Ever since its introduction to the world in 1996, CSS has been the staple of web page decoration and visual presentation. It has lasted until today, controlling aspects such as layout, typography, and colors of a web page or site. As a web designer, knowing key CSS tricks can help you enhance your work, producing web pages with a better look and feel, and making them more responsive and user-friendly.
If you’re a web designer, it’s up to you to create pages that leave a lasting impression. In this article, we’ll cover 5 CSS tricks designers as you should know. These techniques will help you create beautiful and responsive websites that will be sure to stand out from the crowd.
Essential CSS Tricks for Designers
1. Grid Layout
Grid layout is a powerful tool that allows designers to easily create complex layouts. You can define rows and columns and then place elements within them. They are especially useful when dealing with many similar items that should be arranged spatially logically, such as a photo gallery.
To use the grid layout, you first define a container element as a grid with the display: grid property. You can then specify the size and placement of each row and column using the grid-template-rows and grid-template-columns* properties, respectively. Finally, you can place elements within the grid using the grid-column and grid-row properties.
Here’s a simple example of how to use a grid layout:
In this example, we’re using a grid to create a container with three columns and a 20px gap between them. We’re also placing an item within the second row and spanning it across two columns.
2. Flexbox
Flexbox is another powerful layout tool that allows designers to create responsive layouts with ease. With Flexbox, you can define a flexible container and then place items within that container.
To use Flexbox, you first define a container element as a flex container with the display: flex property. You can then specify how items should be distributed along the main and cross axes using properties like justify-content and align-items. You can also set the size of each item using the flex-basis property.
In this example, we’re using a flexbox to create a container with items that are spaced evenly and centered vertically.
3. Transitions and Animations
Both transitions and animations are great tools for adding interactivity and visual interest to your website. With transitions, you can specify how properties should change over time, while animations allow you to create animated content with the help of keyframes.
To use transitions, you first define an element’s starting and ending states using properties. You can then use the transition property to specify which properties should transition and how long the transition should take. When the element’s state changes (for example, when the user hovers over it), the transition will occur.
Here’s an example of how to use transitions to create a hover effect on a button:
In this example, the background-color property of the button is set to transition over 0.5 seconds with an ease of timing function. When the user hovers over the button, the background-color changes to white, creating a simple but effective hover effect.
4. Custom Fonts
Custom fonts allow designers to create unique and memorable typography for their websites. Using custom fonts, designers can set their websites apart from the competition and create a more consistent and immersive experience.
To use custom fonts, you’ll first need to find a font you like and download it. You can then upload the font files to your website and use CSS to apply the font to your text. You can either use the @font-face rule to define the font, or you can use a service like Google Fonts to host the font files and provide a simple way to add the font to your website.
Here’s an example of how to use custom fonts with the @font-face rule:
In this example, we’re defining a custom font called “My Custom Font” using the @font-face rule. We’re then applying that font to an h1 element using the font-family property.
5. Variables
Variables, also known as custom properties, allow designers to define reusable values that can be used throughout their CSS. This can make it easier to create consistent and modular styles and can also make it easier to update styles in the future.
To use variables in CSS, you first define them using the — prefix. You can then use that variable throughout your CSS by referencing it with the var() function. You can also update the value of the variable dynamically using JavaScript.
In this example, we’re defining a primary-color variable and setting it to a blue tone. We’re then using that variable to set the background color of a button. When the user hovers over the button, the background-color changes to white, and the color changes to the primary color, which we set using the variable.
Empower Your CSS Skills
By using these 5 essential CSS tricks, you can create beautiful and responsive websites that stand out from the competition. They are all powerful tools that can help you take your designs to the next level.
Remember, these are just a few of the many CSS tricks that are available to web designers. A good designer should keep experimenting and learning new techniques to stay at the top of their game. Happy Web Designing!
Are you tired of working on or playing modern games on sluggish, outdated laptops? Relax, because all your worries will be solved by the top-tier gaming and professional laptops of 2023.
Complex games, extensive workloads, and high-performance requirements necessitate a high-powered laptop for gaming and professional jobs. That’s why the best laptop brands have developed groundbreaking features and stylish designs to give you an unparalleled experience in both gaming and the workplace.
However, narrowing down your options to just one laptop can be difficult. Our services begin at this point. In this blog, we’ll look back at the best gaming and professional laptops in 2023 and discuss how they might help you with work and play.
Everything you need to know about powerful processors and the latest and greatest graphics cards is right here. Stay with us if you’re a serious gamer or a hard-working professional in need of a laptop that can handle your workload in 2023.
