Back in the Day: Where It All Started

Picture this: It’s 2003. Blogs are blowing up, but creating one feels like coding your way out of a labyrinth. Then, two developers, Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, come along and say, “Let’s make this easier.” Boom—WordPress is born.

At first, it was just a simple blogging tool. No bells, no whistles—just an easy way to get your thoughts online. Perfect for writers, hobbyists, and small business owners dipping their toes into the digital world. Fast forward 20 years, and WordPress is so much more than that. But we’ll get to that.

From Blogger’s Buddy to Business Powerhouse

So how did WordPress go from a niche tool to the platform for web development? Two words: themes and plugins. Think of themes as your site’s outfit—it’s how it looks. Plugins? Those are the tools in your toolbox, adding features like contact forms, SEO boosters, or full-blown e-commerce stores.

Here’s an example. Imagine you run a small bakery. With WordPress, you can choose a theme that screams “warm and cozy,” add a plugin to showcase your menu, and another to take online orders. All without hiring an expensive developer. That’s the magic of WordPress.

And then came 2018, the year of the Gutenberg editor. If you’ve ever struggled with formatting in Word, you’ll appreciate this. Gutenberg turned WordPress into a drag-and-drop playground, making it easier than ever to design pages. Sure, it ruffled some feathers (change always does), but now? It’s hard to imagine WordPress without it.

Why WordPress Works for Everyone

Let’s be real—business owners and developers don’t always agree on what makes a great website. But WordPress? It somehow manages to make both camps happy.

For the Non-Techies

You don’t need to know a lick of code to build something amazing. Drag-and-drop page builders like Elementor let you create stunning layouts with zero tech stress. Need a quick fix? There’s a plugin for just about everything. It’s basically website building on easy mode.

For the Pros

Developers love WordPress because it’s open-source, meaning they can tweak it, extend it, or build custom solutions. Need a completely unique feature? They can make it happen. And it’s scalable, too—whether you’re running a blog for 100 readers or an e-commerce site for 100,000 customers, WordPress can handle it.

The Community That Makes WordPress Special

One of the things that sets WordPress apart isn’t just its features—it’s the people behind it. From developers to content creators, WordPress thrives because of its massive, global community.

Imagine this: you’re stuck trying to solve a problem with your website. A quick search online leads you to forums, blogs, and even YouTube tutorials, all created by people who’ve been there, done that, and want to help. That’s the WordPress community in action.

There are also WordPress meetups, conferences (like WordCamp), and online groups where you can network, learn, and share ideas. These events aren’t just for developers—they’re for anyone who wants to get more out of the platform.

Why does this matter? Because when you choose WordPress, you’re not just picking software—you’re joining a community of people invested in helping you succeed.

Why Business Owners Love WordPress

Let’s talk about you—the busy entrepreneur or project manager who’s juggling a million things. You need a website that works, doesn’t break the bank, and doesn’t eat up all your time. WordPress checks all those boxes.

Cost-Effective (Without Looking Cheap)

With WordPress, you can start small and scale as you grow. The core software is free, and while you’ll need to pay for hosting, themes, and plugins, the costs are manageable. Plus, there’s a solution for every budget. Want a premium theme? You’ll find plenty under $100. Need advanced functionality? Many plugins offer free versions with optional upgrades.

Compare that to custom-built websites, which can easily cost thousands upfront, and it’s clear why WordPress is such an attractive option for businesses of all sizes.

You’re in Control

Ever had to wait days (or weeks!) for a developer to make a simple change to your site? With WordPress, those days are over. You don’t need to know how to code to update content, change images, or even add new pages.

Let’s say you’re running a seasonal promotion. Instead of scrambling to get someone to update your homepage, you can do it yourself in minutes. That kind of control is invaluable, especially for small businesses that need to stay agile.

WordPress vs. the Competition

Of course, WordPress isn’t the only game in town. Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify also offer website-building tools. So how does WordPress stack up?

WordPress vs. Wix/Squarespace

Wix and Squarespace are great if you want a simple, all-in-one solution. But here’s the catch: they’re closed systems. That means you’re stuck with their tools, templates, and limitations. Want to switch to a different hosting provider? Too bad—you’re locked in.

