BlogmyQuery – BMQ

LinkedIn was launched in 2003. It took this network 20 years to go from zero to one billion users. So, it’s fair to say that a more important platform for professional networking and career development is yet to be invented.

So, the days of LinkedIn being only a virtual resume bank are long gone. Nowadays, it’s a hive of activity where professionals congregate to network, form connections, and yes, promote their products. But amid a sea of polished profiles and cookie-cutter marketing strategies, how can one stand out?

You came to the right place, because in this article we’ll delve into some of the more successful and unconventional LinkedIn marketing strategies, where breaking the mold is not just encouraged, but essential for success.

1. Embrace Imperfection

Imperfection is your ally on a site where polished corporate personas are the norm. Give up trying to have an impeccable well-curated feed and embrace realness instead. 

Give your audience behind-the-scenes looks at your work, real-life success and failure stories, and yes, even the odd blooper reel from everyday business life. 

In a sea of perfection, imperfection humanizes your brand and makes it approachable and relevant.

2. Ditch the Elevator Pitch

The days of mechanized elevator pitches that shout “sales pitch” from miles away are long gone. 

Rather, choose sincere dialogues. Talk to your audience honestly, listen to their issues, and offer answers without feeling pressured to close a deal right now. 

Keep in mind that LinkedIn is not an online sales platform, but rather a platform for networking. Your brand promotion should come as a consequence of a built relationship with a customer, not the other way around.

3. Apply Storytelling

Stories have an unparalleled ability to captivate audiences and forge emotional connections. Use storytelling to your advantage by weaving narratives that resonate with your audience. Share personal anecdotes, client success stories, or even fictional tales that illustrate your brand’s values and mission. The goal here is to create some emotions and leave an impression that will outlive our short attention span..

Stories possess an unmatched capacity to enthrall audiences and establish sentimental bonds. Create narratives that your audience can relate to and take advantage of storytelling.

Provide personal anecdotes, customer success stories, or even made-up stories that exemplify the goals and values of your business. It’s important to arouse feelings and make an impact.

These stories can be trivial or deep and meaningful. Each has its audience and a way to draw their attention.

4. Combine Formats

Your profile is your showroom and the first thing people see when they stumble upon you. But, marketing activities on LinkedIn are so much more than trying to get people to visit your profile.

You need to reach out and engage your audience. Try using non-traditional channels like:

• polls, 
• interactive quizzes, 
• engaging articles. 

Try to apply a variety of formats and occasionally repost the ones that your target audience responds to the most. Also, try to keep your connections list neat. You shouldn’t have to find yourself drowning in the sea of irrelevant contacts.

Accidentally, there are some quite useful tools out there that will teach you how to remove LinkedIn connections with the least hassle. 

5. Stir Up Controversy

In the field of marketing, controversy can be both beneficial and detrimental. It could start a discussion and create excitement, but there’s also a chance you could turn off your audience.

More than one business has gone down after its owners decided to go online with some controversial and strong opinions that rubbed people the wrong way. There is no coming back from going viral in a negative manner.

So, take care when moving forward, but don’t be afraid to bring up divisive subjects in your field. Declare your position, support it with evidence, and encourage productive discussion. 

But always keep in mind that controversy should never jeopardize the integrity of your company.

6. Cherish the Community

LinkedIn is a network of successful people who share similar interests, not merely a place for self-promotion. Encourage sincere relationships based on respect and support for one another rather than seeing your ties as merely stepping stones. 

Honor others’ accomplishments, lend a helping hand when required, and take an active part in group discussions. Your network is your most valuable resource, therefore treat it with respect.

The moral of the story here is to treat LinkedIn connections the same way you (should) people in life: with care and respect. 

This way you’re not only making others feel good about themselves but at the same time showcasing yourself as a good and respectful person that deserves attention and time from your peers.

7. Throw in Some Humor

Is business always boring? Who said so? Amid a sea of corporate jargon, adding comedy to your LinkedIn material might help you stand out. 

