The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence in the Digital World

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing the way businesses operate and deliver services to their customers.In recent years, we have seen a surge in the use of AI and in the below blog we will discuss the different uses in different fields like services that are based on customer interactions and in digital and software development spaces.

First: Customer Service

In customer service, the dependence is now on automated conversation drivers: Chatbots! Chatbots are becoming a common feature on many websites and social media platforms. They use natural language processing (NLP) to understand and respond to customer inquiries, freeing up human customer service representatives to handle more complex tasks.

Second: The Digital Space 

In addition to customer service, businesses are also using AI to improve their online presence. From image and content creation to a seamless user experience, AI is the driving force behind many digital innovations. These AI-powered tools can create unique and engaging content for social media and websites, saving businesses time and resources. For example, a fashion retailer might use an AI-powered tool to generate product descriptions and social media posts featuring their latest styles. This not only saves the retailer time, but also ensures that the content being shared is fresh and relevant to their audience.

Third: The Development Space

Another way businesses are using AI is through the development of innovative tools and softwares. These AI-powered solutions can automate tasks, improve decision-making, and even generate new ideas. For example, a marketing agency might use an AI-powered tool to analyze customer data and generate targeted ad campaigns. This not only saves the agency time, but also helps to increase the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.

The bottom line is, using  AI in business has the potential to boost personalization, electrify creation, and deliver a faultless experience for customers:

  • Personalization:

    By gathering data on customer preferences and behaviors, businesses can create personalized experiences that keep customers coming back for more. 

  • Electrifying Creation:

    AI-powered content and image generators can help businesses produce unique and engaging material, saving time and resources. 

  • Faultless Experiences:

    And by predicting customer needs and proactively addressing any potential issues, businesses can deliver a faultless experience that leads to higher levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty.

In conclusion, the integration of AI into business operations is driving the revolutionization of the digital landscape. From customer service to content creation and beyond, AI is delivering outstanding outcomes for businesses looking to improve their digital offerings and stay ahead of the competition.

Author: ChatGPT

Editor: AddBloom

January 18, 2023 AI, Blog, Digital Content Comments Off on The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence in the Digital World

What Makes or Breaks the Online Experience: UX/UI Design

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” ~ Steve Jobs

Terminologies:   UX: User Experience         UI: User Interface

This is the ideal equation that summarizes the fundamental key points of any design system or product experience in the continuously expanding UX/UI Industry. It’s as simple as that! Now, let’s dig a little deeper into it.  

In this blog we will explore the meaning of UX/UI, its importance in designing solutions and the latest trends to keep up with. To begin with, visualize a user/consumer visiting your website or mobile app for the first time while finding it difficult to navigate within the platform, complaining about slow tabs and unclickable buttons; without thinking twice, they will be out of your website/app in a matter of 3 minutes at most. First impressions are everything, and in this scenario, we haven’t exactly given the best impression right? This is why we are going to tackle the basics of UX/UI for you to avoid going through a bad review after your hard work.

So, let’s get started with the definition of these complementary roles in simpler terms. What is UX/UI?

User experience (UX) is the experience that a user goes through as they interact with every aspect of your website or app. User interface (UI), on the other hand, is the series of screens, pages, and visual elements (buttons and icons) that enable the user to interact with your website or app. That is:

UX is focused on the journey of the user using your website or app, was the goal achieved? 

UI is focused on how the website or app looks and feels, was the visual appeal attractive enough to the user’s eyes?

After explaining what UX/UI design means by definition, what is the importance of a good UX/UI design for business? 

N.B.  There is not one role without the other. UX and UI are different but complementary. One needs the other in order to be completed. 

1- A good UX/UI design helps increase user engagement

This points out to the importance of a good website or app design that will drive more user engagement. This crucial interaction, if it is satisfying to the user, will turn them into potential leads. What is the role of a potential lead? They turn into customers thus bringing in more revenue for your business, as well as high brand awareness.

