Latest Trends

Engaging web design trends for 2023

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Design is an integral part of any technological innovation. Technologies such as software and hardware run along design concepts, and these concepts help humans engage with the digital world. Design trends inform the future by shaping how humans interact with the digital world. This includes both new and existing environments. Design trends are an ongoing discussion that help predict how humans will interact with the digital world.

Design trends change over time as technology evolves. For example, the move from 2D to 3D gaming consoles introduced a whole new range of graphic design possibilities. 3D printers allow designers to create custom items without manufacturing constraints- creating a whole new way to engage with the digital world. These are just a few of the many engaging design trends that could shape the future of web design.

Many businesses use web design to communicate their values and find new customers. In particular, retail stores use web design to sell products to consumers. Websites for retail stores are primarily stationary two-dimensional spaces that look outdated within minutes of opening. However, some retail stores use cutting-edge web design trends to captivate their customers’ attention. For instance, ‘tablet mode’ transforms computer screens into tablet-like experiences for shoppers and employees. This makes it easy for people to browse products while maintaining product safety standards.

Design trends also have an impact on global populations. The global population grows and diversifies, presenting new web design opportunities. Designers must keep up with this by creating engaging experiences for new demographics of people. This includes individuals from different cultures with different socioeconomic backgrounds. It’s important to represent all different types of people within the global population. Doing so opens up new sources of potential customers for businesses alike.

Design is an integral part of engaging with any technological innovation. Technologies like web design drive future business growth through various design concepts- such as appealing to various global populations or creating custom experiences for customers and employees. Design is constantly evolving as technology does; keeping up with these changes will ensure future designs are relevant and engaging for modern audiences.

Video marketing & the art of visual storytelling

Posted on | by moocow

Nowadays video is a vital part of any marketing strategy. And at Moocow, our aim is to always be ahead of the game when it comes to advertising, branding and how to successfully market your business. Below offers a quick insight into some of the techniques and styles of video top marketers are using.

 

360° video

360° video has most of us mind blown, with viewers being able to visually take a step into almost any landscape imaginable. Observers feel as though they are part of the experience and using video on your web page allows visitors to your site to be more interactive. When it comes to marketing, many of us find that the adverts which are most popular are those with a narrative that hit home. More and more businesses are using video as a device to create a visual storyboard that the customer can identify with. By the end of 2017, video based websites will reach as high as 80%. Google VR View is a Javascript API that allows you to upload 360° videos to your website, a handy tool if you’re wanting to give your website audience a cinematic experience of their own.

 

Cinemagraphs

Cinemagraphs work by combining Hi-Res images with a video that loops a selected part of the image, making it animated. This makes an already eye-popping image even more magical, allowing viewers to see photographs come to life before their very eyes. These short snippets of animation are becoming increasingly popular, with many social media sites adding tools to create your own online, an example being Instagram’s Boomerang which allows you to upload and create a short repeated video clip. Marketing trends for 2017 are set to become more and more visual, with businesses wanting to create backdrops to their sites that entice and excite their audiences. Working hand in hand with the use of parallaxes and animated backgrounds, using cinemagraphs with your website could be just the thing to get your new website off the ground.

 

GIFS

Many are divided on the opinion of GIFS as either highly entertaining or highly annoying. But which is it? Although having to scroll through meme after meme when on social media might seem like a bit of a chore, you can’t underestimate the high rate of followers and likes often associated with such trends. When used correctly GIFS and other animated photographic techniques can be the perfect way to give your website that wow factor. You can use your own images or video clips that are relevant to your products and business brand, if you’re wanting to steer clear of anything tacky. And there’s plenty of online sites that can easily assist you in making your own GIFS in as quick as 5 minutes, so it’s not a lot of time out of your day to create something that could potentially blow up on your social media sites.

 

Our Best Web Design Blogs & Free Tech Courses to Tide You Over

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Companies across the UK are set to face dramatic changes in the way day-to-day business operates during the Coronavirus outbreak, our own team at Moocow included. During this time, we remain committed to providing you the best online advice, keeping you up to date on all the latest tech news, with recommendations for resources and tools that can be implemented from home.

