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Top 10 Hacks To Create Effective Exit Popups

Exit Popups

Most people don’t like popups. They feel popups are spammy and deplete the user experience. However, times have changed and exit popups are no longer the annoying spammy ads. Today, if you move the cursor to the top right or left corner of your screen, with an intent to leave the page, the website senses that you are moving away from the page and displays a last-minute popup using Javascript. These popup ads are called exit-intent popups.

These might belong to the not-so-popular popup ad family but are the most powerful and effective digital marketing tool in today’s time. And, we are not glorifying exit popups for no reason. Studies show that you can recover more than 50 percent of your abandoning visitors by implementing an exit-intent popup. It helps in reducing cart abandonment, increasing downloads, getting email signups, and a lot more.

Considering the importance and effectiveness of exit popups, here’s a list of exit popup hacks to boost engagement, sales, and subscribers.

1. Offer A Discount

Who doesn’t like discounts? The moment you offer a discount to your visitors, the majority of them will stop and at least consider your offer. The discount can be offered in many ways. A lot of websites offer a discount coupon in return of email id, signing up for newsletters, or subscribing to their email campaigns. Others may choose to simply offer a discount code that users can use upon purchasing from the website. The bottom line is that users love discounts, and thus it’s a great way to retain them

2. Personalize Your Message

Personalization creates a powerful impact. Be it email campaigns, or generic messages. It always works. Capture the name of your visitors even before you attempt to make a sale and when they are about to abandon your web page, grab their attention by exit popups with their name on it. Personal messaging will create a positive impact and users will feel more connected to your website.

3. Offer Content Upgrade

Another great way of reducing abandoning customers is by offering them an upgraded version of the content that they were reading. A more in-depth version of a particular blog post. So for instance, if your blog post is a ‘how-to’ tutorial, your visitors may want to read it in full but may leave as the content is too long to be read in one go. As they go to close the browser, present them with a free download of a PDF version of the post. Most likely they will download it for later use and will subscribe to your newsletters as well.

4. Provide Them Options

The real problem with unsuccessful popups is that they don’t really offer what the users want. This happens because the business a lot of businesses have many different buyer personas and each one of them will respond differently to a particular offering. The solution to this problem is to offer them multiple choices and allowing them to choose the one that they want. Once they select an option, an opt-in form can be used to capture the lead.

5. Add Pictures To The Offer

Images create a greater impact and make a big difference to any online campaign. A good quality offer image along with other essential information will entice the users and will increase the chances of acceptance. 

6. Optimize The Exit Popups

The user is ready to leave the page and a delay of even one second in displaying the exit popups can be the game-changer. Therefore, it’s essential to optimize the popup message and design, so that it pops up instantly. Remove heavy images and graphics, don’t use special effects, and cut down on the content.

7. Overcome Objections

One of the major roadblocks to a purchase is also one of the best exit popup hacks, especially for eCommerce products and checkout pages. A lot of times the customer is on the verge of purchasing your product but is stopped by one small objection. 

One of the biggest objections that shoppers have is the Buyer’s Remorse. Do they get doubts in their mind like what if this is not the right product for me? What if I have to return it back? Offer money-back offers, 30-day free trials, and easy returns to the customers, in exit popups, so that they can purchase with confidence.

8. Provide A Simple Reminder

Sometimes just a reminder can make a difference. When customers are abandoning your website, they must be reminded of the products left in their carts. The reminder creates a strong and irresistible desire to close the purchase. Use solid copy to create more impact. Wait! are you sure you don’t want to buy. Wait, you still have some items in your cart. Don’t leave without your items. These are some examples that you can use.

9. Offer Free Shipping

It is a fun fact that shipping cost is one of the primary reasons for customers abandoning their shopping carts. Therefore, using free shipping exit popups is a great way to retain customers. Discount coupons or direct discounts on shipping along with the link to the product they wanted to buy. 

10. Create A Sense Of Urgency

The scarcity of something makes it more desirable. If customers are informed that there are only a few units of their favorite products are left, they won’t want to miss it. Hurry up!! Only two left in stock, or Hurry up! you get it at this price only today, is something that you can use in your exit popups copy.

Few tips to Reduce the Bounce Rate of your site. Read Here

The above-mentioned hacks will surely help you in retaining your customers and increasing conversions. If you want to know more about how to create exit popup campaigns, you can talk to our team now.

