Category: Platforms

The Case for Web Accessibility: Why it’s Not Just a Priority, But a Necessity in 2023

Posted on by galaxy-admin
Accessibility

Are you among the many business owners who think web accessibility is just a buzzword that doesn’t concern you? Think again! In today’s digital world, having a website is essential for every business, and web accessibility is no longer a luxury but a necessity.

With 1.3 billion people worldwide living with disabilities, businesses cannot afford to ignore web accessibility. Not only is it the right thing to do, but also it ensures your business is inclusive and accessible to everyone. Did you know businesses have faced lawsuits and fines due to their websites’ lack of accessibility? 

And that’s not all. If you think giant enterprises are the only ones that are likely to be hit by such lawsuits, you’re wrong. Small businesses are also facing lawsuits because of lack of accessibility. So don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn why web accessibility is necessary for 2023. Take action now, and avoid facing legal issues or missing out on potential customers.

Why Web Accessibility is Crucial: The Growing Number of Lawsuits

The Growing Number of Lawsuits

The Increasing Number of Lawsuits: There has been a significant increase in web accessibility lawsuits in recent years. In 2022 alone, over 2,000 lawsuits were filed in the United States.

Who is Suing: These lawsuits are typically brought by disabled individuals who cannot access websites due to various barriers such as inaccessible forms, missing alt-text, and lack of keyboard navigation. For example, a blind man sued Domino’s Pizza in 2019 because he could not use their website to order a pizza. He won the case, setting a legal precedent that websites must be accessible to disabled individuals.

The Financial Consequences: Businesses sued for web accessibility violations may face significant financial consequences, including settlements, legal fees, and reputational damage. In 2022, a giant retailer paid $10 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that their website was not accessible to blind users.

No Business is Immune: Web accessibility lawsuits are not just targeting large corporations. Small businesses, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions have also been sued for web accessibility violations.

Investing in Web Accessibility: Low Cost, High Impact?

Many small or medium-sized business owners might hesitate to invest in web accessibility due to concerns about cost and complexity. However, the reality is that web accessibility is a relatively low-cost process that can greatly impact a website’s user experience and brand reputation. Here are some key points to consider when it comes to the cost of web accessibility:

Cost of web accessibility audit: A web accessibility audit is a process that evaluates your website’s compliance with accessibility standards and identifies areas for improvement. The cost of a web accessibility audit typically ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the size and complexity of your website. If you’re a small business with a relatively simple website, you may be able to find affordable options for a web accessibility audit.

Cost of fixing accessibility issues: Once an accessibility audit has been completed, you’ll need to take steps to address any identified issues. The cost of fixing accessibility issues for a small website (10-20 pages) typically ranges from a few thousand dollars to less than $5,000. The cost may be higher for larger websites, but it’s important to remember that accessibility improvements can be implemented gradually over time.

Factors that impact the cost: The cost of web accessibility improvements can vary depending on several factors, including the number of pages on your website, the type of content you have, the complexity of your design, and the extent of the accessibility issues identified during the audit. However, it’s important to remember that even minor improvements to your website’s accessibility can significantly impact your users.

Additional Benefits of Web Accessibility and Examples

The rise in web accessibility lawsuits should serve as a wake-up call for businesses to prioritize accessibility. It’s not just about avoiding legal consequences. It’s about creating an inclusive online experience for all users. By ignoring web accessibility, businesses exclude a significant portion of the population and miss out on potential customers and revenue. Here are some additional benefits that web accessibility offers:

1- Increased Reach and Improved User Experience 

By designing websites that are accessible to everyone, businesses and organizations can reach a wider audience and provide a better user experience for all users. 71% of users with disabilities will leave a website that is not accessible. Some examples of websites doing this well include:

  • Netflix: Netflix has made a concerted effort to ensure its platform is accessible to all users, including those with visual and auditory disabilities. They offer closed captions in over 30 languages, audio descriptions for many titles, and customizable subtitles and captions for users with hearing difficulties.
Netflix

2- Improved SEO and Increased Traffic 

By designing websites that are accessible to all users, businesses and organizations can improve their search engine rankings and attract more traffic to their websites. Some studies have shown that accessible websites can rank higher in search engine results. Some examples of websites that have improved their SEO through accessibility include:

  • IBM: IBM has made a concerted effort to ensure that its website is accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. As a result, they have seen a significant increase in traffic and engagement on their website.
IBM

3- Improved Reputation and Brand Image 

By designing websites that are accessible to everyone, businesses and organizations can improve their reputation and brand image, demonstrating their commitment to inclusivity and diversity. Some examples of websites that have improved their reputation through accessibility include:

  • Microsoft: Microsoft has committed to accessibility across all of its products and services, including its website. They provide alternative text for images, clear and consistent headings, and keyboard accessibility, among other features.
Microsoft

Future Trends In Web Accessibility

Accessibility

The Technical Challenges and Solutions 

Ensuring web accessibility can be challenging, as several technical issues need to be addressed. Below are some common technical challenges and solutions for creating accessible websites:

The Technical Challenges and Solutions 

01- Missing or Inappropriate Alternative Text on Images

Alternative text (alt text) for images is one of the most common accessibility issues in web design. A significant portion of home page banners (31.3 percent) were missing alternative texts, according to a study by WebAIM. This has been a known accessibility issue for many years.

Solution – Providing appropriate and concise alternative texts for images is the solution. The alternative text should be descriptive enough so that users with visual impairments can understand what the image is about.

02- Poor Contrast Text

Low-contrast text is the most common accessibility error on websites. Poor contrast makes it difficult for users to identify the edges and shapes of several components. According to WebAIM’s recent analysis, 86.4 percent of home pages have this issue.

Solution – The text-to-background contrast ratio should be at least 4.5:1. To avoid this accessibility error, designers can use color contrast checkers during the web design phase to ensure that all background colors, text, and interactive elements have the perfect color contrast ratio. WCAG recommends 1.4.6 Contrast (Enhanced), 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum), & 1.4.11 Non-text Contrast.

03- Video Captions Missing

Videos and audio content can be challenging to access for users with hearing or visual impairments and cognitive disorders like dyslexia. Deaf users can view videos by adding captions, while blind users can access content by adding transcripts. Transcripts benefit everyone.

Solution – Providing closed captions and transcripts for videos and audio content can make them accessible to users with disabilities. It’s essential to ensure that the captions and transcripts are accurate, synchronized, and easily accessible.

04- The lack of keyboard navigation 

It makes it difficult for users who cannot use a mouse or trackpad to browse a website, limiting their access to the content.

Solution-  Ensure that all website components can be navigated using only a keyboard, allowing users to select items using arrow keys and access all interactive elements such as links, buttons, and forms. Use HTML and CSS to create a clear and consistent navigation structure allowing users to move through the website quickly. 

Final Thoughts

Web accessibility is a moral imperative and a legal and business necessity. By designing websites that are accessible to everyone, we can create a more inclusive and equitable online world. 

In 2023 and beyond, advances in technology, increased awareness, legal and regulatory requirements, and a focus on inclusive design will shape the future of web accessibility. 

As web developers and designers, it is our responsibility to prioritize web accessibility and ensure that everyone, regardless of abilities or disabilities, can access and use the internet. We can create a more accessible, diverse, and inclusive online community.

Connect with us and find out how we can help you.

Top 5 Tips for Keeping Your E-commerce Website Running Smoothly

Posted on by galaxy-admin

Your website is live, the product catalog is all set, and marketing is 100% on point. Now just imagine the horror of people leaving your website without any purchases. Why? Because your website lacks proper configuration. 

Scary, isn’t it?

Running an e-commerce website can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. You’re constantly juggling managing inventory, shipping products, and providing excellent customer service. 

On top of that, you have to ensure that your website is functioning smoothly and your customers have a seamless shopping experience. This can be annoying. After all, you established your online business to offer products or services, not to deal with website management.

But what happens when your website encounters issues like slow loading times, broken links, or payment gateway errors? It can be frustrating for both you and your customers and can ultimately lead to lost sales and damage to your business’s reputation. 

According to the stats, 53% of people will stop engaging with a website if images won’t load or take too long to load. Visitors’ patience can last barely 5 seconds, and that’s it. If your website takes more than that to load, poof! They’re gone. And it’s not a good sign for your business. 

E-commerce maintenance and why do you need it?

E-commerce maintenance is all about keeping an online store up and running smoothly. It involves a bunch of tasks like adding new products and features to the website, making sure the site is secure from any online threats, improving the site’s performance, keeping an eye on the server, updating payment gateways, managing inventory, and providing customer support. All of these activities are important for the successful running of an e-commerce website, and they ensure that customers can shop on the website without any hassles. So, e-commerce maintenance is a vital part of running an online store, and it’s something that requires ongoing attention and care.