Don’t be hesitant to express your individuality with clever captions, hilarious memes, or lighthearted conversation. Just make sure that your comedy speaks to your target demographic and is consistent with the identity of your business.

Why not use worn-out LinkedIn motivational content and turn it around? Occasionally try to be self-ironic. People love to see smart, witty, and engaging content creators on a boring network such as LinkedIn.

8. Explore User-Generated Content

Your audience is a bread basket of information just waiting to be discovered. Promote user-generated content by asking for endorsements, holding competitions, or just extending an invitation to followers to remark on their experiences. 

This not only creates a feeling of community but also offers real social proof, which appeals to customers and prospective clients.

9. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

In a world where content is abundant, quality is golden. Rather than exposing your readers to a never-ending parade of subpar pieces, concentrate on producing valuable, high-quality content.

Prioritize content over frequency whether it comes to case studies, essays, or visually striking images. Recall that it’s preferable to leave a lasting impression with a single outstanding post than to disappear into a sea of subpar material.

10. Experiment

In the world of marketing, change is the only constant. Accept experimenting as a fundamental component of your LinkedIn marketing approach. 

Try new strategies, investigate new trends, and adjust to changing customer preferences without fear. To determine whether your efforts are effective, pay close attention to analytics and modify your plan as necessary. 

Bear in mind that experimentation is the lifeblood of innovation.

In conclusion, unconventional thinking and the courage to challenge norms are necessary for success on LinkedIn. 

You can turn your LinkedIn marketing plan from blah to witty by accepting imperfection, creating real connections, and trying out novel approaches. Now go ahead and shatter the mold; your audience is waiting.

Featured image by Souvik Banerjee on Unsplash

The post Best Practices for a Successful LinkedIn Marketing Strategy appeared first on noupe.

In the contemporary digital world, cloud computing is one of the greatest revolutionary trends that have changed many industries, including custom software development. Because such companies strive for better and more different ways to perform their duties, cloud computing provides many undeniable advantages over classic on-premises infrastructure. This paradigm change has far-reaching effects on custom software development and especially software development firms in India which has gradually become an epicenter for some of the best software firms in the world.

The Rise of Cloud Computing in Custom Software Development

Cloud computing means the provision of computing services such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and more over the internet as “clouds”. This has allowed custom software developers to access and utilize numerous resources on demand, which in turn has greatly reduced the cost of entry associated with the cost of IT infrastructure.

Scalability and Flexibility

Flexibility and scalability have been one of the most notable benefits of cloud computing on custom software development. In the past, creating an application was associated with buying new hardware that was costly and took a lot of time to install. Through cloud computing, an organization dealing with custom software development companies across the globe can expand or reduce the capacity of the developed applications in a matter of minutes. This means better management of resources and is an assurance that applications will be able to deal with the diverse workload without bringing the performance of an application down.

For example, leading software solutions providers in India – Infosys and TCS – use cloud platforms, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, to deliver solutions that can be easily expanded or reduced in line with the client’s requirements. This property is especially useful for start-up companies and for small and medium-sized businesses that start to develop intensively and the software should be transformed accordingly without considerable lags of time and money expenditures.

Cost Efficiency

Cloud computing also provides an added value of cost effectiveness which is of equal importance for both developers and clients. The pay-per-use model means that a firm will pay only for the number of resources it consumes, eliminating large capital expenses normally required to acquire IT infrastructure. This model is particularly beneficial for companies that provide customized software solutions due to the low-price advantage offered by custom software development companies in India that are targeting international customers.

Furthermore, the use of cloud services ensures the availability of a set of tools and services that could significantly facilitate development. Among such features include automatic data back-ups, disaster recovery tools, and powerful data analytics, which may become expensive when run on-site. Customers’ potential to pay a monthly fee for such services significantly facilitates custom software developers’ work and enables them to provide more functions at a lower price.

