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For those who want to develop great-looking and intuitive Android applications, Material Design is the best choice. Material Design is an approach in designing interfaces that was designed by Google and it gives priority in its design to the experience of the user across the various devices. In this blog post, you will learn all about Material Design and what you need to know to make the best of it when creating Android apps. As a business person, you know the need to provide your clients with an app that has as many features as possible, is safe, and can expand as the business grows. 

Understanding Material Design

Material Design can be described as a language of designing applications, although it does not operate with words, but with the help of elements. Think of it as a guide that makes your app look good and functional on different devices including phones and tablets. It’s all about presenting the app in a way that is easy to understand for the users and they should not get lost while using it. 

Material Design is not only about aesthetics but it also has intelligence involved in it. This way, it employs shadow, movement, and depth to lead the users; thus, the app is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. The way buttons appear on the screen, the way menus slide in and out and all such actions feel smooth and real. 

In adopting Material Design, you are not only making your application beautiful but also friendly and easy to use. It is a method of how to make sure that people do not only download your app, but also use it and enjoy it. 

The Principles of Material Design

Material Design in mobile app development is based on some principles that allow not only to make the application beautiful but also logical. These are as follows:

• First of all, there is a concept of ‘materiality’ referring to the metaphorical meaning. This idea is all about treating items on the screen as if they are made of physical material. As with real life, such materials can grow and shrink, and while doing so they can even transform their shape, but they cannot pop in out of nowhere and they cannot dematerialize into thin air either. This is useful to the users as it teaches them how to conduct themselves around your app since it is modeled on the physical world. 
• This principle is about ensuring that every element in the app has a function and is easy to comprehend by the users. The use of colors, typography, and imagery is such that they attract attention and direct the user’s attention to the necessary information. It is all about ensuring that your app is sending out the right message and at the same time it is well designed. 
• Finally, there is the motion that is also very essential in the whole process. The movement of things in your app is not just an aesthetic, it has purpose. Navigation is applied to lead people, to tell them where to move and what to do, in an unobtrusive manner. Some are like when a person beckons you to come with him or her, it is a sign as to what the next step is without having to tell you. 

Material Design Components and How to Use Them

Material Design is a gold mine of components that are like lego pieces for your Android application. It is like having a set of clothes that are already made and you simply select the one that you want and join them to create a new product. Such components can be buttons which the users can click, cards which can contain some information or tabs to switch between different parts of your application. They are intended to ensure that the application not only looks great but is also easy and simple to use for the users. 

The above components are central to the design of a good app. For example, the button should be put in the place where it is easy to find it and click and the design of the button should give a clue that it can be clicked. Cards are good when it comes to presenting some pieces of information in a clear and structured manner for the user to comprehend. Tabs are useful in breaking down the content into different sections that the users can easily flip between without getting confused. 

These components are very versatile, and this is the beauty of it. They can be made to match the rest of the app’s layout and design, thus creating continuity in your app. This implies that one can be able to change colors, shapes, and sizes to correspond with the style of the app, ensuring that all the features are well coordinated. 

Best Practices for Implementing Material Design

Choosing some of the top mobile app ideas isn’t enough by itself to drive success for your business. It might look like a daunting task to get Material Design right in your Android apps, but you should know that it is very much possible with the right strategies in mind. Below are some tips that you should consider to ensure that the process is as efficient as possible and the app is as user-friendly as possible. 

• First of all, it is necessary to follow the guidelines that Google offers within Material Design. These are like your guide to the promised land, or in this case, how to make your app not just pretty to look at, but also easy to use. These guidelines should be viewed more as a recipe book for the chef, which is necessary to produce something brilliant. 
• After that, it is vital to check your app on different devices and their screens. This helps to make sure that your app is going to look good on both a normal phone as well as a tablet. Suppose you invited people over for a party and ensured that everyone could be comfortably accommodated regardless of the turnout. 
• Finally, do not forget about your app performance. Users like smooth animation and fast transitions between screens. It is like ensuring that the elevator in a tall building is fast and efficient – it just improves everyone’s day. 