2- It helps build your brand

When you build a website or an app that gives users a smooth, convenient and easy experience backed with good visual elements and modern/trendy designs, they will be able to complete the action they were aiming to achieve. This journey will help in building your brand’s credibility and reputation, and will lead to constant growth and improvement of your business in the long run.

3- Good UX/UI design equals effective SEO 

An effective SEO strategy is crucial in aiding search engines to find and properly present your website to users online. This happens simultaneously with a smooth and easy website design. How? A well-presented website with no bugs and no glitches will top the rankings in search engines and in turn drive users right to it.

In Conclusion: A good UX/UI design consists of accurate study of the user market, understanding individual needs, making sure all pages are functional with minimum load speed delays, well structured responsive layouts, a user-friendly URL domain (all of that being the most crucial towards building an effective SEO strategy.) and an attractive exterior.  

After we’ve covered the definition and the importance of a good UX/UI design, we will now dive into four of the latest trends in 2022. What’s emerging?

N.B. Users are visual beings and will lean more towards these listed graphics below for better understanding of the platform:

3D Design & Animation

Used to add the flair to the interface, 3D design makes the visual experience more attractive and will boost the user experience all together.

Microinteractions 

Small interactive design details that play a role in thrilling users and keep them engaged. Microinteractions can be either user triggered or system triggered as in they move alone. Examples are loading bars, pull to refresh and ringing bell notification alert.

Visualized Data

Supporting text with visuals to enhance the experience, and to make it user friendly and understandable. Examples of visualized data are infographics, maps, videos etc.

Dark mode is taking over

Switching to dark mode has been an option in phones and apps for quite some time now, but designers are now turning to dark mode interfaces. That is for its ability to make the text more readable, amplifying the colors and details of videos and images and reducing eye strain, keeping the user engaged for a longer time.

We walked  you through important key points to have a better understanding of UX/UI design and the reasons why you should constantly update and maintain it. Now it is your turn to invest in it, drop us a message here and we will offer you the coolest experience!

June 17, 2022 Blog Comments Off on What Makes or Breaks the Online Experience: UX/UI Design

Influencer Marketing Today: Yes, No, Maybe?

With 92% of consumers around the world trusting recommendations from friends, reviews from strangers  and key opinion leaders over other forms of advertising, influencer marketing has become one of the fastest growing customer acquisition tactics today. How can brands set up appropriate influencer campaigns or optimize current partnerships to make the effort worthwhile?

 

What’s the buzz all about?

Influencer marketing is a form of word-of-mouth marketing relying on social media content creators to promote a brand and/or its products to their followers. To hire an influencer, a brand pays the influencer to provide a service. That payment is in the form of free products/services or different forms of currency.

Fostering a win-win partnership is the key of this marketing tactic. A brand’s approach attracts quality people to work with and the longer the partnership the more time they have to get familiar with a business and better represent it.

In 2022, brands are projected to spend $15 billion on influencer marketing. This is the same industry that was only worth $1.7 billion in 2016. How will companies spend these budgets to leverage the partnerships that are crucial to stand out in the digital world this year?

 

The six steps to success

Building a successful influencer marketing strategy requires a full understanding of what is beneficial for your brand and what it really needs.

Kick it off with 2022 trends

Keep your business booming with extra sets of hands by hopping on the emerging influencer marketing trends of 2022.

  • Surf through different platforms

Despite the fact that many content creators have a preferred social media platform, they usually work across many platforms. Audiences engage seamlessly across several accounts of successful creators. Which is why an integrated campaign that spreads through different platforms would be most effective.

  • Give affiliate marketing a try!

Influencers are taking over the marketing funnel moving beyond awareness towards driving sales. This is blurring the line between affiliates and influencers.

  • Audio and video still win the race

Content across the board is moving from images and text towards video and audio with no exception to influencer marketing. Keep that in mind when agreeing on content to be shared by the influencers.

  • Micro and nano influencers get all the love

Nano influencers are those with just a few thousand followers while micro-influencers are those with fewer than 25,000 followers. Brands may stretch their budgets by concentrating on those influencers that are strongly linked to their audiences.

