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Waterfall SDLC: Pros, Cons and Best Use Cases in Software Development

The waterfall model is considered the most traditional software development method. Also known as the linear-sequential life cycle model, this SDLC methodology remains a useful approach for projects with fixed and clear requirements.

It's a useful model when you don't want to be involved in the development process. Simply provide your requirements, and we'll deliver the finished software product, along with maintenance support. The best part is, with this model, we can determine your cost estimates before the project begins. 

Symphony Software works with this model on projects that have to be completed to a predefined quality against a deadline at a given cost.

Here’s how we do it:

Different Stages of SDLC Waterfall Model

Your project goes through all phases of the waterfall model. Deliverables from one phase feed to the next stage. So, we can't move on to the next stage before the previous one has been completed. 

Stage 1: Requirement Analysis

Our team captures all your requirements. We brainstorm and analyze these requirements to ensure that the project is testable and feasible or not. Outcomes of the analysis phase should be the requirements understanding document (RUD).

Stage 2: System Design

Senior project members and architects create the design and figure out the hardware/software requirements. Finally, our team documents the entire design for the project. The architect creates a high-level design document (HLD) and a low-level design document (LLD) for the next phase.

Stage 3: Implementation (Coding Phase)

As per HLD and LLD documents, programmers write the software code making sure that all requirements are laid out. At this stage, testers perform unit testing of the code. Deliverables include coded programs and unit test cases with results. 

Stage 4: System Testing

In this phase, our testing team tests the software to confirm if the system meets all specifications provided by the client. Testers identify and report issues and bugs within the application. 

Stage 5: Software Deployment

We make sure that everything is ready, and then, we deploy the prepared system into the respective environment. The client receives the final product and ensures that it fulfills all requirements laid out in the beginning. This stage results in a user manual for the client. 

Stage 6: Maintenance

If clients face any bug or defect using the software, we fix all issues and deploy the updated code in the respective environment. We can always enhance the application to incorporate new features so that the system can scale with your growing business.

SDLC Waterfall Model: Pros and Cons

Advantages of the waterfall model are:

Technical documentation in the initial phase makes it easy to understand requirements even for new developers. 

It’s easy to monitor the progress because everything is clearly defined in the beginning.

No financial surprises because costs can be estimated in the beginning. 

You get what you need.

Well-documented results and user manual

Disadvantages of the waterfall model are:

Longer delivery time

Not suitable for products with changing requirements 

Not suitable for long, ongoing projects 

Planning risk mitigation can be difficult because risks cannot be identified in the earlier phase. 

When to use the Waterfall Model?

The waterfall model for software engineering is used when:

The client's requirements are clear and stable.

The application is simple and small.

All resources, tools, and technologies are fixed and available. 

The project has a specific timeframe. 

While most people are moving towards Agile and DevOps models, the waterfall framework is still suitable for small and simple projects. It can yield the best results for projects with limited budgets.

If you think that the waterfall model can fit your project, call us at info@symphony-software.com or 414-218-4644. We’ll discuss your project and make it a success together.  

https://symphony-software.com/waterfall-sdlc-pros-cons-best-use-cases

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Lean SDLC and Pros, Cons and Best Use Cases in Software Development

Minimizing waste and increasing the customer base is important for business development. But, many organizations do not realize the importance of waste reduction. This is where Lean Software Development can help. It is a method for developing software that focuses on reducing waste, speeding up product delivery, and increasing profit and customer value.

Symphony Software works with this model to minimize waste and to deliver the right products on time. Here is the process we follow:

Stages of the Lean Software Development Life Cycle

Stage 1: Project Planning

You will need to set the goals and requirements for your project. This will make sure that you are doing something that is worthwhile and going to resonate with the target users. Our team of experts will work with you to help you understand the requirements.

Stage 2: Iteration Planning

This is where the Lean model stands out! At this stage, our goal is to make something that showcases your idea and is valuable to your target audience. So, you can ask them for feedback and opinions. The customers' feedback will help to make corrections before starting the development process.

Stage 3: Making a Prototype

The real job begins now. Our developers create the basic ready-to-launch version of the software. It may not have every feature, but it will already show why your product will be worthwhile. This stage will create enough hype to validate the development that will follow.

Stage 4: Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

The MVP stems from the prototype stage but is significantly different. Here, we implement all the changes inspired by the feedback from the previous stages. In the end, the software will be good enough to use and eliminate waste. It will have all the basic functionalities and additional features with updates.

State 5: The Full Thing

From MVP, we aim to reach the final version of the software, with all the advanced features you want. This is the real moneymaker! The software will increase your revenue while eliminating costs on waste.

Lean SDLC Model: Pros and Cons

Advantages of LSD model

Elimination of unnecessary activity

Fits in well with Agile and DevOps

Empowers the development team

Delivering the product faster

Save time and money

Disadvantages of LSD model

Heavily team dependent

Requires proper documentation          

If you think that the Lean SDLC model can fit your business, call us at info@symphony-software.com or 414-218-4644. We’ll discuss your project and make it a success together.

Visit - https://symphony-software.com/lean-sdlc-pros-cons-and-best-use-cases-in-software-development

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Agile SDLC Model: Pros, Cons and Best Use Cases in Software Development

Timely product delivery and fast-paced changes in customer needs are two major challenges in the software development industry. That’s when the Agile SDLC model makes sense. It offers a flexible approach to the design and development of software.

