterprise plan is for companies that want to grow their websites using Blogs, Dynamic content, Products, and landing pages along with analytics and lead management. The headless CMS allows you to align your content and marketing efforts to streamline your website’s growth with seamless integration and an SEO-friendly approach. Apric is now available for enterprises which allows all your teams to focus on growth. Pricing: Free for Creators, Paid for Enterprise&nbsp; <h6>Amplience</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362081473-five.png"><a href="https://amplience.com/docs/videotutorials/videos.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">-Source</a> An API-first, cloud-native headless Content Management, Amplience is a user-friendly platform and can be used for e-commerce. It offers great flexibility in terms of integrations and additional UI extensions are available for use.&nbsp;Although it's great in functionality, if you have two websites, Amplience is not the right fit for you.&nbsp;Pricing: Paid but Free trial available.&nbsp; <h6>Ghost</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362128768-six.png"><h6><a href="https://jamstack.org/headless-cms/ghost/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">-Source</a></h6> Ghost is a Headless Content Management System curated for blogging.&nbsp; With Ghost, you can redirect content shown on a website to a mobile app. It offers a text formatting feature called Markdown through which you can add special characters to your words.&nbsp; Although it does not provide extensive features like other Content Management Systems in the market, Ghost offers great support without any additional plugins for SEO. Pricing: Free <h6>Don’t be Mr.Know-it-all….</h6> Now that you are well versed with what a Headless Content Management System is and how you can take advantage of it (ALL IN THEORY), It is time to delve into the practical aspect of it. Go on, don’t be shy! Harness your brand’s full potential by leveraging awesome Headless CMS platforms and see the magic unfold. Have any questions about Headless Content Management Systems? Drop us a DM on Instagram <a href="https://instagram.com/apricweb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@apricweb</a> and make sure to check out our array of informative and fun&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">blogs</a>. Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

A 5 minute Guide to Headless Content Management Systems

Discover Headless Content Management Systems CMS - What a CMS is, how a CMS works, and how you can leverage a CMS. Find out a curated list of 4 of the best Headless Content Management Systems of 2022 to know which CMS will work best for your website and business needs. With the right strategy and an easily implemented Content Management System, your website and business growth are guaranteed. 

You must have heard of absurd things like “You can’t go swimming right after you eat” or “It takes 7 years for your body to digest gum”. As much as it freaked us out when we were kids, it is surely something we look back and laugh at now. The other day I watched a documentary on why myths and superstitions are so deep-rooted in our psyche that we can’t seem to let go of our preconceived notions of things. Well, it is because we have heard them time and time again - through our mentors, parents, grandparents, peers, and people we TRUST. Debunking Myths gives us a sense of clarity. Our research team came to us with an unusual conclusion that elucidated that even though Marketers and Entrepreneurs agree that a tool like CMS that can deliver content across all touchpoints is a boon to the industry. They are rather reluctant to opt for a Headless CMS due to some misconceptions they have. Unfortunately, misconceptions surrounding certain tools keep people away from exploring the sensational advantages they offer. Although Headless CMS is not a new concept, it may be one that people may be a little skeptical to try due to the myths associated with it. This prompted us to break the stereotype into smithereens and give a whole new perspective to people on how Headless Content Management Systems is one of the best content creation and distribution tools available to marketers and entrepreneurs. <h5>Myth 1: Headless CMS is not a good fit for Marketing Teams.</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362276257-one.png"> <h5>Truth: It makes the Marketing Team’s work 100 times easier and faster</h5> Some folks think that Headless CMS was conceived and designed solely for designers and developers. This is truly far from the truth. On the contrary, Headless CMS has made marketing efforts more in line, faster, and streamlined by eliminating the template overhead. This ensures that marketing teams can work independently and do not need to contact a developer for minuscule changes. My personal advice to people who think this would be to thoroughly research the presentation options for a headless CMS that you have in mind. In this era, almost all tools offer an array of presentation options that give total creative control to marketers. <h5>Myth 2: Headless CMS does not allow you to preview content.</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362296418-two.png"> <h5>Truth: Content preview is INSTANT in a Headless CMS.</h5> Upon talking to one of the top cats in the software ecosystem, I was baffled to hear him say “Oh, I would not recommend a Headless CMS solely due to the fact that it does not give you the provision to preview content.” Today, almost all next-generation Headless CMS offers you the ease to preview content before publishing. I would agree that there are a few in the market that does not offer this functionality but we can not stereotype the entire Headless CMS landscape on the basis of a few products that do not offer the functionality. Trust me, Content Preview is basic functionality and headless CMS allows you to preview the changes instantly as well <h5>Myth 3: Headless CMS will cost a lot of money.</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362313440-three.png"> <h5>Truth: Headless CMS actually saves you money.</h5> This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions associated with Headless CMS. The myth that Headless CMS is more expensive for companies than traditional or full-stack CMS comes from the idea that headless CMS is a rather complex process. In reality, a Headless CMS will save you heaps of money when it comes to developing and maintaining your website. How you may ask? <ul><li>Less licensing formalities</li><li>No hardware = No infrastructure expenditure</li><li>More growth potential</li></ul> Along with the lesser development costs, it also provides a comprehensive, more personalized experience so your CMS can grow and scale with your company. <h5>Myth 4: A Headless CMS limits your creative control.</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362331614-four.png"> <h5>Truth: Headless CMS gives you all the creative liberty in the world!</h5> With a content-first approach, Users have full creative control over their content, be it in terms of publishing or editing with a Headless CMS. You can easily leverage customization functionality while simultaneously delivering content that is responsive to people. When switched to Headless CMS,&nbsp;35% percent of marketers&nbsp;have felt a better user experience, and&nbsp;43% think they are less reliant on IT.&nbsp;( Source -<a href="https://www.openxcell.com/blog/future-of-cms-industry-facts-figures-trends-and-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.openxcell.com/blog/future-of-cms-industry-facts-figures-trends-and-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a> <h5>Myth 5: Headless CMS is just another developer tool and not an enterprise-level solution.</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362346553-five.png"> <h5>Truth: In 2019, the large enterprise's segment accounted for a larger market share for Headless CMS - Source (<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/23/2180124/0/en/Global-Headless-CMS-Software-Market-Forecast-Report-2020-2027-Market-Opportunities-in-the-Rising-Deployment-of-Headless-CMS-in-BFSI-Sector.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/23/2180124/0/en/Global-Headless-CMS-Software-Market-Forecast-Report-2020-2027-Market-Opportunities-in-the-Rising-Deployment-of-Headless-CMS-in-BFSI-Sector.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h5> There is a misconception that because Headless CMS does not offer WYSIWYG editors, it is not an enterprise-level solution. If you ask me, this myth was probably crafted by someone who uses a traditional CMS and is too afraid to take a leap into Headless CMS in fear that he may have to start from scratch. You do not have to start from scratch. In fact, A headless CMS enables you to layer content over tools, enabling integrations that offer users the control and flexibility to connect it to their current technology stack. The next-generation Headless CMS offers a plethora of functionalities for users, eliminating all the technical roadblocks and focussing on the overall user experience. By offering personalized workflows and effortless integrations, it is a surefire product in the industries and Enterprises love it!! <h5>Myth 6: The only benefit of Headless CMS is the increase in website speed.</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362357905-six.png"> <h5>Truth: It is one of the key features but it comes with an equally competent list of benefits.</h5> <ol><li class="ql-indent-1">Cost-effective</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Let’s you create and distribute content across all verticals</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Responsive Outputs</li><li class="ql-indent-1">High-traffic support</li><li class="ql-indent-1">No threat of data breach</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Enhanced compatibility</li><li class="ql-indent-1">Extremely user-friendly, etc.</li></ol> If you use a traditional CMS, switching over to a headless CMS will reap so many benefits for you in ways you couldn't have imagined. Although not all kinds of Headless CMS available in the market offer the same functionalities, if you do your research, you will come across one that aligns with your brand values and offerings. Here is our blog on the best ones: <ol><li class="ql-indent-1"><a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/5-minute-guide-to-headless-content-management-systems" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">A 5 minute Guide to Headless Content Management Systems</a></li><li class="ql-indent-1"><a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/how-to-create-a-killer-website" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">How to create a killer website in a few steps?</a></li><li class="ql-indent-1"><a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/easiest-ways-to-build-websites" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">Easiest ways to build websites : Content Management Systems</a></li><li class="ql-indent-1"><a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/20-best-content-management-systems-platforms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">20 Best Content Management Systems (CMS) Platforms in 2022!</a></li></ol> <h5>Myth 7: It is just a trend and will go away in a breeze!</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362372548-seven.png"> <h5>Truth: Headless CMS Software Market was valued at US$ 328.5 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 1,628.6 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22.6% from 2020 to 2027. - Source (<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/23/2180124/0/en/Global-Headless-CMS-Software-Market-Forecast-Report-2020-2027-Market-Opportunities-in-the-Rising-Deployment-of-Headless-CMS-in-BFSI-Sector.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/23/2180124/0/en/Global-Headless-CMS-Software-Market-Forecast-Report-2020-2027-Market-Opportunities-in-the-Rising-Deployment-of-Headless-CMS-in-BFSI-Sector.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h5> Absolutely not! A traditional CMS can only go so far in terms of technical compatibility. Let us take an example of an IoT-enabled device. It will not be able to run smoothly on a traditional CMS stack as it would not support an omnichannel experience, this can only be done by a headless CMS.We live in an era where IoT is taking over and in this day and age, nothing can replace the need for a robust Headless CMS. Check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/5-minute-guide-to-headless-content-management-systems" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">blog</a>&nbsp;to know the Market Predictions and Statistics about Headless CMS and how huge the demand is going to be in the future. Mirror Mirror on the wall, Is Headless CMS a good solution for us all? Yes, a hundred times yes! A Headless CMS is a great option if you are looking to grow your brand at a fast pace and with almost zero maintenance costs! It can guide your efforts to where your audience is and offer a great competitive edge while smoothing the workflow as well! Have any questions about Headless Content Management Systems? Think we missed something? Drop us a DM on Instagram <a href="https://instagram.com/apricweb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@apricweb</a> and make sure to check out our array of informative and fun&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">blogs.</a>

Headless CMS Myths Debunked - 2022 Edition

Next-generation Headless Content Management Systems are being adopted by companies at a very fast pace and this paradigm shift is also enabling companies to switch from full-stack or Traditional Content Management Systems to Headless Content Management Systems for various reasons. Although Headless CMS is deeply loved within the no-code community, the concept comes with a lot of misconceptions. Take a look at 7 of the most absurd Headless CMS Myths and how we debunked them with detailed explanations.

In this era of digital explosion, the internet is an indispensable element. The course of people’s lives is directly impacted due to the constant dependency on their smartphones and gadgets. All in all, it is safe to say that our lives have taken a turn towards adopting digital transformation. From ordering a gizmo from Best Buy’s website to video calling with your mother on her birthday, web development is the sole purpose this was all made possible. A lot of folks we network with have a misconception about how WWW and the internet are the same things. In order to learn anything about the evolution of the web, you have to get this fact cleared. In layman's terms, WWW is just a common point of connectivity for information sharing that is orchestrated by a global network of computers. The Internet, on the other hand, is a connection between computers and “n” number of devices that create an enormous network of systems. The web today is a multiverse in itself. Technologies have boomed over time to offer experiential designs and immense interactivity that is purely user-centric. The internet has created a market with unparalleled potential. Recent technologies like Artificial Intelligence, IoT, and Virtual Reality have made it possible for people to interact with the internet in a way that was never imagined. <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.slideteam.net/timeline-for-technology-advancement-powerpoint-shapes.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.slideteam.net/timeline-for-technology-advancement-powerpoint-shapes.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6><h6> </h6><h6>History</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362440298-evolution-121.png"> RTim Berners-Lee, a British scientist, invented the World Wide Web (WWW) in 1989 while working at CERN. The web was primarily developed and conceptualized to fulfill the burgeoning need for automated information sharing between scientists in universities and institutes around the globe. The first website at CERN and also the first in the world was devoted to the World Wide Web project and was hosted on Berners-Lee’s NeXT computer. In 2013, CERN launched a project to restore this first-ever website: info.cern.ch. On 30 April 1993, CERN put the World Wide Web software in the public domain. Later, CERN made a release available with an open license, a more secure way to maximize its dissemination. These actions kickstarted the web to flourish in the years to come.(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://home.cern/science/computing/birth-web" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://home.cern/science/computing/birth-web" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a> The evolution of websites can be broadly categorized into three key phases. Although these phases combine to elucidate holistic evolution, each is unique and imperative to future developments in technology. <h6>Year 1990 – 2000</h6> As you know by now, Tim Berners-Lee created the WWW in 1989. Just one year after this glorious invention, the first-ever website was created. If we were to show that website to you, you may not even consider it a full-fledged website, it is merely a column of simple text. Web development at this stage was considered a means to ease the inconvenience of the convoluted and complicated processes in the finance sector. Every single section of code had to be filled by hand to systems to generate archaic and outdated-looking structures. Since the websites were not that functional and lacked design, they were used mainly by corporations for information sharing. This gave rise to table-column websites that offered companies the ease to create multiple columns to disseminate information. As more and more companies delved into the world of the web, a new software called Flash pioneered in the web ecosystem. Flash was an authoring software developed by Macromedia and was primarily used to create vector-based graphic animation programs. It offered full-screen navigation interfaces, illustrations, and a very simple interactive interface. This was a revolution at that period of time as it made it possible for websites to include music, videos, and decent animations. <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/old-software" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/old-software" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Year 2010 – Present</h6> This as you would say is where technology was at its peak. Advancements like mobile-first websites (Add a hyperlink to our blog), dedicated Hero Sections (Hyperlink), and Experiential websites (Hyperlink) transformed the way we perceive technology. 2010 ventured off with minimalist websites. This was the time when the trend for glitzy websites was starting to die and a new wave of minimalism was starting to sink in. Minimalism ensured that the most important information was prioritized and highlighted and there was no clutter. This was also the advent of strategic and tactical Marketing. The emergence of SEO and digital marketing took a huge ascent and brands competitively started engaging in SEO-based marketing. If you talk about the present, the scenario of web development has evolved tenfold.The rise of low-code and no-code tools have increasingly simplified the lives of brands and has also challenged the principle of web development to an extent. While conceptualizing and developing a design first, a no-code platform called Apric, we took all of these factors into consideration on how time-in-time technology has progressed and the need of the hour is a substantial solution to people who want tastefully designed and beautiful experience-driven websites without the hassle of coding. According to us, No-code solutions are the way to the future and will triumph over web development in the years to come! <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.app.apricweb.com/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.app.apricweb.com/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Interesting Facts about Web Development!!&nbsp;</h6> <ol><li>In 2020, the total number of web developers and designers in the United States was around 178,900. By 2030, this number is projected to reach over 205,000.</li><li>The web design services market is estimated to be worth $40.8 billion in the US in 2021.</li><li>73.1% of web designers believe that a non-responsive design is a top reason why visitors leave a website.</li><li>There are approximately 2 trillion global searches per year.</li><li>In a study commissioned by Google and conducted by 55 and Deloitte, decreasing mobile site load times by just one-tenth of a second resulted in major increases in conversion rates — specifically, 8.4% for retail sites and 10.1% for travel sites. (Deloitte, 2019)</li></ol><h6> </h6><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://hookagency.com/blog/web-design-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://hookagency.com/blog/web-design-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Why do you need a cutting-edge website in 2022?</h6> A wise man once said, “Websites promote you 24/7, No employee will do that”. With technology progressing as we speak, it is pivotal to establish your brand identity as a business especially if you are looking to grow. Gone are the days when you would put up flashy icons or animations and hope to get great traffic. As discussed above, the world of the internet has progressed in ways that one could never imagine. If we were to build a basic website with no interaction, it may have worked wonders for us back in the 2000s but as of 2022, you need a website with avant-garde graphics, top-notch content, and an exceptional user experience to gain traction. The web nowadays has transformed the way we perceive information, connect and share data! With people spending more time on the internet than ever, it is imperative for businesses to have a strong online presence. Let us discuss 4 major reasons why having a website will foster growth and elevate sales for your business in 2022 and in years to come: <h6>24/7 Online Presence&nbsp;</h6> A website represents you 24 hours a day 365 days a year without any restrictions on the location. Even on days when you may have a business holiday or times when your office hours are over, a website can guide a customer to inquire about your business or possibly stimulate a purchase from the comfort of their home. Think of a marvelous website as the display and décor in a shop, one would only go inside a store if it is decorated tastefully. Likewise, a customer or potential customer will only browse through your website if it is aesthetically pleasing and great in functionality! Trust us, it will aid all your marketing efforts! <h6>Foster Credibility and Reliability</h6> If a customer wants to have any association with you, he will have to know that you are reliable and can be trusted. A few years back, you could get away with having a simple website and creating a huge customer base. Nowadays, with cutthroat competition and market saturation, customers have become very picky. If you have a strong website that showcases your vision, and values and establishes credibility, there is a high chance of attracting customers. If people see the time you have put into creating a wonderful website, they may be convinced that you will add some value to their lives. <h6>Display your Portfolio</h6> A good website does not restrict you from just making a sale. It is an amalgamation of many elements for your business - a major one being exhibiting your work experience and portfolio so your potential customers can establish trust in your brand. Let us say you are a salon, you have your rate card, your contact information, and a review system but how will you convince a customer to get his hair colored by you and not your competitor? Yes, you have a gallery wherein you upload all of the hair you have worked on so any potential customer can have a chance to view your work. <h6>To Stimulate Revenue and Sales</h6> It is evident that no visitor will stay on your page unless they’re attracted to it. That is why your website needs to look and feel like nothing they have seen before. People get bored easily as we have so much media around us to consume, they will only stay if it intrigues them in a way. It is pivotal for businesses to have a professionally made website with detailed designs and an interface so people would want to make a purchase. Having a solid website does in turn translate to increased sales and revenue. <h6>Websites of brands when they started out!</h6> In the following comparison of brand’s websites from when they started out to how they evolved now, you will notice a stark difference in every aspect of growing the brand was subjected to. Even though all of these brands encapsulated different values and virtues, you will notice that their websites more or less looked the same and exhibited the same primitive designs. If you were born before the 2000s, be prepared to let nostalgia take you over. If you were born after the 2000s, be prepared to delve into a world of fascination!! <h6>eBay</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362475620-evolution-124.png"><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tibus.com/blog/what-popular-websites-looked-like-in-the-1990s/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.tibus.com/blog/what-popular-websites-looked-like-in-the-1990s/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Apple</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362492637-evolution-125.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tibus.com/blog/what-popular-websites-looked-like-in-the-1990s/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.tibus.com/blog/what-popular-websites-looked-like-in-the-1990s/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>BBC</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362506985-evolution-126.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tibus.com/blog/what-popular-websites-looked-like-in-the-1990s/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.tibus.com/blog/what-popular-websites-looked-like-in-the-1990s/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Amazon</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362528012-evolution-127.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tibus.com/blog/what-popular-websites-looked-like-in-the-1990s/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.tibus.com/blog/what-popular-websites-looked-like-in-the-1990s/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Conclusion:</h6> The crux of this blog is that although we have seen an unstoppable wave of development throughout the years, it is not bound to stop anytime soon. From our expertise in this area, we believe many more breakthroughs like no-code solutions and responsive websites are yet to conquer the tech landscape. The web is already moving towards an advanced and progressive future where AI and ML will be used for all interactions which will lead to the emergence of Web 4.0. Don’t worry, we will do a dedicated blog in the future explaining what Web 4.0 is and how it will impact us in terms of opportunities and growth. Shoot us a mail at<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">&nbsp;coffee@apric.in</a>&nbsp;to let us know what kind of blogs you would want to see from us and we shall deliver it very soon. Until then, watch out for our upcoming blog. Ciao! ☺

Evolution of Websites From 1989 to Now!

Find out how the evolution of websites took place! From 1989 to now, we have come a long way.

Diversity is still a grey area for a lot of folks to this day, some call it a buzzword and some hold it very close to their hearts. We all have a different outlook on how Diversity resonates with us. The million-dollar question is: What really is Diversity? What does it have to do with design? Well, We get it and are here to establish a clear train of thought regarding the concept of diversity. We as designers have an innate ability to influence more than we may realize, the kind of designs we put out there speaks a lot about our perception of diversity. You may have seen many renowned brands like Dove, Gucci, Nike launch successful campaigns around diversity and inclusion to amplify voices of color, gender, sizes, etc. Not just that, even in the field of technology the growth of diversity is accelerating. The biggest example being the Google Pixel 2 campaign. Here are some suggestions from Artists around the world to Portray Diversity in Design: <h6>Be Inclusive with Character Designing</h6> “While designing characters, be authentic and inclusive. By inclusive I mean to include people regardless of their color, size, orientation, or story. We are all humans and like to belong.” - Josh, 34, Illinois <h6>Establishing subtle differences in Appearance</h6> “As an Indian, it really pains me when brands portray all of us looking the same. I mean we have so many religions and values, to begin with. I would advise designers to establish subtle differences in Appearance pertaining to gender, religion, values, etc.” - Karan, 28, HaryanaA lot of research dedicated to culture is mandatory for a seamless result. Designers have to really go beyond the surface to represent everyone they are targeting. Establishing subtle differences is vital. Example: If a brand wants to venture into the UAE market, they have to be mindful to include both Hijabi and Non-Hijabi women in campaigns. <h6>Do not Stereotype!!</h6> “When I moved to Canada from Japan, People assumed I loved anime but in reality, I have never seen a single episode of any anime. My advice would be for designers to not go based on stereotypes, rather to target Individuality of people.” - Haruto, 23, Ontario We all have a set of preconceived notions in our subconscious minds due to the internet. It is very important to not reflect any of those stereotypes in your design. Prejudice is not limited to any race, creed, or nation. You can experience it anywhere at any point. Prejudice and Stereotyping date back in the History of human civilization, Wars were fought due to prejudice holding people against each other. We should ignore, if not eradicate stereotypes as designers at the end of the day need to pay respect to individuality and humanity. <h6>Travel, if you can</h6> “What elevated my work was when I traveled to different places to experience the culture firsthand. My advice for my fellow designers would be to save up to travel, you will thank me!” - Naka, 43, DR Congo Traveling helps you see the world from a different perspective. It not only helps you learn about different cultures, but you also grow tremendously from these experiences. We understand that the pandemic situation and sometimes our wallets don’t align with our travel schedules. We feel that travel is not just something you can do in person, it’s a journey wherein you have to thoroughly research which teaches you so much and indirectly impacts your designs as well. <h6>Work in teams</h6> “You’re asking me how I learned about different cultures? Through Teams!! I always chose a diverse team so I could learn about how different cultures function. It truly gave me a lot of insights.” - Mateo, 20, Toledo This is surely an unexpected parameter to measure diversity but hey, It works! If you think on a deeper level, working in a team fosters equality a lot more than we can imagine. You can get to know a lot about someone’s culture if you are working with them on a project like their values, morals, perception, etc. Well, We hope you gained some great insights from the experience of these Artists. We had a lot of fun hearing about their takeaways. DM us on Instagram <a href="https://instagram.com/apricweb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@apricweb</a> to share what advice you would give to a designer with regards to Diversity!