Short Checklist
MSI GF63 Thin
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15
Google Pixelbook 12in
Razer Blade 14
Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage
MSI GF63 Thin
Are you looking for a cheap gaming and business laptop? The MSI GF63 Thin is the only option!
While not the most powerful and professional laptop out there, it offers excellent performance at a competitive price point.
The 11th-gen Intel Core i7 processor and PCIe 3.0 SSD are slightly older components, but they are paired with an Nvidia RTX 3000 GPU that still provides great gaming performance for the price.
MSI’s laptops and desktops range from impressive to lackluster, but the GF63 Thin is definitely in the former category!
We checked this laptop thoroughly, and we came away really impressed. Not only is it reasonably priced, but it’s also of high quality.
Those looking for a fantastic 1080p gaming system should go no further; despite its lack of customization options compared to other models on this list, it is still the best option.
Spec
Processor/CPU: Intel Core i7 up to the 11th generation
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050–3050 Ti
RAM: 64GB maximum
Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920×1080), 144Hz
Memory: 1TB to 512GB
Why You Should Buy
Great price-to-performance ratio
Solid build quality
Good range of ports
Why You Shouldn’t
Typical battery performance
A load of unnecessary features
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 is a dependable laptop for both work and gaming. It remains one of the top portable gaming PCs available today.
Reasons for its popularity among gamers include a strong AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX 3000 graphics processing units.
The screen and overall design are top-notch. If you want a gaming and professional laptop that is capable of running the latest games, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 is a fantastic option.
Our tests showed that this gaming and professional laptop’s battery might last for up to nine hours, making it a true powerhouse.
The sturdy chassis and sleek design ensure that no one but fellow gamers will suspect you of being a gamer.
The value is outstanding; you’ll get a high-end laptop without breaking the bank. This is one of the ultimate best gaming and professional laptops in 2023 with all the bells and whistles.
Google Pixelbook 12in has a 2400×1600-pixel display and a resolution that is nearly quad-HD, plus it’s incredibly bright with a brightness of 421 units – significantly more than the average of 299.9 units.
It produces stunningly vivid colors, capable of even rendering a dimpled texture for Erik Killmonger’s skin. It’s also a Chromebook, equipped with Google Assistant built-in.
Google GA00122-US is a lightweight and thin laptop that packs a punch! This sleek machine weighs in at only 2.5 kilograms and is only 0.4 inches thick.
It got a metal body and a Gorilla Glass screen that looks stunning! And, to top it all off, it has a backlit keyboard that makes typing a breeze. Best of all, it runs Chrome OS, which makes it incredibly stable and updates automatically – so you don’t have to worry about keeping up with the latest version.
Spec
Processor/CPU: Intel – 3.3 GHz
GPU: 8 GB – HD615
RAM: 8 GB DDR3L SDRAM
Display: 12.3 Inches – 421 units
Memory: 128 GB SSD
Why You Should Buy
Pixelbook pen makes it easy to write, doodle, or draw on the go.
Provide lightning-fast performance.
12.3-inch touchscreen display with a full 360 degrees of rotation
Why You Shouldn’t
Don’t offer many ports.
Razer Blade 14
We know $2,600 is a hefty price tag, but the new Razer Blade 14 is worth it—it’s a gorgeous, compact, quiet, and powerful gaming and professional laptop that checks off all the boxes.
The internal components are top-notch, and the screen is ultra-bright and vivid. And of course, it has the classic machined metal chassis that Razer Blades are known for.
Our RTX 3070 Ti model is the best choice if you want a quiet gaming and professional laptop without sacrificing performance.
It can run most games at 60 frames per second or higher at 1440p, plus it’s unusually quiet for a laptop of this caliber.
The battery life is satisfactory for a gaming and professional laptop, falling short of Ultrabook standards but still respectable.
Spec
Processor/CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 – 3080
RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800
Display: 12.3 Inches – 421 units
Memory: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
Why You Should Buy
Visually stimulating display
Superior Gaming Capability
Frame made of sturdy metal
Why You Shouldn’t
Quite pricey considering the materials readily hand.
The keyboard is a bit too small.
Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage
Check out the Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage if you want a gaming and professional laptop that excels in every category.
This 17-inch laptop features a crazy 120Hz 4K display with support for Dolby Vision, giving you a sharp picture and a silky-smooth refresh rate.
We put it through its paces, and it came out on top, with jaw-dropping results on our GPU tests and no trouble at all running games.
