Artificial intelligence and its components, including concepts like natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML), are already being leveraged to automate and enhance the many aspects of eCommerce. If you as an eCommerce business wish to stay ahead of the curve, it is time for you to explore the evolving concept of AI and embrace it in order to be at the forefront of digital evolution.

Let us first understand the different roles that AI can play in eCommerce, what its different facets are, and how AI can reshape the way you run your eCommerce business.

Give your visitors a personalized experience

AI algorithms, as you would have guessed by now, are far smarter than us mere mortals. From an eCommerce perspective, AI algorithms can accurately analyze all the accumulated business data and customer journeys to identify buying intent, recommend relevant products and services to your visitors, custom-design digital marketing campaigns and strategies for you, and even give you custom landing page layout recommendations. Imagine the sheer level of personalization that is possible with AI! If you wish to take the next step towards offering your website or app visitors with the best possible browsing and shopping experience, it would be wise to invest in this technology today.

Give your customer support team a breather

AI-enabled chatbots has truly revolutionized the way customer support teams function today. You can rely heavily on these chatbots to assist your website visitors or app users with instant responses to their queries, on-demand support, grievance resolution, and assistance with buying decisions. The best part about AI-powered chatbots is that you don’t have to monitor them 24/7 – you can focus on the other aspects of your business while these digital ninjas take care of the above areas. This way, your customer support department can become more efficient and you can ensure cost-efficiency along with heightened customer satisfaction.

Product recommendations

AI-powered algorithms can recognize your offerings based on the images you feed into the system. This can help you in more ways than one because now your customers can find exactly what they are looking for by simply uploading images! AI engines can also be used to provide product recommendations, thereby allowing you to find novel ways to cross-sell your product range.

Fraud detection

AI can play a big role in helping you identify and get notified instantly about any fraudulent activities, including account breaches, security breaches, or payment frauds. Thanks to the smart algorithms, AI tool integrations can analyze historical data, patterns, and trends to detect any irregularities or glitches. This can help you as a business owner to keep fraudulent transactions, breaches, and activities at bay and ensure real-time protection against such threats.

AI in your supply chain

Studying the data collected from different sources (including your shipping routes, delivery schedules, weather data, supplier contracts, market trends, historical data, etc.), AI algorithms can effectively help your eCommerce business stay on top of your supply chain management and demand forecasting. Using AI for supply chain optimization can lead to smarter logistics, better inventory planning, lower costs, and prevention of overstocking or stockouts.

Real-time dynamic pricing

Adjusting your product pricing is the key to ensuring that your business stays competitive while still making the targeted profits month on month, especially given the volatile demand-supply cycles. AI-powered algorithms can even enable you to make real-time price adjustments if the market demand, competition, and other factors call for it.

So, there you have it – the list of benefits of AI is endless and we have only scratched the surface at the moment. If you were to look at industry-specific case studies and real-life success stories of businesses like yours effectively integrating artificial intelligence technologies into their processes, you will know exactly what kind of challenges to expect, how to circumvent them, the solutions that may be right for your business, and the expected outcomes post deployment.

Conclusion

As we step into a new era of digital explosion, AI for eCommerce will prove to be a literal gamechanger for businesses that aspire to be pioneers in the near future. Trends like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), ChatGPT, a host of Chrome extensions, and voice-driven eCommerce are expected to re-shape the way the eCommerce world operates today.

Work with a digital expert for AI integration in your eCommerce business

If you are on the lookout for a partner or solution provider who can guide you through the scope of AI in eCommerce, look no further! At Qualdev, we specialize in helping brands and businesses reach newer heights by ideating and implementing new-age digital solutions. As an eCommerce development company, Qualdev has several years of experience in the industry. We have helped several businesses realize their full potential in the eCommerce space with a host of cutting-edge solutions that include:

• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Web analytics
• Marketplace management
• UI/UX design
• Web design
• App development
• Content creation and content marketing
• PPC
• Digital marketing strategy execution
• AI integration

Looking for an avant-garde web development company in New York for your small or mid-sized eCommerce business? We are always excited to learn about new businesses and help them with future-ready solutions. Get in touch with our team.

The post How AI Can Be Used in eCommerce: Top Facts, Use Cases & Benefits appeared first on QualDev.

“We don’t just sell websites; we create websites that SELL.”

― Dr. Christopher Dayagdag

Here are seven proven best practices for website design that we at QualDev swear by and that you should know about –

1. Keep it simple

They say, “If you think math is hard, try web design!”

An important rule to remember while designing your eCommerce website is to stick to simplicity and aim to create to appeal to a broader audience. A minimalistic approach helps the website and favors the products. Everything on the website should have a purpose, with nothing distracting the user from focusing on content.

If the design is complicated, there is a good chance that the visitor will not understand or appreciate it. Websites that have fewer colors per page, pure hues and simple and readable fonts are the ones that sell. This ensures the buyer sees the woods behind the trees, and the most helpful information does not get lost behind flashy design.

2. Easy navigation

If it were not for convenience, people would have never shifted to online shopping. The process of buying from website should be rational and free-flowing from one point to another so that the process feels natural – akin to muscle memory. If a visitor to your website needs to click ten diverse menus to get what they are looking for, they will most likely flee within the first few seconds.

