Category Archives: Web Design

Landing Page Design, mobile app, Responsive Web Design, Web Design, Web Development, Wordpress

Some Limitations of Unlimited Web Hosting

Posted on by admin

The word “unlimited” brings special joy on the face of any web master. Unlimited web hosting plans generally provide unlimited disk storage, data transfer capacity, as well as add-on domain names. They provide the web masters with an opportunity to host multiple websites at very affordable costs. This is the time, when most of you would go “wow”. But wait on before you shun the thoughts of opting for a dedicated web hosting plan, because there is much more yet to come.

Unlimited? Not Quite!

“Unlimited” as per the English language is something that has no end or limitations. But in the web hosting vocabulary, it does not quite have the same meaning. In reality there are always limitations to the unlimited! Look around, you will find that there are limitations to everything in this world. You can not expect unlimited bandwidth when there is a limited number of cables to transmit data, you cannot expect unlimited data storage in your computer as the RAM and CPU have their own capacity. So, unlimited hosting is only an industrial terms widely used in the web hosting industry.

Web Hosts are here to make money too!

Whichever web host it may be, each one is here to make some money. After all it is their business! To provide you good web hosting they need to purchase bandwidth pipes, computer servers, employ manpower, among other requisites. Thus, they cannot allow you to have everything at trivial costs. You can use unlimited hosting resources and host unlimited websites, as long as you are not overusing the plan!

Unlimited web hosting can then be likened to all-you-can-eat buffet. You can eat unlimited till you overeat! Each web host has a set of house rules and server limitations to control overuse by users. Such limitations could be in regards to RAM, inodes, CPU queries, number of MySQL databases, etc. Once the users get into the red zone, the web hosts would pull the plug or charge extra. This is how the web hosting services work.

Why opt for unlimited plans, then?

Well, first and foremost the unlimited plans are often much cost effective than other web hosting plans. Apart from their over-usage rules, they offer sufficient options for the web masters to be happy about. You can host many websites, store data, start new domains without spending anything, as long as you stay within the limits. Apart from this, the web masters have grown so habituated to the basic hosting features that they are now looking beyond. They are ready to spend some extra bucks, as long as the web hosts are reliable. So, the real worth of unlimited web hosting can only be enjoyed when you partner with a reliable host, such as Optra Host.

Two easy steps to choose the best unlimited web host

Now, the next question on your mind is about choosing the best unlimited plan from the best web host around. To attain this goal you have to follow these two simple steps:

  • Sign up for a trial hosting plan and check out the quality from the inside. If you do not like what is being offered, simply cancel the plan before the trial period ends.
  • Visit some forums for reviews or look through the client testimonials to understand the reputation of the web host. Such a practice allows you to test out your decision!

Optra Host can be your capable web hosting partner. We have a range of web hosting plans and services. Check it out yourself.

Landing Page Design, mobile app, Responsive Web Design, Web Design, Web Development, Wordpress

Planning Essentials for e-Commerce Website

Posted on by admin

A survey by ASSOCHAM-Resurgent India predicts that the count of online purchasers will cross 100 million threshold by the end of this year. And if we talk about the next year, the study further predicts that there will be 65% increase in online transactions in 2018. Are these not enough indicators to make you think about having an efficient e-commerce store for yourself? So, you have the products, the business plan but have you thought about the e-commerce website development plan? In most instances, business owners become over reliant on the developers and designers to come up with a great plan and later the concept. So, here are some essentials that help you create an efficient website for your business.

 

Set Website Goals

Planning for the e-commerce website needs some research and decision making on your part. You have to go through your product offerings and understand your ideal customer base. You have to also understand the specific requirements (which your website will fulfill) for the identified customer base. Next, you should identify your business scope – do you want to provide information or serve as a seller? Once all these important aspects are clear, you can march ahead with the development and design process.

 

Content Structure

Content always remains as a backbone of the e-commerce stores. You have to evoke interest among the target customers with plenty of interesting information and leave some incentives for them to return back. Customers should be able to contact your business without too many clicks. Once the site is operational always aim at keeping the content fresh and updated. This will make people choose your website over others.

 

Website Framework

As a business owner you are in the best position to decide on the number of pages your website will have. You should also plan for the tabs, menus, sub-menus and inner pages. These will help you shorten the planning process involved before web development begins and quicken the execution work. In business every minute counts, and by planning it out you save a lot of time before the go-live.

 

Design Essentials

There are some basics which should be followed during the designing phase. First of all the website design should be simple, consistent and readable. Light backgrounds with easy fonts are a good way to achieve this. Too many colors and elements are not needed while designing e-commerce website. Even if the website is meant for teens, it should not get too funky!