Now let’s talk about why e-commerce maintenance is so important for you as a business owner. Keeping your online store up-to-date and secure, can improve your website performance, increase sales, and offer a better shopping experience for customers. Regular maintenance means the website is less likely to have technical issues that could result in downtime or security breaches. This ensures that the website is always available to customers, which is essential for running a successful online business. All of these benefits can help boost the business’s reputation, attract new customers, and ultimately, increase revenue. 

In this blog, we’ll discuss the top 5 tips for ensuring that your website is optimized for performance and providing customers with a seamless online shopping experience. So, let’s get started!

Keep Your Software Up to Date

Software updates can be a hassle, but they are critical for the security and performance of your e-commerce website. Outdated software can be vulnerable to security threats and may not function properly, leading to a poor user experience. Ensure you regularly check for updates to your e-commerce platform, plugins, and any other software you use. Keeping your software up to date also ensures that you have access to the latest features and functionality.

Optimize Your Website’s Speed

In today’s fast-paced digital world, customers expect websites to load quickly. Slow page load times can drive potential customers away, resulting in lost sales. A one-second delay in page response can result in a 7% reduction in conversions, and you don’t want that. Right? To keep your website running smoothly, ensure it is optimized for speed. This includes compressing images, minifying code, and leveraging caching technologies. If you’re unsure where to start, consider using a website speed-testing tool to identify areas for improvement.

Test Across Browsers

It’s not uncommon for your website layout to appear different across various browsers. While it may look excellent in Chrome, it may not be the same in Safari. To ensure a smooth user experience, it’s crucial to test your site across multiple browsers. A broken or confusing layout is likely to frustrate customers, so it’s essential to ensure that your website appears correctly on all browsers. Additionally, checking your site on major browsers on mobile devices is crucial to ensure complete responsiveness.

Monitor Your Website’s Performance

Monitoring your website’s performance is critical to ensuring it runs smoothly. Regularly checking your website’s key performance metrics can help you identify and address issues before they become significant problems. Consider using a website monitoring tool to monitor your website’s performance and receive alerts if any problems arise.

Check Loading Times 

If your website takes ages to load or if pages are taking too long to appear, you may need to invest in website maintenance. It’s essential to test your website’s loading times regularly, at least once a month, and especially when you add new content. Failing to do so can lead to slow loading times, which can be frustrating for customers, resulting in lost sales as they abandon the site.

Check Loading Times 

Managing a website in-house can be daunting in today’s fast-paced business environment. Without the necessary expertise, you may find it challenging to keep up with the latest trends and technologies, potentially causing your website to fall behind the competition. 

Outsourcing from a company that can help you with e-commerce maintenance can be your way to ensure that your website is well-maintained and optimized for maximum performance. This can lead to better user experience, higher search engine rankings, and increased conversions.

Take the stress-free road.

Remember, your website is the face of your business, and it’s crucial to make a great first impression on your potential customers. Investing time and effort into maintaining your website can improve user experience, boost conversion rates, and increase revenue. 

So, take action today and implement these tips to keep your e-commerce website running smoothly. And if you ever need help or support, don’t hesitate to contact experts who can provide the necessary development and e-commerce maintenance services to keep your website in top shape. By doing so, you’ll be able to provide your customers with a seamless online shopping experience and take your e-commerce business to new heights!

We know you need a website that runs like clockwork! But always keeping it up-to-date, secure, and bug-free can be challenging. That’s where Galaxy Weblinks comes in. Galaxy Weblinks is an e-commerce maintenance company that provides top-notch e-commerce maintenance services for your online store, so you can focus on running your business. 

9 Reasons Why you Should Not Accept Auto Update of Google for GA4

Posted on by galaxy-admin
Reasons Why you Should Not Accept Auto Update of Google for GA4

Are you aware of the auto-update functionality of GA4?

Before you consider clicking that button, you need to understand the risks involved. Yes, there are risks. GA4 is different from UA in several aspects, especially in the way it is configured.

It is important to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of auto-updating versus conducting a manual migration to ensure accurate and reliable data. When it comes to websites that require multiple attributions and tracking parameters, it is highly recommended to opt for manual migration rather than depending on an automatic upgrade to ensure data capturing operates without interruptions.

Why Choose Manual GA4 Migration Over Auto-Update?

It’s better to do a manual migration when upgrading to GA4 rather than an automatic update because you have more control over the process. This means you can make sure all your data gets transferred accurately and you don’t lose any important information.

Manual migration also lets you customize GA4 to fit your specific business needs, giving you better insights. It also reduces data discrepancies that can happen during an automatic migration, so it’s easier to compare data across both platforms.

A recent survey found that 30% of businesses that did an automatic update had these issues.

Learning how to manually migrate to GA4 can also help you understand the platform better and what it can do. Doing it this way can help minimize the risks of having data discrepancies and problems with data quality. 

Benefits Of Choosing Manual Migration Over Auto Update

Manual GA4 migration provides a more accurate, customizable, and informative experience compared to automated migration. Here are 9 benefits for you to understand why exactly Manual GA4 migration is essential over auto-update:

  1. Accurate Mapping of Existing Metrics

UA and GA4 are different in several aspects, especially when it comes to certain properties like views. 

Existing properties of UA cannot be completely mapped to GA4 automatically. With manual migration, it is possible to ensure that the required metrics are obtained by using the tracking and reporting mechanism provided in GA4.

  1. Preservation of Custom Tracking Code and Implementation

While GA4 provides enhanced reporting and tracking as compared to UA, custom configuration is always required to track specific events. 

For example, if you have an eCommerce site, then you would want a breakdown of user interactions at different stages to optimize the user journey. 

Manual migration gives an opportunity to configure custom tracking based on key business objectives..

  1. Better Handling of Cross-Domain Tracking and Subdomain Tracking

With GA4, it is possible to get a consolidated reporting for domains and subdomains with better accuracy. 

The data is pulled into the central repository and presented via new reporting metrics which give better indication of user acquisition, behavior, engagement, and retention. 

With manual migration, it is easier to ensure proper setup of cross domain and subdomain tracking.

  1. Ability to Define Custom User Properties and Audiences

With GA4, it is possible to define custom user properties that will help in creating different audience segments. 

Not only are these segments useful for analysis, but also for initiating retargeting campaigns for re-engaging with users. 

Custom property creation and configuration is usually not possible with automatic updates as the process involves mapping existing configurations in the new environment. 

  1. Migration of Data from Multiple Sources and Platforms

The biggest change with GA4 is its ability to acquire metrics from multiple platforms (web and mobile), and provide a blended view of data that helps to understand user interaction and user journey better. 

Overall, this is crucial for understanding the engagement of target users with the brand through the available digital assets. If a particular brand had separate analytics for the website and mobile platforms, automatic update will not ensure collective tracking setup on GA4.

  1. Implementation of Proper Data Governance and Privacy Settings

Over the last few years, data privacy and consent have gained significance, especially when it comes to acquiring metrics. 

With GA4, the implementation of data governance and privacy settings is easier, especially when it comes to monitoring multi-platform analytics. Manual migration ensures that the configuration is done in keeping with the applicable compliances and policies.

  1. Preservation of Data Retention Policies and Data Deletion Settings

Google Analytics provides the option to define the retention time for data that is tracked by the system.

This option is driven by rules or policies that allow auto-deletion of data after a specific time duration. With the auto-update feature, the existing settings will be carried forward.

However, there is a possibility of setting up a new configuration based on the capabilities of GA4. With manual migration, you can ensure that the data deletion protocols are configured as per your business requirements (current and projected).

  1. Better Alignment of Data Collection and Reporting with Business Goals

Whether it be GA4 or UA, the eventual outcome is alignment of data collection and business goals to help key stakeholders make informed decisions. 

Automatic updates to GA4 will not be sufficient in aligning things with the current as well as project goals of the business. 

This is why it is important to get the migration done by an expert who can understand the metrics required by you and configure the relevant properties to obtain the data.

  1. Implementation of Proper Data Validation and Quality Control Checks

The GA4 auto-update is provided with the intention of assisting business owners migrate quickly to the new analytics environment without losing data. However, this does not guarantee data validation. 

It is possible that due to changes in the way GA4 is set up, some data may not come through as intended. With manual migration, you can be assured of validated and tested data collection which is usually done by the person or team undertaking the end to end migration of the analytics tool.

How Does Manual Migration Impact Reporting?

If you have a simple website that uses only the basic or standard parameters of data collection, then it really doesn’t matter whether you opt for manual or automated update. However, even if you have a single custom tracking implemented in the tool, it is important to proceed with manual migration.

