Best Blogging Platforms To Launch Your New Blog

The best thing about blogging is that you can write about anything that interests you. If you are passionate about something, blogging can be your outlet and you can even make money out of it. But before we get ahead of ourselves, you need to be able to publish a blog and reach your audience before you can even dream about what to do with your extra cash.

Since many of us are stuck at home due to the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19), blogging could be one of the best ways to reach out to other people. If you’re thinking about launching a blog, we have some suggestions for the platforms you can use to share your thoughts to the world.

WorPress (Self-Hosted)

Self-hosted WordPress is one of the best and most popular blogging platforms in the world. WordPress is a good option if you want full control of your blog and if you want to be able to customize all aspects of it.

Generally speaking, you can launch your blog on WordPress for free forever. If you want to use WordPress on the cheap side, expect to pay around $60 annually. You will also need to pay for certain themes and plugins.

More than 32% of all sites in the world (not just blogs!) run on WordPress, so this will be a good choice for many aspiring bloggers.

Blogger

Blogger is a blogging platform from Google and you can use your Google account to set it up so you can have a live blog in minutes. This is a good choice for bloggers who want to launch quickly with minimal hassle.  It’s a good option for those who want to start using a platform that has a short learning curve with the ability to customize later.

Like WordPress it is free to use and you can upload custom themes and widgets. You can also edit the source code of your blog if you have knowledge in HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Wix

Primarily a website builder, Wix lets you create a page using their very handy drag-and-drop editor. You can choose from over 500+ templates and then fine tune the site to make it look the way you want.  

Wix lets you launch a blog in minutes and even takes care of the hosting for you. This platform is best suited for those who want to build a website rather than a traditional blog. Though there is a blogging module available, it is not the focus of Wix.

This is a good platform to choose if you want the ability to explore your creative freedom without knowledge of programming. However, blogging is not Wix’s forte.

Medium

Medium is intended for bloggers who want to launch quickly. It is a blogging platform that focuses on the reading experience. On this platform you can create blogs associated with your user or create a blog style with a customizable layout.

Medium is free but there is a subscription model for readers to get the best customized content.

Medium is a good choice if you want a blogging platform that focuses on readability. However, its blogging features are a bit limited with no option to hook up a custom domain or to monetize freely.

LinkedIn

Yes, LinkedIn. It’s not just a social networking site; it can also be a blogging platform for business. There are over 500 million LinkedIn users around the world and 44% active users. LinkedIn is basically a resume hosting platform but that has changed dramatically over the last few years.

Nowadays, LinkedIn is a social networking platform. The more posts you publish, the more requests and followers you will attract. Writing does not only expand your network, it also reinforces your depth of knowledge regarding certain areas.

LinkedIn is blogging about business or certain related areas like management, marketing and the like. This is because the audience of this blog are primarily composed of VP, directors, upper management and C-Level. This is a good choice if you’re building thought leadership, brand value, or community, rather than trying to make money.

The best tip for blogging on LinkedIn is to post consistently about a certain topic – don’t stray. You can check out LinkedIn’s course on how to be heard on the platform.

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How Web Developers Can Stay Resilient Amid The Pandemic

The coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic has wreaked havoc on businesses globally. This has led to massive business shutdowns and a shift towards remote working and more dependence on technology. However, the tech industry has also been hit hard by the pandemic. According to resources, Apple has reportedly suffered a 10% fall in its shares. The cancellation of major tech conferences has resulted in an estimated $1 billion loss to the industry.

Luckily, it’s not just gloom and doom for the tech sector. The industry is expected to boom in the next 5 years as the world shifts from traditional forms of business to online platforms. This is expected to impact not just technology in general but also ecommerce, applications, programming, cashless payment solutions and other technology driven innovations.

This shift is a welcome boon to many web developers who were displaced by the pandemic. Web developers are the perfect professionals who can come up with solutions to the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

If you’re a web developer, you’re in the right place because we have some tips on how you can stay resilient despite the pandemic.

Review Portfolio

The pandemic has impacted industries very differently. For example, the tourism sector has seen a drastic reduction in terms of demand and their brick and mortar stores have experienced a decline in income. But other industries like ecommerce are seeing a rise in demand and profit.

As a web developer, you can position yourself to serve industries that are doing well. If you worked with the travel industry in the past then shifting to ecommerce and other essential businesses can help you do better not just financially.

Review your portfolio to see how your past projects and experience can be translated to these thriving sectors. If you’re running a web development agency, shifting your business to focus on responding to the Covid-19 pandemic can help you stay afloat.

Ensure That Your Website Or Your Client Is Ready For Increased Traffic

As the world shifts to online platforms such as Zoom for meetings or using delivery service for groceries, you should prepare your website or your client’s for increased traffic. This is because many countries in the world are still grappling with the pandemic and physical distancing rules are still in place. Online transactions limit person-to-person contact and can stop the spread of the virus.

Aside from your clients and your website, reach out to other online businesses as well and tell them how you can help to strengthen their online presence.

