09/08/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, staying ahead of the curve is essential for brands seeking sustainable growth. One of the latest trends shaking up the eCommerce landscape is "composable commerce." But what exactly is composable commerce, and why should e-commerce brands be thinking about it? While there is a lot of buzz about this idea, it's essential to know if it has the potential to create value for your website. In this blog, we'll dive into the concept, explore its advantages, and offer insights on when to embrace it and when not to.

Composable commerce is a modern approach to building e-commerce ecosystems that prioritizes flexibility and agility. Instead of relying on monolithic, one-size-fits-all solutions, brands can assemble their e-commerce stack using individual, best-in-class components. These components, such as shopping carts, payment gateways, content management systems, and marketing tools, are carefully selected and integrated to create a tailored e-commerce infrastructure.

Why E-commerce Brands Should Embrace Composable Commerce:

Flexibility and Adaptability: E-commerce markets are dynamic and ever-changing. Composable commerce allows brands to swiftly adapt to shifting consumer trends, emerging technologies, and market disruptions. This flexibility is crucial for staying competitive in the digital landscape. Customization: Every e-commerce brand is unique, and composable commerce recognizes this. It enables brands to craft unique customer experiences by selecting and customizing components that align with their business goals and brand identity. Scalability: E-commerce brands often face fluctuating demands, particularly during peak seasons or promotional events. Composable commerce offers the scalability needed to handle sudden spikes in traffic and transactions, ensuring a seamless customer experience. Time-to-Market: Composable commerce accelerates development processes by leveraging pre-built components. Brands can bring new features, updates, and products to market faster, gaining a competitive edge in the race for consumer attention.

When to Use Composable Commerce and When Not to:

Use Composable Commerce When:

• Customization is a Priority: If your brand requires a unique and tailored e-commerce experience to stand out in a competitive market, composable commerce is a suitable choice.
• Agility is Essential: When your business landscape demands rapid adaptation to market changes, adopting composable commerce allows you to stay agile and responsive.
• Scalability is Needed: Brands expecting variable traffic loads or rapid growth benefit from the scalability of composable solutions.

Do Not Use Composable Commerce When:

• Simplicity Suffices: For small e-commerce businesses with straightforward needs and limited resources, simpler solutions may be more cost-effective and manageable.
• Tech Expertise is Lacking: Composable commerce demands technical expertise in selecting, integrating, and maintaining components. Brands without the necessary skills may face challenges.
• Budget Constraints are Tight: While composable commerce can offer a high return on investment, the initial setup and ongoing management may require a more significant upfront investment than straightforward solutions.

Dreaming Code is a partner who can drive your digital success. We provide an industry-leading platform to enable agile and flexible digital experiences. We also offer monthly content services to help you succeed at moving the performance of your digital solution. Our solution consultants are eager to support you in planning, building, and scaling your digital transformation. Schedule to meet us today!

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

07/28/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Sales & Marketing

In the ever-evolving business world, content marketing has proven to be a game-changer for B2C companies looking to connect with their target audience, build brand loyalty, and drive sales. If you're eager to harness the power of content marketing for your B2C business, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential steps and best practices to ensure a successful launch.

Step 1: Know Your Audience Inside Out:

Before diving into content creation, it's crucial to understand your target audience like the back of your hand. Conduct thorough market research to identify your potential customers' preferences, pain points, needs, and desires. Creating detailed buyer personas to help you tailor your content to meet their specific interests is also essential.

Step 2: Identify Your Goals and KPIs:

Establish clear and measurable goals for your content marketing strategy. These objectives include increasing website traffic, generating leads, growing social media followers, boosting brand awareness, and improving sales. By setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), you'll be able to track and measure the success of your content marketing efforts.

Step 3: Types of Content for B2C Content Marketing:

Blogs and Articles: Craft engaging and informative blog posts and articles that address your audience's pain points, answer their questions and offer valuable insights. Use storytelling and compelling visuals to make your content more captivating.
Social Media Content: Utilize the power of social media to connect with your audience on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Create eye-catching visuals, short videos, and engaging captions to spark interest and encourage shares.
Videos: Video content has exploded in popularity, so create product demos, explainer videos, customer testimonials, and behind-the-scenes footage to entertain and inform your audience. Infographics: Present complex information in a visually appealing, easy-to-understand, and shareable format. Infographics can be great for explaining statistics, data, or step-by-step processes.
User-Generated Content (UGC): Encourage customers to share their experiences with your products or services through reviews, photos, and videos. UGC adds authenticity to your brand and builds trust among potential customers.
Email Newsletters: Nurture leads and retain customers by sending personalized and relevant email newsletters. Provide valuable content and exclusive offers to keep subscribers engaged.

Step 4: Content Promotion Strategies:

SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Optimize your website and content for relevant keywords to improve your search engine rankings. This will make it easier for your target audience to find your content organically.
Social Media Engagement: Interact with your audience on social media regularly. Respond to comments, messages, and mentions to foster community and build stronger relationships with your followers.
Social Media Advertising: Utilize paid advertising on social media platforms to reach a larger audience, promote your content, and drive traffic to your website.
Influencer Marketing: Collaborate with influencers who align with your brand to extend your reach and credibility. Influencers can introduce your products to their followers in an authentic and relatable way.
Partnerships and Collaborations: Align with other businesses or organizations to co-create content, host joint events, or run promotions. This cross-promotion can introduce your brand to new audiences.

