Before you actually build your online store, you need to make sure the fundamental elements of your future e-store are aligned with your business strategy and goals. This means that the design, structure, and content of your website should be coherent, integrated, and consistent with what you’re selling and how you position your products.

But what exactly does it take to attain this? What does it involve? What are the actual steps you need to take to create a shopping experience users will want to repeat? Below you can find some guidelines on how to create a successful user-oriented e-commerce website.

Web Design

When you set out to build an e-commerce website always keep in mind that this is going to be your storefront. It needs to be appealing enough to make people ‘come through the door’ but it’s even more important to ensure they have a pleasant shopping experience once they’re in. This means that the design and functionality of your e-commerce website should integrate seamlessly.

E-Commerce Software

When you embark on the e-commerce boat, you have two choices: building your online store by yourself on a domain you purchase for this purpose, or using an established e-commerce platform like Shopify, nopCommerce etc. In the former case, you need to start from scratch. Since it’s uncharted territory, you should be ready to overcome various obstacles and learn quickly. Many small businesses that enter the realm of e-commerce choose the latter alternative because it’s simple and effective. Reliable e-commerce platforms hosting online stores allow you to avoid the technical and infrastructure problems that you may encounter in case you go for self-hosting. They offer intuitive, customizable, and easy to use software, which will enable you to manage your e-commerce store smoothly.

Describe Your Products

Your virtual storefront is everything you have to convince people to buy, so it is vital to strive to put your products in the best possible light. For that, write informative and relevant product descriptions, organize products effectively, enable users to find what they want easily, and use high quality pictures for all the items you’re selling. Product descriptions need to be complete and accurate, and the photos should reflect and confirm them. If you’re selling your product offline as well, make sure you are consistent in product presentation and packaging.

Ensure Privacy

When shopping online, people want to be sure that their personal information is protected.  Use SSL certificates to encrypt your users’ personal details, especially credit card data. Also, specify your privacy policy. Reassure customers that their personal details are safe with you and let them know exactly how their personal information is going to be used.

Shopping Cart Experience and Payment Options

These two elements are critical when you run an e-commerce store. They are decisive when it comes to creating a positive user experience. All the steps of the purchase process should be clear and easy to follow, from log in to checkout. Also, see what payment options work best for you and make sure they work on your e-commerce website.

Customer Service

With online services it’s easy to become impersonal, but you want to stay as close to your customers as possible. One important aspect in this sense is customer service. Set up a chat service and/or phone number people can call anytime to get in touch with a person, not a machine, to have their questions answered. This will encourage shopping, as customers will know that they can get assistance whenever they need it.

With these in mind, here’s what to look for in e-commerce platforms to make sure your online store is user-oriented:

• Customizable templates that don’t require expert knowledge. Once you set up your online store, you should be able to change settings and design layouts, as well as edit and create new pages, as you please.
• Use a platform that allows you to control the HTML and CSS of your e-commerce website, and has a built-in Content Management System (CMS). This will enable you to manage content and products without hiring a web design company to handle this.
• Your e-commerce platform should support different languages and currencies if you sell your products internationally.
• Full mobile functionality is essential if you want your e-commerce store to work on mobile devices. As consumers are increasingly relying on smart phones and tablets when shopping online, this should be a top priority in your e-commerce strategy.

The post How to Build a User-Oriented E-Commerce Website appeared first on DesignCanyon.

Here are three of the ways that good blog design can do a lot of your work for you.

1. It gives visual credibility and focus to your brand

If you have a freewheeling, everything goes look to your blog, it will turn a certain type of reader off automatically. They may not realize they are doing it, but lots of readers just have a certain standard for the appearance of a professional information sources. It’s just like in real life. If you are a professional, you wouldn’t show up to a business meeting in your stained hoodie. The same goes for your blog. These things take time and cost money (just like the suit you wear to the business meeting in our example), but in order to get to the level you want to be at, it’s important to invest in a modern logo and a clean layout. You’d be surprised the way your readership demographic will expand with this one change.