With WordPress, you own everything. Want to change hosting providers? No problem. Need a unique design? There are thousands of themes to choose from—or you can create your own. It’s like owning your home instead of renting.

WordPress vs. Shopify

Shopify is fantastic for e-commerce, but it comes with a monthly subscription and transaction fees. If you’re running a large online store, those costs can add up fast. WordPress, on the other hand, lets you build an e-commerce site with WooCommerce—a free plugin. You’ll still have hosting and other costs, but you won’t be paying monthly fees to the platform itself.

Practical Tips for Getting Started

Thinking about diving into WordPress? Here are some tips to help you hit the ground running:

1. Choose the Right Hosting Provider

Your hosting provider is the foundation of your WordPress site. Look for one that offers fast load times, strong security, and good customer support. Popular options include SiteGround, Bluehost, and WP Engine.

2. Pick a Theme That Fits Your Needs

Not all themes are created equal. Some are better for blogs, while others are designed for e-commerce or portfolios. Look for a theme with good reviews, regular updates, and the features you need.

3. Start with Essential Plugins

Plugins can do everything from boosting your site’s speed to improving SEO. Here are a few must-haves:

• Yoast SEO: Helps you optimize your content for search engines.
• WP Rocket: Speeds up your site with caching.
• WooCommerce: Perfect for e-commerce stores.
• UpdraftPlus: A reliable backup plugin to protect your data.

Real-World Success Stories

Need proof that WordPress works? Here are a few examples:

1. The New Yorker

Yes, that New Yorker. The magazine uses WordPress to manage its online presence, publishing thousands of articles for a global audience.

2. BBC America

BBC America runs its site on WordPress, proving that the platform can handle high-traffic, content-heavy sites.

3. Small Business Owners Everywhere

From coffee shops to consultants, countless small businesses rely on WordPress to build their brands and connect with customers. Whether it’s a simple landing page or a full-blown e-commerce site, WordPress delivers.

Keeping Your WordPress Site in Tip-Top Shape

A WordPress site isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of thing. Like any good tool, it needs maintenance. But don’t worry—it’s not as scary as it sounds.

Regular Updates

WordPress frequently releases updates to improve security and performance. Make sure you’re running the latest version of WordPress, as well as your themes and plugins.

Backups

Imagine losing all your data because of a glitch or hack. A backup plugin like UpdraftPlus can save you from that nightmare.

Optimize for Speed

Slow websites lose visitors. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify areas for improvement, and consider adding a caching plugin to boost load times.

The WordPress Ecosystem: Tools, Trends, and More

One of the best things about WordPress is its ecosystem. It’s not just the software—it’s the endless tools, trends, and innovations that come with it.

Themes and Page Builders

From minimalist designs to flashy layouts, there’s a theme for everyone. And if you want even more control? Page builders like Elementor and Divi let you customize every inch of your site.

SEO and Analytics

WordPress makes it easy to optimize your site for search engines. Plugins like Yoast SEO guide you through everything from keyword placement to meta descriptions. And with tools like Google Analytics, you can track your performance and make data-driven decisions.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a small business owner, a developer, or someone who just wants a great website, WordPress offers the tools and flexibility you need. It’s affordable, adaptable, and backed by a community that’s always ready to help.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive in and see what you can build. With WordPress, the possibilities are endless.

The post How WordPress Became the King of Websites (And Why It Still Rules Today) appeared first on Symphony.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Effective Content Management System

Creating an effective content management system (CMS) requires a clear understanding of your content management needs and the right implementation strategy. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating an effective CMS:

1. Identify Your CMS Requirements: The first step is to identify your CMS requirements and content management goals. This includes determining the type of content you will be managing, the number of users who will be accessing the CMS, and the level of customization and control you require.
2. Choose a Website CMS Development Platform: Choose a website CMS development platform that meets your business needs. Consider factors such as scalability, security, ease of use, and the level of customization offered.
3. Define the Website CMS Development Architecture: Define the architecture of your CMS, including the content hierarchy, the types of content and metadata, and the workflow and publishing process.
4. Web Content Management System Design and Implementation: Develop a design that reflects your brand, is visually appealing and is user-friendly. Then implement the design, making sure that all CMS functionality and features are properly integrated.
5. Test the CMS: Once the CMS is designed and implemented, it is important to test it thoroughly to ensure that it meets your requirements and functions as expected.
6. Train Your Users: Train your users on how to use the CMS, including how to create and publish content, how to manage permissions and workflows, and how to access analytics and other reports.
7. Maintenance and Support: To ensure the CMS continues to function effectively, provide regular maintenance and support. This may include updates, security patches, and technical support.