Step 5: Measure, Analyze, and Refine:

Consistently monitor the performance of your content marketing efforts using analytics tools. Measure critical metrics such as website traffic, social media engagement, conversion rates, and ROI. Analyze the data to identify what types of content and promotional strategies are driving the best results. Use this information to refine your content marketing strategy continually.

Launching a successful B2C content marketing strategy requires dedication, creativity, and adaptability. By understanding your audience, creating valuable content, and promoting it strategically, you can build a loyal customer base and propel your B2C business to new heights of success. Remember to stay agile and adjust your approach as needed to stay ahead in the dynamic world of content marketing.

Dreaming Code is a partner who can lead your digital success. We provide an industry-leading platform to enable agile and flexible digital experiences. We also provide knowledge to help you succeed at driving the performance of your digital solution.

Dreaming Code has an experienced team of solution consultants and website designers who support our customers 24/7. Our customers also always have access to our team, and we are always here to provide guidance. If you fail, then we do not succeed. Please schedule an appointment if you want more information on how to support your eCommerce site best.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

06/15/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Sales & Marketing

Setting goals for your email marketing efforts is an important step in creating a focused and measurable strategy. Starting an email marketing strategy from scratch can seem challenging and a long process. Like with any business strategy, it is important to isolate what email marketing needs to achieve and align some achievable goals so that you can set a great strategy.

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you set effective goals for your email marketing campaigns:

1. Define your overall business objectives: Start by understanding your broader business goals. What are you aiming to achieve with your digital marketing efforts? Examples could include increasing sales, generating leads, improving customer retention, or boosting website traffic.
2. Align email marketing goals with business objectives: Once you have identified your business objectives, determine how email marketing can contribute to those goals. For instance, if your objective is to increase sales, your email marketing goal might be to drive more conversions through targeted promotional campaigns.
3. Cost optimization: E-commerce shipping solutions often provide tools to help you optimize shipping costs. They offer rate comparison features that allow you to select the most cost-effective shipping options based on the package's weight, dimensions, and destination. It helps you save money on shipping expenses and improves your overall profitability.
4. Make your goals SMART: Ensure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). This means clearly defining what you want to achieve, setting specific metrics to track progress, making sure your goals are realistic and attainable, ensuring they align with your overall business objectives, and setting a timeline to achieve them.
5. Choose relevant key performance indicators (KPIs): Identify the metrics that will help you measure the success of your email marketing campaigns. Common KPIs include open rates, click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, revenue generated, unsubscribe rates, and engagement metrics like time spent on your website or the number of pages visited.
6. Set specific targets: Once you have defined your KPIs, set specific targets or benchmarks for each metric. These targets will serve as milestones to track your progress and determine the success of your campaigns. For example, you may aim to increase your email open rate by 10% within three months or achieve a 5% increase in click-through rates.
7. Continuously monitor and adjust: Regularly track and analyze the performance of your email campaigns against your goals and KPIs. If you find that you're not meeting your targets, consider making adjustments to your strategy, content, or audience segmentation to improve results.
8. Iterate and optimize: As you gather data and insights from your campaigns, use that information to refine and optimize your email marketing strategy. Test different approaches, content variations, subject lines, and calls-to-action to improve your email performance and achieve better results over time.

Remember, setting goals for email marketing is an ongoing process. As your business evolves and your marketing landscape changes, regularly review and update your goals to ensure they remain aligned with your overall business objectives.

Dreaming Code is a partner who can lead your digital success. We provide an industry-leading platform to enable agile and flexible digital experiences. We also provide knowledge to help you succeed at driving the performance of your digital solution.

Dreaming Code has an experienced team of solution consultants and website designers who support our customers 24/7. Our customers also always have access to our team, and we are always here to provide guidance. If you fail, then we do not succeed. Please schedule an appointment if you want more information on how to support your eCommerce site best.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

05/18/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Helpdesk & Support

In today's digital era, where engagement is critical, businesses must prioritize delivering a seamless online experience to their customers. One crucial aspect of this experience is page load speed, and Slow-loading websites can harm user satisfaction, engagement, and, ultimately, business success.

This blog post will delve into the importance of page load speed for a business website and its profound influence on customer experience. We will also discuss the negative consequences of neglecting page load speed and explore ways to measure its success.

The Significance of Page Load Speed

Page load speed refers to the time it takes for a webpage to load its content entirely. It directly affects user experience, as faster load times contribute to a smoother and more enjoyable browsing experience. Here are some reasons why page load speed is vital for a business website:

1. Enhanced User Experience: Customers expect instant access to information and a seamless browsing experience. Faster load times reduce frustration, improve engagement, and increase the likelihood of visitors staying on your site longer, exploring your content, and converting into customers.
2. Improved Search Engine Rankings: Search engines like Google consider page load speed as one of the factors in their ranking algorithms. Websites with faster load times rank higher in search results, leading to increased visibility and organic traffic.
3. Decreased Bounce Rates: Slow-loading websites often lead to high bounce rates, where visitors leave your site quickly without engaging further. A fast-loading website captures and retains user attention, decreasing bounce rates and increasing the chances of conversions and repeat visits.
4. Mobile-Friendly Experience: With the rise of mobile browsing, optimizing page load speed becomes even more critical. Mobile users need more patience for slow-loading pages, and a fast mobile experience can significantly impact customer satisfaction and engagement.