 

Have we got you hooked on the idea of influencer marketing? Drop us a hello, we can help you build some successful partnerships.

May 11, 2022 Blog, Digital Content, Digital Strategy, Social Media Comments Off on Influencer Marketing Today: Yes, No, Maybe?

Social Media Trends You Need to Keep an Eye on in 2022

Get on board these booming trends to slay on social 

Emerging social media trends give you the chance to change up and  improve your content strategy. So why not grab the opportunity to experiment and connect with your audience in different ways to keep them engaged 

Let’s take a look at 8 trends to move forward with. Ready? 

 

  • Social Media Posts as a Form of Currency

A new payment method is on the rise, and yes – it is strictly social media based, basically a social currency. How does it work? For example, a burger place publishes a post on social media asking for users to share it on their own accounts, by doing so, the users are rewarded with a discount or a freebie as a post-to-pay technique.

This trend is a win-win, providing the business with cost-free brand awareness, tons of user-generated content and the customer would get something in return!

 

  • Augmented Reality Buzz

Augmented Reality, or AR, is being heavily used and implemented in several practices, and it seems like it’s not fading away any time soon. With the Metaverse hype, AR is on a continuous rise. Customers are more likely to prefer AR as the best way to try-on products, visit a virtual pop-up store and interact with brands. 

On social media, especially on Instagram, AR is being integrated into engaging filters and entertaining games. Take a look at the special Christmas game AddBloom created for POMI, where users use their face to move santa around and collect points.

 

  • Maturing Influencer Marketing 

Just like AR, influencer marketing is growing year on year.  Brands tend to use influencer marketing to expand their audience, generate new leads, and earn more revenue. By building strong relationships and partnerships with micro and macro influencers, brands will be able to continue building awareness, build brand credibility and trust hence driving user acquisition.

 

  • Short-form Vertical Video

Short is Gold. All the videos you see on TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts have one thing in common:  quick snack bite content that is engaging, lively and delivers an effective impactful message.  So turn your phone from landscape to portrait, and start creating content.

 

  • Social Commerce

The easy, fast and efficient way to purchase products immediately, on the spot, without leaving your favorite page. This branch of e-commerce revolves strictly around social media – users would discover the product, purchase with just one click, and get the post-purchase support needed. So if you’ve got products to sell, make sure to set up Instagram Shopping if you’re in an eligible market.

 

  • MEMES!

The trendiest form of entertaining content! Including memes in your content strategy helps in driving engagement and building communities. Brands can even build partnerships with famous meme pages to be featured and become visible to their follower base as well.

 

  • Personalization 

Generalized content doesn’t have the same impact anymore, brands should focus on providing users with a personalized experience based on their  interests . So don’t hesitate to address specific personas and most importantly leverage user generated content.

 

  • Paid Ads or organic posts?

With paid ads cemented as a must, moving towards ads that should be tailored to the users in a way that makes them indistinguishable from organic posts is now a MUST MUST. For ads to stand out they should fit organically on social media networks.

 

Your audience is always looking for snackable content, content that sticks and is distinctly engaging. Keeping up with emerging trends may be overwhelming, we know, but definitely worth it.  Drop us a message here to help you navigate your content strategy while you focus on your core business. 

March 18, 2022 Blog, Digital Strategy, Social Media Comments Off on Social Media Trends You Need to Keep an Eye on in 2022

Github Copilot: Can Companies Bid Developers Goodbye?

What our team has learned about the new AI pair programmer that would help them write better code.

If you’re a programmer, you might have rejoiced or freaked out at the news of Github Copilot, and if you haven’t heard about it, here’s all you need to know. Developed by Github, Copilot is a new plugin that assists programmers to write code with autocompletion; it auto-generates code based on the contents of a current file and the current cursor location. A technical preview of this new AI was launched in June 2021 and is said to work especially well for Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby and Go.

 

About Github Copilot: Is It Magic?

Developed in collaboration with OpenAI, GitHub Copilot is powered by the latter’s new AI system, OpenAI Codex.