2. It makes your blog easier to navigate

A well organized blog is a beautiful thing to behold. But many suffer from having content stuffed all over the place. Some of it is difficult to access and near impossible to find again. By making your blog visually intuitive, you will be doing your readers a big favor. You’ll also make yourself a better candidate for outside blogs, sites, and businesses, that want to make your brand part of their brand. It’s always important to remember that just because a blog exists in a virtual space doesn’t mean that it isn’t a social enterprise. Just think about the way humans work in real life, and dress your blog up the same way. It’ll pay off for you a lot better than a sloppy, difficult space.

3. It is worth a lot more

A modern site is a worth a lot more to investors, if you ever sell your business to someone else. This may not be a consideration now, but it’s something you should think about for the future. Established blogs are brands, just like any other. My equipping your blog with modern design elements, you are making an investment just like someone who remodels their bathroom and kitchen, to add equity to their house. Take a look at some of your favorite blogs. How does the visual and design plan add to their value? To you? To other users? To an outside investor?

Design is worth the investment. Designers are professionals who see what you might not always see as a blogger. Employ one of these to give you a quote on what a reworked streamlined, modern space would cost you. I’m here to tell you, it’s worth the investment.

The post The Unappreciated Benefit of Good Design appeared first on DesignCanyon.

The precision of your dedicated landing page coupled with its keyword selection and meta-data will allow Google to have a greater ability to lead your target market to you. From an advertising perspective, this is maximizing your brand awareness, one of the most crucial factors of advertising. After all, if a potential client doesn’t know about your products, then they can’t, and won’t, buy them. If you have the right company placing your website at the top of search engines like Google or Yahoo, which millions of people use each and every day, you will be maximizing your brand’s profile.

If you want your website optimized, here are a few facts to keep in mind.

1. According to MarketingSherpa, 70% of marketers reported the use of website optimization strategy to inform offline campaigns and other elements of marketing communications, while 48% of users claim that if they arrive on a business website that isn’t working properly on their mobile device, they take it as an indication that the business simply doesn’t care. Online marketing is so influential at present, that if you ignore your website and how it interacts with the searching patterns of potential clients, you are losing out on business.

2. Marketing Charts tells us that 69% of North American marketers list dynamic, personalized content as vital tools for their website, while only 5% say it’s of low or no importance. Meanwhile, eMarketer informs us that 86.6% of U.S. SMBs list websites as their primary digital marketing tactic.

3. According to Econsultancy, 62% of companies that designed a website specifically for mobile last year had increased sales, while a full 95% agreed with the statement “good user experience just makes sense.”

4. The London Ontario-based Digital Clicks Marketing informs us that the change in a website bounce rate increases by 100% when a page takes 4 seconds or more to load while at the same time it increases by 150% if a page takes 8 seconds or more to load. Additionally, as the Aberdeen Group tells us, asingle 1-second delay in page load time yields:

• 11% fewer page views
• 16% decrease in customer satisfaction
• 7% loss in conversions

Sales giant Amazon.com found the same to be true, recently reporting increased revenue of 1% for every 100 milliseconds improvement to their site speed. All of this information from a variety of sources proves that a fully responsive website will increase the rate at which customers are viewing your company’s services or products.

Hopefully, this data will help you better understand the importance of optimized web design for online marketing success. Remember also that an experienced team – like the one at Digital Clicks Marketing — can help you maximize the efficiency of your website while conforming to your overall budget and timeline projections. For more information on how your company may benefit from professional web design help in London, Ontario, start your search for the right digital marketer right away. Boost your business with website optimization before it’s too late.

The post Smart Website Design is the Cornerstone of Online Marketing appeared first on DesignCanyon.

As Sydney web development firm Magicdust explains- ‘the proliferation of mobile devices has caused a huge shift in consumer behavior‘. Armed with their smartphones and other devices, consumers have realized that the key to finding a bargain whilst on the go is through mobile-enabled online research.

Show rooming is no longer limited to scanning prices in brick-and-mortar stores. Today comparison shopping happens at home, during the commute, at the office, at dinner, and even up until the moment consumers turn in for the night- all while they’re on their mobile devices.

This is not necessarily bad news for small businesses. It simply means they need to understand the key ways in which mobile technology is changing how people shop and buy-and therefore how retailers sale.