Negative Impacts of Neglecting Page Load Speed

Failing to manage page load speed can have several negative consequences for a business website:

1. Reduced User Engagement: Slow-loading pages frustrate users, leading to decreased engagement and higher abandonment rates. Visitors are more likely to seek alternative websites that offer a smoother browsing experience.
2. Negative Brand Perception: A sluggish website can reflect poorly on your brand. Users may perceive your business as outdated, unprofessional, or needing more attention to detail. This negative perception can damage your brand reputation and hinder customer trust.
3. Decreased Conversion Rates: Every second counts in the digital world, and slow load times can significantly impact conversion rates, as potential customers may abandon their purchase or sign-up processes before completion. This translates into missed opportunities and possible revenue loss.
4. Adverse SEO Impact: Search engines prioritize delivering a positive user experience. Slow-loading websites may receive lower search rankings, reducing organic visibility and potential traffic.

Measuring the Success of Page Load Speed

To measure the success of page load speed optimization, consider the following metrics:

1. Page Load Time: Measure the time it takes for a webpage to load fully using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, Pingdom, or GTmetrix. Aim for a load time of three seconds or less for optimal performance.
2. Bounce Rate: Analyze your website's bounce rate using tools like Google Analytics. A high bounce rate may indicate slow load times or a poor user experience, highlighting the need for improvements.
3. Conversion Rates: Monitor your website's conversion rates and compare them before and after implementing page load speed optimizations. If conversion rates improve, faster load times positively impact customer actions.
4. User Experience Metrics: Utilize tools like Google Analytics or heatmaps to assess user behavior, such as time on page, scroll depth, and click patterns. Positive changes in these metrics indicate an improved user experience resulting from a faster load.

Dreaming Code is a partner who can lead your digital success. We provide an industry-leading platform to enable agile and flexible digital experiences. We also provide knowledge to help you succeed at driving the performance of your digital solution. Our solution consultants are eager to support you to plan, build and scale your digital transformation.

Dreaming Code has an experienced team of solution consultants and website designers who support our customers 24/7. Our customers also always have access to our team, and we are always here to provide guidance. If you fail, then we do not succeed. Please schedule an appointment if you want more information on how to support your eCommerce site best.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

05/12/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Sales & Marketing

When considering strategies to help drive website visits, content is king. A well-crafted content strategy can help you reach your target audience, build brand awareness, and increase engagement. But creating content on the fly can be stressful and ineffective, and this is where a content calendar comes in handy. It is a tool to organize and plan your content marketing efforts over a set period, typically a month or quarter.

Why is a content calendar important?

1. Consistency: One of the most critical factors in content marketing is consistency. A content calendar helps you plan and organize your content in advance, making maintaining a consistent publishing schedule easier.
2. Organization: A content calendar helps you keep track of your content ideas, themes, and topics. This makes it easier to avoid duplicating content and ensures all content aligns with your marketing goals.
3. Collaboration: A content calendar can help ensure everyone is on the same page if you work in a team. You can easily share the calendar with your team, assign tasks, and track progress.

What should be included in a content calendar?

1. Dates: Your content calendar should include a list of dates for your planning period. This could consist of essential holidays, events, or product launches.
2. Content topics: Your calendar should list issues you plan to cover. This will help you organize your content and cover all your key themes.
3. Content formats: Your calendar should also indicate the type of content you plan to publish. This could include blog posts, videos, infographics, and social media posts.
4. Assignments: If you are working in a team, assigning tasks and responsibilities to team members is important. Your content calendar should indicate who is responsible for creating each piece of content.
5. Promotion plan: Your calendar should also include a plan for how you will promote each piece of content. This could include social media promotion, email marketing, or paid advertising.

How to build a content calendar?

1. Define your goals: Define your marketing goals and the audience you want to reach. This will help you identify the type of content you need to create and the platforms you need to use.
2. Choose your format: There are many content calendar templates available online. Please choose a design that works best for you: a spreadsheet or a digital calendar.
3. Add important dates: Add important dates, such as holidays or product launches, to your calendar.
4. Plan your content: Use your goals and audience research to plan your content. Include content topics, formats, and assignments.
5. Promote your content: Plan how to promote each piece of content, including social media promotion and email marketing.

A content calendar is valuable for any marketer or business owner, and it can help you stay organized, maintain consistency, and achieve your marketing goals. Following the steps outlined above, you can create a content calendar that works for your business and helps you achieve your marketing objectives. Remember, a well-organized content calendar can help take your content marketing efforts to the next level.

Have the Dreaming Code solutions team show you how to build a content calendar that can perform. This is included for customers using our Content Marketing service to drive their web rank and visits.

Dreaming Code has an experienced team of solution consultants and website designers who support our customers 24/7. Our customers also always have access to our team, and we are always here to provide guidance. If you fail, then we do not succeed. Please schedule an appointment if you want more information on how to support your eCommerce site best.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

05/09/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Sales & Marketing

In today's digital world, content marketing has become essential to any successful website brand strategy. But how do you measure the performance of your content marketing efforts? In this blog post, we'll discuss some examples of concrete goals for content marketing performance and outline various strategies to measure your success.

Examples of Good Goals for Content Marketing Performance:

1. Increased Website Traffic: One of the most common goals of content marketing is to drive more traffic to your website. The more people visit your website, the more opportunities you have to convert them into customers.
2. Increased Engagement: Another critical goal of content marketing is to increase engagement with your audience. You want to create content that resonates with your audience and encourages them to engage with your brand.
3. Increased Conversions: The ultimate goal of content marketing is to generate more conversions. Whether in the form of leads, sales, or other conversions, you want your content to drive actions that benefit your business.