Crucial Components of a Successful Content Management System

A successful content management system (CMS) consists of several crucial components that streamline content creation, management, and distribution. One of the critical components is reliable and user-friendly content management software, which allows content creators to create and publish content on the web easily. A web-based CMS system is also essential, enabling remote access to the CMS from any device with an internet connection. Additionally, digital asset management software is vital to managing and organizing images, videos, and multimedia content. Lastly, enterprise content management systems are crucial for businesses that collect large volumes of complex content across multiple departments or locations. By integrating these components into a cohesive CMS platform, companies can effectively manage their content and drive growth in the digital marketplace.

Strategies to Boost Traffic with Your Content Management System

To increase traffic with your content management system (CMS), you can use several effective strategies. One approach is to use an automated content distribution system, which enables you to efficiently distribute your content across various channels, such as social media, email, and mobile apps. Additionally, digital publishing tools and platforms can help you expand your reach and attract more visitors to your website by making your content easily accessible and shareable. Another critical strategy is to use website optimization tools for SEO and marketing, such as keyword research and on-page optimization. Optimizing a website for search engines and promoting your content through various marketing channels can improve your visibility and attract more visitors. By implementing these strategies and utilizing the right tools and platforms, you can effectively increase traffic to your website and drive business growth.

How to Develop a Personalized CMS Strategy for Maximum Efficiency

Developing a personalized CMS strategy is essential for maximizing efficiency and ensuring that your content management system (CMS) meets the specific needs of your business. One approach is investing in custom-built CMS platform development, which enables you to design and develop a CMS tailored to your particular content management needs and requirements. This approach provides greater flexibility and customization options than off-the-shelf CMS solutions. Another critical component of a personalized CMS strategy is content repository development. By creating a centralized repository for all your content, you can ensure that it is easily accessible and organized and that it can be reused and repurposed as needed. By developing a personalized CMS strategy incorporating custom-built platforms and content repositories, you can maximize efficiency, streamline content creation and management, and drive business growth.

The post How to Create a Content Management System That Drives Your Business Growth appeared first on Symphony.

What is Software Analytics and How Does It Help Businesses Improve Their Performance?

Software analytics is the process of analyzing software data to gain insights into how it performs and how it can be improved. From a digital consulting perspective, software analytics is a critical tool for optimizing business performance and driving growth. By using software analytics to gather and analyze data from various sources, businesses can gain insights into their operations, identify inefficiencies, and make informed decisions to improve performance. Predictive analytics is an important component of software analytics, which uses statistical algorithms and machine learning to identify patterns and trends in data, and forecast future outcomes. By leveraging the power of software analytics, businesses can gain a competitive edge, reduce costs, and drive innovation in the digital marketplace.

Understanding the Benefits of Software Analytics for Organizations

Software analytics has a wide range of applications and can provide many benefits to organizations. One of the key benefits is data-driven insights, which enable businesses to make informed decisions and optimize their operations. By gathering and analyzing data from various sources, software analytics can help businesses identify inefficiencies, forecast future outcomes, and make data-driven decisions that drive growth and profitability. Other benefits of software analytics include improved productivity and efficiency, reduced costs, increased innovation, and enhanced customer satisfaction. With so many benefits to offer, it’s no wonder that software analytics is becoming increasingly important for businesses of all sizes and industries.

The Power of Real-Time Monitoring with Software Analytics

Real-time monitoring is a critical component of software analytics, providing businesses with up-to-the-minute insights into their performance and user behavior. By continuously monitoring their software applications and systems, businesses can identify issues and inefficiencies in real-time and take corrective action before they escalate. This not only improves system reliability and reduces downtime but also enhances user experience and increases customer satisfaction.