Portraying Diversity in Design: Suggestions from Artists

Diversity is still a grey area for a lot of folks to this day, some call it a buzzword and some hold it very close to their hearts. We all have a different outlook on how Diversity resonates with us. The million-dollar question is: What really is Diversity? What does it have to do with design? Well, We get it and are here to establish a clear train of thought regarding the concept of diversity. We as designers have an innate ability to influence more than we may realize, the kind of designs we put out there speaks a lot about our perception of diversity. 

If you ask a business manager what their most valuable asset in the business is, you’ll get various types of answers, some interesting and some not-so-interesting! One of the most amusing ones we have encountered to date was when a business manager said “ME, I am the most valuable asset”. We were as confused as you are right now, to say the least! Well, we are no strangers to the fact that businesses are growing exponentially nowadays and with that, harnessing the most important asset is mandatory for companies to grow to their full potential. In many companies, a lot of data is stored manually through print mediums. This in turn causes a lot of hassle, not just with storage or outdated information but the environmental aspect of using so much paper comes into play as well. The success and growth of a business are heavily dependent on how they handle, manages, and retains its customers. We at Apric firmly believe that the most valuable asset for a company is its Customer Relationship Management system. What is a CRM system you may ask? Well, A CRM system allows companies to register, manage, collect customer leads and contact them all under one database. It allows companies to keep a tab on all sorts of communications between the customers and stores it to enhance opportunities. Without CRM, it would be time, energy, and money-consuming to store and keep a tab on all the data. If we tell you that reports state that the total revenue generated from the CRM industry will surpass $ 80 billion by 2025, you wouldn’t believe us, right? Well, this is all true and confirmed through research. The CRM software market has now become the most sought-after software market in the world. Let us talk about what makes CRM the most valuable asset for your company, Shall we? <h6>Understanding Customer Psychology</h6> CRM gives you deep and actionable insights about your customers. You can get to know a lot about your target audience like who your customers are, what they want/like, or even the trends in the current market. Your business can have a lot of opportunities to delve into if you understand the customer psyche. And not just that, efficient CRM software can help you gain a competitive edge over your competitors. <h6>Maximize Profits and Marketing efforts</h6> There is a 5-20% profitability of selling to a new prospect whereas there is a 60-70% profitability of selling to existing customers. Customer retention is a very crucial element in a business plan. CRM software helps you foster customer relationships while retaining them to their full potential. It adds value to your marketing efforts and increases profits in most avenues. <h6>Centralization of Customer Data</h6> Building a long-term relationship based on trust is imperative for your business. Keeping all interactions in the loop at all times ensures the effectiveness of the company. Papers and files will consume your time, energy, or even money and in this era, all three of these factors hold paramount importance. A proper custom-built CRM system streamlines and organizes different facets of your business to elevate sales volumes. <h6>Seamless Customer Service</h6> Customers love when brands reach out to them and make them feel like they are being heard and valued. The process of converting a customer to a loyal customer is a rocky but fulfilling journey. A CRM system not only keeps you in the loop at every stage of interaction, but it also helps you follow up with ease. This opens up the window of opportunity for companies to evolve. So by now, we know that without an efficient CRM system, a business will miss out on a lot of opportunities and will end up losing focus on the customer. Companies who know and believe that customer is king are fully equipped with CRM software as they are certain that this is one of the ways of enhancing sales, retaining customers, and making profits. Do you use CRM for your business? Or are you planning on incorporating one into your business? Let us know <a href="https://instagram.com/apricweb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@Apricweb</a> on Instagram. We will be delighted to know!

How is CRM your company's most valuable asset?

In many companies, a lot of data is stored manually through print mediums. This in turn causes a lot of hassle, not just with storage or outdated information but the environmental aspect of using so much paper comes into play as well. The success and growth of a business are heavily dependent on how they handle, manage and retain their customers. We at Apric firmly believe that the most valuable asset for a company is its Customer Relationship Management system. What is a CRM system you may ask? Well, A CRM system allows companies to register, manage, collect customer leads and contact them all under one database.

Time and time again we see multitudes of innovations in the world of web design. This decade has seen a paradigm shift and a technological revolution has taken the world by storm. No Code Website Builders enable you to create attractive and functional websites without the hassle of coding. They help you design and build a beautiful website without any direct interactivity with HTML, CSS, and Javascript elements (Basically, all the tech stuff). Let us be real. Almost every creator, brand, and entrepreneur wants a powerful website to showcase their offering to their target audience, and oftentimes many have to outsource programmers to not just build websites but to maintain them as well. This creates an unhealthy dependency on external links and in turn, poses to be a potential roadblock to these brands. Before No Code website builders existed, if you did not know how to code, there was no way you could build a beautiful<a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/fundamentals-of-responsive-websites" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/fundamentals-of-responsive-websites" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">responsive website&nbsp;</a>Even today, a lot of people ask us&nbsp; “Why do we need websites altogether?”“Is digital presence important?”&nbsp; Before we establish what no-code website Builders are, you need to know how creating a website online benefits you in the long run with no coding. <h6>Why do you need a website?</h6> A website is a platform where you have a chance to capture the traffic, prove why you are better than your competitors, and convert them into customers. — Basically your pitch to the customer! The need for a solid website to elevate your business cannot be emphasized enough. Let us discuss 4 major reasons why having a beautiful and functional website will foster organic growth and improve the sales of your business:<h6> </h6><h6>24/7 Online Presence</h6> A website represents you 24 hours a day 365 days a year without any restrictions on the location. Even on days when you may have a business holiday or times when your office hours are over, a tastefully designed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/why-do-you-need-a-great-hero-section" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">hero section</a>&nbsp;can guide a customer to inquire about your business or possibly stimulate a purchase over the comfort of their home. — Warming up your customer before they buy from you! Think of aesthetic websites as the display and décor in shops, one would only go inside a store if it is decorated tastefully. Likewise, a customer or potential customer will only browse through your website if it is aesthetically pleasing and great in functionality! Trust us, it will aid all your marketing efforts tenfold! <h6>Foster Credibility and Reliability</h6> If a customer wants to have any association with you, they will have to know that you are reliable and can be trusted. A few years back, you could get away with having a simple website and creating a huge customer base. Nowadays, with cutthroat competition and market saturation, customers have become very picky. — Build trust with your potential customer. Right away. If you have a strong website that showcases your vision and values while establishing credibility, there is a high chance of attracting customers. If people see the time you have put into creating a wonderful website, they may be convinced that you will add some value to their lives. <h6>Display your Portfolio</h6> A good website does not restrict you from just making a sale. It is an amalgamation of many elements for your business - a major one being exhibiting your work experience and portfolio so your potential customers can establish trust in your brand. As Austin Kleon says: Show your work! A website is the best place to do that. Let us say you are a salon owner, you have a rate card, your contact information, and a review system but how will you convince a customer to get his hair cut by you and not your competitor?&nbsp; Have a gallery on your website wherein you upload all of the hairstyles you have worked on so that any potential customer can have a chance to view your work on full screen. It's simply a visual cue! <h6>To Stimulate Revenue and Sales</h6> It is evident that no visitor will stay on your page unless they’re attracted to it. That is why your website needs to look and feel like nothing they have seen before. — Intrigue the user to differentiate from others. Then make the sale! People get bored easily as we have so much media around us to consume, they will only stay if it intrigues them in a way. It is pivotal for businesses to have a professional website with detailed designs and an interactive interface so people would want to make a purchase. Having a solid website does in turn translate to increased sales and revenue. <h6>What is No Code Web Development?</h6> Now that we have established why you need a cutting-edge website, let us delve into how you can create one without the stress of designing, coding, maintaining, and growing it! The other day, we received an email from one of our users who had a question: <h6>“How to make a website like Amazon? Without coding through”</h6> Easy! Pick one of the best no-code website builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/20-best-content-management-systems-platforms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">hero section</a>&nbsp;out there and see the magic unfold! No code development is a type of web development that allows non-programmers and programmers to create software using a graphical user interface, instead of writing code. A huge misconception about No Code Web Development is that it is only beneficial for people who do not know how to code. Let us clear the air, No Code Web Development is highly loved and widely used in the developer’s community! This concept was conceived with the idea that technology should be accessible to everyone without any hindrances. Almost every digital activity we indulge in is backed up by code. A couple of examples could be the television you watch to consume news or a social media platform you use to comment on your favorite celebrity’s pictures. A lot of people believe that technology should supplement mankind, not complicate it. No-code website builders are opening a realm of endless possibilities for everyone! <h6>What are the benefits of no-code web development?</h6> Apart from the obvious benefit of not having to code to create a feature-packed and aesthetic website, No code web development offers a lot more benefits like:<h6> </h6><h6>Speed and Time</h6> Ask any developer and they would tell you that creating a website is a painfully long task! — People seek instant gratification. Imagine you want a website. After doing your research you have 2 options: A.You go on looking for a developer to build it for you: You go back and forth trying to pick one that understands your assignment in full glory. You finally come across one who gives you a timeline of “2 months” and a budget that will probably make you poor. To add salt to the wound, he establishes clearly that maintaining and updating your website will cost additional and will be a time-taking process. B.&nbsp;The second option for you is a no-code website builder: It’ll enable you to have complete creative control over your website wherein you can design it within a couple of hours and develop it instantly! — No hassle, no huge investment, and the ease of maintaining and updating your website. All at your fingertips! Which option sounds better to you? Obviously, the latter! <h6>Visual Editor</h6> Remember WYSIWYG? Basically “What you see is what you get”. You do not need to separately code what you designed. You can directly design into the editor and the website would be ready to publish. This reduces the friction between designing and coding a website. Any changes that you do, will be directly on the live website. Let's say you spotted some new design trends! You don’t need to figure out how to code it. Simply design it and publish the changes to your no-code website using the visual editor! <h6>Cost-effective</h6> We can all be a little frugal in life. It is indeed a good practice to spend mindfully. As explained above, traditional website development takes a lot of resources – Time, Money, and Energy that can hinder a company’s efforts. Legacy maintenance is one of the key areas of an IT department. Due to this, many companies end up splurging on the maintenance of their website. No code web development has no requirements of maintaining legacy codes thereby eliminating your maintenance costs. <h6>Control</h6> Why people absolutely love no-code website builders is due to the fact that they can do it themselves. If you are a perfectionist like us, we are sure you understand just how important it is to make sure every element is placed as per our standards. This ensures you get a website exactly as you needed without any hitch in your creative freedom. What you imagine is what you build! <h6>Types of No Code Website Builders:</h6> There are two types of No-Code Website Builders – Design-first and Functionality-first. <h6>Design-first</h6> Design-first platforms focus on aesthetics and device compatibility. They make sure your website is easily scaled, designed, and placed. Fun fact - Apric is also a design-first no code website builder! This approach leverages drag-and-drop capabilities to build beautiful yet functional websites. <h6>Functionality-first</h6> Functionality-first platforms focus on automating complex processes. This enables enterprises to use integrations to simplify processes and establish connections to various tools. <h6>What is the difference between No-code and Low-code platforms?</h6> A lot of people think that No code and Low code software are the same things. This is absolutely false. They might sound the same phonetically but do differ from each other in various facets. No code platforms are aimed at anyone who wants great websites and experiences without the hassle of coding, Low code platforms are aimed at developers specifically. You may be wondering, why is that? Well, Low code platforms require some type of technical knowledge. The main aim of low code platforms is to speed up the development process. Another key difference is that low code platforms enable the user to alter or add code, unlike no-code platforms. <h6>Jaw-dropping Statistics about No-code web development!</h6><ul><li>By 2030, the global low-code/no-code development platform market is expected to produce $187 billion in revenue. It will account for more than 65% of application development activity by 2024.</li><li>The mixture of low-code/no-code and conventional innovation is projected to be adopted by 75% of businesses.</li><li>The global low-code/no-code market is projected to total $13.8 billion in 2021.</li><li>The global low-code/no-code market size was valued at USD 11.45 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.7% from 2020 to 2027.</li><li>Only 0.5% of the world’s population knows how to code.</li><li>85% of people said that no-code tools add value to their lives.</li><li>84% of people trust no-code tools.</li><li>96% of those who don’t use no-code tools would be willing to use them in the future.</li><li>“Ease of use” is the most used (20%) positive word people use when describing low code / no-code development platforms based on data collected from customer reviews for all low-code/no-code development platforms companies.</li><li>24% of users had no experience at all before using low-code/no-code platforms. 40% of those users have mostly business backgrounds.</li><li>84% of enterprises have turned toward low-code/no-code for their ability to reduce strain on IT resources, increase speed-to-market, and involve the business in digital asset development.</li><li>31% of enterprises that use low-code/no-code have not used them to build and deliver any of their highest-value applications.</li><li>72% of users develop apps with low-code applications in 3 months or less.</li><li>More than 65% of app development in 2024 is expected to be performed by low-code/no-code platforms.</li></ul><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://userguiding.com/blog/no-code-low-code-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://userguiding.com/blog/no-code-low-code-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Apric – A design-first, no-code website builder!</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362697697-one.png"> Apric is a simple way to plan, design, and launch fast and beautiful experience-driven websites that change the way you represent your brand. We help you find a balance between conveying information and providing an experience, A clean canvas to create interactive and engaging websites without having to compromise your creativity against technical limitations. We are currently at the&nbsp;MVP stage and our first template is a "creator's landing page". We offer great page load, multitudes of themes, converting call-of-action buttons and awesome background images to choose from. Our future plans of expansion entail releasing more templates to cater to a wider audience to build their website. As one of the best no-code website builders in the market, Apric offers ease of use at the forefront so you can effortlessly achieve the wow factor without having to compromise on the functionalities. Through our platform, we empower designers to create for the web and build great digital experiences. Check out our array of features and create an exceptional web experience for your audience<a href="https://www.app.apricweb.com/signup" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">&nbsp;here</a> <h6>Conclusion:</h6> A lot of trends come and go, but we are certain no-code website builders are here to stay for good! Well, now that you know what no-code websites are and how they can help you, shoot us an email at<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">&nbsp;coffee@apric.in</a>&nbsp;to let us know your thoughts on the same. In addition to that, if you have any questions about Apric, feel free to drop in a query on Instagram <a href="https://instagram.com/apricweb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@Apricweb.</a> We love encouraging people to do their best in design through our expertise and useful insights. Until then stay tuned for our next blog as it is going to be a topic deeply loved in the design community. Ciao!&nbsp;☺

Why do you need a No-Code Website Builder in 2022?

No Code Website Builders enable you to create attractive and functional websites without the hassle of coding. They help you design and build a beautiful website without any direct interactivity with HTML, CSS, and Javascript elements (Basically, all the tech stuff).  Let us be real. Almost every creator, brand, and entrepreneur wants a powerful website to showcase their offering to their target audience, and oftentimes many have to outsource programmers to not just build websites but to maintain them as well. This creates an unhealthy dependency on external links and in turn, poses to be a potential roadblock to these brands.

A creator's journey in social media is like Pandora's box, one is never certain of what will unfold the next moment. A bunch of creators are fogged by a dilemma on how to elevate their social presence to achieve their goals. Although we thoroughly love and enjoy Instagram, it can oftentimes be a battleground where influencers are constantly trying to get to the pinnacle and achieve the status of becoming a top cat. Being subject matter experts in the realm of influencer marketing, we are subjected to a plethora of questions - some enlivening and some, well very bizarre to say the least. The other day, I was engrossed in a deep conversation with a fashion blogger who was seeking advice on how she can present herself and resonate with her audience to reflect her branding in the most direct yet authentic way. The orthodox answer you will get if you ask anyone, with little to no knowledge on this subject would be to “create a personal influencer, entrepreneurial or freelancer website and follow the herd”. For content creation, however, things pan out in different ways. It is imperative to stand out and direct your audience to the right resources. As creators, we want to experience the different virtues of our journey and leverage lucrative opportunities to help us conquer certain milestones. Let me give you a quick example - What if you need to promote your ebook, direct your customers to a certain website and simultaneously encourage sign-ups on your newsletter ALL in the same time span, how would you do that? A full-fledged website would not be able to help throw light on individual milestones but would rather give your audience a brief overview of your offerings or persona. We know what you’re thinking, what do creators do to stand out then? Well, your question is completely valid and in fact, is something that all creators should ask themselves. The answer is pretty simple - To change the way creators connect with their audience. How can that be done? By creating a creators’ microsite that allows them to showcase their true selves in all of their glory. This is where Apric comes in handy and is a must for every budding influencer or entrepreneur. So, What really is Apric and how can you leverage creating a creators’ microsite? Apric is a one-stop solution for anyone looking to turn their dreams into profitable brands. The intent is to allow users to experience the creator’s economy by reshaping the way you connect with your audiences while attracting a plethora of creators under a canopy to help align their goals with values efficiently, all under one roof. It is essential to drive audiences from your creators’ microsite to important avenues, considering how Instagram limits you to only one link in the bio. This in turn makes the user experience impeccable as the audience can easily browse all links from one spot. Not just that, you are more likely to get leads and great traffic as well. With Apric, you can maintain essential lead magnets while rotating other links for the latest content. With a systematic approach and the right tool, you can easily convert your traffic and build brand loyalty. To leverage Apric offerings, head over to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apric.in/products" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">apric.in/products</a>&nbsp;or shoot us a mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">coffee@apric.in</a>&nbsp;and we will be more than happy to help! ☺

Creating a Creators’ Micro Site!

As creators, we want to experience the different virtues of our journey and leverage lucrative opportunities to help us conquer certain milestones. Let me give you a quick example - What if you need to promote your ebook, direct your customers to a certain website and simultaneously encourage sign-ups on your newsletter ALL in the same time span, how would you do that? A full-fledged website would not be able to help throw light on individual milestones but would rather give your audience a brief overview of your offerings or persona.

When wondering about the extensive world of User Experience, our first impression of the word elucidates an easy, aesthetically pleasing, and user-friendly feature-set of a product that is designed to make your life simpler! If you ask us in technicality, UX is not a set of features; it is the experience you get from using those features! A lot of people ask us: Isn’t this the same as Interaction design? Well, it is on the same lines but to mistake them for one entity is a perpetual sin in the design world, pun intended. There is a slight bit of difference that gives UX the power to stand out. So, how is it really different? <h6>User experience Vs. Interaction design?&nbsp;</h6> Nowadays, you will see a paradigm shift in the way roles in companies are allotted and assigned to employees. A firm example would be that a decade ago, companies would hire specialists in interaction design or usability engineers that would be responsible for providing an exceptional experience to users. At the moment, however, companies recruit user experience specialists. So, how do both differ? Well, it is more or less the same however, since this specific term “user experience” has overpowered others, it speaks volumes about the change in emphasis. To elaborate on this, UX used to be a minor aspect of the role of an interaction designer or usability engineer, now it has become a dedicated unit that is indispensable to the company. Think of it this way: Experience makes people feel a certain type of way and that is why it is the key reason people browse through websites for hours at a stretch. <h6>Laws of UX</h6> It is important to pay heed to the laws of UX if you want to successfully capture your audience’s attention. Thorough research coupled with a deep understanding of the UX laws is the key to building a good experience. Here are <h6>1) Hick’s Law</h6> The keyword here is – CHOICES. Hick’s law states that a person spends more time making a decision on the basis of the variety and complexity of choices. A good example here would be online shopping – you spend more time adding things to the cart and examining the options rather than just buying them, all due to the plethora of options available. <h6>2) Fitts’ Law</h6> Fitts’ Law helps measure how much time it will take to acquire the target based on the distance and size. This helps designers curate design experiences that reduce human error and enhance productivity. <h6>3) Serial Position Effect</h6> This law states that the first and last terms are most likely to be remembered and recognized by a person. This is elucidated by putting the least eminent terms in the middle and the most important ones in the first and last terms. Now that you are well versed with the difference between the two and the significance of the laws of UX while designing, Shoot us an email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">coffee@apric.in</a>&nbsp;with your insights on the same. We love hearing from you!! In the meanwhile,check out our creative personality on our socials&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/apricweb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">@Apricweb</a>

User experience Vs. Interaction design: Which one should you seek?

Nowadays, you will see a paradigm shift in the way roles in companies are allotted and assigned to employees. A firm example would be that a decade ago, companies would hire specialists in interaction design or usability engineers that would be responsible for providing an exceptional experience to users. At the moment, however, companies recruit user experience specialists. So, how do both differ? Well, it is more or less the same however, since this specific term “user experience” has overpowered others, it speaks volumes about the change in emphasis.