Strategies to Measure Content Marketing Performance:

1. Website Analytics: One of the most essential tools for measuring content marketing performance is website analytics. You can use tools like Google Analytics to track metrics like website traffic, bounce rate, time on site, and more. By analyzing this data, you can better understand how your content is performing and make adjustments as needed.
2. Social Media Metrics: Another critical area to measure is social media metrics. You can use tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Sprout Social to track metrics like likes, comments, shares, and engagement rates. By understanding how your content is performing on social media, you can adjust your strategy to reach your audience better.
3. Conversion Tracking: To measure the ultimate goal of content marketing – conversions – you need to set up conversion tracking. This involves tracking users' actions on your website, such as filling out a form, making a purchase, or signing up for a newsletter. You can see how your content impacts your bottom line by following these actions.
4. Content Performance Metrics: Finally, you can track the performance of individual pieces of content. You can use tools like Google Analytics, Buzzsumo, or Ahrefs to track metrics like page views, social shares, and backlinks. By understanding which pieces of content are performing well, you can replicate that success in future content.

Measuring the performance of your content marketing efforts is crucial to understanding what's working and what's not. By setting clear goals and using various strategies to measure your success, you can continually improve your content marketing strategy and drive more business results. Remember to analyze your website analytics, social media metrics, conversion tracking, and content performance metrics to get a complete picture of your content's performance. With this information, you can make data-driven decisions to improve your content marketing strategy and achieve your business goals.

To learn more about how outbound marketing automation can benefit your business, reach out to the DreamingCode solutions team, who can provide more insight on a product that can help your marketing efforts and act as experts to help you plug those products into your website.

Dreaming Code has an experienced team of solution consultants and website designers who support our customers 24/7. Our customers also always have access to our team, and we are always here to provide guidance. If you fail, then we do not succeed. Please schedule an appointment if you want more information on how to support your eCommerce site best.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

04/26/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Sales & Marketing

Content marketing has become an essential aspect of any successful online marketing strategy. It's creating and sharing valuable content with your target audience to build brand awareness, engagement, and loyalty. However, creating a solid content marketing strategy for small to medium-sized businesses can take time and effort.

What is Content Marketing as a Service?

Content Marketing as a Service (CMaaS) is an innovative solution for brands that don't have or don't want to build their content marketing strategy. It's a turnkey solution that allows businesses to outsource their content marketing, including everything from strategy development to content creation, distribution, and measurement. It provides an end-to-end content marketing solution for businesses of all sizes.
Building a successful content marketing strategy requires many skills, including content creation, graphic design, SEO, social media marketing, and analytics. Building this capability in-house can be difficult and costly for small businesses with limited resources. Even larger companies may need help to allocate the necessary resources to create and implement a successful content marketing strategy.
Identifying a content marketing partner is a cost-effective and efficient way to achieve the desired results without investing in building the capability in-house. A provider has the expertise, tools, and resources to create a successful content marketing strategy that aligns with a brand's goals and objectives.

Building a content marketing strategy

Content marketing aims to drive web visitors, convert them to leads, and build a reputation for your website. But how do you get started with building a content strategy that works? Here are some critical steps to consider:

Ideal customer profile: First, it's essential to understand your target audience. To do this, you need to create a perfect customer profile (ICP) that outlines the characteristics of your target customer. This includes demographics, job titles, industry, and pain points. This ICP will be the foundation for your marketing strategy, guiding your decisions on content creation, distribution, and messaging.
Buyer Personas: Now, you need to identify buyer personas. Buyer personas are fictional representations of your ideal customers, and they help you understand their needs, preferences, and behaviors. This information is critical for creating targeted, relevant content that resonates with your audience.
Marketing Funnel: As you develop content, it's essential to consider the marketing funnel. The marketing funnel is a model that describes the journey a prospect goes through before making a purchase or engaging in service. A simple funnel can work for most businesses and is three stages: awareness, consideration, and decision.

At the top of the funnel, the awareness stage, your content should focus on educating your audience and building brand awareness. This could include blog posts, social media updates, and infographics.

In the consideration stage, your prospects are evaluating your product or service. Your content at this stage should provide in-depth information about your offerings, including case studies, product demos, and webinars. Finally, at the decision stage, your prospects are ready to purchase. Your content should focus on helping them decide, such as offering a free trial or a demo of your product.

Content creation

Once you have a marketing content strategy, the next step is creating content that will engage and convert your target audience. Here are some key steps to consider when creating your content:

First, it's essential to identify keywords that will be part of the overall SEO strategy. This involves doing keyword research to determine your target audience's search terms for information related to your products or services. Incorporating these keywords into your content can improve your website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Secondly, it's essential to develop a content calendar. A content calendar is a schedule that outlines the topics, formats, and distribution channels for your content. This ensures that you have a consistent flow of content that aligns with your marketing goals and target audience.

Good content asset types to help move prospects through the funnel include:

Blog posts: These are a great way to attract visitors to your website and provide educational content that can move them down the funnel. The content should be focused on solving a problem or answering a question that potential buyers are interested in.

E-books: E-books are a more in-depth content asset that provides detailed information about your products or services.