First up, we’ve compiled a top ten list of what we believe are some of the best web design blogs on the internet, packed full of helpful tips, tutorials and freebies to get you going in all areas of design.

The Moz Blog

Founded originally by Rand Fishkin, The Moz Blog is one of the most popular blogs in the world of web design. The site offers leading advice on improving your website and design, up to date knowledge on the latest SEO advice, and insights into producing outstanding content using successful web marketing. The Moz team have also announced that during the COVID-19, their Moz academy will be free for all, offering access to over a dozen essential courses and training.

https://moz.com/blog/moz-academy-free

Design Bombs

An online magazine packed full with in-depth articles on coding, design and general web news. The site also offers design freebies, including icons and WordPress Plugins and Themes, helping you to get the most out of your website. Subscribe to their site and you’ll have access to a bunch of handy online tools.

Backlinko

Named by Forbes magazine as one of the best places for “next-level SEO training”and advice, the Backlinko blog offers you articles and tips on SEO and achieving higher rankings and traffic to your site. Formed by SEO expert Brian Dean, this blog is the go to place for SEO tips.

Vandelay Design

A blog dedicated to providing tips and tutorials for all your design needs. From coding and UX, to business marketing, blog design or photoshop skills, the site is filled with detailed insights on all design processes, offering extra tools, services and WordPress themes too.

WPKube

A blog dedicated to all your WordPress needs! WPKube is the best site for all your WordPress queries, the blog comes with how-to guides, tips and extras including WP themes, modifications and plugins as well as all the latest news keeping you up to date with what WordPress has to offer.

CSS Tricks

Created to offer advice for both amateur and professional designers and developers, this blog includes helpful hints and technique tips for using CSS, including code snippets and tutorials. As well as this, there’s a forum you can join to ask the coding community for extra help.

SitePoint

A great tech blog for anyone wanting to get hands on knowledge and experience with learning to code, using HTML5/CSS, JavaScript, or PHP. With courses and guides ranging from mobile app development to responsive design, it’s a great site with easy, learn-able advice and access to a wide community of coders.

Tuts Plus

The Envatotuts+ blog filled with courses and in-depth guides on coding, web design, photography, video, business, 3d graphics and game development. Includes access to lots of freebies, a forum you can access through the blog and really useful activities getting you equipped in all areas of design.

Hongkiat

A great design blog for designers and bloggers of all kinds, offering web design and photographic inspiration, useful tools and tips to get your knowledge up to date, including guides on using social media to market your business and getting jobs within the tech industry.

1st Web Designer

A leading UK blog focusing on UX design, typography, WordPress, JavaScript, and CSS. Great for seeing what’s trending in web design and getting you the low down on all the latest tools and design inspiration.

 

How to Create Great Video Marketing Content on a Budget

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Video marketing is a key part of any successful ad campaign. When you’re scrolling through content online, the competition is tough, and what sets businesses and brands apart from one another is their ability to stand out visually. Our team at Moocow constantly strive to be at the top of the ladder when it comes to web design, branding and how to successfully market your business.

Video is the king of content, with visual marketing being one of the single best ways to generate a greater audience to your site or brand. More than 80% of all internet traffic is video, with both national and small independent businesses opting to target their audience through video content on their websites and social media.

For many however, the idea of creating striking video imagery or cleverly put-together filmmaking is either not their strong suit, or perhaps do not feel they have the budget to expand. This is where a great new video editing platform can help.

Veed offers amazing features and tools to allow you to design fresh and unique video content, marketable to your own brand and style. Signing up allows you access to tutorials and support to help grow site conversions and followers, a creative space to store all your files, images and other online content, and offers simple and easy to use interfaces and editing tools to get your videos just how you want them. Packages vary in price, but include low cost and free options also!

If Veed’s not for you, there are several other online editing platforms available, so why not browse and take your pick? The take home here is that, whatever option you choose, be sure to make video content a centre part of your marketing strategy, and there are options out there to suit any business size or budget.