1. Almost everyone uses mobile devices

Global eCommerce sales made via mobile device are expected to grow to US$638 billion by 2018 according to Goldman Sachs. This means that having a mobile compatible website is now mandatory. 

People interact with the mobile devices differently than they do with a website, or even when visiting a store in person. So to remain competitive, small business ecommerce retailers need to adopt mobile as an integral part of their sales strategy.

Making a mobile responsive user experience the focus of your eCommerce website with a ‘mobile first approach’ during the web design process is the first step.  Your website should not just be tolerable, but preferable to interact with on a mobile device through all stages of the user journey. From product research to adding a product to the cart-and most importantly the online payment process—the path should be clear and intuitive. This is critical for encouraging conversions and customer loyalty.

2. Consumers expect a curated experience

A common challenge for eCommerce retailers has been to match the right products to the right customer. But customers have come to expect this. The more you are able to customize their experience, the more likely they are to share this content with their online communities.

We first saw curated content on Amazon when they began filtering and recommending products based on what customers had previously purchased. Today, other leading eCommerce retailers have adopted similar strategies, transforming the standard, catalogue-like nature of eCommerce websites into premium, personalized experiences that encourage purchases.

A great example is The Edit, Net-a-Porter’s digital magazine. The magazine’s top fashion editors and stylists curate each issue, and feature products that can be purchased directly from the magazine, creating a seamless path to purchase.

IKEA is another good example. Famous for its in-store staging where products are arranged to form gorgeous show rooms, IKEA has managed to translate this feeling to its digital media. The product range is the content, curated to tell stories, evoke emotion at the idea of how furniture can be arranged and utilized around the home, and ultimately increase the chance of a transaction.

Small business eCommerce sites must figure out how they can use curated products proactively to enhance their customers’ experience online. Effective implementation not only encourages sales, but also builds loyalty by giving customers a reason to return.

3. The customer’s experience will make or break a small business

It is easy to start an eCommerce business. That is good and challenging-there is tremendous competition in the market, regardless of your industry. As a result, customer service and satisfaction has become the key to differentiation online. After all, “technology changes, but humans don’t”.

Enhancing the customers’ experience and building loyalty are far more important for eCommerce retailers than a once off order. With the proliferation of social sharing and online reviews, positive customer experiences can make you… and negative ones can break you. Key opportunities include extended returns periods, online order tracking, SMS status updates, alternative delivery methods, free returns and 24/7 support via email, phone and live chat. Sign up for sms marketing services to unlock a plethora of new options to stay in touch with your customers.

Additionally, loyalty programs that drive customer retention are an important focus. Gift cards and rewards for frequent spending are great starting points as these encourage customers to return to shop in the future. Leading brands have embraced gamification like loyalty points and goals to further enhance the customer experience.

To thrive in the rapidly changing online world, eCommerce small businesses must adapt and evolve in order to stay relevant. Ultimately, it’s about creating a holistic approach to eCommerce that sees all your marketing channels seamlessly working together to drive purchases and build customer loyalty. Positive experiences will ensure your business stands out from competition so your customers will return, again and again.

The post 3 Ways the Future of eCommerce for Small Business is Changing appeared first on DesignCanyon.

Here are ways you can stay one step ahead of everything and everyone else.

Get A Handle On Your Shopping Experience

Your ecommerce shopping experience is where it all starts, in terms of revenue. Mess this up, and you don’t have a business. Spend some time on this – compare ecommerce platforms here.

Look for solutions that simplify the process both on laptops and on mobile. Solutions that are “one click” work best. More and more people are buying through their smartphones and tablets, but the shopping interfaces haven’t caught up. Some companies, like Braintree, are changing and innovating in this area. But, for the most part, shopping cart tech behind the times.

Do business with platforms that can integrate with the latest in payment processing technology so you don’t get left behind with them.

Difficult and lengthy checkout processes are what kill sales. Amazon.com provides the perfect model for this: let the customer enter his or her details once, and then let them pay with “one click” options.

A popular e-commerce platform is WordPress using a plugin called Woocommerce. You can create multi-product stores or single product stores like https://supergreentonik.com.