"Kuch meetha hojaye?" These three words by Dairy Milk revolutionized storytelling in the Indian Market. If there’s any festival around the corner, Cadbury makes sure to evoke emotional appeal by mirroring occurrences that happen in every household. Not just Cadbury, almost every brand on the face of the planet incorporates storytelling in their communication. One of my favorite advertisements – Moments by Volvo&nbsp;shows a little girl’s conversation in conversation with her mother about everything she wants to achieve and all adventures she wants to be a part of, as she overcomes her fear of her first day in school. This goes by a flash as you see another story playing out at the same time, a distracted woman driving to work while the little girl crosses the road. The two stories meet in a nerve-wracking way as she brakes at the right time. Do not worry, this ends well. The little girl and the woman driving to work go on with their day happily giving out a beautiful message that moments that never happen are the ones that matter the most. The crux of this is to elucidate how extensively a story can impact your mind. I was talking to my little cousin the other day about his favorite bedtime stories and it got me thinking about how brands leverage that to create exceptional campaigns that resonate with kids. Children’s culture is based on the concept of discovery. Discovery could be in the form of slapstick magic tricks or through a long list of absurd questions like “why is a fan called a fan?”. Their humor is typically restricted to knock-knock jokes or quirky riddles. Stories to children portray a simplified view of the concept of life! The beauty of a story is that you can explain the most challenging scenarios in the simplest forms. <h6>Once upon a time…... ZZzzzZZZ</h6> No, not all stories make you sleepy. In fact, stories have the potential to rewire your brain, give it a different perspective on things and quench your thirst for learning. Just imagine you are wanting to become more environmentally conscious and you take a step towards educating yourself about the benefits of adopting the lifestyle. You ask two friends who are on the same path, one of them sends you a list of bullet points elucidating the advantages of contributing to the environment and the other one articulates his experiences in the form of a story to tell you how being environmentally aware has changed his life. Which one would you be more convinced by? Well, if you are anything like the 99.9% of the population, I am pretty sure you would choose the latter! If we go by the books, storytelling is the act of telling or writing stories or narratives. Frankly speaking, storytelling is an art and requires a high degree of creativity and skill. It is not something that you would learn from a YouTube video. To master storytelling, you need to experience a lot of trial and error to see what works out for your audience. Don’t just storytell for the sake of storytelling, it should add some kind of value to your audience’s life.It would be ideal if you could brainstorm and create a mindmap of your target audience and see what kinds of content they like to consume. After that, pick a few of the topics from the brainstorming session and narrate them as stories. This way, you can test for what kinds of topics resonate with your audience and continue to work your way up from there. Storytelling has been in this world for ages. You could see artifacts used by cavemen in museums to this day. Since the start of human civilization, humans have interacted through cave wall art.&nbsp;Few of the most primitive pieces of evidence of storytelling have been discovered through cave drawings in Lascaux and Chavaux, France 30,000 years ago. These cave wall art portrayed animals, humans, weapons, and other objects used to communicate via storytelling. <h4>But how can “Storytelling” benefit my brand?</h4> If you are an entrepreneur or know one, you would probably know how pivotal brand loyalty is. Storytelling can immensely help with attaining brand loyalty through personalization and uncovering your audience's motives beyond the surface level. <h6>Weave stories that hit home</h6> If you want to stand out, take the user through your story that makes them feel a sense of familiarity. Connecting your product to a part of users' life can absolutely change your marketing trajectory. Let them in on your growth, learning curve, and processes. If you can easily articulate your offerings in your stories, you can outshine your competitors and build a loyal audience.<h6> </h6><h6>Human touch is essential</h6> Touching the hearts of your audience will not just help you conquer your goals, but would reinforce your mission and vision as a brand. Humanizing your brand can foster a positive impact on your audience.<h4> </h4><h6>The centerpiece of your efforts</h6> Stories can aid in meshing all of your marketing efforts together by creating a fluid structure that has more to do with creating an impact than straight out seeming “pushy” to sell. <h6>Human touch is essential</h6> Touching the hearts of your audience will not just help you conquer your goals, but would reinforce your mission and vision as a brand. Humanizing your brand can foster a positive impact on your audience. <h4>5 Brands that have mastered the Art of Storytelling</h4> <h6>Dove</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362781694-one.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unilever.com/planet-and-society/health-and-wellbeing/supporting-self-esteem-and-wellbeing/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here)</a></h6> Dove has always been at the forefront of supporting social causes with several campaigns that elucidate how everyone is beautiful regardless of their race, sexual orientation, age, body type, etc. Their #DoveSelfie campaign garnered a lot of attention. If you haven’t watched the campaign, it entails a number of women narrating their experiences of their perceptions of what they do not like about themselves, they go through a series of events thereafter wherein they realize that no one has to change their appearance for anyone and that everyone is beautiful the way they are! Their storytelling approach in all their inner beauty campaigns has earned them a rock-solid loyal audience. Through sharing a social message through their brand, they do not require any additional marketing efforts as their customers are emotionally linked to the brand. <h6>Airbnb</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362798096-two.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.traveldailymedia.com/airbnb-unveils-thats-why-we-airbnb-campaign/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here)</a></h6> If I think of brand-driven storytelling, Airbnb for some reason tops the list in my mind due to the way they hit home with their campaigns. Every campaign that they have ever come out with is so user-centric and memorable. Most of their campaigns encapsulate the little joys of life, narrating real stories from travelers and mavericks who are always on the go! A huge amount of Airbnb’s content revolves around community and hospitality to cultivate trust among its audience. <h6>Spotify</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362814710-three.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://mahlab.co/blog/dont-spotify-nail-data-driven-storytelling/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here)</a></h6> Spotify has one of the quirkiest storytelling strategies, a major example being Spotify Wrapped which is a personalized highlight of music created for every user. Since people tend to listen to music when they feel emotion, Spotify embraced this aspect to help the user realize that they have been there for them throughout their journey of ups and downs. This adds a rather human touch to the way they connect with their audience. <h6>Red Bull</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362825529-four.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/energydrink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here)</a></h6> Despite the hefty lawsuit associated with the tagline, “Red bull gives you wings” had captured a huge chunk of the audience and created a revolutionary impact on the brand itself. The rebel, go-getter brand image is translated through their advertisements and content. Today, Red bull runs its social media on co-creating stories with its audience. <h6>Deciem</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664362838285-five.png"><h6> </h6><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://medium.com/@kjbennettbeauty/deciem-the-abnormal-beauty-company-9360bc2d88cb" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here)</a></h6> If you are a skincare fanatic like me, you probably know Deciem for its quality products. If you are a marketing fanatic, also like me, then you probably know Deciem for its quirky illustrations. They foster honest communication with their audience and promote natural beauty by avoiding the stigma of being a certain type to fit in the beauty segment. Their storytelling approach amalgamated with their brand persona has led them to build a loyal audience. <h5>Here are some numbers if you’re still not convinced:</h5><ul><li>We’re exposed to 5,000+ brand messages every day, but we’re aware of about 86, with only 12 making a lasting impression -&nbsp;The Drum.</li><li>81% of consumers say they need to be able to trust the brand in order to buy from them -.&nbsp;Edelman</li><li>Storytelling can boost conversion rates by 30% -&nbsp;Search Engine Watch.</li><li>If people love a brand story, 55% are more likely to buy the product in the future, 44% will share the story, and 15% will buy the product immediately -.&nbsp;Headstream</li><li>Even 62% of B2B marketers hold storytelling in high regard as an effective&nbsp;content&nbsp;marketing tactic -&nbsp;Search Engine Watch.</li></ul><h6> </h6><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nutcrackeragency.com/blog/content-marketing-and-seo/6-stats-that-show-why-storytelling-is-crucial-for-your-content-marketing-strategy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here)</a></h6> <h6>The final call….</h6> Storytelling is the way to go! Try incorporating it into your content strategy and observe the numbers growing. In this day and age where personalization is given prime importance, there is no better way to gain a loyal audience than capturing their hearts through relatable stories! What do you think? Is content better with storytelling? Leave us a DM on our IG <a href="https://instagram.com/apricweb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@Apricweb</a>. Stay tuned for more insightful blogs! Our upcoming blog is curated for the creators of tomorrow so stay tuned for it! Until then, Ciao!

How can Storytelling help my brand?

Find out how storytelling can help your brand with getting website traffic and user conversions. Catch a sneak peek into the storytelling strategies of cult brands like Dove, Airbnb, Spotify, etc to see how you can increase your brand retention and positioning. With the right marketing strategy and a good storytelling approach, you are sure to build a loyal audience.

How can Storytelling help my brand ?

A layman may not be familiar with the concept of Interfaces. For designers and developers, however, it is a key concept and principle that needs to be followed to create a substantial website. If we talk about a decade or two back, websites were made with the intention of being viewed primarily through the web (kind of justified why they named it a “website”). If we talk about this era where digitalization is at its peak, mobile-first websites are the need of the hour. Mobiles have truly revolutionized the way we consume media. If we talk about the general public, everyone seems to do everything on their phones. From watching the news to reading articles to maintaining full-fledged excel sheets, mobile has garnered our admiration in every facet of life. Let us ask you 2 questions – When you get up in the morning what is the first thing that wakes you up? Your alarm is on your phone, right? Well, what is the last thing you do before going to sleep? Perhaps playing some soothing melodies on your phone or playing videos of meditation to help you unwind. As much as we are aware of how it is not conducive to our health, our patterns with our mobile phones more or less remain constant. Even though the whole concept and approach toward mobile-first websites are relatively new, it is one that will triumph over the coming decade. <h4>So, what really is a Mobile-first website?</h4> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363007981-mobileFirst1.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.webjeda.com/mobile-first-web-design/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here)</a></h6> Mobile-first websites are exactly what it sounds like – prioritizing the design as well as the development of websites for mobile devices and working your way up from there. Herein, websites are designed and developed in a fashion for them to be consumed firstly on a mobile device and secondarily on a desktop. The first question that may pop up in your mind may be “Why? Why do we need mobile-first websites? Can’t normal websites suffice the need? Let us put it this way – Your mobile screen has limited space as opposed to your desktop screen. Unless you want to cram all the elements and information into that little screen you see, it is always better to arrange and design for those little screens in order of priority so your audience can leverage your content to the fullest. As you work for bigger screens, you can offer advanced elements that can enhance user experience but for mobiles, it is only viable to design in a way that the most important information is consumed first by your viewer. We were recently engrossed in a deep design conversation with one of our users of Apric. Upon explaining the mobile-first website concept, they pointed out a very interesting question- Isn’t the mobile-first concept and responsive design the same thing? This was the reason we were compelled to create this blog as a lot of folks do not know the clear-cut difference between the two. <h4>How is Mobile-first design different from Response design?</h4> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363025514-mobileFirst2.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smartz.com/web-design/mobile-first-vs-mobile-responsive-design/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here)</a></h6> Responsive design starts on the desktop and works its way down to the smallest screen. Mobile-first concept, however, is quite different as it is designed keeping in mind the mobile view and then works its way up. In responsive designing, the layout and designs are scaled to be positioned in accordance to your respective phone screens although the speed, navigation, and a lot more elements are steered towards a traditional site made to be viewed on the web. You can also say that a responsive design website is reactive and is designed to move fluidly to accommodate devices. While both designs offer an impeccable experience to users and offer accessibility across all spectrums of devices, mobile-first experiences offer a rich holistic experience for the viewer that can in turn lead to conversions. <h4>Legit ways to create a cutting-edge Mobile-first Website!</h4> Now that you are aware of what mobile-first websites are and why you need them. It’s time to learn how to create an exemplary Mobile-first website. The first step to creating websites, whether mobile-first or traditional, is to conduct a thorough analysis of your user needs to decipher what you want their user journey to be like the moment they arrive on your website. <h6>Follow the K-I-S-S principle</h6> Keeping it short and simple – KISS is how to ace your mobile-first website. Cut down on some functionalities to ensure that only the most important and relevant information stays on your website which could lead to conversions. Cramming up too much information for the sake of enlightening the user may backfire and cause the user to click away. Following a minimalist approach is the best solution to creating a monumental experience. The reason for this is mobile users use their fingers to navigate and are prone to errors so keeping everything accessible is very crucial. <h6>Striking CTA’s</h6> “Get the bundle now!” “Learn how to write copies that sell” “Unlock my free gift”, Such CTA’s ensure that your users are hooked on what you have to offer, something that they just can’t miss out on! Since mobile-first websites allow only a portion of the content to reflect on the page, there is an indispensable need for a convincing CTA. <h6>Follow Hierarchy of Information</h6> Users, especially mobile users have very limited time on their hands and a lot of lucrative offers flooding in whenever they browse through their phones. This shortens the attention span thereby leading to distortion of information. The best way to approach this is by displaying content in a hierarchy – From most important to least important. This will guarantee an effortless flow of information and make it easy for both you and your user to understand you. Humans are visual beings and intentionally or unintentionally are driven by colors, textures, patterns, etc. Websites having authentic and tastefully designed creatives that are mobile-adaptive are perceived to be more credible and trustworthy. If users see that you have poor imagery, they will click away in no time. We suggest brands use minimal imagery but one that is thought-provoking and imitates your message in the best visual way possible. <h4>Test your website on multitudes of Interfaces</h4> As easy as this sounds, it is not. If you are a developer, we are certain you understand this pain point. What may look flawless on one device may look distorted on another. It is eminent to offer the same experience across devices. Make sure you test it on multiple mobile phones with different operating systems to get a clear picture. The key here is to notice if the pictures and content sit well across the interface. <h6>8 Mobile Marketing Facts that will amaze you!!</h6> <ol><li>8 Mobile Marketing Facts that will amaze you!!</li><li>61 percent of consumers say they are more likely to purchase from mobile-friendly sites.</li><li>When searching on mobile, 96 percent of people use Google.</li><li>52 percent of PPC clicks come from mobile.</li><li>66 percent of emails are read on a smartphone or tablet.</li><li>More than 50 percent of YouTube views come from mobile devices.</li><li>18 percent of Facebook users only use the platform on mobile.</li><li>The average mobile session is 40 minutes.</li></ol><h3> </h3><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.webfx.com/digital-marketing/statistics/mobile-marketing-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here)</a></h6> <h5>4 Apric-Certified Mobile-first designs :</h5> Being subject matter experts in the realm of design, we at Apric critically analyze every aspect of design. In fact, our team vouches for the fact that we can spot a design error from a 6-ft distance. Through our years of expertise and trial and error, we have finally mastered the art of what really works and what doesn’t. For some amateur designers, mobile-first websites may still be a gray area as it takes a lot of practice to master what looks and feels ideal. It requires extensive research and most of all utmost patience to crack the code. So, here are 4 mobile-first designs that we are absolutely obsessing over this summer. Head over to our Instagram @apricweb to let us know your favorite mobile-first websites! <h5>Typeform</h5> Typeform follows a minimalist approach wherein they are providing a precise solution to anyone looking to build interesting forms. What we like about this mobile-first website is the legibility and the kind of plain sailing content that is straight to the point. No beating around the bush, to-the-point solution and soothing visuals are the kind of themes they stick with. Personally, this is one of our favorite out of our picks! <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363044416-mobileFirst3.png"> <h5>BuzzFeed</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363065393-mobileFirst4.png"> As an internet media, news, and entertainment company, BuzzFeed has strategically placed the contents of its mobile-first website that ensures that people click, out of the shock factor. Although it may seem a little cramped up, it works for BuzzFeed! Striking visuals, Catchy headlines, and huge text make it ideal to catch the eyeballs of people who want to read about entertainment and drama. <h5>Pixelgrade</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363079524-mobileFirst5.png"> This mobile-first website allows visitors to explore beautiful themes and learn about their offerings. Again, gives a very clear-cut message for visitors so they are well aware of what they can expect out of the website. The crisp tone of communication in the messaging coupled with easy navigation makes Pixelgrade a great mobile-first website inspiration. <h5>Express</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363105766-mobileFirst6.jpg"> Express is a cult favorite in the fashion industry not just due to the stylish clothes they offer, but due to the fact that they are well aware of their customer’s needs. Being a graphic-rich portal, the mobile-first website of Express translates high-quality imagery and strong CTAs to attract and retain customers. <h6>Conclusion:</h6> With the design community evolving as we speak, it is eminent to cater to users’ needs to establish a credible brand. The world has seen an enormous shift from web to mobile and the space continues to grow with full force. This opens windows of opportunities for brands to delve into the world of mobile-first designs and explore what it holds. Our verdict is that inculcating and adopting a mobile-first strategy will not only exponentially help you with conversions, but will also help you connect with your audience in a very personalized and well-defined way. Write to us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245); color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">coffee@apric.in</a> to let us know your thoughts on mobile-first websites, we love to hear from you! Till then, be on the lookout for our upcoming blog. We are sure as hell you do not want to miss it. Ciao!

A comprehensive guide on Mobile-first Websites!

Mobile-first websites are exactly what it sounds like – prioritizing the design as well as the development of websites for mobile devices and working your way up from there. Herein, websites are designed and developed in a fashion for them to be consumed firstly on a mobile device and secondarily on a desktop. The first question that may pop up in your mind may be “Why? Why do we need mobile-first websites? Can’t normal websites suffice the need? Let us put it this way – Your mobile screen has limited space as opposed to your desktop screen. Unless you want to cram all the elements and information into that little screen you see, it is always better to arrange and design for those little screens in order of priority so your audience can leverage your content to the fullest.

The kind of content and creatives you use in the hero section are solely dependent on your ultimate goal with the website. Example: Some brands like to highlight their bestsellers, while others like to highlight important information concerning the brand. It does not matter how it is made, whether you made it or a professional made it, as long as it has the following elements, you are sure to grab lots of eyeballs! <h6>1) Choose thought-provoking imagery. (Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://uxplanet.org/hero-image-website-design-21-best-examples-templates-for-your-inspiration-56cd3d79c688" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">Click here</a>)</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363381882-hero21.png"> You can literally use any imagery on your hero section as long as it complies with your branding. If you ask us, we would suggest you use insightful short videos, colorful designs, or thought-provoking graphics instead of simple designs. If you follow a minimalist approach to your brand, you can always add a pop of color in the background. This ensures your user does not get off track at any point in his user journey. <h6>2) Use a quirky Headline &amp; Subhead (Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://dribbble.com/shots/7356757-Double-Tire-website-hero-section/attachments/255214?mode=media" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">Click here</a>)</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363437894-hero22.png"> “On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eight cents out of your dollar.” – David Ogilvy This quote by Ogilvy states perfectly the relationship between your website and your headline. The headline, as well as your subhead of the hero section, plays a very crucial role in catching the attention of your visitors. The catchier it is, the more chances you have to hook your viewer. Just try to summarize your values and mission into one statement that speaks volumes about your brand and elaborate that into a subhead for better clarity. For brownie points, make it quirky! ☺ <h6>3) Introduce a convincing CTA (Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://dribbble.com/shots/6519813-Charity-Web-UI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">Click here</a>)</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363510345-hero23.png"> Trust us, no successful hero section is complete without a CTA that influences viewers to immediately act on it. We have seen many websites that execute the first two steps effortlessly but completely avoid this step. This makes the viewer confused and results in them clicking away and drifting towards your competitors. In forms of CTA’s, you can either include a subscription to your newsletter or a link to your socials. <h6>5 state-of-the-art Hero Sections that are Apric Certified!</h6> <h6>1) (Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://dribbble.com/shots/5895950/attachments/5895950-Hero-image?mode=media" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">Click here</a>)</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363552842-hero31.png"><h6> </h6><h6>2) (Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://dribbble.com/shots/17476642/attachments/12611642?mode=media" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">Click here</a>)</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363704386-hero32.png"><h6> </h6><h6>3) (Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://dribbble.com/shots/15798662-Product-page-hero-section/attachments/7609872?mode=media" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">Click here</a>)</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363746329-hero33.png"><h6> </h6><h6>4) (Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://dribbble.com/shots/16396343/attachments/10013707?mode=media" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">Click here</a>)</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363770646-hero34.png"> <h6>5) (Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://dribbble.com/shots/17220119-Portfolio-Design-Exploration/attachments/12323473?mode=media" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">Click here</a>)</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363792070-hero35.png"><h6> </h6><h6>Conclusion:</h6> As you can conclude from this article, there are numerous great designs to take inspiration from for your hero section. Don’t be afraid to step out of the box and explore creativity so you can come up with designs that can exceed your viewer's expectations. Executing an extraordinary hero section takes a great deal of effort but if done effortlessly, you will reap all the results you desire. To gain any more such insights on hero sections, shoot us an email at<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">&nbsp;coffee@apric.in</a>&nbsp;and we shall get back to you as soon as possible. Till then, be on the lookout for our upcoming blog. Do not forget to check out our creative personality on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">@Apricweb</a>&nbsp;Ciao!&nbsp;

Foolproof steps to design a highly converting Hero Section!

The kind of content and creatives you use in the hero section are solely dependent on your ultimate goal with the website. Example: Some brands like to highlight their bestsellers, while others like to highlight important information concerning the brand. It does not matter how it is made, whether you made it or a professional made it, as long as it has the following elements, you are sure to grab lots of eyeballs!

Foolproof steps to design a highly converting Hero Section !