 

Our Top 5 Web Design and Marketing Podcasts

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We’ve researched the very best in web design and marketing podcasts to help you expand and develop your knowledge on all things relating to business, branding and design. And what better way to stay up to date on new developments and latest trends than easy to listen to podcasts that you can catch up on whilst travelling from work or from the comfort of your own home.

 

Shop Talk Show

Presented by Web Developers Dave Rupert and Chris Coyier, the Shop Talk podcast deliberates over various aspects of web editing and design, with handy tools and tips and advice on accessibility. Their live recordings have amassed followers of over 12K and are a great guide for those whose knowledge ranges from beginner to those already proficient.

Overtime

Overtime is Dribble’s own creative design podcast with interchanging hosts and topics focusing on branding, design and illustration. You’ll be treated to interviews with leading design directors and entrepreneurs, exploring themes in a fun, relaxed but informative way. Whether it’s general news and trends or more direct, specialist advice, the podcast makes for a great listen.

Let’s Talk Branding

The title here kind of gives this podcast away. Hosted by brand designer and strategist Stef Hamerlinck, the podcast takes an in-depth look at all aspects of branding, with interviews from industry leaders discussing the fundamentals of design strategies and branding for business. The site offers a large archive of expert advice that’s a must have for any business.

Edge of the Web

Aptly named “an SEO podcast for today’s digital marketer”, Edge of the Web is a brilliant podcast debating the ins and outs of digital marketing, SEO, and social media. SEO is often a tricky area for businesses surrounded by plenty of myths in regards to how it actually all works, so it’s at the top of our list for important podcasts to follow.

The Businessology Show

A focused business podcast covering marketing, development and design. Hosted by Jason M. Blumer, the CEO of Thriveal CPA Network, you can get up to scratch on great ideas for project management, business strategies, and advice for working within different markets and adapting to your work to different environments.

 

Improving Website Click Through Rates and Conversions with CTAs

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It’s the start of a brand new decade, and although New Year’s resolutions are often an unwelcome concern for all, perhaps this year we can focus on resolutions to help improve our businesses, instead of being critical of ourselves! New year, new website? And if you’re not looking to break the budget and are simply after some simple tips and techniques to help get your website up to scratch, then we can offer some leading advice.

For businesses of all industries and sizes, click through rates and site conversions are vital aspects to ensure the success of a sales product online or directing new customers to your company, website or social media page. CTAs (call to action) are a steadfast way of boosting both, and can be established through straightforward changes to your website copy and design.

The style and structure of your CTA’s can have a huge impact on how well they do. From our own analytical research from previous client websites, we can say that button-based CTAs improved click through rates by 40% at its lowest rate, and up to 90% with a combination of strategic copy and placement relevant to their branding.

A Call To Action is pretty much exactly what it says it is, it’s a call to your customers to take an action on your web page and send them in the direction of a particular product, page or area of information. CTA’s need to stand out, and they should be clearly placed on primary pages on your website, avoiding out of site areas such as footers. Make CTAs bold in colour, with colour schemes that match or compliment your own marketing style, brand or logo.

Just because they need to be kept simple and short doesn’t mean they can’t be creative. Use text that’s clever, funny or personal to your business style and remember to use a variety of “action words”. You want to make your audience do the task you want them to, but you don’t have to use the same basic words over and over, mix it up! CTAs also work even better when there’s an incentive or offer involved so be sure to include this as and when you can. It may not seem much, but with our help and a few simple tips, you can look forward to that long awaited boost in customers to your site and a surge in clicks and sales.

 

Using WordPress as a Platform to Generate Leads and Sales

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At Moocow, we pride ourselves on having the most up to date knowledge on the latest web news, tips and trends. With technology and techniques developing daily in the new decade ahead, Moocow are continuously working hard to help find new ways to develop your business.

We believe WordPress ranks above all the rest as a hosting platform. The open-source CMS platform works as an ideal model for creating a wide variety of sites for both small and large businesses, and is ideal for generating new leads and boosting sales. Below are a few ways WordPress can help you network better, get your site up to scratch and allow you to create new business opportunities.

