Deck Up Your Website Content With Drupal 8’s Impressive Functionality

Boosted up with the advanced functionality, the latest version of Drupal, i.e. Drupal 8 has better possibilities of advancement in terms of functionality. There is an ample number of improvements seen in the latest version. This improvement is of greater benefit for the end user. This version eliminates the need to be dependent on additional modules. This latest version has earned huge applaud for making things simpler for editors and content administrators. It makes use of WYSIWYG editor to make content editing easier. CKEditor functionality of the software also offers ease in quickly editing the content.

In addition to this, there are some other excellent features offered by the version that can be advantageous for businesses. Let’s take a look:

Speed and performance

The latest version of Drupal, i.e. Drupal 8 has taken speed as a crucial element. Drupal 8 helps in the development of websites that perform speedily. Drupal websites get loaded easily, quickly and efficiently. This, in turn, saves a lot of time of users.

Easier authoring experience

Drupal 8 comes with an improved preview functionality. Previews can now be seen within the theme. Users can view exactly how your changes will appear on the website. Besides, the option of publishing is easily integrated with Save button. With this feature, developers can easily decide whether they wish to publish or not a node upon saving. It also offers an in-line and in-context editing other than WYSIWYG editor.

Built-in themes of Drupal 8 are responsive. They can be used right from the phone. The newly admin toolbar created is responsive and can be handled right from your mobile phone. It automatically resizes itself on larger screens while collapsing.

Customization

Owing to its widened customization options, Drupal 8 is made highly popular. It provides the option to create content and make use of the multilingual feature. The CMS is highly scalable because it comes available with RESTFUL API and other functionality. This feature allows the website to expand with innovation. This is the reason custom Drupal development is a great choice for small, large sized businesses and even bloggers

 Theming

Drupal 8’s backend interface comes with ample flexibility for customization. This feature is of great use both for developers and website users. Drupal offers simple customization for both tech geeks and non-techies.

Twig theming template engine is something new you will come across in Drupal 8. The twig separates login and display in a better way. Other than this, improved security is another enticing feature of the CMS.

Heightened security

Drupal 8 is recommended for extra security features. The CMS offers an extra secure environment for web developers, businesses and end users. One does not need to be worried about on-site security breaches. Drupal 8 has default themes, trusted host patterns, twig security, URL detection and other features that are based on dynamics. These features can help make a website secure.

Mobile friendly

Drupal 8 has been designed with a mobile-first approach. The themes provided by the CMS are responsive and automatically resize to look great on mobile. Owing to theme flexibility, the CMS helps in the development of attractive websites that can easily be adapted to any mobile device. The latest version makes it easier to provide content that looks great both on small and larger screens.

Better support for language

Drupal 8 has a multilingual feature in its core. The latest version supports up to 94 languages. Other than this, the CMS also features modules for language and translation support.

Upgraded CMI

The CMI system of Drupal 8 is quite interesting. This feature is integrated directly into the core programming. It differentiates the content from the configuration. Time is saved and the work is streamlined.

Final Verdict!

Drupal is undoubtedly a great choice for any kind of business. Though it has been officially out for a couple of years now still has not been accepted by many entrepreneurs. By having a look at these functionalities, businesses will be able to create a sophisticated and user-friendly website. When it comes to ease and comfort, Drupal 8 is the right choice you have beforehand. In the days to come, it will definitely emerge as one of the best CMS in terms of improvements and updates. Its adoption will continue to rise and the CMS will soon become the backbone of more and more digital experiences.

So, if your business is not already on Drupal 8, you need to consider an upgrade.

 

The post Deck Up Your Website Content With Drupal 8’s Impressive Functionality appeared first on .

from http://ift.tt/2DPyAtD

The Biggest Trends in Web Development We’ve Seen this Year

The web is continually changing. Thus web development techniques have also been constantly changing. With every New Year, newer and more improved tools for web development come out, giving developers more opportunity to play with design and page interactions. Each time a new design comes out, new patterns bloom, fresh techniques blossom, and a possibility for a trend to begin appears. And each year, new trends come and go. The year of 2017 is no different from other years. This year, we’ve seen significant trends in web development. Though some of them are no longer new in the scene, they still brought impact to the industry. If you’re still not aware what they are, here are some of the biggest trends in web development we’ve seen this year.

 

1. Color Choice

Your color choice can significantly impact your audiences; it can affect their thoughts, emotions, and ultimately, their conversion rate. So, the color choice for most websites this 2017 is green. Most people see green as a symbol of new beginnings, a refreshing start, a revitalizing first.