It looks like an authentic Alienware laptop in terms of appearance. The Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage is the best laptop on the market if you want to play games.
The five laptops indicated above will undoubtedly be the best gaming and professional laptops in 2023. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 has superb gaming features, while the MSI GF63 Thin has impressive performance and a sleek design.
The Razer Blade 14 has all the capabilities you need to be competitive, while the Google Pixelbook 12in is the ideal laptop for work.
Last but not least, the Alienware m17 R5 AMD Advantage is a powerful laptop that will give you an advantage over your rivals. Whatever your demands are, these five computers will more than likely satisfy them.
Starting a FinTech company is an exciting, yet daunting task. With the right information, resources, and a willingness to learn, entrepreneurs can launch a successful FinTech business. This article provides an essential guide to starting a FinTech company, covering everything entrepreneurs need to know, including the benefits of starting a FinTech company, regulations and licensing requirements, FinTech platforms and tools, and tips for growing your FinTech business.
What is FinTech?
FinTech, or financial technology, is the use of technology to provide financial services. It is an industry that is rapidly evolving, with new products and services being developed to meet the needs of consumers and businesses. FinTech companies provide a variety of services, such as payments, lending, investing, and more. FinTech companies are disrupting the traditional banking and financial services industry by offering more efficient solutions and services.
The FinTech industry is growing rapidly, with the global market size expected to reach $309 billion by 2022. This growth is driven by the increasing use of mobile devices for payments, the emergence of new technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, and the increasing demand for financial services in emerging markets.
Benefits of Starting a FinTech Company
Starting a FinTech company comes with a number of benefits. For starters, FinTech companies have the potential to disrupt the traditional banking and financial services industry, offering more efficient and cost-effective solutions. Additionally, FinTech companies have the potential to reach a global market, expanding their customer base and revenue potential.
FinTech companies also have the potential to realize a high return on investment. FinTech companies can leverage technology and data to develop products and services that are tailored to their customers’ needs. This allows FinTech companies to target their customer base and create more effective marketing campaigns.
Finally, FinTech companies can benefit from a supportive and collaborative environment. FinTech startups and established companies often work together to develop new products and services, share resources, and foster innovation.
FinTech Trends
The FinTech industry is constantly evolving, with new trends emerging every year. Here are some of the most important trends to be aware of:
Digital Payments: Mobile payments, contactless payments, and online payments are becoming more popular as customers seek out more convenient and secure ways to make payments.
Open Banking: Open banking is a trend that is transforming the financial services industry by allowing customers to securely share their financial data with third parties. This allows customers to make more informed decisions and access more services.
Artificial Intelligence: AI is being used in the FinTech industry to automate processes, improve customer service, and develop more accurate predictions.
Blockchain: Blockchain technology is being used in the FinTech industry to create secure and transparent transactions.
Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly important trend as customers seek out more secure ways to store and transfer data.
Regulations and Licensing Requirements for FinTech Companies
Before starting a FinTech company, it’s important to understand the regulations and licensing requirements. FinTech companies are subject to a variety of laws and regulations, including those related to consumer protection, data privacy, and anti-money laundering. It’s important to understand the regulations that apply to your business and to ensure you’re compliant.
Additionally, FinTech companies may need to obtain a license from a regulatory authority, depending on the type of services they offer. For example, companies that offer investments or loans may need to obtain a license from the Securities and Exchange Commission or a state regulator.
FinTech Platforms and Tools
FinTech companies need the right tools and platforms to succeed. Here are some of the most popular FinTech platforms and tools:
Payment Processing Platforms: Payment processing platforms such as Stripe, PayPal, and Square can be used to securely process payments.
Investment Platforms: Investment platforms such as Acorns and Robinhood can be used to manage investments and make trades.
Blockchain Platforms: Blockchain platforms such as Ethereum and Hyperledger can be used to create secure and transparent transactions.
AI Platforms: AI platforms such as IBM Watson and Microsoft Azure can be used to automate processes and improve customer service.
Cybersecurity Platforms: Cybersecurity platforms such as Symantec and McAfee can be used to protect customer data.
Steps to Starting a FinTech Company
Starting a FinTech company requires a lot of planning and preparation. Here are the steps entrepreneurs should take to get started:
Research the Market: Before starting a FinTech company, entrepreneurs should research the market to determine the potential customer base and competition.
Develop a Business Plan: A well-developed business plan is essential to the success of a FinTech company. It should include an overview of the business, financial projections, and a marketing plan.