Manual migration ensures:

  • Preservation of existing tracking parameters
  • Alignment of data collection with current and projected business goals
  • Setting up of custom tracking events in keeping with the capabilities of the new GA4 tool
  • Setting up for multi-platform and cross-domain tracking for unified reporting
  • Ability to get enhanced tracking metrics and insights that can help in making data driven decisions
  • Assisting in the identification of key areas which require optimization to ensure business progress.

Most importantly, the manual migration process allows the entire configuration to be validated based on different tests that are conducted for all applicable scenarios. This is really crucial for ensuring uninterrupted tracking of data as you move from UA to GA4. 

Moreover, with manual migration, you will usually get the option to get a documented backup of the historical UA data that can be stored and used as required. 

While this data cannot be integrated into GA4, it is definitely important from a business perspective to be able to evaluate past trends and prepare future forecasts. 

Is GA4 Migration Only About Adding The New Code?

Well, at the very basic level, the migration does involve replacing the analytics code. But that will not guarantee proper tracking of required metrics. So, GA4 migration is not only about adding the new code, but also about ensuring that it works as per expectations. 

The analytics team at Galaxy has been helping businesses like you migrate from their current analytics tool to GA4. As you read this, 150+ websites have already made a hassle-free migration to the new tool and have received the complete backup of their historical data.

If you are still unsure about clicking the auto-update button or negotiating with the right vendor to help you migrate to GA4, feel free to book a free consultation with our expert to know which option would be a better fit for your business.

How to Improve Overall Performance & Security For Any eCommerce Website In 2023

Posted on by galaxy-admin

The eCommerce industry has seen remarkable growth in recent years, with global eCommerce sales reaching $4.9 trillion in 2021. However, as eCommerce businesses become more prevalent, they also become prime targets for cyber attacks, putting pressure on maintaining website performance and security.

In fact, according to a report by Security Magazine, eCommerce websites are a prime target for cybercriminals, accounting for 22% of all cyber attacks. This means that eCommerce businesses need to prioritize website security to protect their customers’ data.

But it’s not just security that eCommerce businesses need to worry about. Poor website performance can lead to lost revenue and dissatisfied customers. Even a one-second delay in page load times can reduce conversion rates by 7%.

Investing in regular eCommerce maintenance services, updates, and security measures is becoming more crucial than ever for eCommerce businesses to ensure they can maintain their market position and protect their customers’ data.

How To Detect Website Performance & Security Issues 

Regular audits can help you identify issues early and prepare the necessary adjustments. But with the combination of a few methods you can try to detect and address performance and security issues in your systems before they become serious problems, and ensure that your systems are optimized for performance and security.

Here are some ways for you to detect performance & security issues and how you can solve them: 

Code Profiling:

  • Recommended for: Performance optimization & identifying security vulnerabilities
  • Category: Performance audit 
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Frequency: Regularly, especially after making significant changes to the codebase.
  • Impact: Identify performance bottlenecks, memory leaks and security vulnerabilities.
  • Popular Tools: JetBrains dotTrace, Visual Studio Profiler, and Eclipse MAT for Java.
  • Technical Proficiency Required: Yes, it requires technical expertise.

Security Scanning:

  • Recommended for: Ensuring compliance with security standards and regulations
  • Category: Security scanning and compliance
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Frequency: Regularly, depending on the application’s risk profile and industry regulations.
  • Impact: Identify compliance gaps that result in data breaches, legal and financial consequences, and reputational damage.
  • Popular Tools: SonarQube, Veracode, and Checkmarx.
  • Technical Proficiency Required: Yes, it requires technical expertise.

System Monitoring: 

  • Recommended for: Detecting system errors, ensuring system uptime, and optimizing system performance
  • Category: Performance optimization
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Frequency: Continuous monitoring, with regular analysis of system metrics and logs.
  • Impact: Helps to identify system errors, optimize system performance, and ensure system uptime and availability.
  • Popular Tools: Zabbix, and Prometheus, New Relic and Datadog for application performance monitoring (APM); ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) for log
  • Technical Proficiency Required: Yes, it requires technical expertise.

User Behavior Analysis: 

  • Recommended for: Improving user experience, optimizing marketing strategies, and identifying user trends
  • Category: Performance optimization
  • Priority: Medium – High
  • Recommended Frequency: Regularly, depending on the frequency of user interactions.
  • Impact: Understand user behavior patterns, identify areas of the application that need improvement, and optimize marketing strategies.
  • Popular Tools: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, and Amplitude. Salesforce and Hubspot for customer behavior analysis and Hootsuite and Sprout Social for social media behavior analysis. 
  • Technical Proficiency Required: Yes, it requires technical expertise.

Manual Audit: 

  • Recommended for: Security audit and compliance checks
  • Category: Security audit and compliance
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Frequency: Periodically, depending on the application’s risk profile and industry regulations.
  • Impact: Helps identify security vulnerabilities and compliance gaps
  • Popular Tools: Manual audits are typically performed by security professionals with expertise in the relevant industry regulations and security best practices.
  • Technical Proficiency Required: Yes, it requires technical expertise.

User Report: 

  • Recommended for: User experience feedback, bug reports, and feature requests
  • Category: Security audit
  • Priority: Medium
  • Recommended Frequency: Regularly, depending on the frequency of user interactions with the application
  • Impact: Helps to identify user pain points, bugs, and feature requests to improve the application’s user experience.
  • Popular Tools: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, and Amplitude for web and mobile app analytics; CRM tools – Salesforce and Hubspot for behavior analysis and segmentation.
  • Technical Proficiency Required: No it doesn’t, it requires technical expertise.

Automated Testing: 

  • Recommended for: Ensuring software quality, improving development efficiency, and reducing testing costs
  • Category: Quality assurance and testing
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Frequency: Continuous integration and testing throughout the software development life cycle.
  • Impact: Helps to ensure software quality, reduce testing costs, and improve development efficiency by identifying defects and bugs early in the development process.
  • Popular Tools: Selenium, Appium, and Cypress for web and mobile app testing

JUnit and TestNG for unit testing. Jenkins and Travis CI for continuous integration and testing

  • Technical Proficiency Required: Yes, it requires technical expertise.

Ways To Improve Website Performance: 

There are a few major factors that can significantly improve the performance of an eCommerce business website. Improving performance leads eCommerce businesses to increase conversions, revenue, and customer satisfaction. 

Here are some of them:

Optimize images: 

  • Task: Optimizing website images to improve website performance.
  • Priority: High.
  • Recommended Approach: Use a combination of image compression and resizing tools, and choose the right file format for each image.
  • Industry Standards: 2-3 seconds load time (source: Hubspot).
  • Impact on Performance: Increased website traffic, improved SEO and search engine rankings, and reduced bounce rates.

Use caching: 

  • Task: Configure caching on your website to improve website speed and reduce server load.
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Approach: Use a combination of browser caching, server-side caching, and CDN caching.
  • Industry Standards: No specific industry standard, but the faster the website loads, the better.
  • Impact on Performance: Reduced server load and improved website scalability, increased website traffic, and improved user experience.

Minimize HTTP requests:

  • Task: Minimize HTTP requests to improve website performance by reducing the number of requests required to load a page.
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Approach: Combine files and resources wherever possible, use CSS and JavaScript frameworks, and optimize images and videos.
  • Industry Standards: According to Yahoo, reducing the number of HTTP requests can reduce page load times by 20-50% (source: Yahoo Developer Network).
  • Impact on Performance: Improved website performance on slow network connections and mobile devices, improved user experience, and reduced server load.

Use a content delivery network (CDN): 

  • Task: Improve website performance by using a content delivery network (CDN) to distribute website content globally.
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Approach: Choose a reliable CDN provider, optimize website content for distribution, and configure DNS settings correctly.
  • Industry Standards: CDNs can reduce page load times by up to 50% (source: Cloudflare).
  • Impact on Performance: Improved website availability and performance during peak traffic periods, reduced website downtime, and increased website traffic.

Ways To Improve Website Security: 

Conducting regular security audits can significantly improve the security of an eCommerce business website. By improving website security, eCommerce businesses can build trust with their customers and protect their sensitive information from attackers. Here are some of the major methods: 

Conduct regular security audits: 

  • Task: Identifying and assessing potential vulnerabilities, testing security controls, and developing a plan to remediate risks.
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Approach: Engage a professional security firm or hire an experienced security professional to perform comprehensive security assessments and penetration testing.
  • Industry Standards: Follow established security frameworks and standards, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework or ISO/IEC 27001, to guide the security audit process and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Impact on Performance: By ensuring that your website is secure, you can protect your business and customers from the increasingly sophisticated tactics used by cybercriminals.