Green is not the only color that made the scene this year, because of the popularity of Google Material Design, the following colors also made headlines:

• Shades of Red
• Shades of Violet
• Shades of Blue
• Shades of Orange
• Shades of Yellow
• Shades of Grey
• Shades of Brown

Duotone or an image made of two colors also made the cut. It has been used since 2016, but it rose to popularity this year. You may have noticed that examples of sites that used duotone are Spotify and YouTube.

Whatever color or color scheme you may choose to go with, make sure it goes well with your overall aim. Pick something that will convey what you want to say; if you’re going to say “be happy”, choose a color that carries happiness, or if you’re going to say “enjoy life”, pick a color that shows enjoyment of life. Again, your choice can impact your audiences, so choose well.

 

2. Retro Inspired and Modular Design

 Who would’ve thought that pixel art, images from the late 80’s-early 90’s, and vintage typography would make a big comeback this year? Over the years, people have utilized the retro-inspired designs, but this year, it has made much more influence on web design. Even modular design also made a comeback this year. It isn’t something new, but it has gained so much popularity over the years, that it finally reached its peak in 2017.

There are a couple of websites that followed the trend of retro-inspired and modular designs; some have mixed retro style with modern style. There are also websites like Sweet Magnolia Gelato that went for the vintage look and combined it with animations. Build in Amsterdam has incorporated a very tasteful modular design in their website. Some websites have also used both themes, retro-inspired and modular design, integrating vintage looks with modular layouts.

Whether you go retro-inspired, modular or industrial design, just make sure that it can connect with your audience. No matter how great looking your design is, if your audience doesn’t understand the message you’re trying to convey, it won’t work. So, ultimately, pick a design that works for you and your audience.

 

3. Interactive And User Experience Focused

 A user experience focused and interactive design has always been part of what most web developers aim their website to have. This year, website interactivity and user experience were brought to another level, as microinteractions can now be found in most sites. Microinteractions are those small moments where your audience can interact with your site. These are the times when your audiences can click a call to action button, like and share your content, send you a message or fill a form field.

Yes, microinteractions have been there for a time, but this year, you can see significant improvements on them. More and more of them have become more animated and eye-catching. They have become more focused on the user-experience during the interaction. An excellent example of a user experience centered microinteraction is the Customized Like by Facebook, where audiences can choose different emojis.

Do remember that the aim of this trend is one thing and one thing only: to communicate with your audience. You shouldn’t just put random animations all over the place; you shouldn’t put it there just because it looks cool or trendy. When adding animations to your design or customizing it, no matter how small the changes would be, it should communicate with your audience.

These are the biggest trends in web development we have seen this year. Hopefully, we’ve helped you become aware of what’s in this year. Now, you can start preparing for what’s coming next year. Just remember that whatever the trends are, your duty as a web developer is to make sure that you’re improving the experience of your every customer. We hope you liked this No BS article.

Author Bio:

Aaron Gray is a leading digital marketing expert in Australia, specialising in Blogger Outreach services through No BS. Aaron’s goal is to deliver professional blogger outreach to clients. He’s dedicated to hard work, his job, and loves to travel in his downtime.

The post The Biggest Trends in Web Development We’ve Seen this Year appeared first on Website Development Sydney, Magento Ecommerce Solutions | Creativ Digital.

from Website Development Sydney, Magento Ecommerce Solutions | Creativ Digital http://ift.tt/2DN2WJS

5 Effective Ways to Get Backlinks From Social Profiles

Getting backlinks is an effective SEO strategy for your site to gain more foot traffic. Of course, it can be very tricky and tedious and you have to maintain your integrity by sticking to White Hat practices only.

One of the ways to get more links is by making use of your social profiles. But the thing is, social profile linking has garnered a bad rep for being somewhat spammy and shady. This is due to using random profiles, some of which may not even be real. But even if this is the case, it doesn’t mean you can’t do it in an authentic and legitimate manner.

Here are 5 effective and very doable ways in which you can garner more links using different social profiles.

1. Forum Profiles

Community forums such as Reddit and Quora make for a great opportunity not just to increase your backlinks, but to also connect with highly technical and authoritative people online.

If you’re heavily involved in a certain niche industry, forums may be the way to go to establish connections with relevant people. You can comment and answer tons of questions and even start discussions with those who are also within your niche. Of course, just make sure that you provide substantial information.