How to articles: By providing helpful information, potential buyers are more likely to trust the company and engage with the brand. A "how to" article can also help build brand awareness and demonstrate the company's expertise. This type of content is also great for search engine optimization (SEO), as it can help to drive more organic traffic to the website.

Case studies: Case studies are a powerful way to demonstrate the value of your products or services by showcasing real-world examples of how they have helped other customers.

Publishing and promoting content

Once you have created high-quality content, the next step is to publish and promote it to drive traffic to your website. Here are some fundamental principles to follow: You must focus on engaging your audience when publishing and promoting your content. This means tailoring your content to your target audience's needs and preferences and promoting it on the channels where they are most active.

Audience building is crucial for driving traffic to your website to speed up engagement. This involves building a community of engaged followers across different social media platforms and email lists. By regularly sharing your content with your audience, you can encourage them to visit your website and engage with your brand.

Another strategy to drive awareness is email marketing, as it can build awareness of your target audience and drive engagement with your content. By sending regular newsletters and email campaigns that feature your latest content to prospects, you can drive the audience to click through to your website and engage with calls to action when they want more info. Others may not convert but value being 'nurturing' when they need or intend to purchase.

Landing pages are essential for converting website visitors into leads. A landing page is a specific page on your website designed to capture visitors' information in exchange for content like an e-book or whitepaper. Creating compelling landing pages can entice visitors to engage in a call to action and enter your sales funnel.

Analytics are critical for measuring the performance of your content marketing efforts and optimizing their performance. By tracking metrics such as website traffic, engagement rates, and conversion rates, you can identify which content assets are performing well and adjust your strategy accordingly.

The expected results of a successful content marketing campaign include increased website traffic, higher engagement rates, and increased lead generation and conversion rates. By consistently publishing high-quality content and promoting it across different channels, you can build a solid online presence, engage your audience, and drive more traffic to your website.

In conclusion, Dreaming Code CMaaS offers an innovative solution for businesses looking to enhance their content marketing efforts without investing in building the capability in-house. The service provides a turnkey solution that covers every aspect of content marketing, allowing businesses to focus on their core competencies while leaving the marketing to the experts.

Dreaming Code is excited to launch Content marketing as a service to help drive traffic to your website, convert visitors, and build your online reputation. Our solution experts will work with you to create the strategy and help you execute a growth strategy so that you can focus on your business.

Dreaming Code has an experienced team of solution consultants and website designers who support our customers 24/7. Our customers also always have access to our team, and we are always here to provide guidance. If you fail, then we do not succeed. Please schedule an appointment if you want more information on how to support your eCommerce site best.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

04/11/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Web design constantly evolves, with new trends and styles emerging every year. In 2023, several recent web design trends dominate the industry. These trends not only improve the aesthetics of websites but also improve the user experience. In this article, we'll explore four of the latest trends in website design.

Dark Mode:
Dark mode has been growing in popularity over the past few years and is expected to be one of the biggest web design trends of 2023. With dark mode, websites use a dark background instead of a light one. It can reduce eye strain and improve text readability, especially in low-light environments. Also, a dark mode can create a sleek, sophisticated look that appeals to many users.

3D Elements:
In 2023, we can expect more websites to incorporate 3D elements into their design. With technological advancements, creating 3D graphics has become easier and more accessible. Adding 3D features can create a more immersive and engaging user experience. For example, a website might use 3D graphics to create an interactive product demonstration or showcase a work portfolio.

Personalization:
Personalization is becoming increasingly important in web design. In 2023, we can expect to see more websites incorporating personalized elements, such as customized content based on the user's preferences and behavior. It can include personalized product recommendations, customized search results, and personalized landing pages. Personalization can create a more engaging and relevant user experience, increasing engagement and conversions.

These are just a few of the latest trends in web design that are relatively straightforward to implement. Other notable trends include mobile-first design, voice user interfaces, and augmented reality, with high levels of complexity associated with their implementation. By incorporating these trends into their websites, designers can create engaging, immersive, and user-friendly experiences that meet the needs of today's consumers.

Dreaming Code has an experienced team of solution consultants and website designers who support our customers 24/7. Our customers also always have access to our team, and we are always here to provide guidance. If you fail, then we do not succeed. Please schedule an appointment if you want more information on how to support your eCommerce site best.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

04/03/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Calls to action (CTAs) and landing pages are two essential components of a successful digital marketing strategy. CTAs are critical elements in any website and play a crucial role in driving conversions. Calls to action are the text, images, or buttons that prompt the visitor to take action, such as subscribing to your newsletter, making a purchase, or downloading a freebie. A landing page, on the other hand, is a dedicated page that a user lands on after clicking on a CTA. The landing page is designed to guide the user toward the desired outcome.

So, what makes a successful call to action? A call to action should be clear and concise, and it should be easy to understand. It should also be visually appealing, as this will draw the visitor's attention and prompt them to take action. Additionally, the CTA should be specific, making it easier for visitors to understand what they need to do.

When it comes to deciding on the right calls to action for your website, there are a few key factors to consider:

1. Consider your target audience and the action you want them to take.
2. Choose a call to action that will best encourage that action.
3. Consider your language, as this will help ensure the CTA is compelling.