Enhanced Collaboration and Accessibility

The day of global business and dynamics requires uninterrupted interaction between the states. Cloud computing enables this by the developers working from a central space in real time irrespective of physical space or geography. For example, an Indian company that offers custom software development can manage projects and develop applications on a cloud-based platform while clients are located in the United States or Europe.

At the same time, this enhanced collaboration also refers to the entire development process. Codes, development platforms, and testing tools are readily accessible from anywhere, allowing one to continue with projects. This is especially useful for the top 10 app-developing companies in India because the majority of them work on more than one project on the same day and collaboration should be continuous.

Improved Security and Compliance

Security presents one of the most critical aspects of software development. Security is one of the major benefits of using CSP – CSPs spend millions in this sphere and provide customers with very powerful solutions that are expensive and time-consuming to implement in-house. Options like encrypted data, frequent security updates, and meeting global norms offer security for custom software development.

It also means that for the best software development companies in India, cloud security will entail the companies allocating more of their resources to the process of software development as opposed to investing more resources in the security of infrastructures for software development. Moreover, cloud providers may provide relevant compliance certificates for developed solutions for healthcare, financial, and government sectors, which ensures that development companies will not face additional compliance issues.

The Evolution of Software Development Services with Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is also a service that has been a fundamental factor in the emerging trends and innovations in software development services. Integrated software product teams have become capable of producing more complex applications more productively than ever before.

DevOps and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

The author notes that cloud computing specifically complements the DevOps practices which focus on collaboration between the development and the operations team. Cloud platforms have the required tools and environments to implement the automation of the development pipeline. It is already a norm to integrate software through CI and deploy through CD for frequent and reliable software updates.

From the business perspective, adopting CI/CD in a cloud environment for a software development company implies that any code changes made must be tested and deployed almost immediately, lessening the time it takes to market the final product, as well as enhancing the product’s quality. This is particularly a boost to the best software development firms in India since such speed and reliability are important to users.

Microservices Architecture

Another trend associated with cloud computing technology is the use of microservices architecture for applications. Rather than developing large complicated applications, programmers can come up with distributed applications where multiple stand-alone systems connect and interact using APIs. This allows for further flexibility, easier systems modifications, and the individual expansion (or contraction) of particular components.

AWS is well suited for microservices as it offers both the foundation and tools required for operating microservices. This architecture is gaining popularity amongst custom software development companies in India as it helps them develop robust and scalable solutions for their clients.

Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning

Cloud computing has also ensured that even other complex technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are readily available. AI and ML are services that cloud providers host and facilitate for developers to add to their applications without much specialist knowledge.

This is allowing companies in the software development industry to develop better applications that are built on AI and ML to deliver personalized content, predictions, and other automation capabilities. For example, the top software development firms in India are introducing AI-enabled components into their tailor-made products, offering clients innovative tools for capacity building and increasing users’ participation and organizational productivity.

The Future of Custom Software Development in the Cloud Era

Cloud computing technology is a strong trend that will keep on influencing software development for custom needs. New technologies such as edge computing, serverless computing, and quantum computing can be expected to contribute to the domain further.

Edge Computing

The form of data processing used in edge computing rather than on centralized clouds is gaining importance for real-time data management. The ability of custom software developers to employ edge computing can enhance applications, especially in industries such as Io Thing, health care, and autonomous systems.

Serverless Architectures

The serverless computing model implies that the developer is not exposed to the physical resources of computing power and does not need to worry about their scaling. This model fosters ease of development as well as reducing operational costs and in most cases can translate to serious savings. Serverless computing is the next step in custom software development in India that has been widely implemented by software development firms to increase the speed and efficiency of their solutions.

Quantum Computing

Even at its nascent stage, quantum computing presents avenues for accounting problems that classical computers cannot tackle. Having analyzed this, it is seen that as this technology gets stronger and more advanced, it can lead to the likelihood of great opportunities for custom software development that can lead to the development of more powerful applications.