Secure Financing: FinTech companies typically require a lot of capital to get started. Entrepreneurs should explore financing options such as venture capital, angel investors, and bank loans.
Find Partners: FinTech companies often partner with other companies to develop products, share resources, and expand their customer base.
Hire a Team: FinTech companies require a team of talented and motivated employees to succeed. Entrepreneurs should consider hiring employees with experience in finance, technology, and marketing.
Develop Products and Services: FinTech companies need to develop products and services that meet customer needs and are competitive in the market.
Obtain Licenses and Permits: FinTech companies may need to obtain licenses and permits to operate in certain jurisdictions.
FinTech Investment Strategies
FinTech companies need to have a solid investment strategy in order to succeed. Here are some tips for developing an effective FinTech investment strategy:
Understand the Market: FinTech companies need to have a thorough understanding of the market and their competitive landscape.
Identify Investment Opportunities: FinTech companies should identify investment opportunities and develop strategies for taking advantage of them.
Diversify Investments: FinTech companies should diversify their investments to reduce risk and maximize returns.
Monitor Investment Performance: FinTech companies should regularly monitor their investments to ensure they are performing as expected.
Rebalance Portfolios: FinTech companies should periodically rebalance their portfolios to ensure they are properly diversified.
Finding FinTech Partners
Partnerships are an important part of the FinTech industry. FinTech companies often partner with other companies to develop products, share resources, and expand their customer base. Here are some tips for finding the right FinTech partners:
Identify Potential Partners: FinTech companies should identify potential partners that have complementary products, services, and resources.
Research Partners: FinTech companies should research potential partners to ensure they are reliable and trustworthy.
Negotiate Agreements: FinTech companies should negotiate agreements that are mutually beneficial and clearly define the terms of the partnership.
Monitor Performance: FinTech companies should monitor their partners’ performance to ensure they are meeting their obligations.
Tips for Growing Your FinTech Company
Growing a FinTech company is no easy task. Here are some tips for growing your FinTech company:
Focus on Customer Service: FinTech companies should focus on providing excellent customer service to ensure customer loyalty.
Invest in Technology: FinTech companies should invest in the right technology to automate processes, improve customer service, and remain competitive.
Leverage Data: FinTech companies should leverage data to develop products and services that meet customer needs and to create more effective marketing campaigns.
Develop Strategic Partnerships: FinTech companies should develop strategic partnerships to share resources, gain access to new markets, and foster innovation.
Stay Up-to-Date: FinTech companies should stay abreast of the latest trends and developments in the industry to remain competitive.
Conclusion
Starting a FinTech company is an exciting and rewarding endeavor. With the right information, resources, and a willingness to learn, entrepreneurs can launch a successful FinTech business. This guide provided an overview of the essential steps for starting a FinTech company andwhat startups need to succeed, including understanding the market, developing a business plan, securing financing, finding partners, and more.
Starting a FinTech company is a big undertaking, but with the right information and resources, entrepreneurs can develop a successful business that is both profitable and rewarding.
Picture this: you stumble upon a small business website and find yourself drawn in by a compelling story that resonates with you on a personal level.
Suddenly, you feel a connection with the brand and are more inclined to make a purchase.
This is the power of storytelling in small business websites, and in this article, we’ll show you how to harness it to connect with your audience and take your business to the next level.
Why Storytelling is Essential for Small Businesses
As a small business owner, you want to do everything you can to stand out from the crowd. But in a sea of websites, it can be tough to capture the attention of potential customers.
That’s where storytelling comes in. By sharing your brand story and using narratives to connect with your audience, you can differentiate yourself from competitors and build a loyal following.
But it’s not just about standing out. Storytelling has a real impact on consumer behavior. Studies have shown that people are more likely to remember information presented as a story than in a list or bullet points.
When you use storytelling on your website, you’re not just making your brand more memorable; you’re also making it more relatable and emotionally compelling.
Understanding your Audience
Before you can start crafting your brand story, you need to understand who your audience is and what they care about.
What are their pain points?
What are their desires and values?
By answering these questions, you can create a story that resonates with them on a personal level.
For example, let’s say you’re a fitness coach who specializes in working with women over 40. In this case, your audience might be dealing with issues like hormonal changes, low energy, and a desire to feel strong and healthy as they age. By crafting a brand story that emphasizes your understanding of these issues and your ability to help women overcome them, you can create a powerful emotional connection with your audience.