Use SSL/TLS encryption: 

  • Task: Implement SSL/TLS encryption to secure data transfer between the server and the client.
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Approach: Use reputable SSL/TLS certificates from trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs) and configure servers to use strong encryption protocols and cipher suites.
  • Industry Standards: SSL/TLS protocol versions and cipher suites are regularly updated, and industry standards are updated accordingly. The latest TLS 1.3 protocol is considered the most secure and recommended to use.
  • Impact on Security: Implementing SSL/TLS encryption ensures secure data transmission, protects sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card information from interception by attackers, and prevents man-in-the-middle attacks.

Use a web application firewall (WAF): 

  • Task: Protection against common web-based attacks such as cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and other vulnerabilities.
  • Priority: High
  • Recommended Approach: Configure the WAF to regularly update and maintain its ruleset to stay up-to-date with new attack techniques and vulnerabilities.
  • Industry Standards: The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) maintains a list of the top 10 web application security risks, which can serve as a guideline for selecting and configuring a WAF solution.
  • Impact on Security: Provide an additional layer of protection against web-based attacks, protecting against common vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and other web-based attacks.

Regularly review third-party integrations: 

  • Task: Regularly review third-party integrations on your website to ensure they are secure and up-to-date.
  • Priority: This task is of high priority as third-party integrations can introduce vulnerabilities and weaknesses to your website’s security.
  • Recommended Approach: Monitor and assess third-party integrations regularly for security updates and permissions.
  • Impact on Security: Regularly reviewing third-party integrations can prevent security breaches and protect users from cyber threats.

Opportunity & Financial Cost of Ignoring Website Issues

It is important for businesses to regularly assess their performance and security measures and take proactive steps to mitigate these issues. Conducting regular audits and updates to their systems can help minimize these risks and ensure smooth operations. Here we have assessed the major performance and security elements you should consider:

Performance- 

  • Slow Loading Speed: 

Slow loading speed can lead to a significant loss of potential customers. According to Google, 53% of mobile users will leave a website that takes longer than three seconds to load.

Example: If an eCommerce website earns $10,000 per day and 53% of mobile users leave due to slow loading speed, the company could potentially lose $5,300 per day, resulting in a significant loss of revenue.

  • Poor User Experience:

Poor user experience can lead to decreased customer loyalty and missed opportunities. According to Adobe, 38% of users will stop engaging with a website if the layout is unattractive.

Example: If an online retailer has 10,000 visitors per day and 38% of them leave due to poor user experience, the company could potentially lose 3,800 customers per day, resulting in a significant loss of revenue.

  • Mobile Optimization:

Failure to optimize a website for mobile can lead to a significant loss of potential customers. According to a study by Statista, mobile devices accounted for 54.8% of global website traffic in 2021.

Example: If a website is not optimized for mobile and receives 100,000 visitors per month, the company could potentially lose 54,800 visitors, resulting in a significant loss of revenue.

Security

  • Data Breaches:

Ignoring website security vulnerabilities can lead to data breaches and financial losses. According to a study by IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2020 was $3.86 million.

Example: In 2017, Equifax suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of 143 million people. The company’s initial estimate of the financial impact was $600 million, which later rose to $1.4 billion.

  • Loss of Reputation:

Ignoring website security issues can lead to a loss of trust and reputation. According to a study by Edelman, 71% of consumers will stop using a brand if they perceive the brand as doing something unethical or illegal.

Example: In 2020, the video-conferencing app Zoom faced criticism for its security vulnerabilities, which led to a loss of trust and reputation among users and investors.

  • Legal Liability:

Ignoring website security issues can lead to legal liability and financial losses. According to a study by Ponemon Institute, the average cost of a data breach involving more than 50,000 records is $6.03 million, with an average cost of $146 per record.

Example: In 2020, the hotel chain Marriott was fined $123 million for a data breach that exposed the personal information of 339 million guests.

Get High-End Performance & Security Support

Neglecting website performance and security can lead to lost revenue, damage to reputation, and increased vulnerability to cyber attacks. However, investing in website maintenance and security can provide significant benefits, including improved customer satisfaction, increased revenue, and reduced risk of security breaches.

If you are an eCommerce business owner looking to improve your website performance and security, consider partnering with a trusted web development agency like Galaxy Weblinks. With years of experience in eCommerce maintenance services, Galaxy Weblinks can provide expert guidance and support for all your website maintenance and security needs. 

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with eCommerce maintenance services to maximum performance and security.

How Much Should You Invest In Monthly Website Maintenance?

Posted on by galaxy-admin
website maintenance services

Are you compromising on quality to reduce website maintenance costs? Or perhaps you’re overspending on maintenance and wondering if there’s a way to cut it down? Well, we’ve got news for you – there’s a sweet spot in website maintenance, and it’s all about finding the balance between cost and quality.

But how much should you be investing in monthly maintenance to strike that perfect balance? 

On average, businesses should aim to invest at least 5-10% of their website development budget into monthly maintenance, which results in improving your search engine rankings by up to 30%.

So, if you’re wondering how to optimize your website maintenance without compromising on quality or overspending on website maintenance services, we’ve got you covered. Let’s find that sweet spot together and keep your website running smoothly for years to come.

How To Calculate The Cost Of Website Maintenance?

Let’s say you run an e-commerce store using the Shopify platform, and you need to maintain the website on a monthly basis. Let’s take a sample metrics to understand the cost better

Factors affecting maintenance cost for e-commerce website: 

  • No. of hours required 
  • Platform expenses
  • Cost of domain expertise

Let’s take an example to understand the cost calculation with the help of some assumed data.

Average maintenance time required in a month: 9 to 12 hours

Minimum Expense: Maintenance Cost for 9 hours per month

Maintenance time per month (T) = 9 hours

Hourly rate for maintenance (R) = $100 per hour

Domain expertise cost = D

Platform expenses = P

The domain expertise cost can be calculated as:

D = T x R

D = 9 x $100

D = $900 per month

Then, the total monthly website maintenance cost can be calculated as:

Total cost = Domain expertise cost + Platform expenses


Assuming the monthly platform cost is $229

Total cost = D + P


Total cost = $900 + $229

Total monthly website maintenance cost  = $1129

——————————————————————————————————————–

Maximum Expense: Maintenance Cost for 12 hours per month

Maintenance time per month (T) = 12 hours

Hourly rate for maintenance (R) = $100 per hour

Domain expertise cost = D

Platform expenses = P

The domain expertise cost can be calculated as:

D = T x R

D = 12 x $100

D = $1200 per month

Then, the total monthly website maintenance cost can be calculated as:

Total cost = Domain expertise cost + Platform expenses


Assuming the monthly platform cost is $229

Total cost = D + P


Total cost = $1200 + $229

Total monthly website maintenance cost  = $1429

Based on the above calculations, we can conclude that the minimum maintenance cost per month would be $1129 and the maximum would be $1429. If you are paying more, then you need to look into resource and task allocation in addition to checking the technology integration for your website.


If you are paying less than the minimum limit, then you should at least consider looking into the details of the maintenance activities and the overall website performance to rule out the possibility of ignored issues.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Website Maintenance

People commonly associate website maintenance costs to be solely attributed to the number of hours required to get the work done. However, there are other factors like the complexity of the issue, the technical expertise required, the priority of the task, etc. It is recommended to take all applicable factors into consideration when calculating or understanding the maintenance cost for your website.

  • Frequency Of Maintenance Issues

The frequency of maintenance issues can have a significant impact on the cost of website maintenance. 

A report by GoDaddy found that small business owners spend an average of 5 hours per month on website maintenance, but this can vary depending on the complexity of the website and the frequency of updates required. 

For instance, a website that requires daily updates and monitoring will have a higher maintenance cost than a website that only needs updates once a month.

  • Extent of Manual Effort Required

The amount of manual effort required for maintenance tasks can also impact the cost of website maintenance. 

A study by HubSpot found that small business owners spend an average of 2-5 hours per week on website updates, which can include tasks such as creating new pages, updating content, and testing website functionality. 

Websites that require more extensive manual effort, such as custom coding or design changes, will have a higher maintenance cost.

  • Technology Relevance

Outdated technology can also impact the cost of website maintenance. A survey by W3Techs found that only 2.5% of websites still use Flash technology, which is no longer supported by major web browsers. 

Websites that use outdated technology may require additional maintenance to remain compatible with newer web browsers, which can increase the maintenance cost.

  • High Maintenance Requirement for The Platform

Websites with high maintenance requirements may also have limitations due to their current technology. 

For example, a website with complex integrations or customizations may require more maintenance, which can be costly. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to invest in newer technology that is easier to maintain in the long run.

website maintenance services

Recommended Strategies By Experience Website Developers For Reducing Website Maintenance Cost

Yes, it is possible to reduce website maintenance costs by assessing the efficiency of current maintenance practices and exploring technological upgrades. By optimizing current website maintenance services and adopting new technologies, businesses can improve the effectiveness of their maintenance efforts while reducing costs.