Conclusion

Custom software development cannot be discussed without mentioning the tremendous impact cloud computing has had on it. According to these benefits – its scalability, cost efficiency, enhanced collaboration, and robust security – this change is possible and effective with the help of cloud computing. The demand for cloud technologies in the industry will act as the critical factor that would define the best software development companies in India as services provided should be of high quality as compared to competitors, able to generate software development trends and be leaders in the world of distributed technologies. It is safe to say that custom software cannot be developed without incorporating the cloud in the future as it will lead to increased innovation and productivity.

Featured image by Dallas Reedy on Unsplash

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In today’s competitive SEO landscape, automation is the name of the game. From backlink analysis programs to keyword research tools, entrepreneurs need all the support possible to maximize their online real estate.

Internal linking software is the next step in this automated revolution. Automated internal linking does more than speed up the process of managing and creating internal links.

The question is: Do you need it?

Stay tuned as this resource dives into the 10 compelling reasons why internal linking software is an essential investment for any web owner serious about SEO.

What is Internal Linking?

Let’s go back to the basics.

Internal linking is the process of building links that take users from one page to another on the same website. 

These links serve as signposts to guide users to relevant pages in their search journey. On the other hand, search engines use internal links to explore the vast ends of a website.

What is Internal Linking Software?

Internal linking software is designed to streamline the creation and management of internal links on your website.

In its most basic functions, internal linking software identifies link gaps in your content and provides suggestions for bridging them. 

Some other tools may offer a more advanced toolset than others. It’s important to review all available offerings in the market to find the one suitable for your needs and goals.

10 SEO Benefits of Having an Internal Linking Software

(While different internal linking software also has varying functionality, we’ll use LinkStorm for the discussion below.)

Let’s explore how having an automated internal linking tool can benefit your SEO:

1. Unmask internal linking opportunities

Internal linking software helps uncover hidden linking opportunities within your website. These tools often come equipped with web crawlers that analyze content and structure and identify relevant connections that might not be obvious at first glance.

With LinkStorm, users can select between two algorithms to find internal link opportunities:

• Semantic Similarity: Uses AI and semantic analysis to suggest contextually relevant internal links
• Content Matching: Finds seed keywords between content to suggest relevant connections

This automated discovery is essential for maintaining an organized, well-linked, and SEO-friendly site architecture, ensuring no potential internal link is overlooked.

2. Boost SEO performance

Like other link-building methods, internal links also help spread link value or link juice. With more internal links pointing to a page, the target page will have an improved PageRank and, theoretically, perform better in search results. 

Internal linking is a strategic process. Websites that build internal links indiscriminately will fail to maximize their SEO impact.

Directionally controlling the flow of internal links from high-performing to low-performing content can boost the performance of those inferior pages on SERPs. 

3. Improve user experience and navigation

A well-structured internal linking strategy creates a clear path for users to navigate your website. This allows them to find related content easily, keeps them engaged for longer, and ultimately improves the overall user experience.

Additionally, effective internal links allow web crawlers to explore websites better. This allows Googlebot to explore pages that have been buried deeply in a site’s architecture.

4. Anchor text optimization

Some tools may offer anchor text optimization functionality in addition to finding internal link opportunities. This allows you to diversify the anchor texts on your website, making them keyword-rich and more descriptive.

Ideally, a good internal linking tool lists all the anchor texts on your site with their distributions:

Using the same anchor texts on a website may make it look spammy in the eyes of search engines. Sites on a red alert with Google’s spam policy may suffer from penalties, resulting in a decrease in SERP performance.

5. Reduce click depth

Click depth is one of a website’s most inevitable and persistent issues. As more content is produced, the click depth of all pages increases. This makes them more difficult to reach for users and search engines. Moreover, stale content tends to fall off the SERP rankings.

Internal linking software show click depth to help users strategically maneuver their internal links. 

Building internal links from low-click depth to high-click depth pages minimizes the number of clicks needed to reach the target page. Plus, this increases the crawlability of websites.