Performance analysis can be made possible via real-time monitoring, which enables companies to locate and resolve performance bottlenecks, accelerate system responses, and enhance overall performance. Another effective real time monitoring tool is user behavior analysis, which organizations can use to understand how users interact with their software applications, spot patterns, and trends in user behavior, and make defensible choices that enhance user experience and promote growth.

Businesses can get a competitive edge and improve their performance in today’s fast-paced digital economy with the help of real-time monitoring and software analytics.

Digital Consulting Strategies to Maximize Your Business Performance with Software Analytics

Digital consulting can give businesses powerful strategies to maximize their performance with Logitech software analytics. Performance optimization services can help companies to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement and develop data-driven strategies to optimize their operations. Business process automation is another critical digital consulting strategy that uses software analytics to automate routine and repetitive tasks, reduce errors, and free up resources for more strategic activities. By leveraging the power of software analytics and digital consulting services, businesses can gain a competitive edge, reduce costs, and drive innovation in the digital marketplace. With the right strategies, companies can unlock the full potential of software analytics and optimize their performance in today’s fast-paced business environment.

How to Choose the Right Software Analytics Platform for Your Organization

Selecting the right software analytics platform is a critical decision for any organization. To make the right choice, businesses should consider several key criteria, including the platform’s data integration capabilities, its ability to scale with changing business needs, and its ease of use. It’s important to evaluate the software analytics platform’s data integration strategy, to ensure that it can seamlessly integrate with existing systems and software applications. The platform should also be able to handle large volumes of data and be flexible enough to adapt to changing business requirements. Ease of use is another important consideration, as the software analytics platform should be accessible and easy to navigate for both technical and non-technical users. By taking the time to evaluate software analytics platforms carefully and choosing the one that best fits their needs, businesses can gain the insights they need to optimize their performance and drive growth in today’s digital landscape.

The post Maximizing Your Business Performance with Software Analytics: A Digital Consulting Perspective appeared first on Symphony.

Salesforce is one of the best CRMs for small and medium organizations. This platform will allow you to attract potential customers through an individual (personalized) way of the client. And the built-in intelligent marketing platform will allow sales via email, SMS, social networking and digital advertising.

Features of this system include automatic tracking of emails and meetings, work with social networks and e-mail.

Prices start at $ 25 per month per user.

Second place: Freshsales (or Freshworks)

Freshsales, now called Freshworks, is a popular CRM platform that is great for organizations of all sizes. It is easy to use, has a convenient information panel that provides access to manage contacts, reports, emails, phone calls and more. In addition to the intuitive web interface, you can work with the system through mobile applications.

Features of the platform include evaluating potential customers based on artificial intelligence to determine their priorities, recording appointments and phone calls directly from the platform.

The cost of using Freshsales starts at $ 12 per month per user.

Third place: Zoho

Zoho is a cloud-based SaaS platform that includes marketing and sales management features along with online productivity tools.

Zoho CRM can be integrated with other marketing tools previously used, it is able to find potential customers through social networks, segment visitors and provide support through built-in chat.

The platform provides multi-channel contact management (email, phone, chat and social networks), the ability to create detailed analytical reports. There are mobile applications for managing data from the phone.

Zoho has a free plan for three users, but there are really good features in paid tariff plans, which start at $ 12 per month per user.

Fourth place: HubSpot

HubSpot is the best CRM for small organizations looking for cost-effective solutions. This software allows you to create customer databases and manage new leads.

CRM has a user-friendly interface that allows you to see the entire sales channel directly on the dashboard. If you need more data, you can view all contact and sales activities, detailed reports, and performance based on user or team.

HubSpot has mobile apps for iPhone and Android, email templates, real-time notifications, email tracking, scheduling, phone calls, and more.

You can use this platform for free, but for more powerful features it is recommended to choose a paid tariff plan that starts from $ 50 per month.

Fifth place: Salesflare

Salesflare is a CRM that collects contact information about your potential customers from social profiles, emails, and other public sources, aggregates and manages that data. The system is able to automatically log all your appointments and phone calls at the same time.