Maximizing Efficiency

One way to reduce website maintenance costs is to ensure that maintenance tasks are being performed efficiently. 

  1. Regularly Update Website Software

Keeping website software up to date is crucial for maintaining website security and performance. 

By regularly updating website software, businesses can reduce the risk of security breaches and minimize the need for manual maintenance tasks. For example, updating to the latest version of WordPress or a website theme can provide bug fixes, security updates, and improved performance.

  1. Outsource Website Maintenance 

Outsourcing website maintenance services to a third-party provider can be a cost-effective solution for small businesses that don’t have the resources to hire in-house staff. 

According to a survey by Clutch, the average cost of outsourced website maintenance is $100-$149 per hour. Outsourcing can provide access to specialized expertise and resources without the need to hire new staff or purchase new tools.

Technology Upgrades

Another way to reduce website maintenance costs is to explore technological upgrades as newer technologies may also offer additional features and functionalities that can help reduce the need for manual maintenance tasks.

  1. Adopt automation Tools

Investing in automation tools can help reduce the time and effort required for routine maintenance tasks. 

For example, tools like Jetpack, UpdraftPlus, and WP-Optimize can automate tasks like backups, updates, and optimization, which can significantly reduce manual effort and lower costs.

  1. Use A Reliable Hosting Provider

Choosing a reliable hosting provider can help reduce maintenance costs and prevent unexpected downtime. 

According to a study by the Hosting Tribunal, 1 hour of downtime can cost businesses anywhere from $10,000 to $1 million, depending on the size of the company and the industry. By choosing a reliable hosting provider, businesses can minimize the risk of downtime and reduce associated costs.

By implementing these cost-saving measures, businesses can improve their website performance and functionality while freeing up resources to focus on other aspects of their business.

Achieve Higher Conversion Rate, User Retention, & Performance with Professional Website Maintenance Services

It can be a daunting task for businesses to manage maintenance needs in-house, and outsourcing to the wrong provider can result in higher costs and lower-quality services. 

By partnering with a trusted and experienced website maintenance service provider like Galaxy Weblinks, you can ensure that your website is always optimized for performance, security, and functionality. 

Our team ensures on-time resolution of issues with proactive audits to prevent minor problems from becoming major obstacles. We have also advised our clients on the best technology to reduce maintenance requirements and also scale their businesses sustainably.
Get an in-depth website audit and website maintenance services costs to ensure a high-performing website.

The benefits of using Webflow for your business website

Posted on by galaxy-admin
The benefits of using Webflow for your business website

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

The popular saying is applicable to books for sure, but websites? Not so much. 

Websites deal with the most extreme level of snap judgments. One that quickly influences the perceptions of credibility. It takes somewhat around 50 milliseconds (0.05 seconds) for users to form an opinion about your website—whether they like it or not, whether they want to stay or leave.

In today’s digital age, having a user-friendly and visually appealing website is critical for any business looking to succeed in the online space. It serves as the online storefront for your brand, providing potential customers with information about your products or services, and acts as a platform for online transactions. 

In our years of experience, we have seen companies struggling to create a website that accurately reflects their brand’s vision and values. Plus, problems like limited customization options, high costs, and poor website performance make it challenging for them to stand out from their competitors. 

Webflow, with over 3.5 million users, creates a website that looks great, loads fast, and works on any device. At present there are approximately 400,000 Webflow websites which are live globally.

While there are many web design platform options for you to choose from, in this article, we will be highlighting the benefits of using Webflow for your business website. 

First of all, what is Webflow?

A lot of you who have landed here might already know about it, but for those of you who haven’t, well, read on. 

Webflow is a web design and development platform that allows users to design and build websites without coding. It’s a drag-and-drop interface that enables you to create and customize your website’s layout, content, and functionality. It has gained massive popularity in recent years with a growth rate of 79% over the past year, attracting both small business owners and large corporations. 

Now that we have established the popularity and potential of Webflow let’s dive into some of its advantages.

Benefits of using Webflow for your business website

Benefits of using Webflow for your business website
  1. Ease of use

One of the primary benefits of using Webflow is its user-friendly interface. You don’t need to know how to code or have any technical experience to use it. The drag-and-drop functionality allows you to create and edit content quickly, making the website development process more accessible and efficient.

Moreover, Webflow provides various templates and pre-designed components, such as navigation bars and forms, that you can easily add to your website. You can customize them to match your brand’s style and color scheme, ensuring consistency across your online presence.

  1. Customizability

While Webflow offers templates and pre-designed components, you’re not limited to using them. You have complete control over your website’s design and functionality, allowing you to create a unique online presence that reflects your brand’s identity.

Webflow provides a vast array of design and customization options, including typography, color, layout, animations, and interactions. You can create complex designs, such as parallax scrolling and hover effects, without needing to write code.

Furthermore, Webflow allows you to integrate with third-party applications, such as Google Analytics and Mailchimp. You can also add custom code snippets to your website, giving you even more flexibility in terms of design and functionality.

  1. Responsiveness

In today’s digital landscape, having a mobile-responsive website is crucial. According to a study by Google, 74% of users are more likely to return to mobile-friendly websites. Webflow’s responsive design feature allows you to create a website that looks great on all devices, from desktops to smartphones.

Webflow’s responsive design is based on the concept of breakpoints. You can define different breakpoints for different device sizes, allowing you to create custom designs for each device type. This feature ensures that your website looks great and functions correctly, regardless of your customers’ device.

  1. SEO-friendliness

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical aspect of website development. It helps improve your website’s visibility on search engines, increasing the likelihood of attracting organic traffic. Webflow provides several SEO features, such as customizable meta titles and descriptions, alt tags for images, and clean code structure.

Webflow also automatically generates a sitemap for your website, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site’s pages. Additionally, you can easily integrate your website with Google Analytics and Google Search Console, allowing you to track your website’s performance and optimize it for search engines.

  1. Fast loading speed

Website loading speed is a crucial factor in user experience. According to a study by Google, the average mobile website takes 15.3 seconds to load, which can significantly impact user engagement and conversion rates. Webflow’s hosting service uses a content delivery network (CDN) that ensures fast loading speeds for your website.

How Webflow can help you create an ideal website

Webflow can help you create modern and responsive websites in minutes without writing a single line of code. It makes managing your website’s content easy without relying on a third-party content management system. With Webflow’s built-in CMS, you can easily add and update your website’s content without hiring a developer. 

In conclusion

Webflow is an excellent platform for service businesses for all of the aforementioned reasons. To summarize, firstly, it is extremely user-friendly and easy to use, even for those without experience in web design. Secondly, it is very affordable, especially compared to other market platforms. Thirdly, it offers a wide range of features and templates that allow businesses to create professional-looking websites with minimal effort. Finally, it provides excellent customer support, so businesses can get help when needed. So if you’re looking for the perfect platform to create a stunning, modern website without coding or learning complex web design principles, then Webflow is the way to go.

Looking for a webflow development company? Galaxy Weblinks is your answer. Take your business website to the next level with our webflow development services. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you build a custom website using Webflow. Let’s start building your online presence together!

Is headless e-commerce really the future?

Posted on by galaxy-admin

The e-commerce sector has made tremendous strides. There was a time when eCommerce platforms were designed mainly for desktop users. Cut to the present, customers can purchase products using various devices such as wearable tech, smartphones, social media platforms, etc. The idea behind the evolution is simple: customers who engage with brands across multiple platforms tend to make more purchases.

The market’s ever-changing needs have given rise to new e-commerce approaches in recent years. Earlier methods focused on back-end configurations, but the need for personalized, customized, and engaging omnichannel experiences has prompted the development of a new e-commerce design approach – the headless commerce approach.

Headless e-commerce has gained significant popularity among digital brands, and in the last couple of years, investors have invested heavily in this domain, with over $1.6 billion being poured into such opportunities. Numerous startups and established players in the e-commerce industry have introduced new technologies or products to leverage this trend to stay competitive in an increasingly crowded digital marketplace

Companies are increasingly adopting headless e-commerce as it offers more flexibility, scalability, and customization than traditional e-commerce platforms. In this blog, we will explore whether headless e-commerce is the future of online retail, looking at the benefits of this approach, statistics on its adoption, and examples of businesses that have successfully implemented headless e-commerce.

Is headless e-commerce really the future?

What is headless e-commerce?

Traditionally, e-commerce platforms have been built using a monolithic architecture, meaning the front and back ends are tightly coupled. This can limit the flexibility and customization of the user interface. Headless e-commerce, on the other hand, separates the front and back ends, allowing businesses greater control over the user experience.

In a headless e-commerce architecture, the front end is decoupled from the backend, meaning businesses can use any front-end technology they want. This allows for a more customized and flexible user experience. The backend, responsible for managing the business logic and data, is usually built using an API-driven approach, enabling the platform to communicate with any front-end technology.