Contact

Make sure your contact information is up to date, you can display your details and a map to your location using the contact form and map widgets. This makes it much easier for potential clients to be able to get in touch with you and see if your location is within reach if travelling.

SEO

WordPress offers a good deal of SEO support, in the form of tools, plug-ins and guides. These can help you optimise your site personally for search engines. Yoast SEO is a particular favourite amongst users, providing excellent content and SEO analysis and helping you track your performance.

Social Icons

Making sure your website uses icons that easily connect to your social media is also a must. Social media is one of the most highly used search tools when discovering a business or service. Social media widgets help create options to directly link you to your Facebook, Twitter and other social network sites.

CTA Buttons (Call To Action)

A ‘call to action’ button is always helpful in giving your clients an extra push to view certain areas of your site, particularly if you want to draw attention to a particular page or sale within your business. These buttons are also useful for adding “Buy Now” or “Search Now” buttons allowing customers to browse and purchase from your site with ease.

Testimonials

Having a testimonials feature on your site is a great way for potential clients to see reviews of your business. WordPress has excellent widget features that can create visually creative ways to present customer reviews instead of having an endless page of lengthy, written testimonials.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an eCommerce platform specifically designed for WordPress used by entrepreneurs worldwide. The entirely customisable platform is an extremely popular tool for businesses both large and small, making selling online a breeze and allowing you to create online checkout systems for all experience levels.

All I want for Christmas is the 2019 End of Year Designer’s Toolkit

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What better Christmas present can we offer you at Moocow than tips and tools to get your company up to scratch with the latest design software and technology know-how.

We’ve made it through 2019 and are soon to see in the New Year, but not before UX Tool’s end of the year Designer Toolkit Survey, comprising a breakdown of the greatest design tools and programs over the past year that designers have used worldwide. From the best in brainstorming, userflow, sitemapping and UI design, we’ll be sharing the top 7 platforms for seeing through your project from start to finish.

Sketch has been coming up top in everything, and is the highest ranked tool on this year’s survey for brainstorming, userflow and sitemapping, wireframing and UI design. It really is an all-rounder, and is a really clever tool to implement across all areas of a project.

Figma was another top choice, with its powerful design features it was another most used product for brainstorming, wireframing and implementing top quality UI design.

Whimsical was program of choice for userflow and sitemap tools, offering a range of practical and helpful collaborative flowcharts, mind maps, wireframes and sticky notes to assist in the demonstration and presentation of your project or business.

Adobe XD was another favourite for UI design. A powerful tool that can support in the production and planning of user friendly designs for websites, mobile apps, voice interfaces and more.

InVision Studio has been another strong contender for this year’s top spots. Self-proclaimed as “The World’s Most Powerful Screen Design Tool”, the clever collaborative design platform has in-depth prototyping and vector-based drawing capacities.

Draw.io has been listed as another of the highest ranked platforms for userflow and sitemapping. Although it may seem a bit on the basic side, it’s actually a very nifty and free online diagram software for creating flowcharts, process diagrams and network diagrams amongst many more.

Last but not least is Zeplin, for all your hand-off design needs. Zeplin acts as the perfect addition to help hand-off your designs and style guides with accurate specs, code snippets and assets.

We hope this acts as a perfect stocking filler for all the design geeks out there this festive season. Season’s Greetings and a very Happy Christmas from all of the team at Moocow Media!

 

The Internet Turned 50, But How Did it All Begin?

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As 2019 draws to a close, we look back on the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Internet, and how technology has advanced ahead of 2020.

The creation of the internet occurred in 1969, originally under the name ARPANET through experiments performed by scientists from UCLA, MIT and Imperial College London. The “founding fathers” of the Internet are largely recognised as MIT Engineer and Office Director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency, Lawrence Roberts, packet Switching creators Paul Baran, Donald Davies and Computer Scientist and UCLA Professor, Leonard Kleinrock. Roberts was the leader of the team, with the project’s creation originally devised for the United States Department of Defense.

The very first “host to host” ARPANET connection was made at 10.30pm on 29th October 1969 between UCLA and the Stanford Research Institute, which are over 300 miles apart.