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Mobile Apps Technology

Top 5 Reasons Why Users Uninstall Mobile Apps

Mobile Apps

The number of mobile apps available for users today is staggering. Daily use, shopping, health monitoring, entertainment, sports, lifestyle, gaming, and whatnot? There’s an app out there for every possible thing that you can think of. The competition between similar mobile apps is cut-throat. Day-by-day it is becoming difficult for businesses to survive and ensure that the users not only use their app but at least not uninstall it. So what is that makes users uninstall any mobile app?

In this article we explore the top five reasons why users stop using a particular app and uninstall it:

1. They No Longer Use The App

This one is pretty straightforward. Once users build the impression that the mobile app is of no use, they will surely uninstall it. Not that they find a better replacement, but the simple fact that they don’t need it any longer. This indicates that your user engagement and retention efforts are not adequate. If your DAU (Daily Active Users) to MAU (Monthly Active Users) ratio is declining, it means that the frequency at which the daily active users are returning is very less. These are early signs of a possible increase in app uninstalls.

TIP: Track retention rate metrics and user engagement to make adjustments to the re-engagement campaigns, such as push notifications and in-app messaging. But don’t overdo push notifications as it could adversely affect the mobile app’s popularity and success.

2. The Mobile App Isn’t Helpful and Easy To Use

People install an app to find solutions to their problems and get what they need in the fastest way possible. If it takes too much time to get what they want, they are unlikely to return to your mobile apps and will look for a better and faster option. Mostly, this happens because developers spend a lot of time thinking ‘what the users want in an app?’, rather than thinking upon ‘how the users want to use the app?’. 

TIP: Spend time thinking about how do users want to search for products or solutions in your app. What is the level of urgency? Do they want to buy the product right away, or wish to save it for the future. Run usability tests to understand user behavior. Conduct a question and answer session with test users to understand their purpose and goals. These insights, in combination with the data collected from analytic tools, will guide you in developing an easy to use and helpful app.

3. Too Many Ads and Push Notifications

A vast majority of the apps available come with a free version. People expect the apps to be free and resist paying the price to download them unless it’s really essential. The primary method of earning revenue for a free app is through advertisements. People have come to terms with the truth that there will be ads popping up while using the free version of the app. However, they have become much more sensitive towards the ads. This sensitivity is a result of invasive and aggressive advertising tactics.

Similarly, too many push notifications also annoy users. Forget about using your app regularly, they start disliking you as a brand; so much that they eventually decide to get rid of your app. Nobody likes constant nagging. 

TIP: For ads, consider how they will interrupt the user experience and work around it. Track conversion rates and reactions triggered by advertisements and push notifications. Also, use platforms that allow intent-based segmentation. With a better understanding of user intent, you can effectively show relevant ads without spamming them.

As far as the push notifications are concerned, it is best to use common sense and to know how often you must communicate with your customers. The frequency of sending push notifications varies; it largely depends on the type of campaigns you run and the products or services you offer.

4. Bad User Experience in Mobile Apps

It’s not just a visually pleasing design that keeps users hooked on to an app. Creating a good user experience is equally important. If the app is not designed keeping users in mind, it baffles the user. They find it hard to navigate within the app, struggle to find what they need. Sloppy navigation, lack of search functionality, poor use of icons, illegibility of typography, unresponsive gestures, etc. are all ingredients of poor user experience.

TIP: Always keep the users in mind before starting to develop the app. The app must be intuitive and easy to navigate within. At no point in time, the user must get stuck in the whole buying (or conversion) process. Your users must be able to reach their destination with minimum clicks. It’s pivotal to provide a search option in the app. The search should be intuitive and must be leading users by using a predictive keyword algorithm. 

5. Security and Trust issues

The Facebook data scandal was one of the biggest data scandals of recent times. It made people think about how various apps store their personal information and how vulnerable they are. They have begun to believe that their data can easily get into the wrong hands at some point in time. If they don’t trust your app, they will uninstall it.

TIP: Ask and store only the required information. Be transparent with users and explain exactly why you want this information, where will you save it, and how will you use it. Your users must feel safe using your app. They should be assured that they can trust you with their credit card number and other vital, personal information.

Read more about Mobile Apps security here

The customer is the king. It’s a fierce battle out there in the world of mobile apps, and you need to ace your game to stay in the game. Keeping users engaged, respecting sensitivity to advertisements, and performing adequate software testing are some of the ways to avoid app uninstalls. Need to know more? Talk to our experts now!