Overcoming Common Challenges in Material Design Implementation

As you incorporate Material Design in your Android applications, there are some issues that you are likely to encounter. One of the big problems is to maintain the application’s interface consistent across the screens. There are various sizes and resolutions of the screens on every phone and tablet. This means that your app can appear well-designed on one device and not so well on the other. To correct this, one has to test the app on many devices so that the problem does not occur frequently. Thus, it is possible to ensure that it always stays neat, regardless of where it is being utilized. 

Another challenge that you may experience is the compatibility of your app with the older versions of the devices. Not all users have the newest phone or tablet, thus it is necessary to test your app on older models as well. This may mean spending some time to ensure that your animations do not cause the app to lag on these devices. 

Finally, it is often challenging to keep everything neat and clean, and all the elements homogeneous. Since there are many parts of your app such as menus, buttons, and screens, it becomes possible to have a mismatched design. One must remember that it is a good practice to verify that all the elements correspond to Material Design from time to time. This is beneficial in maintaining the neatness and consistency of your app’s interface. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be said that Material Design integration into your Android apps is a wise decision. It is all about creating applications that not only are aesthetically appealing but are also easy to use by the users. When employing Material Design, what you are doing is submerging yourself in the basic concepts, toying with the elements and components, and adhering to some of the fundamental guidelines, you are already on the right track. Of course, you will face some obstacles on the way, for example, to make your app look gorgeous on all the devices or to make it run on the older ones. However, with a little experimentation, all these barriers can be crossed. So, why wait? Implement material design right now and see how it affects your Android applications. 

Featured Image by Jotform on Unsplash

The post Implementing Material Design in Your Android Apps: Best Practices and Examples appeared first on noupe.

Today, to accelerate business growth and explore new success heights, the technology backbone must be powerful. You can’t take a chance on merely completing the web or software development for the sake of early launch. To gain a competitive edge having the expertise development process is a precondition. Outsourcing is one of the solutions to access high-tech services. 

Google, Alibaba, Skype, Accenture, and many others have leveraged the benefits of outsourcing services. Eventually, they scaled in the market seamlessly. So you can also consider outsourcing as the secret sauce for the success of your web development projects. 

The recent survey shows IT outsourcing revenue is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.99% in 2024-2028. As a result, the market volume would be USD 777.70bn by 2028. Hence, you should have the idea of outsourcing services for web projects, and this article covers all aspects of it.

What is Outsourcing Web Development?

The efficient and highly demanding solution for assigning or handing over web development projects to a third-party IT firm. Usually, that web service provider has a reliable and vast team of developers with expertise in various technologies. So, based on your project you can choose or interview the developers to select the appropriate ones.

Moreover, it is also termed IT outsourcing and works as a strategy to make the project cost-effective and eliminate the hassle of in-house development. However, outsourcing the development services to an outside vendor has resulted in preserving the control of the project.

In simple terms, you will be connected with vendors throughout the development process. It even allows you to focus thoroughly on your primary business needs. Alongside there are numerous benefits of outsourcing web development for both startups and large businesses. To make it the first choice for your project, let’s elaborate on its advantages.

Benefits of Outsourcing Web Development

Decreases Turnaround time

The time-saving aspect is the most common for any project. By delegating the web development tasks as per your time duration, it delivers on-time services. As you hire the experts, it fastens the development time and gives quick time to market your website.

Edge of Industry-Specific Functions  

Even after having an in-house team, outsourcing allows you to open the horizons for projects. As the client project is processed by experienced portfolios in various domains, it is a win-win for web development. 

For example, if you want to develop a fintech web app, consider outsourcing the IT vendor services with past knowledge in that sector. So, it provides better worth to your fintech software development project.