6. Fix internal linking issues

Internal linking issues ruin users’ search experience. They also impede search engines from fully crawling a site, potentially preventing them from indexing new content and transferring valuable equity across web pages.

An internal linking software is designed not only to uncover linking opportunities but also to fix issues in your site’s link structure. Ideally, it should detect the following problems:

• Broken links: website dead-ends; happens when the target link is non-existent
• Redirects: sends users to a different page from the URL initially requested
• No-follow: target links qualified with a rel=“nofollow” that are inaccessible for web crawlers

Here is what it looks like from LinkStorm’s interface:

By fixing these issues, the software ensures that users can effectively explore a website without any hassle. This also helps Googlebot crawl the whole website, improving the site’s overall efficiency.

7. Scalability and efficiency

Manual internal linking is manageable for small websites. Granted, the process will take several days to complete, but it is realistically doable. This fact changes when you own a website with thousands of pages.

Internal linking software is key to scaling SEO efforts efficiently across large and growing websites. These tools save significant time and reduce manual workload.

LinkStorm allows users to implement link suggestions automatically on the website after clicking the accept button.

To achieve this, users simply need to paste an HTML snippet into the website’s Head/Body/Footer and then verify the installation via LinkStorm.

As your website expands, manually adding internal links becomes increasingly time-consuming. With this solution, you can ensure your website implements the tool’s intelligent link suggestions straight from the LinkStorm dashboard.

8. Data-driven insights

Data must be at the helm of any SEO strategy. Powered by data-driven insights, users will have a more systematic roadmap in achieving their SEO goals. 

A good internal linking software is founded on data. It provides detailed analytics on site performance and traffic flow. 

Moreover, the tool should also provide valuable insights into each individual link’s performance. 

LinkStorm integrates Google Search Console data into its link opportunities tab, enabling SEO professionals to make informed decisions about optimizing link placement.

9. Cost-effective in the long run

Like all other SEO tools, internal linking software requires upfront payment, and the cost can vary from tool to tool. This upfront cost is often the deal breaker for many SEOs and site owners. 

However, the benefits of having one far outweigh any upfront costs when considering the time and effort you save by having a tool at your disposal. 

Internal linking is less tedious than other SEO approaches. In other words, armed with a tool, you can manage your internal linking activities yourself without hiring an in-house or third-party SEO team, which costs way more.

Subscription costs of internal linking software vary. But for perspective, this is how much each plan costs for LinkStorm:

10. Convenience at its finest

Convenience is the number one reason for automation, and the same is true for internal linking software. 

An automated internal linking toolkit can complete in a few minutes what would normally take people several days or weeks. Unlike humans, its efficiency and effectiveness remain consistent even with continuous usage, preventing errors from arising. Ultimately, using a specialized tool is more economically viable in the long term.

Where humans are messy and complicated and error-prone, a system provides consistency and predictability.

Automate Your Busywork – Aytekin Tank, CEO of Jotform

Sure, users will have to shell out a few bucks upfront. But as the adage goes, “Time is money.” With more time in your hands, you can let the machine do its work while you focus on the revenue-generating aspects of your business.

Key Takeaways

Internal linking is crucial in any effective SEO strategy. 

Manually building internal links is possible, but it will take significant time and money. An internal linking tool expedites this process by automatically suggesting internal link opportunities and uncovering issues that permeate a website.

Every internal linking tool offers a unique range of functionality that benefits a business. You are responsible for choosing which tool can help you achieve your SEO goals in the shortest time and the least amount of money possible.

Our personal pick is LinkStorm, an AI-powered, all-in-one toolkit for helping SEOs and site owners manage their internal links effectively.

How about you? Which do you think is the best tool on the market? Tell us in the comments!

Featured Image by Stephen Phillips – Hostreviews.co.uk on Unsplash

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Crowded and hard-to-navigate designs are two of the biggest reasons users leave a website. When users quickly leave, engaging them and boosting conversions is impossible. One way you can help keep users on your site engaged is by implementing a visual hierarchy.