How To Use Context Intelligently

Data-based personalized shopping suggestions are going to be big in 2016. As many ecommerce sites are already discovering, people will spend more money when you make intelligent suggestions to them. Visitors are annoyed, however, when they view one product, and that product keeps following them around on Facebook, and other sites, for weeks and months on end, regardless of their interest level.

Retargeting is effective, but you have to take context into account.

That means, only showing ads in the proper context. if someone views a piece of fitness equipment on Amazon, for example, then they probably will be more receptive to seeing the same piece of equipment on fitness sites, but not on Twitter or Facebook.

Use Real-Time Analytics

Real time data lets you watch customer behavior, as it happens. You can see where you’re losing people, where people drop off your sales page, and thus where you need to make adjustments to that sales page.

Traditional analytics doesn’t allow you to do this. Yet, because time is of the essence during the selling process, you need that real-time data to avoid leaving opportunities, and money, on the table.

You shouldn’t completely discount traditional analytics, however. There are still many great insights to be uncovered by using a heat map tool, for example.

Use Video Marketing

Customers are still used to the retail shopping experience where they can look at, smell, touch, and possibly taste the product before buying. But, online, none of that is possible. Even the visual representations aren’t always convincing.

This is where video marketing comes in handy. If you can shoot video of your products, or give demonstrations on how they work, you’ll be a step ahead of the competition. Real reviews by customers and independent testers also helps.

Many businesses are taking this to the next level by introducing branded custom videos. These videos focus on education and entertainment, being both informative and entertaining to the viewer. Some of these videos, for example, consist of “behind the scenes” looks at demonstrations, product development, and marketing. 360-degree product rotations can sometimes partially or completely replace the need to see it in person.

Collaboration

Having the products your customers want is good. Letting your customer customize it to their liking is another. This is the next generation in product development, and it’s why sites like Etsy are so popular.

If you can incorporate this into your ecommerce store, you won’t have to guess at what people want. They’ll tell you. Better yet, they’ll make it themselves.

Going forward, this kind of customization is expected to take over the fashion and jewelry industries, where customization is already possible and scalable. But, it can easily ease its way into other industries, especially where 3D printing is a viable alternative to mass production.

Bailey Green has been involved in the business world all his working life, and has seen many changes as the industry shifts and grows with new tech trends becoming mainstream. He shares his expertise online by writing for business blogs.

The post The Evolution of E-Commerce: Innovations for Online Business Owners appeared first on DesignCanyon.

Public page or the landing page is arguably the most important page of any website. This is the first page a visitor looks at when he visits a website. A landing page definition also contains that it is created solely for marketing campaign purpose. The landing page design delivers the ‘first impression’ that for most users can prove the ‘last impression’.

A professionally designed landing page can improve your conversion rates. So what makes a great landing page? It takes an understanding of call to actions, color and the right offers to entice someone from being a passive visitor to actually interacting with your brand online. The following are some useful articles related to design resources and want to share with you here.

• Inspiring Landing Page Designs
• Tips to Redesign Your Small Business Website
• How to Create a High-Converting Landing Page
• Webinars and Blogs – The Best of Both Worlds

The post Professional Landing Page Design Examples appeared first on DesignCanyon.

Whether you are in a position of differentiating between CSS and HTML or you want to improve an already existing website, there’s one way that can assist you in taking your website design to where you want it to go, the next level, and that is tutorials.

There is today an immense amount of resources out there that can come to your aid in honing your web design skills. However, odds are high that you lack the time needed to scroll and master hundreds of such web design websites so as to get the one that offers the best training.

For a graphic designer, the following are some of the tools and techniques which you may want to master.

1. Basic HTML and CSS

It doesn’t get any simpler or more basic than these video tutorials that are also beautifully designed. This is the work of the dynamic duo of web designer Russ Maschmeyer and illustrator Jessica Hirsche. They have turned website their design tutorials into an appealing work of art.

An assemblage of all conceivable visual examples and very comprehensive explanations that have been collected in the form of tutorials become your guiding line, designed to simplify the laborious tasks associated with creating a new web page considerably.

This HTML & CSS Tutorials provides you with chance of choosing the direction and work style of your work, providing several ways, which to a certain degree could even become alternatives your previous work styles.