Reduces development costs

This benefit also stands as one of the compelling reasons for outsourcing over in-house development. It is among the potential strategies to reduce software development costs for your organization. 

Moreover, to make the outsourcing cut development costs, you need to even consider countries that have lower hourly rates. As a result, it will make your outsourcing web development successful and completed within the pre-decided budget. 

Deliver High-Quality Solutions 

When it comes to maintaining or improving the quality, you should definitely prioritize the outsourcing model. It drives the development process to streamline and align with the industry standards. Furthermore, the development team has testers who follow the proper quality control process. So, they will ensure to verify each stage carefully and offer error-free and better-quality services.

Integrating new tools and technologies

Outsourcing your project to the external company, leverage the new technology or tools capability. Based on your web development requirements and current trends, the outsourced team will utilize tools. So, you can be rest assured about the final outcomes, it will be backed with unique approaches and new tech solutions.  

Eliminates risks or uncertainties

Delegating web projects to outsourced teams also distributes the risk linked with development. Thus, it becomes crucial for the team to debug or manage the errors. Hence, outsourcing emerges as a solution to prevent the potential risks.

Access to global talents

From inside your country or its outer countries, outsourcing gives you access to explore global services. As it disappears the barrier of location, outsourcing has probably upscaled as the primary choice by various enterprises. You can easily search for reliable developers from platforms like Clutch, GoodFirms, LinkedIn, etc. 

Now, as we move ahead, it is essential to understand that outsourcing has been categorized into two major forms. So, here are the detailed insights on the types to make your selection easy. 

Types of Outsourcing Models 

The outsourcing model types are better defined with the two segments. However, these segments also have 3 sub-sections which are widely used outsourcing methods. 

Location-based Model 

Firstly the location-based model defines the outsourcing partners’ distance from you. It is divided into three forms as given below.

1. Onshore

Onshore outsourcing is the process of outsourcing the project to an exterior IT provider but inside the country. It distributes the project workload to other companies and makes the web development manageable.

2. Offshore

The offshore outsourcing model gives the privilege to assign development tasks to IT firms beyond the country boundary. It even crosses the time zone and gets to work with developers belonging to different time zones or continents. 

3. Nearshore

Nearshore outsourcing focuses on choosing third-party providers from neighboring countries that share the same time zone. It targets the convenience of communicating the needs smoothly. Alongside, the nearby country has a slightly similar culture which establishes better team networking.

Relationship-based Model

This type of outsourcing derives the ownership and accountability of the projects and bridges the gap between the client and the outsourcing service provider. The company has to manage both parties for the successful project. 

1. Project-specific

It involves project-based outsourcing solutions. As the company enters into the contract for decentralizing the project ownership to an outside vendor. However, the company will get a report of the progress and hand over the authority to the client after the development. 

2. Dedicated Team

The dedicated team model is majorly opted for by the client. It is majorly the first agreement between the IT service provider and clients on hiring a dedicated development team for their project. Moreover, the clients reserve the team exclusively for long-duration projects.

3. Staff Augmentation 

Usually, the staff augmentation model is chosen to fill the resource gap for a short duration. It is considered to onboard the outsourced team to partner with you in-house in order to furnish the project needs. So, it is also referred to as external hiring. It follows the time and material contract between the client and the company. 

Further, you will need to know about the appropriate time when going for outsourcing is beneficial or required. It will help you to select the right type of outsourcing model as well. 

When should you Outsource a project?

Outsourcing web development projects is a critical decision that needs to be taken based on circumstances. To make it concise, the following situations are best to go for outsourcing solutions.

• When your in-house team is insufficient to meet the client’s project needs. You have to look for a remote software development team
• The time when you want to reduce development costs with dedicated developers. As you outsource to countries with lower rates, your web development project falls under the range.
• If you discover an urgent deadline task that is inevitable to finish on time, selecting an outsourced team will eliminate the challenge. It will deliver your project needs as per your criteria within the stipulated time frame.