There are several types of calls to action that you can use on your website. Here are some of the most common:

• Sign Up/Subscribe: A sign-up or subscribe CTA encourages visitors to sign up for a newsletter, blog, or mailing list.
• Buy Now: A buy now CTA prompts visitors to purchase a product or service.
• Download: A download CTA encourages visitors to download a document like a PDF or an e-book.
• Contact Us: A contact us CTA prompts visitors to contact you.
• Follow Us: A follow us CTA encourages visitors to follow your social media accounts.
• Learn More: A learn more CTA encourages visitors to read about a particular product or service.
• Join Our Community: A join our community CTA encourages visitors to join a conversation or community.

When creating a successful call to action, remember to keep it clear and concise, visually appealing, and specific. Additionally, consider the needs of your target audience and the action you want them to take. These tips will help ensure your calls to action are practical and successful.

The CTA and landing page work together to create a seamless user experience that encourages the user to take action. Here's how it works:

1. The CTA: A user sees a CTA on your website or in an advertisement. The CTA is designed to be eye-catching and persuasive, using language communicating the benefit of taking the desired action.
2. The Click: The user clicks on the CTA, which takes them to a landing page designed to convert that user. This landing page is focused on one specific action, making it more likely that the user will take that action.
3. The Conversion: The landing page is optimized for conversion, using persuasive language, images, and social proof to encourage the user to take the desired action, whether making a purchase, filling out a form, or subscribing to a newsletter.

Using CTAs and landing pages together, you can create a streamlined user experience focused on converting visitors into customers. When designing your landing pages, keeping the user journey in mind is essential, making it as easy as possible for the user to take the desired action. Additionally, you want to ensure the landing page is consistent with the CTA, using the same language, design, and messaging. With the right CTAs and landing pages, you can create a robust digital marketing strategy that drives conversions and helps you grow your business.

Dreaming Code helps support its customers with foundational e-commerce marketing principles and strategies to enable your digital business to grow. We are committed to providing a robust platform and consulting support to help you realize your goals. Using our content marketing as a service, Dreaming Code can help you focus your marketing messaging and drive visitor engagement.

If you want to learn more about payments and solutions to power your online store, please schedule an appointment today!

To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

02/24/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Top Tips to Protect Your Business in 2023

Small and medium businesses (SMBs) are increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks, data breaches, and other security threats. SMBs are especially vulnerable as they are frequently targeted and typically have limited advanced resources to focus on the ever-present threat. Protecting your business by having a secure network to keep your data and assets safe is essential. But just as important, you need to develop a security checklist that outlines the steps and tasks you need to take to ensure your business is secure and resilient. This will review some of the risks and provide a comprehensive checklist to guide business leaders to protect their companies.

What are some top cybersecurity risks to my business?

Businesses need to realize the importance of cyber security as it can have a devastating effect on their operations. Small businesses have become frequent targets for cybercriminals, as they often need more resources or knowledge to protect themselves. These risks are exposed by bad security configurations and a lack of awareness of exposed systems. Being deliberate and vigilant about risks is the first step. Cyber security risks can include anything from data theft to ransomware attacks, and small businesses need to be aware of these risks and take steps to protect themselves.

Phishing and social engineering: Phishing is one of the most common cyber security risks for small businesses. It involves cyber criminals sending emails to small businesses that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks or online suppliers. These emails contain malicious links or attachments that can infect a computer or network with malware. In most cases, the hacker might use the phone, email, snail mail, or direct contact to gain illegal access. Phishing, spear phishing, and CEO Fraud are all examples.

Data Breaches can occur when hackers access a company's confidential information. This information can include customer records, financial data, or other sensitive data. Data breaches can be devastating for small businesses, as the cost of a breach can be high in terms of both money and reputation.

Malware is malicious software used to gain access to a computer or network. It is used to steal data, delete files, or gain computer control. Malware is often spread through links in emails or on websites, and small businesses need the proper security measures to protect themselves.

Unsecure Networks can be a significant security risk for small businesses. Open Wi-Fi networks, for example, can be easily accessed by cyber criminals and used to gain access to a company's confidential information. Therefore, small businesses must ensure that all of their networks are secure and all users are properly authenticated.

“The World Economic Forum finds that in the next five years, a 15% increase in cybercrime costs will reach 10.5 trillion by 2025. On average, SMBs today spend between $826 and $653,587 on cybersecurity incidents."

While cyber insurance is available to mitigate some of the risks, it is difficult to recover a business's reputation. Businesses of all sizes must take proactive steps to ensure their data is secure and their systems are protected from malicious activity. By implementing the appropriate security measures, businesses can reduce the risk of costly data breaches and keep their operations running smoothly.

What are the steps to implementing a Cyber Security Checklist?

A security plan can help protect small businesses from these risks. It's essential to have the proper security measures, such as antivirus software, secure networks, and data encryption. It's also necessary to ensure that all your employees know the risks and how to respond to potential threats. Without the proper security measures, small businesses could face devastating data, money, and reputation losses.

The first reality is that all businesses must acknowledge the expectation a breach will happen. This realization should be the motivating factor to create, implement and continuously update the plan. Here are some tips for creating a practical security checklist for your small business.