To skip the search for answers on the internet that is crucial for most developers, this new technology allows them to explore suggested solutions to problems as they write tests and discover new APIs.  The technology adapts to the way the code is being written for faster completion of the required tasks and  understands significantly more context than most code assistants. 

OpenAI Codex has wider knowledge of code usage and generates code more efficiently because of its data set that is more concentrated in public source code. What is truly impressive about Github Copilot is that it’s not inserting snippets of code, it is in fact utilizing the data it has along with the input of the developers to generate novel code matching the one already written. It can also show programmers a list of solutions they can use as is or edit to meet their needs.

Source: https://copilot.github.com/

 

Auto-Generated Code: Is It Truly Reliable? 

While the idea of auto-generated code that is relatively custom to the code being written seems ideal, Github Copilot suggestions are based on the most suitable code included in its archive.  This was explained in OpenAI’s Codex paper:

“As with other large language models trained on a next-token prediction objective, Codex will generate code that is as similar as possible to its training distribution. One consequence of this is that such models may do things that are unhelpful for the user”

Github Copilot tries to understand a programmer’s intent and to generate the best code it can, but the code it suggests may not always work. 

 

Will It Replace Developers and Undermine Their Experience? 

Github Copilot can minimize the time developers spend on Google and Stack Overflow, it is a helpful tool that can optimize performance, save time and minimize errors. While relatively new, Github Copilot is getting better and with the help of developers around the world it can continue to grow and become more efficient. However, a capable and skilled pilot is crucial when being assisted by a copilot. Developers need to evaluate suggestions, revise their options and make the definitive decisions; for now, they’re here to stay.

Shoutout to our amazing pilots at AddBloom! Drop us a hello today if you want to launch your next project.

 

February 22, 2022 Blog, Development Comments Off on Github Copilot: Can Companies Bid Developers Goodbye?

6 Graphic Design Trends Invading 2022: The Past Reimagined for the Future

Stay up to date with the latest graphic elements to boost your social media visuals 

2022 looks like the year that is going to bring back the hype for graphic design and it’s going to be wonderfully creative! Apparently, 2022 will be focused on Nostalgia; the creative world will remix old design directions from the past 60 years with new ones, bringing back childhood memories such as memphis design patterns, bright color blocks and doodles. In addition to bubblegum pinks from the 90s and typography, trends will be based on expressive lettering and stately serif. 

Let us take a look at the top trends that are going to pave the way for this 2022 trip down memory lane.

 

1. 90s Nostalgia

The 90s are coming back in a variety of incarnations mainly based on Memphis design patterns, simple emojis and primitive internet frames. Designers using this nostalgic way will have to turn the clock back to the 90s when designing for a project that demands a sense of comfort with a touch of cool old-school. Examples for this style include social media and digital posters, product packaging and website banner designs.

 

 

2. Psychedelic

The psychedelic movement did not only emerge in the music industry, it also had an effect on different aspects of popular culture. The visual motifs of psychedelic art include curvilinear shapes, illegible hand-drawn type, and intense optical color vibration inspired by the pop art movement. Psychedelic designs work best on logo designs, social media event posters, packaging and video animations.

 

3. 2D/3D Mashup

The infamous trend that is making an appearance in every aspect of the digital world, 3D mixed with the retro 2D and paper cutout elements. This mashup will give creative designers the opportunity to show the best of both worlds with attractive and appealing visuals and animations. This is especially true with 2D/3D application on video animations used for stories, reels, social media ads and feed posts. 

 

4. Daydream Doodles

Since doodles can say a lot about the person behind them, designers this year are working on introducing a bit of their own, personal mindscape into the designs. Doing so can bridge the gap between digital tools and a human touch, creating designs that are extremely pleasant. Designers can use the doodle technique for fun and playful social media posts in addition to product packaging and website banners.