The above scenarios might raise the question of the process of outsourcing the web development project. So, here we have you covered with a brief overview of it. 

How to Outsource Web Development Projects?

• Decide and plan your project goals 
• Conduct research for outsourcing partners 
• Shortlist the potential providers
• Discuss your project scope and budget 
• Select based on your project needs
• Maintain regular communication of tasks
• Review the development progress

So, as you have to perform the steps to finalize the best outsourcing partner, we thought to decrease your burden. The below companies offer top-notch outsourcing services and reduce software development costs for your client/project.

Top Outsourcing Partners for Your Project

• Rlogical Techsoft
• Glorium Technologies
• Technource
• Hastechy
• Prismetric

Summing Up

That is all about the importance of outsourcing for web development projects today. These companies have been recognized for custom-tailored software services. However, you can also unleash other providers based on their customer reviews and ratings. The quick top would be to perform the interview round of the developers before starting your project. As it will give you a brief insight into their knowledge. So, all the best for your outsourcing project. If you liked the article do share it on your network!

Featured image by Mohammad Rahmani on Unsplash

The post How Outsourcing Can Supercharge Your Web Project? appeared first on noupe.

It’s a great time to start a small business. Although many Americans feel pretty gloomy about the 2024 economic outlook, a majority think it’s primed for a rebound in the near future. Most Americans are already spending like boom times are back anyway, according to a recent study on spending habits. 

One-man startups that could be looking to scale up in response to consumer spending may be wondering when and how to hire their first employee. There’s no easy, one-size-fits-all answer to this question. 

If you wait too long to hire that first employee, you could be putting them in a workplace environment of low morale because of missed deadlines and heavy workloads. If you hire them too early, you’re wasting money and time devising work to keep them busy.

Here’s when and how to properly hire your first employees.

Crunch the numbers

Start with the fundamental questions: Will hiring new employees help your business save money or generate more money? If you’re just starting out, increasing your business’ income is more important than saving money, but both are important. If you can’t firmly answer yes to at least one of those questions, hiring someone may not make sense for you right now.

Take your emotional temperature

Objectively ask yourself why you’re thinking of hiring a new employee. Is it because it’ll help you level up your business, or is it for more emotional reasons?

If you’re desperately behind, overworked, or lonely being the sole employee of your business, those are valid concerns, but they aren’t necessarily good reasons to hire someone — especially if your desperation leads you to rush your recruitment process. 

If you’re hiring because your business simply isn’t bringing in enough revenue, it’s doubtful that the generative effects of bringing on a new employee will surpass their compensation. It might make more sense for you to enhance your cash flow through some lucrative side hustles to make extra money until your revenue increases.

Some common signs that you may be hiring prematurely or for the wrong reasons are that you can’t define a specific role for your first employee or you have very low standards for who you’ll hire. If you feel like you just need to get someone in the door, step back and think about why you feel that way and what your business actually needs.

Consider a co-founder

Your first hire doesn’t necessarily need to be an employee. They could just as well be a partner. If you come across someone who perfectly shares and complements your skills, values, and vision as a founder and entrepreneur, consider bringing them on board as a co-founder. Empowering a talented entrepreneur as an equal partner can often unlock hidden potential and put your business on the fast track to success.

Test drive a contractor

On the other end of the spectrum, you might want to take things slow. In that case, a contractor could be a great test case for what you need out of your early hires. 

The commitment to a contractor is limited and usually quite short — usually between a month and a year depending on the agreement. In that time, you can try them out in different roles and evaluate their overall performance. If they prove themselves to be a valuable asset, you can always transition them into a permanent full-time role.

You could also interview a freelancer. In general, freelancers work on much shorter terms than contractors. You could bring them aboard to work only on a specific project and conclude their employment when that project is finished. 

Think skills, not job titles

Alongside considering what you want your early hires to do, consider what kinds of skills and experiences will enable them to excel in that role. The more specific you can be, the better. Make a list and target only candidates who check all the boxes.