1. Map Your Environment: The first step in creating an SMB security plan is to map your environment. This includes understanding your network's architecture, devices, and applications. Identifying potential vulnerabilities in your network, such as open ports, weak passwords, or outdated software, is also essential. Businesses must look at their network and include their facilities and physical security to help prevent security risks.
2. Train Employees: Educating your employees on security policies and procedures is also essential in creating an SMB security checklist. Ensure your employees understand the importance of strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and secure data sharing. They should also know how to spot potential scams and phishing emails. Having a personnel security policy and providing employees with regular updates is a significant step to help prevent security attacks and breaches.
3. Implement a Defensive Plan: You must develop a defensive plan to protect your business from security threats. Policies that ensure all employees use multifactor authentication are essential. It is vital to cover all endpoints and networks using antivirus software on devices, and protecting all endpoints, is also necessary. It's important to restrict who has access to essential data and the authority of software installs.
4. Maintain Good Security Governance: This is essential for any security checklist. This “hygiene" includes regularly scanning for vulnerabilities, monitoring suspicious activity, and periodically updating your systems. It also consists of the continuous backup of all critical data sources to your operations. This includes not only your backend systems but also your email and even your website assets. It also helps you audit your network regularly to ensure security policies and procedures are adequately enforced.
5. Develop a Response Plan: Lastly, you need to develop a response plan that can be based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework. This includes developing a plan for responding to a potential breach, such as identifying and containing the risk and recovering any lost data. This plan should include the following:


• Identify the plan's scope that determines the types of incidents that will be addressed and the resources available to respond.
• Establish incident response roles and responsibilities that need to be created. These responsibilities are to individuals or teams to ensure that the incident response plan is implemented correctly.
• Develop incident response procedures for each type of incident addressed in the plan, including steps for gathering evidence, mitigating the incident, and reporting to external entities.
• Establish incident escalation procedures for elevating the response to more senior personnel if the incident warrants it.
• Develop incident reporting procedures for external entities such as law enforcement or other regulatory bodies. This also involves the notification of customers, partners, and your team.
• Train personnel on the plan so they understand their roles and responsibilities. This includes testing the plan by simulating different incidents and evaluating the effectiveness of the response.
• Document the plan in writing and store it securely.
• Regularly review and update the program to ensure that it remains effective and up to date.

At Dreaming Code, we offer a range of cybersecurity solutions from leading providers for small businesses. We also take this very seriously by protecting your instance of our product with only the top industry partners and consultants.

Our team of experienced security consultants can help you develop a security plan tailored to your business's needs. We also offer 24/7 Radical Support, so you can rest assured that your business will always receive top-level protection. Contact us today if you need help with your cyber security plan.

To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.

To learn more about the Dreaming Code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

02/07/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Google Shopping is an online marketing platform that allows eCommerce brands to promote their products and services to a wide range of customers. Through Google Shopping, brands can list their products and services, allowing customers to discover and purchase the items they need quickly. This makes it a powerful tool for eCommerce brands to increase sales and brand exposure.

Google Shopping exists to make it easier for shoppers to find the products they need. It is a platform where shoppers can search for products and compare prices from brands and retailers. Customers can get the best deal possible, making it easier for them to purchase what they need inside a single marketplace.

The platform can be a great way for eCommerce brands to promote and provide offers to their customers in a very easy manner. This is also known as a Comparison Shopping Engine (CSE). Google Shopping results show up as thumbnail images that display each product's retailer and price. It allows them to get their products in front of more customers and increase their visibility in the marketplace. It can also help brands build trust with customers by showing them their product offerings and reviews.

For businesses looking to set up Google Shopping, there are several steps to follow:

1. Create a Merchant Center account to manage your product listings and campaigns.
2. Upload your product data. You must provide detailed product information, such as titles, descriptions, images, and prices.
3. Set up your campaigns. You can use the Merchant Center to create campaigns and bid on keywords to ensure your products appear alongside relevant search results.
4. Monitor and optimize. Monitor your campaigns to ensure they run effectively and make necessary adjustments.

Google Shopping can be an excellent tool for eCommerce brands looking to increase sales and brand exposure. It enables businesses to appear more prominent in SERPs and tailor their product listings to reach the right customers. By following the steps outlined above, companies can set up Google Shopping and start reaping the rewards.

Dreaming Code has helped several online businesses configure and efficiently manage this channel to generate sales, test new ways to market, and improve their reach to market segments. The DreamingCode eCommerce product integrates with Google Shopping.

Set an appointment with us today to learn more about this exciting marketing channel.

To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.

To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.

01/31/2023

Posted By: Tripti Rijhwani

Sales & Marketing

Introduction

In the first part of this review, the focus was low-lift and high-impact ways to grow revenue and reach profitably. Dreaming Code's two-part review of key trends for 2023 focuses on user experiences and building more robust and purposeful connections between brands and their audiences. These trends will be paramount to enabling target audiences and customers to interact with brands anywhere, anytime, and on their terms.

AI and automation in eCommerce are now extending beyond chatbots. These technologies personalize the customer experience, optimize pricing and inventory management, and improve customer service. As technology advances, businesses can expect to see more innovative ways to leverage AI to improve their operations and customer experiences.

Omnichannel experiences always get attention, as customers expect seamless, cohesive experiences across different touchpoints. This trend continuously pushes businesses to focus on providing consistent, personalized experiences across online, in-store, and mobile channels.

Finally, a trend that is both purposeful and fresh. Sustainable eCommerce is becoming more important as consumers are more aware of the environmental impact of their purchases, and businesses are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. While a brand may be focused in its regional market, the chain of where products and services come from and eventually end up have implications for a more sustainable future.