Crafting your Brand Story
Your brand story is more than just a list of facts or a marketing pitch. It’s a narrative that brings your brand to life and makes it relatable to your audience. There are a few key elements that make up a great brand story:
A protagonist
Your brand story should have a main character that your audience can root for. This might be you, the business owner, or it might be a fictional character that represents your brand.
Conflict
Every good story needs conflict, and your brand story is no exception. What obstacles have you faced in building your business, and how have you overcome them?
Resolution
Your brand story should have a happy ending (or at least a satisfying one). What have you achieved, and how has your brand made a difference in the lives of your customers?
For example, let’s say you run a dog grooming business. Your brand story might focus on a rescue dog who came to your salon looking unkempt and unhappy.
Through your expert grooming skills and compassionate care, you transformed the dog into a happy, healthy pet who was adopted by a loving family.
By telling this story on your website, you’re not just promoting your business; you’re also highlighting your commitment to animal welfare and building an emotional connection with your audience.
Other examples of how businesses can use storytelling:
A photographer might use brand storytelling to showcase their passion for capturing life’s special moments. They could share stories about the meaningful connections they’ve made with their clients and how they’ve helped them to create lasting memories.
A fitness studio can emphasize its commitment to helping people achieve their health and wellness goals. They could share stories about clients who have transformed their lives through fitness, or about the studio’s own journey to becoming a welcoming, inclusive space for all.
A coffee shop might use brand storytelling to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere that feels like a home away from home. They could share stories about the origins and roasting process of their coffee beans, or about the community events they host that bring people together over a cup of coffee.
Incorporating Storytelling into your Website
Once you’ve crafted your brand story, it’s time to incorporate it into the content of your website and there are a few ways you can do this:
Use visuals
Quality Images and videos are a great way to bring your brand story to life. Consider using photos of your products or team members, or creating a video that tells your brand story in a compelling way.
Highlight your mission
Your brand story should be woven into your website’s mission statement and about page. Make sure these sections of your website reflect your brand story and values.
Here are some examples to get you started:
At XYZ Bakery, we’re more than just a bakery – we’re a community. Our commitment to using locally sourced ingredients and providing a warm, welcoming atmosphere is rooted in our belief that good food brings people together. We’re passionate about creating a space where our customers feel like part of the family, and where every bite of our delicious baked goods tells a story of quality and care.
At ABC Cleaners, we’re committed to more than just clean homes – we’re committed to a cleaner planet. Our brand story is one of sustainability, with a focus on using eco-friendly cleaning products and reducing waste. We believe that a clean home should also be a healthy home, and that our customers’ satisfaction comes from knowing that their clean home is contributing to a cleaner world.
At Grooming Haven, we’re not just in the business of grooming pets – we’re in the business of creating happy, healthy pets and happy, satisfied pet owners. Our brand story is one of compassion and expertise, with a focus on providing top-quality grooming services that keep pets looking and feeling their best. We know that every pet has its own unique story, and we’re committed to helping them look and feel their best for years to come.
Use testimonials
Testimonials from satisfied customers are a powerful way to reinforce your brand story and build social proof. Use customer quotes and reviews throughout your website to show that your brand is making a real difference in people’s lives.
Engaging with your Audience
Finally, it’s important to engage with your audience through storytelling. This means using your brand story as a jumping-off point for conversations with your customers and followers.
For example, you can develop a quiz based on your brand story that helps customers learn more about your business while having fun. A pet grooming business could create a quiz that helps customers identify their pet’s grooming needs based on their breed or personality.
You can encourage your customers to share photos or videos of themselves using your product or service, and then feature those posts on your website or social media pages. This helps build a sense of community around your brand and encourages your customers to feel more invested in your success.
Use social media or video conferencing platforms to host a live Q&A session where you can answer questions from your customers and followers. This provides an opportunity for you to share more about your brand story and connect with your audience on a personal level.
Incorporate stories into your email marketing campaigns to help build a deeper connection with your subscribers. For example, a clothing brand could share stories about the inspiration behind their latest collection, or a food delivery service could share stories about the local farmers and producers they work with.
Provide a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes workings of your business by sharing photos or videos of your team, your workspace, or your creative process. This helps humanize your brand and makes your customers feel more connected to the people behind the products or services they love.
Storytelling is a powerful tool for small businesses that want to differentiate themselves from competitors and build a loyal following.
By understanding your audience and crafting a compelling brand story, you can create an emotional connection with your customers that goes beyond simple transactions.
Incorporating storytelling into your website and engaging with your audience through social media and other channels can help you build a community of supporters who are invested in your brand’s success. So don’t be afraid to share your story and let your customers get to know the heart and soul of your business.