2. 1st Web Designer Video Course

This 3-part tutorial that also comes with handy videos essentially amounts to a one-stop shop for the majority of web design basics. It comprehensively provides a detailed walkthrough of the process of web designing and the tools you are going to need.

The first section of the tutorial covers aspects related to wire framing and planning, Photoshop basic tools and panels, as well as designing is required in Photoshop. The 2nd section deals with HTML tags, structure, and the basic CSS properties. The final part handles complete HTML markup and the application of CSS styles.

3. Ruby on Rails Tutorial

Ruby on Rails, among the most popular frameworks for web development is based on what is referred to as the Ruby language- Twitter, powers Basecamp, and GitHub, among many others. For those interested in planning and developing their own awe-inspiring web app, this free tutorial book on Ruby on Rails from Michael Hartl is strongly recommended.

Mastering the technique of building a modern web application is certainly a daunting task. Ruby on Rails has gone on to makes the process more fun and easier. It covers all you may require in building fantastic applications, and as you are doing that, you also get the support of a huge and friendly online community.

This tutorial certainly covers much more than just Rails, you in addition will learn the “ins and out” of the bigger picture related to web application development.

4. Tuts+ Network

The folks working at Tuts+ Network purpose to give you all they got. Working with 13 different network affiliates, the Tuts+ Network has been rated as one of the most-packed bags of tricks you can have in your arsenal of online web design learning.

The affiliates include the self-explanatory mobiletuts+, psdtuts+, webdesigntuts+, and vectortuts+. It also comes with a community-supported network. Basically, the Tuts+ Network provides tutorials on nearly everything you can ever imagine when it comes to matters of designing a web page.

5. w3schools.com

In general, among the tutorials mentioned in this review, w3schools may be deemed to be the one that assumes the most no-nonsense teaching approach. The w3schools tutorial provides very broad tutorials on the main web design programming languages. Such include HTML, CSS, SQL, PHP, JQuery, and JavaScript.

What makes the w3schools tutorials unique is that they have integrated, ‘do-it-yourself ‘hands-on exercises in every chapter, enabling you to practice what you’re progressively learning. You will get complete references regarding tags, events, URL encoding, color names, attributes, entities, character-sets, HTTP messages, language codes, and more.

This is the perfect web design solution for those professionals seeking to strike a balance between work, career building, and family.

6. Lynda.com

Lynda.com offers a huge instructional videos online library that covers the latest software, business, and creative skills. Taught by recognized industry experts and accomplished instructors, lynda.com is an excellent and high-quality resource for those seeking to develop their skills in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, HTML coding, VPS hosting, time management, and much more.

The courses have been segmented so that you have the freedom of watching as much or as little as you want. The courses has been designed for all learning levels such as Java test, and weekly, new courses are added. You can access the library 24/7-even from the majority of your mobile devices.

7. Cartoon Smart

Cartoon Smart was started in 2004 by the talented Justin Dike and offers a unique blend of paid-for and free tutorials. Whether you seek to improve your technical side or the artistic side, you are well covered by Cartoon Smart.

It has a library of high-quality training video that covers Flash, HTML5, iOS development, drawing, animation, illustration, and more. You also benefit from a great selection of starter kits, royalty free art, and templates.

8. Codrops

For those with some basic knowledge about building a website from scratch, Codrops has something good for you. You will not even need to put all that into use. Codrops have assembled an awesome basic and ready to use cheat-sheet of CSS styles that should certainly earn a key spot on your computer bookmarks bar. You will not need anything more once you have this tool.

Additionally, the web design tutorials library from Codrops comes with a vast selection of in-depth how-to posts that cover nearly any functionality you could need for building your site.

Conclusion

For a graphic designer, it is important to get a proper appreciation of which software and tools are suitable in any given situation. Different wed design situations will call for different apps if you want to get the best results, and at times, you may need to combine several approaches.

It’s true that learning the usage of different software and tools, and going outside the comfort zone can be challenging at times. However, it is that effort that makes the work worth it, for you will finally get better results.

The post 8 Best Tutorials for Designers appeared first on DesignCanyon.