User experience can be simplified by keeping the following in mind –

• The brand logo should bring the visitor back to the homepage
• Hamburger menu bar allow visitors to choose the correct category
• Filters help narrow down search results
• An easy to locate search bar shortens the buying journey

3. Use quality visuals

The better the quality of graphics and visuals on your website, the more the users will favor your online store. This could include the following (with easy zoom-in zoom-out capabilities) –

• High-resolution photos (preferably creative photography)
• 360-degree views of your products
• 3D models or renders to show minute details
• Short and engaging videos

A huge reason visitors abandoning category and product pages, is because the owners of the website have failed to create visually appealing landing pages.

4. Make it look professional

Imagine giving your sensitive information, like your credit card number, to a website that does not look professional. This is how a customer would feel as well. Building trust is crucial if you want your ecommerce website to succeed and thus instill a professionalism and credibility. This means it is essential that your site content has –

• No typos or misspellings
• Consistent font, color palette, and footer design from page to page
• Fully functional product links and CTA buttons

If you want your shoppers to take you seriously, you need to show them that you are serious about your business. The only way to do that is with a professionally designed website and app.

5. Make it responsive

A recent report states that mobile has surpassed desktop devices as the most favored method to surf the internet. 79% of smartphone users buy products online using their mobile devices. So, if an ecommerce website is not engineered with a mobile-first approach, it is going to fail miserably. If you wish to grab new buyers who enjoy shopping on their phones or tablets, ensuring that your website design is fully responsive is important.

6. Provide multiple ways to get in touch

Your patrons are likely to hit the “Order” button faster if they know how to get in touch with you when they face any issues during their shopping journey. Having the following items on your contact page would undoubtedly help –

• E-mail, phone number, chatbot for instant contact
• Store location
• Social media profile links
• FAQs page for any contemplated queries

7. A breezy checkout

Remember how we said nothing kills a sale faster than complicated product pages. Well, a clunky checkout is the second reason. You are bound to lose customers if your checkout process is long and complex. If you want people to buy from your website, you must make buying as concise and hassle-free as possible. Make sure the steps on the checkout from your website are –

• Clean, simple, and easy to navigate
• Give the option to check out as a guest user or register an account
• The navigation and check out process should be crystal clear and easy to understand
• Offer different shipping options
• Provide a list of things to do in case of any problems
• Offer return or refund options

Once the purchase is completed, direct your consumers to a confirmation page so they know everything went through successfully.

The proverb “never judge a book by its cover” does not apply to ecommerce websites because there is a high chance that if your design fails to make a tremendous first impression, visitors are more likely to bounce. Enforce the tips outlined above and create a high-converting ecommerce website design that brings in more conversions!

Designing an ecommerce website can be a thorny task, but QualDev has you covered. QualDev is a web development company in New York known for building clean, customized eCommerce website designs that create lasting impressions both visually and interactively. So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us today!

The post 7 Best Practices to Keep in Mind While Designing Your eCommerce Website appeared first on QualDev.

From video meetings with a client sitting seven seas away to making a restaurant reservation across the street, you can do almost anything from your phone or a device via a mobile app. Although your phone is now your personal assistant, it needs the right set of tools to do its job effectively. These tools, or mobile apps are built by mobile app development companies.

For businesses, the popularity of these tools is not only good news but also provides a fantastic opportunity to ensure that every business can do all the right things to capitalize on this massive potential. Here is looking at what today’s businesses can learn from the top-rated Android mobile apps.

Demystifying the Top Rated Android Mobile Apps of 2022

1. PackPoint – to organize your packing process

This app is like a travel genie. You tell the app where you are going, when, and what you will be doing, and the app generates a detailed checklist of suggested items for your suitcase. You can add or subtract items from your list, as needed, and then use it as a guide to ensure you pack everything you need, every time.

2. Google Docs or Microsoft Word – to collaborate on documents

Since 2019, customers worldwide have found using Microsoft Word on Android to be an absolute pleasure. Its multi-user editing system is simple, with real-time changes and inline commenting capabilities that are fully functional across multiple platforms. Google Docs, too, allow these features, thus making collaboration easy for people sitting in different corners of the world.

3. Trello – to organize your projects

This app breaks your business down into a series of boards. Within each panel, you can assemble a series of lists. You add any number of cards to each list. Each card can contain individual items containing text, photos, files, etc. You can label and color-code cards, assign due dates, add comment on cards, and invite people. You can add your thoughts and updates, too. It is no wonder that this revolutionary mobile app has managed to capture the imagination of millions of users.

4. Expensify App – to manage your trip expenses

Expensify is an excellent app for business trips. It logs, captures, and manages your expense statements. Firms can also sign up for a corporate account, providing the app with more components and a seamless expense reporting process. Several business teams that indulge in frequent travel have gleefully adopted the app.

5. Glitch Lab – to edit photos

This one is a photo editor crammed with a variety of digital glitch effects. If you like making your pictures look glitchy or retro, this is one of the most capable and versatile ways to do it. There are over 100 effects in this Android app, many of which are customizable, guaranteeing that your glitch is unique. This unique offering makes the app stand out from other similar app currently available in the market.

Here are a few reasons why the apps that made this list are among the most successful or top-rated mobile apps and what other businesses can learn from them –

Speed ­– No one likes lingering and pausing at the loading circle. This frustration leads to boredom resulting in user switching to another app. Speed is achieved by using an appropriate set of graphics – keeping functionality uncomplicated and snappy.