Successful businesses that leveraged the benefits of headless e-commerce

Many businesses have already adopted a headless e-commerce approach, with some seeing significant improvements in their online shopping experiences. Here are some examples:

👟 Nike: Leveraged headless to optimize every aspect of their website to suit small-screen interactions, including visuals and call-to-actions. They utilized React SPA and Node.js backend for frontend (BFF) to ensure consistent user experiences across all pages. As a result, Nike gradually gained market share and became a leading player, surpassing their competitor Adidas.

🧼 Lush: Handmade cosmetics became even more accessible thanks to Lush’s faster, more intuitive mobile app with personalized recommendations and real-time inventory updates.

🎯Target: The retailer faced stiff competition from retail giants like Walmart and Amazon, with customers frequently switching between brands. Through thorough analysis, they discovered that almost 80% of their customers begin their buyer’s journey on one device but finished it on another. To capitalize on this opportunity for growth, Target adopted a headless commerce approach to unify the customer buying journey across various devices. As a result, Target experienced an increase in its site’s conversion rate as more users found it easier to finish their purchases with the new unified experience.

📎Staples: The UK-based office supplies behemoth grappled with a massive product catalog that was often siloed and required frequent updates, depending on inventory and promotions. Adopting headless architecture allowed them to update their product catalog quickly and efficiently, and to optimize their website for various functions. They can now offer features such as registering/login in, ordering by item number, or reordering previously purchased items, significantly enhancing their customers’ shopping experience.

💄Lancôme: The French luxury perfumes and cosmetics powerhouse and one of the world’s most valuable brands made the switch to Progressive Web Applications. The decision paid off, with Lancôme seeing a 17% boost in their conversion rate. The headless approach made it much more convenient for their target audience to purchase items even while on the move.

Why is headless e-commerce gaining popularity?

There are several reasons why headless e-commerce is gaining popularity among businesses. Here are some of the key benefits:

Flexibility: Headless e-commerce allows businesses to use any front-end technology they want, which means they can easily customize the user experience to meet their specific needs.

Speed: Because the front and back ends are decoupled, developers can work on them simultaneously, speeding up the development process.

Scalability: Headless e-commerce is more scalable than traditional e-commerce platforms, allowing businesses to add new features and functionality without impacting the user experience.

Integration: Headless e-commerce is designed to work with other systems, making integrating with other technologies easier.

Future-proofing: Headless e-commerce is future-proof, as businesses can easily swap out the front-end technology as new ones emerge.

Headless e-commerce trends 

There is a growing trend towards headless e-commerce, with more businesses adopting this approach. According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the headless e-commerce market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.5% between 2021 and 2026. The report also notes that North America is expected to be the largest market for headless e-commerce during this period.

Another report by Digital Commerce 360 found that 43% of e-commerce decision-makers are planning to adopt a headless approach in the next two years. This indicates that headless e-commerce is becoming more popular among businesses as they look for ways to improve the customer experience and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

A report by MarketsandMarkets predicts that the global headless commerce market size is expected to grow from $1.4 billion in 2020 to $3.5 billion by 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.8% during the forecast period. The report notes that the adoption of headless commerce is increasing due to the growing demand for a personalized customer experience, the need for omnichannel marketing, and the increasing focus on improving customer engagement.

A report by Acquia found that 77% of organizations plan to adopt a headless approach within the following year. The report notes that headless commerce offers greater flexibility, scalability, and customization, which is particularly important for businesses looking to provide a differentiated customer experience.

Digital Commerce 360 found that 43% of e-commerce decision-makers plan to adopt a headless approach in the next two years. The report notes that headless commerce is becoming more popular among businesses as they look for ways to improve the customer experience and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

A survey by BigCommerce found that 76% of e-commerce businesses plan to invest in headless commerce in the next two years. The survey notes that headless commerce is a way to differentiate from competitors, enabling companies to offer a more personalized, seamless, and engaging customer experience.

So, is headless e-commerce really the future?

Yes, headless e-commerce is the future of online retail, as it offers a more flexible, customizable, and scalable approach to e-commerce. Decoupling the front and back ends enables businesses to use any front-end technology they prefer, allowing for a more personalized and intuitive user experience. This flexibility, coupled with the speed and scalability of headless e-commerce, makes it an attractive option for businesses looking to improve their online shopping experiences and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. With the headless e-commerce market expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 22.5% between 2021 and 2026 and an increasing number of businesses planning to adopt a headless approach in the next two years, it seems that headless e-commerce is set to become the future of e-commerce. 

Want help with adopting headless for your business? Let’s talk. We can help.

MVP Mobile App Development: How to Get to Market Faster and Make Data-Driven Decisions

Posted on by galaxy-admin

About 90% of startups fail to grow without building an MVP.

It’s a strong number to convince startups to take over their idea and create a prototype before stepping into it.

But what about the rest?

The rest of the startups look for ways to get their ideas to the market quickly and efficiently, and MVP (Minimum Viable Product) supports this concept to help startups achieve this goal. 

An MVP is a simplified version of a mobile app that contains only the core features and functions needed to validate the app idea and gather user feedback. 

The idea behind an MVP is to bring the app to the market as soon as possible and test its viability without spending a lot of time and resources. 

This way, startups can learn about their app’s strengths and weaknesses early on and make necessary changes to improve the product. 

All in all, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your unique value proposition, target audience, and metrics for success. 

Showcasing a demo of the MVP and providing examples of similar successful apps can also be very effective in demonstrating the potential of your app.

But, first, let’s take a look at what you’d miss out on if you target completing the whole project at once and not breaking it into simpler steps.

How MVP Eliminates Challenges: For Users

Creating a solution that provides real value to users is the actual idea of developing an MVP, but let’s clear our lenses to see what would happen if we skip this part. 

Some common pain points for target audiences in mobile app development include:

  • Difficulty In Completing A Task Or Process: 
    Users may struggle with organizing their requirements and finding information quickly and efficiently.
  • Inefficient Or Time-Consuming Processes: 
    Users may be frustrated with the time it takes to complete a task and compelling them to shift to other alternatives. 
  • Poor User Experience:
    Users may be frustrated with clunky interfaces or confusing navigation in a mobile app.
  • Lack Of Functionality:
    Users may want additional features or functionality not currently available in a mobile app.
  • Security Or Privacy Concerns:
    Users may be concerned about the safety of their personal information or the security of their transactions in a mobile app.

How MVP Eliminates Challenges: For Developers

An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) approach to mobile app development helps to minimize the difficulties that can arise in the development process. Some of the difficulties that are excluded in the MVP approach include:

  • Overbuilding:
    With an MVP approach, the development team focuses on delivering only the most essential features, avoiding the temptation to add too many bells and whistles that can slow down the development process.
  • Time and Cost Overruns:
    By focusing on a minimal set of features, MVPs help to control the development timeline and budget, avoiding the risk of project delays and overspending.
  • Unvalidated assumptions:
    An MVP approach validates the assumptions about the app’s potential success before investing too much time, money, and resources in the development process.
  • Lack of user feedback:
    MVPs allow developers to test the app with real users and gather feedback, which helps to avoid developing features that may not be useful or desired by the target audience.
  • Technical complexity:
    By focusing on only the essential features, MVPs help to reduce the technical complexity of the app, making it easier to develop and maintain.

An MVP approach to mobile app development can help businesses to minimize the risks and difficulties associated with the development process, while still delivering a functional product that meets the needs of their users.

Understanding The MVP Development Process 

Building an MVP is an iterative process, and the product will evolve over time based on user feedback and market trends. The goal is to validate the product idea and gather feedback as quickly and efficiently as possible to inform future development decisions.

Here is how MVP development staging takes place to bring out a better user experience.

  • Product Discovery:
    Identify the problem you are trying to solve and research your target audience, market trends, and competitors. The more data a company possesses, the better its prospects of success.
  • Feasibility:
    The product must provide value to users in the simplest form possible, as the term MVP suggests. Outline the users first, then create the MVP around their requirements.
  • Targeted Market Testing:
    The goal is to validate the product idea and gather feedback from potential users. Based on the feedback received, make changes to the MVP app and iterate on the product.
  • Comparative Costs:
    The cost of developing an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) can vary widely depending on several factors, including the complexity of the product, the development methodologies used, the technology stack, and the size and experience of the development team. 

    For example- If the estimated cost to create an android or ios application is 3000$, the estimated cost of developing an MVP mobile application will cost 40% of that. 
  • Comparative Time:
    It’s important to keep in mind that these are rough estimates, and the actual time required to develop an MVP can vary widely depending on the specific requirements and constraints of the project. 

    Additionally, the time required for ongoing maintenance and support should also be considered when calculating the total time required for an MVP project.