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Brand & Identity Design Mobile Apps Technology UX

Differentiating Between Wireframes, Mockups, And Prototypes

wireframes

If you have ever worked with a developer, you would have heard the above-mentioned statements, or something similar to it. I have seen people scratching their heads and looking puzzled encountering these typically used project status terms, while an app is under development. A lot of engineers, marketers, and even senior managers use different design deliverables synonymously, as they don’t know when to use ‘wireframes’ or when to go with ‘prototype’? They assume that a wireframe, prototype, and mockup are exactly the same thing. It’s no more than a greyish, boxy sketch representative of an ingenious idea, which is definitely not the case.

“The wireframe is ready.”

“We are working on the mockup.”

All the design deliverables are different from each other as they are used to communicate different functions and aspects of the design. They do represent the final product, but the depictions are different.

Process of designing an app

Below-mentioned is a typical development journey. It is essential to follow these steps each time you create a new product.

Sketches > Wireframes > Mockups > Prototype

Start with a simple sketch on a blank piece of paper. Then, make a wireframe that organizes the content and features of your app. For mockup, add colors, icons, pictures, and logos to your wireframes. Add interactive elements into the mockups to inject life in it and come up with the prototype.

1. Sketch

It’s basically just a raw freehand drawing on a piece of paper, that gives you a low-fidelity representation of your app. It is the fastest way to represent your idea and getting ready for brainstorming. Believe me, even a simple sketch can describe your idea better than words. Go freestyle – work on different ideas, change details, visualize what you have on your mind; it’s all up to your imagination. This step is essential for getting to the wireframe stage. The best way to go about it is on a pen and paper.

2. Wireframes

A wireframe is equivalent to the skeleton or simple structure of your website/app. It should clearly show the main group of contents and the placement/structure of the information. It describes the functionality of a product, as in, what will happen when you click a certain button? The decisions on what and where on the website or app (in terms of content/features) are usually made during this stage. Remember, This step does not cover the product’s design.

Wireframes are not just meaningless sets of grey boxes, though they may look exactly like that. They are literally the backbone of your design. It’s a fact that you don’t need to deep dive into too many details, but you need to create a solid representation of the final design that won’t miss out any important piece of it. With a wireframe, you’re designing a roadmap for the whole project and all the stakeholders — developers, copywriters, project managers, etc. A well-created wireframe communicates the design in an easy, clear way and sets a path for the whole team.

Wireframes are typically used as the documentation of the project. Since they are static and simplistic, you could include short notes to explain the interaction, or maybe even technical documentation.

3. Mockup

A mockup is a middle to high fidelity, static, design representation. Very often a mockup is a visual design draft or even the actual visual design. It’s a good practice to never start development before mockups are completed. Add colors, fonts, dummy text, images, logos and anything else that will shape your wireframe. Your result is a static map of the app.

A well-crafted mockup helps you to finalize the product’s color schemes, visual style, typography, etc. A mockup is a playground where you can play with various visual aspects to see what looks best.

Mockups are particularly useful if you want to get early buy-in from stakeholders. Due to their visual nature, mockups don’t have the resistance of the low fidelity deliverables and can be created much quicker than prototypes. They are a good feedback-gatherer which smoothens the development journey.

4. Prototype

A prototype, often confused with a wireframe, is a middle to high fidelity representation of the final product, which simulates user interface interaction. It’s like a mockup enriched with UX pieces, interactions, animation and anything else you’d like to experience when clicking buttons. It should allow the user to experience content and interactions with the interface and test the main interactions in a way similar to the final product.

Prototypes are very useful when performing user testing. It allows you to check the usability of the interface before the development begins. This substantially reduces the development costs until the UI is approved. Once the prototype is tested, the team can start coding. The only thing missing in a prototype is functionality. It can give you a feeling of using a real app, but they are only images connected with each other.

You might find this article useful for creating a better UX Design

Why is it important to know the difference between Wireframes, Mockups and Prototypes?

These design deliverables help you define your expectations, save money on developers and describe clearly what you need to get built. You can confidently pitch to investors, first customers, and co-founders using the appropriate design deliverables. Before you choose a means of communication in the design process you need to consider your product and team; think about what works best for all of you. To know more, have a quick chat with our design experts.

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Technology

6 Brilliant Ways To Enhance Mobile App Security

Mobile App Security

Mobile application development has been on a roll and has scaled new heights in the last few decades. The development process has also lead to simplification of the entire process of application creation. With advanced methods, simpler plugins and intuitive platforms, the development process has improved a lot. However, developing a truly useful and likeable application is involves a lot more than simply creating an app.
One of the crucial factors which plays an important role in the application development process is the integration of safety into the interface. It’s critical to ensure that your application is safe for the users especially when it asks them for sensitive and personal details such as account password and username. Here are a few ways in which you can enhance the security of your mobile applications.

