Latest Insights

Tips for landing more positive reviews for your business

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 10:14:37 GMT

Customer feedback is important. Customer reviews too. The way people feel about your brand determines your public image. And this impacts your online presence, and trends in sales.

Sometimes, customer reviews overpower advertising and marketing efforts. Since more people rely on public opinion, it’s important that your customers value your business.

What’s more, you cannot fake positive reviews or censor negative feedback. The internet is a free and untethered space. It’s hard to stop negative reviews spreading. And if they do, you should focus on your service and customer support to turn that frown upside down.

There are quite a few ways to make this possible. Here's what you can do to get more positive reviews from customers.

Give Customers Maximum Space for Expression

Even a business with a large client base can fail to extract positive and influential reviews. While their business might be doing well, and their clients sitting happy, it’s not always that simple. Or down to them.

Look. The internet can be a scary place. And not everyone is content with putting their opinions in front of a large audience. (Because, let’s face it, the internet is pretty huge.) But as a business, it’s your job to make potential customers aware of how happy your existing customers are. And for that to happen, you need to connect with your audience. This is why you need to make online review platforms accessible to your customers.

Sites Google, Yelp, Facebook, and Amazon receive tons of brand-related searches every day. Make sure your clients have barrier-free access to these areas.

Stay Connected with Your Customers

If you’ve ever been ghosted by a friend or family member, you’ll know it’s not nice. But imagine being ghosted once you’ve recently paid for a product or service. And so here lies customer support problem number two!

Ghosting a customer once they've brought from you is unforgivable. For them, it’s annoying, frustrating and infuriating. For your brand, it’s a major image drawback.

Each customer should get the attention they deserve — both pre and post-purchase. Heck, they’ve trusted you to meet their needs. The least they deserve is a little guidance until they get the hang of things!

Whether they’re in direct contact with your brand, or there’s a third party like Amazon involved, your representatives should always be available. But look. No two customers are the same. Neither are their problems. Which is why it’s a smart move to give an email address, as well as a 24/7 global landline number.

If you aren’t there when your customers need you, it’ll be tough to build a strong relationship with them. In turn, they’ll be reluctant to leave you a positive review. They may also feel misguided or exploited, which can result in negative feedback.

Conduct Regular Surveys

Consumer surveys are up next. Customers need to feel heard and valued if you want them to be positive about your business.

Customer support is all good and well, but not all customers will get in touch after buying from you. Even if they have a problem with the product, most of them won’t get in touch to ask you about it.

This leaves a big void. Which, by the way, is easy to fill. All you need to do is set a certain period after the purchase. This could be a few weeks, months, or perhaps a year, subject to the nature of your product.

Once enough time has passed, you can send an email, a text, or a phone call asking how they are finding your product or service.

This has three benefits:

Customers feel valued. They get the impression that you weren't only after their money, but you care about their experience as well.
They can give you raw feedback about the product. They'll share their concerns more when they know someone's actually listening. You can also guide them about any problems on the spot.
Personal contact can encourage the client to leave an honest, positive review as well.

Conclusion

Getting more positive reviews is much easier than you think. Following some of the ideas given above, you can get encouraging reviews that help to boost your sales!

Creating a customer-focused culture — no, really!

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 10:15:01 GMT

If you work for work any type of business that is involved with customer service, you have usually heard the following phrases:

“The customer is always right.” and “The customer comes first.”

Depending on how long you have been working in the customer service industry, these phrases can seem very cliche. It is easy to think all businesses are putting their customers first, but these phrases are easy in theory and hard to put into action.

To build a customer-focused culture, a concerted effort is required. According to a 2018 survey by Salesforce , 80% of customers say the company’s experience is as important as its products or services. Customer experience matters, and if your competition is delivering a customer-focused culture, your customers are more than likely going to take their business elsewhere.

What is a customer-focused culture?

When companies choose to switch to a customer-focused culture, they have a culture dedicated to meeting their customers’ needs. In all facets of their business, they prioritize making customer satisfaction as the primary concern. They do this by focusing on developing a close relationship with their customers. They put customer success over sales and products.

When the customer-focused culture strategy is used correctly, your business will differentiate themselves from the competition and grow sustainably.

Simply put, your company’s success relies on your customers. Without them, your company wouldn’t have the sales, revenue, or relevancy without. They deserve to be a priority.

When looking to improve on excellent customer satisfaction, a customer-focused culture must be developed. By no means is this easy, but it’s obtainable.

An excellent way to start on the path of developing a customer-focused culture is by looking at some of the companies in your industry. Nothing is new under the sun, you don’t have to take every piece of your competition’s strategy, but you can mix styles to get the right recipe.

Take a look at this list of companies in different industries leading in customer experience and satisfaction.

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s is one of the most well-known grocery retail stores. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, they have the second-highest score due to their quick response times, a willingness from their employees to help their customers like opening up products to give customers samples, their goal is to make their customers happy.

Amazon

Amazon is an e-commerce giant because they are always focused on innovation and improving the customer experience. They have come up with numerous customer solutions like one-day shipping, easy returns, and Amazon Lockers. Amazon continues to keep the customer in mind.

Chase

Chase was one of the first banks to provide their customers with a mobile app. Since then, Chase has created an intuitive user experience that provides customers with everything they need on the mobile app—saving them time from running to the bank for any type of transaction.

Lyft

The ride-sharing company, one of Uber’s biggest competitors, thinks about its customers by continually revamping quicker and safer routes and remembering customer preferences for a more comfortable and quicker experience. They stay on top of data to improve the customer experience.

Netflix

Netflix has been successful at keeping up with current trends. They listen to their customers and pay attention to what trend will stick. They are using content marketing and blazing a trail in the video streaming industry. They listen to their customers and respond accordingly which allows greater consumer engagement and customization of their offerings.

One thing these five companies have in common is making customers feel like a priority. Putting your customers first will help you understand your customer’s needs and expectations. Understanding this will keep you ahead of the competition and customer experience. More importantly, companies with a customer-first approach will be the winners in the long term.

The Importance of Culture

Before creating a customer-focused culture, you have to create an excellent internal culture first. Culture can often be the main hindrance in providing excellent customer service. Your organizational culture impacts everything, from performance, employee happiness, and customer satisfaction, to name a few.

The way you conduct business, manage workflows, interact as a team, and treat your customers should reflect your company’s core values. But if your culture doesn’t match your core values, they could just be a meaningless list of words.

When the company’s culture is aligned, and your employees have bought in, you can trust that you can develop the right customer-focused culture.

Creating a dream team

A strong culture helps you keep the best talent. Employees want to feel like they are apart of a community rather than a cog in a wheel. When culture makes an employee feel this way, they will be more likely to stay.

A dream team will be built when the culture and company focus on people more so than numbers. Just as you focus on making your customers a priority, your employees should be a priority as well. Deliver a unique employee experience, and you will make people feel more connected as a team.

The culture at your company will essentially act as a guide to applicants, the onboarding process should be contagious, making new employees and applicants dream of wanting to be a part of the culture your company has built.

The better your employees are, the better your customers will feel. If you want a customer-focused culture, the organizational culture must be set in stone before providing the value your customers desire.

Long-term results of a customer-focused culture

Though the journey will be difficult and a significant adjustment for some companies to take on this mentality, this style of business wins in the long run.

Companies can learn from the examples of the best customer-focused cultures in the world. The five companies listed above and many more have paved the way and have given the blueprint on creating this type of culture.

The best companies encourage employees to buy into their culture, find creative solutions and put themselves in the shoes of their customers.

This culture style isn’t something that can be built overnight. Still, with consistent effort and dedication, organizations can learn to put customers first in everything they do, and reap the long term results of building a customer-focused culture.

Widgets have been a great addition to Apple iPhones, but here's why you should start adding them to your website!

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 09:45:01 GMT

Are you looking to enhance the design, performance, and results of your website? If so, we widgets are worth a look!

Widgets are one of the best things Apple ever added to the iPhone. They’re not just great for smartphones, though. Read on to learn more about the benefits of adding widgets to your website as well.

What Is a Widget?

A widget is an extension of an application or website (that often comes with a limited user interface) that you can embed into your website. (Either the whole website or a specific page of it). They perform a wide range of specific and convenient functions, from improving website performance to gathering additional customer information.

Benefits of Adding Widgets to Your Website

Now, let’s start exploring the benefits of widgets. Here are some of the most noteworthy advantages they have to offer:

Better Website Design

One of the greatest benefits of adding widgets to your website is the fact that they can enhance its design.

Think about a basic website, maybe one that the owner designed themselves with the help of a free online website builder. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this type of site, and it’s better than having no online presence at all. At the same time, though, we can’t deny that website design has an impact on the way visitors (i.e., potential customers) view it.

With the right widgets, you can improve the appearance of your website and make it look much more professional.

Better Website Performance

Widgets don’t just make your website look better. They can also make it perform better.

What specific goals do you have for your website? Do you want to get people to sign up for your email list? Do you want to make it easy for people to shop for your products or sign up for your services?

It doesn’t matter what you want to get out of your website. When you incorporate well-designed widgets onto the site, you can improve its performance and increase the likelihood that you will achieve those goals.

More Business Growth

Just about every business owner who has a website wants to use it as a tool for growing their business. They want to expand their audience, attract more customers, and increase their revenues.

If this sounds familiar to you, you’re in luck. There are lots of widgets out there that can help you to grow your business. For example, there are widgets that make it easy for visitors to sign up for your email list. There are also customer service widgets that will help you to answer people’s questions, make a good impression, and convert them into long-term, loyal customers.

You can also embed widgets onto your website that provide information about the people who are visiting it.

If you want to learn more about your target audience so you can better tailor your content to them, widgets can streamline the research process and provide you with accurate information that takes a lot of the guesswork out of the process of optimizing your content.

Options for Everyone

These days, there are widgets out there for everyone to enhance their website. It doesn’t matter if you’re interested in improving your search engine ranking, learning more about the people who visit your website, providing a better shopping experience, or all of the above. There’s a widget out there that can help you to level up your website design and performance.

Many popular and effective widgets are free or available for a very low price, too. You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your site better. Best Types of Website Widgets to Use.

Are you a little more interested in using widgets for your website now? Are you also unsure of what kind of widgets to use first? Here are some of the best types of widgets you might want to consider:

Customer Service Widgets

There are plenty of widgets that will help you to provide a superior customer service experience. You can embed widgets on your site that will provide visitors with answers to frequently asked questions, for example. Or, you can install widgets that connect visitors to a customer service rep to address questions or concerns in real-time.

SEO Widgets

A big part of setting your business up for success is optimizing your website for search engines. SEO widgets can help you to make sure you’re using the right keywords and in the right quantities. There are also widgets that will provide you with a checklist that ensures you’re engaging in other best practices, such as including an appropriate number of internal and external links.

Email List Subscription Widgets

Growing your email list provides you with opportunities to connect directly to your customers. You can use marketing emails to alert them to new promotions and products, and just to say hello and make sure your business stays at the forefront of their minds.

With the right widgets on your website, you can streamline the sign-up process and make it easy for people to get on your list without having to fill out a complex form or go through a bunch of unnecessary steps.

Social Media Widgets

Social media shares are a great way to grow your audience and provide your existing customer base with opportunities to showcase your content and get their friends and family excited about what you have to offer.

Adding social media widgets to your website helps to simplify the sharing process. That way, people can easily publish your blog posts, videos, and other types of content directly to their own feeds with just a click.

Start Using Widgets Today

As you can see, there are lots of reasons to add widgets to your website. Keep this information in mind so you can upgrade your website, make it more user-friendly, and see better results from it, whether you’re interested in attracting more traffic, boosting engagement, or increasing sales.