If you are mildly or heavily invested in the world of design, we are certain you may know a thing or two about the significance of color theory. For a designer, it is pivotal to know the ins and outs of color theory to create designs that foster an impact. Color is an approach that influences almost everything we visually perceive and encounter on a daily basis. If you google the definition of color theory, you will be subjected to a plethora of concepts and meanings, however, only a few will thoroughly explain how it helps you. Understanding how color is formed and the relationship between colors can help broaden your perspective and aid in elevating your potential as a designer. <h6>5 Awesome facts about Color that will thrill you!!&nbsp;</h6> <ol><li>Colors can be optical illusions and can trick your mind.</li><li>Men and Women see the color Red differently.</li><li>Some people have a phobia of colors.</li><li>People are more likely to forget something when it’s in black and white.</li><li>Red is the first color a baby sees.&nbsp;</li></ol> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.designpoolpatterns.com/10-fun-facts-about-color/,%20https://www.complex.com/style/2014/08/color-theory-facts-you-should-know/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.designpoolpatterns.com/10-fun-facts-about-color/,%20https://www.complex.com/style/2014/08/color-theory-facts-you-should-know/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>So, what really is the Color Theory?</h6> If you think back to school, you may remember the color wheel being taught at a very basic level. Let us hit rewind and go back to our school days – There are three primary colors – Red, Yellow, and Blue and can combine to create secondary colors that in turn combine to create tertiary colors. All in all, all colors are made from the primaries. Color theory is the comprehensive collection of principles and guidelines that are heavily used by designers to communicate with viewers through different interfaces. It creates a balanced structure for color. To pick the best colors and establish exclusivity, designers take the help of the color wheel that helps them in designing elements with regards to psychology, human optics, diversity, etc. <h6>The Color Wheel</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363875713-color71.png"><h6> </h6><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.tubikstudio.com/color-theory-brief-guide-for-designers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://blog.tubikstudio.com/color-theory-brief-guide-for-designers/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> The color wheel is an abstract illustrative tool of color hues around a circle that helps establish relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. In layman’s language, it’s a combination of art and science to determine what colors look cohesive to create harmony in designs. Let us delve deeper into this topic to find out what the color wheel entails: <h6>1) Tints Vs. Shades</h6> A tint is achieved by combining a pure color with white. A shade on the other hand is the opposite and is achieved by combining a pure color with black. Even just a tiny dollop of black/white to a pure color can turn it into a tint or a shade. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363892053-color72.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://lovinsoap.com/2020/12/creating-tints-and-shades-in-soap-making/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://lovinsoap.com/2020/12/creating-tints-and-shades-in-soap-making/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>2) Warm Vs. Cool</h6> One group of the color wheel is associated with the colors that represent warmth and fire and are called warm colors. These colors primarily evoke a sense of warmth in individuals. The wavelengths of warm colors are long and are striking to the eyes. The other group is associated with the cold are called cool colors. These colors tend to have a soothing effect on individuals. While designing a creative, a designer can easily study the significance and goals of the brand to use warm or cool colors to create the desired outcome. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363903981-color73.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moving.com/tips/warm-colors-vs-cool-colors-in-home-design/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.moving.com/tips/warm-colors-vs-cool-colors-in-home-design/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>3) Complementary Colors</h6> Have you ever gone to a clothing store and seen an outfit with a heavy contrast? Well, you just experienced complementary colors in full glory. Complementary colors are placed opposite of each other on the color wheel. These pairs have the highest contrast which gives them a striking effect. This can sometimes have a negative effect as well as it can make the creative look too powerful. Designers need to pay heed to the requirement of the design in order to use complementary colors the right way. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363913966-color74.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene638f.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene638f.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>4) Split-Complementary Colors</h6> It is a complementary scheme but one of the colors is split into two halves. The separation between the split is ideal for brands or designers with a limited color palette as it establishes a sense of harmony of a complementary color scheme while involving a broader assortment of colors. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363926788-color75.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://colorswatches.info/split-complementary-colors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://colorswatches.info/split-complementary-colors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>5) Triadic Colors</h6> Three colors simultaneously and evenly spaced in the color wheel are called Triadic Colors. This can oftentimes pose a challenge to amateur designers as it can make the contract hard to contain. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363936953-color76.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.closetomyheart.com/2018/04/17/color-theory-triadic-color-combinations/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://blog.closetomyheart.com/2018/04/17/color-theory-triadic-color-combinations/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>6) Analogous Colors</h6> Analogous colors sit next to each other on the color wheel. So, there is very little contrast and is usually used to create balance and harmony. Using too much of analogous colors can cause the design to look boring, hence designers should make use of a little contrast in these sorts of color palettes. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664363946390-color77.png"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://uxplanet.org/how-to-use-analogous-color-scheme-in-design-bf32d18ab05c" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://uxplanet.org/how-to-use-analogous-color-scheme-in-design-bf32d18ab05c" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Conclusion:</h6> So, now that you understand the nitty-gritty of the Color Theory, write to us at<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">&nbsp;coffee@apric.in</a>&nbsp;with what your take on the Color Theory is. We would love to hear from you. Till then, we are working hard towards writing more insightful blogs for you so be on the lookout for our upcoming blog. Ciao!

The Art and Science Behind Color: Color Theory!

If you are mildly or heavily invested in the world of design, we are certain you may know a thing or two about the significance of color theory. For a designer, it is pivotal to know the ins and outs of color theory to create designs that foster an impact. Color is an approach that influences almost everything we visually perceive and encounter on a daily basis. If you google the definition of color theory, you will be subjected to a plethora of concepts and meanings, however, only a few will thoroughly explain how it helps you. Understanding how color is formed and the relationship between colors can help broaden your perspective and aid in elevating your potential as a designer.

In our last blog, we talked about the significance and the true meaning of Color Theory. In case you have missed out on that blog, here is the link to help you get the knack of how colors work -<a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/art-and-science-behind-color" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">&nbsp;The Art and Science Behind Color: Color Theory!</a>. Here on, we will dive deep into the world of color to help you gain a deep understanding of how you can perfect your work as a designer. <h6>Color Systems</h6> <h6>1) RGB: Additive</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664435327725-useColor81.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://br24.com/en/rgb-cmyk-differences/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://br24.com/en/rgb-cmyk-differences/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> The additive color model allows you to create colors by combining Red, Green, and Blue light sources of variable intensities. If you combine all the three additive colors (Red, Green, and Blue) you achieve pure white light. This also is the base of all colors you see on digital screens. Here, white represents the combination of color while black denotes the absence of color. TVs, screens, or any digital equipment use RGB as building blocks, so when working on any digital element, use RGB not CMYK. <h6>2) CMYK: Subtractive&nbsp;</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664435359390-useColor82.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pogodesign.co.nz/graphic-design/colour-cmyk-vs-rgb/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.pogodesign.co.nz/graphic-design/colour-cmyk-vs-rgb/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> The major chunk of colors you see on printed elements use the subtractive color model. This in simple terms elucidates that you subtract the light from the paper by adding more colors. Just like additive colors, subtractive colors have three combinations – Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow. These pigments don’t fully absorb light, so there is a need to add a fourth compensating element known as “Key” which is Black! <h6>How is Color Theory important?</h6> Let’s be real, Color plays an indispensable role in our world. From influencing people to making important decisions, colors even have the ability to stimulate hunger or raise your blood pressure. The list goes on and on. You may go anywhere in the world, and interact with a person of any ethnicity or culture, he will still relate to color the same way as you, the biggest example of this is a traffic light: Red means stop, yellow means caution, and Green means go! Likewise, developing business stationery or product labels requires extensive research of color and its significance. The prime importance of color theory is : <h6>1) Visual Harmony&nbsp;</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664435376076-useColor83.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://hbr.org/2018/09/why-design-thinking-works" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://hbr.org/2018/09/why-design-thinking-works" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> The color theory offers a basic skeleton for designers to choose color palettes for their artworks. If you want to present a tastefully designed artwork, you need to make sure your framework is sorted. From choosing what kind of colors you will go with to what combinations will be used heavily influence the nature of your artwork. <h6>2) Symbolism&nbsp;</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664435391741-useColor84.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.merkur.de/leben/genuss/mcdonalds-corona-hygiene-massnahmen-desinfektion-terminals-beschwerde-kunde-zr-90104295.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.merkur.de/leben/genuss/mcdonalds-corona-hygiene-massnahmen-desinfektion-terminals-beschwerde-kunde-zr-90104295.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> People who know the nitty-gritty of the color wheel can easily sculpt a masterpiece as they have a knack for the subject. You will notice a lot of cult brands using colors to their advantage, the biggest example being Mcdonalds. If you go out, you can probably spot a big yellow M in a 5-10 mile radius near you and you can immediately connect it to Mcdonalds. This in turn helps with expression and unlocks deeper virtues. <h6>3) Emotion&nbsp;</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664435402157-useColor85.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://visme.co/blog/colors-effects-on-mood-emotions/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://visme.co/blog/colors-effects-on-mood-emotions/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> Colors can make you feel some type of way. It evokes emotions, which is why you must have noticed how you feel a sense of calm when you see pastels and a sense of excitement when you see striking colors. This helps designers decode emotion to build images with the right intent. If I ask you at an instant, what emotions do you connect to the color gray? We are sure you would say old, dull, neutral. You can always use color to your advantage as long as you know the ins and outs of the color theory. <h6>Top 4 Color Tools for Designers!</h6> Let’s be real, Color plays an indispensable role in our world. From influencing people to making important decisions, colors even have the ability to stimulate hunger or raise your blood pressure. The list goes on and on. You may go anywhere in the world, and interact with a person of any ethnicity or culture, he will still relate to color the same way as you, the biggest example of this is a traffic light: Red means stop, yellow means caution, and Green means go! Likewise, developing business stationery or product labels requires extensive research of color and its significance. The prime importance of color theory is : <h6>1) HueSnap&nbsp;</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664435411606-useColor86.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://hbr.org/2018/09/why-design-thinking-works" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://hbr.org/2018/09/why-design-thinking-works" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> This is perfect for individuals who are on the get-go for color palettes. Let us give you a crux of what this tool does- Let us imagine you are in an art gallery and you like the color scheme of a particular painting. Well, you can just take a snapshot of it and let HueSnap extract the colors from the image to make a custom palette for you. Great, isn’t it? <h6>2) Eggradients&nbsp;</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664435424068-useColor87.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://internet.chipmunktheme.com/resource/eggradients/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://internet.chipmunktheme.com/resource/eggradients/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> Eggradients offers a multitude of aesthetic gradients for people to use. Each gradient is beautifully placed in an egg shape and comes with quirky names. Our favorite of the lot was Edison’s broken bulb! <h6>3) Coolors&nbsp;</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664435435161-useColor88.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://help.coolors.co/hc/en-us/articles/360010581980-Generate-a-palette" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://help.coolors.co/hc/en-us/articles/360010581980-Generate-a-palette" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> Whether you are a designer or a person who is just starting in the world of design, Coolors is your savior. It is a super fast color scheme generator and can enormously help you get inspired to create beautiful color palettes. <h6>4) Digital Color Meter (Mac)&nbsp;</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664435443687-useColor89.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.tawfiq.me/how-to-use-mac-default-color-picker-to-copy-any-color/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://blog.tawfiq.me/how-to-use-mac-default-color-picker-to-copy-any-color/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> If you are an IOS user, this one's for you! With Digital Color Meter, you can drag and drop a color from anywhere on your screen, this will give you values for that particular color as a decimal, hexadecimal, or percentage. A bonus is that you can even copy the color as a text or image. <h6>Conclusion:</h6>So, now that you are well versed in the world of Color, write to us at<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">&nbsp;coffee@apric.in</a>&nbsp;on what your take on the Color Theory is. We would love to hear from you. Till then, we are working hard towards writing more insightful blogs for you so be on the lookout for our upcoming blog. Ciao!

How can you use Color Theory to your advantage?

Color plays an indispensable role in our world. From influencing people to making important decisions, colors even have the ability to stimulate hunger or raise your blood pressure. The list goes on and on. You may go anywhere in the world, and interact with a person of any ethnicity or culture, he will still relate to color the same way as you, the biggest example of this is a traffic light: Red means stop, yellow means caution, and Green means go! Likewise, developing business stationery or product labels requires extensive research of color and its significance. The prime importance of color theory is :

Whether or not you are a designer, you are always intentionally or unintentionally subjected to the world of typography. If we tell you to look around in a 1-mile radius and grab a product or two, you will realize type is all around us! A great example of how typography leaves an everlasting impression on people is the iconic Coca-Cola logo, you can spot the beautifully cursive font anywhere you go and associate it directly with the brand that can also evoke the feeling of thirst in some people, all of that just because of the excellent typography. Digital interfaces all around the globe are loaded with visuals and written words. Not going to lie, Type design is still intimidating to many designers. Recently we had an interaction with an impeccable designer who let us in on the big secret that after all his years of experience, he still gets jitters when it comes to type design. Honestly, Typography is a key element of design and can make or break it. Being subject matter experts in the realm of design, we oftentimes notice that design-centric companies overlook the importance of typography without realizing that it is the key factor in gluing your brand together. <h6>So, what really is Typography?</h6> Typography, in layman’s language, is the art of arranging text and letters in a way that makes the copy legible and attractive to the reader. Do not be confused, the world of typography is filled with jargons that may confuse you if you are just testing the waters. It is an amalgamation of design as well as arrangement of the letters. Eg: Line length, spacing, point size, etc! <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364149046-typo91.jpg"><h6> </h6><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://brndwgn.com/journal/why-does-type-matter/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://brndwgn.com/journal/why-does-type-matter/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> You must have read about Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press in your schooling days. Well, that was the time when typography was learned through printing materials in real physical places. Nowadays it is different though, In the digital space, creating typography is super feasible. <h6>Why is Typography important?</h6> The importance of typography in this world of cutthroat competition is indispensable. From making it easy for people to glide their eyes through a series of words to building a strong brand identity that evokes emotion, Typography is truly a blessing in the world of design. Brands that use awesome type elements can help the user take the action that they want to with regards to their branding and sales. Few examples of brands that leverage this are – Cadbury, H&amp;M, Pampers, Budweiser, Ford, etc. There were some brands that changed the typography in their logos to make them more legible to customers. If you are a fashion enthusiast, we are sure you may have noticed how Yves Saint Laurent changed their logo to a very simple, basic font. Similarly, eBay, Pinterest, and Airbnb adopted the same approach. You may have never thought of how this minuscule change would bring about such a trivial impact on these brands but they certainly do. That is the power of typography! Every font, letter, and arrangement plays a pivotal role in how your branding is conveyed to your audience. <h6>Convey the “correct” messaging</h6> Design is all about visually perceiving things. Typography is a key element wherein we can elevate the influence of the messaging in a clear-cut way. Every brand needs typography to stand out - For brands that follow a minimalist approach, it is very important to have strong typography to compliment the imagery. For brands that follow a maximalist approach, it is important to differentiate elements through typography in order to not create chaos as it is quite possible with that approach. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364177595-typo92.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://dubtastic.com/2019/03/07/nike-ad-just-dont-quit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://dubtastic.com/2019/03/07/nike-ad-just-dont-quit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Enhance awareness and recognition</h6> As we mentioned above, a lot of brands have such strong typography that you can make out what brand it is just at a glance. Coca-Cola, Google, and Louis Vuitton are some great examples. The kind of typeface you use can dictate how your audience feels toward your brand. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364200243-typo93.jpg"><h6> </h6><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://gridfiti.com/hypebeast-fonts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://gridfiti.com/hypebeast-fonts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Influence</h6> A lot of brands leverage this quality of typography to create an everlasting impact on their audience. Sometimes to achieve this effect, brands indulge in an approach wherein no visual is required and only strong typography is used to evoke emotions. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364215690-typo94.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://in.pinterest.com/pin/483081497537100387/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://in.pinterest.com/pin/483081497537100387/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Stand out</h6> Typography is a known way to help put something important into the spotlight. This helps highlight important messages that make your design stand out. If you are an amateur designer, we suggest fiddling around with the size, color, or font to help your design strike out. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364231301-typo95.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freepik.com/blog/website-typography-catch-readers-attention-fonts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.freepik.com/blog/website-typography-catch-readers-attention-fonts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Build Hierarchy</h6> The best way to use typography is to build a visual hierarchy. The largest elements are placed on the header; this way the attention is drawn directly to the most important information which further engages the reader to go on to the subhead and then finally to the copy. That is the reason all publications and packaging use this format. Another way to build hierarchy is through a combination of typefaces. Eg: Sans Serif for Headers and Classic Serif for body copy. <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364244017-typo96.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://in.pinterest.com/pin/280560251771248473/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://in.pinterest.com/pin/280560251771248473/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Mind-Boggling facts about Typography!!</h6> <ol><li>Helvetica can help with dyslexia.</li><li>People associate some fonts with stability. Example: Times New Roman, Arial, and Cambria.</li><li>Johannes Gutenburg printed the first bible in the Textura font.</li><li>The creator of the Doves font threw it into the Thames River to keep it from his business partner.</li><li>IKEA has only ever changed its font once.&nbsp;</li><li>Lower-case lettering is better for road signs.</li></ol><h6> </h6><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://facts.net/fonts-facts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://facts.net/fonts-facts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> <h6>Key Elements of Typography Typeface</h6> Typography is not just an amalgamation of philosophies used by designers, rather they are a comprehensive technique to help brands present their ideas to their audience in the best way possible. To have strong typography, designers have to make the most of every word used. The idea, however, remains as is. We as designers always assume that if an idea is communicated nicely, the typography must be solid. Typography has a broad terminology that much to our surprise is still uncharted territory for a lot of designers out there. Do not worry! We are here to give you complete knowledge of the diverse world of Typography! <h6>Typeface</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364258575-typo97.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://snowball.digital/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-a-font-and-a-typeface" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://snowball.digital/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-a-font-and-a-typeface" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> A typeface, as you can see in the above picture is a specific style of lettering and punctuation that encompass a common design. With every typeface, you get a family of fonts that each have their distinctive thickness, size, and charm. The typeface however remains the core design element of the letter work. <h6> </h6><h6>Fonts</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364271587-typo98.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.impactsigns.com/standard-font-list/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.impactsigns.com/standard-font-list/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> A font, in simple terms, is a subset of a typeface created by molding the typeface. The molding can be done by increasing the thickness, style, or size. Example: Helvetica is a Typeface and Helvetica Regular, Helvetica Light, Helvetica Bold, etc are fonts (members of a typeface). <h6>Type Size</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364283436-typo99.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://in.pinterest.com/pin/864620828437999965/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://in.pinterest.com/pin/864620828437999965/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> The type height of a character is centered around the x-height or the void between the baseline and the median line. You will notice that parts of lettering above the x-height are called ascenders and the letters that go below the baseline are descenders. The entire typeface is measured as point size. <h6>Tracking</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364299100-typo100.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://uxdesign.cc/improve-your-designs-with-these-typography-tips-eeacc8fb81ff" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://uxdesign.cc/improve-your-designs-with-these-typography-tips-eeacc8fb81ff" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> Tracking refers to uniformly increasing or decreasing the horizontal spacing between a range of characters. It is generally used to adjust and give a more cohesive feel to the overall letter spacing. Tracking can make the copy more legible and attractive. It should however be done in a very cautious way as too much tracking can lead to difficulty in reading. <h6>Alignment</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364310709-typo101.jpg"><h6> </h6><h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.printwand.com/blog/basic-alignment-principles-in-graphic-design-with-examples" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.printwand.com/blog/basic-alignment-principles-in-graphic-design-with-examples" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> Alignment as you can see from the image above elucidates the process of arranging the copy to the page. There are primarily four types of alignments – Center, Left, Right and Justified. According to your design needs, you can go ahead and pick what works best for you. Left and Justified are the two most popular alignments in the design world and if you closely observe, you may be able to notice this on product packaging, news articles, emails, etc. <h6>Kerning</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664364324193-typo102.jpg"> <h6>(Source -&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vectornator.io/design-tips/what-is-kerning" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: var(--primary);">Click here</a><a href="https://www.vectornator.io/design-tips/what-is-kerning" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">)</a></h6> Kerning is the spacing between individual letters or characters. Unlike tracking, kerning is solely focused on how the type looks and its legibility. Use tracking to design a cohesive design of identical or similar shaped text and kerning to create beautiful-looking letterforms. <h6>3 Categories of Type</h6> There are majorly three bifurcations of Typefaces a font may be under – serif, sans serif, and decorative typefaces. <h6>Serif</h6> Serif is a decorative stroke that extends to the end of a letterform. Do not be confused, not all serifs are the same. You will always notice little variations in serif types and that is the beauty of this Type! These are usually used in lengthy texts like books or newspapers. A few common serif typefaces are Times New Roman, Georgia, Caslon, etc. <h6>Sans-serif</h6> Sans-serif does not have extended features (serifs) at the ends of strokes. These are oftentimes used to convey a modern feel and follow a rather minimalist approach. Ever since the emergence of the digital era, Sans-serif fonts have gained immense popularity. A few commonly used sans-serif typefaces are Helvetica, Arial, Gill Sans, etc. <h6>Decorative&nbsp;</h6> Majorly used for catchy headlines, Decorative fonts lack legibility. Although they are ideal for catching attention and looking ethereal, it is unlikely that your reader has so much time to decipher what the font is trying to convey. As designers, we are always tempted to use designer typefaces as it adds somewhat of a fun element to the design but the risk associated with the viewer not understanding it makes us take a step back. A few examples of decorative typefaces are Stencil, Rosewood, Magneto, Coolector, etc. <h6>Conclusion:</h6> There’s no shortcut to learning typography. We at Apric always say – Practice makes a man perfect! If you want to one-up your design game, delve into the world of typography and see it beautifully reflect on your design. If you want to begin, we encourage you to try pairing 2 typefaces together and finding a common ground where it looks cohesive and aesthetically pleasing – this way you will realize that the possibilities to create exquisite designs are endless. If you have any further doubts or questions about Typography, do not hesitate to contact us at<a href="mailto:coffee@apric.in" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(26, 32, 44);">&nbsp;coffee@apric.in</a>&nbsp;and we will be sure to clear all your doubts. Till then, be on the lookout for our upcoming blog. Trust us, you will love it! Ciao!

Typography 101 : Everything you need to know!

Typography, in layman’s language, is the art of arranging text and letters in a way that makes the copy legible and attractive to the reader. Do not be confused, the world of typography is filled with jargons that may confuse you if you are just testing the waters. It is an amalgamation of design as well as arrangement of the letters. Eg: Line length, spacing, point size, etc!