Clean Up Your Code

Now that many tech conferences are cancelled, you finally have time to clean up your code. Aside from this, take time to also work on fixing bugs on your mobile platform. These tasks can help you deliver smoother user experience which is very important nowadays since many users are relying on their smartphones and mobile devices to stay in touch.

Start Projects That Make Online Shopping Easier

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a lot of problems for people around the world. However, it has also presented opportunities to many. For example, there are websites that present people with available items in a store. This way shoppers will only leave their houses if they know that what they need is in stock. Instead of going from store to store (and risking more exposure) they will only go to a store that carries the product.

Find ways to make it easier for people to do business online. If you have clients that deliver food or groceries, help them find ways to expand their service or give buyers the option to substitute for other brands if their order is out of stock.

Bottom Line

The pandemic is forcing many web developers to shift priorities and to pick up new skills in order to stay resilient. Not only will this help you protect yourself for future crises, this will also make you highly employable.

Try to learn skills for robotics, artificial intelligence, big data and other niches in technology so that you can help ensure and safeguard businesses should a pandemic emerge again in the future.

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Email Marketing Tips For The Pandemic

Compared to many countries in the west, Australia has handled the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic really well. Thanks to political leaders heeding the advice of health experts, infection numbers in the country are down and many businesses are now open.

After weeks of lockdown, consumers are excited to stretch their legs while many businesses are eagerly restarting again. However, despite reopening the pandemic is still underway. Many people are still cautious about going out and prefer to stay at home and only leave for essential trips.

The continuing pandemic has put many companies in a dilemma. How can marketing be tweaked in order to deal with the crisis? Since many businesses are now open again, is it alright to send emails again? If you’re asking yourself these questions, here are some email marketing best practices for your strategy this pandemic.

Stay Visible

Many marketers have stopped their marketing activities in order to cut cost. Since business is slow many of them are holding advertising and marketing campaigns in order to relieve short-term pressure. However, this can have a long-term cost. Cutting off communication with customers can cost awareness, market share and loyalty – all of which are needed in order for businesses to succeed.

So stay visible. Let your customers know that you’re still here by sending them email marketing newsletters or by engaging them on social media.

Monitor Frequency

The pandemic has proved to be a very stressful time for many people. They have a lot of worries on their minds right now such as job security, health and their families who are far away. This is perfectly understandable since the pandemic has made the future even more uncertain. This is why you need to determine how often to send your prospects emails.

You can do this by monitoring their click-through rate. How often do they click open emails you send them? Then you can adjust accordingly. You can also determine this by monitoring their engagement on social media. If you feel that many customers are engaging more frequently then you can increase not only content posting but also marketing emails.

Tone

As we said, the pandemic is causing a lot of anxiety due to the uncertainty of the situation. Many people around the world are isolated and might be feeling lonely. This is why you need to change the tone of your email. Try to be comforting and to show sympathy. Remember, everybody is going through a tough time.

Personalize each email you send. Address customers by their first name and don’t be afraid to ask how they’re holding up.

Be Transparent

Because the pandemic is still ongoing, many countries around the world still face quarantine restrictions. As such, many of their workers are still asked to stay at home so many businesses are operating on skeletal forces. This type of arrangement could cause a delay in shipping which is why it is important to tell customers to expect delays in their shipments or orders.

Many logistics company are also asking clients to use alternative modes of payment to limit physical contact. Many of them prefer payment through credit card, automatic cash transfers, online payment and other methods. Make sure that you can accommodate different types of payments to make it easier for clients to pay. The more options they have, the more inclined the will be to order.

If there are changes in delivery, mode of payment you should always take time to communicate this with your clients and customers.

Make Use Of The Downtime

The business slow down can be a good opportunity for you to get to know your clients better. Make use of this downtime by:

• Surveying customers. Since they have a lot of time on their hands they will probably be more inclined to take surveys from you. You can ask them for their feedback, rate your service or ask them about their experience. This kind of information is valuable because it allows you to adjust and grow as a business.
• Conduct A/B tests. Testing takes a lot of time so this is a good opportunity to email tests to increase conversion and sales.
• Implement new email tools. Explore new tools that can streamline your email marketing efforts.
• Clean up and update your email list. Having accurate data is important for the success of your email marketing campaign so use the downtime to purge your list of inactive subscribers.

Bottom Line

The Covid-19 Pandemic might be slowing down in Australia and New Zealand but it is still raging in the west, particularly in the United States and South America. However, the pandemic will ease and businesses around the world will start racing to recoup lost revenue. Following our tips can help you get a head start so that you can hit the ground running and bounce back faster.

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Covid-19 Pandemic Impact On Ecommerce

According to Digital Commerce, ecommerce sales were 40% higher for the week of May 26-June 1 compared to pre-pandemic figures. However, looking week over week, ecommerce sales were down 8% for the week May 26-June 1 compared with May 19-25, after only increasing 1% week-over-week May 19-25 compared with May 12-18.  This figure, according to fraud prevention vendor Signifyd Inc. could signal a plateauing of sales increases rather than a reversal of fortune as the pandemic goes on.

