Top 5 Benefits of Custom Website Development

In the modern world, it seems inconceivable that any business would operate without some form of online presence. And although many companies have realised the power of social media by using it as a marketing platform to present their businesses to the world, that’s no longer enough to set you apart from the competition. That’s because almost all enterprises now have a social presence – no matter how small. Enter websites. To really set yourself apart from the competition, the least you need is a website that displays your company information and that tells your potential customers who you are and what you do.

There are three main ways you can build your business website:

1. Website builder platforms (Wix, SITE123, 1&1, etc)
2. Open source content management systems (WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, etc)
3. Custom websites professionally built from scratch and tailored to your business needs

Each of these comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, though today I want to discuss the top five benefits of using custom website development services.

1. UNIQUENESS

When using a website builder or CMS software, you’re generally given a ready-made theme to work with unless, of course, you pay to have one custom-built, though this can be expensive. This theme allows you to place certain elements on pages in preset styles and this can create an illusion of uniqueness, when you’re really restricted to the theme’s limitations. So, although you’re creating something using your own vision, it will inevitably look very similar to the hundreds, or possibly thousands, of other websites out there using the same theme.

With a custom website, there is no theme. The architecture of your website is built to your specifications and does not carry any limitations or restrictions on how the site will look. This means that no two websites that are built, look them same.

This uniqueness will also set your site apart from your competitors, allowing you to build your site around the customer journey and focusing the design and development on the narrativethat your customers are most likely to follow.

2. SPEED

A lot of website builders and CMSs come with a lot of built-in functionality. This is to cater for as many different users as possible, allowing these systems and platforms to target the biggest possible customer base. The problem is that every website created using these platforms comes with all of this functionality, regardless of whether it needs it or not.

This bloatware, as it is commonly known, can not only increase the complexity as a user but also affect the technical structure of the site which, in turn, can affect the time it takes the website to load.

Website load times are critical for your business, and can be the difference between landing and losing a customer, especially since users look at websites on mobile devices using mobile broadband. It’s such a big issue that Google weighed in through the DoubleClick platform, publishing a white paper which indicates that over 50% of website visits are abandoned if a page takes longer than three seconds to load.

Custom building your website allows you to completely avoid unnecessary functionality and bloatware. In addition to avoiding unnecessary functionality, building each of the functions for your site allows you to optimise not only the functionality but also the design for these functions, further reducing load times.

3. SECURITY

Website security has always been a hot topic on the internet. However, major security breaches in the last couple of years (Ashley Madison and Equifax are two prime examples), internet and website security has become a major focus for search engines, as well as consumers. It has gotten to the point where Google has set Chrome to automatically warn users if they’re entering any information on a form that’s hosted on a page that does not have SSL installed.

Even before this year, Google had been pushing for a web that operates under constant SSL, alluding to the fact that they may consider using SSL as part of their ranking algorithm. This, however, never seemed to catch hold, so instead of punishing website owners for non-SSL, they have put the risk squarely on the shoulders of websites who accept any form data over non-SSL pages.

Using an existing platform to build your website, whether it is a website builder or an open source CMS, opens your website up to vulnerabilities that affect all other websites using these platforms.

This means that a vulnerability found on another site using that platform can be used to penetrate all other websites using that version of the platform. Using a company that builds web software eliminates a large amount of these risks through two simple processes.

1. They should always develop with SSL in mind. This will lead to fewer issues later, as the entire site should be built from the ground up using SSL.
2. Their source code will be proprietary. They may use open source programming languages (PHP, Python, Ruby, etc), but their code will not be released to the public. This automatically decreases the risk of a breach, as the only way to find vulnerabilities in a custom-built site is through persistent penetration testing, which can be resource- and time- consuming.

Another important point here is that a lot of companies that custom build websites also host these websites for the customer (like we do), so a lot of the time, the hosting environment will be optimised for the security of the websites and applications that are hosted.

4. SCALABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY

Having a website that can easily grow as your business grows is a pivotal part of taking your business online. Therefore, having your digital presence built with a system that is both scalable to accept larger flows of traffic and flexible so that it is easy to add new functionality to the existing platform is vital for any business looking to expand in the digital world.