5 Reasons Data Backup Must be a Priority

Losing data is frightening for many reasons. “One of the scariest parts of losing your data is that you might not know exactly what it is that you’ve lost,” explains Diskcopy, an industry leader in external storage solutions. “Unless you keep detailed records of everything you do on your system, it’s quite possible that you won’t even know something is missing until you need it, in which case you’re empty handed. This can have serious consequences in the business world.”

Most businesses don’t avoid data backup out of stubbornness or mistrust. The majority fail to act simply due to ignorance about the various risks and threats that abound. In order to enlighten yourself and prepare your business, here’s a look at a few reasons why data backup is necessary.

1. Audits and Tax Purposes

As you know, you’re required to keep files and business records for a number of years after filing taxes. And in the unfortunate situation that your business is audited, you’ll need these documents to prove your return is accurate and honest. Unfortunately, one fatal disaster can destroy all of these files. Don’t expect the IRS to have pity on you, though. They could levy a hefty fine.

By backing up your data, you don’t have to worry about complicated matters like these. Your data will always be there, meaning you’ll remain compliant, regardless of the situation.

2. Deadly Downtime

For many businesses, downtime spells disaster. In fact, one study from the University of Texas shows that 43 percent of companies that suffer major data loss never fully reopen in the future.

Regardless of the cause, you can’t afford downtime. By backing up your data, you can avoid costly side effects, and provide your customers with around the clock service.

3. Human Error

It doesn’t matter how well trained your employees are, human errors can and do happen. And while you can’t necessarily avoid all errors in your company, you can establish a safety net of sorts by backing up data and instituting solutions that mitigate the damages associated with these mistakes. While employee training is certainly important, you never want to be without a foolproof backup solution.

4. Malicious Cyber Attacks

In 2015, 43 percent of all cyber attacks worldwide were against businesses with fewer than 250 workers. So despite the assumption that massive organizations are primary targets, it’s actually small businesses that are stuck in the crosshairs. From vicious viruses and malware to highly sophisticated attacks, it’s smart to have a data backup solution in place.

5. Natural Disasters

Believe it or not, natural disasters and inclement weather can lead to hardware malfunctions and data loss. Things like floods, wind, and lightning strikes can’t be prevented, but you can protect your data by establishing a backup solution.

Now’s the Time to Take Action

You can’t afford to sit back and watch. While you may feel that your small business is protected against things like malicious cyber attacks, the truth is you’re never safe. In order to diminish the ill-effects of data loss and better shield your small business, it’s critically important that you invest in a backup solution soon.

The post 5 Simple Reasons Why Small Businesses Absolutely Must Backup Their Data appeared first on DesignCanyon.

Shopping Cart Technology

The shopping cart feature in the software needs to be advanced and intuitive. Your customers need to be able to easily purchase your products or services; further, the shopping cart should be easy to find, navigate and make adjustments in. If the shopping cart is too difficult to use; you could end up losing customers during the check-out process. Even if the customer still makes a purchase, they might consider not coming back because of the hassle. In conjunction with this, it’s best to use some sort of financial planning software too so that you can keep an eye on costs, as ecommerce software occasionally needs to be updated. If possible, test the features of the shopping cart in the ecommerce software that you are wanting to purchase. Some companies will let you have a demo copy of the software to help you in your decision making.

Easily Adaptable to Social Media

If there is one thing that all successful businesses with websites have these days; it is integration with social media sites. Your ecommerce software should make it easy to add shopping carts to different social media sites. The software should make it easy to put your products and services in front of your customers on a variety of platforms. Being able to use many income streams from different platforms is the key to success for any business in this day and age– It is especially true for those businesses that have websites.

Security

One of the most important things to look for in a good ecommerce software is security. Security should be a top priority for any website owner or business owner. Even if the business protection should be the main concern of the owners; the security of their customer’s private information is even more important. Oftentimes, a customer might not purchase an item from a website if there are no proper security measures in place while they are checking out.

Product Display

Another thing to look for in a good ecommerce software is the product display and description options. How your products are displayed is really important. When customers shop online, they don’t get the advantage of seeing a product up close and in person. This is why it is extremely important to have good images and descriptions of all of your products. Your customers should also have the option of zooming in and out of the product pictures as well.