These trends will help businesses continuously embrace new ideas to remain competitive in the ever-changing eCommerce landscape. Brands need to be deliberate about their purpose and curate experiences for their customers that will be memorable and valuable. We will dive deeper into these ideas and explain how they can create impact and value for your brand in 2023.

AI and automation will go beyond customer service.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation play a significant role in the e-commerce industry today. Beyond the everyday use of chatbots, these technologies can also be used to personalize the customer experience, optimize pricing and inventory management, and improve customer service. AI-powered recommendation systems, for example, can analyze customer data and browsing history to suggest personalized product recommendations.

In terms of pricing and inventory management, AI can help businesses optimize prices based on real-time market data and demand, track inventory levels, and predict future direction. This allows companies to make data-driven decisions, increasing efficiency, and profitability.

AI-powered image and voice recognition, natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning algorithms are being used to improve product search and make it more accurate, efficient, and genuine.

As technology advances, we can expect to see even more innovative ways businesses leverage AI to improve their operations and customer experiences. Some examples include:

• Automated product categorization and tagging
• Predictive maintenance and logistics optimization
• Fraud detection and prevention

Overall, AI and automation have the potential to revolutionize the e-commerce industry, improving the customer experience, increasing efficiency and profitability for businesses, and making it more convenient for customers to shop online.

Experiences anywhere

Omnichannel experiences are getting attention because customers today expect seamless and cohesive experiences across different touchpoints. Harvard Business Review observed the shopping behaviors of 46,000 consumers and found that around 73% of consumers prefer shopping through multiple channels. Comparatively, 7% of consumers shop online exclusively, and 20% shop merely in-store.

The exponential use of digital channels and the increasing use of smartphones, tablets, and other devices have created more opportunities for customers to interact with brands across different channels. This has led to a shift in customer expectations, as they now expect businesses to provide consistent and personalized experiences across all channels.

Omnichannel means so much today as it allows customers to move between channels, such as online, in-store, and mobile, without interruption. For example, customers who start browsing a website on their computer can continue browsing on their mobile device and then make a purchase in-store. This type of experience is becoming increasingly important as customers expect to be able to engage with brands across different channels and devices. Here is a checklist to help understand omnichannel:

• Businesses need to focus on providing consistent and personalized experiences. This means aligning brand messaging, offers, and promotions across channels and using customer data to personalize the experience for each customer.
• Brands should also focus on providing a seamless and consistent shopping experience across channels, allowing customers to view their order history, track shipments, and make returns across channels.
• Omnichannel experiences also require businesses to have a good view of the customer journey and be able to use the data from each channel to create a holistic customer profile. Companies can use the data to personalize the experience and offer personalized recommendations.

Providing an omnichannel experience can deliver benefits, such as increased customer loyalty, higher conversion rates, and increased revenue. It can also help companies build stronger relationships with their customers by providing a more convenient and satisfying shopping experience.

Mission for sustainability

By 2025, the global eCommerce plastic packaging waste is projected to rise to 4,533 million pounds. Sustainable e-commerce refers to operating an online business environmentally and socially responsibly, and it involves reducing the environmental impact of the company and promoting ethical and fair business practices.

There are several ways to start making your e-commerce business more sustainable in 2023, including:

1. Reducing waste: Implementing sustainable packaging and shipping methods can reduce waste and minimize the environmental impact of your business. This can include using biodegradable or recyclable packaging materials and eco-friendly shipping methods such as electric vehicles.
2. Improving energy efficiency: Implementing energy-efficient practices in your business operations can help to reduce your carbon footprint. This can include using renewable energy sources, implementing energy-saving technologies, and reducing energy consumption in your warehouse and office.
3. Promoting ethical and fair business practices: Ensuring that your products are ethically sourced and produced and that your suppliers adhere to acceptable labor practices is essential to sustainable e-commerce.
4. Supporting sustainable causes: Many customers are looking for businesses that align with their values and support sustainable causes. Consider partnering with organizations working to protect the environment or donate a portion of your profits to sustainable causes.
5. Transparency: Be transparent with your customers about your sustainable practices and efforts to reduce environmental impact. Communicate your values and the steps you are taking to be more sustainable.
6. Continual improvement: Continuously review and improve your sustainability practices, and incorporate feedback from customers and suppliers.

Remember, sustainable e-commerce is a journey that may not happen overnight. It's a process of continuous improvement and learning. Taking small steps can make a big difference in creating a more sustainable and socially responsible business. This does not need a significant investment in real dollars. Still, the impact can be created with a sustained commitment to continuously make more efforts to improve so that employees, customers, and other stakeholders will appreciate and reward your business.

Conclusion

2023 will see brands focus on efficient means to grow their sales and on ways to enhance the connections that a brand has with its customers. The trends we covered represent ideas that a brand can embrace to provide growth and sustainability for its business. By focusing on basics and using technology and data to guide your strategy, brands can achieve very positive outcomes quickly. When all these platforms and trends are used together, eCommerce brands can interact with greater clarity and develop focused strategies to leverage that data to grow existing and new revenue streams.

Dreaming Code helps brands enable a feature-rich eCommerce for their customers using our industry-leading SaaS product. With minimal configuration and access to our solutions consulting team, we package processes, services, and results to enable brands to succeed, all for a straightforward monthly fee. Feel free to contact us to set up a consultation with us today.

To learn more about how we can help your business, schedule an appointment with one of our solution experts today.

To learn more about the Dreaming code eCommerce platform visit: http://dreamingcode.com.