Website builders are neither scalable, nor flexible, meaning that their lifespan for any serious business is very limited. Once the lifespan of a website built using a website builder is reached, the business owner will have no choice but to switch to either a CMS or a custom-built website.

Open source CMSs do provide a lot more scalability and flexibility, though these come at a price and generally require the employment of a professional or company to be able to manage the system. (We started using WordPress for all our projects when we started DQ Media, but, we found the limitations and resources required to scale WordPress projects, as well as adjust them according to our needs, was a lot more expensive than just building our own web projects.)

Custom building your website allows you to create it with scalability in mind. Also, because a project that is built from the ground up has less dependent functionality built in, it is more flexible to change as you do not need to work with unnecessary functionality to upgrade your site.

5. FUNCTIONALITY OPTIMISED FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Building a website shouldn’t only be a marketing and branding task. One of the biggest and most important reasons to custom build your website is the ability to optimise it for your business. Although you can do a lot with open source CMSs, most of the time getting the functionality to work in a way that is optimised to help your business can be a complicated and expensive process.

Omega Custom Software Trading is fully equipped to build you a custom website, from our five-step design process to our ability to create functionality that works for you and your customers. We listen to your needs and ask questions that your customers would, and use your input to build you a website that will not only look as unique as your business is but also optimised for you and your customers.

Web Development Trends in 2018

In web development, the saying “The only constant is change” seems to be industry-defining. Web development is changing every second and 2018 will be no different.

User expectations are growing and it is more important than ever to build digital experiences That are engaging, fun, and intuitive. Content needs to be accessible everywhere, in real-time, and, of course, on mobile devices.

In order to make that happen, new programming languages and frameworks are on the rise (Hello Vue JS!), extensions are becoming more compatible, and real time web apps are becoming more popular.

In order to keep up with what is happening, we want to show you the top 7 web development trends that are happening right now!

Happy Reading!

Progressive Web Applications

The world first heard about progressive web apps in 2015. The next year we met the pioneers of this technology, and in 2018 progressive Web Applications seem to have become the major competitor of native mobile apps.

Progressive web apps (or PWAs) are websites that feel like native mobile apps. Thanks to service workers, they can work offline, delivering an extraordinary user experience.

The users can save the shortcut to the website on their home screen if they use it frequently. As the most information is stored in the cache, the app loads instantly. Service workers run in the background and ensure that the latest information is cached every time the device is connected to the internet.

The ability to work without any connection is one of the major advantages of progressive web apps. PWAs are gaining traction and becoming a true web development trend. Some world’s leading companies prove the efficiency of this technology.

PWAs have fewer features on iOS devices since the platform doesn’t support service workers. However, Flipkart and The Washington Post have proved that the progressive web apps significantly improve user engagement and conversions on all platforms. The UX of the PWAs plays the key role.

After such inspiring examples, the world awaits the hype around the progressive web applications in 2018. Even though the technology is quite new, its prospects look very promising.

Online customer support

2016 was the year of chatbots. 2017 is the year of helpful chatbots. Since there are thousands of bots out now, the quality of their services will be the next web development trend.

The prediction is that 85% of all customer interactions will proceed without human assistance till 2020.

A customer service chatbot becomes a must on almost every website. Whether you are selling electronics, crocheted toys or software development services, you should have a chatbot.

The conversational interface has transformed the way businesses interact with their customers. Having a bot on the company's website ensures you are in contact with your client at any time, in any situation.

The customer service chatbot gives the client a feeling of interacting with a human. The bot is smart enough to answer frequently asked questions, to redirect clients to the needed page, to help them to choose the right product and even to proceed with payments. And all this without the round-the-clock customer support department.

In 2018 customers will prefer websites with appropriate online assistance. You can create a customer support department or get a chatbot that will guide a potential client through your website.

The second option will allow you to save time and resources, and optimize the working process. So why not to join the hype around chatbots?

Static websites

You definitely remember the concept of a static website from the early years of the World Wide Web. All the first websites on the Internet were static.

But then the era of dynamic websites began.