Secure Your App’s Code

Similar to any software project, mobile software security needs to be a priority from day one. However, native apps are different from web applications, where data and software exist securely on a server and the client-side (or, browser) is just an interface. With native apps, however, that code resides on the device once it’s downloaded, making it more accessible to those with malicious intent.
Network and Data security components are important, but the security should start from the app itself. Vulnerabilities can be caused by developer error or failure to test the code which should be timely checked and avoided.

Encryption

The use of encryption for device safety is the best way to secure your mobile application. The use of good encryption like that of 256-bit AES encryption allows you to encrypt the data transmitted from the user’s device. This encryption will make it difficult for a hacker to steal and make sense of any data.

Rigorous Testing

While testing, don’t stick to a single testing method. Follow multiple methods of software testing to make sure that you cover all the important bases. Some of the important testing methods include regression testing, exploratory testing as well as automated testing. It’s important that you dedicate a considerable amount of time for testing while preparing a timeline for the application development. Moreover, it is better to test on the go than dedicate a time towards the end since it helps in solving the issues faster.

Prototyping

Prototyping is a great way to keep track progress of the development process. By making prototype application while developing the application, you are creating restore points for the application. In case addition or removal of a particular function or a feature fails, you can restart the application development process from the last successful prototype.

Use Of Reliable Certificates

Make sure you develop your application for a variety of mobile devices. You must mention the name of the devices in the application description in case your application does not support a particular range of devices. The use of certificates from the device will help your application integrate its source code with the hardware architecture a little better.

Regular Updates

Minor modifications to the source code of the application on a regular basis will ensure that there are no security threats to your application. The updates should be regular, rather than a just-for-the-sake-of-it monthly update for the addition for functionality or removal of bugs.

If you are looking for a highly secure mobile app, it is a must that you get in touch with experienced mobile app development professionals like the ones we have here in NyxDitech. Speak to an expert now!

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Technology

Android 9.0 Pie Launched: Features And Launch Date Revealed

Android 9.0 Pie

Google has officially announced the launch of its latest Android 9.0 and has sweetly named it Android Pie. This latest version of the Android mobile operating system will not be available for all devices initially and will be rolled out to select smartphones only. One of the key features of the latest Android version is its shift towards artificial intelligence, which will enhance user experience on the operating system. The company has rolled out the Go edition of the OS specifically for smartphones with low-end specifications. A blog post from the company claims that the Go edition Android Pie will provide users with additional storage, faster boot times, better security, and many more improvements for entry-level smartphones.

In a quest to make your phone more personal, more efficient, and easier to use, Google has updated the Android 9.0 Pie with rich features, with subtle design improvements, helpful shortcuts, and a big focus on AI through adaptive settings. According to Google, Android 9.0 Pie will start rolling out to entry-level smartphones later this fall.

So which all devices will allow a free update to Android Pie?

Google Pixel 2
Google Pixel 2 XL
Google Pixel
Google Pixel XL
Essential Phone

Additionally, Android Pie will be available for below-mentioned mobile device makes from 21st December 2018:

Sony
Xiaomi
HMD Global
Oppo
Vivo
OnePlus
Android One phones (Select)

Let’s take a look at some of the key features of Android 9.0 :

Digital Wellbeing

Digital Wellbeing is Google’s initiative aimed at helping users understand whether they are spending too much time on mobile devices and if they need to adjust their behavior. The all-new dashboard is designed to help people analyze how much time they’re spending on each app. Also, there is an App Timer that sets limits on the time which a user spends on specific apps. If the limit is reached, users are locked out unless they override the function.

There’s also a Wind Down mode that fades the screen into greyscale during night time to help people sleep, while also initiating a Do Not Disturb mode to mute notifications before bedtime.

Adaptive Battery & Adaptive Brightness

Another interesting feature is the Adaptive battery which understands and deciphers apps’ functioning. This feature ensures that only essential apps are run, thereby saving a substantial amount of battery life. Based on apps’ consumption, artificial intelligence adjusts the brightness level of screen along with user preferences and environment.

App Slices

With Android 9.0 Pie, apps are bound to get faster. App Slices feature highlights relevant parts of your favorite apps by creating interactive snippets at different places. It displays information from apps directly within the Google search app, just like Google displays snippets of information in its web search results.