10 ways to reduce your website's bounce rate

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 12:44:13 GMT

The bounce rate of your website is one of the most important statistics you should monitor. Bounce rate represents the number of web users who visit your website and leave immediately (bounce), rather than stick around.

An average bounce rate is anything between 50 and 70%. Anything below that is good; anything above is considered a high bounce rate. If you're worried you're not providing the best user experience online, and you want to know how to reduce bounce rate of a website, here are 10 tips to help you.

Tips 1-3: To Do Immediately

Create a usable website

If you've ever visited a webpage that hasn't been updated in a decade, you'll know what a turn-off ugly, outdated landing pages can be. Make sure your site is structured well and easy to use. Avoid confusing functionality, and check that your content is well-formatted and easy to scan.

2. Make your site mobile-friendly

It goes without saying that if your site isn't already mobile-friendly, it needs to be. More people are choosing to use their mobile devices for shopping and browsing, and they'll avoid sites they can't access from their phones.

3. Improve your loading speed

The second most off-putting thing about any online site? Slow speed. If your visitors are met with a loading icon, they'll likely leave (bounce). You can use tools like Google Page Speed to optimize load time, which should be between 1 and 3 seconds.

Tips 4-6: To Do In The Next 2 Weeks

4. Add a news feed widget

When a potential customer visits your site, they may quickly lose interest in the single page they're viewing. A good way to maintain their interest is to add a news feed widget or pop up to your site. You could, for example, add a news feed widget that showcases different deals for similar products on a sidebar. If a customer clicks on a deal, you'll reduce your bounce rate.

5. Put your call to action in the right place

.. and make it clear and honest. Whether you're prompting users to sign up to your email newsletter, spin your wheel of fortune for a discount, or subscribe for weekly deals, make sure they know exactly what you're selling - and are enticed by it.

6. Use images to capture visitors' attention

A big chunk of text is a turn-off for anyone. Keep your visitors interested with high-quality images — videos, if you can — and your bounce rates will improve as your visitors become intrigued to learn more about what you offer.

Tips 7-10: To Do In The Next Month

7. Practice varying content strategies

Your first content strategy probably won't work so well. Or it may have worked for a while, but now your user bounce rate is on the rise, and you think it's time for a change. It's wise to practice a variety of content strategies, then consistently follow several plans that work best for you.

8. Engage with your customers

No matter what product or service you're selling, any user will appreciate being able to put a face to your business. Be sure to offer a simple way for customers to contact you prior to, or after, a purchase. Having a widget that allows them to chat with you via their preferred social media is a great way to do this.

9. Build up customer testimonials

When a customer stops by at your site for the first time, they need to know why they should choose you over your competitors. While they’ll initially be influenced by the appearance and functionality of your website, if they hang around for even a minute longer, you have the opportunity to sell yourself with your customers’ words. Make sure your testimonials are always in view on your site, perhaps on a sidebar widget.

10. Target abandoners

In many cases, the people who are leaving your website are doing so because they’ve seen all there is to see for now - and that doesn’t mean they won’t return in the future.

A good way to bring them back for longer is to target them with a personalized message right when they’re about to leave. Offer them something valuable, like a free course or case study, if they become an email subscriber. There are plenty of tools that allow you to do this nowadays.

Is it worth building a mobile app for your business?

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 11:08:11 GMT

If you’re here, you’re probably wondering whether it is actually worth it for your business to have a mobile app.

Well, the good news is it’s 2021 and our technology has never been more advanced! This year is a great time to start building a mobile app for your business.

And yes, we’ve got the stats to back that up, so read on!

Mobile apps are the land of opportunity. While there have never been more apps in the App Store ( 2.2 million apps ) and Play Store (2.8 million apps) than there are today, creating a useful and popular app is no mean feat. You have to wade through a lot of bad ones to get to the good, and then you need to convince users your app provides enough value to buy or download.

But don’t let these hurdles intimidate you. With the right team, it’s possible to create an app that works for your business. After all, 57% of digital media usage comes from mobile apps, and the average smartphone users use more than 30 apps each month.

So, here’s where you need to weigh the pros and cons to decide whether it’s worth it for your business to have a mobile app.

Start with your WHY: Why do you want to create an app?

Maybe it’s the cool factor or maybe you want to make money. Either way, your “why” needs to justify the value of the app you’re about to embark on creating.

Here are some of the top reasons people create apps :

Increase sales
Improve the user experience
Remain competitive
Build a community
Strengthen the brand

Of course, the cost of building an app needs to be justified in the potential return on investment. Mobile apps for businesses can do this in a number of ways.

They can make you more efficient (saving time and money long-term). Though, this can be hard to measure and often isn’t measurable until after the app has been created.

Mobile apps can also enhance the customer service and community aspect between your customers and employees. Allowing you to provide a better experience for your community, leading to happier customers and more profits.

Apps can also directly generate revenue through a number of methods like selling products, charging for app upgrades with special features, and improving your brand reputation with more facetime (leading to more purchases).

If you have an eCommerce store and your customers are already browsing on their phone (they are!), creating an app could provide many benefits for your business.

Apps have a direct impact on the purchasing behaviour of consumers

Just look at the facts :

App users view more products than mobile website browsers
App conversion rates are 3x higher than mobile site conversion rates (1.5x higher than desktop)
App orders are 140% higher average order value than mobile sites and 130% higher than desktop

Whoa! If those aren’t good enough reasons for eCommerce sites to consider apps, we don’t know what are.

That said, if your average order value is currently $10, an app would increase this to $24. Still a huge jump but maybe not one that justifies the cost of development.

Which brings us to our next question.

What are the options for developing an app for your business?

It’s true, more small businesses than ever before are creating apps .

But they’re not all created equal. The way we see it, there are three options for app development for your business.

Custom
Code it yourself
White-label

Each of these options has a different impact on the cost of the app development process. Check out the impact on cost below:

Custom app development

This is by far the most expensive option and one of the most time-consuming options. Typically, custom app development can take anywhere from $50K into the hundreds of thousands of dollars range. And on average, will take anywhere from 7 months to multiple years to create.

If there are absolutely no other options for your business and you’re at the point where this can only improve your sales, we say, go for it!

You may want to consider a white-label option in the interim, to see if it could work for you.

Prices will vary depending on who you get to develop the app for you. You could go with a development shop, a freelancer, or a team of freelancers. Either way, hiring a project manager or appointing one to research and manage this project is probably a good idea.

“Code it yourself” app development

Whether you already know how to code or you want to learn, this option will probably take the longest (unless you have a team helping you).

It’s the least expensive dollar-wise, but remember, you’re paying with your time, too.

Learning to code is certainly a neat experience and will be a useful skill if you plan on completing more projects. However, learning to code your own app properly could take years.

You may also need to hire an expert to help with any problems you encounter. Consider, can you wait that long?

White-label app development

There are a few options when it comes to white-label app development.

You could use an online app builder (kind of like a drag and drop no-code builder). You’ve probably seen these when you’re creating your newsletters or marketing emails through services like MailChimp. They exist for apps, too!

Another option is to pay for an out-of-the-box service for a specific feature, like a customer loyalty app.

If you aren’t too picky with things like layout or overall design, and just need a little customization and a way to communicate with your customers, this could be a great option.

It’s cheaper and you get support from the service that manages the app. So now that you know your options, let’s revisit our initial question.

Is it worth it for your business to have an app?

We say, yes!

Need help figuring out the best option for your businesses’ app? Give us a shout here. We’d love to help walk you through it.

The booming no-code platform industry

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 10:30:01 GMT

Since the beginning of 2015, no-code software has evolved from being relatively unknown to becoming a lucrative and profitable product.

Sure, low-code existed - but no-code and low code are not the same thing. Companies needed a solution that would allow them to be able to build a mobile app or a similar online tool with absolutely no coding skill required. And that's exactly what no-code promises to do.

Why No Code?

There are so many advantages to no code development; it's hardly surprising this relatively new concept has already become popular across all industries. Platforms that allow companies to produce their own non-technical software provide the following benefits:

● Opens up for creative freedom

Now that anyone can build an app, there is much more room for creative freedom in the tech market. Businesses can benefit from seeing their ideas come to life without having to put their trust in the hands of an outsourced tech company.

● Anyone can build affordable products

Software that enables anyone to build tools like apps offers a much more affordable means of development. Spending money on an expert to create an entire coded product can cost between $10,000 and $500,000 - it really is that wide-ranging. A build-your-own-software platform, on the other hand, costs a comparatively smaller fee to use - more like $25 to $100 monthly.

● Long-term maintenance is easy

The beauty of no code tools is that they aren't just easy to build; they're also easy to maintain. Companies only need access the basic interface of their apps, widgets, or similar software, and utilize a simple drag-and-drop function to add or remove certain design elements and written text. There' s no need to recode an entire section, because that coding was never needed in the first place.

Why Now?

Many people have asked, or have been asked, why no code has only recently taken off with such success. The answer to this is that more than likely, it was simply the next wave of software development to come along.

The first, way back in the 1960s, gave us the ability to program our own software. Handy, but you had to learn how to code if you wanted success with that, so it wasn't exactly inclusive.

Then, in the 1980s, we saw the introduction of personal software. Programs like Microsoft Word and Photoshop were born, and tech of this sort began to blossom. This was followed in the early 2000s with personal collaboration code tools, such as Figma and Google Docs.

It was only natural, really, that the next wave to come along would allow us to create our own software using no code platforms. There was a hole in the market - and that hole was the need to solve problems on our own, using our own specialist business knowledge ( not technical knowledge) and the power of no code development.

The internet has finally evolved to the point where we can increase efficiency and save valuable time while we're at it, thereby increasing profits and satisfaction - both for the creators of these no code tools and their audiences.

How your brand can start meaningful conversations online

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 13:36:34 GMT

The modern world changes fast, and nobody could have seen (or predicted) what 2020 would have in store. A major catalyst of change is the COVID-19 crisis that’s completely transformed how many organisations operate.

People have had to change their behaviour to adapt to the new normal after the pandemic. The need for social distancing has left many people feeling a sense of isolation.

Luckily though, the digital age is upon us. The internet and social media allow people to still interact with one another. While most face-to-face meetings are a no-go, it doesn’t mean all forms of interaction should be halted. Brands can use this time to kick-start conversations online to improve their engagement with customers.

Starting Meaningful Conversations

Social media tends to gloss over the realities of life and present a rosier picture than what’s actually happening. Brands and organisations should start to question the standard type of content they see on their feed.

Start a conversation about real topics and extend support to the audience as well. Brands should attempt to connect with the audience on a human level during the pandemic. Providing free tools or services or getting behind a cause is a great way to start more meaningful engagements.

Instead of engaging the customers in meaningful conversations about themselves, brands can focus on making the customers more involved in the decision-making process. Social media is the perfect platform to ask customers for any potential input on new products or designs. It’s a great way to get feedback from customers on products as well.

Act as a Pain Reliever

One of the best ways to engage in more meaningful conversations with customers online is to post content that prompts their pain points. Lessons are a great way to allow users to start conversations on social media.

Questions related to achievements or lessons that people have learned during their careers are great ways to get insightful responses from the audience. It’ll allow brands to find several topics and circumstances that will enable them to bond with their customers.

The vital aspect of posting such questions is also keeping an eye on the responses. If the responses are appropriate, attempt to give some practical advice to aid the audience. Brands that can engage in more meaningful conversations with their audience and service their pain points tend to have the best relationships.

Promote Events and the Community

If the organisation is looking to host an event or attend one, sharing the event beforehand is an ideal method of engaging in a more meaningful conversation. Brands should interact with those customers that respond to the event and let them know they’re excited to see them there.