You can start with answering some minor questions, completing your profile, and keeping active before proceeding to share your own valuable content.

2. LinkedIn Profile

Sharing valuable information on LinkedIn can also prove to be beneficial for getting more links. Compared to Facebook and other social media platforms, you have a higher chance of reaching out to the right people through LinkedIn, especially if you belong to a technical or niche field.

Make sure to have your LinkedIn profile complete and looking professional so as to increase your credibility in sharing content. You can also connect with other professionals outside of your work or industry, who may find the information you’re sharing to be of value to them.

If you’re handling your company’s LinkedIn profile, you can setup a posting schedule for various content pieces. You may even ask your superior or the executive in your office if you can publish the posts through their profiles to increase chances of click-throughs given the credibility their profiles have.

3. Profile of an Executive

Speaking of executives, there’s so much you can do once you’ve gained access to an executive’s profile in terms of networking and getting links. Simply put, a profile of an executive holds more credibility and earns more trust than that of a general company profile.

An exec’s profile (e.g. CEO, CMO, Manager, etc) puts a more humane approach in networking and anyone who would connect with them would feel more privileged, therefore trust is built more easily. Any outreach message or shared content done using an executive’s profile would stand out in a sea of various messages and posts on social networking sites.

It goes without saying that this should be done with the executive still involved in the process. Of course, it wouldn’t bode well for the exec or for the company should there be a direct dialogue with the exec without him/her knowing about what was shared through his profile.

4. Facebook Profile & Ads

Even with a small amount, you can readily boost your post and target it towards the right audience in Facebook.

The key in getting the most out of this technique is to have a more narrowed down and concise targeting. Even with less ad spend, you’ll have higher chances of garnering more interest with the quality of your targeted audience.

As with any other form of content, make sure that the post you boost and promote provides substantial and useful information. You’ll be surprised with how far its reach can be, since the audience themselves may even share and repost it to their own networks.

5. Connect With Social Media Profiles of Authorities

Be it Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or even Snapchat, you can easily build rapport and genuine connection with authorities in different fields through social media profiles.

It’s as simple as following or following back and making sure that you send out a genuine message to kick things off. You can show genuine admiration for the work they do or perhaps provide some insightful comment or opinion on a certain topic they featured or talked about.

As you continue to build the relationship, you can even ask them to also promote the link to your site or post given that there is mutual trust established along the way. This method may take more time and effort but the results would be extremely beneficial, especially if you’ve managed to help one another in your respective ventures.

Conclusion

Surely, getting more links through social profiles isn’t the quickest way to increase your backlinks but it’s definitely one of the most rewarding given the authentic connection you’re bound to build along the way.

You’re not just building connections but you’re also establishing trust within the online community, which in return would also be beneficial in increasing your reach as they share your content to their own networks. Do remember that these connections are a two-way street, so also make sure to return the favor or take the initiative to also share and promote the work of others as well.

The post 5 Effective Ways to Get Backlinks From Social Profiles appeared first on Website Development Sydney, Magento Ecommerce Solutions | Creativ Digital.

from Website Development Sydney, Magento Ecommerce Solutions | Creativ Digital http://ift.tt/2DkXxgd

It is Possible to Blog Without Writing Blogs: Welcome to Instagram!

Most bloggers on Instagram do not even have blogs! Modern bloggers do not believe in the power of words. Well, we are not saying that the text content of blogs is not relevant. With the advent of image-heavy platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, long articles and features take a backseat. Great images with a high resolution have been replacing word-form content for a long time now. Look at Instagram accounts like the_salty_blonde and wihitneybearr.

Most bloggers on Instagram do not even have blogs! Modern bloggers do not believe in the power of words. Well, we are not saying that the text content of blogs is not relevant. With the advent of image-heavy platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, long articles and features take a backseat. Great images with a high resolution have been replacing word-form content for a long time now. Look at Instagram accounts like the_salty_blonde and wihitneybearr. They are successfully reaching out to thousands of people each day with their unique posts, without writing extensively about their styles or fashion choices.

Hashtags speak louder than words

The Instagram fashion club has its own hashtags. The leading hashtags of 2017 include #ootd, #outfitoftheday, #fashionista, #instafashion, #runwayfashion, #streetstyle and #streetfashion. These are your regular high volume keywords. They can give you a lot of traffic, but since hundred other Instagram accounts, both business and private, are using them as well you may find a tough competition.