In Asia, ecommerce retailers also experienced a boom in sales as consumers under lockdown turned to online shopping. As a result, digital advertising solutions provider Criteo reported in their findings that more than 50% of consumers now had more plans to shop online as a result of the pandemic, compared to just 17% who said they would now make few digital purchases.

In Australia where ecommerce is dominated by eBay, Amazon, discount e-commerce marketplace Catch and fashion marketplace The Iconic, saw an increase in sales. According to Which-50.com, Australians patronized local retailers but sales with international merchants decreased.

According to NAB chief economist Alan Oster, “in month-on-month terms, all states and territories recorded online sales growth. ACT recorded the strongest growth rate in online retail sales in March, with NSW leading the major sales states. In year-on-year terms, all states except TAS and NT recorded double digit growth, with Victoria leading the large states”.

Markets that showed increased in growth included:

• Leisure and outdoor
• Auto parts
• Electronics
• Alcohol
• Comedies and collectibles
• Home décor
• General Merchandise

Apparel and luxury items experienced volatile sales during the peak pandemic months. Since Covid-19 became widespread in the west, the market experienced a 15% decrease during May 26-June 1 in online sales but still up 20% up compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Luxury goods are down 11% week over week, but still up 24% compared with before the pandemic.

Aside from online shopping, buy online pick-up in store (BOPIS) orders also increased especially for home improvement merchants. This is because many people are still afraid to go to physical stores but at the same time also need to purchase items. BOPIS allows them to access goods while limiting their contact with the outside world.

The covid-19 pandemic has changed not only the way we do business but consumer behavior as well. It is interesting to see how consumers will change again as the pandemic subsides and how it will impact ecommerce and brick-and-mortar sales.

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Work-At-Home Solutions During The Pandemic

Many businesses around the world are now shifting from the traditional workplace to remote working primarily due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. Although many of us are now rejoicing because we finally get to spend time at home, decades of telecommuting research tells us that the real challenge is just starting.

Difficulty in transitioning from office work to remote working is perfectly normal. Many companies and teams have had to redefine how they function. How teams tackle challenges have a big impact on their productivity. Here are some challenges teams will change and some recommendations on how to tackle them.

New Communication Norms                                                                             

In the normal office setting, sharing information personally is normal. Going to your teammate’s cubicle to discuss a project or just chatting with them is perfectly normal. Getting advice, asking for clarifications or conversations are done face-to-face. According to research, these types of interactions helps employees understand their teams and prevents members from feeling isolated.

Teams that are now working from home need to form new communication norms that can easily accommodate their needs. Some teams use video conferencing apps like Zoom for video conferencing and messaging services in order to constantly keep in touch.

At first calling teammates via cellphone will feel weird because it is not normally practiced in the office. However, working-at-home will be the new normal until infection rates subside so calling or texting a teammate during office hours is perfectly acceptable. Don’t be afraid to over-communicate even if it feels wrong at first.

Finding a communication norm for a company or team takes trial and error. Don’t be afraid to try something new and to leave room for experimentation.

Managing Work-Life Confects

During the pre-Covid-19 days, managing work and home was very easy. Employees can keep their professional and private lives separate because they are in the office during working hours and at home during rest which helps to limit conflict between the two. However, the shift from office work to remote working has blurred the lines and erased the boundaries of our responsibilities.

People who work from home with kids will find it harder than those without to manage remote working. It is normal for young children to think that you are “off” since you’re at home all the time. In order to limit conflict between personal and professional life, remote workers need to negotiate with supervisors and managers for flexibility in terms of working hours. It is essential to find a schedule that balances both responsibilities: work and family.

Once the schedule is set, employees should communicate with managers how and when they can be reached for work matters.

To make it easier to work remotely, employees should avoid working in areas of the home used for relaxation. This is especially important for those without home offices. Furthermore, getting the family involved by telling them your work-at-home schedule can help prevent interruptions and set boundaries with your housemates.

New Kind of Supervision

When employees work from home, it is normal for supervisors and managers to think that they are not pulling their weight. This is because it is hard to monitor remote workers. Even though there are jobs are quantifiable based on output, there are those that don’t. For instance, project managers can issue a project that covers several days or weeks. This kind of deliverable makes limits the opportunity for monitoring.

A common mistake among managers is to closely monitor remote workers in order to compensate for lack of direct observation. This can backfire because managers don’t know what’s going on in the lives of remote employees. For instance an employee might not be able to work efficiently because they have to take care of a sick child and is planning to compensate by working on the weekend.

Instead of focusing on how employees work, managers should explain why their work is important. During this uncertain times, employees might forget what their work means especially since the context has changed.

Studies show that workers who are focused on the “why” are more likely to explore creative possibilities in their work. Therefore, shifting from traditional office work to working remotely impacts how teams function fundamentally.

Bottom Line

The challenges above will take time to resolve. Misunderstanding and miscommunication should be expected. For this reason, it is important to be understanding and flexible with one another during this transition period. Teams should also focus on building new effective work norms for the new normal.

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