Understand that hiring is a two-way process

You know why you want to hire your first employees, and you probably have a pretty specific idea of the skills and experiences you want those first employees to have. But during the interview process, don’t forget that candidates are evaluating you as much as you’re evaluating them. 

Employees want to know that you have a defined role for them. Before you start interviewing, sit down and define the role you’re hiring for, including how you plan to measure their performance, the outcomes and deliverables that role will be responsible for, and the processes they’ll be expected to perform.

Think about the role on different timelines, too. How will that role work in the next year, and how might it evolve in the next two, three, or five years? For someone interviewing for a job, there’s no such thing as too much information.

Widen your hiring horizons

When you’re searching for that perfect hire, think globally. There’s elite talent all over the world, especially when it comes to qualified tech workers. If their role can be performed remotely, you could tap into serious savings, especially if they live in a country with public health care. Foreign employees also offer valuable insights into their local markets and can dramatically increase your business’ availability if they’re in a different time zone.

Consider tapping into youthful energy by hiring a promising college student. If the role you’re looking to fill can be performed by a recent grad or even a college intern, they could provide a huge amount of hustle and motivation, as well as novel perspectives and ideas that could be valuable to forward-thinking industries.

Featured Image by Jotform on Unsplash

The post Scaling Your Small Business: When and How to Hire Your First Employees appeared first on noupe.

Guest blogging has been a staple off-page SEO marketing strategy since time immemorial. When external websites accept guest posts, those articles become sources of backlinks that directly benefit the sender’s website. 

However, many guest bloggers and websites overlook the fact that guest posts benefit both parties. 

Case in point: I recently submitted a guest post to a company called Outreach Monks, which is now ranking 5th on Google for the query “link decay” (feel free to Google it).

In this case, not only did the guest blogging efforts benefit me, but even the site owner is actively benefiting through high-quality organic traffic, increased site visibility, and potentially boosted sales.

There’s no debate. Guest blogging is an essential content marketing tactic.

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into guest blogging, exploring its core definition, its immense benefits, and how you can do it.

What is Guest Blogging?

Guest blogging, also known as guest posting, is a content marketing tactic that involves writing, sending, and publishing articles on external websites.

Guest blogging differs from ghostwriting because writers receive no attribution with the latter. 

When submitting a guest post, the author still receives full ownership of the article, as evidenced by the byline. The host blog may even highlight the article as ‘written by a contributor’ with your very own author bio.

A guest blogging strategy is rooted in link-building principles, where people write a guest post and receive a backlink in exchange. However, there are also some cases when a guest blogger receives monetary compensation for their contribution, or the blog owner demands payment for the opportunity to publish an article on their site.

Benefits of Guest Blogging

While getting backlinks is enough to convince websites to engage in guest blogging, it’s important to note that links are only the tip of the iceberg. Below, we’ll flesh out the benefits of submitting a guest blog post:

1. Build valuable links back to your website

Guest posting is one of the most known no-nonsense approaches to link building.

You simply find sites, pitch your guest post idea, and write the content according to the host website’s guidelines. Once published, you often get one or several backlinks in exchange for your efforts.

Since Google considers backlinks a ranking factor, more links from high-quality sites directly impact your website’s SEO performance. This results in a measurable increase in search engine rankings, increasing your website’s visibility while inviting more organic traffic.

2. Establishes thought leadership outside of your website

Guest authors also benefit from guest blogging as this lets them speak on a different platform and address a different audience.

Creating highly engaging, valuable, and amazing guest articles establishes yourself as a thought leader outside of your domain. This may expand your market and grow your audience.

Consider it from the perspective of an e-commerce owner. Guest blog posts offer free commercial real estate to promote one’s business. If you infuse some engaging direct-response copy into your content, some readers might feel compelled to buy your product.