App Actions

App actions is another addition to Google’s AI-integration, which seeks to predict not only the app that you want at any particular moment, but an action from within that app too.

Improved Navigation

With a complete focus on navigation and user experience, Android 9.0 Pie features a single home button on the screen. This change is done keeping taller displays and higher aspect ratio in mind. On the lines of Apple iPhone X, Android Pie gives similar swipes and gestures for navigation.

Stringent Privacy Measures

Android 9.0 comes with robust security features to empower encryption of Android backups with a client-side secret. One of the key features is a biometric authentication prompt which enables consistent authentication throughout the Android ecosystem. Access to phone’s microphone, camera, or other sensors will be restricted when an app is idle in the background. Android 9.0 also brings vital improvements to protect web communications and offers private web surfing.

It’s certainly a happy news for the Android users and surely they will rejoice the feature, technology enhancements in the latest version. Moreover, it would rather be interesting to see how app developers mould and adapt to best utilise the features of Android Pie. Talk to our design experts to know more about it.

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Technology

How To Pick A Name For Your Mobile App?

Pick A Name For Your Mobile App

What’s in the name you may ask. Well, almost everything. Naming anything is very crucial and holds great importance. A name can create a huge impact or may even become the sole cause of a blunder. The naming process is imperative and must be dealt with caution. The same holds true even when you’re naming your mobile app. The name needs to not only suit your business and brand, it should also instantly ring a bell in people’s mind. Whenever someone hears the name, they should picture the image of your brand in their mind in a way that you wanted them to.

Think of all the great brand names like Adidas, Mercedes, Audi, Coca-Cola, Subway, Walmart etc. Do you think these names were pulled out of thin air without any thought process? Absolutely not. Moreover, a lot depends on the name of your app when it comes to search rankings. It’s great to have an amazing app, but it might not get the deserved attention if the name just sucks. In this article, we have compiled a few tips that you must consider while zeroing down on the name for your mobile app. Take a look.

1. Analyze The Competitors

It’s always a wise step to take a look at the already established players in your genre. Visit the app store and go through the top performers in your category. Understand what kind of names are grabbing more popularity. Long names or short names, common names or distinctive names, names related to some person or nonperson names etc. Check all these factors to know what is the safest bet. No need to be over innovative and swim against the tide. Just go with the flow with a little stroke of uniqueness. Do not try to be way too close to your competitor’s name or you may end up with legal issues.

2. Understand The Market Rules

It goes without saying that if you wish to play a game, you must know all the rules of the game. In case of launching a mobile app, you must be aware of the best practices of the store that you want to launch your app in. Whether you want to hit the Apple market, Android market, or both, it totally depends on you. But knowing the market rules and best practices is a must.

Apple store allows only 30 characters in a mobile app name. They recommend simple names with simple spellings and the name should have a connect with the functionality of the app. Apple also suggests maintaining distance from generic terminology and names similar to the already existing app of the same genre.

On the other hand, Android app store allows 50 characters in a mobile app name. They have strict terms about keywords stuffing in the name and description of the app. It can call a suspension if you don’t follow these rules religiously. Even if Google allows more characters in the app name, it’s advisable to stick to 30 characters as its an appropriate length for a mobile app name. Moreover, if you are launching the app on both the platforms, it’s good to have a common name.

3. Select A Brand Name Rather Than An App Name

Yes, we agree that technically you’re selecting your app’s name, but the name is not merely the name of your app. It’s the face of your overall brand. Thus, the name must look apt on all the platforms, social media pages or even on merchandise. Don’t just be an app, be a brand name. We don’t say that you will scale exponentially to become a global brand name like Coca-Cola or McDonald’s, but they would have been there if they would have thought the same.

The branding strategy must also focus on a clean and crisp logo which directly relates to your app name. This way it can be used as the app icon as well. It helps the users to identify your brand distinctively yet keeping the uniformity at place.

4. Stay Away From Unique Spellings

In a quest to be different and innovative, people sometimes cross the line. That’s when the trouble starts. It’s good to inject innovation and distinction when it comes to app names, but the innovation should have a limit and must not cost you the overall success of your app. One good advice on this label is to stay away from unique spellings. Don’t play with the spellings and please stick to the official ones. It has a very negative impact if you spell your app name in a way that is not standard.

Let’s see an Example: Suppose a user suggests your story app to his friend. He says “Dude check out this awesome story app by the name of Freaky Stories”. He searches it on the app store and couldn’t find you. Why? Because you wanted to be uber cool and thus spelled your app as FreeKey Stories. Unless you hold the formula to immortality and selling it for free, chances are that the user will not waste more time and efforts to search you. You will lose more and more potential users like this.