 

5. Expressive and Experimental Lettering

This technique is considered to be super cool. In fact, for 2022, we expect lettering that pushes the bounds of easy legibility, creating forms that are very expressive. For instance mismatched letter styles and mind-bending shapes are all on the table. This lettering technique mixes between abstract shapes and readable letters, aggressively catching the eye of the viewer both online and offline. To be applied in static digital graphic on social platforms, logos, landing pages and banners.

 

6. Escapism

The design with escapism relies on unexpected colors, beautiful settings and playful character designs. It is a fragment of the designer’s imagination portrayed in the design, that gives the viewers a similar experience with their own imagination. This trend can be useful for background patterns on labels and websites as well as eye-catching on-feed visuals.

 

Ultimately 2022 is all about indulging in new experiences in design and illustration with opportunities for  experimenting with fragments of the past and merging them with elements from the future, making way for wonderful designs and exquisite visual elements. 

Our team of social and digital media  strategists, and creative designers to walk you through this journey of creating your brand’s footprint.

Connect with us for a first hello!

January 28, 2022 Blog, Design, Digital Content, Social Media Comments Off on 6 Graphic Design Trends Invading 2022: The Past Reimagined for the Future
E-commerce and Open Source Platforms

E-commerce and Open Source Platforms:  An Overview of 3 Leading Platforms 

Considering starting an e-com business?  Well, you are not alone. 

Yes! The hype is real and is supported by numbers. In a recent study by Google and Bain & Company, the MENA eCommerce market is worth $8.3 billion with an average annual growth rate of 25%, growing slightly ahead of the global average. 

So, If you’re looking to invest in eCommerce, there are tens of open source platforms to consider. However, this blog is dedicated to the three platforms, that according to Builtwith.com make up 53% of  the open source market: Magento, WooCommerce, and Shopify.

Note to remember: Choosing is all about your needs because no platform is fool-proof for every business. Connect with AddBloom  so we can help explore your options on what works best for you.  

Magento

Magento is one of the more popular and trusted eCommerce platforms. Having been around since 2008, the platform is available for individuals and enterprises alike. 

Originally built for developers, so they don’t need to start a project from scratch, Magento requires an advanced level of PHP programming expertise. 


7 Key Highlights: 

  1. Magento is based on a PHP based framework 
  2. Flexible, customizable and SEO friendly
  3. Offers more than 4300 extensions 
  4. Comes with multiple extensions allowing easy integration to relevant third party apps with the ecommerce store.
  5. Available in a free version  (Magento Community Edition) and a paid module one, (Magento Enterprise). 
  6. Scalable in  the sense that it allows for implementation of long-term growth plans and can handle hundreds of thousands of products 
  7. Better suited for growing middle-sized businesses and enterprises.
  8. The cost of magento website varies  from a basic starting price of +15K and  goes up depending on  customizations, bells and whistles


WooCommerce 

WooCommerce is a self hosted eCommerce platform, designed for small to large-sized online merchants using WordPress. Officially released in 2011, the plugin is used by over 3.3 million website and offers an array of interesting features and capabilities that require intermediate PHP programming expertise. 


7 Key Highlights:

  1. The platform is completely free to install, but businesses still have to pay for extensions
  2. Has more than 2000 WooCommerce themes
  3. Can be used for non-physical products (services and subscription based businesses)
  4. Best single platform to run both an ecommerce and an affiliate WordPress under one roof. 
  5. The code is optimized for SEO
  6. Requires a hosting plan and SSL certificate 
  7. Easy, user friendly CMS


Shopify

Shopify originally a store to sell skateboards, has, since 2004, scaled to become one of the leading cloud based e-commerce platforms with more than 820,000 thousand merchants.  Available in three modules and pricing structures with different features designed to service businesses across all stages from starting to scaling.  

 

7 Key Highlights:

  1. Provides a powerful administrative office 
  2. Commands a monthly fee, with a percentage and a fixed fee per transaction
  3. Hosting is part of the actual service 
  4. Handles both the ecommerce and point of sale sides of the commerce process 
  5. Makes good use of social traffic – mostly from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest 
  6. Has 24/7 customer support via email, live chat or phone
  7. Offers thousands of customizable ready designs and  3rd party shopping integrations

So, what platform works best for you? The main thing to note is that the e-commerce platform needs to be chosen wisely to help you scale your business. Factors to consider include your business plan, budget, front and backend features among others.  