Sentiments and emotions are hard to quantify, but, ironically, are the most crucial factors when a user makes a purchase decision. Users share their thoughts and opinions across various social platforms day-in-out. To make the most of it, brands need to monitor the chatter and derive useful insights that help understand user emotions, intent, and purpose. After all, every brand wants to know how their target users “feel” about them!
What is Social Sentiment Analysis?
Marketers are obsessed with metrics, and why not. Metrics help you boost your business in the right direction. However, metrics cannot surpass your users’ sentiments and feelings.
Social sentiment analysis can help brands dig deep into how their target users “feel” about them and turn social insights into actionable data. When a brand tries to incorporate user perceptions into its marketing and branding strategy, you get a successful and loved brand.
Social sentiment analysis, or opinion mining, is a natural language processing technique that tells you if the data acquired is positive, negative, or neutral. This enables brands to create a better user experience. After all, it is the end-users experience that matters.
Sentiment Analysis + AI
AI tools are paving the way in every domain we can think of. Whether driving business goals, writing content, or generating customized audio, there is an AI tool for everything.
It is only obvious that AI found its way into analyzing social sentiments. It pits together the power of two of its subfields –
Natural Language Processing
Machine Learning
The technology behind sentiment analysis
Any AI-enabled sentiment analysis tool has these two subfields at its core.
NLP converts human language into a language that machines understand. It implements syntactic (understand text structure) and semantic (identify meaning) techniques.
Once the text is processed, machine learning algorithms come into play for classifications. Machine learning algorithms help identify patterns in data and make relevant predictions based on them.
However, you must understand that machine learning algorithms do not rely on explicit instructions. Rather, it learns from its existing data set, i.e., the training data.
In layman’s terms, a machine learning model will classify texts by sentiments based on the text emotions it is trained on. Each emotion must be labeled with corresponding categories and tags.
After seeing a few examples, the model learns to associate a given text with a specific tag. Based on this, it starts predicting tags for unseen content.
Sentiment analysis with AI lets you tag a huge volume of data sets simultaneously and in real-time. Since machine learning algorithms learn over time, your sentiment analysis models will only get smarter.
Social Sentiment Analysis with AI
Social sentiment analysis tools follow the same model. It scouts social channels to identify and classify texts (social messages) into positive or negative. For instance, a social post stating, “I love using this tool” will give positive results in sentiment analysis.
While marketers use these two terms interchangeably, they are different.
Social Listening
Social sentiment analysis
Social listening captures brand mentions across the web. It is not limited to social channels. Brand mentions can be anywhere – blogs, social channels, forums, communities, etc. It helps answer questions like – Where do people talk about my brand? How do they perceive my brand? How does my brand perform against my competitors? Who can be my key influencers?
Social analytics provide actionable insights. It analyzes brand performance on social media at a deeper level and helps you understand the impact of your social efforts. It helps answer questions like: How effectively users are engaging on social media? How many people can see your brand? What are the user demographics and interests?
Social sentiment analysis can be tagged as a subset of social listening. Once you discover your brand mentions, the next step is to analyze the sentiment across those mentions.
This allows brands to detect emergencies and take appropriate action before it is late. After all, more social mentions are not always equal to positive mentions.
For instance, the eCommerce giant was in hot soup in 2019 for apparently hurting Hindu sentiments when it started showcasing products like doormats, slippers, and toilet seat covers with pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses. A Twitter user posted images of the same and was backed by thousands of people urging the brand to remove the entire catalog.
The aggression was severe, to the point where users threatened to stop using the app or delete the app, altogether! And why not. It was the second time Amazon made the same mistake.
As a result, Amazon clarified that the said product catalogs are removed and that all sellers will adhere to the selling guidelines. If sellers do not adhere to the selling guidelines, their products will be removed from the eCommerce portal.
Owing up social backlash with utmost honesty and rectifying mistakes – brands can do it right if they successfully listen to their users and analyze the sentiment around the chatter.
Types of Social Sentiment Analysis
Opinions (or sentiments) on social media are wide-ranged. They can be extremely positive or negative, somewhat positive or negative, or absolutely neutral. This is also termed as polarity-driven analysis.
Here’s how you can grade emotions from the tone of the text.
User opinion
Sentiment analysis
I am so stocked to see this feature live. Can’t wait to try it out
Extreme positive
Why would you remove the icon @xyz brand?
Somewhat negative
I am never coming back to this website ever, ever again. Pathetic customer service.