The details of the night’s events have since been described in a UCLA article.

“SRI (Stanford Research Institute) programmer Bill Duvall, and UCLA student programmer Charley Kline were responsible for the first connection. Kline connected from UCLA’s SDS Sigma 7 Host computer (in Boelter Hall room 3420) to the Stanford Research Institute’s SDS 940 Host computer. Kline typed the command “login,” but initially the SDS 940 crashed. About an hour later, after Duvall adjusted parameters on the SDS 940, Kline tried again and successfully logged in to the SDS 940. Hence, the first two characters successfully transmitted over the ARPANET were lo.”

The first permanent ARPANET link and network was later secured in the following months prior to Christmas that year. “Internet pioneers” Bob Kahn and Vince Cerf went on to develop it into what we now refer to as the internet, however it would be another 20 years before the development of the World Wide Web and internet browsers. English scientist and Oxford graduate Tim Berners-Lee created both whilst working for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland between 1989 and 1990.

You may be surprised to think that so many years have gone by when it seems like only yesterday to many, it was an era before Apple was King, but for some, our age of great technology is all they’ve known. And since the 1990’s the speed of technological developments have only increased. Today things are very different, we now have easy access to PCs, laptops and smartphones, fibre-optic broadband is practically in every house, and we’ve had major developments in web design and social networking from the creation of open-source software, graphic user interfaces, Google, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

Why Hiring a Web Design Team for 2020 is Vital

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2020 is predicted to see the greatest increase in technological advancements in digital and online platforms so far, from shopping orders to social media, it is becoming increasingly vital for companies to maintain a strong online presence when it comes to marketing their business. With technology on the rise daily, companies will gain more and more opportunities to expand and compete digitally. Many don’t see the importance of having a website, and the idea of creating one can appear daunting so they either avoid doing it or hire someone who isn’t an expert.

You may be thinking why bother or why hire a designer? If you’re nervous at the thought of moving your company online, this article is here to tell you why you needn’t be sceptical. We are here to help make the transition as easy as possible. And with 3.8 billion people across the globe currently using the internet, there are so many opportunities available online to help you access new customers and clients. Marketers and potential clients use the internet to find companies they can trust, and having a well established site shows credibility.

All businesses need a website to successfully market their brand online. Without one, many customers and clients will feel this reflects badly on how up to date you are with running your company. And with the competition being high, you want a site that wows. If your website is poorly designed, it will directly reflect badly on your brand. If the site is old and outdated, it will immediately put customers off from visiting your site. A website always needs to be user friendly. Customers must be able to clearly see what it is your business does, access any information on products and sales, as well as be able to find contact details easily. If they are unable to do this, you are at risk of customers not being able to contact you, you could lose sales and be subject to bad reviews online and a bad Google ranking. In fact, whether you have a good website or not can be a deciding factor in whether your business fails or succeeds.

Relying on someone who isn’t trained in web design to design your website can not only leave you out of pocket with a poorly designed web page, it can leave you without reliable support or technical help if things go wrong. A lot of sites offering downloadable website builders do not offer you the advice or guidance to support a professional web build, they offer very basic designs at high prices, and many don’t allow support for video, RSS feeds and other links. Professional web designers are kept constantly up to date on current trends and developments occurring in the world of web. Knowledge on the latest news and developments enables them to directly create websites and programs specifically targeted to your brand or business. Professional web design is worth the investment when looking at high quality, custom built design. And at Moocow we don’t just design your website, our packages include domain and hosting, coding, optimisation, user-bility, research and strategy, development, SEO and UX, and eCommerce integration. Our professional design team provide friendly, consistent and ongoing technical support, and are able to offer advice and knowledge when something goes wrong. The benefits of having qualified developers help you make the move into going digital are huge. We love being able to watch the businesses we have helped thrive and expand their brand successfully. So if you’re yet to take the leap into creating a website for your company, or have been anxious about making changes to your current site, we hope our advice puts you at ease and helps you get a few steps closer to making the most out of your business.