Websites became more functional and easier to update even for people with no technical background. At the same time, the development process became more complicated, as the extended functionality required communication with the server, so backend development got involved. Modern CMSs are the actual dynamic websites.

Nowadays, the web is returning to its roots. Static websites are becoming the web development trend of 2018 again. But they have been improved by static site generators which allow combining the advantages of a static website and a CMS. The most popular of them. There is also a huge variety of static site generators written in other programming languages. You can find out more and compare different solutions on the StaticGen website.

There are several reasons why static websites are back. They are faster, safer and cheaper. And they can satisfy the needs of different types of businesses. So, the prediction is obvious: static websites will experience a new reincarnation in 2018.

Single-page websites

Another web development trend for simplicity is single-page websites. This solution allows putting all the content onto one long scrollable page, removing any clutter.

One-page websites have a bunch of advantages.

They don’t challenge the visitor with complex navigation, multi-level menu, and tons of text. The essential information is all on one page. The user only has to scroll to it.Of course, the use-cases of single-pagers are limited.

This type of website will not suit e-commerce projects and blogs. At the same time, businesses can significantly benefit, presenting their services in a simplified and more engaging manner.

When visiting your one-page website the user consumes the information consecutivelyand doesn’t jump over the pages in the random order. You have certain control over the way he learns more about your company. Such websites are great for mobile use.

This type of website is definitely more user-friendly. At the same time, it allows to reduce the costs of the website: design is cheaper, development is cheaper, hosting is cheaper.

The single-pagers usually attract with extraordinary design, and powerful accents which bring an impressive increase in conversion. That’s why single page apps will gain traction in 2018.

Push notifications for websites

Mobile apps notifications turned out to be a highly efficient means of user re-engagement. And recently this idea has been implemented for websites and is becoming new web development trend.

The workflow looks quite simple: the user visits a website and is offered to enable push notifications. The user will then be notified of any changes on the website (like a new blog post or a private message), even after he has closed the tab with that website.

The major benefit of such a technology is obvious - you can keep the user engaged without big efforts. In some cases, push notifications can be a cheaper alternative toa mobile app. They deliver new information instantly and redirect the user to the website to find out more.

Push notifications beat emails, SMS and social media in providing up-to-date information. They are quick, come on time, and don’t require any complicated actions. They are just user-friendly.

Since push-notifications are just making the first steps in user engagement, you have a chance to become the pioneer of this technology in 2018.

Nowadays having a website is more important for the company than having an office.

Being ahead of web development trends means attractingnew customers, satisfying existing customers and encouraging older customers to return.

Are you just about to create or redesign your website? Contact us to get it done according to the last word in web development.

7 Reasons Why Mobile Apps Are Better Than Mobile Websites

What is the real benefit of mobile apps for enterprises? Let’s look at some statistics from the last year…

Not only are they using apps to access daily information, but their engagement with brands is likewise migrating to apps, with 68% of mobile users engaging with brands via apps.

Now is the time for companies to implement enterprise apps, both internally and externally, in order to increase engagement with customers and employees alike. However, companies looking to create apps are being faced with the question of whether an app is really necessary, or if a mobile website will suffice.

At Omega we believe that mobile websites are not enough to provide optimal levels of engagement and productivity. Mobile apps are essential for any company that wishes to stay ahead of the competition. So, what are the key benefits of mobile apps versus mobile websites?

1. Increased engagement and interaction

Mobile apps run within their own interface environment, which allows users to become more immersed in the experience. There are a number of reasons why this is the case…

Apps are purpose-focused

Users come to associate specific tasks with apps. Users prefer apps as they’re an easy-to-use version of a full website, or because they’re a simplified version of a longer process e.g. buying an item on a full website versus an app.

Increased scope for interactive experiences

Simply put, mobile apps allow for companies to develop more interactive ways for the user to engage with their content. Rather than reading blocks of text, or looking at static images, apps can integrate features will enable users to interact with components of an article or website.

Habit building

Mobile apps aid in the habit building process. Users associate tasks with particular apps and devices over time, becoming familiar with using a range of mobile technology. The ease-of-use and accessibility of a mobile app reduces the time required to turn a process into a habit.