High-quality image resolution – Even if your app runs like Usain Bolt, it should make use of quality visuals. If your app has poor image resolution, then it may cost you your customers. So, the first & fundamental requirement you should never neglect is high-quality image resolution.

Social media integration –Apps of today include social media integration so users can communicate and collaborate with others. Integrating social media also serves as an advantage. When more users share about the brands they like on social media it has a positive impact on their reach and growth of the said brand.

Robust security – Mobile app development for diverse industries depends on uncompromising data integrity and confidentiality. Customizations and communication tech ought to be highly secure in today’s mobile apps. The above apps score big on the security and encryption parameters.

Integrate notifications – By blending push notifications in your app, you have the choice to instantly unite with your audience and offer them what they want to see in your app. Push notifications can depend on whatever the users prefer – a short, sweet text, a graphic, or a combo of both.

User feedback – No matter how perfect your app is, there will always be ample scope for improvement. The best way to comprehend and determine the direction to improve your app further is to ask the users themselves. Doing so is a great way to get your consumers to tell you what they want and to filter that feedback into what you need to add or remove without alienating your current subscriber base. The aforementioned apps consider user feedback and make constant upgrades to address issues their users point out.

Updates – Send out periodic updates after incorporating feedback from users. You will end up with a better product and be able to respond to security issues as they arise. Updates keep your mobile app refreshed and offer users more of what they desire.

Remember, user experience supersedes everything today. It is integral to fulfil as many attributes from the aforementioned list as possible so you can ensure your business app users’ demands and expectations are met. This is where collaborating with an expert android mobile app development company can really make all the difference. QualDev has mastered the technique of building stunning yet influential mobile apps from scratch and redesigning them whenever needed. Get in touch with our team to know how we can help you build a stellar mobile app you’re your business.

The post What Can Business Owners Learn from the Top Mobile Apps in 2022? appeared first on QualDev.

That being said, if you are looking to build your own eCommerce website, here are 10 success stories that are sure to inspire you –

1. Taylor Stitch

Taylor Stitch launched its ecommerce website over a decade ago in 2010. They offered sophisticated and affordable clothing tailored for men. Their website’s popularity spread like wildfire due to a unique feature Taylor Stitch on their website. They displayed customer success stories on important pages of their website. Customers could purchase items and post stories with images and videos of their newly purchased merchandise. This helped new customers form deeper “connections” with the brand and their offerings, and hence they became more likely to not only make a purchase but also share their buying experience with friends.

Not more than 3 years after the launch of their website, Taylor Stitch made $1.5 million in sales. More than a decade later, they are still going strong.

2. Triangl

Triangl, a brand that needs no introduction, was founded when Erin Deering discovered that she was unable to find a bikini that fit her well, made her look good, and didn’t cost a fortune. So, she decided to make her own. After the company went online using a Shopify template, it made over $5 million within the first year. Better still, they were able to increase their revenues 5 times over the following year.

Besides offering a great product, Triangl’s trust in Shopify helped the company flourish rapidly.

3. Pour Moi

The lingerie and nightwear store, Pour Moi, has been around since 1998. In 2015, using Shopify, they launched their first eCommerce website. Shopify provided them with the options to make the whole customer experience of exploring the store, adding items to the cart, and finally purchasing them, simple and hassle-free.

Pour Mio’s amazing range of lingerie, and their strong presence online, has helped them expand their presence to over 50 countries.

4. Sunday Somewhere

Going online with Shopify in 2010, Sunday Somewhere was a complete sensation. Selling premium, handmade designer eyewear, and providing a unique combination of quality and simplicity, they were able to gain worldwide recognition in almost no time.

Choosing a Shopify template and customizing it, enabled the brand to display their products creatively, using eye-catching camera angles and creative product placement.

5. Bremont

There is no brand that screams “luxury watches” louder than Bremont. Founded in 2002, and a winner of many awards, Bremont has a reputation for creating stunning chronometers. After they launched their ecommerce website in 2017 (which is based on Shopify again) the company made about $17 million in revenue.

Manufacturing more than 50,000 watches annually, Bremont is thriving in the watch making business, and they owe it all to their inspiring online presence.

6. Zero Gravity

Zero Gravity, a company that creates stunning, on trend iphone cases, is fast gaining popularity across the United States. Since their launch in 2010, the company has been dedicated to designing one-of-a-kind iPhone cases. Using unusual elements like embroidery, each case is artistically designed and 100% unique.

With their Shopify website, they provide customers with a place to get unique cases for their iphones. If you visit their website, you are bound to find something trendy that fits your iphone too.

7. 18 Karat

Offering creative homeware and furniture, 18 Karat is an attractive online furniture store, with extremely appealing products. What makes them unique is that they combine the smooth, luxurious feel of premium furniture with the freshness of nature.

Using the warm colors of fall, this Shopify-based online store completely captures the safe and comforting feel that a home should provide. Expanding beyond furniture, 18 Karat also offers art and other home décor to elevate your living space and take it to the next level.

8. Pure Cycle

By focusing on style and comfort, Pure Cycle has made a real name for them in the world of bicycles. What is extremely cool about their Shopify website is that they have adopted Shopify’s AR feature to give potential customers a real feel of the bikes they sell, thus helping customer make informed decisions while buying the bike their hearts desire. Customers can shortlist bikes on the website and then visit any Pure Cycle’s physical store to test it out in person.