 

Easy Navigation

Navigation should be a breeze for the visitors. They should not have to click two or three links to reach an important area of the website. There should be no dead ends while navigating through the website. The tabs and menus should be organized keeping in mind the browsing psychology of the end users.

 

Another important aspect of e-commerce website development is to partner with only an experienced third party service provider. Keyline has years of experience in developing and designing e-commerce websites.

 

 

Landing Page Design, mobile app, Responsive Web Design, Web Design, Web Development, Wordpress

Why Manufacturing Organizations should use ERP System?

Posted on by admin

Survey statistics suggest that more and more companies dealing with manufacturing of goods are using the ERP software to streamline their business process. In fact statistics suggest an overwhelming increase in adoption rates from 18% to 32% in the last few years. Organizing things in a manufacturing company can be a nightmare. The multi-location and multi-department structure of such organizations makes them very hard to manage. Thank god, there was the ERP software! The software includes Logistics management, inventory management, production planning, production monitoring among other features. But there are many more reasons why a growing number of organizations from the manufacturing niche are choosing to run their business, the ERP way!

 

Platform for Inter-departmental information sharing

Manufacturing firms have multiple departments such as Finance & accounting, planning & control, manufacturing operations, human resource allocation, marketing and sales, purchase & vendor management, quality control, distribution, plant maintenance, etc. For the organization to run smoothly, it is imperative that all the departments are integrated into a whole. ERP software does this job remarkably well. It helps in getting real time data from all the departments at a single place. It helps the organizations overcome the horrors of having specific systems for each of the departments. The software allows all the departments to work in tandem with each other.

 

Enhancing and Streamlining Processes

Like all organizations, the manufacturing businesses are setup with a goal for business growth. But shifting from one software to the other, when there are new additions and alterations in the company structure is not ideal. ERP software has ended this discomfort for the business owners. The software is easily scalable and causes minimum operational disruptions while being scaled up. Though there are some basic controls in the inherent software, new modules can always be added to the system depending on the needs.

 

Easy decision making with real time data

The “one organization, one software” policy which ERP brings to the table comes especially to the fore when there is an important business decision about to be taken. As all the details, reports, and other relevant data coming from different departments and locations are accumulated in a single database, it can be easily analyzed and many projections can be drawn out of it. With all the key statistics stacked at a single place, business administrators can get loads of valuable insights helping them take better business decisions.

 

Better Customer Management

As the software is used by multiple departments, so all the customer feedback, complains and suggestions can also be seen and analyzed using this software. Availability of key customer data helps businesses address the customer issues better and quicker. This would improve the organization’s image significantly in front of their end customers.

 

ERP software brings in a world of benefits for the business owners. If you want a robust management solution for your manufacturing business then try Keyline’s ERP & CRM service.

Web Design

Recruiting is fun with modern day CV Management Software!

Posted on by admin

It is said the real asset for a company is the skill levels and dedication of their employees. It is after all the hard work of employees that propels a business forward. In the light of such comments, it is easy to understand the value of good recruitment. But unless you are a very large company, having a team of HR professionals especially meant for recruitment is not a good idea. Even when you have a team of HR professionals you are not always assured that the best candidates are rounded up for the interviews. This is where technology, in the form of the modern day CV management software can help you. So, let us read a bit more about such software.

 

Job Search has shifted online!

Today, the jobseekers are hardly seen walking up to your front desk and applying with the hard copies of their CV. That has become a practice of the past years. Each of the companies now has a specifically designed Jobs or Employment section where the applicants can provide their due details and upload their Resume. For the applicants, job searches have become all the more simple. But just ponder over the pressure upon your HR team. They have to scuffle through hundreds even thousands of resumes, depending on the fame of your organization. In such a scenario it takes many days of hard work for them to separate the relevant resumes from the others. CV management software simplifies this arduous process with its various options.

 

Easy Integration

Just like other modern day software, CV Management software also comes with the easy integration feature. You can quite easily integrate it with the earlier legacy software or even mails. This means all the resumes coming in for your vacancy would be neatly arranged inside the software. All you have to do is open the software and shortlist the likable candidates. This can significantly shorten the recruitment time.

 

Easy to use

The software comes with a dashboard that is simple to use. As you start using the software you will find how simple it has made your task of recruiting. You can search resumes based on specific skillsets, CTC expectations, experience levels, etc. Just decide on any criteria you want to search by, and the software will show you filtered results.

 

Passive Candidate Management

This is an important benefit of using the software. In the past there might have been some candidates you had liked and wanted to recruit. But the pieces did not fall in place. You can always draw out such resumes for the present job opening, by using the software. This again would save you much time!