Experiences shape our perceptions and behaviors in life. The digital-first era has simplified the lives of so many people to no limits. Let us say your favorite brand that you always shop from has launched its collaboration with a celebrity and you can’t wait to get your hands on one of the t-shirts. Even though there is going to be sufficient inventory, it is bound to be a hyped-up launch. What would you do in this case? Would you stand in line for hours to cop the merch or would you rather go online, order it and receive it in 24 hours? The influence of the digital-first era is such that the customer of today would always gravitate towards the latter option. The people of today, the Millennials and Gen-Z’s have rather become intolerant to inconveniences and would always prefer an experience that is hassle-free and pleasing. But why is that? Well, We are all living digital lives with everything at our fingertips. If you want to meet your customer's demands, studying the trajectory of these experiences becomes pivotal. <h5>What really is a “Digital Experience”?</h5> A digital experience (DX) is a user’s interaction across any digital touchpoint — it could be in the form of buying a pair of sunglasses online, getting updates from a gaming app on your phone, or checking in from a self-check-in airport kiosk.A digital touchpoint can be in the form of a mobile application, website, IoT devices, ATM, and so on. <h5>Why is a “Digital Experience” important?</h5> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366388328-Digital%20Experience%20trends-7.jpg"> A customer’s journey digitally is very fragile so building a cohesive, holistic digital customer experience that addresses customer needs is imperative in this day and age. As there are so many touchpoints to digital experiences, some brands slack off taking this in a negative sense. What they don’t realize is that these experiences are opportunities to make your brand stand out and create a loyal audience. <h6>Improving CX by one point can lead to more than&nbsp;<a href="https://go.forrester.com/blogs/improving-customer-experience-by-1-point-can-drive-more-than-a-billion-dollars-in-revenue-in-2019/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$1 billion in additional revenue</a>. (Forrester)</h6> Digital experience overlaps with the customer experience and user experience. Adopting an innovative strategy and marketing planning enables your brand to be more productive and efficient when it comes to delivering personalized experiences that can help engage potential customers, strengthen the relationship with current customers and gauge better chances of finding prospects that will be associated with your brand in the long run. Let us look at the top Digital Experience trends that will take over 2023 by storm! <h6>1) Omnichannel Excellence</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366410409-Digital%20Experience%20trends-6.jpg"> Omnichannel excellence is a lead nurturing and user engagement approach in which a company gives access to its products, offers, and support services to customers or prospects on all channels, platforms, and devices. A great example of omnichannel excellence would be a brand offering multiple channels of support as opposed to just a boring automated email. Those multiple channels could include a chatbot, social media DM’s, calling options, etc. A brand with a good and holistic omnichannel experience will always be remembered and recalled by the customer. This in the long run would result in trust by the customer. Even people who are not customers would be eager to be a part of the ecosystem where a brand has such an omnipresence. <h6>2) Headless Content Management System (CMS)</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366440196-Digital%20Experience%20trends-5.jpg"> Although Traditional Content Management Systems ruled the archetype for web design and development, they were neither flexible nor scalable. What a headless Content Management System does is that it does not interact or integrate with the front-end part of the development AT ALL, unlike traditional Content Management Systems. This is why more and more companies in the modern day and age prefer Headless Content Management Systems due to the flexibility and scalability to get their content out in a myriad of ways. Due to the complexities associated with Traditional Content Management Systems, Headless Content Management Systems were curated to meet the demands of brands and creators who want a richer Digital Experience. <h6>3) User-Centric&nbsp;Content Framework</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366478245-Digital%20Experience%20trends-4.jpg"> Now that the digital era is moving towards omnichannel excellence as well as the adaptation of the Headless Content Management System, It is imperative to have a solid content framework to enhance the digital experience of the user. The content should strictly be user-centric and should try to add value to the user's life. The user should come back to the brand for the content and the value that the content adds even if they are not up for a product purchase at that moment. When user-centric content establishes a connection with a purpose that is aligned with the brand’s own purpose, you will never be disappointed with the outcome. <h6>4) Emotive Technology</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366502269-Digital%20Experience%20trends-3.jpg"> The key to turning people into loyal customers is to understand and empathize with them. There is an emerging technology called Emotive Technology that can recognize the emotion behind a person's voice and can help companies create better digital experiences for their customers. This is an important aspect of shaping digital experiences. If you are aware of your customer’s feelings and emotions, you can not only sympathize with them but you can also build a loyal audience that knows you care about them. Further up, you can create content and align marketing efforts according to your audience’s emotions which allows a deeper connection and easier actions by the visitors. <h6>5) Progressive Web Applications (PWA)</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366531998-Digital%20Experience%20trendsays.jpg"> A progressive web application leverages modern technologies to&nbsp;couple the best of web and mobile applications. Although it is a website, it looks, feels, and functions like an application. Technological advancements have enabled developers to enable people to install web apps to their home screen, receive push notifications or even work offline. Progressive Web Applications have paved the way for enhanced digital experiences. Due to the personalization, speed, and ease of use, brands are ditching applications to build PWAs. Content on PWAs can also be controlled by using a headless CMS <h6>6) Conversational AI</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366548198-Digital%20Experience%20trends-2.jpg"> Conversational AI is&nbsp;a type of artificial intelligence that enables consumers to interact with computer applications the way they would with other humans. It manages multiple interactions and induces judgment-intensive tasks to mimic human support. You can call it a more refined, advanced Chatbot loaded with functional features. Conversational AIs provide a much more personalized experience as they understand the human factor and conduct a sentiment analysis before guiding the customer outright. This contributes to an overall positive digital experience for both the brand and the customer. <h6>7) Predictive Analysis</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366563463-Digital%20Experience%20trends-1.jpg"> Predictive analytics is the use of data, statistical algorithms, and&nbsp;machine learning&nbsp;techniques to identify the likelihood of future outcomes based on customer data. Some would argue that Predictive analysis is only beneficial for the brand, but we however disagree. If through predictive analysis, a brand is able to decipher stock and inventory orders and levels through analytics through pre-launch tactics - it obviously does benefit the brand as they will be able to focus on what sells the most but it also benefits the customer. Through predictive analysis, the chances of the inventory being sold out quickly are diminished which gives the user the option to buy exactly what he wants and have a better digital experience. <h6>8) Data Protection</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366581883-Digital%20Experience%20trends.jpg"> A customer may give you their data if they trust you but it is important for you to respect the privacy of your customer and protect it. I was watching a YouTube video the other day where this girl told her viewers how she keeps a tab on what brands are leaking her information. How you may ask? It’s pretty simple - She uses her first name as the first name on her birth certificate and her second name as the company she gives her information. Hypothetically, If Amazonfresh asks her to fill out a survey form, she will mention her name (Shirley) and last name Amazon. So if she ever gets an email from another brand calling her Shirley Amazon, she knows exactly where they got her information from! This is an extreme case, but people still value privacy over any other aspect of their customer journey. People give out their information in hopes that it will only be used for appropriate purposes, such as to provide them with more relevant content.If their privacy is protected, they will have a positive experience while enjoying the offerings of your brand. <h6>The Mantra is - Adapt or get left behind!</h6> Customers of today want nothing but the best. With the cutthroat competition in the industry, if you don’t offer an unparalleled digital experience, the customer knows one of your market competitors will, and as superficial as this may sound if you are looking to grow your brand to its full potential, you need to double down on digital experiences through the pointers discussed above. Have any questions? DM us on our socials!We’re quirky and informative here:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/apricofficial" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Twitter handle</a>We’re aesthetic and fun here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Instagram Page</a> Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

Digital Experience trends that will take over 2023 by storm

Learn the know-how of digital experiences and how these digital experiences can add value to both the customer and the brand. You will have access to a curated list of 8 trends that are framed by thorough research. Want to find out how to retain customers? or make big bucks? or maybe have an international brand presence? Well, you’re at the right place. Read on to know how you can ace the digital experiences for your customers and potential customers.

“Third-party integration” is something that has truly revolutionized the way web and mobile solutions work to the point that people who are not well versed in Tech are familiar with the term. Let us be real, almost every brand on the face of the planet has a dedicated website or an application. This allows them to widen their horizons with respect to attracting new customers and retaining existing ones - basically attracting new business opportunities. All brands and enterprises, regardless of their size, need to develop a high-quality website or application with lesser development time and great efficiency. This is where third-party integrations come in handy! Let us say that your business has a cutting-edge website that offers great page load, easy navigation, and responsiveness. Even after all your efforts, you find it hard to retain customers due to one flaw in your workflow - slow lead response time. To rectify this issue, the best-suited approach to go with would be to incorporate third-party integrations that could help you reduce the lead response time magnanimously! This is just one of the many benefits that integrations provide by connecting a couple of applications together. <h6>But, what really is a Third Party Integration?</h6> <h6>Third-party integration is a connection between two or more apps that are built on an external platform using different APIs (Application Program Interfaces).</h6> This is the key differentiating factor between a traditional app and a third-party integration. In much simpler terms, a third-party integration helps a user of existing application leverage the functionalities of an independent platform to foster integrations between applications. These integrations add more pizzazz and functionality to an application. The third-party APIs enable developers to create efficient solutions in a short span of time by making use of existing components rather than creating a new set of code. A great example of this would be - You want to create a food delivery application and the influx of inquiries are much more than you are equipped to handle. Instead of creating a chatbot from scratch, your tech team can leverage an existing API and integrate it into your application for a much faster and equally efficient solution! <h6>What is an API?</h6> API stands&nbsp;for application programming interface —&nbsp;a ******set of definitions and protocols to build and integrate application software, an interface used by developers to programmatically interact with software components outside of their own code. Uber is one application that is built using many API integrations. It uses Google Maps for Navigation, Braintree for payment gateway, and Twilio for live chats. This has allowed Uber to save tons of money in development and focus on what matters the most - their customers. Examples of APIs ➖ <ul><li>For any online transactions, applications make use of Paypal to make transactions.</li><li>Weather applications make use of external APIs wherein the APIs are responsible for collecting relevant data on the weather forecast while the application displays data.</li><li>Twitter bots that leverage Twitter APIs for action.</li><li>Websites like Skyscanner that enable booking a flight on a website.</li><li>Platforms like Medium that enable you to log in through your Facebook and Google credentials.</li></ul> <h5>Types of APIs</h5> <h6>1) Public APIs</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366891189-Types%20of%20API%27s-3.jpg"> This kind of API is available for any developer or brand to use. Public APIs may require moderate authorization or may be completely open. Usually, businesses that offer Public APIs seek monetization through a per-call cost. While people oftentimes mistake public APIs with open APIs, it is important to note that not all public APIs are open. They also streamline their focus to external users to access data. <h6>2) Partner APIs</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664366960824-Types%20of%20API%27s-2.jpg"> Partner APIs are not available to the public and need some kind of entitlement to access them. These also pave the way for B2B activities. For example - if a firm wants to share some kind of data with an outside business, partner API can enable the integration of the data system with the external parties. There is a strategic onboarding process involved with partner APIs, unlike Open APIs which are available to the masses. <h6>3) Internal APIs</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664367015604-Types%20of%20API%27s-1.jpg"> Internal APIs or private APIs are mostly used within a business to integrate the data and system into the business. As the name suggests, Internal APIs are only exposed to internal systems and are not available to the masses. These APIs are largely used by enterprises that want to become more efficient in aspects like Customer Service. <h6>4) Composite API</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664367047747-Types%20of%20API%27s.jpg"> Composite APIs unite multiple data or service APIs to build a structure of related or interdependent operations. These can be created using API creation tools. Composite APIs can be advantageous to handle complicated API behaviors and are proven to enhance speed and performance over individual APIs. <h5>Benefits of Third-Party Integrations&nbsp;➖</h5> <h6>1) Consistency</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664367104646-Third-Party%20Integrations.jpg"> Let’s keep it real - If you are a developer or a business that is well-versed with web and app solutions, you must be aware of how tedious it is to have multiple integration methods implemented into a solution. Third-party integrations ensure that the brand and integration both are in line with the goal to allow the business to structure and scale their integrations with a single, cutting-edge method. <h6>2) User Experience</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664367129000-Third-Party%20Integrations-1.jpg"> Third-party integrations offer a better user experience than traditional integrations. Traditional inputs in fact pose to be a more difficult approach to go with as they require a lot of text inputs. They help your user navigate through your website/ application seamlessly without disrupting their natural habits and routines. <h6>3) Speedy Production</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664367142618-Third-Party%20Integrations-2.jpg"> Third-party integrations allow your business to save a lot of time in development. As it takes months to build an integration, third-party integrations can do the job in a couple of days! This enables the firm to shift its focus to other important aspects of its business. <h6>4) Lower Cost</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664367154141-Third-Party%20Integrations-3.jpg"> As there will be no external development costs associated, it will save your firm tons of money to incorporate third-party integrations. This capital can thereby be used in the future to add more features to your application in the future. Native integrations are not always free of cost. A lot of times, accessing these integrations may require you to upgrade your plan. Third-party integrations, on the other hand, can be extremely affordable. <h6>5) Pick and Choose the Best Features</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664367169786-Third-Party%20Integrations-4.jpg"> By using Third-party integrations, you can add the best of the best features to your application without spending a fortune! Many companies that create these integrations are subject matter experts in their focus area and leveraging their expertise into your application also gives your app a whole new feel! This also allows you to avoid any unnecessary challenges during app production. <h6>6) Flexibility</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664367180209-Third-Party%20Integrations-5.jpg"> As pre-made solutions, native integrations may increase your workload for creating new things. Third-party integrations enable the user to deploy the integrations at his convenience. This is why third-party integrations are widely loved in the design and development landscape as they offer tons of benefits to the user as well as the business. <h6>Interesting Facts and Stats about Third-Party Integrations !!</h6> 1) An increasing number of applications per company drive the need for application integration even further 2) Application integration (aka system integration) is still one of the top challenges for IT <h6>On applications usage:</h6> <ul><li>Deloitte and Mulesoft (2022): companies now use an average of 976 applications, with only 28% of these to be integrated</li><li>Okta (2022): large organisations have 187 applications deployed on average</li><li>Beamy (2021): companies have an average of 190 enterprise cloud based application software solutions in use</li><li>Blissfully (2019): companies use an average of 137 business cloud based apps</li></ul> <h6>On the importance of application integration:</h6> <ul><li>Ascend2 (2018): 44% of marketers see poor integration as top challenge for succeeding in generating valuable insights from data</li><li>Jitterbit (2021): 45% HR specialists identify accessing and combining data from several HR-related business software systems as one of top problems</li><li>Deloitte (2021): 45% respondents in procurement cite poor integration as the second main barrier to the effective application of digital technology</li><li>Deloitte and Mulesoft (2022): 38% of respondents see integration of siloed business software applications as their biggest challenge to digital transformation</li></ul> <h6>Other isolated statistics:</h6> <ul><li>In 2019, Gartner cited analytical or BI environments as the top application integration scenario (86% of respondents), followed by legacy software systems integration (79%), partners and ecosystems (68%), building of a single source of truth (65%), and process automation in Human Capital Management sector (63%)</li><li>2021 Hyperautomation Survey (Gartner) revealed that 11% of business technologists consider an EiPaaS as one of the top three tools they use most</li><li>On average, business technologists use at least two vendors’ application solutions to drive business processes automation within their organizations</li><li>Cleo’s 2022 report found that 85% of supply chain companies believe they’re losing a lot of money because of insufficient business software system integrations; out of these, 24% say they lose over $500K per year – nearly a quarter of respondents and an uptick by 6% from the year before</li></ul> <h6>(Source- <a href="https://www.elastic.io/enterprise-application-integration/application-integration-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here</a>)</h6> <h6>Third-party integrations are the way to go!</h6> Third-party integrations have become a great source to quickly add powerful functionality to a solution. Most of the new-age tools use APIs for online payments, social logins, maps, and many other services. Just make sure you choose the right integrations that work well with your target audience, make sense to your app, and maintain support. With this approach, you will be good to go! Have any questions? DM us on our socials!We’re quirky and informative here:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/apricofficial" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Twitter handle</a>We’re aesthetic and fun here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Instagram Page</a> Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

What are Third-Party Integrations? All about Third-Party Integrations!

Third-party integration” is something that has truly revolutionized the way web and mobile solutions work to the point that people who are not well versed in Tech are familiar with the term. Let us be real, almost every brand on the face of the planet has a dedicated website or an application. This allows them to widen their horizons with respect to attracting new customers and retaining existing ones - basically attracting new business opportunities.

What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and how can it help you?

Ever typed something on a search engine only to find what seems like an endless list of resources directing you towards your search? Well, have you ever wondered how some websites ranked higher than others? Broadly speaking, this happens due to SEO! If you clicked on this blog, we can vouch for the fact that you may have heard of this marketing “buzzword” through the grapevine, or you may be someone who has a basic understanding of the term but wants to explore different endeavors of what it has to offer. Needless to say, we are here to end your quest for the ultimate SEO knowledge! 

The internet has turned our lives around, made impossible possibilities exist, and revolutionized connection and communication. It is no surprise how digital has become the most preferred mode of consuming information and communication. Almost everything we do, we utilize the internet somehow whether it be sharing a selfie on your Instagram account or ordering a big mac from Mcdonald's. With the rise of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, digital experiences have become more customer experience-oriented. Although the digital world is a boon to us, it does have its limitations. For example, people nowadays want everything organized and structured. Be it their lives or their digital files. Accessibility is not considered a luxury, it is a necessity. Since almost all data is digitized, people want their data at their disposal where they know where to find what they are looking for specifically, categorize it, and use it when and where they want. They also wish to do all of this across multiple touchpoints and devices. Businesses as well as customer, want their data completely organized and structured so they can locate their digital assets easily. <h6>What is a digital asset?</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664441263398-DIGITAL%20ASSET.jpg"> A digital asset is any piece of content that can be stored digitally so you can easily transfer and receive information without storing it physically. The ownership of a digital asset depends upon the platform you are storing it on and the form you are storing it in. Anything can be a digital asset - be it a sprint report or a video of your favourite song. Traditional e-commerce brands have different departments handling different areas of the business. Example - Your technical team may create a report for bugs that need to be fixed through outsourcing. This “digital asset” can easily be sent outside of the organization. To be honest, every department interacts with digital assets that ultimately foster the growth and success of your business. Some examples of digital assets are - <ul><li>Presentations/ Pitch</li><li>Documents (word and PDF)</li><li>Spreadsheets</li><li>Video</li><li>Audio</li><li>Pictures</li><li>Design Files and much more</li></ul> <h6>Digital Asset Management</h6> Digital asset management helps businesses in storing, organizing, finding, retrieving, and sharing their entire digital content catalog from one place, i.e. a “single source of truth”. It offers immense value to businesses by having a strong hold on their assets. Digital Asset Management offers complete controlled access to their entire digital library. <h6>Digital Asset Life Cycle</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664441408173-DIGITAL%20ASSET-1.jpg"> Digital Asset Life Cycle is as obvious as it sounds - It is the phases your assets have to go through. It is a process of creating, using, and maintaining digital assets. Let us have a look at the different phases of the Digital Asset Life Cycle. <h6>1) Creation</h6> This is the first phase of the Digital Asset Life Cycle. Herein, the asset is created. It is a fun stage wherein a business delves into content that could add some sort of value to their offerings - Be it writing insightful blogs or creating cutting-edge designs. First, the idea is conceived, then it is conceptualized and finally developed. Once created, this concept needs to be structured strategically in order to be used later in the Digital Asset Life Cycle. <h6>2) Managing</h6> This phase requires managing tasks such as asset familiarity, asset organization, and approvals. This phase is very crucial as it organizes and structures your asset. if this is not done correctly, your business will have large operational overheads. The team will spend their time and resources managing their assets rather than doing meaningful work. This phase also hones the team's ability to review, edit as well as approve any changes - all in real-time. <h6>3) Maintain</h6> This phase ensures that you maintain and keep your digital assets up to date. This can include observing the asset for any changes, finding out loopholes, and making sure that systems are compatible with the asset. This also means revisiting the security procedures and practices of old assets. Maintaining also means that any changes done to new platforms and procedures must be retroacted to old files and file systems. <h6>4) Archival</h6> This process involves getting rid of the digital assets that are no longer needed for the business. This can be in form of wiping data from devices, deleting physical media, and decommissioning servers. This step is important to not clutter the systems and keep everything organized at all times. This step also helps in the safety and security of digital assets and confidential information when an organization switches systems or goes out of business. We should keep in mind that generally deleting single storage points of data is not enough and we should delete the backups as well and that too across all platforms of storage and communication.<h5> </h5><h5>Why is Digital Asset Management important?</h5> <h6>1) Content under one roof!</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664441475033-DIGITAL%20ASSET-2.jpg"> Digital Asset Management allows team members across all departments to easily locate content. Running a business takes a lot and sometimes people lose track of their assets as so many of them are created on a daily basis. A single source of truth where different departments of your business can access content while increasing the efficiency of processes. <h6>2) Easier Workflows</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664441485755-DIGITAL%20ASSET-3.jpg"> If you want to bring agility to your initiatives, Digital Asset Management is going to be your best companion. The automation offered enables timely feedback, approvals, and deadlines to be accessed by the team. This in turn expedites processes and keeps everything in check so there is no scope for last-minute risks. It also ensures that no work is lost or misplaced in the clutter. <h6>3) Brand Consistency</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664441500238-DIGITAL%20ASSET-5.jpg"> By establishing your brand guidelines and content, your team can be directed to a single source of truth with a simple search option. This also ensures that no outdated, old and low-quality media is being used. Consistency in content enables brand messaging to be the same throughout all touchpoints. This also minimizes the chance of human error because everyone refers to the same source. <h6>4) Enhanced Security</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664441511189-DIGITAL%20ASSET-4.jpg"> Centralization of digital assets offers incredible safety and security. Authorizations and accesses eliminate unauthorized people from getting any access to the files they should not be subjected to. Only those who have access and appropriate permissions can view the file. This ensures utmost privacy and safety for the business and stakeholders. By centralization, we mean that you as the business have ownership of the data. <h6>5) Analytics and Reporting</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664441520872-DIGITAL%20ASSET-6.jpg"> Digital Asset Management enables you to get a thorough understanding of how your content is performing across various articles and how your team publishes content. The main questions pertaining to content delivery- when, where, and how are strategically calculated through this approach. This analytics can help in measuring what kind of content works the best and makes you aware of the room for improvements. This can allow the team to repurpose their best-performing content, which will lead to saving a lot of resources. A good content management system will let you know the performance of your content across all channels in one place so that you don’t have to go to all channels in order to check the performance of your content specifically. This also gives you the big picture. <h6>Digital Asset Management Vs. Traditional Content Management System</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664441641139-VS.jpg"> In Digital Asset Management, you can prohibit and limit access to some people. In a Content Management System, however, the author has the liberty to access all site uploads but not other people’s posts or site features. A traditional Content Management System is curated for the web so any changes or edits in your Content Management System would be seen on your website. Functionalities of a Content Management System are mainly swayed towards fostering text and images to smoothly display on the web. Although Digital Asset Management and Traditional Content Management Systems share certain features, they are slightly different. Example - Uploading is not as prioritized as much as structures in a Content Management system. Content Management Systems focus more on pages while Digital Asset Management focuses more on categories for individual uploads. <h6>Digital Asset Management Vs. Headless Content Management System</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664441650473-VS-1.jpg"> To be honest, Headless Content Management Systems have diminished any distinctions between Content Management Systems and Digital Asset Management. Before the advent of Headless Content Management Systems, Traditional Content Management Systems were made for web content and holistically offered customizations based on the web. Businesses prefer Headless Content Management Systems over Traditional Content Management Systems due to the omnichannel marketing actions and direct functionality. These systems not only store but also distribute content to an array of channels and are not limited to the web. We have written a dedicated blog on what a <a href=" https://www.apric.in/blogs/5-minute-guide-to-headless-content-management-systems " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Headless Content Management System</a> is and how it can help businesses so be sure to check that out after reading this blog! <h6>Use Cases of Digital Asset Management</h6> Internal Use Cases ➖<ol><li>Design Teams - Creative Design teams use Digital Asset Management Systems to access, upload and distribute branded assets.</li><li>IT Professionals - As IT Professionals manage permissions and system updates, Digital Asset Management is of prime importance to them.</li><li>Marketing Teams - Collaboration and publishing are made super easy(one click) with Digital Asset Management.</li></ol> External Use Cases ➖<ol><li>Agencies - Agencies can share assets with clients and regularly monitor and update the reports.</li><li>Partners - Assets can be easily accessed by partners to collaborate on offerings.</li></ol> <h6>DAM it….</h6> Digital Asset Management can be utilized to enhance the efficiency and productivity of a brand. If you want to invest in Digital Asset Management software, you should do your research on the basis of your team’s requirements. We personally always recommend businesses to go with Headless Content Management Systems instead of Digital Asset Management as it does everything that Digital Asset Management does but with 10x more efficiency and user-friendliness. What do you think? Would Digital Asset Management be a useful tool for your business? Does it truly revolutionize the way teams operate? Well, We feel it is a very subjective answer but all in all we think it is in fact an extremely useful tool for teams! Is it better than a headless CMS though? Erm, We will leave it to your speculation. Questions? Feedbacks? Curious? DM us on our socials!We’re quirky and informative here:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/apricofficial" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Twitter handle</a>We’re aesthetic and fun here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Instagram Page</a> Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

What is Digital Asset Management (DAM) and how is it good for you?