A significant way that organisations can become integrated with the audience is by promoting their local community. An ideal avenue for meaningful conversations is sharing stories about the community. Those are great for getting responses out of customers and brings the brand closer to the audience. Another way brands can seem more authentic and get better insights from their customers is by promoting other businesses in the community.

DIY Projects

There’s a real upwards trend of DIY projects during this year. Everyone’s looking forward to getting their hands dirty and creating something themselves. Sharing a detailed DIY project is a great way to connect with an audience. Brands can also look to take advantage of the family demographic and cater to projects that kids can take part in.

After posting the details about the DIY project, brands need to make sure that they ask the audience to share responses. This will definitely create a meaningful conversation because people love sharing their accomplishments.

Share Quotes

Overdoing it might seem tacky, but the occasional quote can be a great way of inspiring thought-provoking conversations with customers online. The quotes that come with an image are often the ones that do the best. Brands that attach time and resources to these images and can create custom posts are ones that’ll create more meaningful conversation.

Sometimes posting a quote might not be enough; a personal follow-up question, though, makes the conversation more direct. Brands with an online following have a certain degree of power, and they shouldn’t be afraid of playing their part in the narrative and leading a conversation.

Conclusion

Almost every industry is now digitised, and the internet allows the world to remain connected with one another. With more people spending time, online brands can definitely incorporate these tips to engage in more meaningful conversations with customers online.

How to create your own software without programming

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 10:02:03 GMT

There are lots of reasons why you might want to make your own online software. Perhaps you want to create a SaaS company, or you have a startup idea for a mobile app that you think could change the world. If you're concerned that your lack of coding skills will hinder you, worry not.

We're lucky enough to live in a world where all of us can be tech experts. It's possible to learn how to build mobile apps, websites and widgets, all without writing a single line of code. There's no need to have a background in software development or a technical mindset to produce your own no-code programs. Here's how to use a software builder without programming to turn your ideas into reality.

Step 1: Consider Your Audience

You've got a fantastic idea for your own little slice of the internet, but before you even get started, you need to think about your intended audience. If you don’t know your target audience, it’ll be much harder for your app to take off.

Start by imagining your buyer persona, an exercise that involves creating a made-up customer from scratch. Consider everything about this customer: from the TV they watch to the time they go to bed, their spending habits, their family, and their career goals. It may seem a little over-detailed, but giving your buyer persona a personality will help you to target your app to them.

Step 2: Look For Validation

You might think your product is so incredible that it doesn't need validation, but this isn't always the case. You need to know that your idea is strong enough to take off, or at least prove interesting to a small portion of the internet. Consider whether anyone else is doing what you're doing, and how successful they are.

This is also the time to consider your own USP - unique selling point. Even if your idea has already been done, you can make it original with the smallest of details. Even if you're looking to create another Indian takeaway app to join the thousands already out there, if you're the only Indian takeaway in the local area with an app, that's your USP.

Step 3: Choose A Platform

When the planning process is over, it's time to find a platform. There are many websites that allow you to make your own website, widget or app without coding. But not all of them offer the same services.

Try not to go for the most popular platform on Google Search without first checking out the competition. It's likely that other platforms will offer more enticing benefits as a result of not ranking as highly on search engines.

There is, of course, another way to build software with no code: outsourcing the job to a team of developers. But this is the expensive route, and it's certainly not necessary. If you've never used a platform for building a product without coding, you probably don't know how easy it is. It's worth giving no-code platforms a try first before splashing out on a developer.

Step 4: Build Your Product

Most no-programming platforms have templates that you can use as the most basic structure for your program. You can then drag and drop to create the interface, adding and removing features from your product to make it your own. This is visual programming, where instead of blindly typing code, you can see exactly what you're making - as you’re making it.

You should find plenty of interesting options for your no-code app, widget or website that you'd never even considered before. And it's features like these that will probably make the biggest difference to your creation. If you already have a company logo, website or social media account, many platforms will let you sync your images and colour scheme with these.

Step 5: Amend And Update

A major advantage of making software online without code is that editing and updating your product requires minimal effort. Just like the initial development process, you don't need programming knowledge to make amendments. You can get access to your creation via the platform you built it on and update it whenever you feel like it.

Step 6: Promote Your Product

Once the "hard" work has been done, you need to get your target audience interested. The first step is to make them aware that your product exists. If possible, it's a good idea to offer some sort of discount or similar incentive to encourage users to download, test, or visit your product and sign up. This should be the most effort your target audience has to go to throughout their experience of using your product.

If you've created an app without programming, you'll have the benefit of being able to send push notifications directly to your customers' phones, offering deals and providing useful and exciting information about your product. If your software exists on the internet but isn't a downloadable app, you'll need to get more creative with how you promote it. A good idea is to create an email list and contact your customers when you have something interesting to share.

So there you have it: creating programs with no actual programming knowledge is simpler than it seems. There's no need to learn code when you can take the easy way out - and achieve exactly the same results with far less work.

Will no-code work wonders for your startup?

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:21:24 GMT

With no-code software growing in popularity, the question on many entrepreneur’s lips is: will no-code work wonders for me? And that’s understandable. These platforms give entrepreneurs the tools to design, build and launch a startup in weeks!

Startups and no-code software go hand-in-hand. A lot like pre-built components and drag-and-drop editors. Which, if you didn’t know, are what make up most no-code tools. The reasons why they go hand-in-hand are that they enable entrepreneurs to get their MVP to market fast and without the hassle of hiring a developer.

This is something the startup world has struggled with for a long while. The high demand for software and low supply of developers has made it harder to find one, and more expensive when you do. Find yourself a developer these days, and you’ll be committing to a large amount of time and cash — two things most entrepreneurs are without at the beginning of a startup launch.

But while no-code is versatile, easy to use and enables you to become an MVP app developer, it doesn’t mean it’s suitable for every startup. So without further ado, let’s look at whether no-code will work wonders for you.

No-code will work wonders for your startup if…

… you don’t know how to code and your tech skills are limited

No-code tools are a godsend for any entrepreneur with limited tech skills wanting to launch a startup. Thanks to pre-built components and a drag-and-drop editor, you’ll be able to design, build and launch in weeks without writing a single line of code.

As well as being easy to master, no-code tools make it easy to customise and modify your product further down the line. If you hire a developer, changing a feature or functionality takes time. Heck, making even a single change may need hours of application downtime. When you’re launching, hours can feel like days.

Another great thing about no-code platforms is that they’re overflowing with helpful advice content. Whether it’s blogs, video tutorials or forums, you’ll never be short of content to learn from.

Even if you’ve never used a drag-and-drop builder before, most no-code tools come with a stack of online resources to help you get to grips with them. What’s more, no-code communities are a great place to be if you want to learn a thing or two about business in general.

… you can’t stretch your budget to hire a developer

Before no-code tools, launching a startup was no mean feat. If you didn’t know how to write code, you’d have no other alternative but to pay a developer. Not only was this not feasible for most startups because of their low budget, but it was also too long to wait to get their product live.

So, with reason, no-code platforms are a great option if you’re looking to launch a startup on a budget. And by no means should you expect a budget-looking product either. In fact, no-code tools are becoming so popular (and ultra-modern) that even the likes of Google are getting involved with AppSheet .

… you want to get your product to market fast!

In the world of startups, if you want to thrive and stay relevant, you need to be agile. Startups need quick turnaround times when building new products. Thankfully, no-code platforms enable you to be fast-moving.

As we mentioned in our introduction, launching a startup with no-code can be as quick as a week — presuming you know how to use the tool you’re building with. Some no-code platforms, such as Wix , even make it easy to build a fully-fledged eCommerce store.

There’s rapid iteration, too. With no-code platforms, you bypass the hassle of having to run everything past a developer for them to sign off. Once you’ve thought up the change you want to make, it’s super simple to make it. This is especially important if you want to test a new feature, or when you’re still validating an idea!

And that’s the great thing about no-code, the ball is very much in your corner — you make the decisions. If you’re someone who likes taking the bull by the horns, no-code will be a great choice.

… you want to increase productivity among your team

Many people think no-code is anti-collaboration when compared to the traditional approach for software development. Whereas, in fact, it’s completely the opposite.

No-code is exciting for entire teams, and in some instances, entire businesses! Unlike traditional software development where developers and engineers sit alone writing line after line of code, no-code invites others to get involved.

Because you have first-hand access to your tools, there’s plenty of scope for collaboration. Say, for example, a business partner is familiar with drag-and-drop builders but not as handy as you are at integrating third party widgets, you can split the workload accordingly.

Collaborating can also help bring out innovative ideas, which you’ll want plenty of when you’re launching.

Here are more reasons why no-code may be a great option for your startup…

Shorter learning curve - Learning no-code takes days or weeks, whereas learning code takes months or years.
Business validation support - No-code can give you a limited-functionality app before you’ve even built your MVP. You can use this to validate your idea internally and among investors.
Freedom to focus on growing your startup - No-code gives you the freedom to focus on growing your startup rather than worry about the progress your developer is making.

Hold up! Because no-code tools aren’t so great for you if…

… you like switching between platforms

A major limitation of no-code is platform dependency. You’re tied to whatever platform you choose. And if they sink, you sink too.

Chances are when your startup grows, you may fancy a change and might consider moving away from no-code altogether. However, no-code tools do not allow you to transfer your product to another platform. This is what’s known as a Vendor Lock-In.

Which leads us nicely onto…

… you’re worried about data security

The security worries surrounding no-code platforms stem from most of them being fast-moving startups themselves. With no-code tools, you are sacrificing the control you have over a custom-developed app.

Moreover, should the no-code tool you choose decide to change the way their solution works, or to be acquired or shut down, you may have to change the fundamental structure of how your product works.

… you’re product requires a feature-rich platform

No-code is great for organising data, creating content and connecting APIs. They are less ideal if you need to:

Oversee a large amount of data
Create robust native apps
Work with complex calculations
Prioritise speed and scalability
Customise out-of-the-box functionality

On the mobile app front, no-code tools have a long way to go before you can build a robust, non-cookie cutter MVP.

Final thoughts

There you have it! We hope by now you’re able to identify whether entering the world of no-code will be beneficial to your startup.

No-code is breaking down the barrier for startups to enter the world of tech, and the pros of the software will continue to have a huge impact on how successful startups can be.

Even if your business model requires more advanced tools than those on offer from no-code tools, you shouldn’t overlook them for building your MVP or prototype. Thanks to the simplicity and ease-of-use of no-code tools, you can build a strong business foundation early-on regardless of your budget and tech skills.

Don’t forget to let us know in the comments how no-code works wonders for your startup.

How to conduct market research to identify immense app opportunities

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 11:57:48 GMT

Everywhere you look, people are glued to their smartphones. Kids, adults and the elderly simply can’t live without them. So it’s no surprise the number of smartphone users is expected to grow to 3.8 billion in 2021 — up from 3.5 billion in 2020.

With new smartphones come new apps. There’s an app for pretty much everything (except one that can check your temperature which I haven’t coined yet but plan to!) Part of the reason why we’re seeing so many new apps hit the shelves is no-code software. Because non-technical makers can now design, build and launch apps in days and weeks, not months and years, we’re seeing the movement flurry.

But before you rush to sign up with Bubble.io or Webflow , you’ll want to explore the market to see whether your app is a viable idea. Market research is important, and can open (and close) doors in the early stages of app creation.

If we lost you at “market research”, don’t sweat! Because here are some tips to help you do it, and do it well! First, though, here’s an explanation of what it actually is.

Market research definition

Market research is exactly what it sounds like: research about your target market.You can use it to gather valuable information about the user, allowing you to create a product that will improve their day-to-day lives or solve a problem they have.