 

With a robust CV management software by your side, the recruitments can be a fun affair. Try using Keyline’s very own custom CV management software and feel the difference!

 

Web Design, Web Development, Wordpress

MS Paint is No More!

Posted on by admin

All of us grew up in an era where Paint was always supposed to be a part of the Windows package. But all that is about to change very soon. In an official announcement, Microsoft has stated that they have decided to put to rest the ancient MS Paint. The new packages of Windows versions will not have MS Paint as a default. This ancient and much used feature will now be removed to the Windows Store. The reason sighted behind such a decision was the loss of interest in the feature. MS Paint has become an ancient pillar, standing in the middle of a much renovated list of default software in the Windows package.

 

But for most designers around the world, this announcement made them mourn the loss. Computer users were first introduced to Paint way back in 1985. It was a part of the first Windows version. MS Paint was in existence even four years before Photoshop. So, there was a time when Paint was the most advanced photo editor available. But with the coming of Adobe’s Photoshop followed by other advanced photo editing software, the glory days of MS Paint faded away very quickly.

 

Though, MS Paint was losing favor among the professional designers it remained an important part of the Windows versions. Many saw this feature as the easiest way to edit and crop images for their everyday requirements, when refinement was not needed. In fact, resizing and cropping of images could be done with much more ease in Paint than the other high ended photo editing software out there. Whether you needed a presentation or had some simple image refurbishing requirements, Paint was the go to choice for quick turnaround.

 

The removal of MS Paint also signaled the end of an era. Every designer or photo editor of this generation is sure to have started their journey by drawing some random images using the Fill Tool or other drawing features of Paint. Paint even offered a good early start for the kids, with its range of coloring and brush options. Ask any reputed designer of the modern times, and most of them would opine their first tryst with designing began with Paint!

 

So, while Microsoft would obviously replace the outdated MS Paint with their modern Paint 3D (having a whole lot of extra features), it was a hard pill to digest for millions around the world. In the following days, Memes went up on social media, they were supported by trolls and  other praises about MS Paint. These were nice gestures to bid good bye to a feature that has become an integral part of our lives.

 

RIP MS Paint, we will always miss you!

 

Web Design

How to Create a Website of your own in 3 Simple Steps?

Posted on by admin

No matter how prominent a location you have chosen for your business, it would not deliver the high turnover you have estimated until you go online. Today, the purchase of products and services has largely shifted to the online model, in such a time you need to have a website up there on the World Wide Web and that too in quick time. Lucky you stumbled upon this blog, as we are about to discuss these facets – how to build a website within the quickest time frame without a complicated process. Here it goes…

Step-I

• Choose your web hosting and domain name: To have an address on the web you need to have a domain name along with a capable web hosting services provider. Now, there are many free hosting services that would be a great lure for you. But they come with the condition that your business name would be followed by a web hosting services’ name in the suffix. This does not look professional, so you need to use paid services and use high speed as well as secured hosting along side suitable domain name.

Step-II

• Create a website with WordPress: Your web hosting services would aid in one click WordPress installation. All you have to do is login to your hosting account, click on “Visit my account”, select the purchased domain and create login details for your Cpanel account. While you are logged in the in the Cpanel, navigate through Web Application section and click on the WordPress icon. Next, click on the “Install Now” button and you can access your new WordPress website. After the installation is complete, replace www.yoursite.com/wp-login.php with your domain name and you are done!
• Choose a Theme/Template for Website: Once the installation is complete, you can find a clean version of your WordPress website. Though the clean look is good, but it does not have the desired customized appeal you would require for a business website. So, you need to visit the “Appearance” section of the WP back-end and then browse through the abundance of “Themes” there. You can customize thousands of free themes present there. It is mention worthy here, that the theme chosen should be responsive which helps the website have a similar look and feel across various devices.

Step-III

• Add or Edit Pages: Once the theme is installed, it is now time to fill your website with content and accompanying images. So, click on the “Pages” section of the WP sidebar and click on “Add New”. It will open up the WordPress editor, which resembles with a conventional Microsoft Word file. Name the new page (About us, Services, etc.) and start putting in the content and images.
• Create a Menu: Now, you would like to create a navigation bar for your website. So you have to simply visit “Appearance” option and click on “Menus”. Find the content page you have already created and then “Add to Menu”.
• Create Posts: If you are planning on having a Blog on your website, then you need to turn attention towards “Posts”. To integrate a Blog, visit the “Menu” and include “Blog” in it. Create categories for Blog by visiting “Posts” and then “Categories”. You are ready to start posting blogs!
• Change the Title and Tagline: Page titles tell the surfers what your website is about and they play an important part in SEO. So, the title should explain your offerings, include some keywords, and should be written in a natural way. Every page in your website should have an unique title. Taglines should also be added at the end of titles across all pages.
• Set up a Static Front Page: If you do not want your Home page to look like a blog, then you have to turn it into a “Static” page. A static page is a page which does not change like the blogs. The Home page will show the same content each time a visitor comes to your website and it will have the design elements you have included in the back-end. To set up the static page you need to visit the “Settings” option from WP sidebar and then click on “Reading”. Choose the static page you have already created and make it into “Front Page”.