MVP Development – How To Get To Market Faster 

Developing an MVP mobile app provides developers with a faster, more efficient, and more effective way to validate their ideas, build a product that users love, and grow a successful and profitable business. 

Here are a few well-known facts about MVP mobile app development. 

  • Faster time-to-market:
    An MVP app can be developed and launched quickly, allowing developers to get user feedback and validate their idea in a shorter time frame.
  • Lower development costs:
    29% of startups crash due to multiple financial disasters. An MVP app typically requires fewer resources and less time to develop compared to a full-fledged app, which can result in lower development costs.
  • Improved user engagement:
    By focusing on a minimum set of features that deliver the most value, an MVP app can engage users more effectively and increase their likelihood of retaining and referring others.
  • Better decision-making:
    Developing an MVP allows developers to collect feedback from users early on and make data-driven decisions about what features to add, remove, or modify in the future.
  • Improved risk management:
    By validating the concept with a smaller investment of resources, the risk of building a product no one wants is reduced, allowing developers to make necessary pivots early on.

  • Improved focus:
    By developing an MVP, developers can focus on the core features that deliver the most value and avoid wasting time and resources on unnecessary features.
  • Better fundraising opportunities:
    An MVP that demonstrates traction and user engagement can increase the chances of attracting investors and funding to take the app to the next level.

Can MVP Market Itself As A Product?

The answer will always be Yes. 

By focusing on delivering a minimal but valuable set of features, an MVP app can demonstrate its potential to solve a problem, provide a unique user experience, or offer a new level of convenience. 

Here are a few solid reasons why MVP is the one. 

Reason #1: It Attracts Early Adopters In Building User Base

Attracting early adopters and building a user base are critical goals for MVP mobile app development. Take these steps to achieve these goals:

  • Unique Solution: 
    By offering a unique solution to a pain point, you can differentiate your MVP from similar products and attract early adopters looking for a fresh, innovative solution.
  • Word-Of-Mouth Marketing: 
    Early adopters can be powerful marketing allies, and their positive experiences with your MVP can help to attract other users through word-of-mouth marketing. Encourage early adopters to share their experiences with others, and reward them for doing so.

Reason #2: It Establishes A Brand Identity & Creating A Following

Establishing a brand identity and creating a following are important aspects of MVP mobile app development. Take these steps to achieve these goals:

  • Brand Personality: 
    Brand personality and values of your brand ensure that these are reflected in your messaging, marketing, and product design.
  • Clear Value Proposition: 
    It is a clear, concise value proposition that communicates the benefits of your MVP to users. This value proposition is reflected in all of your marketing and product design.

Reason #3: Increases Visibility & Credibility 

Increasing visibility and credibility are important goals for MVP mobile app development. Take these steps to achieve these goals:

  • Content Marketing: 
    Use content marketing to educate potential users about your MVP and demonstrate your expertise in your field. This can help to increase credibility and build trust with your target audience.
  • Partner With Businesses: 
    Partner with businesses that complement your MVP, such as app stores, service providers, or complementary products. This can help to reach a wider audience and increase visibility.

Reason #4: Gathering Feedback & Iterating To Improve The ProductReason #4: Gathering Feedback & Iterating To Improve The Product

Gathering feedback and iterating to improve the product are critical aspects of MVP mobile app development. Take these steps to achieve these goals:

  • Leverage Analytics: 
    Use analytics tools, such as Google Analytics or Mixpanel, to track usage and engagement with your MVP. This can help you to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions about future development.
  • User Testing: 
    Conduct user testing to get direct feedback from potential users. This feedback can help you to identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions about future development.

Case Studies Of MVP Mobile App Development

Statistics show that one-third of startup business owners started their businesses with less than $5,000 and without any assurance that they would make a profit.

The temptation to start a big campaign immediately could be strong, but you should always start modestly. Due to the lengthy development process, about half of new concepts are abandoned since they cannot be proven at an early stage.

Since premature scaling is to blame for the demise of more than 70% of all firms, it is equally crucial to begin with tiny steps.

Here are two major examples of MVPs you know very well. 

  • Uber: Uber started as an MVP that allowed users to request a ride through a simple mobile app.
    The company validated its business idea by offering a small group of users a basic version of its app and gathering feedback to improve the product.

    Today, Uber is a multi-billion dollar company that offers ride-hailing services in hundreds of cities around the world.
  • Dropbox: Dropbox started as a simple MVP that allowed users to store and share files in the cloud. The company validated its business idea by offering a small group of users a basic version of its app and gathering feedback to improve the product.

    Today, Dropbox is a multi-billion dollar company that offers a full suite of cloud storage and collaboration tools.
  • Blum Telehealth: With the idea to serve users in the comfort of their homes, Blum Telehealth is focused on bringing medical care through Video calling regardless of the patient’s geographical location.

    The remote care facility validates its business idea by offering doctors and patients to effortlessly communicate apart from elevating the level of care for the entire community. Today, Blum Telehealth has served 6+ years successfully with an aim to reduce health care costs. 

Get Started With MVP Now 

If you’re considering MVP development for your startup, staying focused on your target audience, understanding their pain points, and continuously seeking feedback to improve the product is key.

By taking these steps, you can increase the chances of success for your mobile app and build a strong foundation for future growth.

So, what’s your next step toward MVP mobile app development for your startup?

If so, the galaxy can fit your idea into an app. We offer a wide range of product engineering services to help businesses at all stages of product development, from initial concept to market release.

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Build Better Apps in Less Time: 5 Reasons to Choose Low Code MVP Development

Posted on by galaxy-admin

As of 2022, nearly 3 million apps are available for download on the Google Play Store. And of all people, millennials are the most active app users, with 21% opening an app 50 or more times per day.

Your analytics will reveal that most website traffic comes from mobile users. That’s why startups today want to ensure their presence on the mobile platform as long as their idea and the problem they intend to solve are feasible with a mobile app.

But here’s the catch, a growing app market can mean something other than that your new app will succeed. Especially for startups, you will know if your application will grow once you test it. Does this imply that you should invest in full-fledged development? Not quite.

There is another solution that is quite a buzzword in the industry! Many startups and app market legends, such as Spotify, Uber, Instagram, and Dropbox, have succeeded through the MVP approach. And Low-code MVPs can be especially beneficial for mobile startups working on a limited budget or timeline.

If you’re considering this approach for your startup, we recommend reading this post to learn more about it.

Build Better Apps

Why is Low Code MVP essential for mobile-based startups?

Before we get into the details, let’s talk about what an MVP and a low-code MVP are.

MVP is the primary product version you build to understand your audience better. It helps the audience know the product and what to expect from it. On the other hand, it helps businesses realize the actual value of the product and its feasibility.

MVPs allow you to determine:

  • if your users are ready for the product,
  • if they’ll be interested in using your solution, and
  • what the scope is for scaling the product.

If you get enough insights from the users of the no-code MVP, it may be worth investing in a full-fledged solution.

A Low code MVP performs the same function but involves less to no code in its creation, which comes with additional benefits for startups and small businesses since they are more efficient and cost less.

In fact, it is considered one of the quickest and most established routes to success, whether a new product or a feature upgrade.

Now let’s discuss the benefits!

Benefits of Low code MVP in mobile-based startups

Higher efficiency

As we saw earlier, No-code and low-code platforms appeal to startups because they offer ready-made tools, reusable code, pre-built integrations, and templates for various development scenarios.

According to Gartner, by 2024, 65% of development functions will be low-code.

Some solutions include in-depth analytics, monitoring, and A/B testing features to optimize system performance. Plus, they support integrations with third-party services and comply with various industry standards.

Sounds terrific, right? But wait, there is more.

Cost-saving

Efficient and costs less? What can be better than this combination?!

Low code development tools help enterprises reduce their costs by up to 84% by allowing them to spend less money hiring professional development teams, cloud specialists, and other technical jobs. Businesses also don’t need to invest in expensive hardware infrastructure, development software, and licenses.

On top of that, these tools let you build your low-code MVP with less effort.

Faster deployment

IDC found that these organizations have reduced their development lifecycle for new applications by 62% and new features by 72%, respectively.

Low-code solutions improve your company’s agility by making it easier to reuse modules and code templates, create your MVP, and get feedback from users more quickly.

All of this means that you can attract potential investors faster than your competition and get a head start on solving the issues that are holding you back, and you are all set for launch in less than half the time. Now that’s exciting!

MVP helps you identify the market demand and evaluate the customer experience.

Being a startup founder, you prefer to test and validate your product idea by creating an MVP. The concept may seem promising regarding projections and visual designs, but the actual proof of concept interacts with a tangible application.

Customer feedback is crucial, as it allows you to identify your product’s most and least appealing sides.