The research itself is split into three findings:

One about your audience’s behaviour throughout their decision-making journey.
Another about the experiences they’ve had in the market so far.
And another about the motivation behind their customer loyalty.

Whether it’s through surveys, interviews or focus groups, once you have this insight you’ll be able to effectively create for, and market towards your audience. Now let’s look at how to identify app opportunities through market research methods...

1. Who are your target users?

Let’s open with one of the most important things when it comes to market research. Skip this first step and you could end up with a product that nobody cares about.

Right, so you’ve got a bright idea for an app that solves a problem. But whose problem does it solve? Knowing your target user and creating with their needs and wants in mind will give you a product people care about and want to invest in.

When identifying your target users, you’ll want to define them by their demographic (age, gender, education, employment etc) and psychographics (interests, hobbies, opinions, attitudes etc). Understanding their spending habits and lifestyle choices will benefit you immensely when building your MVP. So don’t jump the gun.

With a description of your target user, you can identify any trends in the apps that are most popular among this user group. For example, the features or prices. You can also find out what their main use for your app will be. Using this to influence your MVP puts you one step closer to owning a loveable product.

2. Competitor analysis is a godsend

Do you know what other apps your target audience are using? If you don’t, then I suggest you find out as it will help you tenfold.

In a way, competitor analysis allows you to learn from others' mistakes and successes. Unless your idea is 100% unique (congrats if it is), it’s a way of finding out what does and doesn’t work among your target audience. You see, chances are if it flopped for a competitor, it may flop for you too. And if it did flop, it’s a risk, and you need to decide whether it’s a risk worth taking.

To find out who your competitors are, you’ll want to look at the apps your target audience is using to solve the problem you want to solve. Seeing what your competitors are doing will give you valuable insight you can take away and incorporate into your MVP build.

If your app is unique and there’s nothing else like it on the market, competitor analysis is a lot tougher. Here, you’ll need to dig a lot deeper to find gold.

SEMrush and Ahrefs have all the tools you need to carry out effective competitor analysis — though they are pricey! Free tools include Google Trends , SimilarWeb and BuzzSumo .

3. Sit down with your potential customers

The best and only way to truly understand your potential customers is by talking to them. An interview is a great way to get in front of your audience and ask them questions that can improve your app — both before and after you’ve built your MVP.

Asking questions before building your MVP will give you insight into market trends (think back to our first point). Asking questions once they’ve tested your MVP will give you their pain points, along with whether your app provides a solution to their problem.

4. SWOT analysis is key here, too…

A SWOT analysis is about assessing your app’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. You can use SWOT analysis to evaluate your competitive position and develop strategic planning. One of the best things about SWOT analysis is that it has little to no cost — anyone who understands your app can do it.

The strengths and weaknesses will relate to your app. Here, you’ll outline the good and bad about your app — simple! Your opportunities are how you can improve to combat the threats and capitalise on your competitor’s weaknesses. The threats refer to anything that can harm your app and prevent it from growing.

Here’s an example of SWOT analysis done on a fictitious Travel app to give you an idea of what it should look like.

5. Your all-important business plan is next

So you’ve identified and spoken to your target audience, and carried out competitor and SWOT analysis, now it’s time to create your business plan .

As this is essentially a guide for your business, you’ll want to include every last bit of detail so that anyone who picks it up can follow. Key information includes your costs, revenue and profits, as well as your objectives and how you’ll go about marketing your app. Defining your target user is also important, as this will help you streamline your marketing tactics.

6. Create a killer pitch (and deck)

Last but not least, it’s time to create a pitch! A killer pitch (and deck) can hold the attention of potential investors long enough for you to explain what your app does and why it’s a good investment.

A strong deck isn’t a substitute for a good product, though. If you want to impress investors who see thousands of pitches a year, you’ll need both!

Make sure your pitch is concise and fact-driven. I’m guessing you already do, but for what it’s worth you’ll also need to know your product and the target market inside out. Research is key here, so make sure you know and understand the facts and figures as you don’t want to stumble if you’re asked a question.

Final thoughts…

So that concludes our tips for conducting killer market research to identify app opportunities. But it doesn’t end there. The opportunities you identify during your market research will continue to grow as you build a following. So too, might your app’s threats. On the contrary, as a confident market researcher, you now have the tools to spot new opportunities that present themselves as the market grows.

Here's how your startup will benefit from no-code software

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 15:17:58 GMT

The inability to code or hire a developer once proved a big hurdle for founders wanting to launch a startup. That was until the rise in no-code software and the movement that followed.

As its name suggests, no-code software helps non-coders complete technical projects without writing a single line of code. Building a website, creating a web app or newsletter would once require the skills of a developer — but not anymore!

No-code software solves the problem of a creator needing to be, or afford, a programmer to build their custom business solutions. Using intuitive tools such as drag-and-drop builders, users can build technical products to solve their day-to-day business problems.

As an up and coming entrepreneur, no-code technology deserves your attention. Why is why we’ve put together a list of reasons explaining why your startup will benefit from adopting no-code technology.

Let’s get stuck in…

1. Rapid prototyping and quicker time-to-market

As a startup, to thrive and stay relevant, you need to act fast. Startups need more agility and quicker turnaround times when building new products, which is why no-code tools are fast gaining traction among them.

Not only are no-code tools easy-to-use, but they are also a more time-efficient approach compared to coding. Whether you save time designing, building or testing, no-code tools are great for taking your MVP build to market, fast!

Without manual development, non-technical makers can experiment with rapid prototyping and develop a solution to a problem in a couple of hours tops. Whereas with code, this takes months - if not years.

2. You’ll save money

Imagine building your own software solutions without spending thousands on a developer or programmer! No-code tools take away the majority of the overhead that comes with hiring a professional.

Most no-code tools are free. And those that aren’t are pretty inexpensive — around £15 per month on average. For that, you get everything you need to build a fully-functional app. If you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner (which, I’m guessing you are as you’re reading a blog on startups), no-code tools are a great solution for building uncomplicated apps on a small budget.

What’s more, because you can build working versions of your product much quicker, the time you save ultimately translates into cost savings. Therefore, if you still need a professional to help get your product over the line, you can hire a freelancer and still remain in budget.

Hiring a freelancer is also a cost-effective option in itself. Drag-and-drop tools are second nature to most freelance developers, so the time spent on your project will be a lot less than if you were writing masses of custom code.

Which leads us nicely onto…

3. Lower commitment risk than hiring new employees

Hiring new employees is exciting, but it can also be stressful.

Thankfully, no-code platforms reduce the risk and commitment involved in hiring (and potentially firing). You see, no-code tools are great in the sense that you can pretty much do everything yourself — within the realms, anyway.

For example, if you want to test selling products and need to set up an ecommerce store, you can do so without needing to make a hire. Likewise, if you have a new business idea you want to test, you can test without having to get anyone else involved. No-code tools make it easy to test the feasibility of an idea without having to go through the hiring process. Which, we all know can be stressful, time-consuming and take a lot of commitment.

4. Easily customisable with more flexibility

It’s super fast to customise a tool you control. Because you’re using a drag-and-drop editor and prebuilt components, making a change is a breeze with no-code tools. You don’t need to outline the change, show it to a developer, wait for them to program the change, review it, and then update your product. You can make the change yourself. When you’re looking to showcase an idea, this is especially handy!

On the other hand, changing a feature or functionality with code takes time. Heck, making even a single change may need hours of application downtime. As well as putting strain on your timeline, this will cost you money if you’re paying a developer by the hour.

5. Freedom to focus on growing your business

You’ve probably guessed by now that no-code tools save you a lot of time and hassle over traditional software development. For example, if you hire a developer, as well as paying them to write code, you’ll also be paying them for the time they spend on other routine maintenance tasks, such as debugging, updating and testing.

We could all do with a few more hours in our day, right? While no-code tools aren’t miracle workers, they can automate tasks leaving you with more time to focus on generating leads and growing your business. If your goal is to build a custom app for enhancing your startups’ productivity, or test the viability of a new business idea, no-code tools are definitely worth a look!

6. You’ll learn a lot, too!

For some, the amount you learn using no-code software outweighs the time and money you save. The no-code movement has inspired a flurry of resources and communities where people can learn. Take No Code Founders (NCF) , for example, a slack-based community booming with more than 2,000 no-coders and entrepreneurs.

But it’s not just about learning no-code, or the tool you choose to build with. These communities are packed with advice on all things business, whether it’s marketing, customer support or tips on how to grow a successful business. What’s more, they are home to other no-coders and freelancers — so perfect for building your network!

5 ways no-code is revolutionising startups

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 11:19:00 GMT

Trends in startups are not new. And today, because you no longer need to be a technically trained coder or developer to be a digital innovator, we’re seeing a craze in SaaS that I want to explore: no-code startups.

I want to give you an insight into why (and how) no-code is revolutionising startups. Along with some benefits of using a no-code platform. So let’s get stuck in…

1. You can get started instantly

Launching a startup is effortless and most of the time stress-free with a no-code platform. Gone are the days where you need to hire a developer and spend thousands to build a fully-fledged MVP. Thanks to intuitive tools that use drag-and-drop interfaces and prebuilt components, you can meet your business needs and wants much sooner.

Things were a lot harder to come by before no-code platforms. First, you’d need to find a developer, which is easier said than done in a world where demand outweighs supply. But bag yourself a developer, and you’ll need to be willing to part with a substantial amount of cash, too — as they don’t come cheap!

Traditional software development is a more complex and time-consuming way to build, which is why it’s often reserved for long-lived mission-critical applications that require heavy customisation and a raft of integrations.

But that doesn’t mean no-code platforms are limited, as we found out when researching the pros and cons that make up no-code .

2. No-code is an affordable option

App development was once for those with deep pockets. Building an app would once set you back thousands, but now, you can get your startup off the ground for less than the price of an iPhone contract.

Take Appy Pie , for example, you can build and run a powerful Android app for just £15 /month with unlimited editing and dedicated support. Compare that to the hourly rate of a freelance developer (£30) and well, you do the math!

But while it’s easy to compare hiring a developer to using a no-code platform, it doesn’t paint the clearest picture. No two projects are the same. Yes, no-code platforms are cheap (if not free), but that doesn’t make them the best suited to every project.

While it’s tough to see past the money you’ll save, this alone shouldn’t be the determining factor. There are other important things to consider, like…

3. You’ll get feedback from day one

Imagine how quick technology would advance if immediate feedback was the norm. (The government’s track and trace app springs to mind.)

Because of their characteristics, no-code platforms make it possible to get real-time feedback from your customers and colleagues. Platforms such as Bubble.io enable you to keep 40 collaborators in the loop in real-time, and empower anyone on your team to tweak and provide feedback. Similar to how Google’s creative suite allows you to leave notes and comments, Bubble.io allows you to markup a project, too.

What’s more, no-code communities are growing at a rapid rate. So not only are you able to get feedback from the ones you trust, but fellow creators are there if you need them.

4. What a wonderful proof of concept

Whether you’re looking to impress an investor, or showcase an idea to your colleagues, nothing beats having a fully-functioning product to back up what you’re saying.

No-code app prototypes are a big thing. Bigger — among some categories (mobile) — than no-code products. No-code tools are especially quick at displaying data, organising content and connecting APIs, all of the things you need to create a prototype fast.

With platforms such as Glide , you can go from idea to prototype instantly. Simply upload your data to a Google spreadsheet, wait five minutes and Glide will present you with an easy-to-use app!

It’s not just Glide that enables you to do this, though. There are a bunch of no-code tools that allow you to build digital products that are not just prototypes, but have actual code so they can be immediately implemented! What’s more, many of them don’t require a start-up budget or big initial investment.