This all leads to increased user engagement with your mobile app. Mobile sites, on the other hand, run on browsers, making them less present in the daily mobile behavior of users.

2. Instant access online or offline

All mobile apps can be accessed instantly by tapping on the relevant icon on a mobile device. This allows users to find the information they need quickly. Many apps can be accessed offline too, with updates being stored locally on the device until it reconnects to the internet.

For example, loading updated content onto your app then going offline to read it can be an incredibly time-saving feature of mobile apps, particularly for people commuting to and from work via underground trains.

Mobile websites, on the other hand, must be accessed via mobile browsers, and generally, take longer to load, which can be irritating for users. Mobile sites do not work offline either so that quality time is lost by users who are unable to get things done.

3. Increased SEO potential for your in-app content

There are a number of ways you can take advantage of SEO benefits to ensure that your app ranks highly on search engines. It is often thought that in-app content is overlooked by Google, but that is not the case.

App indexing allows search engine crawlers to index your app content via deep links. This means your app will rank just like any mobile website would, and in many cases apps actually rank higher than websites.

You can ensure that your app ranks well for SEO by checking that you have each of the following optimized on the respective app stores:

• App Title
• App Category
• Keyword Field
• App Description
• Developer Account Name

Secondly, there are a series of factors which impact the SEO of your app on search engines. They’re referred to as Dynamic Success Metrics, which can be summarized as:

• Download Volume
• Download Velocity
• Ratings/Reviews Volume
• Ratings/Reviews Quality
• Freshness
• Links (Google Play Only)
• +1s (Google Play Only)

4. Native features available for apps

Mobile apps also provide additional uses and features that are not available on mobile websites. The most significant of these is their compatibility with a devices’ hardware and features.

Mobile apps can take advantage of native device features like:

• Push notifications
• Tap-to-call/email
• Device vibration/ alerts
• Image uploader (camera)
• Instant and automatic updates

Mobile websites, in contrast, are very limited as to the amount of a device’s native features that they can access. They may contain some of the above information or features but the integration with mobile devices will not be as efficient.

5. Increased security with existing systems

Mobile apps can also easily integrate with existing security systems to ensure the highest levels of security. Data protection is of the utmost importance for organizations, but with device and system security you can safely access, share and modify data on mobile devices.

Mobile Device Management Software

Apps can use Mobile Device Management software, which can not only lock down apps but also remotely deploy or retract them, giving enterprise customers greater control of the apps on mobile devices and the functionality they offer.

MDMs are also often audited and meet strict security standards which are more secure than a standard website. At Omega we consider security to be of such importance that most of our partners are actually security companies.

6. Improved productivity and reduced costs

Perhaps the biggest benefit of mobile apps is that they can make communication between employees, training and access to resources easier and quicker.

Apps running reliably on devices are reported to lead to increases in productivity of between 20% and 40%, creating extra time that can be used to generate additional business and revenue. Apps are also extremely effective at handling and manipulating complex data, producing charts and reports.

Mobile sites, on the other hand, are generally slower to load and harder to optimize, particularly when it comes to complex data, which can inhibit productivity and make work flows slower.

7. More efficient business processes

Mobile apps offer instant support and information to customers whenever and wherever needed. This means that users can instantly access key information on their mobile device at the click of a button.

As mentioned, push alerts can also be sent to their mobile devices whenever new information or updates are available. Mobile apps generally enable users to do everything they could normally do on a mobile site, but faster and more efficiently.

Mobile websites, in contrast, require logging in in order to show a specific user’s key information, making this process slower and more difficult. Push alerts are also not available on mobile sites, which depend on traditional alerts such as email.

You can take advantage of the benefit of mobile apps today

In conclusion, the benefit of mobile apps far outweighs that of mobile websites. Mobile apps offer far more benefits, providing a rapid way for customers to access information on secure mobile devices.

At Omega, we offer lower-cost tools for the development of specially tailored apps, helping your company to stay ahead of your competitors. Now is the time to begin creating their own mobile enterprise apps.