Find out everything you need to know about Digital Asset Management and how to determine if it is the right tool for your organization. In this article, we have answered all queries regarding DAM pertaining to digital assets, the digital life cycle, the importance of Digital Asset Management, and the difference between a Content Management System, Headless Content Management Systems, and Digital Asset Management.

“Content is King” is an often cited phrase used in the world of marketing. This phrase encapsulates everything you need in order to make your website a success. Content truly is the lifeblood of your marketing efforts. If you want to be seen as subject matter experts in your field of interest, you need to produce high-quality content that complements your values and mission while simultaneously resonating with your customer's needs. Although there is nothing in the world that could replace good quality content, the right stack of tools can help you produce and deliver the content easily. According to HubSpot,&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/hubspot-blog-marketing-industry-trends-report?_ga=2.20363704.1632863817.1647624595-1286134494.1647624595" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">90% of marketers</a>&nbsp;using content marketing plan to continue investing the same amount in the channel in 2022.What is Content Marketing? Content Marketing is the appropriate use and development of content to attract current and potential customers. This could be in form of blogs, social media posts, newsletters, emails, videos, white papers, etc. Content marketing offers great value to brands that can’t be gauged from any other form of marketing. Not just that, it is very cost-effective and fosters lead generation faster than any other form. As a consumer, you have thousands of options to choose from. We at Apric have been deep diving into the field of content marketing for ages now. This had led us to experience a plethora of tools and software, some of which have become integral to our being and others, well not so much. As there are thousands of tools to choose from, we have made it easy for you with a curated list of 10 of the top Content Marketing tools that you can leverage for your business to soar to great heights and accomplish your goals! Read on to find out which ones would benefit you the most with regard to your branding. <h6>1) Grammarly</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664442162742-Content%20Marketing%20tools.jpg"> Pricing: Free and Paid Versions are available. Grammarly is a cloud-based typing assistant that reviews spelling, grammar, punctuation, clarity, engagement, and delivery mistakes. It uses artificial intelligence to identify and search for an appropriate replacement for the error it locates. This is very useful for on-the-go corrections and proofreading. It also has added functionalities to make sure that your sentence formation makes sense and looks as crisp as possible. You can download it as a plugin or extension as well. In fact, the article you are reading has also been reviewed and proofread by Grammarly. <h6>2) ClickFunnels</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664442172180-Content%20Marketing%20tools-1.jpg"> Pricing: Paid Understanding the concept of marketing or sales funnel is very important. A sales funnel is the trajectory of a visitor becoming a customer of your brand. Funnels are extensively used by brands to visualize sales processes and to calculate conversions between every step of the funnel. ClickFunnels is one such tool that helps build a Sales Funnel For Entrepreneurs through an easy drag-and-drop interface. It helps guide visitors step-by-step through the entire sales process so they don’t get confused or lost, and leave. Directing customers straight to the desired product or service ensures that your brand is ingrained in your visitor's memory even after they leave your page.<h6> </h6><h6>3) Google Analytics</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664442182370-Content%20Marketing%20tools-2.jpg"> Pricing: Freemium Google Analytics is a web analytics service that provides statistics and basic analytical tools for search engine optimization and marketing purposes. It helps a brand track website performance and gathers user/visitor insights. It aids brands in deciphering and shaping traffic’s source, getting a hold of marketing activities as well as tracking goals. By helping brands in looking for patterns in engagement, Google Search Analytics can obtain important user information such as demographics. <h6>4) SEMRush</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664442211377-Content%20Marketing%20tools-3.jpg"> Pricing: Free and Paid Versions are available. SEMrush is a tool that helps brands run digital marketing strategies, like SEO campaigns. This all-in-one digital marketing program helps you run SEO, pay-per-click, and content marketing campaigns. With extensive options that allow you to audit your page, plan your keywords, help in link building, have a complete domain overview, and much more, SEMRush is a perfect solution for brands looking to deep dive into their analytics and performance. <h6>5) Apric</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664442222651-Content%20Marketing%20tools-4.jpg"> Pricing: Free and Paid Versions are available. Apric is a simple way to plan, design, and launch fast and beautiful experience-driven websites that change the way you represent your brand. This Headless Content Management System helps you find a balance between conveying information and providing an experience,A single place where you can manage your content, visitors, funnels, and analytics.&nbsp;<a href="http://apric.in/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Check it out →</a> <h6>6) Canva</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664442237094-Content%20Marketing%20tools-5.jpg"> Pricing: Freemium Canva is an online design tool that offers numerous functionalities that can be leveraged by everyone - be it beginners or pro-level designers. It enables users to make sensational designs. Initially built for people with zero to very little design experience, Canva has evolved to be one of the leaders in the design space. Whether you want to build a presentation or design a resume, Canva has got you covered. Although it is free to use, for the most part, you can unlock pretty cool features by upgrading your plan. <h6>7) Click Up</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664442250387-Content%20Marketing%20tools-6.jpg"> Pricing: Free for personal use, Paid for teams. ClickUp&nbsp;allows you to create insightful documents for your marketing plans, reports, strategies, and other files. You can store them all in one place within ClickUp and even attach them to tasks. You can also edit and collaborate with your team members in real-time, Google Docs format. It&nbsp;enables people to send and receive emails while managing their work in one place by allowing you to compose and reply directly without going to your email app. You can also choose from the array of integrations they offer to further enhance your performance. <h6>8) MailChimp</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664442260704-Content%20Marketing%20tools-7.jpg"> Pricing: Free and Paid Versions are available. <a href="http://bit.ly/signupformailchimp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mailchimp</a>&nbsp;is a marketing automation solution built for brands that want to reach out to their audience via e-mail. It claims to be an all-in-one solution to manage mailing lists, create custom email templates, and nurture and automate your entire marketing campaigns.This is awesome for brands looking to leverage email marketing as MailChimp is one of the best tools available to do that. Our favorite thing about MailChimp is that it is a web-based application, meaning you wouldn’t have to take up the hassle of downloading a separate application on your device and compromising its memory. Along with the email marketing functionalities, MailChimp also offers an analytics feature so you can track your email performance. <h6>9) HootSuite</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664442269437-Content%20Marketing%20tools-8.jpg"> Pricing: Free and Paid Versions Available. HootSuite is a tool that enables brands to schedule and post updates to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, WordPress, and other platforms&nbsp;from a dashboard with tabs organizing all the social profiles you connect. Brands can track marketing campaigns through all socials without separately logging in to each social media channel. With the paid version, brands can leverage advanced functionalities like analytics, security, collaboration, etc. <h6>10) Hotjar</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664442279422-Content%20Marketing%20tools-9.jpg"> Pricing: Free and Paid Versions Available. Hotjar is&nbsp;a cross-platform behavior analytics platform built to help brands know their audience better. Originally built for marketers and product managers, It provides robust analytics tools to decipher and visualize user behavior and its influence on your service or product.Hotjar utilizes interactive heatmaps of user actions, session recordings, and surveys to help you create a solid, data-backed understanding of what and how users utilize your website. <h6>Tools save the day….</h6> The art of content marketing is a virtue! If you want to awe your customers, you got to have your content strategy aligned with your goals. This is how customers become brand loyal and hold you in high regard. These Content Marketing Tools, if used appropriately could be your stairway to success! Have any questions? DM us on our socials!We’re quirky and informative here:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/apricofficial" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Twitter handle</a>We’re aesthetic and fun here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Instagram Page</a> Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

The fundamentals of Responsive Websites

In this day and age, you can only build a loyal audience if you offer unparalleled experiences, a good quality product alone does not suffice the need of the hour. People believe in what they see – It is just the simple truth of life! If you look around, you will notice that brands are going above and beyond in shaping experiences for their users that ultimately translate to their acquisition. Let us be real, the era of non-responsive websites is long gone. Art concepts and experiential designs have now rewired the way designers used to perceive web design and development. 

The fundamentals of Responsive Websites 

20 Best Content Management Systems (CMS) Platforms in 2022!

Are you tired of constantly contacting a developer to maintain your website? There is nothing worse than the helpless feeling you get when you battle with technological issues. As a website is an element that establishes your digital presence, it is imperative to keep it at the forefront to achieve your business goals. 

20 Best Content Management Systems (CMS) Platforms in 2022! 

How Minimalism is taking over the Design Space!

Minimalism has evolved to be a way of life and has led to be a huge influence on design in general that has revolutionized the design space. If you look up “minimalism” on YouTube, you will find thousands of videos explaining what minimalism is and how it has swayed the design community by a storm by influencing every facet of design. As web designs focus more and more on user experiences, it is no surprise that designers are delving into the minimalist concept to create usable, attractive, and functional websites that emphasize the purpose. In this blog, we are going to walk you through everything minimalism stands for and how you can leverage it for your brand. 

How Minimalism is taking over the Design Space! 

Did you know that Global Retail eCommerce Sales Grew by 27.6% in 2020? Global data shows retail eCommerce sales grew by 27.6% in 2020. Those sales accounted for about 18% of all global retail sales. It's likely those numbers will continue to grow year after year. <h6>(Source- <a href=" https://thesocialshepherd.com/blog/ecommerce-statistics " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here</a>)</h6> In the current emerging economy, online shopping is the way to go. Be it, Gen Z or boomers, it is widely loved and used by people around the globe for various reasons for both the customer as well as the seller. Let me tell you a funny story. I asked my nephew (mind you, he is 7 years old) what he wanted for his 8th birthday. He was quick enough to tell me “any cool gizmo would do - make sure you check out those lightning deals on Amazon”. I was shocked. How could a 7-year-old kid know about the lighting deals on Amazon? When I was 7, I could not even remember the names of the cartoon characters. Nevertheless, I did buy him a cool hoverboard (FROM AMAZON). This is the power of e-commerce and how majorly it has impacted the people of today regardless of their age! From small businesses to million-dollar enterprises, a lot of brands are benefitting from their own online store where they are showcasing their products/services in a way that reflects their branding. A Content Management System (CMS) is a tool that enables people and business owners to create, edit and publish digital website content without any hassle of coding. It also enables users to modify as well as update the look and feel of their online store, like switching up the product page layout, attaching promotional stuff, or including more sections on their landing pages to better promote products. We always get this question - We get what a CMS is, but how can e-commerce stores leverage it to their fullest potential? In this blog, we are going to be talking about 10 ways in which you can leverage CMS for your e-commerce store! <h6>1) Time Management</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664453003001-10%20ways-19.jpg"> In today’s world, if you don’t keep your brand up to date with the industrial trends, your brand essence will fizzle out and your customers will be swayed towards your competitor. If you own a brand, work for one, or know someone who does you would know how resource-drenching it is to keep your content and your website up to date. A developer not only takes heaps of money to maintain your e-commerce store but also takes a lot of time to make the changes as per their schedule. This in turn leads to brands going into heavy losses. With a Content Management System, your e-commerce store can be regularly updated and maintained with almost zero resources. Just edit and publish your content within a couple of clicks with no HTML tables and complex tech workflows. A good low code/no code solution can help you magnanimously. <h6>2) Responsive Content</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664453069163-10%20ways-18.jpg"> In order to make your e-commerce store thrive, you need to offer unparalleled experiences - great products do not solely suffice the need of the hour. Responsiveness ensures that a customer can consume content that looks great across all devices and adjusts for various viewports as well as screen sizes. As these website mockups ensure that you have an ideal viewer experience across all devices, your user experience enhances tenfold. Gone are the days when users would only browse through a standard-sized monitor and designers would only create content for a standard-sized viewport. Nowadays, a customer may visit your e-commerce store through an array of devices and it is your duty to make sure they have a great experience if you want to convert them into a loyal customer.A Content Management System ensures that your content is always responsive and that your users can gain value out of your business enabling you to have a great brand recall. <h6>3) Performance and Scalability</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664453136107-10%20ways-17.jpg"> We understand that measuring performance and scalability is not a one-size-fits-all approach but one can look for loopholes like slow page load, frozen pages, 404 errors, and other analytics-driven performance indicators. I remember visiting an e-commerce store to cop a pair of sneakers when the Air Jordan Mocha launched. Mind you, I had waited 2 months for this drop and to my utter disappointment, as soon as I added it to the cart, the site crashed! I felt so frustrated and defeated. I promised myself never to buy through this website ever again! The performance turned me into a disappointed customer. Understanding how many customers your e-commerce store can handle at peak traffics is very important - along with its horizontal and vertical scalability. Through a Content Management system, your performance and stability can easily be managed. <h6>4) Content Optimization</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664453343354-10%20ways-16.jpg"> “79% of smartphone users have made a purchase online using their mobile devices in the last 6 months” - (<a href="https://www.simicart.com/blog/m-commerce-statistics/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Source</a>) If you observe a user’s buying pattern, you will be astonished to know that most purchases are made through a mobile device. It is important to keep your content optimized for various platforms, especially mobile. My advice would be for you to opt for an open-source Headless CMS to deliver the same content to your website as well as mobile channels. You can also optimize your content by using a singular column design template for easy scrolling or reducing the number of themes and heavy images or animations that could potentially impact your page load on mobile screens. All in all, you need to optimize your content and CMS can help you achieve that effortlessly without any external developer’s help. <h6>5) SEO-Compatible URLs</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664453433214-10%20ways-15.jpg"> SEO-Compatible URLs are crucial for your e-commerce store in this cutthroat competition. SEO-Ready URLs enable your users and search engines to navigate your brand or find you when they search for your product/service type. One of the greatest things about a Content Management System is that it allows you to modify the URL slug to better optimize them for search so you wouldn’t have to worry about your efforts going down the drain. Just make sure that your URL entails a high-traffic keyword, is to the point and uses hyphens to separate the words. <h6>6) Third-Party Integrations</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664453531688-10%20ways-14.jpg"> The beauty of Content Management Systems is that they seamlessly allow third-party integrations. Integrating CRM software into your CMS will enhance your brand efficiency to the fullest enabling you to learn so much about your customers by crafting personalized shopping experiences for them! Integrations are very easy - You can integrate third-party applications to your CMS using APIs or plugins. But make sure that the CMS you use is headless. A Headless CMS offers better 3rd party integrations! <h6>7) Easier Workflows</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664453573495-10%20ways-13.jpg"> A Content Management System is curated to keep track of multiple pieces of content at different stages and let everyone involved know what's happening instantly. This ensures ease of use and strategic alignment with your internal team as well as your customers. A Content Management Systems workflow would essentially enable you to carry out multiple tasks and projects at once with different people responsible to keep track of the progress. This not only establishes accountability but also acts as a good and accountable measure for tracking each project individually for your e-commerce store so everyone stays in the loop at all times. <h6>8) Sensational Designs</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664453613505-10%20ways-12.jpg"> Content Management Systems offer a beautiful array of design templates to choose from. These template options not only beautify your content but also make your work 10 times easier because of customizable and dynamic content.In the case of running a traditional e-commerce store, one would require a designer to design the wireframes and a developer to code it to fruition. This not only limits your personal creative control of the project and final delivery but also can stop your ideas from fully translating into what you want. Content Management Systems for your e-commerce store can help you build ANY design, from scratch or from a template that resonates with your branding so you have full creative control at all times. <h6>9) Automatic Sitemaps</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664453658783-10%20ways-11.jpg"> If you don’t already know, Sitemap is a list of pages of a website within a domain. There are three primary kinds of site maps. They are used during the planning of a Web site by the designer. Sitemaps are the first thing that a Search Engine(Like Google) uses to understand/skim your website. So, every time you publish a new page on your website, it is important that you update your sitemap so that the page can be located by the search engines. Sitemaps are not automatically updated when you create a new page automatically. You have to do it manually every time and in case of spelling changes, they need to be updated on the sitemap too. BUT In a Content Management System, sitemaps are automatically generated and updated upon new changes. This saves TONS of manual effort and time! <h6>10) Enhanced Security</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664453727317-10%20ways-10.jpg"> In this era where people are so prone to security breaches, it is vital for e-commerce stores to have top-tier protection.Content Management Systems go through periodic testing to ensure that any kind of security issue never surfaces. They also offer third-party integrations and add-ons to strengthen the protection of the website. So if you are scared about a data leak or a security threat, a Content Management System is going to be your most trusted companion! <h6>Make a customer, not a sale…</h6> A loyal customer can never disappoint you or your brand so it is your duty to provide them with a great holistic experience from your e-commerce store! Have any questions about Headless Content Management Systems? Drop us a DM on Instagram <a href="https://instagram.com/apricweb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@apricweb</a> and we will get back to you as soon as possible! Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

10 ways you can leverage CMS  for your e-commerce store

 Want to know how you can use Content Management Systems to get the best out of your e-commerce store? Double your profits while converting people into loyal customers and see the magic in just a few days with Content Management Systems. Tools like WordPress, Joomla, Apric can help you achieve your desired results in no time. Don’t believe it? Read on to find out!