5. Get your MVP on the market quicker

We could all do with a few more hours in our day, right? But while that means adjusting your schedule and most likely waking up earlier, why not abuse the tools that make it faster to get from idea/prototype to finished product?

As well as saving money using a no-code platform, you’ll get your product to market quicker, too. The no-code tool you choose to create your MVP will most likely enable you to design, build and launch a customer-facing app in around six weeks. By this I don’t mean a prototype, I mean an app that users can download, use and pay for.

On the other hand, you’re looking at a minimum of six months-ish to get your idea to market if you code everything. Again, it’s all about weighing up the pros and cons of no-code. However, if you’re onto a winning product and your investors think so too, no-code is definitely your best option. The last thing you want is for someone to clone your idea while your product is in the early stages of development.

The startup landscape is about to blossom

The no-code train is fast gaining momentum. More creatives are jumping aboard and founders who couldn’t quite find their voices prior see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks to faster development and budget-friendly platforms, we could see our first no-code unicorns by 2022. The question is, will one of them be you?

The very best tools for learning no-code and getting started

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 10:53:07 GMT

No-code tools are fast growing in popularity. As well as being easy to master, they can save you thousands of pounds and months of development time, too. And because the benefits of no-code are so impressive, the list of resources and communities grows by the day.

Whether you’re a maker wanting to build and test an MVP, or you already run a business of work as an influencer — there’s no better time to learn automation and no-code tools (especially as we head into another lockdown).

To help you get started, here is a list of resources and communities that will help you learn the ins and outs of no-code and automation. Shall we...?

Nucode

Unlike other platforms in this list that dabble in no-code learning, Nucode is predominantly a learning resource and community platform. Anyone looking to learn about no-code will have a field day with Nucode, and it’s a great place to start!

As well as a curated list of tools, templates and projects, Nucode is also home to hundreds (if not thousands) of experts and makers. What’s more, you can ask questions, post tutorials and share stories in their discussion forum. If you want to build your network, or ask fellow no-coders for advice on your projects, be sure to check out this platform.

Makerpad

If you’re looking for an extensive community with 2000+ members and you’re leaning more towards no-code automation, Makerpad is worth a look. While it’s not free like Nucode, it has stacks of educational video tutorials and workshops to help you learn. Moreover, there are projects you can browse, workflows you can clone, and monthly tasks if you’re up for a challenge!

Bubble Forum

If you don’t mind learning from text, Bubble Forum is a valuable resource with tons of advice from no-code experts and makers. It’s unique in that you can find advice on specific no-code topics, and search for quick answers to your questions.

They split the forum into categories, so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. Whether it be questions, tips, bug fixes, ideas or social meetups. You can also search for a freelancer if you need help modifying your app, or a no-code expert to help with an entire build. The only downside is that it can take a while to find a thread you’re interested in, or one that answers your question.

Zeroqode

Zeroqode helps new founders learn no-code through video courses and premade templates. As Bubble.io’s certified partner, you’ll be learning from one of the best no-code platforms in the industry.

The content on Zeroqode is aimed to guide makers who want to put their product online through no-code. It’s not so good for existing businesses or learning automation, so bear that in mind when choosing your resource for learning.

Codeless.How

Like Makerpad, Codeless.how has a series of video courses teaching you all about no-code, as well as a variety of practical examples that you can apply to your business. Online videos will give you a good understanding of API, HTTP and JSON.

Once you understand the basics of API’s, there are a series of longer (30 to 90 minute) courses that teach you everything from NPS survey automation to building a no-code MVP! What’s more, Codeless.how’s newsletter is packed with helpful content to help you kick-ass at no-code.

Webflow

It’s no surprise Webflow’s blog is oozing with great no-code content given it’s one of the best platforms for building a no-code website. With a stack of insightful articles, lessons and case studies, anyone looking to learn a thing or two about no-code (or tech in general) should give this blog a look. Moreover, they’re building up quite a roster of ebooks too and they’re all downloadable! With tips, tricks and real-life scenarios, it’s a great place to start your no-code learning journey.

No Code Founders (NCF)

NCF is a little different. Its chief learning hub is a Slack channel with more than 2,000 non-technical makers and entrepreneurs. It’s free to join, and with more messages per month than most in this list will receive in ten years, you’ll struggle to find a no-code community booming like NCF.

As well as networking, it’s also a great place for learning. With channels dedicated to collaboration, feedback and sharing resources to name a few. The latter is especially handy if you’re a no-code newbie and aren’t yet up to speed with the tools and platforms on offer.

If you’re anti-Slack, don’t worry. NCF also has an on-site community. Here, you can connect with other no-coders, and browse projects, tools, posts and jobs. If you enjoy learning from others rather than watching tutorials or reading blogs, NCF is home to some of the most knowledgeable folk in the no-code game. Also, it’s different, so we especially love it.

Zapier

Zapier is another platform where you can learn about productivity, automation and growing your business. As well as blogs, Zapier has a range of downloadable guides if you’re interested in learning about email marketing, CRM software, customer support, project management etc.

But that’s not all. Zapier also has a community with content for beginners and advanced users alike. While it’s largely-aimed at Zapier users, it does have general no-code content you can use to grow your business without Zapier.

Widg.io Blog

Okay, we’re going to end with us. It’s our blog, right? But seriously, we are passionate about content and want to encourage others to learn about no-code and the benefits it has for businesses. So we’ll continue to publish no-code content weekly. We’ll share info on the tools we’re creating but also general no-code news to keep you up to date and in the best position to grow your business.

That concludes our list of the best tools to learn no-code in 2020. But this is just the start. As Software as a Service (SaaS) grows in popularity, and businesses continue to invest, we expect to see more resources and tools to help us learn.

While these aren’t the only tools for learning no-code, we believe these are the best ones that cover a variety of topics for newbies. If you think we’ve missed any that you think should have made the cut, let us know in the comments below.

How You Can Strengthen Customer Trust Through Social Media in 3 Easy Steps

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:27:00 GMT

Have you ever noticed how some companies just seem more trustworthy than others? Why is that?

Maybe you’ve interacted with them online or maybe you’ve simply stumbled across their posts in some random corner of the internet and they stuck in your mind. Or maybe you’ve only ever subconsciously experienced the brand.

In this article, we’ll explain 3 easy steps to strengthening customer trust through social media.

1. Listen > Speak

First up, listening is paramount for many things in business, not just establishing and building trust. But, if your audience doesn’t trust you, the rest becomes kind of meaningless, does it?

So you’ve got to listen.

And not just when your customers reach out directly to you. Listen all the time. You can practice a tactic called “Social Listening” where you act as a fly on the wall and simply observe what your customers (or non-customers) are saying about you online.

Look beyond the hashtags for honest conversations about your brand’s wins and shortcomings, and then make it your business’s mission to improve upon what you hear.

Large companies have whole teams of social media specialists who are dedicated to finding mentions of the brand online and either engaging with the content in a positive manner or observing and creating actionable next steps to improve.

2. Consistency is Key

Keeping a consistent brand voice is hard. And many do not succeed at this because they haven’t taken the time to create a brand guide.

A brand guide doesn’t just cover what colours and fonts are used in your logo or communications. It covers the style and tone in which you address your audience in person and online.

Many brand guides will include the personality of the brand, which will dictate how to interact with the brand’s audience. Not only is this super helpful for the next social media or communications team to be able to follow along and craft thoughtful replies and messaging, but it is helpful for your audience to understand what type of company you are.

People will want to follow your company online if they align with the tone and messaging of the brand, so keeping it consistent will help you retain followers and ultimately, improve on the conversions of these followers to loyal customers because they trust you.

3. Under Promise and Over Deliver

This title definitely sounds a bit sales-y, but that’s what you’re doing when you convey messaging online!

Even if you’re not promoting a product or service directly, every message you send online that your audience sees counts as a touchpoint and could convert into a sale.

By following through on your promises, your audience will see that your brand is indeed trustworthy, and will be more likely to make a purchase.

If you promise too much or speak before confirming all the details/what’s possible, you may not be able to deliver on said promises. This will leave audiences disappointed and let down and makes your brand seem untrustworthy, even if you had the best intentions in mind.

So instead, don’t be scared to tell customers you’ll get back to them or you need to check the answer. People will always appreciate an honest response (even if you don’t know right that second) more than a shot in the dark that isn’t true.

These are just a few of the many ways you can use social media to interact with your audience and build trust online. Remember to stay authentic, practice social listening, provide consistent messaging, and deliver on your promises to foster a sense of trust and community amongst your audience.

This includes being online regularly and available to answer messages as well as sharing examples and interactions from other customers, to help build credibility.

All of these activities will not only boost engagement, they will surely increase sales!

Building trust doesn’t happen overnight though, so the sooner you establish your profiles and begin posting online, the sooner you’ll be growing an audience that will follow your brand anywhere.

It will be a lot of work at first, with many one-on-one conversations when customers have “slid into your DMs”, but that means you’re doing something right and your audience wants to talk to you. So mark that one in the WIN column.

It’s worth noting that who you engage with and who you follow as a brand will also help build your credibility. If other trustworthy accounts are sharing your content and engaging with your page and you’re in the same space, reach out to them for a collab or simply say “hi”. Those accounts can help you grow using their audience since they already have established a sense of trust and a strong following.

There are many other strategies you can use to build trust through social media but start with these three, and once you’re an expert here, start adding a few more to continue your growth!

How do you establish a sense of trust amongst your audience? Let us know in the comments below!

The pros and cons that make up no-code

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:24:27 GMT

No-code development gives non-technical makers the ability to build customised software solutions without writing a single line of code. That’s right, zip, nada, zilch, code.

As well as being simple to get to grips with, there are lots of options on the market for building fully-fledged apps and websites cheap (think the cost of a monthly iPhone contract for a top tier Squarespace plan).

But like any reality, no-code does have its caveats. And as you’re about to find out if you choose to read the rest of this post, some limitations counteract the positives.

What’s to love about no-code development

Let’s start with five big benefits of using no-code software.

1. Shorter learning curve

To reap the benefits of no-code, you’ll need to learn various tools and techniques. And if you’re starting from scratch, don’t expect to learn everything in a couple of hours.

Having said that, learning the ins and outs of a no-code tool is a lot quicker than learning how to write code. Where learning code takes months or years, being confident to create with a no-code tool takes hours, days or weeks. Of course, this depends on your technical know-how and experience using similar tools — but still!

2. Cost-saving

Hiring a single developer is expensive. And if your project is complex, the likelihood that you’ll need just one is very slim. On the other hand, no-code tools are free, or at least offer a free plan.

No-code solutions take away the overhead of hiring developers who will be on staff all the time. If you’re an entrepreneur looking to test an idea without raising any capital, no-code tools are a great shout! That being said, you’ll be doing most of the work yourself, so you’ll need to factor in your own time and effort when identifying if no-code is right for you.

3. Community support

With the rise of no-code development, we’re seeing stronger; more helpful communities, too. Heck, there are even users branding themselves as no-code makers on Twitter! As well as this, platforms such as Makercode and Nucode host a wealth of tips and tricks. What’s more, tools such as Bubble.io have an Academy stacked with video courses, templates and how-to guides for no-code newbies.

This highlights my first point about mastering no-code tools in a matter of hours. It is do-able, and the content is out there.

4. Better agility (and quick iteration)

It takes no time at all to update a tool you control. Because you’re using a drag-and-drop interface and pre-built elements, making changes to your project is rapid!

Rather than compile your thoughts, explain them to a developer, wait for them to program the change, and then review it, you can do it instantly with no-code. What’s more, testing is generally automated, too. When you’re still validating an idea, this is one heck of a benefit!