Salesflare can also automatically sort and track the files that customers share. The system also knows how to manage sales and communicate the customer’s path in a convenient way.

The cost of the platform starts from $ 29 per month. There are also Pro and Enterprise rates for $ 49 and $ 99, respectively.

Sixth place: Pipedrive

Pipedrive features speed and flexibility. Using its unique conveyor control function, you can clearly see the entire sales process and view the entire path of the customer.

The service can be integrated with e-mail, generate reports, forecast sales. The availability of mobile applications will allow you to access CRM from anywhere. Another advantage is the integration of the service with a number of popular online tools, including the Trello task management service, Zapier integration solutions. Additional useful features will be data backup and encryption.

You will have to pay from $ 12.5 per month to use the service.

Seventh place: Worksection

Worksection is a versatile organizations management platform that will allow you to automate many of the tasks that arise when building customer interactions. The service is able to plan and track progress, work not only with customers but also with contractors, track tasks for them and their implementation, calculate the cost of work.

The convenience of Worksection is the use of a variety of visualization tools – from Gantt charts to boards (kanban views). Thanks to the large selection of templates for project management, planning all processes with Worksection will be available even to a beginner.

The service can be used free of charge, but only for a team of 5 people. The minimum paid rate for Worksection will be $ 29 for ten users per month.

And the last place: SalesDrive

SalesDrive is one of the few CRMs that not only has a Ukrainian interface, but is one developed in Ukraine. This means that the technical support process can be implemented much easier.

The service is able to integrate with many popular technology platforms, including not only Prom.ua, Rozetka, “Allo” marketplaces, but also delivery services “Nova Poshta”, “Ukrposhta” and Justin, as well as many site management systems: WordPress , Tilda, OpenCart, Horoscope.

Integration with Gmail and Ukr.net will allow you to set up email marketing and record all interactions with customers. The task setting system will help to build the processes of sales and marketing management, and convenient configuration options will allow anyorganization to work with this CRM.

The cost of working with SalesDrive starts from UAH 509 for 1-2 users per month. However, there is a 14-day period during which you can test the service.

The post The best CRM systems for organizations appeared first on Symphony.

With what achievements the global startup industry came in 2021

The most complete and relevant study of the global venture market is usually published in March by the investment fund AVentures Capital. This document, entitled DealBook of all countries, provides basic information on the state of the industry, from the main recipients of investment to the analysis of each round and each stage of funding.

The data of the report for 2021 shows that the past year was more successful for the global startup segment than the previous 2020. For example, only for the Ukrainian market alone, more than $ 571 million was invested in startups in total, which is $ 27 million more than a year earlier. Another record for 2020 was early funding – more than $ 161 million was raised in the seed and A-rounds, more than three times the 2019 figure. At the same time, the number of transactions increased sixfold. The main funds invested in Ukrainian youth projects were AVentures Capital, Genesis Investments, ICU, Dragon Capatal, Horizon Capital.

2 options on how to find an investor for your project

1. Submit request/application for an investment fund or venture 

In almost all countries in the world, there are different types of an investment fund or venture funds divided by the size or interests of investors that you can turn to. The easiest way of course is to turn to venture funds in the country where you live or where at least you know how the business is operating. Among common ventures are:

• Tiger Global Management (USA-based); 
• New Enterprise Associates (USA-based); 
• DST Global (Canada-based); 
• IDG Capital (Belgium-based); 
• Index Ventures (located in the United Kingdom)

Before applying to a specific investment fund you should keep in mind that every investment company invests in a specific type of businesses (or startups) and the decision is always based on different criteria. So you should conduct your own research and choose the investment fund that will most likely accept your application. And this is step one.

When it comes to the step two (in this case your company have been already exepted by venture experts as a legit company to invest in), your focus should switch to presenting business value (in other words – value proposition) of your idea or digital product or startup and; monetisation model; KPIs (for example the number and revenue of the products sold on e-commerce website)  and clear vision how to reach them.

In addition on one hand – focus on raising as much investment funds as possible. On the other hand – more investors means more money means higher KPIs and overall expectations. So you should be careful during this stage as well.