I was enjoying a hot cup of cappuccino at my favorite coffee place when a mother-daughter duo came and sat at the table next to me. The mother and her toddler gave me a different perspective on marketing in terms of how commoners and people who do not work in the marketing space perceive brands.&nbsp; “Mom, is this a cannon camera?”, She giggled. By merely glancing over her mother’s phone, she could immediately recognize the brand through their website.&nbsp; Needless to say, I was baffled to see how deeply brands are integrated into our personal lives, regardless of the number of years we have been on this planet! What SNKRS is to Nike and what blogging is to HubSpot is the kind of approach people should seek while creating a killer website. In this day and age where there are no bounds to competition, it is not sufficient to just create a website and call it a day.&nbsp; It is imperative to keep on updating and maintaining it as well.&nbsp;&nbsp; A lot of brands fall out in the digital space due to 2 main reasons –&nbsp; <ol><li>Not keeping up with the trends of the market</li><li>A bad SEO strategy</li></ol> In both cases though, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. At Apric, we always tell brands to never hop on to a bandwagon just for the sake of “being in trend”. What may work for cult brands like Apple and Coca-Cola may not work for your brand.&nbsp; Your SEO strategy also needs to be cutting-edge. By trying to come up with exotic and unique product names to enhance their SEO, brands oftentimes forget that there are more than over 3814 distinct cultures in this world and some “exotic” words may be sacred to them. This ends up hurting the sentiments of the people and ultimately leads to a sloppy brand image.&nbsp; Marc Jacobs, a brand loved by many of us faced extreme backlash for cultural appropriation during the Spring 2017 fashion show wherein all 52 Caucasian models walked the ramp in rainbow wool dreadlocks. This tarnished their image in the industry.&nbsp; Many cultures also do not entertain a direct sales approach, they would need a meandering, not in-your-face sales strategy. We would suggest doing your research and seeing what would resonate with your brand values and offerings. Now that we are clear on what your brand should do holistically, let us have a look at 6 things to remember when you are creating a website! <h6>1) Website Responsiveness</h6> If your website is not responsive in 2022, you really need to re-evaluate your entire strategy. Responsive web designs are practices and principles to create web pages that look great across all devices. It also automatically adjusts for various ALL screen sizes. This ensures that all your viewers/customers have the same and ideal viewing experience. Let me explain the importance of web responsiveness through a personal experience of ours at Apric. Being subject matter experts in the realm of website design and development, we interact with brands on a daily basis.&nbsp; One such brand approached us and discussed its pain points. They had an amazing product and were making good sales on third-party e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal but their direct website sales were minuscule.&nbsp; Upon some investigation, we found out that the problem was with the site's mobile responsiveness. It was a mess on the mobile screens. Customers could not complete their user journey due to this issue. This translated into the brand losing a ton of money. Upon fixing the issue, the brand recorded a steep elevation in their website sales. <h6>2) User Experience</h6> Let us give you 2 scenarios to explain user experience in a nutshell. Situation 1 – You go to a restaurant and although there is a door, nothing is mentioned on the door on which side to open it. You try a couple of times to fiddle with it and try to figure out how it works, finally, after 10 tries you sheepishly figure it out and enter the restaurant. Do you think you had a good experience? We suppose not! Situation 2 – If the same restaurant had push-pull written on the handles of the door vibrantly, the user would have no problem navigating their way inside the restaurant. This would subconsciously instill the feeling of ease and comfort in the mind of the user that will ultimately translate to a wonderful user experience. User experience is key to your website’s growth. For your website to foster a holistic experience, it is crucial to see how the user navigates through various touchpoints. Successful experiences not only help in elevating engagement and traffic, but they also ensure that your user takes away a memory that would be embedded in his mind for a long time.&nbsp; Conquering the know-how of this is very important. <h6>3) Site Load and Accessibility</h6> Have you ever typed a URL that took forever to load? We have all been there at least once in our life! If you are anyone like me, you would get frustrated if a site does not load on time. I mean there is nothing wrong with feeling that way as new-age technology enables websites to run effortlessly.&nbsp; Any brand that exhibits a huge site load will not be able to portray its brand potential to its customers in full glory. We recommend you audit your website's performance regularly to check for the speed, load time, and formatting to eliminate this issue.&nbsp; Accessibility is also a key factor when it comes to your website. Keep your doors open to people with color blindness or photosensitivity and plan your website accordingly. <h6>4) CONTENT, CONTENT, CONTENT!</h6> I remember back in the day when the only way to consume news was through newspapers, I used to eagerly wait for the “Speaking Tree” article! It was always so inspiring and refreshing due to the way Jayant B Dave connected with his audience through content.&nbsp; Your content needs to be interesting and relevant to the user. If a user cannot derive value out of your content, he will click away and sway towards your competitors. Integrate relevant keywords for discovery, optimize your content with regard to the platform and write witty headlines.&nbsp; Make sure your audience is hooked at each stage. This will enable you to gain a loyal audience and build a personalized connection with them. Remember, poor content a day keeps the crawlers away! Trust us, no matter the level of acarophobia, you DO NOT want to miss out on these kinds of crawlers. <h6>5) Hero Section</h6> Did you know it only takes a user 0.05 seconds to form an opinion about your website that determines whether they will stay or leave? It is truly bonkers how the human mind works but hey! If you can convince your audience in 0.05 seconds that there is something he will miss out on if he clicks away, you’re sure to make big bucks! Hero Section is the first thing your viewers are subjected to when they visit your website. It lays beneath your logo and menu.&nbsp; <h6>6) Personalized Call to Action</h6> If you were to check out a brand's e-book on their website, would you prefer a “find out more” Call to Action or something more personalized like “Get my free access now!”. Although the first one works, the second one establishes a sudden urge to do the action and entices the user in a way that makes them feel exclusive.&nbsp; In the long haul, brand loyalty is of prime importance. Each page on your website should entice the user to take some form of action. E.g.: Sign up, buy now, download the e-book, etc.&nbsp; Keep all the important stuff above the fold as that is the area where you will most likely have a chance to capture the attention of your users. <h5>Brands that have improved their websites over time</h5> <h6>1) Domino’s Pizza</h6> Before - <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664456991494-image8%20%282%29.jpg"><h6> </h6><h6>(Image Source- <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/what-24-famous-brands-terrible-websites-looked-like-when-they-launched-in-the-1990s/articleshow/51830449.cms " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Click here</a>)</h6> Present - <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664457150484-image9%20%281%29.png"> <h6>(Image Source- <a href="https://www.bounteous.com/case-studies/dominos-pizza-canada/ " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Click here</a>)</h6><h6> </h6><h6> </h6><h6>2) Burger King</h6> Before - <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664457834951-twoone.png"> <h6>(Image Source- <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/what-10-brands-terrible-websites-looked-like-on-the-day-they-launched-in-the-1990s/articleshow/31817424.cms" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Click here </a>)</h6> Present - <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664457868499-image5%20%281%29.jpg"> <h6>(Image Source- <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/what-10-brands-terrible-websites-looked-like-on-the-day-they-launched-in-the-1990s/articleshow/31817424.cms " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Click here</a>)</h6><h6> </h6><h6> </h6><h6>3) Apple</h6> Before – <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664457916371-image6.png"> <h6>(Image Source- <a href="https://www.heartinternet.uk/blog/now-then-how-brands-websites-have-changed-over-the-years/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Click here</a>)</h6> Present - <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664457939204-image2%20%281%29.jpg"><h6> </h6><h6>(Image Source- <a href=" https://www.exploreinsiders.com/how-to-create-a-website-like-apple/ " rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Click here</a>)</h6><h6> </h6><h6> </h6><h6>4) Starbucks</h6> Before - <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664457982863-image7.png"> <h6>(Image Source- <a href="https://www.heartinternet.uk/blog/now-then-how-brands-websites-have-changed-over-the-years/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Click here</a>)</h6> Present - <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664458000911-image4%20%282%29.jpg"> <h6>(Image Source- <a href="https://a11ywins.tumblr.com/post/143173056813/starbucks-keyboard-navigation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Click here</a>)</h6><h6> </h6><h6> </h6><h6>5) Youtube</h6> Before - <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664458062798-image3%20%281%29.png"> <h6>(Image Source- <a href="https://www.heartinternet.uk/blog/now-then-how-brands-websites-have-changed-over-the-years/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Click here</a>)</h6> Present - <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664458152967-image10%20%281%29.jpg"> <h6>(Image Source- <a href="https://i.insider.com/5dc47f123afd37518905aba6?width=1300&amp;format=jpeg&amp;auto=webp" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Click here</a>)</h6><h6> </h6><h6>The final call…</h6> Creating the perfect website does not have a singular foolproof way. Although, following the above steps gives you a competitive advantage. Incorporate these pointers into your website development and see the magic unfold! Do you think we missed any crucial points? Leave us a DM on our IG <a href="https://instagram.com/apricweb?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">@Apricweb</a>. Stay tuned for more insightful blogs! Until then, Ciao!&nbsp;☺&nbsp;

How to create a killer website in a few steps?

The importance of having a cutting-edge website is imperative. Unlock the secret insights to building the perfect website for your brand that not only enhances your branding but increases your sales by 10x. See how cult brands did it - You can do it too! Master the art of creating a website! 

The demand for Headless Content Management Systems has been rising in the digital content management space due to the plethora of benefits associated with the modern age CMS. With the emergence of new and upcoming communication channels like IoT, Virtual Reality, Conversational AI, etc, there is a dire need in the industry to adopt an all-adaptive technology like Headless Content Management System. Although traditional Content Management Systems enable us to have content, custom codes, and editor interface under a single ecosystem, it is not enough for the businesses of this day and age. People nowadays consume content from various viewports and devices but unfortunately, traditional Content Management Systems were never designed to cope with the fact that dynamic content delivery systems are needed for multiple mediums of consumption. Not to mention the challenge of everything being handled by diverse teams with varied responsibilities. Drumrolls…. Here is where Headless CMS came into play! <h5>What exactly is a “Headless CMS”? How is it different from a “Traditional CMS”?</h5> Although Traditional Content Management Systems ruled the archetype for web design and development, it was neither “flexible” nor “scalable”. In a headless Content Management System, the content repository, the “body,” is separated or decoupled from the presentation layer. The “head” enables you to manage content under one roof and still deploy that content anywhere you want. Unlike traditional Content Management Systems, a “Headless” Content Management System acts as the primary content repository by decoupling from the front end and serving content through APIs which ease the backend and frontend communication. This enables cross-device and cross-platform dynamic content delivery. This is why more and more companies in the modern day and age prefer Headless Content Management Systems due to the flexibility and scalability to get their content out in a myriad of ways. Due to the complexities associated with Traditional Content Management Systems, Headless Content Management Systems were curated to meet the demands of brands and creators who want to empower all their tech, marketing, and content teams. <h5>Why can’t traditional CMS be cross-platform and cross-device?</h5> In this era of cutthroat competition, Marketers have a responsibility to quickly push out content through multiple channels without any dependency on IT. If a brand still uses traditional CMS, this can be almost impossible to accomplish. Without the appropriate API-based architecture, it is not possible for a traditional CMS to have omnichannel functionality. Thankfully, Headless Content Management Systems comes to the rescue by decoupling the front-end presentation layer and the back-end infrastructure. Marketers can build content plans that could facilitate the delivery process in a much easier and more efficient way and omnichannel content can be easily and quickly delivered directly from the Headless CMS. <h5>When to choose a Headless CMS?</h5> If you are someone who deals with a huge content volume and needs a consistent and holistic user experience with an omnichannel approach, Headless CMS would be the perfect solution for you! Check out our <a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/5-minute-guide-to-headless-content-management-systems" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">5-minute guide to headless CMS blog</a> to know the use cases, advantages, and examples of Headless CMS. <h5>Why should you migrate to a Headless CMS?</h5> <h6>1) Omnichannel content delivery</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664461422842-Why%20should%20you%20migrate%20to%20a%20Headless%20CMS.jpg"> Today, brands need a fast-paced way to push out content to different channels without any hindrances. Headless CMS is compatible with almost all devices and viewports enabling marketing teams to push out mass volumes of content in a way that is easy and not time-consuming. In traditional or legacy CMS, due to the monolith structure, one needs to manage each platform separately leading to complexities. <h6>2) API-Powered</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664461479847-Why%20should%20you%20migrate%20to%20a%20Headless%20CMS-1.jpg"> As discussed above, Headless CMS functions exclusively on APIs. As the front-end and back-end are completely separate, businesses have the freedom to ship content as per their requirements, regardless of the device.A headless CMS does not restrict you to only posting content for blogs or landing pages. You can leverage it for banners, newsletters, pop-up feeds, and much more. <h6>3) Security</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664461532140-Why%20should%20you%20migrate%20to%20a%20Headless%20CMS-2.jpg"> Traditional CMS comes with a huge risk of a security breach due to the monolith structure encompassing a huge volume of code, plugins, and built-in functionalities. Although you can use external plugins, they can only do so much in helping with security. The idea of keeping the front-end and back-end separate is crucial when hackers are attempting to hack your website. Headless CMS also enables you to have third-party plugins to make the system more secure. <h6>4) Full Creative Control</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664461560934-Why%20should%20you%20migrate%20to%20a%20Headless%20CMS-3.jpg"> Even though you do not get WYSIWYG drag-and-drop functionality, Headless CMS enables businesses to have full creative control over all types of content models.Marketing teams do not have to build new elements every time they want to publish a new piece of marketing collateral. <h6>5) High Performance</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664461622351-Why%20should%20you%20migrate%20to%20a%20Headless%20CMS-4.jpg"> Adopting modern technology is key for businesses to thrive in this era of competition. Headless CMS is one such modern solution as it is curated to meet the demands of the brands of tomorrow on any possible channel. Headless CMS ensures great performance, fast page load, Cost-effectiveness, Responsive Outputs, High-traffic support, No threat of data breach, Enhanced compatibility, etc. <h5>5 IMPORTANT things to evaluate before migrating</h5> Now that you know why you need to migrate to a Headless CMS, let us find out how you can migrate to a Headless CMS! <h6>1) Study your reasoning</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664461656295-Why%20should%20you%20migrate%20to%20a%20Headless%20CMS-5.jpg"> Before anything, ask yourself these 3 questions -<ul><li>What is lacking in my current efforts?</li><li>What do I want to achieve with this migration?</li><li>What impact will the migration have on my business?</li></ul> Your reasoning for opting for a headless CMS will pave the way for your decision-making throughout the migration process. If you are able to answer these 3 questions logically, then you are headed in the right direction. <h6>2) Evaluate your content strategy</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664461690740-Why%20should%20you%20migrate%20to%20a%20Headless%20CMS-6.jpg"> Headless CMS are always content-first. Although they offer great levels of flexibility and scalability, you can’t focus on the presentation from the very start. There’s something that comes even before the presentation: “Users and Customers” Map your customer journey, user personas, and user experience. Users First, Always. By evaluating how your content strategy works as a whole, you will be able to leverage Headless CMS to the fullest. Check how you can repurpose and reuse your content across all your desired channels, and store it in a format that can be used even after your website has been redesigned. <h6>3) Evaluate your frameworks and technologies</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664461741170-Why%20should%20you%20migrate%20to%20a%20Headless%20CMS-7.jpg"> For the backend, you can choose from an array of frameworks and technologies. You need to be mindful of what kind of existing framework you are using and what specific things you need to take care of. For the Front-end too, you might have a lot of options like Angular, React, or Vue. Although there are many modern ones in the market, these three are considered to be top-notch and widely loved in the tech community. Just ensure that you research the code maintenance requirements, availability of support in the future, flexibility, performance, and other such factors before finalizing a framework. <h6>4) Consider your integrations and infrastructure</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664462028727-Why%20should%20you%20migrate%20to%20a%20Headless%20CMS-9.jpg"> Although headless CMS are the easiest to integrate, Look into how things will change if you go headless! Will your new headless platform be supported by your existing infrastructure, such as your hosting solution? If you have cloud hosting or dedicated server hosting, how will it impact your server architecture? These are some questions that you need to discuss with your tech team and see how they would translate during the output. Additionally, you need to sit with your marketing team and have a chat about how you will integrate them into the platform. I would suggest you create an audit of paid or free plugins, tools, and extensions used within your organization and create a comprehensive structure.<h6> </h6><h6>5) Lastly, Create a Plan</h6> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1664462066648-Why%20should%20you%20migrate%20to%20a%20Headless%20CMS-8.jpg"> Once you are through with all the technical stuff, you need to create a detailed plan for migration. Identify the timeline and milestones and accommodate the plan to cause minimal disturbance to your business's functions. Set up some key requirements and work your way up in terms of priority. This will ensure you focus on what matters the most - VALUE! <h6>Go Headless… It’s now or never!</h6> We’re quirky and informative here: <a href="https://twitter.com/apricofficial" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Twitter handle</a>We’re aesthetic and fun here: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Instagram Page</a> Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

Why should you migrate to a Headless Content Management System?

 In this day and age, Brands are ditching traditional Content Management Systems to opt for Headless Content Management Systems. Headless CMS, also called modern age CMS is a boon to the no-code industry due to a lot of benefits associated with it. Marketers have a responsibility to quickly push out content through multiple channels without any dependency on IT. If a brand still uses traditional CMS, this can be almost impossible to accomplish. This is where Headless CMS comes into play! Read on to find out the innumerable advantages of Headless CMS and how you can utilize them.

eCommerce Design : 10 things you can not miss while creating an eCommerce website

Stand out from your competitors and make your mark in the industry by creating a cutting-edge e-commerce website. Get detailed insights on foolproof ways on how to leverage web design and development to make the most of your resources. With detailed examples and quick hacks, we have curated a list of 10 things you can not miss while creating an e-commerce website!

If you are a developer or work with one, you probably are aware of how time-consuming it is to write code functionality by functionality. Writing code for organizing your code as well as each little functionality. It’s a headache. As humans we are prone to making errors, thus making it quite possible to get a bunch of bugs while coding. Development all in all is a very complex task as we all know it. Frameworks can help make the whole development process easier by saving you the hassle of writing code from scratch. This also helps in speedy design delivery and troubleshooting. <h3>So, What is a Software Framework?</h3> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1666002252387-Software%20Frameworks.jpg"> In Computer Programming, a software framework is an abstraction in which a software that offers general functionalities can be selectively changed by additional user-written codes. A framework usually encapsulates images, libraries, and documents that can be personalized to each project enabling the developer to seamlessly add or replace features to offer added functionalities to the project. <h3>Types of Software Frameworks</h3> You can find almost every type of framework nowadays that intend to solve issues that come forth in the development process of a project. Naturally, with so many programming languages out there to choose from, there are many frameworks available. Depending on the kind of framework you need, you can choose from these available types of frameworks based on your purpose➖ <h3>1) Front-end frameworks</h3> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1666071254865-2.jpg">Front-end frameworks are used for development of the front-end of the web app. They are responsible for displaying responsive pages. By enabling that each structure is placed in a smooth and attractive layout, these frameworks ensure less development time and responsive interface design. Angular , Vue.js, and Svelte are a few examples of front-end frameworks. <h3>2) Back-end frameworks</h3> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1666002117981-Software%20Frameworks-3.jpg"> Back-end frameworks are used for development of the back-end of the web app. These are the most commonly used frameworks in the development ecosystem. These frameworks assist in the server-side configurations of your application. These were conceived to provide components to manage functionalities that involve functionalities that depend on the backend. These frameworks facilitate database access, session management, etc. Express, Ruby on Rails, Django, and Laravel are some of the most popular back-end frameworks. <h3>3) Mobile development frameworks</h3> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1666002140839-Software%20Frameworks-4.jpg"> With the emergence of mobile applications, there is a surge in mobile development frameworks. These frameworks massively help in the development of mobile applications for Android, iOS, and more. They can either be native app frameworks or cross-platform frameworks.React Native, Flutter, and Corona are the most popular Mobile development frameworks. <h3>4) Desktop development frameworks</h3> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1666002162928-Software%20Frameworks-5.jpg"> Desktop development frameworks are used for the development of desktop applications. You can build independent business applications, client-server apps, or plugins. To be precise: the applications that are run on desktops can benefit from these frameworks.Electron, Swing, and Cocoa are a few of the most popular Desktop development frameworks. <h3>What are the Benefits of using Software Frameworks?</h3> Frameworks are widely loved in the development space due to the ease of use they offer in terms of offering a pre-made code base and principles that encourage easy web development. Basically, it provides developers with a blueprint that helps them navigate their way out effortlessly. Let us have a look at what benefits you can reap if you use or ever plan to use a Software Framework. <h3>1) Reduced Code Length</h3> Gone are the days when developers had to double their caffeine intake to write long, complex lines of code. This in turn leads to enhanced productivity which lets the developer divide and focus his time on the aspects of the project that matter the most. This functionality also enables them to automate a lot of tasks that would normally take up a lot of time to do like URL mapping, text storage, and much more. <h3>2) Enhanced Security</h3> Built-in security features and functionalities ensure that the website is safe from any viruses, malware, or security breaches. These frameworks go through stringent testing over and over again to ensure that there are no loopholes. A lot of frameworks are also open source which means that the security loopholes are tested by the public as well. <h3>3) Hassle-free Testing</h3> Frameworks can aid in pinpointing the exact problem once you begin troubleshooting. This makes it super efficient for developers in terms of testing. For example - If you are using a framework like React for your front end, will reduce your manual efforts for testing and you will not have to worry about the errors that had occurred before. <h3>4) Dependability</h3> As these frameworks are nurtured by developers, communities, and industries that leave no stone unturned in testing and maintaining them, they are extremely dependable. These frameworks also are kept updated according to the latest industrial trends and ever-changing demands so you never have to worry about it not working! <h3>5) Lesser Bugs</h3> Although programming languages do not focus on the legibility of code during flight, Frameworks do. Due to each framework being supported by a huge community, there is always a response to any problem almost immediately. Many frameworks also enable developers to run their first tests. <h3>Are there any challenges?</h3> Some say that frameworks are a double-edged sword while some may argue that it takes skill to do anything in life and frameworks are also based on the same principle. Nevertheless, we do feel like Frameworks do have some limitations. <h3>1) You need to have the technical knowledge</h3> Although frameworks can massively help a developer in terms of speed, efficiency, and time, it does require extensive technical and programming knowledge. There is no drag-and-drop functionality or a plug-and-play option to help you cross the technical bridge. Not only that, you would need to learn the ins and outs of the framework too. This can not be harnessed or utilized by someone who does not have a technical background, and even if you feel like learning it from scratch, it has a big learning curve. <h3>2) It is not a one-size-fits-all approach</h3> As much as we would like them to be a one-size-fits-all solution, they are not. Frameworks are not designed to take care of everything. They are built to serve a specific purpose, for example - providing a set of front-end functionalities. Some frameworks may not necessarily be a good fit for your requirements so it's best for you to test the waters before diving in. <h3>3) Inefficient for small projects</h3> Frameworks may not be ideal for small projects as setting up the framework would be more time-consuming than custom coding itself. <h3>4) One bug can affect all applications built on the framework.</h3> Even though bugs are very rare in frameworks, one bug may affect every application built on that framework. For developers, this is a nightmare and has to be dealt with extreme caution. Always chose a framework that has a good community to which you can go back for help and doubts. <h3>Frameworks Vs. Libraries</h3> <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1666002213822-Software%20Frameworks-1.jpg"> We have oftentimes heard developers using the terms Framework and Libraries interchangeably. This is one of the biggest misconceptions that float around the developers’ community. To be a master in the art of development, you need to know the key difference between both.A&nbsp;library&nbsp;performs a fixed set of defined operations whereas&nbsp;frameworks&nbsp;are blueprints wherein the application encapsulates the contents of the operation by meshing with the blueprint. The blueprint is still required for coding to interlink the specifics but the most important task is done by the application solely. Examples of libraries:&nbsp;Network protocols, compression, image manipulation, string utilities, regular expression evaluation, and math. Operations are self-contained. Examples of frameworks:&nbsp;Web application system, Plug-in manager, GUI system. The framework defines the concept but the application defines the fundamental functionality that end-users care about. <h3>Frameworks can go a long way….</h3> Frameworks, be it any type can help you improve the efficiency of your development projects. By providing robust, speedy, and dependable patterns, they save you the hassle of writing long codes from scratch. We can go on and on about the plethora of tools available in the development community that are integrated into programming languages of all sorts - from Ruby to Java. You just need to choose what works best for you and roll with it. These frameworks are specifically built to facilitate tasks such as backend or front-end development. We understand that it can be a little overwhelming at first, but with a little research and a dollop of passion, you can overcome the learning curve and get started on your project to get the result you want! Frameworks will not just help you save your resources such as time and energy but will ultimately help you make the best of your resources by giving you an unparalleled output! :) Have any questions? DM us on our socials! We’re quirky and informative here:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/apricofficial" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Twitter handle</a> We’re aesthetic and fun here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Instagram Page</a> Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

What are Software Frameworks? Do you really need one?

Software Frameworks are a boon to the developers’ community. They have magnanimously helped developers in terms of productivity, time management, and efficient workflows. However, like everything in life - not everything is for everyone. How do you find out if your processes need a software framework? Read on to find out so you can save your resources and make the most of them!

What are Software Frameworks? Do you really need one? 