5. Increased productivity

Here’s one the IT staff will be thankful for! No-code tools enable non-technical makers to create things that once; always needed an IT whizz. Those days are long gone, and IT staff should face less internal pressure because of this. The result: a quicker project turnaround and teams collaborating. (Win, win!)

Hold tight: here are five limitations of no-code software

1. Limited functionality

If you need to organise data, create content or connect APIs, no-code tools are your best friend. However, they aren’t so good if you need to:

● Customise out-of-the-box functionality

● Prioritise speed and scalability

● Oversee a large amount of data

● Work with complex calculations

● Create robust native apps

This is why you see more no-code prototypes than you do products. Where mobile apps are concerned, no-code tools have a long way to go before making a unique MVP is possible.

2. Speed and security

Platforms that ooze features left right and centre often have speed issues. For everything to work well together, these platforms run a large number of scrips behind closed doors. A lot like when you connect a group of services to automate a process.

And while we get it’s important to try things that don’t scale when you first start, if you decide to stay no-code, it can raise speed and scalability issues.

3. Users need a understanding of their requirements

You’ll struggle to find two no-code platforms that are alike. Similarly, you’ll struggle to find a platform that for want of a better phrase, does a bit of everything. This might mean sacrificing a few nice-to-haves for something more basic.

What’s more, you’ll need to determine whether your requirements fit within the restraints of a particular tool. But even then, your requirements are likely to change over time, and the risk of these differing as the platform evolves is always there.

4. You don’t own your source code

No-code tools are great. But chances are when your business grows, you’ll fancy a change and might consider moving away from no-code altogether. Not so fast — because unfortunately, you cannot transfer your MVP to another platform as you don’t own the source code. This is what’s known as a Vendor Lock-In.

You see, with all no-code platforms, your MVP is the intellectual property of your chosen platform, meaning you are effectively just “renting” it. So instead of transferring your project, you will need to start from scratch on your new platform. (Ouch!)

5. Security issues arise from lack of control

Coding gives you complete control over your application and security. However, you sacrifice this when heading down the no-code path. Not only does this limit the build, but it can lead to several security risks, too.

For example, what if your chosen platform goes into liquidation? Or worse still, suffers an internal security breach and leaves your MVP vulnerable? As with most digital platforms, it’s a case of weighing up risk versus reward.

No-code development remains the way forward

So there you have it, the highs and lows of no-code development. Despite the concerns over speed, security and functionality, no-code development remains the way forward for non-technical makers to design, build and test until their heart’s content. Likewise, for any budding entrepreneur with their sights set on a startup.

No-Code is the Future

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:19:11 GMT

What would your workplace be capable of if employees could program, build, and code at the same speed they write, speak, and type?

In a world that is increasingly code-based, more and more companies are getting left behind in what we call a “developer desert.” An aging population needs access to tools that allow them to work their best, and with fewer coders to go around, the situation is dire.

There’s a lot at stake, and not enough coding professionals to fill the gaps.

No-code is the future of SaaS and software development, and it’s coming way faster than we realize.

What is no-code? The simplest answer is that it’s exactly what it sounds like – an approach to development that requires no coding skills, relying instead on simple drag-and-drop interfaces that use pre-built modules.

A slightly more detailed explanation, though, is probably needed to really understand why no-code plays such an important role in the future of development.

First of all, let’s be clear on one thing: low-code and no-code are not the same thing, although the terms are often used together and sometimes interchangeably. They are related – both are designed to eliminate a degree of required technical knowledge from software development, creating a greater pool of professionals who are able to do the necessary job. However, low-code platforms typically require some degree of coding knowledge, while no-code platforms are designed so citizen developers – everyday business users with no coding skills - are able to use them, creating applications and solutions with no knowledge of code at all.

Why is this an advantage? Coders and developers are specialists in their area – the back end of software development. They may have a blueprint for what the software needs to accomplish, but haven’t necessarily been a part of the workflow the solution is designed to automate.

Citizen developers are business users. They are the ones who are familiar with the workflows and the issues that need to be solved with those workflows. They understand not only the end goal of the process but the steps of the process itself.

Think about rocket scientists. The experts building spacecraft have the advanced engineering knowledge to build a rocket that can achieve everything that physics tells them it needs to do. It can survive all the necessary gravitational forces, extreme heat and cold of spaceflight and reentry, and overall physically do what it needs to do to allow for space travel. But the experience of astronauts who have actually traveled in spacecraft is vital. They are able to bring real-world experience to the table – they know firsthand what is actually needed by human beings who are flying in the spacecraft.

Now, no-code development isn’t necessarily rocket science. But the experience of users who know what they need from a system is invaluable to its development, as anyone who has ever tried to perform basic business functions using badly designed software knows.

The ability to create the ideal workflow by simply dragging and dropping pre-built modules combines the best of both worlds – it’s as if the astronauts were able to take rocket pieces built by engineers and fit them together like giant Lego blocks to create their ideal spacecraft.

No-code clearly has many benefits, so why is it suddenly gaining such popularity?

Age tech – enabling digital services for an older population who has disposable income to spend on technology-driven products, but not necessarily the skills to use them – is already a $1T industry, and it’s set to increase dramatically within the next few decades. No-code is a natural byproduct of this change.
Citizen developers are empowered to do more with less. After all, drag and drop tech makes everyone a digital mastermind. In a business environment that has suddenly become dependent on remote workers in disparate locations, digital transformation has gone from something organizations are working toward to something that is essential now to business survival. As that happens, the need for workers who can automate processes and enable digital transformation has increased dramatically.
No-code maximises productivity and efficiency throughout the average working environment. Not only are the big-picture processes automated, but more minor, day-to-day tasks that might not typically get attention are also the beneficiaries of automation. Once again, this is an enormous benefit in a drastically changing workforce. Allowing everyday citizen developers the ability to create their own solutions for tracking, reporting, or other time-consuming tasks creates greater efficiencies for everyone.
The “trickle-up” effect of this then creates a more efficient business – one with a much greater chance of surviving economic uncertainty.

No-code tech will revolutionise the way companies do business in the digital marketplace and give those with less coding experience the opportunity to really shine. For any business that wants to stay relevant in the digital age, no-code is definitely an area worth investigating.

Is Software Now Everybody's Job?

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:15:04 GMT

The software industry faces a significant transformation, similar to the revolution we have seen in other sectors, such as in health care and manufacturing.

We've already seen how Google Docs stormed the world with free cloud-based applications, prompting Microsoft to change its Office 365 business model. Now, we're going to see another tech industry jolt.

Unlike other transformations that disrupt traditional markets, low-code and non-code tech promise to make tech more prevalent than it is today. Understanding the market and the consequences of non-code and low-code software would be critical, whether or not you are in the software industry.

Low Code versus No-Code

Low-code software is a software that can be completely customised with a "low" (minimum) amount of programming. Although low-code software still needs coding by someone knowledgeable about programming, it is simpler and cheaper than ever before. Salesforce and Zoho are some examples of low-code platforms.

No-code tech, on the other hand, brings the low-code idea to a new level, allowing anyone to customise an application to their needs without any programming experience whatsoever. Pipedrive and Airtable are examples of non-code systems. However, both types of software are often grouped in the "low-code" category. Still, no-code software can emerge as its market category and strength in the coming years, as no-code software enables anyone, even those with zero technical knowledge, to customise their business processes and dashboards.

Low-Code and No-code Systems Equip Businesses to Meet Demand

Low-code and no-code platforms allow companies to meet the demand for new enterprise applications without overburdening IT, depleting capital, or filling high-cost talent shortages. With both low-code and non-code platforms, companies can quickly turn mere ideas into practical, time-saving applications. The effect is incredible speed and stamina while increasing the overall quality of work.

What Kinds of Applications Can Be Designed for Non-Code and Low-Code Platforms?

When most people think of business applications, they immediately think of critical recording systems, such as CRM, ERP, and HCM solutions. These systems, albeit broad in scope, represent just a small part of the digital environment through which workers communicate regularly.

In practice, employees use hundreds of apps designed to meet unique, niche-based applications in broader domains. Marketers, for example, do not only use CRM. They need a broad range of tools, including those that can control their unique KPIs, automate email marketing, conduct data analysis and reporting, manage social media preparation, track content journeys, manage campaigns and events, and more.

According to Blissfully's 2019 SaaS Trends survey , the average company employee uses eight apps a day. Organisations of between 501 and 1,000 employees use an average of 151 apps, while organisations with more than 1,000 employees use 203 apps. This is one reason why low-code and no-code resources have emerged as critical assets. As the need for modern, specialised applications arises, companies can develop highly tailored, scalable and stable in-house solutions at low cost with low-code and no-code platforms.

Let's go over a couple of examples:

Marketing:

Effective marketing requires high-level data analysis, continuous development and fast delivery. Low-code and no-code platforms that help marketers reduce their dependency on IT would eventually allow them to achieve the speed and customisation they need. For example, non-code frameworks that enable them to plan, operate and monitor cross-channel marketing campaigns with all the workflows and reporting required will empower them to become more self-sufficient and successful in pursuing their objectives.

Integration and Automation of Business Systems:

As the digital toolbox of employees continues to grow, a host of new technical, company and consumer problems have emerged. The integration of a high volume of complex and disparate structures is a major technological challenge. And while companies recognise the need to empower workers with new digital skills, they often ignore how an excess of resources can potentially hinder efficiency and lead to fatigue.

For example, low-code and non-code software that integrates with existing apps can streamline information exchange and simplify workflows. This is the fastest way to satisfy the increasing need for new skills while alleviating the impact of digital fragmentation.

Production of Applications:

Even though developers have the skills and experience to create complex code applications, they may benefit from low-code or no-code software that lets them work faster and cut out time-consuming processes. Low-code and no-code capabilities can cut lots of time off of developer work, enabling them to prototype, test, and deploy tools at higher speeds. These frameworks accelerate progress by allowing developers to bypass routine, routinize work and automate technical tasks.

V isual modelling helps developers to gain a clearer understanding of specifications, produce better designs, and eventually build more efficient systems.

Why is Software Everybody's Job?

Low-Code and No-Code in 2020 and Beyond

Today, IT requires smart enterprise system management, which increasingly means building a custom-made digital ecosystem. However, as companies continue to invest in digital transformation technologies, they need to consider which applications and frameworks can meet their unique needs at the lowest expense, with the least amount of internal IT capital, and with minimal disruption.

Enterprise Application Managers, IT Team Leaders, CIOs, CTOs, and Department Managers can level up their IT infrastructure by implementing low-code and non-code application platforms. Low-code and no-code technology allows companies to resolve the usual barriers to business applications and meet specific needs. Departments around the enterprise can create, test and use software without relying on IT.

After alleviating some of this demand, companies will benefit from improved bandwidth for custom applications, lower costs, quicker rollout and smoother transitions from outdated systems to new applications. Some businesses have already started to recognise the importance of low-code technology, but have not realised how the incorporation of non-code resources to business users will further improve such benefits. For both, developers can concentrate on high-quality work, while business users appreciate the freedom of creating and developing applications to suit their own needs.

How No-Code and Low-Code Development Can Help Marketing Departments on a Tight Budget

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:10:49 GMT

No-code and low-code development are all about doing more – with less!

We're here to help you discover the benefits that no-code and low-code development can provide to marketing departments on a tight budget.

K eep reading to find out what no-code development is all about, and how marketers can utilise it without breaking the bank!

What is No-Code Development?

No-code development is a way to create applications that uses visual development environments rather than traditional coding. With no-code development, applications can be created by anyone – whether or not they have experience with coding or building software.

These apps rely on drag-and-drop methods to add components in the development process, so technical knowledge is not required!