And a general tip: during all seed funding rounds it is important to cover all aspects of the business during presentation: explain technology and trends; be clear when it come to business processes on all levels; distribution channels, marketing and monetization; competition and market demand.

2. Find a so called “Business Angel”

To find a reliable business angel is not that easy – it is easier to say than make it happen. But this is one of the best options if your idea or startup was already declined while applying for an investment fund or venture. 

To find a reliable business angel we’d recommend to use a trusted online platform that offers a database of such type of investors. Among most common are following:

• Angellist
• Hyde Park Angel Network
• Tech Coast Angels
• SeedInvest
• Life Science Angels
• Wefunder

Despite ventures, business angels have personal interest in commercial business success, that is why they are not only investing but helping with business growth on different stages of its life cycle. 

If you have chosen this way to find investments – it is very important to attend special events to be able to build connections with future investors and seek new opportunities. And the presentation skills will remain the same as during the fundraising rounds.

The post How to find an investor: 2 ways to start appeared first on Symphony.

How to monetize an application?

To monetize an application, several solutions are available to you. The first, often the least used, is to offer a paid application in the stores. This diagram is irrelevant but straightforward since the downloads of a paid application are much lower than those of a free application. Therefore, the best solution is to opt for the in-app purchase, in other words, the purchase in the application after its free download.

Another great idea is to use SDK for desktop software monetization. By monetizing the non-personal data of users, you will easily earn money without risking anything and without any effort. Moreover, SDKs can be combined with other monetization methods, which is pretty convenient. 

Let’s now take a look at some other ways to monetize desktop app.

Free application and in-app purchase: the winning combo?

An in-app purchase is made within an application from a smartphone or tablet. This system allows the publisher of an application to enrich its software by offering new paid features. Even apart from e-commerce or mobile video game applications for which in-app purchases are very frequent, this type of purchase is now found in all kinds of apps.

The principle of in-app purchase is that users can download software for free or not and have access to basic functionality directly. But, to benefit from additional features, they have to pay. You understand the idea, right? Here is a concrete example to illustrate the point.

You can create a photo editing app and make it available to mobile users for free on iOS, PlayStore, or other software libraries. To monetize your app, it will be possible to make certain filters accessible only to premium users who have paid for greater access. Another application may request that you pay something for the removal of ads or for additional services. The possibilities are limitless.

The figures for in-app purchases?

Here are some numbers that should make your mouth water a little more:

• Over 50% of online transactions in Q2 2018 were in-app purchases.
• 7 in 10 millennials made more than one in-app purchase in 2017.

It’s fascinating, isn’t it? We also know that an incredible number of people spend lots of time on their devices, which is usually devoted to applications. However, in order for users to want to pay to get more out of your software, they must be really interested in it. To achieve this goal, do not hesitate to consult a team of professionals who will help you with development (if needed). 

What can be offered?

You can offer the following in your application:

• The subscriptions.
• Consumable purchases.
• Non-consumable purchases.
• The purchase of goods.
• In-app purchase by subscription.

A subscription provides access through payment to the content of an application or a service for a given period. Usually, subscriptions renew automatically unless the user cancels them. In some applications, the possibility of choosing a weekly, monthly, quarterly, or even annual subscription is offered.

For example, the Freeletics app is a virtual sports coach with daily training sessions in the form of a weekly subscription.

Paid apps

If your free application already works well, you can make a copy with something more. For example, you can make a “pro” version without ads, with additional content, preview content, or more regular updates. Make it paid – and users will definitely be interested.

Advertising

Another way to make money with your application is to put advertising on it. With advertising you can add a direct advertising banner to places that do not hinder the use of your app or go to the other extreme and add full-screen advertising videos that your users are forced to watch.

Hopefully, we were helpful, and now you know a little bit more about software monetization. Good luck!

The post Top ways to monetize apps appeared first on Symphony.

By tracking the implementation of KPIs, you can promptly respond to all changes in the project and coordinate further actions to develop the strategy.

What is KPI? 

KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator. Thanks to it, you can understand how successful your business is and its return from promotion. There are situations when the return is practically zero, but in general, the dynamics are positive. Don’t focus on payback; it’s a matter of time. If you do not track the metric, then you can miss this moment and just stop joining the business, which in the future could bring high income from site traffic. 