5. Consider A Third Party View

While you are the owner of your business, app, and brand, it will never hurt you to consider someone else’s opinion. This exercise can sometimes provide a new perspective or dimension to the whole process. You can select the names that top your list and can take opinions from friends, family, closed ones, knowledgeable, and even experts. They might give you the best suggestion or may even scrap all the ideas with a solid logic behind it. Both the things are for your good. You can even hire a consultancy firm for the same. They can conduct a study on a sample group, collect responses and provide you valuable insights.

Conclusion

There is always an unsung hero in any epic story and I think a mobile app name is that unsung hero of the epic success story of an app. There are plenty of advantages of selecting an apt app name considering the overall business and branding goals. The process may sound very simple, but sure needs a lot of brainstorming keeping the above tips in mind. Thus, naming an app must be amongst the top 5 on the ‘To-Do checklist’ if not at the very top. Talk to our experts to know more and discuss your mobile app development requirements.

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Technology

Taxi Businesses Must Invest In Mobile App Development

Mobile App Development
Taxi Businesses Must Invest In Mobile App Development

How we book a taxi today is completely different from how we use to book it a few years ago. People have shifted from the conventional taxi booking process to booking a taxi through an app. With the rise of mobile taxi booking app giants like Uber and Ola, conventional taxi businesses got a big blow. People find it much easier to book a taxi with just a tap on their mobile rather than following a rigorous procedure. It’s time that conventional taxi operators realize the fact that they cannot run their business without investing in mobile app development to get their own app.

Benefits Of Having A Mobile App

Increased Profits

As a taxi business, if you join hands with popular aggregator apps, you need to pay a large commission to them. This leaves a very narrow profit margin and eventually leads the business to low earnings or even losses. Having your own app will cut down on this commission paid and thus the overall profit will substantially increase.

More Visibility

Having a mobile app boosts your overall visibility to a whole new level. People reach out to their smartphones to perform any and every task today and booking a taxi is no exception. Tourists normally depend on their smartphones to locate taxi services. All the taxi operators without a mobile app are losing out on these customers.

Cost Reduction Through Automation

With the adoption of new technology, customers can directly get in touch with your drivers. This will provide them better cab booking experience through a reduced ETA. The overhead costs will also plunge down through automation and the driver’s performance will also improve. You get an added advantage of customization and branding when you have your own app.

Creating your own taxi-booking mobile app may be a savior for your falling business. It’s always wise to ride the tide (technological advancement in this case) rather than trying to flow against the tide. You might have understood the importance of a taxi booking app by now, which leads us to the next step and the nitty-gritty related to that. Once you have decided to develop a mobile app for your taxi business, you must understand that there are certain golden rules to follow in order to create and manage a successful taxi booking app.

Here are a few mantras for any taxi booking app to be successful:

  • The process of locating a suitable and quick means of transport must be as simple as possible.
  • The primary objective of the app must be to conveniently connect the driver and the customers.
  • Drivers must also be benefitted, especially while offering their ride to the people close to their location.
  • There must be a provision to share a ride in order to cut down the cost.

The business model of taxi booking has changed drastically over the years and having a mobile app is mandatory for any taxi business. By no means developing a taxi booking mobile app is a simple task. There are a lot of technicalities that need to be taken into consideration while developing it. Talk to our expert developers and understand these technicalities. For sure you will let our experts do the job for you after the discussion.

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Technology

5 Mobile App Development Trends To Notice in 2018

Mobile App Development Trends 2018

We are in the last week of 2017 and what a great year it has been for mobile app development. Plenty of new app development trends surfaced and some of them have changed the mobile app development process forever. The popularity of mobile apps is increasing rapidly. The number of free app downloads has increased from 57.33 billion in 2012 to approximately 254 billion in 2017. This number is going to increase even further in 2018. So in this last blog piece of 2017, we have selected 5 mobile app trends that one must watch in 2018.

1. Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)

Google launched AMP in Feb 2016 and since then the page loading on mobile apps has accelerated substantially. Besides the awesomeness of accelerated page loading speed, Google has also declared that it will provide a separate search index for the mobile web. This completely transforms the approach towards mobile app development in terms of SEO. Accelerated Mobile Pages will ensure that web apps load swiftly on mobile devices, thereby decreasing the bounce rate. Publishers will also be benefited as their ads will get more visibility which will eventually lead to higher traffic. AMP will lead to higher CTR, easy content placement, easy visitors analysis, and elimination of sitemap. With so many positives, AMP will surely be trending in 2018 and will impact the mobile development process.