North Face sent a team of researchers on hikes and treks with travelers and explorers to help the brand figure out the correct placements for pockets. Smart move? Time waste? Publicity? Research? Through these little observations, North face has established themselves as one of the most reliable adventure clothing brands, despite the costly price tag. These days brands have a dedicated team of qualified researchers that study consumer behavior - from observing your shopping patterns to studying the practice in which you prepare your meals, they do it all. This method is called Ethnography. This was used by anthropologists for decades but recently made its mark in the corporate world. Lego, Google, Samsung, ReD are some brands that follow this approach to study their customer base and meet their demands. What is Digital Ethnography? Digital ethnography, also known as Online Ethnography or Mobile Ethnography leverages the power of smartphones, video, and computers to help Researchers remotely generate rich, contextual insights into human needs, emotions, behaviors, journeys, and experiences. (<a href="https://indeemo.com/blog/digital-ethnography" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://indeemo.com/blog/digital-ethnography</a>) Why is Digital Ethnography important? Let us say you are a brand that promotes menstrual hygiene and sells menstrual cups. You have plateaued your sales in urban areas and now are looking to tap into the rural segment. Topics like Menstruation are still taboo in rural areas. In this case, how will you cater to them in a way that is not offensive? Through Digital Ethnography- Fast, Flexible, and Factual. Especially during covid times when rural people may be reluctant to meet, you can draw solid conclusions through remote research. Digital Ethnography has been a powerful tool to decode consumer psychology as it helps validate&nbsp;what customers do and why they do it&nbsp;( all without the hassle of unnecessary commute and hours of compiling paperwork ) It encapsulates a variety of true-to-life data collection techniques. This could be conducted in a mobile or an online condition in multitudes of situations ranging from consumer behavior to product innovation. Traditional Ethnography Vs. Digital Ethnography Ethnography explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject of the study, Digital Ethnography does exactly the same thing but with the&nbsp;help of online tools. What is the process for&nbsp;Digital Ethnography? <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669094712894-Website%20Localization-1.jpg"> The process of Digital Ethnography is quite alike to a monetized Focus Group Discussion or an Interview wherein you can incentivize the research participants with specific goals in mind. The whole point of this is to let the audience answer without any assistance or direction from the researcher. It can be conducted in the following forms: <ol><li>Participant Observation</li><li>Survey</li><li>Questionnaire</li><li>Interview</li></ol> The respondents and participants would be using digital devices to record audio, text, and video to show you and tell you what they are doing, feeling, and thinking at their own pace. Be it blogging or videography, digital ethnography can be leveraged anyhow. Since it is a very fun approach to research, both the researcher and the participant is fully engaged throughout the process which in turn helps you gauge a perfect outcome. The sequence of activities is not interconnected and all activities are available at once. The objective is to seize the occasion. That is why a participant can resume day-to-day activities while still managing to participate in the research and be discrete about it! Once data collection is done, the researcher can gather those insights and connect the dots. Why should you consider Digital Ethnography? I remember watching the movie Abyss when I was a child and imagining truckloads of possibilities that the future may bring. Although we did not get to see any alien invasion yet, we sure saw some head-turning technology that is indispensable to us now. It is the world of digital evolution, the world we are currently living in. The way we live, work, and talk has all changed drastically in the past few decades. With the help of mobile devices, Anthropologists and Researchers can delve into the life of the respondents remotely. 1) Independence <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669094745678-Website%20Localization-3.jpg"> The great part about Digital Ethnography is the independence that comes with it. The participants use their devices, go about at their own pace, there is no need for any third-party involvement. This independence encourages participants to be as truthful as possible. A person may be hesitant to put forward his views in front of 10 people on a microphone, but he would not shy away from sending a voice note about his findings privately. 2) No Geographical Limitations <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669094760017-Website%20Localization-4.jpg"> As there is no need for a physical meeting, Researchers can leverage Digital Ethnography to conduct research beyond any geographical boundaries. It not only makes the process easier but also saves a ton of your resources. This also allows you to reiterate your strategy if the data seems unfit to you without any hassle! 3) Real-time Data <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669094797940-Website%20Localization-5.jpg"> The best part of Digital Ethnography is that you can access data in real time as they communicate with your offerings. Since all the data is automated and recorded digitally, there is no need for you to sift through heaps of paperwork to get insights. 4) User Experience <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669094871598-Website%20Localization-6.jpg"> A good user experience can help create that important first impression that makes your audience content with their decision to be a part of your research. Digital Ethnography ensures a holistic user experience that delights the user and engages him/her at every step. 5) Resource-effective <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669094856361-Website%20Localization-7.jpg">With Digital Ethnography, The researcher ends up saving tons of resources like money, time, and energy. This is made possible through the miracle of technology combined with a fruitful user experience, all without even being present in the same room. These additional expenses like fuel, parking, and lodging can be saved and attributed to strengthen and validate the research. 6) Pandemic-complaint<img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669094918569-Website%20Localization-8.jpg"> The pandemic has truly changed the way we function and that also includes the way we conduct research. Due to this, there are many forms of research that may be conducted remotely for a long time, especially in the field of healthcare. Digital Ethnography also is a great way to be pandemic compliant and stay safe from the deadly virus! Intel as the world's biggest brand Ethnographer! Intel has hired anthropologists and researchers on staff to gauge a thorough understanding of its audience base. This helps them innovate seamlessly and keep up with all the industrial trends. Intel is no stranger to this practice, in fact - Intel has been leveraging ethnography since the mid-1990s. This has led Intel to gain access to a plethora of insightful information on consumer behavior. Since Digital Ethnographers have a wide range of audiences they want to research on, ranging from Gen-Z who are well acquainted with how technology works to boomers who may have limited knowledge of how the internet works, they are able to get a bigger picture through means of observation. Through innovation and digital ethnography, Intel was able to produce a handheld notebook PC. This concept was based on the way children carry pens and notebooks around the classroom. A simpler and high-tech product that is fast, flexible, and fun to reflect their audience's real-life behavior and requirement. Digital Ethnography is used for strategizing and planning how to leverage technology to the fullest. Intel discovers using ethnographic research how prompt the boomers are at fully adopting digitalization and their inputs on whether smartphones are replacing PCs.Intel has discovered cutting-edge insights from digital ethnography and is now the world’s biggest corporate ethnographer!Intel elucidates that ethnography is a part of its long-term planning as well as strategy. It is an essential part of its engineering research function. The brand says that this is important to adapt to the ever-changing technology. Digital Ethnography Best Practices 1) Ethnographers must be ethical and unbiased in their findings Represent yourself and your ethics in an appropriate way and do not let bias dictate the outcome. Let the community or individual know that you are in it for them so they can engage with full force. A respondent may or may not choose to reveal his identity. It is your responsibility to make anonymity a priority if the respondent asks. Make sure to only use the material that you have permission for. These practices will not just help you get a better outcome but would highlight your professionalism as well. 2) Research Communities Your community should be rich in resources like Blogs, Facebook Pages, Forums, Discussion boards, Youtube Channels, etc. These communities should also be participative and engaging. If someone has not posted for over 2 weeks, it's time for you to reconsider and switch your community of choice. The communities should have a good following that keeps up to date in terms of engagement. 3) Seek Only Necessary Information Make a checklist of what is important (in the form of a hierarchy) and take it as a guide to your desired outcome. A sample checklist could be ➖<ol><li>Demographics</li><li>History of the Community</li><li>Social Controls</li><li>Social Motivations</li><li>Language</li><li>Avatars</li><li>Subgroups</li></ol> All well that ends well…. Considering the benefits and advantages of Digital Ethnography, It is not going anywhere in the near future. In fact, I firmly believe that it is going to open doors of opportunities for brands that are lost or sidetracked from their goals. Digital Ethnography can offer you the liberty to deep dive into your audience’s mind to decipher how you can mold your offerings in a way that entices them. As use cases continue to grow, Brands, Designers, and Researchers are leveraging the benefits of this approach.Is it useful? Is it just a gimmick? What do you think? Let us know on our socials!’ We’re quirky and informative here:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/apricofficial" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Twitter handle</a>We’re aesthetic and fun here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Instagram Page</a> Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

Digital Ethnography 101 : Everything you need to know

North Face sent a team of researchers on hikes and treks with travelers and explorers to help the brand figure out the correct placements for pockets.  Smart move? Time waste? Publicity? Research?  Through these little observations, North face has established themselves as one of the most reliable adventure clothing brands, despite the costly price tag.  These days brands have a dedicated team of qualified researchers that study consumer behavior - from observing your shopping patterns to studying the practice in which you prepare your meals, they do it all.  This method is called Ethnography. This was used by anthropologists for decades but recently made its mark in the corporate world. Lego, Google, Samsung, ReD are some brands that follow this approach to study their customer base and meet their demands.

<blockquote>Without translation, we would be living in provinces bordering on silence. ➖George Steiner</blockquote>Did you know why Starbucks, the coffee haven we love and adore fail in the Australian markets? Starbucks has seen a great elevation in its international sales due to its distinct coffee flavors and aesthetic-looking drinks. However, it did not appeal to Australian markets as much as they anticipated. Due to Starbucks' strategy, they incurred a whopping $105 million in losses!! But what was the reason behind this? Well, the biggest mistake Starbucks did when it entered the Australian market was to think that the locals did not need to adjust their offerings in accordance with the demand. If you know anything about Australia, you must know that they have a very rich coffee culture and cafe menus encapsulate complex coffee drinks as opposed to basic drinks normally found in Starbucks stores. To add to that, the Australian market found Starbucks drinks to be very sweet in taste which they are not usually fond of. This is why Localization is important for a brand. We at Apric, in the course of these years, interacted with people from many different cultures and that just reinforces our emphasis on the importance of localization. You may have noticed that all the cult brands have one thing in common: They have their website localized to fit all audiences. What REALLY is Localization, though? Website localization is the process of adapting a website to cater to a specific niche of an audience that speaks a different language than your brand and exudes different cultural values. This is not it, it has many layers to it. Localization keeps in mind crisp translation, slang, convention, and culture-specific lingo that could enhance the user's experience. This could be portrayed in a range of functionalities like currencies, date formats, measurement metrics, etc. This can also be exhibited in the form of imagery and text. Why is it important? Apart from the obvious reason of enhanced sales, there are many benefits to adopting a Website localization approach. 1) Improved SEO <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669612475010-Website%20Localization.jpg"> Localized websites have a much higher chance of ranking. Just make sure to use quality content with strong keywords. This is due to the fact that Localized websites have a much higher chance of attracting more leads, getting more traffic to the website, and easy navigation to users. 2) Reinforce Messaging <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669612495787-Website%20Localization-1.jpg"> If you speak in a specific language, tone, or slang exclusive to the community, you will be able to communicate with their people effortlessly as opposed to using a standard language that they may be aware of, but not fluent in. This would in turn give you a chance to reinforce your messaging and your sales agenda. 3) User Engagement <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669612528273-Website%20Localization-2.jpg"> People feel proud when they get to embrace their culture. Localization not only gives you a chance to connect with the people but gives you a pedestal to get acquainted with the culture. This results in high levels of customer engagement and satisfaction. 4) Enhanced Global Image <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669612572859-Website%20Localization-3.jpg"> Your customers can see how much effort you have put into trying to understand and delve into their culture. They see that you have gone the extra mile to offer them your services. This would never go unnoticed and would lead to enhanced global credibility. To succeed in a new environment, the best thing you can do is actually put effort into making it personal for them. And just like in any relationship, if efforts are put in, people will appreciate it. How should you approach the website localization process? 1) Planning and Market Research <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669612594868-Website%20Localization-4.jpg"> If you want to attain a global presence, you probably know how important is to tap into all markets and establish your brand globally. Market research and planning are crucial for any brand activity, let alone a localization process. The insights act as a blueprint to help the brand navigate its way to the market in a way that is appropriate to the culture. A brand usually has a purpose to localize its website - it could either be to connect with the audience or to become an international presence, could be anything. This research helps brands reinforce their purpose ‘locally’. Eg: Mcdonald's is well known for its Big Mac in the States. However, when they were to launch in India, they knew their bestseller would not suit the Indian market as beef is not consumed in the country. They in turn curated a specialized menu to cater to the Indian tastebuds and to this day, their bestseller remains McAloo Tikki Burger which encompasses a mildly spiced potato patty that is one of the cult street foods in India. 2) Networking <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669612606383-Website%20Localization-5.jpg"> If you want to localize your website, using translators will not suffice. Instead, you need to network with people in that culture and possibly hire them to work with you if he possesses great knowledge in their area of expertise. Why I say this is because you would need people who can help bridge that cultural gap between your customer and your brand. The size of your team could be subjective to your budget but if you hire a few people who are well-versed in the subject and have the same passion as you, your efforts will not go in vain. Example: A dedicated customer support team that can answer customer queries that may be in short forms, cultural slang, or a certain tone that would not be grasped by someone who isn’t from that culture. 3) Automation <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669612617637-Website%20Localization-6.jpg"> Just because you are using actual people to handle the cultural and linguistic aspects of the localization does not mean you can’t leverage automation. In fact, humans are prone to making errors just like machines and automation can help proofread tasks and make chores easier for your team. Let me give you an instance - Accounts team, no matter how talented or expert they are, would need a calculator to carry out complex tasks. Not because they can’t do it, but for efficiency and time management. Similarly, in this fast-paced world, we need automation tools to supplement manual work. These tools could be Translation Management Systems, Linguistic Quality Assurance, or Termininology Maintainance tools. So, make sure you use language automation tools, local payment gateways automation to handle payments etc 4) Website Internalization <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669612632652-Website%20Localization-7.jpg"> Website internationalization is&nbsp;a term used to describe the process companies go through to make their websites more effective at reaching potential customers and business partners in other countries. In simple terms, It means leveraging codes to enable your site to be translated. Don’t confuse this with actual “translation”. Internalization is the process of molding a website in a way that it can be translated efficiently. The most important step here is to decouple your "translatable" content from the source code. The aim of internationalization is that you can easily deploy your website, regardless of the market, and not have to build it over and over again. 5) Focusing on UX and UI <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669612650237-Website%20Localization-8.jpg"> User Experience is key to any brand’s growth and customer acquisition and is not region dependent. Every single person on the face of this planet is bound to be more attracted to a brand that gives them a great overall user experience as opposed to one that would not. The individual experience, however, is subjective to the region. The User Interface is also a key factor in your localization strategy. What would be appropriate to your culture may not necessarily be ok for the region you are thinking of establishing your brand in. For example, a "thumbs up" gesture&nbsp;is seen as a sign of positivity and satisfaction in the West but is highly offensive in some Middle Eastern countries. So to make sure that no such offensive imagery or mentions of controversial topics are used in the UI is the responsibility of the brand. 6) Test and Launch! <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669612669026-Website%20Localization-9.jpg"> Once your website is ready for localization, proofread and check for any errors in the translation, User Interface, Responsiveness, and overall performance of it. This is done to ensure functionality as well as linguistic accuracy. You can focus on Encryption Algorithms, Shopping Carts, Broken Strings, Site Performance, Entry Fields, Updates, and many similar functionalities while conducting your testing. Once testing is through, you are ready to launch! You may need to periodically update your website to fit in with the trends and stand out from your competitors. Although, as far as making your website localized, you’re good to go! Go Vocal For Local…. Website Localization is not as scary as you thought it would be, right? It does not have to be if you do it right! Although it requires a lot of effort from your brand's end, the results are absolutely worth the blood and sweat. What do you think about Website Localization? Is your website Localized? Talk to experts at&nbsp;coffee@Apric.in&nbsp;to get a free consultation and a customized roadmap for your brand's website localization process. Have any additional questions? DM us on our socials! We’re quirky and informative here:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/apricofficial" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Twitter handle</a>We’re aesthetic and fun here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Instagram Page</a> Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

Website Localization 101: The What, Why, How

Discover the localization strategies of cult brands like Starbucks and Mcdonalds to leverage their learnings to your benefit. Read everything you need to know about Website Localization - The what, why, how. Find secret insights and facts to help your brand reach the pinnacle of success with limited resources. 

What is Website Localization and why is it important?

Blogging isn't relatively new. In fact, the first ever blog was created by Justin Hall on&nbsp;Links.net&nbsp;in 1994, the same year Tim Berners-Lee invented World Wide Web. Though blogs are widely misconstrued as cash grabs or lead generation sources, brands that do it with that sole motive often don’t succeed. Blogging is an art, an art that requires a dire passion for the written word, ground-breaking knowledge on the subject, and of course the main ingredient that binds everything together - storytelling! I was recently in conversation with one of my friends who happens to own a small business that sells self-defense tools for women. Her concern with blogging was that it would not yield any result no matter how hard she tried and was on the verge of giving up. This is the trajectory of almost all brands that delve into blogging - they start without a checklist, don’t see any results, and ultimately quit. You need to look at it this way - Your blog would bring people to your site, and typically can be what brings them back a second, third, and fourth time. We all know that visitors that return have a better chance of converting as they have some kind of trust established with your brand. In this case, what value can you provide to them through your blogs? How can they benefit from your content? What strategies can you implement to make sure your efforts are in line? Think about it! Even though blogging has been a sure-fire thing for decades, it is still a grey area for a lot of individuals and businesses. This is what compelled us to write a dedicated content piece that would guide a brand to success in terms of blogging. For brands that don’t have a checklist yet, this blog would surely be your knight in shining armor! 1) Reinforce your mission <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669614103220-10%20ways%20to%20supercharge%20%20your%20blog.jpg"> A lot of people confuse the mission with the output or results of blogging. A lot of folks, if asked would say that their mission is to get 10x traffic on their website through their blogs. This is the first loophole. If you think this way, it would be very difficult for you to leverage blogging as means of lead generation. A blog mission statement reminds you why you are blogging in the first place. It helps you, your team, and even your audience understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. This would be completely exclusive to your brand making it something your audience can resonate with. 2) Social Proofing <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669614117713-10%20ways%20to%20supercharge%20%20your%20blog-1.jpg"> We believe that the best method for social proofing is to let your customers talk! They say writing content for the audience makes a huge difference, we say writing content WITH them makes the most difference. There are so many ways to do this - Reviews, Testimonials, Guest Blogging, etc. Just pick up your niche and let your customer feel that his opinions are valued. This would not only leave an everlasting impression on him but his opinions would resonate with so many others! The goal here would be to put them at the center of the story, not your brand. 3) Incorporate a Content Calendar <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669614128428-10%20ways%20to%20supercharge%20%20your%20blog-2.jpg"> The importance of a content calendar can not be undermined in any way, shape, or form. Auditing content can give you immense clarity with regard to the overall strength of your blog. You should mirror your content with the user personas for your brand and see if it is adding some kind of value to their lives. We had a client that struggled with blogging in terms of conversions. Although they were getting great traffic, they were not able to pinpoint why those people were not converting. Upon auditing, we found out that they were writing content for only one niche and that niche wasn’t even their target audience. A content plan makes sure that you reach your target audience, regardless of their location. It will help you reflect upon your brand. 4) Humanize it <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669614154542-10%20ways%20to%20supercharge%20%20your%20blog-3.jpg"> Never forget that you are writing for a person. Even though Marketing is one of the key purposes of blogging, never forget to make it conversational and hook the reader into the blog so he feels like he is a part of it. Brands are skeptical to do this but forget that authenticity is what makes the brand stand out. Take an example of&nbsp;<a href="http://buildd.co/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">buildd.co</a>&nbsp;, they add a human touch to all of their blogs that make people around the globe remember them for how they make them feel! 5) Timeless Content <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669614177712-10%20ways%20to%20supercharge%20%20your%20blog-4.jpg"> Timeless content is the type of content that stays relevant to people, regardless of the course of time. Brands nowadays want to hop on the bandwagon to create “Viral” content. What they fail to understand is that the essence of “viral content” fizzles out as time progresses. Timeless content on the other hand would yield so much more value to you and your customers. For example: If you wrote a blog on how to make dalgona candy back in 2021 when the Netflix show squid games peaked, you would get good views but it would plateau after a period of time. However, if you were to write a blog on “How to make the best strawberry shortcake candies” it would be an evergreen blog. 6) Higher Word Limit <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669614400484-10%20ways%20to%20supercharge%20%20your%20blog-5.jpg"> Gone are those days when you would rank high on the search engine by merely writing a 300-500 word article. Nowadays, with the advent of inbound and content marketing, you have to adhere to a longer word limit to establish that your content is worthy to crawlers. This is something that we at Apric have first-hand experienced. We recommend at least 1500-1700 words per article. Don’t get me wrong, this is not some hard and fast rule but rather a guideline or a blueprint to get the knack of blogging. 7) SEO Compatibility <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669614242052-10%20ways%20to%20supercharge%20%20your%20blog-6.jpg"> No matter how much you learn about SEO, something always tends to miss out. We have a dedicated blog on <a href="https://www.apric.in/blogs/what-is-search-engine-optimization" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">everything you need to know about SEO</a> so make sure to check it out to get the utmost clarity on the concept. There are thousands of mistakes that you may encounter while figuring out SEO. We do agree that3 it can be a little tricky but with the right improvements and strategies, one can instantaneously see results. Although Google changes its algorithm every 2-3 years, many decisions that create the largest ROIs are very easy to execute, like adjusting keywords. 8) Internal Linking <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669615034531-10%20ways%20to%20supercharge%20%20your%20blog-7.jpg"> An internal link is any link from one page on your website to another page on your website. Links are used by search engines as well as your audience to navigate through your content to find what they need to find. Internal Linking also massively aids in increasing the user experience of your website by offering additional knowledge on a related or identical subject. If a person is interested in one of your internal links and clicks on it, it enhances the time spent on your website and decreases the bounce rate as well. Just make sure that those links flow naturally and are not “forced” into your content just for the sake of internal linking. 9) Repurpose Content <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669615209354-10%20ways%20to%20supercharge%20%20your%20blog-8.jpg"> Repurposing and Reusing old content is very helpful for your brand image. Let us say you wrote a blog post on “10 best treadmills under $1000” in 2014 and it garnered astronomical views. Even now, it does give you 100+ views per day. However, 3 of the treadmills mentioned in the blog have not been discontinued. Outdated information can get very frustrating to the reader. In this case, you can edit the blog with newer versions of treadmills that are easily available in the market for under $1000. Your blog needs to provide useful and relevant information at all times. 10) Improve the Design Layout <img src="https://apric-cms.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/632aae9eca1f4794219bb373/blogs-cover/1669615231542-10%20ways%20to%20supercharge%20%20your%20blog-9.jpg"> If your content is not legible, there is too much or too little whitespace, or if you are using low-quality images, you are less likely to attract any visitors even if your content is top-notch. In this day and age of cutthroat competition, you need to ensure that you stand out and exude quality in all endeavors. If your design layout is not attractive, treat it as one big project with subtasks and start working on it one by one. At the end of the day, your efforts will be worth it. Diggin to it…. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to blogging. At the most basic level, you need to understand your audience and find something that connects you to them. Only after that would you be able to leverage the blogging checklist enclosed in this article. Have any questions? DM us on our socials! We’re quirky and informative here:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/apricofficial" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Twitter handle</a>We’re aesthetic and fun here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/apricweb/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Apric’s Instagram Page</a> Until then, Stay tuned for our next blog! Ciao! 🙂

10 ways to supercharge your blog performance by 100%

Brands like Evernote, Salesforce, and Intel have made a benchmark in the industry due to their cutting-edge blogging strategy. A finely curated checklist can help you mirror your brand’s value to your audience’s needs in the best way possible. Read on to find out 10 ways to supercharge your blog performance by 100%. 

Read everything that you need to know!

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