You can move towards more niche fashion tags like #summerbeachwear, #crochetfashion, #bikinibods, #casualmomstyle and many other low volume keywords. They generate small amounts of traffic, but they are highly accurate as well. Therefore, you will get quality traffic with much less competition as compared to your high volume keywords.

Big brands can easily stick to high volume keywords. Brands include Instagram influences like the Kardashians and Hadids. If you are a small, niche fashion house making your own statements each day, try to find hashtags and keywords that fit your brand image. Find low volume long-tailed keywords to describe images and longer hashtags to filter in relevant traffic.

Schedule your posts from beforehand

Posting a couple of pictures is quite standard for a new brand on the platform. However, that does not mean you have to take 1-2 new pictures every day. Sometimes it is a budget constraint, while most commonly, it is a time constraint for most people. In fact, taking a series of shots of different related subjects makes more sense than composing 1-2 pictures each day. You need not worry about models and photographers. You can use your iPhone as your professional photographer, use still-life compositions for lifestyle and fashion products and use professional editing tools to create the Instagram effect.

Use business-friendly filters

Did you know? On Instagram, certain filters like Mayfair and Vintage have more likelihood of getting you more followers? When you are a new user, your followers count for Instagram can be dwindling. Start with unique posts and Gramista to boost your followership. You can use listening tools like Hootsuite to find out what your potential followers and consumers. Listening tools are advantageous for new entrepreneurs since they have to know their potential market to be able to sell their products.

How to engage influencers in your marketing plan?

Instagram can give your brand 25% more engagement than any other social platform. Now, this will happen if you can market your products correctly. For example - you are selling women’s shoes, how will you introduce your products on Instagram with a bang? Working all by yourself will not get you enough attention. You need to find a fashion partner. Working with influencers has its own perks. To find the right influencer for you, you can check out sites like Websta. It catalogs all popular Instagram users related to your niche.

Here are a few things you have to do -

Find people who are interested in shoes or showcase shoes in their accounts. (make a list of at least ten people)

Find their link or contact on their "contact" page.

Send the first name on your list a formal email or direct message on Instagram with your proposal. Do not push or bribe. Ask if they would be willing to accept a sample of your product for review.

Wait for a week. Send a follow-up email.

If you do not get any reply from one influencer, move on to the next one on your list.

Getting ready-made images from other accounts

If you are particularly in love with a picture posted by an influencer, you can ask their permission to repost it. There are a few copyright issues that you will have to keep in mind.

You can make minimal changes to the photos.

You can make changes to filter choices.

You can add your brand name and watermark only after giving the original poster their due credit for the photo.

Easiest way to get new content for your account

An easier way to bypass these legalities is to hold a contest. However, this only works if you have a strong followership on Instagram already. Ask for photo contests with particular hashtags. It will make sure you get new content almost every day and keep your brand name visible too, without a huge marketing budget. Do not use stock images from Shutterstock or Getty Images if you are running out of fresh content. Try playing with your keywords a little; this will give you a broader perspective of your potential market. It will also broaden the reach of your account and campaigns.

Always add a CTA

Do not forget to add a call to actions on or beside your images. Adding new stories every week will increase your brand reach by over 30%. More people are into Instagram videos and live stories than the regular feed. Use fresh photos and videos to link to your fashion site. Paste your URL on the top and add your stickers, filters, and emojis to keep things interesting.

All in all, as a brand, you need to keep your audience engaged. You cannot stay inactive for a month and hope to find your followership as high as the day you left them. Just like any other social networking platform, people forget about brands, events, and celebs very easily once they are on Instagram. You need to stay visible, active and engage with your followers on a regular basis to steer a steady flow of traffic from your Insta account to your website.

Author bio: Harris is a leading blog writer and content marketing professional with thousands of real Instagram followers for his postings.

The post It is Possible to Blog Without Writing Blogs: Welcome to Instagram! appeared first on Creativ Digital.

It is Possible to Blog Without Writing Blogs: Welcome to Instagram!

Most bloggers on Instagram do not even have blogs! Modern bloggers do not believe in the power of words. Well, we are not saying that the text content of blogs is not relevant. With the advent of image-heavy platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, long articles and features take a backseat. Great images with a high resolution have been replacing word-form content for a long time now. Look at Instagram accounts like the_salty_blonde and wihitneybearr. They are successfully reaching out to thousands of people each day with their unique posts, without writing extensively about their styles or fashion choices.