And you are ready to start your business journey in the online world!

Internet Marketing, mobile app, Responsive Web Design, Web Design, Web Development

How do Digital Signatures keep you protected?

Posted on by admin

Even some years back most of the business owners across India constantly kept two pens in their lavish chambers. One was a black ink pen (meant for proof reading and other writing tasks) and another blue pen. The blue pen came into use as soon as a document was brought for authorization and signature. The business owner would firstly judge the sensitivity of the document, then use the blue pen to sign on it. The concept being, blue ink would make the signature Xerox proof. Then came the era of scanners, and blue signatures could be replicated as easily as Xerox copies! Now, the business owners got really worried. Their signatures could be replicated anytime and anywhere. So, they adopted the new technology of e-Signatures, often not knowing the details. Today, we are here to discuss some of the hidden facets of e-Signatures and digital signatures.

Difference between e-Signatures and Digital Signatures

Most of you would believe that both these terms can be interchangeably used to denote the same thing. But they are not so, e-Signatures are quite rudimentary in their functions, while the digital signatures have multiple layers of protection. This means, one can easily dupe you even when e-signatures are being used, but the digital signatures protect you from fraudsters.   E-Signatures are images created out of your original signatures, on a paper, which is kept stored at a remote server. But, they can be verified (when a question is raised) only by the service provider. There is no authentication certificate available with the signatory. While the digital signature come with a certificate ascertaining the validity of the signature in question. This leads to quick resolutions in times of conflict.   Another helpful feature of the digital signature is the emails and notifications users are sent when their signature is used. This again keeps you protected.

Shun two, use one

Till date, there are many business owners who have yet not come out of the black and blue pen concept. Most of them are still using two e-Signature services to keep themselves protected. One would be for everyday requirements (equivalent to the black pen philosophy) and the other would be to sign on legal and other sensitive documents. While, this may work, it may also cost you a lot more. This is why you should try and choose a single authentic digital signature service provider. With the right services, you do not have to worry about the security and there is also no need to pay extra.   As a busy going business owner, your signature is precious. It allows the smooth flow of work and makes sure that processes do not halt at your company. This is what the right choice of digital signature service provider can bring into your everyday work.

Web Design

Why Dedicated Hiring is perfect fit for Startup businesses?

Posted on by admin

So, you have just taken the first step towards a glorious business future, by launching a company of your own. Congratulations on that! One of the heartening things about having a business of your own is that you decide on the way you and everyone else works. Now that we have reflected on the glories of business startups let us also not forget the challenging road ahead. Your first task is to thwart some of the well established names in your niche and put a claim on their market share. For this to happen, you need to go online first. You might have already thought about it, you might have also listed it down. You need to procure a domain (with suitable business name), fast speed (and reliable) hosting, and then start working on the website. First comes the design, then development, followed by content and finally SEO. With your stipulated recruitment budget, finding an experienced (often a team of) professional for the specialized tasks is not the best way to go about it. This is where the dedicated hiring model can be of immense help. Let us see how you can reap benefits from this model.

 

  • Cost Factor: Compared to the other modes, dedicated hiring costs half or even less of the total costs you would have to pay to a full time or part time employee. Even individual service costs of web development, design, SEO or content development are much higher than dedicated hiring rates. Money-wise it is the perfect fit for startup businesses.

 

  • Accountability Issue: In the dedicated hiring model, one of the senior professionals works for you on a regular basis. You have the authority to assign work, supervise and ask for updates. It is just like having an employee, who is sitting at an offshore location and not under your direct payroll. You can even set goals for the professional, after mutual consent, and speed up the process.

 

  • Set-up requirements: With the dedicated hiring model you bypass many of the hassles in the design, development and marketing process. You end up saving all the money that would have been needed to purchase computers, software licenses and other working essentials. Everything is taken care of by the dedicated hiring service provider. With only one monthly payment, you stay away from many tensions.

 

  • Training needs: If you still want to recruit a team of in-house professionals, then let us point out another area of concern. With a stipulated recruitment budget, you will not be able to employ the best and experienced professionals around. So, you have to train them or pay handsome fees to a Consultant for guiding them. All these costs can be saved with the help of dedicated hiring model.