This amazing feature not only saves time but also provides the customer a fun and exciting online shopping experience.

9. Gymshark

Gymshark started out as a group of friends in a garage, screen printing their products one at a time. Today, they have a gargantuan social media following and are valued at over 1 billion pounds. Creating an extremely engaging eCommerce website with Shopify has helped Gymshark expand their customer base to over 130 countries. The company does not have any physical stores and functions completely online.

They have experimented with “pop-up shops” which is something that keeps their customers excited.

10. Negative

Since the company’s launch in 2014, helping women feel fit and have confidence in their own bodies has been the only goal of Negative. The company was able to grow its revenue by 150% in just a few years.

In fact, this Shopify store does so well that it has received acclamations from Forbes, Vogue, and The Wall Street Journal for reuniting appearance and comfort.

Are you looking to launch or redesign your own eCommerce website? If you are, consider using Shopify to get the job done quickly and easily. QualDev is a Shopify development company that lets you hire experienced Shopify web developers to improved your online presence and ensure that your business goes places. Get in touch with our team to know more!

The post 10 Great Shopify eCommerce Stores to Inspire Your Own appeared first on QualDev.

The crucial part of all of this is – choosing the right eCommerce platform for your business. Let us look at two widely used eCommerce platforms, and understand the benefits each of them has to offer – WooCommerce and Magento (now known as Adobe Commerce).

What to Look for in an eCommerce Platform?

Before we start exploring the nitty-gritty of Magento and WooCommerce, let’s go over a list of the features to expect from an eCommerce development platform. They include –

1. Reliability
2. Performance
3. Scalability
4. Ease of use
5. Customization
6. Cost-effectiveness
7. Security

How to Choose Between WooCommerce and Magento?

WooCommerce and Magento both have their pluses and pitfalls. Choosing which to use boils down to selecting which is best for your business. It is not that easy to pick a clear-cut winner, as both are very popular choices. However, you can make this decision based on how big your business is at the moment, and the extent to which you expect to grow in the near future.

The general consensus is that Magento is more useful for rapidly scaling businesses, mid-sized, and large enterprises, while WooCommerce works best for smaller firms. Let us look at why that is the case and what you should look for in the eCommerce development platform you choose.

Benefits of WooCommerce for Small Businesses

WooCommerce is a user-friendly and efficient plugin for the WordPress platform. It gives you all the must-have eCommerce features that your small business may need. Since this is a WordPress plugin, it is quite easy to use because it retains some of its parent’s original features. The features include –

• WooCommerce is FREE! With the free version, you can get started instantly.
• You would need to have an existing WordPress website to use this platform.
• WooCommerce supports an unlimited number of products, which is great if you do not have a set limit or fixed number at the moment.
• It supports all WordPress themes and also offers a multitude of customization options.
• It comes with an extension system and offers many handy features, including security, payments, and integration with Google Analytics.
• Barring hosting fees, setting up your online store or business is completely free of cost, which makes this great for smaller businesses with lower budgets.
• WooCommerce’s backend is easy to access and use, even for beginners.

For small-scale businesses and beginners, WooCommerce is the clear, better choice. Easy to use and less expensive to set up, this platform offers you a plethora of benefits without having to rely on expert web developers.

Why Magento is Considered Better for Mid-Sized and Large Businesses

As a platform, Magento, or Adobe Commerce, has been developed keeping in mind the needs of web development professionals. This means that it is a more nuanced platform and is better for stores and businesses that are medium to large in terms of operations. Why is this platform more suited to relatively larger enterprises?

• Magento is a complete package. You do not need an additional plugin to enable Ecommerce functionality. It is inbuilt.
• With Magento, you can add unlimited products onto the platform, paving the way for future additions and unlimited scalability.
• Magento offers a variety of customizable themes and supports a plethora of useful extensions.
• Magento has better security features and dedicated security patches as well. This is not to say that WooCommerce is not reliable, but Magento provides that additional layer of security.
• It is a slightly more complex platform to use (prior web development knowledge is required) and hence not ideal for small business owners. You will most likely want to ally with a Magento development company to extract the most out of this platform.
• Magento is designed for unlimited possibilities and extensive scalability, thus making it the perfect choice for larger businesses that are thriving and growing at a rapid pace.

Thanks to its efficiency and inherent features, Adobe Commerce is an excellent solution for enterprises that have large operations. Its intuitive interface and API make it easy to connect with various third-party solutions.

Magento is a great option when it comes to a bigger scale of operations. This fantastic eCommerce solution is designed for scalability. If you are an already established mid-sized or large-scale business that wants to go that extra mile, Magento is clearly the best for you.

Looking for a Web Development Company in the USA?

When it comes to web development, ecommerce development, web design, Magento development, mobile app development, marketplace management, SEO, internet marketing, and many more such services, Qualdev is your best choice. We take pride in the fact that we use innovation, technology, and creativity to deliver result-driven solutions for you!

Using the latest technology like AMP, reactJS, PHP and more, our expert developers will construct for you a unique, out-of-the-box website that is designed to perfection. Your responsive website will perform flawlessly across all devices, will convey your message effortlessly, and will help convert visitors into assured clients.