Moreover, guest articles can potentially grow your readership since most feature your author’s bio at the bottom, which boosts brand awareness and may drive referral traffic back to your website.

3. Builds relationships with external websites

Contrary to popular belief, guest blogging goes beyond content creation and digital marketing. It is an interpersonal process.

Before writing guest posts, you start by pitching a guest post to the site owner first. This initial process requires communication and interpersonal skills; otherwise, the site owner might reject your pitch immediately.

In attempting to build rapport and pitch your idea, you’re actively engaging in professional collaboration. This networking establishes a connection between you and the host, which fosters mutual respect and trust.

Your content’s quality may also impact your relationship with the site owner, mainly when you follow the guidelines, do proper keyword research, adapt to their style guide, and tailor content to their audience. This may open doors to future opportunities, such as co-marketing, partnerships, or guest post exchanges.

4. Introduces fresh content to host websites

Every writer is different, and when you submit a guest article, your creative writing style, unique angles, and new perspectives can introduce new ideas that enrich the site’s content and satisfy its readers.

The readers might be inundated with the website’s conventional writing. Guest blogging opportunities break the monotony by offering a breath of fresh air to a host website.

How to Find Guest Post Opportunities?

So, do you want to write a guest article? Follow this step-by-step guide to guest blogging, and you will succeed! 

Step 1: Find sites that are viable

First of all, what does “viable” even mean? In the case of guest posting, I defined viable in three ways:

A. The website is related to your niche

A simple Google search using your primary keywords reveals all websites relevant to your niche. 

For example, if you sell food supplements, searching “health websites” will tell you which websites perfectly align with your niche. Pick websites of the same niche to increase your chances of being accommodated for a guest post. 

However, you may also work with websites distant from your industry if you convince them that your guest post pitch will be relevant to the host site. 

B. The website is actively accepting guest posts

What good is a relevant website if they don’t accept guest blogs? Sites that accept guest posts often have a dedicated page explaining their guidelines. Look for this specific page on the website. 

If they lack this particular page, it doesn’t mean they are not open to accepting a contribution. Find their contact information on the website and reach out with your proposal.

C. The website is high-quality

Guest post farms are becoming popular, especially since SEO has become increasingly challenging. These spammy sites exist solely to accept payments and publish guest posts, even unrelated ones. Before pitching your idea, ensure it’s a reputable site with a respectable domain authority or rating. 

Take time to review the blog page, too. Read the topics they publish and get a feel for the content. If the content is overly promotional and riddled with external links, it might indicate a red flag. 

Step 2: Read their guest post guidelines

Once you find a viable website, read their guidelines first. The website might have some prior submission guidelines before you can successfully submit guest posts. For example, our website requires guest posters to email us with the subject line, “I have carefully read, and I accept the guidelines.” This tells us a lot about the sender’s dedication.

Take a look at some of our unreplied guest post proposal emails:

Even if they have good intentions, we found that people who do not use our prescribed subject line always submit substandard content that doesn’t get published. 

Another reason to read the blog’s guest post guidelines page is to discover which topics they accept. This will guide you on what type of content to write and how to write it. 

Step 3: Brainstorm mutually beneficial topic ideas

A guest blogging site’s blog owner or editor will always gravitate toward a topic that serves their website. To maximize the benefits you can reap from guest post submissions, conceptualize mutually beneficial topics. That means coming up with topic ideas that serve both the guest post website and the sender. 

For example, if you sell internal linking software, you could conceptualize content ideas strictly about internal linking and submit them to an SEO website.

The topics will resonate with both parties while giving the sender more headroom in creating the content since it is their field of specialization. Plus, you can embed resource backlinks from the content to your website, which is a win-win! 

Moreover, look for topics that haven’t been covered yet on the blog; otherwise, your suggestions might be rejected.

Step 4: Pitch your guest post idea

Once you’ve developed topics, it’s time to send them to the guest blogging sites. Some blogs might have specific submission guidelines and instructions, while others are loose on how you pitch your idea. Whatever it is, make sure you don’t beat around the bush and make your intention clear. 