Extreme negative
Not sure if this feature will help marketers in the long run
Neutral
I love buying from @xyz but this time you’ve really goofed up
Somewhat negative
Sentiment analysis models
Grading sentiments as positive, negative, or neutral is the first level. To implement AI-enabled social sentiment analysis, you must go beyond polarity.
Some advanced and popular types of sentiment analysis include:
Emotion analysis
Emotion-driven analysis helps you dig deeper into user emotions like anger, happiness, or frustration around your product/brand. In most cases, sentiment analysis tools use lexicons i.e. list of words that conveys emotions, or resort to advanced machine learning algorithms.
The downside of using lexicons is that the correct emotion is often not captured. Lexicons contain words that specify a certain kind of emotion. For instance, words like bad or kill often resonates with anger. However, a social opinion stating this feature is killing it indicates happiness.
For instance, look at this tweet with all the bad words, but the tweet’s emotion is positive and happy. In such cases, the emotion analysis can go wrong unless your sentiment analysis also considers the emojis.
In that case, the algorithm will predict the emotion correctly.
Aspect-based analysis
Aspect-based analysis helps brands understand what exact feature or part of ad users tag as good, bad, or ugly!
For instance, This filter does not look good on nigh-mode pictures instantly tells a brand that the opinion is solely about the said filter. The brand can improve the filter or launch a new one for the camera’s night mode. Either way, aspect-based analysis helps dig deep into what users want and what they do not.
Multilingual sentiments
This involves a lot of pre-processing and resources. You will need lexicons (available online), noise, and translation algorithms (you must build them) to detect the sentiment.
Multilingual sentiment analysis works for brands with users from varied ethnicities, cultures, and demographics.
Social sentiment analysis to Understand Customers
There is no other alternative for brands but to listen to and understand their end-users. As more and more users become aware of the power of social media and brand positioning, brands must leverage social monitoring and sentiment analysis.
Here’s how you can use sentiment analysis to your benefit.
1. Spot opportunities to improve user experience
When you start monitoring brand mentions across social channels (and the web), you monitor compliments and complaints. This gives you a detailed insight into what your users expect from you. While compliments show that your product/services are built in the right direction, complaints show the gap that you might be missing otherwise.
For instance, a complaint need not be aggressive or extremely negative. It can also be around a missing feature or service you have not yet introduced. Monitoring such mentions and engaging with users can help you identify what your users seek. If you find most users voting for that missing feature, you know it’s time to get it done.
One brand that I absolutely love using is Canva, not only because the templates and design possibilities help marketers like me design pro images – but also because this brand listens and responds.
Check this tweet from one of its users and how Canva handled it.
There are many instances when you feel like a feature is missing and validate the same via social media. Social posts like these are also part of sentiment analysis. The score may not be as high as a proper negative review, but it will still be graded as negative.
Pro-tip to handle such mentions: Own up to the gap and be empathetic. This lets the user know you’ve noted the issue and will work around it. It builds trust and also improves user experience. When a user knows he/she is heard, that’s all that matters to build a healthy brand reputation.
2. Reduce customer wait time
Sentiment analysis tools will show you sentiments over time, like days, weeks, and months. Simultaneously, it will also tag social posts as positive, negative, and neutral for you to take quick action.
The tool analyzed the text and scored -100, indicating extremely negative and serious issues. The post uses a sarcastic tone to complain, but the tool accurately captures the negative sentiment.
While this tweet is regarding a missing feature in the product, the sentiment is still positive and generates a 100 score on the sentiment scorecard. It contains lexicons like ‘not sure’, which can easily get tagged as negative sentiments. However, looking at the context, the tool marks it as positive.
In both cases, you must be quick to respond.
Responding to a positive or neutral social post will help you build better relationships with your users, along with instant gratification.
Responding to an issue or complaint on social media posts with either a solution or a process/resource to resolve the issue quickly can help you build user retention.
No one wants to wait endlessly. Forget endless; users hate to wait beyond an hour. Research shows users expect a reply within 24 hours. Your users will start rethinking your brand within seconds of encountering an issue. So, the quicker you are, the better it is.
For instance, Apple’s customer support is always prompt in its reply. While it does not fully resolve the issue immediately, the response time is less than a minute which is a breather for any users stuck with an issue. The response contains either some general steps to resolve the issue or a quick message to DM them the issue using the send us a private message CTA included in the response. [Tweet]
What I love about this social handle is that every response (although these are automated) has customization. For example, the user complains about iMessage, so the response includes the ‘iMessage’ term to give it a personal touch.