Our consultants are ready to walk you through. Connect with AddBloom  for a complimentary consultation. 

Our e-commerce web design teams are ready to walk you through and help select the platform that best suits your business needs.   . Connect with AddBloom  for a complimentary consultation.

December 16, 2019 Blog Comments Off on E-commerce and Open Source Platforms:  An Overview of 3 Leading Platforms 
AddBloom-Blog-Fake-News-Vs-Real-News

How To Spot Fake News On Instagram

Is it True? ! Is it Fake ?! That is the Question

7 Ways to Help You Distinguish between REAL NEWS Vs. FAKE NEWS 

When social media feeds are flooded with information, and Whatsapp becomes a tricky messenger from personal connections on groups, it becomes very easy to be confused between what news is true and what is fake.

And while fake news is nothing new, yet fabricating images, videos and voice notes is becoming more advanced, blurring the capacity to distinguish authenticity.  

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and other social networks are now a hotbed for Fake viral claims used with the objective of purposeful pushing publicity and propaganda to fool readers into thinking a piece of news is real, when it is NOT.

This is why we have put together 7 ways to help distinguish between what is REAL NEWS and what is FAKE NEWS: 

  1. Consider the source
    Is it safe to say that you are familiar with this news account? Is it legitimate and genuine? Has it been reliable in the past? If not, you may not want to trust it. If it’s a forwarded voice message, ask for the source from the sender, and try to double check the facts on credible news providers and how valid the content is. 
  1. Consider the photos
    Bogus news stories and posts regularly contain manipulated images, audios or videos that can be edited to mislead you. Sometimes the photo may be authentic, however, taken outside of any relevant connection to the subject at hand. You can search for the photo or image to verify where it came from, or look at trusted news sources to see if the story in hand is being reported elsewhere. 
  1. Check the date
    Some false Instagram posts/stories aren’t totally fake, but rather distortions of real events. These mendacious claims can take a real news story and twist what it says or even claim that something that happened quite a while in the past is related to current developments.
  1. Is this some sort of joke?
    Keep in mind that there is such a concept known as satire/parody. Normally, it’s obviously labeled as such, and sometimes it’s even amusing. But it isn’t the news. However, there’s the more debatable forms of satire, designed to pull one over on the user. These posts are also designed to encourage clicks and generate money for the creator through ad revenue. Yet, they aren’t news.
  1. Check your biases
    Confirmation bias drives individuals to take more trust in information that affirm their beliefs and discount information that doesn’t. The next time you’re automatically shocked at a piece of content concerning a person or an event you oppose, pause for a minute to look at it, and before sharing make sure you circle back and check the source. 
  1. Consult the experts:
    We know you’re busy, and a portion of this debunking requires significant investment and time. Be that as it may, fact-checkers get paid to do this sort of work. Between the several fact-checker sites, it’s likely at least one has already fact-checked the most recent viral case to pop up in your social media news feed or through any communication platform.
  1. Instagram/Facebook fact-check:
    Facebook and Instagram earlier have introduced Fact Checks through working with certified third-party fact-checkers. This is done either through individuals reporting content as “it’s inappropriate”, and “false information” or Fact Checkers identifying content and flagging it as such. The normal procedure that Facebook uses to treat flagged posts is making them appear less on  user’s news feeds. Pages or accounts continuously noted for sharing false content will be notified and will face restrictions.
    And lastly, both Instagram and Facebook introduced “false information” labels to prevent fake news from going viral. The new update informs users when a post contains misinformation. The labels will appear on posts and Instagram’s main feed. Users will still be able to view the original post, but they’ll have to click “See Post” to get there.

Always  remember: News readers themselves remain the first line of defense against fake news.

Written by Stephanie Matar
Social Media Manager

November 15, 2019 Blog Comments Off on How To Spot Fake News On Instagram
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