The reversibility, or being able to go back to make changes, is one of the key reasons why MVP development is popular among startups. If any functions are unnecessary or have bugs, fixing them or adding new features during the quality assurance testing process is much easier. This flexibility helps to implement updates smoothly and bring the release date closer.

Limitations of Low code MVP & Setting the right expectations

Like all tools, despite their benefits, developing MVPs has limitations concerning drawbacks.

Here are the primary things you must consider:

  • Technical constraints

No-code and low-code platforms might not support the features you want in your app. You might need to resort to custom development tools to overcome some restrictions.

  • Vendor lock-in

Your app can become locked into the vendor’s proprietary technology stack and lack access to the source code. So, migrating your MVP to another low-code platform will become too costly.

The most typical and crucial mistakes startups make during MVP development are fixating on minor imperfections, needing more feedback, ignoring analytics, and needing more time for release.

Developing an MVP using no-code and low-code platforms does not guarantee affordability and timeliness unless you keep the limitations in mind and stand clear of any mistakes that might happen.

DIY vs. Professional Services: Which is better?

If you are a startup, low code should assist you in delivering an MVP to market with as few resources as possible. And if you are an established brand and want to try out a new feature on your app, low code MVP can also benefit you.

On the other hand, just building an MVP does not guarantee success. Business owners must remember that creating a no-code or low-code MVP is a quick way to test their business idea, not a magic switch that improves everything about your app.

Your apps rely on coding methodology and management practices to succeed. Furthermore, your team may still need to do some custom coding to overcome the limitations of low-code technologies.

If you believe you require the assistance of an experienced software development company’s assistance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We’ll make your MVP development truly affordable.

Unlocking E-Commerce Success: 05 Essential E-Commerce Conversion Rate Optimization Tips

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Whether you are considering beginning an e-commerce business or already have one, some actions must be taken before launching your e-commerce website to ensure its success. One influential aspect of your e-commerce business is conversions. All online stores work diligently to increase their conversion rates. Every team knows how difficult it is to raise the e-commerce conversion rate by even a tiny percentage. 

Low conversion rates are sometimes the only thing keeping your company from achieving a certain level of success. Marketing initiatives that emphasize conversion rates are more effective than those that do not. 

Data from Outgrow. co show that companies typically spend 92 USD to acquire customers but just 1 USD to convert them. Therefore, it should be easy to believe that just 22% of firms are convinced of the return on their investment from conversion rates.

According to e-commerce Guide, e-commerce currently accounts for almost all retail growth in the US, which is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. That should be enough reason for you to put your business at the forefront with cutting-edge technology via the best-optimized website and user experience. 

How Is CRO Beneficial to the Business?

The unifying objective of all marketing initiatives is to improve results. Furthermore, the pursuit of innovation and development must be continuous to seize growth possibilities, regardless of the KPIs used to gauge the effectiveness of these processes.

Therefore, when addressing how to focus the lead or visitor’s attention and guide them to a specific action on the website, focusing on approaches such as CRO Marketing or Conversion Rate Optimization is beneficial.

While increasing e-commerce conversion rates is the primary goal of CRO, it also has the following extra benefits:

  • CRO enhances the user’s experience. By removing obstacles, you streamline and hasten the consumer experience. It therefore benefits your business’s bottom line and its standing in search engine results pages (SERPs).
  • CRO uncovers marketing possibilities: CRO identifies marketing opportunities that were previously prohibitively expensive, helping them to get a large number of new consumers.
  • CRO Adds Business Momentum: It boosts your capacity to spend money cost-effectively and helps you obtain more value out of every dollar invested. Momentum is crucial for recruiting further investment, so it also has that secondary advantage.
  • CRO uncovers your target audience: Since CRO calls for ongoing research and hypothesis testing, it provides a thorough insight of the target audience.

05 E-Commerce Conversion Rate Optimization Tips

01- Use high-quality images and videos on your product pages

According to MIT research, the human brain can process a picture in only 13 milliseconds, giving your customers a quick first impression of your brand and goods caliber. According to research by Shopify, only 0.52 percent of customers prefer to see a single product photo, 33.16 percent like to see many shots, and almost 60 percent prefer images that allow them to get a 360-degree perspective of the product.

When someone purchases anything online, high-quality photos & videos clearly show them what they will receive. They give an overview of texture, shape, shades, etc. Additionally, they assist customers in understanding the product’s size and the variety of its uses.

Key Takeaway- It’s no secret that visual marketing is crucial for developing a brand online. High-quality visual content, such as product photos, can make or break an e-commerce brand’s online visibility and consumer experience. Your images must provide information and help the consumer distinguish between various products. 

02- Be competitively priced.

When it comes to price, consider not just the product you’re trying to sell online but also the value it provides and your e-commerce USP. A company must first conduct some research to determine the pricing using a competitor-based strategy.

You must conduct market research on your competitors offering products that are incredibly similar to or identical to yours to develop this pricing plan for your online business. This should include high-end and low-cost retailers to give you a thorough market overview.

Let’s imagine you run a business selling sports footwear and looking forward to adding new designs. Even if the sports shoes cost you $20 to manufacture and advertise, the average cost for a sports shoe is $40. You can start your pricing slightly over the market average of $45, giving you a $25 profit.

Key Takeaway: The cost-based strategy is extended by e-commerce market-based pricing strategies that take into account your niche competitors. This is crucial if your products are identical to or highly comparable to those offered by other online retailers, allowing buyers to compare prices.

03- Clear navigation menus

Homepage navigation is one design feature that gains from familiarity and convention. However, many design website navigation as a last-minute addition after considering pages and content. In a recent poll, just 50% of internet users could anticipate where relevant content will rely on typical page navigation.

Users want to save time figuring out complicated, almost buried menus and strange iconography. The use of a traditional navigation structure improves usability. Navigation is made more efficient by placing the most crucial pieces in well-known places.

Key Takeaway: A simple navigation menu makes it easier for customers to understand your website’s many product categories. You must categorize your products using generic terms. For instance, a yoga brand can categorize its product line into “Bestsellers,” “Women’s,” “Men’s,” “Maternity,” and “Sale.”

04- 3-30-3 rule for creating content

In today’s fast-paced environment, capturing a potential customer’s attention can be challenging, even if your content is excellently crafted and highly relevant. The “3-30-3” formula can help you create content that engages readers and has an impact. The 3-30-3 rule lasts three seconds, thirty seconds, and three minutes.

  • 3 seconds- This implies that you have just three seconds to convince a website user that they are looking for the right product and are in the right place. Ensuring your title is intriguing, compelling, and grabs the reader’s attention is crucial.
  • 30 seconds- You only have 30 seconds to make your pitch after a visitor has chosen that your website is the best place for them to be. Therefore, your product introduction and opening H2 ought to be excellent. At this stage, you should grab their attention with eye-catching industry figures, quotations, or a fact that sets your product apart from the competition.
  • 3 minutes- At this point, users start to show a desire to understand more about your products. You must now choose what will convert the best for you, whether a short story, a demo, a client review, or infographics.

Key Takeaway: 

The “3-30-3” rule states that you have only three seconds to get a reader’s attention, thirty seconds to keep them engaged, and around three minutes for them to read the entire content. Here, it’s crucial to succinctly explain what they will gain by reading your content and how it will impact them.

05- Maximize the Mobile Experience

According to Statista, 93% of Millennials have used a mobile device to compare online deals, while 82% of Internet users in the United States have used a mobile device to shop online. Furthermore, Marketing Land says mobile app conversion rates are three times greater than mobile website conversion rates.

Businesses that have adapted to the popularity of mobile experiences in e-commerce are reaping the benefits in a very diverse business environment, while those that still need to commit to this area are inevitably losing out on a growing segment of the customer base.

A mobile-optimized website will automatically alter its size to accommodate different screen types, depending on the device used to view it. A non-responsive website will not display correctly on all devices, interfering with the user experience. This is particularly damaging for online stores as it could increase bounce rates and worse conversion rates.

Key takeaway:  With direct communication with customers, the mobile experience gives away an opportunity to reach a broader range of customers and access valuable customer data. All it requires is to create a mobile experience with a slick appearance, fluid operation, and everything in its proper place.

Final Thoughts

E-commerce has become a crucial component of the global retail landscape in recent years. As modern life is increasingly digitized, online shopping has become essential for retail and e-commerce businesses. A well-designed website that checks all the above-listed points is necessary for immediate and long-term success.

As boosting e-commerce conversion rates should be the number one priority for businesses, Galaxy Weblinks can offer more specialized solutions with streamlined processes that drive growth and encourage customers to do what is most important, buy your products. To continue serving your people, you must be ready to make the next move. If you need us to help you with anything related to e-commerce website/app design and development, contact us! We’re happy to help.