 

The dedicated hiring model opens up a world of opportunities for the startup business owner, so are you ready to embrace it now?

 

 

Web Design

How to design the perfect mobile app UI?

Posted on by admin

Mobiles have become the new age web access points and the apps have become the new scopes of earning sales. Given this, the goal of every business is to have an app of their own. But, the old adage of “put it up there and they will come” does not work with mobile apps. No matter which niche business you are in, you have to overcome stiff competition to find a place in the users mobile (through app downloads). But, that is not all, an app can be uninstalled as quickly as it was installed. So, you have to dish out a superior experience to the users, whether it is through the offerings or by easy to find information. This can be attained with the help of a good UI (User Interface). Experts opine that UI is the most decisive factor in making an app successful or just one out of millions. So, today we take a look through some of the best practices of UI design.

 

 

  • Clarity: Good UI designs do not confuse the users. They make it clear through language, visuals and well demarcated features. The best apps out there don’t have any user manuals, as they are so simple to use.

 

  • Familiarity: When you use buttons, features or call-to-actions that the users are quite familiar with, they do not get lost. You can use icons, symbols or even colors (such as Red for Exit) to convey the message. By making your app familiar you inspire even the first time users to go through all the features and options.

 

  • Responsiveness: The speed of an app is also essential for good experience. Messages that inform the user just what is happening at the back-end is a good way of keeping the users engaged. Suppose the user is making a purchase, just include a message which says “your purchase is being confirmed”.

 

  • Consistency: Just like any other areas of branding, an app should remain consistent in its looks and feel. Each new feature should have the same usage pattern, so that the user can apply interface knowledge from one page into using another.

 

  • Aesthetics: While it is not necessary, but users are more prone to use an app that looks attractive. A variety of color and patterns make the user’s time on the app very enjoyable.

 

  • Fat Fingers: Researchers believe there are three different ways in which people hold their devices while browsing. Keeping this in mind, you should not make cursors or buttons thin. Users should be able to click on the features and buttons easily, and to attain this you have to make the buttons thicker.

 

While the best apps in your niche would have thousands of downloads each day, there are others which get none. Which category do you want to belong?

Landing Page Design, mobile app, Responsive Web Design, Web Design, Web Development, Wordpress

5 WordPress Plugins to Improve multi-author websites

Posted on by admin

Today, business operations are getting more complex and proliferated than they ever were. Businesses are no longer restricted to a single venue and people playing a single role. To accommodate this culture, businesses need a robust back-end to power their websites. WordPress is the apt solution for multi-authored websites. It gives you the capability to assign roles as well as capabilities to different user profiles. The users can enjoy all the features no matter where they are located. Depending on the specific needs of the organizations, WordPress helps in managing the editorial flow, adding author profiles and improving the content organization. And to make a short work of all these tasks, there are some great WordPress plugins.

 

  • User Submitted Posts: If you want anyone coming to the website to be able to post content, then this is the plugin to opt for. User Submitted Posts allows the visitors to post any content with the help of a form displayed at the front end. You have to add a Shortcode to any page, post or widget and the form will appear appropriately. You can set controls whereby the content can be automatically posted or it can be saved in the draft for you to look through and edit.

 

  • Edit Author Slug: The plugin removes some of the annoying aspects with multi-author websites. WordPress by default will create a Permalink for any author (such as http://www.yoursite.com/author/username/), but with the help of Edit Author Slug you can customize this Permalink (such as http://www.yoursite.com/staff/sam-lewis/). You can even change the Permalinks based on the user’s role.

 

  • Editorial Calendar: This is one of the most popular plugins and there are good reasons for that too. It can help the editorial team in scheduling the upcoming posts by displaying them in the form of a handy calendar. The calendar comes with drag-and-drop feature, where you can switch posts, edit them and do other tasks from a single screen.

 

  • Post Status Notifications: One of the leading issues with multi-author sites is that the main administrators have to log in to the Dashboard to see if any other author has added a new draft. The Post Status Notifications addresses this situation. It sends out email notifications to the administrators whenever there is a new draft added. Authors, on the other hand, can also be informed when their post is published.

 

  • Content Progress: The plugin provides an easy way to track the progress of a post. Any content goes through many stages – from writing, editing to publication. The Content Progress plugin allows flagging posts as per their progress level such as “Needs Scheduling” or “Add Media”. It can also detect empty posts. There is even a provision to post comments and feedback to a certain post.

So, have fun using these plugins to make an easy work of managing multi-authored websites.