Google AMP (Accelerated Mobile Page)

2. Internet Of Things (IOT) & Wearable Apps

The concept of smart cities, smart offices and smart homes is growing like never before. IOT and wearable apps have become popular in a variety of sectors like health, education, automotive etc. Although it’s still in the growing phase, 2018 looks to be a promising year for the Internet of Things and wearable apps. Apple watch apps are already becoming quite popular and Google has also launched Android Things to pace up the acceptance of IOT. Experts predict a 33.3% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) by 2021. A rise in IOT directly impacts the mobile app development process as the devices are controlled by smartphones under IOT.

The Imminent Security Fiasco of IOT

3. Android Instant Apps

Android Instant Apps are native apps that function exactly like websites. They are very convenient to access and thus can attract a huge crowd. Android Instant Apps provide a seamless experience by fading all borders between an app and a website. Apps can be accessed from anywhere without actual installation. They are compatible with all the android versions clocking back till Jelly bean. It saves a lot of space on your smartphone as you don’t need to install unwanted apps. They are also easily shareable. The mobile app development process will definitely be impacted by the rise of these instant apps in the year 2018.

Android Instant Apps

4. Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality Apps

2017 has been a great year for AR and VR. AR and VR have found their way beyond gaming and entertainment. The growth trends have suggested a spike in demand of AR and VR not only for consumers but also for businesses seeking new technologies. Healthcare, retail, real estate, and engineering are the key industries which are more likely to continue the growth trend of Augmented Reality, whereas Virtual Reality will be driven by gaming and event industries. The future mobile apps will be developed hand in hand with AR and VR.

AugmentedVirtualReality

5. Lazy Loading

One of the biggest factor to increase bounce rate is the slow loading of a page. Often pages that contain high image content takes forever to load which irritates the user and forces him to bounce off. The industry experts have identified this threat and have developed the concept of Lazy Loading to address this issue. Under Lazy Loading, the images load only when their turn comes which quickens the page loading process and avoids overcrowding of the web page. Mobile app developers will surely need to implement lazy loading while developing apps in 2018.

Lazy Loading

Mobile app development has witnessed a huge change and advancement in the past few years. 2017 was a terrific year for mobile app development and the future looks very promising. The world of mobile technology is constantly changing and it’s very important for the app developers to keep themselves abreast of the latest trends. Implementing the latest trends in mobile app development will ensure that the app is updated and doesn’t get written off in the app market. Ask our expert app developers how you can create or modify your existing mobile app to match the latest trends.

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Technology

How To Recognize If a Mobile App Is Due For Major Update

Mobile App Updates
How To Recognize If Your Mobile App Is Due For A Major Update

The recent times have made us more dependant on our mobile phones than ever. There are so many daily jobs which are completed through our mobile phones, unlike the traditional ways. Smartphone users are no longer under the custody of storage limitations which has allowed them to download and use more and more apps. With so many apps being actively used, developers have a task at hand to keep their apps updated and in sync with latest trends. That’s why we see so many app upgrade notifications on our devices every day. But, what are the factors that motivate them to push an update?

There are 2 kinds of updates, a minor update, and a major update. A minor update consists of small changes, tweaks, bug fixes etc. Whereas a major update consists of a handful of new changes, a new user experience or an entirely new visual design. These updates are less frequent and there are certain factors which help in identifying the need for such an update. Let’s check them out!

1. Addition of An Important Feature

The most basic way to identify if it’s time for a major app update is by analyzing the features of the app. If you are planning to implement a major addition to the list of existing features which has a direct impact on the overall user experience, then that calls for a major update. These important features could be an addition of social media element, authentication and syncing features, new revenue model, third-party integration or other application-specific features.

2. Changing The Existing App Design

There’s no rocket science involved here. If you are planning to change the visual quotient of the app, you will need to go with a major update. The change could be in design terms, user interface or user experience. Changes related to scrolling patterns, color scheme, layouts etc. come under this umbrella. A change in the app design is quite a motivator for people to update the app.

3. A Deteriorating Codebase

The world of apps is a strange world and keeps updating every day. In terms of apps, even a 1-year-old codebase can be considered old. Technology is changing and updating at such a fast pace that an aging codebase becomes a big driver for rolling out a major update. There are often more than one hands involved in the development process which helps in a faster release. However, it also makes the code more complicated and hard to manage. If adding a new feature is a daunting task or if new libraries would make a feature easier to implement, you must look out for a major update or maybe even a completely rewritten code.