What is visual hierarchy?

Visual hierarchy is one web design principle that involves arranging elements on a page or site in order of importance. This helps to avoid pages becoming overcrowded with design elements that detract from the user experience.

One of the most prominent problems users experience online is overcrowded websites, so visual hierarchy is crucial. Data from HubSpot estimates that around 84.6% of users find overcrowded web designs a mistake for small businesses.

Typically, the most important design elements are situated at the top of the page or in a prominent position so users can easily see them. Otherwise, every design element would have equal importance and provide no guide for overcoming customer needs.

A strong visual hierarchy will seek to place logos, whitespace, typography, visual storytelling, and more in a way that predicts the user’s flow. As such, you have a much greater influence over how users interact with your site.

A good visual hierarchy captures the user’s attention and guides them through the content using an intuitive flow and priority levels. Understanding visual processing can help create effective visual hierarchies in web design.

Why is visual hierarchy important?

Visual hierarchy in web design is essential for creating a positive user experience. User experience refers to how the different elements on a page or website make users feel and whether they help them achieve their goals.

A positive user experience is vital as it affects the likelihood of users staying on your site and whether they convert. There is a strong correlation between a strong visual hierarchy and positive user experience.

Aside from impacting a positive user experience, visual hierarchy is one of visual design’s four pillars (the other three are space, contrast, and scale). The four pillars work together to ensure a strategically organized website design.

It also helps guide users to take a specific action or highlight a certain message. This is crucial for creating strong first impressions and experiences that will bring users back.

Whether users are clicking a call-to-action (CTA), submitting a form, or registering for a newsletter, visual hierarchy ensures the important elements stand out so users can act when ready. Otherwise, there may be uncertainty about how to act and take the steps.

A good visual hierarchy grabs users’ attention when they first land on your site or webpage. Ensuring you capture their attention is vital, and it is the first important step to engaging users and keeping them on your site.

It also gives users a scannable layout. When important elements and items stand out on a page, users can scan the page to find what most appeals to them, allowing them to find solutions to their pain points quickly.

Understanding visual processing

Before creating a visual hierarchy, it’s important to understand how the brain processes visuals and eye movement. Eye tracking research has revealed two major methods humans use to process information: F-shape and Z-shape patterns.

F-shape pattern

The F-shape pattern is one method humans use to process information. Typically, users process and scan information from left to right, top to bottom. Placing elements in users’ gaze or eyeline makes a big difference.

The F-shape pattern involves organizing content into an F shape. It is the most common method for visual processing and is most widely used for text-heavy content without subheadings or visuals to guide users.

As a result, users will read the first few words or sentences at the top of the page and then scan the first words of each line or sentence to find certain words or phrases. In terms of visual web designs, this layout indicates poor formatting and visual hierarchy.

Z-shape pattern

This is where the Z-shape pattern comes in. Similar to the F-shape pattern, the Z-shape pattern follows a scanning or reading pattern of the letter Z. This layout pattern is much more effective for minimalist web designs that want to emphasize CTAs and forms more.

Unlike the F-shape pattern, the Z-shape pattern provides an excellent basis for a strong visual hierarchy that seeks to attract and engage the user. Using a landing page as an example, users will typically scan the page as follows:

When creating web designs with the Z-shape pattern in mind, there are some key considerations. First, you must prioritize what information or visuals you want the user to see. This will typically be something that captures the attention.

You must then consider what order or structure you want the user to follow. This includes content structure, visual layout, CTAs, etc. Finally, you need to decide on the action or outcome you expect a user to take from the page, e.g., submitting a form.

How can you implement visual hierarchy?

Now that we’ve covered what visual hierarchy is and why you need it, it’s time to explore some tips for implementing an impactful visual hierarchy.

Utilise size

Sizing and scaling are two methods for prioritizing content or visuals in web design. The content or visuals you want to emphasize should be much more prominent on the page.