For the correct tracking of metrics on the site, various site analysis tools are used, among which there is one of the most powerful Google Analytics. At first glance, this tool may seem complicated, and the variety of different reports will simply scare users, but this does not mean that they can not be tracked. In order to understand whether your site is developing in the right direction, it is enough to look at a few key metrics.

Channels and referrals 

Google Analytics has “sources and channels.” Channel means where users’ flow came from, and the source gives a more accurate description and details.

When using the Google Analytics tool, you should pay special attention to the main traffic channels: organic traffic, advertising, direct user transitions to your site, etc.

Conversion by source and device 

By analyzing this indicator, you will be able to determine what needs to be improved and optimized in the work of the site so that it is convenient for users to use the resource from any device. Today, many users surf the web using gadgets, including making purchases and orders. 

If you see that most of the refusals come from mobile devices, then this is a severe signal to think about optimizing the site. It is urgent to analyze the site and identify the problem, which we should fix as soon as possible.

Time spent on the page 

The most important thing is to track how much time a user spends on landing pages. It is from this page that you get the user’s contact information. Landing pages usually contain information about a product or service, and their main task is to turn a visitor into a consumer and motivate him to buy.

If many users visit your landing page and spend a lot of time there, then this may indicate that the product is interesting to the audience. And if the indicators are opposite, then this gives reason to think about the content.

The effectiveness of some pages 

Indicators must be monitored not only based on the work of the resource as a whole. It is essential to look at reports of the work of individual pages. Using the data obtained, you can determine which traffic sources are the most effective and which pages are of interest to your users.

By analyzing the performance reports of individual pages, you can get answers to the following questions: 

• which pages users visit most often; 
• which publications are the most popular; 
• what type of content is most attractive to users; 
• which pages are converting visitors to customers. 

Analyzing the data obtained will help you adjust your strategy or change it radically to improve results. 

Traffic dynamics 

User activity can be affected by the time of day, day of the week, month, season, holidays, and other external factors. Analysis attendance by the time of day will allow you to choose the most suitable time to post new publications on the page or launch targeted advertising. By analyzing the data, you can adjust the work of an online consultant or send letters. 

Seasonality analysis will allow you to create the most effective ad campaigns. It is necessary to competently analyze the indicators of past periods to create a coherent picture. 

Customer acquisition cost 

Customer Acquisition Cost is made up of marketing and sales costs. This metric broadly measures how viable a business model is and helps avoid cost increases as the business expands. 

With the launch of new campaigns or new technologies, this indicator can grow, which is normal. 

Lead acquisition cost 

The number of conversions is an important metric. But to understand whether your business is profitable or not, it is important to know how many conversions you have on your site and how much money you spent on it. It is essential for every businessman to recoup the investment; therefore, by tracking this indicator, you can accurately determine the return on certain channels. 

Conclusion 

The list of KPIs that you need to pay attention to is much longer, but these seven are key, and by analyzing them, you can ensure the life of your resource. By paying attention to them, you will always be aware of what stage your campaign is at.

The post Top site metrics to attract more people appeared first on Symphony.

But because digital data is powerful for making decisions and improving business performance, it will only be beneficial if you know how to properly handle it. This is where modern BI concepts come in.

1. They keep you from drowning in data

The fact is, without business intelligence, you risk a real opportunity to drown in data. Just look at these numbers: According to CloudTweaks, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data were produced daily in 2015. Do you know how much a quintillion is worth? That’s 2.5 followed by 18 zeros. We’ve already entered the era of Zettabyte, also referred to as one of our buzzwords for 2019, and on a 2012 scale, the entire Internet contained only half of one Zettabyte in the data.

2. They give a lot of ideas

By leveraging BI concepts and solutions for your business, you can extract a wealth of insights that can help improve interagency and external communications, problem solving processes, online data analysis, financial performance, goal setting, marketing, and profitability. ,

3. Benchmarking is more accurate

By working with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) based on business intelligence, you will be able to set realistic goals. In turn, this will accelerate your overall success by helping you formulate strategies more effectively and work more effectively towards achieving key targets. By choosing and configuring the right KPI template for your business, you can measure your goals and progress at a deeper, more accurate level.