Here is an example guest post proposal that I appreciate:

The content is straight to the point and covers all the essentials: topic, keyword, and summary or goal, which increases the chances of getting replied and accepted.

While the guidelines might specify it, you may also include a discussion on the terms of the guest post. For instance, how many contextual backlinks can you include in the post, and what will be the rel attribute of your links? Remember that it all depends on the host site’s preference. 

In some isolated cases, the host site might reject your topic proposal but give you another subject to write about.  

Step 5: Write your guest post

After you receive the sweet “yes,” it’s time to write the actual guest post and make it worth your and the host website’s time. Knowing your goals for the guest article will impact what and how you create the content.

Now, I won’t give you a template for structuring an article or give tips on writing the content because circling back to benefit #4, “every writer is different.”

We all bring unique flavors to the table; your writing style is your own personal branding. 

Ready to Submit a Guest Post?

Successful guest blogging begins with a conscious decision to share your voice on different platforms from your own. Beyond being good for SEO, submitting guest posts helps establish you as a thought leader in your industry and builds rapport with other experts within your niche.

By following the steps above, you can also become a successful guest blogger. 

Are you ready to publish a guest post? 

Featured Image by Jakub ?erdzicki on Unsplash

The post Guest Blogging: What, Why & How to Do it in 2024 appeared first on noupe.

A well-designed contact page is an essential part for any business website. It serves as a gateway for potential customers to reach out and connect. 

One crucial element of a contact page is the phone number display. 

A clear and easily accessible phone number can significantly impact user experience and conversion rates. 

Now, suppose you’re scrolling through a website, and you’re ready to take the next step. You want to talk to someone, right? But if that phone number is hidden behind a maze of text or tiny buttons, you’re gonna bounce.

So, let’s discuss the best practices for displaying phone numbers on your WordPress site. We’re talking about making it easy for people to pick up the phone and connect with you.

Key Takeaways

• Intuitive Design: Keep it clean, minimal, and easy on the eyes. People appreciate simplicity and efficiency.
• Multi-Channel Accessibility: Offer a variety of contact options, including phone, email, and social media links, to cater to different preferences.
• Clear Expectations: Define the purpose of the contact page and what visitors can expect in terms of response times. A clear call-to-action can encourage engagement.
• Mobile-First Approach: Optimize your contact page for mobile devices, as people spend a significant amount of time on their smartphones.
• Personality and Engagement(Optional): Add a touch of personality and humor to your contact page to make it more memorable and engaging.

Personal Connection

I recently tried to find phone number to contact a company online and was met with a frustratingly complex contact form. It demanded unnecessary information and made the simple act of reaching out feel like a chore. As a result, I gave up. A simple, user-friendly contact form can make a huge difference. 

Key Elements of an Effective Contact Page

Your contact page isn’t just a way to your business; it’s a demo of your customer service. More than simply providing contact information, it’s an opportunity to create a welcoming and efficient experience. 

With that in mind, let’s explore the essential elements that can make your contact page stand out.

Clear and Concise Layout

The layout of your contact page should be straightforward. Cluttered designs can confuse people and may even discourage them from reaching out. 

Here’s how to ensure a clear layout:

• Use Ample White Space: Use ample white space to give elements room to breathe and prevent the page from feeling overwhelming.
• Structured Sections: Clearly defined sections for various types of inquiries (e.g., customer support, sales, feedback) can make navigation easier.

A great example is Podia’s contact page. They introduce their support team right at the top, creating a friendly and approachable atmosphere. This not only shows their brand personality but also makes it easy for visitors to find the help they need.

Easy Navigation

A well-designed contact page should make it easy for visitors to find the information they need.

• Place contact options prominently above the fold, such as buttons for live chat, email, or phone.
• Include a link to your contact page in the main navigation bar for easy access from any page.