Items with a larger size or scale will typically attract more attention. When using size and scale in the visual hierarchy, it’s important to use no more than three sizes and that the most important elements are the biggest.

Colour and contrast

Color and contrast can play a significant impact in creating an appealing visual hierarchy. The strategic use of color helps elements stand out and draws the eye to the areas or content you want users to see first.

For example, a CTA with a strong contrasting color will stand out more prominently to users. Understanding the psychology of color and its impact on users can help ensure you create a visual hierarchy with compelling visual components.

Whitespace

Whitespace is a crucial element of successful web design. The blank space or area within a page design, whitespace helps the different content on a page breathe and declutter the layout. It also adds legibility and a visual balance.

Using whitespace effectively between and around different elements on a page makes it much easier for users to absorb the information and removes potential distractions. While there is no set standard for how much whitespace you should use, aiming for at least 30% helps create a good visual hierarchy.

Repetition

The human brain is naturally wired to seek out patterns. Using repetition in a visual hierarchy can help the human brain better understand how content or elements on a page are related.

Repetition also creates a sense of unity within your web design. Repetition can apply to typography, shapes, image layout, or use of color. As a result, users’ understanding and recognition of your content are much stronger.

Alignment and composition

Another way to implement visual hierarchy in your web design is through alignment and composition. Good alignment and composition of elements in a visual hierarchy create a structure for design elements and a focal point for users.

Two methods can be used to implement alignment and composition in the visual hierarchy: the rule of thirds and the rule of odds. The rule of thirds refers to dividing the sections of a page into a horizontal grid of nine equally sized squares.

The intersection lines are focal points where you should consider placing important design elements on your page. Then, additional design elements are placed around these focal points. Consider placing hero images, CTAs, and headlines along the focal lines of the horizontal grid.

The rule of odds is another method of alignment and composition. It refers to creating pleasing and appealing visual hierarchies using an odd number of elements (most commonly 3) rather than an even number.

This creates a stronger dynamic and balance between the elements around a focal point. Using an even number of elements can create a symmetry that seems unnaturally static and less visually appealing to users.

Visual hierarchy keeps users engaged and more likely to visit your site. Implementing an effective visual hierarchy that emphasizes the most important elements ensures your web design has the desired impact on boosting conversions and driving success.

Featured image by Victor Freitas on Unsplash

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What do you know about a QR code, the little white and black square you see everywhere today? This basic pattern has a powerful ability to link physical and digital worlds. QR codes are digital barcodes that store tons of information. With almost 5 billion smartphone users in the world, you can only imagine how many times QR codes are scanned daily!

However, QR codes’ potential is much bigger than pure data storage. They enable businesses to create immersive experiences, drive customer interactions, and provide instant access to information or services. With the widespread adoption of smartphones, QR codes become a powerful marketing tool. Let’s explore how exactly they change modern marketing.

When and how QR codes appeared

It may seem that QR codes have been with us for a while! However, Quick Response codes were invented only in 1994 by a Japanese automotive company called Denso Wave. They were used to track vehicle parts during manufacturing processes. QR codes are associated with barcodes, but they store much more information and can be instantly scanned. You just need a smartphone equipped with a built-in camera or a special QR scanning app.

At first, QR codes were not widely spread; however, the 2020 pandemic gave them another birth. The need for touch-free solutions literally propelled QR code technology. Today, QR codes are practically everywhere—they are found on product packaging, advertisements, tickets, business cards, and more.  QR codes and branding can be a powerful combination. By placing a logo in the center of a QR code, businesses can create a stronger connection with potential customers. The company logo design instantly identifies the brand and builds trust, encouraging people to scan the code. This bridge between the physical and digital worlds allows for easy access to a company’s website, social media, or special offers, all while reinforcing brand recognition.

Diverse applications of QR codes in marketing

QR technology has reshaped digital marketing, and its impact will only keep expanding. As technology around us advances and consumers become increasingly tech-savvy, QR codes can be used for building groundbreaking marketing strategies. Here are a few examples.