4. Poor Performing App Metrics

Reaching out to your target audience and proper management of key app metrics are very crucial to the success of any app. Underperforming app metrics like poor app ratings is a leading factor to roll out a major app update. Monitoring the app data can only provide you numbers. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg. You might see that users are not returning back to your app on a regular basis or not visiting a particular screen. What it doesn’t tell you is that why are they not coming back? It’s essential that you use the insights from these numbers to understand the root cause of the problem. Also, talk to the real users and understand what they feel. Implement the required changes and push it through a major update.

5. App Not Able To Match Latest Design Trends

Sometimes it becomes absolutely necessary to change the design of the app. The design trends are updating every now and then to match the pace of changing technology. This forces the big guns like Google and Apple to define certain guidelines and rules in terms of app designs and you need to abide by them. Not following the latest design trends can be a big factor to push a major update.

Not following the latest design trends could include ignoring Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines or Google’s Material Design. It could also simply mean not living up to user’s expectation. If your app doesn’t look or function like other top apps, it won’t be on a lot of devices.

Releasing a major update gives you an opportunity to brightly shine among your users. You can implement big changes and give your app a complete makeover and upgrade. Even if everyone doesn’t notice the good work you do in the update, there would certainly be some important eyes which will notice it. Writers, analysts, power users etc. will definitely notice it and will appreciate your hard work and commitment towards your app. Lastly, never use the major update as a marketing gimmick. Stick to the above-mentioned factors and consider other important aspects before you decide to go for it.

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Technology

Looking For A Cheap App Development Agency? Think Again

App Development Agency

The popularity of mobile apps is scaling new heights with every passing day. Having a mobile app for your business has become almost mandatory. But with every new advancement in mobile technology, we hear about new heartbreaking stories of clients. In an attempt to save a few bucks, companies choose app development agencies that offer development at a low price. But is it a wise decision? The stats and experience of the industry experts beg to differ. This option will end up costing you more money, time and efforts eventually. Here are a few pointers showcasing the adverse effects of choosing a low price or cheap app development agency.

1. Wastage Of Time

Time is money and a wastage of time means wastage of money. A seasoned digital agency will have experienced players with years of industry experience. This enables them to understand your requirements quickly and they can deliver the end product much faster. Whereas, a low-cost digital agency will not be able to employ experienced staff. A less experienced or fresher app developer will apparently take more time which will increase your overall costing.

2. Lack of Facilities Resulting In A Low-Quality App

A cheap digital agency will always face budget constraints and that’s why they will always cut down wherever it’s possible. They will not have a highly experienced team, no access to premium tools, technological restrictions and even a not so great infrastructure. All these factors will affect the quality of your final product. A low-quality app will require a lot of changes, improvements, and advancements at a later stage which will require more money.

3. Low Ratings & Poor Reviews

The first impression is often the last impression. A user starts judging your app from the moment he downloads your app. As discussed in the previous point, a cheap app agency will end up making a low-quality app which definitely will not sit in the good books of customers. Users will thrash your app ratings and will write negative reviews as well. This will give you a double blow. You will not only lose customers who have installed your app, but the poor ratings and reviews will force potential users to look for alternatives.

4. No Provision Of App Maintenance

A cheap digital agency aims only at the initial development of an app. Their sole objective is to create the app and launch it for you. Very rarely they will provide the support and assistance required after the launch of the app. But, the real game only starts once the app is launched. They don’t spend the necessary time and efforts on testing the app in test and real-time environment which allow some bugs to sneak through the release process. This will result in crashing and improper functioning of the app and your app will die slowly.

5. Lack Of Effective Communication

A cheap digital agency will mostly be without any organizational structure. Most of the times there is not even a project manager or a SPOC with whom you can communicate properly. As a result, your expectations, suggestions, and limitations are not comprehended by the agency. This also results in missing the deadlines and redoing a particular task due to ineffective communication. The launch of your app keeps getting delayed and the cost continues inflating.

The purpose of this article is to make you understand one simple fact: ‘Cheap may not necessarily be the best always.’ Of course, cost saving is an essential aspect of any business. However, saving a few bucks in a short run by sacrificing the overall quality of your app is not a very bright choice. Also, you will end up paying much more eventually. So choose wisely! Discuss your mobile app development requirements with our experts who carry loads of industry experience and get the best solutions.