Low-code and no-code are changing the marketing industry because companies no longer need to hire an entire team of software developers to build a custom application. It significantly reduces project and overhead costs, especially because apps can be built much faster!

A study performed by the State of Application Development found that 41% of the survey participants were already using no-code platforms – and an additional 10% were planning on starting to do so soon. This shows that low-code development is becoming a standard tool for marketers, specifically because it reduces the company’s dependence on third-party developers.

How Marketers Can Utilize It – Without Breaking the Bank

So, how can marketers utilize no-code and low-code development to create custom applications without breaking the banks?

There is constant pressure on marketing departments to work faster and more efficiently – with smaller and smaller budgets. This has made embracing technology like no-code development tools essential since it allows marketers to build, test, and launch digital experiences while on a tight budget!

Let’s dive into the specifics of how no-code and low-code development can help marketing departments with creating applications, automating workflows, and performing analytics.

Application Development

Marketers can utilise no-code development to create custom applications – without needing extensive support from IT teams and third-party developers. These tools give marketing departments the ability to build interactive and engaging websites without having to learn JavaScript, HTML, CSS, or other coding languages.

This also eliminates the need for marketers to translate the goals of the project to the software developers. They do not have to wait for the coders to understand the context of marketing design so they can develop the underlying platform, and this significantly cuts down on the number of resources needed and the time it takes to complete projects.

These time and resource savings are directly reflected in your organisation's bottom line – so your marketing team can continue to develop engaging applications without going over budget!

Workflow Automation

Workflow automation is another area where marketing departments can no-code development to create cost-effective solutions. These applications can perform tasks automatically – without heavy programming or having to engage outside developers.

Applications made with low-code development can allow your marketing team to collect, transform, and analyze data in real-time while eliminating a long of the manual work normally associated with this. As a result, your marketers can spend more time focusing on value-added work instead!

Other possibilities include automatically pulling in information from websites and mailing lists to create a single database. These capabilities can allow you to improve data integrity by removing duplicates and preventing errors, without the extensive administrative work that would otherwise be needed.

Improving Analytics

Low-code development can also help your marketing department improve analytics and reporting without spending a fortune!

These tools allow marketers to take control of tasks that would normally require a significant level of technical expertise, such as solving a reporting problem that is unique to the marketing problem.

Imagine being able to create a solution to manage sales funnels, collect essential customer data, and track user activity without having to pay for a third-party developer – or wait for your in-house IT team to get around to it?

Well, with no-code development marketers can do just that – without having to write complex scripts or design analytics plugins from scratch.

For instance, marketers can create a custom application that generates revenue reporting, predictive-lead scoring, and event-based segmentation. The marketing team can use the drag-and-drop development screens to select exactly what they would like the platform to do. This ensures that it meets their unique business reporting needs, and also gives them the ability to change and adapt reports as their business evolves.

Another opportunity for low-code development tools involves optimising voice interactions. You can use custom software development to manage keyword call-tracking, conversation analytics, and even geolocation routing. You can now embark on these exciting digital transformation projects, even if your team is on a tight budget!

As you can see, low-code and no-code development are paving the way for marketing departments to take application building into their own hands. Even budget-strapped marketing departments can use these tools to complete more of the projects they need to engage with consumers and improve their processes.

The 6 Best Website Builders for 2020 and Beyond

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:04:04 GMT

Whether you’re an individual showcasing a portfolio, a small business getting online, or a young and bustling enterprise starting to grow, there’s a website builder out there for you.

We’ve sought out and compared the top 6 best website builders that will take us into 2020 and beyond.

You don’t need to know how to code to build a great website… you just have to find one with the right tools for your needs!

Our top 6 includes a mix of eCommerce, powerful hybrid options and custom builders that require some basic HTML/CSS knowledge.

So, without further ado, let’s get into this list. Here are our top 6:

Wix (best for building websites quick)
Squarespace (best templates)
WordPress (best for content producers)
Shopify (best for eCommerce)
Webflow (best for customisation)
Duda (best for agencies)

Please note, the order of the list does not represent the order of our ranking, as each site provides something different for their creators.

1. Wix - Designs like no other

If you’re just starting out or are new to using website builders, Wix is an excellent option for you.

It’s fairly intuitive, there are lots of tutorials and support available online, and it has the most users with over 110 million websites built.

Wix also has an AI automatic website creator that users can take advantage of to help maximize their experience, but there are actually three options for development with Wix:

Wix ADI (their AI creator)
Templated designs
Design-from-scratch

You’re not tied down to one or the other either, you can mix-and-match. Say you start with an AI creation but still want to customise, you can. Likewise, if you start with a template and want to modify components to make it your own.

2. Squarespace ─ Sleek and modern templates

Jumping from Wix to Squarespace, the first thing you’ll notice is the quality of the templates designs. There are 110 responsive templates for websites of all shapes, sizes and niches. Of all the website builders out there, Squarespace wears the crown as far as templates are concerned.

It’s also fairly intuitive to use, but a bit trickier than Wix to navigate. If you’re new to building websites and are considering Squarespace, you’ll most likely find it overwhelming at first. Thankfully, there are tons of online resources to help you get started, and support is available when you need it, too.

Squarespace is best suited for small and mid-size businesses looking for stunning templates, and maybe a few eCommerce transactions here and there.

The eCommerce catalogue of features is not nearly as robust as Shopify, but does offer room for smaller volumes of transactions. For example, a florist with three size offerings for bouquets or arrangements.

3. WordPress ─ A great all-rounder

Next up, it’s WordPress, and one for the high-volume content producers.

Relatively speaking, WordPress has been around (and popular) for ages, since 2003. At the time of writing, WordPress powers 35% of all websites - which is ridiculous when you consider how many website builders exist!

This platform is truly a content producer’s dream. With plugins for everything under the sun including eCommerce extensions and SEO plugins. However, it’s not a super intuitive drag-and-drop builder like Squarespace or Wix, so it will either require some learning on your part, or a commitment to working with a web developer who can produce a custom theme for your website.

Doing it yourself is the best way to understand how it works, though, and at this point, there are plenty of resources online.

For those who are serious about building a secure and content-rich site on WordPress, consider subscribing to WPEngine, WordPress’s “Digital Experience Platform”. Here, you’ll find solutions to create remarkable sites and apps on WordPress that drive your business forward quicker.

4. Shopify ─ The eCommerce choice

For those looking for a solution to their eCommerce website, Shopify is the leading website builder in existence. It’s like the “Wix of eCommerce”... super easy to use and customize, and integrates with a physical POS if you have an in-person location or go to events where you’d be charging customers directly. Think expos, conferences, concerts, farmers markets etc, the opportunities are endless.

On the note of endless opportunities, Shopify is also an extremely affordable way to get your store online. For those with moderately sized catalogues, the prices are around $20 /month, which is nothing compared to what a custom eCommerce site build would cost you.

They also offer amazing customer service as their team has grown exponentially in the past couple of years. They also have an app store to enhance your website’s features. Just be aware that some of these cost money every month and can run your bill up, so choose your plugins wisely!

*Bigger sites should consider BigCommerce with a custom template build.

5. Webflow ─ Powerful hybrid solution

And then, there’s Webflow. The “cool” option for true internet geeks building websites.

Well, anyone can use Webflow but there is a higher learning curve here than any of our other options. However, it is also the most custom option available for non-developers. This means you don’t need to worry about templates changing or requiring upgrades.

What makes Webflow different from our other options is their builder automatically generates HTML, CSS, and Javascript depending on what you’re dragging onto the pages. You do need to understand a little bit about site architecture and coding in order to use it, but not much. They also have a massive support library and plenty of courses available online for those looking to complete a specific task.

If your present needs aren’t that complex but you could see yourself going more custom down the line, you can start with a Webflow template and then alter it when the time comes. You can also export your code to use on another platform or custom build, if desired.

6. Duda - The one for agencies (and multilingual websites)

If you’re looking for a multilingual website that’s straightforward to build, you won’t want to look past Duda.

Duda gets all the basics right: the templates look great, it has all the SEO settings you’ll need, there’s an online store, and the blog is pretty cool, too. But if you’re looking for more than the basics, you won’t be disappointed either.

Duda outshines its competitors in two areas, and both are handy if you’re looking to work with overseas clients. The first is that you can create multilingual websites — something as of yet, no other website builder can master. They also offer what they call “website personalization tools”. These tools enable you to customise your content based on the location and timezone of your visitors. This is a seriously impressive feature!

Of course, this isn’t cheap, though. Duda’s Agency plan is $44 /month, but with that you get 4 websites and AWS hosting, email, chat and phone support, access to team & management features, plus a widget builder!

So, there you have it! And like we said, there’s something for everyone when it comes to website builders for 2020 and beyond. And they’ll only get better as technology advances and users needs expand.

Let us know in the comments, which website builder do you use and why?

10 Reasons the Mobile App Beats the Mobile Website

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 13:59:33 GMT

If you’re like us, you’re probably glued to your phone more than you should be. But to be fair, it’s hard not to be attached to your device when they can do so much.

For some, being connected and having the world at their fingertips is what makes or breaks their business. So, who are we to diss cell phones?

As the need for these powerful devices continues to grow, more and more businesses are realizing the necessity of a mobile app for their business.

Whether it’s to attract more customers, build a community/better brand, or increase revenue, mobile apps for businesses are here to stay. You can embrace them or you can be left behind.

It’s easy to blame your lack of success on the fact that large companies have more resources to build super custom, powerhouse apps while spending marketing dollars to attract customers and downloads. Sure, that’s one theory.

But if you play the blame game and never try building an app for your specific audience (even with a limited budget), you’ll never know if it works for you.

Plus, the stats don’t lie. Research shows that users now prefer mobile apps more than mobile websites. So, even if your site is responsive optimized to be used on a phone, it’s not the preferred choice.

The following are our 10 reasons the mobile app will win over the website:

Personalization
Notifications
Device features
Offline capabilities
Freedom of design
Branding
Amount of time spent on apps
Positive impact on conversions
Brand presence
Speed

Read on to learn a bit about why an app is the best choice for your business.

1. Personalisation

Can you personalize a mobile responsive website for each user? Is it even possible to know exactly who is using your mobile site at any given time? The answer is no.

Apps offer a way to tailor communications directly to the person using them.

Users set their preferences and let the communications begin! It’s up to you to add value to them by creating a unique and beneficial experience to your app with customized content.

Ultimately, the opportunity for conversions will be much greater using an app.

2. Notifications

Just like you can never know exactly who is on your site at any given time, you never know how to directly reach a potential customer when they’re considering making a purchase.

With notifications, you can!

Through both push notifications and in-app notifications, you can beat email by directly communicating with your customers when they need it the most and are staring down a checkout page ��

The clickthrough rate of notifications is much higher than emails, because they are intuitive and (if done correctly) non-invasive.

3. Device features

Making the most of the features of the device the user is browsing on is unique to mobile apps.

Increase conversions simply by having an app that allows users to pay with their mobile wallet! They don’t have to go get their credit card and won’t linger at the checkout because typing the credit card numbers makes the purchase more “real”.

Therefore, reducing the actual effort it takes to make a purchase.

4. Offline capabilities

To access a website, you need an internet connection (or you need to be willing to sacrifice your valuable data from your cell phone plan). To access an app, you just need to have downloaded the app previously on your device.

That means users can access all of your valuable information in the palm of their hand.

Basic features can work without an internet connection. Even the GPS signal works without one! Try it on Google Maps or Apple Maps sometime!

5. Freedom of design

Unfortunately, even if your website is mobile responsive, there’s only so much you can do to make it attractive and perform basic functions.