Hashtags speak louder than words

The Instagram fashion club has its own hashtags. The leading hashtags of 2017 include #ootd, #outfitoftheday, #fashionista, #instafashion, #runwayfashion, #streetstyle and #streetfashion. These are your regular high volume keywords. They can give you a lot of traffic, but since hundred other Instagram accounts, both business and private, are using them as well you may find a tough competition.

You can move towards more niche fashion tags like #summerbeachwear, #crochetfashion, #bikinibods, #casualmomstyle and many other low volume keywords. They generate small amounts of traffic, but they are highly accurate as well. Therefore, you will get quality traffic with much less competition as compared to your high volume keywords.

Big brands can easily stick to high volume keywords. Brands include Instagram influences like the Kardashians and Hadids. If you are a small, niche fashion house making your own statements each day, try to find hashtags and keywords that fit your brand image. Find low volume long-tailed keywords to describe images and longer hashtags to filter in relevant traffic.

Schedule your posts from beforehand

Posting a couple of pictures is quite standard for a new brand on the platform. However, that does not mean you have to take 1-2 new pictures every day. Sometimes it is a budget constraint, while most commonly, it is a time constraint for most people. In fact, taking a series of shots of different related subjects makes more sense than composing 1-2 pictures each day. You need not worry about models and photographers. You can use your iPhone as your professional photographer, use still-life compositions for lifestyle and fashion products and use professional editing tools to create the Instagram effect.

Use business-friendly filters

Did you know? On Instagram, certain filters like Mayfair and Vintage have more likelihood of getting you more followers? When you are a new user, your followers count for Instagram can be dwindling. Start with unique posts and Gramista to boost your followership. You can use listening tools like Hootsuite to find out what your potential followers and consumers. Listening tools are advantageous for new entrepreneurs since they have to know their potential market to be able to sell their products.

How to engage influencers in your marketing plan?

Instagram can give your brand 25% more engagement than any other social platform. Now, this will happen if you can market your products correctly. For example – you are selling women’s shoes, how will you introduce your products on Instagram with a bang? Working all by yourself will not get you enough attention. You need to find a fashion partner. Working with influencers has its own perks. To find the right influencer for you, you can check out sites like Websta. It catalogs all popular Instagram users related to your niche.

Here are a few things you have to do –

• Find people who are interested in shoes or showcase shoes in their accounts. (make a list of at least ten people)
• Find their link or contact on their “contact” page.
• Send the first name on your list a formal email or direct message on Instagram with your proposal. Do not push or bribe. Ask if they would be willing to accept a sample of your product for review.
• Wait for a week. Send a follow-up email.
• If you do not get any reply from one influencer, move on to the next one on your list.

Getting ready-made images from other accounts

If you are particularly in love with a picture posted by an influencer, you can ask their permission to repost it. There are a few copyright issues that you will have to keep in mind.

• You can make minimal changes to the photos.
• You can make changes to filter choices.
• You can add your brand name and watermark only after giving the original poster their due credit for the photo.

Easiest way to get new content for your account

An easier way to bypass these legalities is to hold a contest. However, this only works if you have a strong followership on Instagram already. Ask for photo contests with particular hashtags. It will make sure you get new content almost every day and keep your brand name visible too, without a huge marketing budget. Do not use stock images from Shutterstock or Getty Images if you are running out of fresh content. Try playing with your keywords a little; this will give you a broader perspective of your potential market. It will also broaden the reach of your account and campaigns.

Always add a CTA

Do not forget to add a call to actions on or beside your images. Adding new stories every week will increase your brand reach by over 30%. More people are into Instagram videos and live stories than the regular feed. Use fresh photos and videos to link to your fashion site. Paste your URL on the top and add your stickers, filters, and emojis to keep things interesting.

All in all, as a brand, you need to keep your audience engaged. You cannot stay inactive for a month and hope to find your followership as high as the day you left them. Just like any other social networking platform, people forget about brands, events, and celebs very easily once they are on Instagram. You need to stay visible, active and engage with your followers on a regular basis to steer a steady flow of traffic from your Insta account to your website.

Author bio: Harris is a leading blog writer and content marketing professional with thousands of real Instagram followers for his postings.

The post It is Possible to Blog Without Writing Blogs: Welcome to Instagram! appeared first on Website Development Sydney, Magento Ecommerce Solutions | Creativ Digital.

from Website Development Sydney, Magento Ecommerce Solutions | Creativ Digital http://ift.tt/2lQcQ5G