Pro-tip to reduce wait time: The best way to reduce wait time is by automating tas tagging for incoming support tickets.
You can train your customer support team to use sentiment analysis to tag incoming tickets and automatically put negative tickets at the top of the queue.
Simultaneously, you can create rules to automatically get negative tickets assigned to the most experienced representative to guarantee the best attention.
3. Define Neutral and Emojis for accurate analysis
Defining positive and negative is easier than defining neutral. It is hard to train your machine-learning model to detect neutral tags.
How you perceive neutral plays an important role in training your sentiment analysis model. Each tagging data will require tagging criteria so that a good definition can go a long way. Here’s how you can do this:
Classify all objective texts as neutral, especially those that do not have explicit sentiments.
If your data is still pre-processed, you can tag it neutral since the irrelevant data is yet to be filtered. But do it with caution. Sometimes, it may add more noise and hamper the performance.
Texts like “I wish it could do XYZ” are usually neutral. However, you may find it harder to categorize wish texts like “I wish xyz did better than abc”.
Next comes categorizing emojis. Emojis are of two types:
Western emojis with two characters
Easter emojis with longer combinations of characters of vertical nature
Emojis play a pivotal role in determining the sentiment of the texts, especially in tweets.
In this case, you must be careful of character and word levels when performing sentiment analysis.
Pro Tip: Consider pre-processing social media content, transforming emojis into tokens, and whitelisting them.
How to do social sentiment analysis [Use Case: Twitter]
Twitter offers instant gratification, which makes it the most accurate blueprint of user opinion. Monitoring brand mentions and competitor mentions can help in understanding the ‘emotion’ of users, how they feel about a product or a particular feature, and what can trigger them incorrectly.
Twitter sentiment analysis can be done using programming languages like R and Python. Below are the steps for Twitter data sentiment analysis.
1. Extract and collect data
To mine data from Twitter, you can use Twitter APIs like Tweepy and TextBlob. Data extraction is the crux of the process because all other steps directly depend on this.
Ensure that your Twitter data contains the observations you want to analyze. You will find two types of tweets:
Latest tweets under real-time hashtags, keywords, or topics.
Historical tweets posted in the past and their responses in different timelines.
2. Pre-process sentiment analysis dataset
Tweets are mostly unstructured data and require extensive pre-processing before using them as training data for the sentiment analysis model. Data reduction is one way of preparing data for mining.
This includes:
Cleaning all the noise from the data
Deleting duplicate or meaningless tweets [eg, tweets shorter than three characters]
Formatting improvements and concatenation
Preparing custom data to perform testing on the model
Clean and good data facilitates precise outcomes, i.e. more accurate predictions.
3. Build an ML model for sentiment analysis
The model building depends on the problem statement, requirements, and use cases. However, it has 5 mandates –
Create the base model type as a Classifier to categorize and define tags
Under the model, create a sentiment analysis project for the classification
Import the pre-processed data as the training dataset for model
Train the model by tagging each tweet as positive, negative, or neutral. After a few manual tagging, the models learn to do the tagging with maximum accuracy.
Test the model performance and preciseness of predictions. The larger dataset you use, the easier it is for the model to learn the tagging.
Tip for maximum accuracy: Define tags more explicitly in the training data and crosscheck for false positives and negatives using various test cases.
4. Analyse the data for sentiment analysis
Integrate Twitter data with the tweet sentiment analysis model. There are pre-built APIs that require tokenization and API calls to complete the integration process.
Examples: Inference API by Huggice Face, Lexanalytics, Brandwatch, Rosette, Social Mention, and more.
5. Use data visualization to demonstrate your findings
Data visualization illustrates any sentiment analysis report the best. It is easy to understand, interactive, and dynamic. In addition, they work on business intelligence frameworks and render impeccable data visuals.
Examples: Power BI, Google Data Studio, Tableau, Klipfolio, etc.
Closing statement
Social sentiment analysis has proven benefits like –
Large-scale data sorting
Real-time data analysis
Improved user experience
Detailed competitor analysis
It can be applied to innumerable aspects of your business – be it brand monitoring, product analytics, market research, and customer service. Social sentiment analysis helps brands work fast and work smartly. It works towards listening to users more accurately and making the end-user experience worthwhile.
Sentiment analysis is already mandated for brands who want to build products or design services catered to humans. It gives a deeper insight into user intent, emotions, and engagements for teams to work more effectively.
Have you started analyzing your users’ emotions across social channels?