JetBlue is an excellent example of a contact page done right, with a clean layout, categorized options, and clear instructions for getting help.

Prominent Call-to-Action (CTA)

A clear and compelling call-to-action (CTA) is essential for encouraging visitors to contact you.

• Make your CTA stand out with contrasting colors or larger font sizes.
• Offer a variety of CTAs to cater to different preferences, such as “Call Now,” “Chat with Us,” or “Send Us a Message.”

T-Mobile does a great job of using clear CTAs to guide visitors to the right resources. A well-designed contact page not only provides a functional tool but also helps build trust and foster a positive connection with your brand.

Best Practices for Displaying Phone Numbers

When displaying phone numbers on your website, try these best practices to improve user experience and accessibility:

1. Clear and Consistent Formatting:

• Use a consistent format: Choose a format that is commonly used in your target region (e.g., (123) 456-7890, 123-456-7890).
• Include area code: Even if it’s a local number, including the area code can help prevent misunderstandings.
• Use hyphens or spaces: These can improve readability and reduce errors.

2. Prominent Placement:

• Place phone numbers prominently: Make sure they are easy to find on the page. Consider placing them in the header, footer, or a dedicated contact section.
• Use relevant icons: Consider using phone icons or other visual cues to indicate that a phone number is available.
• Use a contrasting color: Make the phone number stand out from the rest of the text.

3. Mobile-Friendly Design:

• Optimize for mobile: Ensure that phone numbers are easy to read and tap on smaller screens.
• Avoid excessive clicking: Make sure users can reach the phone number without having to navigate through multiple pages.

4. Accessibility Considerations:

• Link phone numbers: Make phone numbers clickable to allow users to open their phone’s dialer app with a single click.
• Provide a copyable format: Allow users to copy and paste the phone number for easy use in other applications.
• Consider accessibility features: Ensure that phone numbers are easily readable by screen readers and other assistive technologies.

5. Multiple Contact Options:

• Offer multiple contact methods: In addition to a phone number, consider providing other options like email, a contact form, or live chat.

Using Plugins to Enhance Phone Number Display

Now that you’re familiar with the best practices for displaying phone numbers on your website, let’s talk about some fantastic WordPress plugins that can help you elevate your contact information to the next level. These tools not only make phone numbers more accessible but also improve the overall user experience when reaching out to your business.

Recommended WordPress Plugins:

1. Jotform WordPress Forms:

• Why it’s great: A great free way to create feedback forms and collect data from your customers.
• How it helps: Create payment forms or surveys to engage with your users.

2. Elementor:

• Why it’s great: A powerful page builder.
• How it helps: Create custom phone number displays using its drag-and-drop interface. You can style the numbers, add icons, and integrate them with your website’s design.

3. WP Telephone Number:

• Why it’s great: A dedicated plugin for displaying phone numbers.
• How it helps: Offers various display options, including clickable links, pop-up modals, and integration with Google Maps.

4. JetElements:

• Why it’s great: An addon for Elementor.
• How it helps: Provides additional phone number widgets and customization options, such as different formats and styles.

These plugins can help you present your phone numbers in a clear, attractive, and user-friendly way, making it easier for visitors to contact your business.

Conclusion

Let’s be real, your contact page is like your business’s front desk. 

If it’s a total flop, people are gonna bounce away. But if it’s eye-catching, they’ll be hitting that contact button. So, give your contact page a glow up. ?

We’re a generation that’s all about convenience. We want things fast, easy, and aesthetically pleasing. A contact page that’s a total eye-sore or hard to navigate is a major turn-off. 

But a page that’s simple, modern, and user-friendly? That’s what we’re talking about!
So, what are you waiting for? Go forth and design your contact page. Trust me, your audience will appreciate it.

Featured image by Wesley Hilario on Unsplash

The post Designing Effective Contact Pages: Best Practices for Phone Number Display on WordPress Sites appeared first on noupe.