Whether you are on the lookout for a Magento development company or a WooCommerce expert, we can help you. Get in touch with us today!

The post WooCommerce Vs. Magento: Which eCommerce Platform Should You Choose Based on Your Size? appeared first on QualDev.

SEO is of extreme importance to the visibility of your business and is necessary to rank high on Google. To make your business stand out, you need authority. To boost your authority, you need backlinks.

However, what are backlinks? Simply put, backlinks are links from a page on one website to another. If someone links to your site, then you “have a backlink from them”. If you link to another website, then they have a backlink from you. Backlinks are also known as inbound links because they represent other websites’ traffic coming to your site. The quality and quantity of backlinks can help your website rank higher on search engines such as Google.

However, building backlinks is not an easy task. If these links are spammy, more often than not, they end up harming the reputation of your website. If you build links carelessly and a search engine catches these efforts to build your rank there could be some serious ramifications that can take a heavy toll on your business.

An easy and indispensable solution to this issue is to maintain a clean backlink footprint at all times. So, how do you do that? Well, read on as the experts at QualDev solve this mystery for you.

Why Does a Clean Backlink Footprint Matter?

Your backlink footprint is a profile of the links you have to other websites and a reflection of how you have built them over time. It is a log of all your past and current link-building efforts and reflects the reputation of your brand and business.

If well executed, your backlink footprint can work wonders for you. It can increase your referral traffic, improve your online reputation, and boost your authority so you rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

However, if not executed properly and ethically, your backlink footprint can do the exact opposite for your brand and attract heavy penalties from search engines.

The three main and clear advantages of having a clean backlink footprint are –

• Better Brand Reputation
• Improved SEO
• Avoiding Penalties

How to Maintain a Clean Backlink Footprint

Let’s look at how to maintain a clean backlink footprint –

1. Devise a Good Strategy

Before you upload any content or create any link, have an understanding of and clarity about what you are trying to achieve. Also, having a good knowledge of the best SEO practices always helps. It’s good to know what white tactics can do for you, and how black hat tactics can harm you. It is always best to have a clear, simple plan and stick to it. The more you stray from the original intent, the tougher it will be for you to have a clean footprint. 

2. Start Slow

One can succumb to the temptation to generate as much traffic as possible for their website as soon as it is live. Avoid doing this and start slow because if your site has a large number of links too soon, search engines can become suspicious. Later, as your website gets more authority and visibility, and has more history, you can accelerate linking efforts. This always helps in the long run.

3. Content is King

This age-old adage is still relevant and will always be. You will need great online and offsite content to help the links you build, and to build new links as well. If you link your site to a bad piece of content, it will reflect badly on your business. Of course, we know that poorly written content will do you no good and can easily put off potential customers.

4. Always Be Relevant to Your Audience

The link you put forth has to be relevant to the end user (visitor). It should not be inappropriate or irrelevant. It should be well targeted and must deliver what it promises. Achieving this is easy when you link to interesting, well-written, and informative articles that hold your reader’s attention and give them precisely what they want. 

5. Invest in Different Content Formats

When content is presented in a single format repeatedly it can be off-putting, especially when the format is used for long content. It is a good idea to keep posting content of various lengths and adding multiple short-length pieces to make it more appealing and engaging. This will improve your backlink footprint. 

6. Link Placement

You can often be tempted to add all your links at the start of your piece for maximum traction and visibility. This can work against you in the long run.

Place links in different areas of your content. This might seem counterproductive, but trust that this practice will eventually prove to be very beneficial. 

7. Avoid Shady Link Building Schemes

You can easily be tempted to indulge in any of the schemes that pseudo-experts promote voraciously online, especially at the start of your endeavors. While a few of these schemes might be useful and help you, most of them are unreliable and give you extremely short-lived results. 

Here are a few of the main points that can ensure a clean backlink footprint. Some honorable mentions include –

• Link extensively to internal pages
• Keep changing your link-building quantity every few months
• If your business offering is topical or seasonal, pump up the linking at the relevant time
• Check and vet your link-building partners frequently
• Scale systematically and with a clear strategy

However, there are many more things that you can do. 

With all these basic systemic changes, you can optimize your content, tweak it for visibility to potential customers, and get maximum traction.

If you need help, speak to the experts at QualDev! With QualDev, you can rest assured that you get nothing but the best when it comes to SEO services in New York and ethical, systematic backlinking. With quality eCommerce development services, web development, and SEO solutions that help your business or store in every possible way at every possible step, you can easily ensure that you have the cleanest backlink footprint when you collaborate with QualDev. Count on QualDev for supreme authority, highest referral traffic, and excellent online reputation.

The post Top Ways to Keep a Clean Backlink Footprint appeared first on QualDev.

While word-of-mouth publicity and local print ads are good options, you cannot ignore the power of localized search engine optimization at the current time. We can help you improve your local SEO game in a way that would work wonders for your brick-and-mortar store or business.

First things first – let us help you get the basics right. So, what is local SEO? To understand the importance of local SEO, it is necessary to know what a “local search” is.

We perform a local search whenever we look for information, products, services, or a business in a specific geographical area or location. Generally, a person executes a local search to determine what options are readily available near them. Local SEO is a process by which you can elevate your visibility on search result pages (or SERPs) for these local searches. Establishing your local presence can work wonders for your brand and business, especially in its nascent stages.