Choosing the right ecommerce softwares and web design courses are very important for anyone who runs an online website and wants to sell products and services. The software that you choose should help you run your website easily and smoothly; further, it is also important that it helps provide a great shopping experience for your customers.

The post How To Choose A Good Ecommerce Software appeared first on DesignCanyon.

Although, setting up a blog or website seems like a relatively easy task, it’s not actually that simple or straightforward. You cannot become a professional blogger overnight. It requires a lot of patience and careful planning, especially in a country like India, where blogging, although common, is still not recognized enough for it’s ingenuity.

Therefore, it is important to take time out and get some things in place before starting your dream blog. Because lets be fair, it is better to put in extra efforts in the start than face recurring problems later. After all, we all want nothing but smooth-sailing with our blog.

So if you are a fresh blogger or someone who’s starting a new blog, here are 5 important things you should know about before you begin your journey towards becoming a successful blogger.

1. Learn Everything Possible About Hosting

The first thing that any website or blog will require is good hosting. In this regard, it is advisable to opt for self hosting instead of going for free blog platforms like Tumblr.

Self hosting will give you more control and freedom to create and manage your blog in your own way. Even when it comes to WordPress, it is better to opt for a self hosting WordPress.org blog, instead of a free WordPress.com blog.

There are several good hosting companies present in the market, so it’s imperative that you understand your requirements and choose the one which suits your needs the best. BigRock is one of India’s top web hosting companies and is generally considered the most reliable one of the lot. You can also make the most of exclusive BigRock coupons and save money on your hosting plans through bigrockcoupon.in

Another good way to earn some additional money on the side while hosting your website is to resell web hosting services to your friends and family. You can sign up with a cheap reseller hosting service in India and then use it to host your website as well as reseller web hosting services to others. You can easily make over $100 a day with reseller hosting.

2. Make Sure You Check Out All the Amazing WordPress Themes

Aesthetics and design are two of the most important aspects of any website. If your blog does not look appealing enough and appears dull and drab, it will turn away visitors, no matter how good the content on your blog is.

This is where WordPress helps tremendously. There are several beautiful WordPress themes that you can choose from, depending on the nature of your blog. And the best bit, a good number of them are absolutely free!

You can check them out here- https://wordpress.org/themes/

If you do not mind spending a bit to get the most attractive and appealing WordPress themes, you can also check out the Premium themes here- https://theme.wordpress.com/themes/sort/premium/

3. Power Your Blog With WordPress Plugins

One of the best things about WordPress is the availability of numerous god-sent plugins! You can literally take your blog to whole new levels of awesomeness by installing a handful of essential plugins.

These plugins will not only help in adding a variety of features to your blog, but will also help in running the blog smoothly and efficiently.

However, it is also important not to clog your blog with a lot of plugins, all of which may not even be relevant. Just choose the ones which you will require the most.

Read reviews and know all about what the plugin has to offer before getting it for your blog. This is where you can find all the best WordPress plugins- https://wordpress.org/plugins/

4. Get Your Blog and Domain Name Registered

The name of your blog will become your identity. In other words, your blog name is your brand name. If you have coined a unique and catchy blog name already, make sure you check that a related domain name is available.

If it is,register it as soon as possible! Remember, there are hundreds of bloggers in the country, who may be writing about the same things as you do. And it doesnt take very long for a good domain name to get registered. Before you know it, your potential name may already get taken away by someone else.

So make sure you head to a good domain name registrar like BigRock, and get your domain name registered as soon as you decide on a name.

5. Make Sure You Only Post Original Content

This is a no-brainer really.

For your blog to succeed, it is very important that your posts are original, unique and interesting. Nobody wants to read something that has been covered by other bloggers before. So make sure you have something new or more to offer in every post of yours.

Also note that, you cannot just use any images and post them on your blog. Make some effort to understand all the terms regarding copyright and plagiarism before taking any image from the internet and posting it on your blog.

Remember, content is king. The fresher and more interesting your content, the more readers and subscribers you’ll get.

Making a blog famous and successful is not an easy task. But if you manage to start with the right approach and the right planning, you will eventually get there. So if you want to become the next big blogger of India, these are all the things you need to ensure before embarking on your blogging adventure!

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