• The power of augmented reality. When you see an ad, it is enough to scan a QR code and see a 3D product model come to life on your smartphone screen. AR technology allows you to merge the real world with the virtual in just a click. Incorporate QR codes into your marketing materials to allow your users to enjoy interactive product demonstrations, virtual try-ons, or even games related to your brand. This creates a more immersive and engaging experience for your audience.
• Geo-location targeting. QR codes with geo-location technology enable businesses to guide users to nearby locations. Geo-targeted QR codes sync with smartphones’ GPS to deliver location-specific content. Use this approach to promote local stores, highlight nearby places of interest, or offer targeted discounts to customers within a specific reach. Such a personalized approach makes marketing campaigns more relevant and impactful.
• Social media engagement. QR codes already help businesses connect with customers via social media platforms, and the possibilities are limitless. Use QR codes to automate social media sharing of your promotional content. It works like this: a user scans a QR code on a product package and instantly posts a picture to their Instagram story with a branded hashtag. This encourages user-generated content and fuels viral marketing campaigns.
• A new level of interactivity. QR codes can transform your marketing campaign from static to interactive. Gamification always adds special appeal to a marketing campaign. QR codes provide access to exclusive video content, hidden messages in scavenger hunts, or even interactive polls and feedback mechanisms. This two-way communication not only captures attention but also gathers valuable customer insights, allowing you to refine your marketing strategies and build a stronger connection with your target audience.

Tips to remember when using QR codes

If you build your marketing strategy with QR codes, here are some rules for success:

• Add a clear call to action. It is crucial to include a clear and concise message next to your QR code. The message must tell users what they will gain by scanning it, such as “unlock a discount” or “get a discount code”.
• Make your content mobile-friendly.  All the information behind the QR code should be optimized for different screens to provide a seamless user experience.
• Track and measure results. Use QR codes with tracking capabilities to see how many times they are scanned to see whether these help you in achieving your marketing goals.

How companies utilize QR code power

Many companies have realized the unparalleled power of QR codes and implemented them in their marketing campaigns. Let’s see how they do it in practice.

M&M’s, the famous candy brand, used QR codes to add an interactive element to its marketing campaign. QR codes can be found on packaging and promotional materials. Customers are encouraged to scan the codes and access exclusive content. For example, a user may unlock a digital game or get access to the behind-the-scenes process of candy production. Additionally, M&M’s added QR codes to social media promotions and advertisements, redirecting users to interactive landing pages where they could learn more about the brand and its products. This approach enabled M&M’s to transform passive packaging into a gateway for immersive brand experiences and boost sales.

The Home Depot, a leading home improvement retailer, used QR codes to enhance the customer shopping experience and provide valuable product information. You can find a QR code on product labels. Once you scan it, you access detailed product specifications, how-to videos, and DIY project guides. For example, scanning a QR code on a power tool will lead you to instructional videos demonstrating proper usage and safety tips. This approach empowers customers to purchase more DIY projects and reduces unnecessary returns due to a lack of user knowledge.

HBO, the renowned entertainment network, introduced QR codes into its marketing campaign to promote its TV shows and movies. QR codes appeared in posters, trailers, and social media posts to encourage viewers to unlock exclusive content. For example, viewers can watch extended trailers and even participate in interactive quizzes. Additionally, HBO allows its customers to scan codes to receive special offers or enter contests. This QR code experiment helped HBO transform traditional advertising into interactive experiences and create buzz around its content.

Key takeaway

QR codes have quickly become essential tools in the modern marketing arsenal. They efficiently fill the gap between the physical and digital worlds. Just with a simple scan, customers can seamlessly access a wealth of information and interactive experiences. QR codes help brands make their marketing campaigns interactive and engaging. Modern tech-savvy consumers appreciate the ability to quickly get data-driven insights. What is more important, QR code technology not only enhances customer engagement but also allows marketers to track campaign performance and gather valuable data to refine their strategies for more results.

Featured Image by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

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