Let us now see what we can do to elevate your visibility on local SERPs.

1.GMB is the way to go

We cannot harp on this enough. Making Google My Business (GMB) your best friend is crucial to improving your local SEO game. This free tool offered by Google allows you to create free listings for your business. You can create an account, fill in the necessary and relevant information like your name, address, business category, contact number, and location, and use it like your online business card. 

You may also provide additional information like images and work hours if you think it is relevant or necessary. Once done, there is a high chance that your business will appear on Google SERPs for your location.

2. Optimize your homepage and metadata

Your website should have accurate information about who you are, what you do, and where to find you. If the title tag, header tag, and meta-description of your website’s homepage clearly state these details, it becomes easier for Google to understand all the elements of your business. Optimizing your metadata can make it simple for search engines to understand what you do, where you do it, and show your information on relevant SERPs.

3. Use local schema

Use local business, organization, product, and service schema to optimize your website for local SEO. This additional code adds a layer to your business that eases the job search engines perform. This crucial factor for your local SEO is underrated, yet it is important to maintain NAP (Name, Address, and Phone Number) consistency.

4. Customer Reviews

Reviews are extremely important for local SEO. They play a dual role. They not only improve your local search ranking but also work as a catalyst for building a strong online reputation for your business. Positive reviews can go a long way in helping you get fresh leads for your business. Positive reviews play an important role in the online algorithm and contribute to your local rating in many ways. So, remember to have a good rapport with your customers and urge them to leave positive reviews for you!

5. Ensure NAP/citation consistency 

Search engines like Google consider citation signals and NAP (Name, Address, and Phone Number) consistency in local search results. Search engines can crosscheck NAPs to check your website’s authenticity. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain the same NAP everywhere. Commonly found on the footer of your website, ensure that the information you provide is proper and accurate.

6. Implement mobile-first voice search 

With mobile phones being an integral and indispensable part of our lives, it is crucial to consider voice search. Online studies show that more than 80% of people use mobile devices to conduct a “near me” search. Many people prefer voice searches to text-based searches today. Remember that providing a voice search facility will add that X-factor and contribute positively to local SEO. Remember to optimize your website to ensure that it is mobile-friendly. Also, do not forget to add CTA buttons on your website. Doing so will help steer a lot of traffic directly to you.

7. Social media presence and local directories 

Social media, if used correctly, can work wonders for your business. Update your business’s Facebook and Instagram accounts regularly. Make optimal use of your profiles, stories, posts, videos, and static banners to communicate the nature of your business and accurate contact details. Join relevant groups that target specific locations. Create engaging posts and ensure that they reach their desired target audience. Moreover, you cannot afford to ignore listing and optimizing your business information in local directories. Ensure that you put the same details everywhere.

With QualDev, you can go that extra mile to crack the local SEO game and grow your business exponentially! With our specialized SEO services, we can ensure that your business receives maximum visibility and conversions depending on your specific requirements. With thorough knowledge, expertise, and experience in the field, we are a team of innovative professionals that will help you take your business to the next level.

We are a top-notch ecommerce web design and development company based in New York, USA. We take immense pride in providing future-ready solutions that help your business scale like never before. Get in touch with our team today!

The post Beyond the Basics – 7 Steps to Win the Local SEO Game appeared first on QualDev.

Most businesses looking for a website or in need of rebuilding an existing website face this all-important dilemma. A custom-built website was very desirable until recently. However, the game changed when templates entered into the picture and made lives easier for people who did not have large budgets, time, or the capacity to build their website from scratch.

Just as custom websites are necessary for certain companies, website templates provide a great solution to certain companies. Several web development enterprises in the United States offer either or both of these services. For new entrants, startups, and small to mid-sized enterprises, analyzing the difference between a website made from scratch and one built with a template can be a challenging task. Let us look at both approaches to building a website, and look at the pros and cons to keep in mind before you make a decision.

Pros of ready-to-use website templates

1.Fast and furious

A dynamic template can be located, bought, and deployed within a matter of days, if not hours.

2. Saves money

Anyone can purchase a basic template for as little as a few hundred dollars. This means you do not have to spend anything over and above that cost of a template unless you want specific customizations and functionalities.

3. Pretty straight forward

Templates are not very complicated, and most of them are ready for you to drop your content into them. This means anyone – literally anyone – can create a website without needing the services of experienced designers or developers.

4. Inbound-friendly

Templates come ready for your inbound strategies, with well-placed areas for banners, calls to action, and a mobile-ready design.

Cons of readymade website templates

1.You cannot be too selective

Several template options are available on the internet. However, the possibility that you may choose the one that is not exactly compatible with what you need remains omnipresent. While the number of ecommerce website templates increase daily, most of them still have certain limitations.

2. You will have to be flexible with your branding

Instead of the website template adapting to your brand, it is generally the other way around. You can easily find yourself shuffling things around in order to ensure that your brand and the template go well together.

3. You will be paying extra for additional functionalities

In case you need additional features, functionalities, or customizations, you will have to pay extra for such modifications. 

Pros of building your website from scratch

1.Your dream website

The options are limitless when you get a custom-made website. Based on your specifications almost any feature or tool can be added.

2. One-of-a-kind design

Your custom website is the only website like itself. Nothing is copy-pasted. There is no fear of finding another website on the internet that looks exactly like yours.