Mobile websites rely on the mobile browsers for features like “back button”, “refresh button” etc. which is why sometimes support clerks will tell you to use the website in a different browser. Talk about annoying right?

Mobile apps don’t have restrictions like these because the entire thing is designed and coded specifically for your business.

Along with completely customizing the aesthetic design, you can customize the user experience through intricate gestures like taps, swipes, pinches, flicks etc.

6. Branding

As we mentioned, you can completely customize the aesthetic design of your mobile app depending on your brand style and preferences.

Offering yet another way to reinforce your brand recognition on your audience.

Some apps also allow users to customize the appearance depending on their preferences, like Twitter’s “dark mode” for example.

7. Amount of time spent on apps

Let’s face it. Users just spend more time on apps. Period.

In fact, up to 86% of mobile users’ time is spent on apps and a mere 14% on mobile websites. I’d say that’s a clear winner.

While a lot of this time is on social media and gaming apps, it’s still a strong case to create an app for your company that provides value. Starbucks’ customer loyalty app comes to mind because of the convenience and free snacks/drinks you earn for ordering ahead.

8. Positive impact on conversions

If you have an eCommerce store and are looking to increase conversions (who isn't?!) a mobile app is the best way to go.

Mobile apps increase conversions and average order size if they are intuitive and easy to use. They also use device features like your mobile wallet to facilitate easy payments and order addresses.

Mobile apps are also much more targeted, as we’ve seen, so users will feel more value in finding the things they need through the mobile app.

9. Brand presence

Phone real estate is valuable. Because our devices have limited storage, if a user chooses to download your app, you must continue to provide value either through information, community, convenience, or rewards.

In turn, you’ll be rewarded with higher brand recognition and increased brand presence. The fact that users are just seeing your app icon/brand logo on their phone’s home screen is increasing your brand presence every time they open their device, whether they know it or not.

Think of this as a mini ad!

10. Speed

Okay, at this point it’s just a fact that apps are faster than websites.

If you want to improve the user experience for your customers, give them an app. The customization aspect and non-reliance on browser-based commands alone saves a lot of time for users.

This creates a good user experience and positive associations for your brand.

9 no-code apps and tools to help you build a startup

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 13:17:46 GMT

The insurgence of no-code is happening, at one heck of a pace.

Before now, if you had little or no coding knowledge and wanted to launch a startup, you would either need to pay an agency, or spend weeks learning how to code. But thanks to no-code apps and tools, those days are long gone.

With apps and tools like the ones listed in this post, you can build, launch and run your startup without writing a single line of code. What’s more, they won’t set you back hundreds of pounds, or take you long to get to grips with.

To help get you started, here are our nine no-code solutions.

1. Bubble

Bubble is the go-to choice for designers looking to design, develop and run apps. Thanks to its intuitive drag and drop builder, you can create fully-functioning apps without understanding programming languages.

With a raft of customisable options, including visual elements and mobile-friendly layouts, this powerful tool makes it easy for non-programmers to build a polished, responsive app with ease. Another compelling feature of Bubble is its Academy, which opens a new gateway for creatives to interact.

2. Mailchimp

To build a successful startup, you need to grow, understand and know how to interact with your audience. Luckily, Mailchimp has all the tools to gather customer insight, identify who they are, and connect with them.

You can launch multi-channel campaigns, conduct surveys, and analyse audience engagement from one place. In essence, Mailchimp is an all-in-one marketing platform. Thanks to a feature-rich audience dashboard, Mailchimp’s app also makes it easier to communicate with your audience.

Better still — and the reason why it features in this list — it offers a variety of no-code integrations to support your website, such as LiveChat and Square.

3. Glide

Glide enables you to design, build and launch a mobile application in 5 minutes! That means you could have a fully-functioning mobile app in the time it takes to make a cuppa, answer five emails, or listen to your favourite song.

Using Google Sheets, Glide can produce flexible mobile apps with basic features, ideal for those who need to get started instantly. However, there is some manual work involved to add things like galleries and maps.

Once you’ve created your app, you can use it right away on almost any device, including iOS, Android and in a browser. Plus, you won’t need to worry about the performance of your app, as Glide has automatic speed and security updates.

4. Squarespace

If you’re looking for a website builder with aesthetically pleasing templates, you won’t want to look past Squarespace . With 110 stylish templates, no matter what industry you’re in, or what type of website you need, there’s something for everyone.

For the build, Squarespace uses a simple drag and drop builder that requires zero technical know-how to master. What’s more, with integrations readily available, Squarespace lets you scale your website as your needs grow. Out of the box, this platform has all the tools for a creative type with big ambitions.

5. Scapic

When we shop on the high street, we look at the product we want to buy at almost every angle. When we shop online, however, we rely on static photos — often one or two. So how good would it be, if people shopping online, could have a 360-degree view of your products in 3D? Well, say hello to augmented reality.

Scapic feels the pain of online shoppers buying products from static images, and using no-code, gives your online store augmented reality. Shoppers will now have a 360-degree view of your products, giving them a much better representation. Therefore, increasing your chances of a sale.

But as well as increasing sales, using AR may also mean you stand out from your competitors. Thanks to Scapic (and the use of no-code), you can add this impressive tech to your startup easily.

6. Landbot

Relationships start with conversations, and why not have a chatbot take care of them?

Landbot lets you assemble chatbots to prompt conversation and guide the user. Thanks to a simple-to-follow workflow, you can tie in all aspects of a conversation; whether that be support, leads or general information.

Also, with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp integrations, you can connect with fans of your brand on popular instant messaging apps, too.

7. Webflow

By giving you the option to create almost any website you’d like — from SaaS websites to ecommerce stores — Webflow is one of the most versatile platforms in this list. With an intuitive drag and drop interface, and a wide variety of responsive templates, you can go from plan to launch in no time.

Whether you want to pick a template or build from scratch, Webflow enables you to customise your website’s elements, layouts and pages. Visual coding and development make it easy to turn your ideas and sketches into a real life project.

Once you have built your website, Webflow also handles the boring but essential stuff: testing and maintenance. All in all, if you’re strapped for cash and want a polished website quickly, Webflow is worth a look!

8. Voiceflow

You guessed it, voice-activated technology. Over the past few years, Siri and Alexa have become our best friends, always there when we need to know the weather, or why fire trucks are red (just me?).

Voice-activated technology isn’t just for those who know how to programme. Voiceflow makes voice app development for Google actions and Alexa tools accessible for everyone — without entering a single line of code.

The Voiceflow interface is easy to navigate and simple to use, thanks to a simple drag-and-drop builder. It features everything you need to build the logic and structure of your voice app. For aspiring app creators who want to work with Google and Alexa, Voiceflow’s no-code platform is a solid shout.

9. Gumroad

Startups aren’t limited to dropshipping, ecommerce or the glamorous world of tech. Whether you’re a podcast host, an illustrator or a musician, Gumroad offers creatives a straightforward ecommerce solution.

This tool enables you to build a no-code shopping cart for your website and start taking payments immediately. Gumroad has plenty of customisation features that will please creatives. You can edit checkout pages, and create discount codes and coupons.

With affordable plans and low transaction fees, Gumroad is a great choice for anyone just getting started, or startups with low-volume sales.

With no-code platforms, anyone can be a creator

Sure, experienced programmers and developers will always be in-demand. But it’s great to see so many no-code apps and tools that make it possible for non-professionals to follow their entrepreneurial aspirations.

Which of our 9 no-code platforms will you be using for your startup? Let us know in the comments below.

7 no-code myths we are busting

andyspeight06@gmail.com (Andrew Speight) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 13:10:19 GMT

The thing with the internet — as helpful as it is — is that things get taken out of context quicker than you can say the words “world wide web”.

It’s the same for no-code development, unsurprisingly. There are developers out there who believe that by using no-code tools, you’re not authentic. Heck, some even say it’s unsafe while others think it’s not scalable!

We can safely say, none of those are true. And for that reason, we’re here to bust the myths surrounding no-code development.

Myth 1: Customising no-code software is a no-go

No-code platforms use pre-made components and a drag-and-drop interface. So it’s easy to see why some would expect a finished product to be a mere compilation of elements you cannot customise. But this is wrong on so many levels!

Whether building from scratch or modifying a pre-built app, no-code platforms offer an array of tools to create a bespoke application — from simple tracking and reporting capabilities to automated workflows complete with notification triggers.

If your project requires more, however, you do have the option to add 3rd party integrations. If you settle on a no-code platform with an app store, such as Wix, Duda or Shopify, you can add things like local SEO or online booking software to expand your offering.

Note: 3rd party integrations require coding so you will need a developer. This will add several (if not) more days to your project’s timeline.

Which leads us nicely onto…

Myth 2: There’s no flexibility in building no-code platforms

The very reason no-code platforms are here is to provide flexible software creation for non-technical makers. Because of it, gone are the days where you need to spend thousands on software development to achieve your goals.

Take building an e-commerce store on a no-code platform, for example. You choose a template, add your products and start selling — simple! What’s more, the option to add 3rd party integrations twists the flexibility dial further. Did somebody say no-code tools aren’t flexible…

Myth 3: No-code platforms are for small and simple applications

Some believe no-code platforms are incapable of building “real” software. At first glance, they can appear basic, simple and minimalistic. Get under the skin, though, and they’re everything but.

No digital tool is flawless. (Trust us, we’ve tested thousands.) They each have limitations that prevent them from being perfect, and those in the no-code category are no different. But despite this, no-code apps (can) have an extensive range of features and functionality that will serve startups and global organisations alike.

In fact, according to a Forrester Study , most businesses nowadays use no-code platforms to build complex applications. What’s more, these apps appeal to entire teams and multiple departments.

Myth 4: No-code doesn’t allow for collaboration

Traditional software development forces engineers and developers to work in silos. Head down, headphones on — writing line after line of code. Yes, they’ll get together for daily updates, and yes, it’s proven effective, but it’s not the most collaborative.

No-code development, on the other hand, is exciting for everyone involved. From the ideas people to those who fancy their hand at designing — no-code invites wider teams and heck, in some instances, entire businesses to jump on board. All in all, no-code platforms make it possible for everyone to contribute to an innovative and agile project.

Myth 5: There’s no programming needed

Whereas developers code variables to build applications, no-code platforms rely on pre-built elements. This enables anyone with a PC to design, build and test fully-fledged apps without writing code.

This doesn’t mean no-code platforms are anti-code, though. Some more complex tasks, such as adding 3rd party integrations, still require a developer to input code. While this might defeat the point of a no-code platform, it gives you the best of both worlds, and means you can hire a developer towards the end of the build to add the finishing touches. What’s more, a developer will also identify bugs, test, and help scale your application.

Myth 6: No-code doesn’t have the correct security

The assumption of no-code not being secure comes from its simplicity and ease of use. But just because some applications don’t have everything plus the kitchen sink thrown in, it doesn’t mean they aren’t secure.

Take Bubble.io , for example, which keeps its collaborators and users safe with free SSL certificates, multi-factor authentication and secure infrastructure.

Myth 7: No-code apps don’t look like “real” apps

Another myth is that applications built on no-code platforms won’t look as professional (or beautiful) as those build from scratch using UI and UX designers. This stems from no-code platforms being made up of predominantly pre-built components, despite developers being able to add HTML and CSS.

Even without adding custom code, no-code apps can be built with customised UI/UX designs and a dynamic interface — just like those built with code.

No-code is no longer a myth!

No-code application technology is here to stay. And thanks to better software, it’s becoming easier to streamline the development process and build apps that solve business requirements, and meet needs and wants.

To the untrained eye, no-code platforms might look static and incapable of building complex apps. However, their automation and use of pre-built elements provide a more efficient, empowering and cost-effective solution to doing everything from scratch.

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