4. You can predict the future of your business

Another key concept in business intelligence is the ability to predict future trends. The easy-to-digest patterns and information provided by online business intelligence tools and solutions offer reliable means of predicting future results and developing plans to either prevent disasters from occurring or take advantage of potential trends in front of your competitors.

5. They provide powerful data visualization

If you can visualize your data with online data visualization, making it readable to the human eye, you can tell a story with your views and communicate your discoveries to others more effectively. This will enhance the success of your organization by making it more powerful than ever before. And BI solutions will help you do just that.

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The problem with specialized business intelligence software is that it stands like an airplane – and is only needed when you have a large, large company with the appropriate amount of data at your side. In general, now there are not so many specialists on the market who have tested such systems, have experience working with them and can plainly say what it is, why it is needed and what it will give after implementation.

The first and main application of business intelligence is to be able to build arbitrary reports head-on while heads of departments or members of the board of directors are conferring. One of my favorite examples is from which plant to supply vodka to stores: from a distant one (expensive logistics and 2 weeks on the road), but cheap in terms of production cost, or from the nearest (1 day), but expensive?

It is clear that you can dig deeper and answer in a week. But more often you need faster modeling and not hundreds of disparate reports, but a unified environment where a financial specialist can simply take and receive the necessary data without involving the entire IT department. There are also specific tasks that these and related systems solve.

We are not talking about specific solutions, but about what an enterprise can get from the implementation of Business Intelligence and related systems. It is clear that when data begins to be collected and analyzed, it is logical to use it in many places. The first main question is data collection, the second is the methodology of what to do with this data in general. Let’s start to figure it out.

The first is the preparation of reports. Everything is quite simple here: BI acts as a single data repository for all subsystems and knows how to combine them, process them in dependencies and produce results.

The second task is to process data and cut regular reports for all divisions of the company. From the most unusual thing – we used a BI system in order to receive data from population censuses, toss them, supplement, restore, build hypotheses, check, process and cut thousands of reports for all regions, cities and villages.

The third challenge is to speed up processing. Previously, the report was made once a month, and now in real time (this is a very, very critical difference for many areas of business).

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Roughly speaking, there is data, and there is a methodology for evaluating this data. And the model of the relationship of various components with each other.

We collect the actual data values ​​using classic Business Intelligence systems. For many, this is where BI ends – it is often a trivial problem to combine supply and production, because they are made in different places and systems.

Further, the data is driven into the model of the enterprise. The classical methodology – the same BSC – was created back in 1987, and has not changed much since then. In a sense, updates and forks are in stock, but the principle is the same everywhere. In short, the activities of the company can be decomposed into 4 components: the financial part, the client part, personnel and reserves (that is, personnel) and the development strategy. Even state-owned enterprises are assessed in the same way, only instead of profits they get into the given budget.

The beauty is in the detail. The fact is that when the company is watched by auditors or when something is discussed at the board of directors, a maximum of 20 aggregated indicators such as net revenue, turnover, etc. are usually assessed. It is these indicators that go to shareholders in reports and it is on them that recommendations are made. To evaluate not on feelings – but for yourself every day indicators in the form of numbers.

And BI allows you to take a report and not just get the “total” line, as is usually done, but see what each indicator is composed of. And then – to fasten a variety of things to the model, which are recalculated almost in real time.

The indicators cascade to people – and the motivation system is turned on. For example, if the shareholders decide that after 3 years the profit should be 20% more, then it is easy to build state A and state B. And a model of transition in 3 years from state A to the desired B. At the end of the year (quarter, day) you can see operating indicators and understand whether you are digging there or not. The metric model can decompose the entire transition process and there will be a strategic map of how to change. Each leader will have a plan to do.

Once again: there is a strategy in which it is specified at the macro level what to do. And there is the automation of operational activities – and we can work with it too.

If the Gann line is directed upwards, then we have a growing trend. If the price is below the Gann line, it means that the market is downtrend and you need to place sell positions. And vice versa. In places where the price breaks the Gann line, a change in the market trend can be expected.

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