3. Exclusive experience

You can develop a unique, branded experience with a custom website design. An expert developer can help create distinct functionalities and code your site exactly the way you want it to operate at every single touchpoint.

4. Safe and secure

Custom-built websites have a safety net, as they are tailor-made and not accessible for people to pick and use. You can also get additional layers of security built into them.

5. Scalable when needed

As opposed to template-based websites, you can add many features to your project whenever you want – as and when you want to scale up in the future. 

Cons of building your own custom site

1.The cost factor

Hiring the right company can cost quite a bit more than making your website on a template. That is because it needs an expert team to brainstorm and collaborate with you and then execute your custom website.

2.Time-consuming

When comparing a template website, which can be up and running within a few hours, custom websites take much longer to build. This is because experienced developers will create code and design every single aspect of your custom website manually.

3. Difficulty in communicating your vision

At times, we are unable to articulate our vision to the web development team, who are relying on you entirely to start creating

The Bottom Line

For firms with small budgets and timeline constraints, a template-based website is the way to go. Website templates have many restrictions on brand expression, functionality, and scalability. However, you can get your site up and running in no time, which can be a great advantage.

For companies that do not wish to compromise on the quality of their website and have a decent budget and time to spare, choosing to build a custom site is a no-brainer. A custom website is built specifically for your needs, tailored to your brand’s identity and positioning, and configured to grow with you.

Lucky for you, QualDev offers both services! We can help you build a business website from scratch or work with you to choose and customize a template. QualDev has built clean, clear, and customized websites to create lasting impressions visually and interactively for several leading brands in the United States.

Are you looking for an ecommerce website design company in the USA? Look no further – we have got you covered.

Our experienced team of designers and web developers has completed a staggering 750+ web development projects for startups and mid-sized businesses. If you are still confused about which way to go, set up a quick call with the QualDev team of specialists to find a solution that suits you best.

The post Website Development: The Pros and Cons of Using a Template Vs. Building from Scratch appeared first on QualDev.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) concepts that were fancy and farfetched are now here to stay. Mobile app development companies in the USA and technology giants like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon have dedicated themselves to developing new technologies in this realm.

Understanding AR and VR

AR refers to an overlay of technology in the real world, while VR builds a digital (virtual) terrain. In the past, both were primarily associated with the entertainment industry. However, that is not the case anymore.

With today’s tech-savvy consumers, selling products on a simple website is no longer good enough. Instead, modern enterprises need to find ways to create a digital experience that can engage and amuse customers on multiple levels and across a multitude of devices and platforms. While websites and mobile apps are now a staple across the globe, businesses are now investing in building virtual reality and augmented reality ecommerce strategies

Companies that have taken big strides with Augmented Reality include

• Microsoft
• VironIT
• VR Vision Inc
• FundamentalVR
• Apple

Companies that have taken big strides with Virtual Reality include

•  Oculus VR (now owned by Facebook)
• Google
• HTC Vive
• Unity

Is it necessary to integrate AR and VR tech into B2C mobile applications?

Every new smartphone in the market is equipped with unprecedented AR/VR capabilities. According to Statista, the global AR and VR market will reach an incredible $296.9 billion by 2024. Currently, we have around 2 billion mobile devices that support the AR experience.

AR and VR technology alters how you visualize and use data, improve efficiency, and build a competitive advantage. Using AR and VR, businesses can fulfill vendor and customer demands faster and with greater accuracy. It is not just a transactional thing either. Even in the healthcare industry, the applications are quite fascinating. Today, surgeons can execute their operations more precisely, thanks to these technologies.

The benefits of AR and VR, individually and combined, through mixed reality are getting bigger and better, and are waiting to be seized.

Companies that realize the total worth of augmented and virtual reality will get many things right and stay ahead of the curve. It is time you identified how you can apply AR and VR to your unique business model to address specific challenges and achieve short-term goals. AR and VR are influential tools for increasing sales and boosting revenues.

From a business-customer perspective, cutting-edge technology like this can deliver a convenient virtual user experience, making your customer’s interactions with you quicker, hassle-free, and way more engaging.

Ways in which brands can utilize AR and VR technologies

As competition continues to grow, brands are looking for inventive ways to expand their client base and rethink their business strategies. Most companies are switching to digital platforms to stay ahead. These cutting-edge technologies go beyond gaming and entertainment.

As you read this article, more and more companies are incorporating AR/VR applications into their business. This is happening across industries from education and eCommerce to healthcare and construction, automotive to real estate, IT, fashion, sports, hospitality, and more.

The Benefits of VR Include –

1. Virtual galleries

Factories, auto companies, hotels, product companies, and many others can use this technology to showcase their products and offerings in virtual galleries, delivering life-like user experiences. eCommerce apps are equipped with virtual trial rooms to allow shoppers to try on the apparel or get a glimpse of how a piece of furniture would look in their room.

2. 3D vision

VR-based apps navigate customer engagement because they can offer immersive experiences using 3D images of the products. With this, businesses can enhance client satisfaction and cultivate loyalty, thus improving conversions and expanding their profits.

3. Interactive marketing and branding

VR enables trade players to harness the power of a fantastic blend of technology and photography to promote their products by providing greater interactivity. Moreover, these apps shine better in the crowd and earn an extra winning edge for the brand, thus making them stand tall amongst contenders.

The Benefits of AR Include –

1. Transparency

With AR-based applications, SMEs can present their services and products by supplying an impactful visual adventure to the buyers.

2. Data delivery

AR allows corporations to display to the audience in real-time, data that is relevant to their products. Voluminous, context-based data can be presented in a much more engaging manner via AR.

3. Training

AR apps and devices serve as an effective simulation training tool for employees. It ensures high-tech, immersive activity, which eventually increases their productivity and enhances their efficiency as well.

To ensure your business can leverage the power of augmented and virtual reality correctly, it is necessary to join hands with a dependable technology partner. At QualDev, we specialize in creating advanced AR and VR applications that help your business stay ahead of the curve. QualDev leverages these creative and advanced technologies to enable digital transformation for clients.

For more than ten years, QualDev has been building robust, scalable, enterprise-level mobile apps. Depending on your unique needs, we can create mobile applications with AR and VR technologies from scratch or upgrade your existing app to work seamlessly on any device or platform (phones, tablets, wearables).

Get in touch with our team today to find out more!

The post Build a Futuristic Mobile App Integrated with AR and VR appeared first on QualDev.

Let Us Start With The Basics – What Is Magento 2?

That is where an experienced and specialized Magento development company can help. Here is looking at why Magento 2 continues to be the platform of choice for ecommerce development.

Magento 2 is the most trusted CMS (Content Management System). It is used to build ecommerce websites worldwide. It is robust, has scalable architecture, and is compatible even with the most delinquent technologies. Magento 2 enables you to automatically revamp your website and make functionality on it as smooth and seamless as possible.

On average, one out of every five ecommerce businesses use Magento 2 development services to bolster their online presence. The preliminary motive of releasing Magento 2 over Magento 1 was to improve customer experience. Magento 2 is known to be a powerhouse of ingenious features. The CMS enables ecommerce businesses to supply top-quality shopping experiences.

Magento 2 is effortless and loads swiftly, provides ease of use, and improves safety features. The best element is that this version is highly customizable to deliver impressive convenience. Listed below are the top 10 reasons why Magento 2 continues to be a leading ecommerce development platform.

1. Flexible CMS

Magento is an incredible platform for ecommerce. Magento has a practical, flexible CMS for all types of eCommerce stores. Small or large eCommerce websites, you can construct it all.

2. Touch matters

The ability to edit layouts using drag-and-drop options is a key feature of Magento 2. The administrative dashboard is responsive and has a touch-friendly navigation. This allows users to access their stores via a variety of devices like tablets as well.

3. User-friendly approach

The most noticeable change is that Magento 2 has acquired an admin panel. The panel has a simplified navigation for tools, a discreet design, and less orange. It appears to be a completely different system. The administrator can customize the panel to gain quick access to critical business information.

4. Faster loading

One of the highlights of Magento is the speed of the website. It is equipped with rapid website loading and rendering capabilities as compared to other platforms. Speed can contribute to achieving exemplary CRO and search engine rankings.

5. SEO friendly

Higher ranking leads to higher traffic. The Magento 2 platform enables the creation of SEO-friendly pages. It has a powerful, progressive feature for SEO that helps improve the rank of your product pages.

6. Mobile friendly

When was the last time you did not have a cell phone in your hand? Nearly 80% to 90% of online shopping transactions take place on mobiles today. Having a responsive website that works on all smart phones and tablets will assist in yielding sales and expanding your customer base. A dynamic and responsive Magento 2 based website or ecommerce store can deliver an excellent user experience on smartphones.

7. Third-party collaboration

Magento 2 can integrate your ecommerce platform with Google Shopping, eBay, PayPal, Quickbooks, and more. It enables you to add Google Analytics and other third-party integrations to assist in data analytics.

8. Custom configuration options

When you add custom options to a product in Magento 2, you allow your consumers to select product options that they require without leaning on the attributes of the product. Customizable choices will enable you to organize products to assemble cart price rules and dynamic categories rules as well.

9. Modules for extended functionality

Magento 2 utilizes the module concept as the base tool to expand or alter Magento functionality. Each module contains a fragment of PHP code correlated to the same task, like a new payment method or changing how taxes are calculated.

10. Improved checkout process

While using Magento 2, the user does not encounter complex checkout processes. Magento 2 has removed specific steps; for instance –

• Filling out your card details
• No confusion on the order success page

o you use Magento as a platform but are not happy with your current Magento site or Magento development company? QualDev is your one-stop website development agency. We create attractive, functional, scalable, and customized Magento eCommerce websites.

Why choose QualDev as your Magento development company?

1. An experienced team of Magento experts
2. We optimize your site to help improve sales
3. Keeping your site protected and up-to-date
4. Training you and making your operations efficient
5. Reducing the cost of processes

QualDev provides the following Magento development services –

Our experienced Magento developers have worked on straightforward as well as complicated projects developed on Magento 1 and 2, both the community and enterprise editions. Here is what we can help you with –

• Magento responsive UI/UX
• Magento development
• Magento 2 migration
• Magento integration
• Magento customization & optimization
• Magento security and patches
• Magento marketing and SEO
• Magento support

Closing thoughts

Magento is a platform to consider if you need an online eCommerce store that’s tailor-made to your specific business needs.

The post E-Commerce Reimagined – Why Magento 2 is Still Your Best Bet in 2022 appeared first on QualDev.