At Symphony Software, we use popular Agile practices for large-scale and accelerated software delivery. This unique approach helps us guarantee greater productivity, lower IT costs, and fewer issues.

In this blog, we’re going to give you insights into our expertise and process for Agile software development.

What is the Agile SDLC Model?

Agile software development is a flexible, incremental and iterative approach to delivering a project. Unlike the waterfall model for SDLC, the agile method involves continuous releases by incorporating users’ feedback. During each iteration, the product is adjusted to new requirements with a focus on client satisfaction.

It defines a time-boxed stage called a sprint with a 2-week timeframe. Each sprint starts with a list of deliverables. In the end, developers and clients review the work while creating notes for future sprints.

Software development methods like Kanban and Scrum are popular agile models.

Stages of the Agile Software Development Life Cycle

Stage 1: Prioritize Projects

Teams scope out and prioritize projects. The agile approach allows teams to work on multiple projects simultaneously. We define opportunities, time, and work needed to complete each project. Accordingly, we assess the economic and technical feasibility of the project and decide which projects are worth doing.

Stage 2: Initial Sprint Diagram Requirements

In this phase, we work with stakeholders to determine exact requirements. We use user flow diagrams to demonstrate new features and how they fit into the existing system. We assign projects to the team, define timelines, and allocate resources based on this information.

Stage 3: Iteration

UX designers and developers start working on the project’s first iteration with a goal to launch the product at the end of the sprint. The product undergoes various revisions, so the first iteration might include the minimum functionality. The team can work on additional sprints for product expansion.

Stage 4: Release

The quality assurance (QA) team tests the software for functionality. Our agile team members detect and address any bugs and finalize the system with user documentation.

Stage 5: Ongoing Maintenance and Support

We deploy the software, and the process enters into the maintenance phase. Our software development team provides ongoing support to keep your system running smoothly and address any issue. We also offer additional training to end-users to ensure they know how to use the software.

Stage 6: Retirement

When the system becomes obsolete or doesn’t fit your evolved business model, it’s time to retire it. Our developers carry out remaining end-of-life activities and stop supporting the existing software.

SDLC Agile Model: Pros and Cons

Advantages of the agile model are:

Better responding to even late changes

Fast review cycles

Enhanced flexibility in releasing new, additional features

Rapid and continuous delivery ensures client satisfaction

Disadvantages of the agile model are:

Lack of emphasis on the necessary documentation

Senior and experienced programmers are required

Making upfront estimates for time and cost is challenging

Requires diverse skill sets

When to use the Agile Model?

The agile model for software engineering is used when:

The project involves a lot of changes and uncertainties.

Stakeholders and developers have freedom of time and other options.

It’s a complex and large-scale project.

Do you want to benefit from Agile SDLC in your project? Call us at info@symphony-software.com or 414-218-4644 to discuss your project now. https://symphony-software.com

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Methodologies Of Software Development Life Cycle

Methodologies for software application development have evolved greatly over time. Most of these methodologies have become obsolete and irrelevant. At Symphony Software, we use dominant SDLC frameworks, including Agile and DevOps to ensure that the final product fits end users .

Whether you’re a software development company or someone who needs customized software, it’s worth looking at SDLC methodologies chronically.

Here we go:

Old SDLC Methodologies

Waterfall - The First SDLC Methodology (the 1970s to 90s)

This linear-sequential model goes through all SDLC phases without overlapping. The next phase can begin only if the previous one is complete. This method tended to be lengthy and costly. So, technology leaders started seeking more flexible alternatives.

Prototyping Model

This software engineer method involves creating low-cost prototypes. Prospective users use the prototype and provide early feedback to project managers. Accordingly, prototypes are converted into the final product as per the client’s requirements.

Iterative Model

An early precursor to Agile, the iterative model involves a development team creating the first version of the software based on initial requirements. Then, more iterations are created as additional requirements are identified.  Each iteration goes through all SDLC phases, and cycles are repeated until completion.

Spiral Model

This model involves identifying risks before recommending an approach that combines different SDLC methodologies, including Waterfall and Iterative. The one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work here.

V-Shaped Model

Similar to the waterfall model, the next stage in the V-shaped framework begins only when the previous one is finished. However, it stands unique in that testing takes place at every development stage. Software testers verify whether every requirement has been met and validate the system for users and stakeholders.

Modern SDLC Methodologies

Lean Model

The Lean model for software development focuses on eliminating waste, making decisions as late as possible, and delivering results faster. Teams work to find ways to reduce waste at every step. At its core, the model empowers the entire project team in decision-making.  

Agile Model

The agile model combines an incremental and iterative approach. The software is released, tested, and improved at each iteration. Surprisingly, the agile model encourages fast failure because it's believed that failing fast and early helps discover minor issues before they turn major.

Scrum Model

The Scrum model is a popular Agile framework that emphasizes close and continuous collaboration. It involves special development cycles known as Sprints.

A Scrum Master manages and improves all processes and helps teams abide by Agile values for maximized productivity. Scrum Masters also ensure that the whole process and progress are transparent to concerned stakeholders.

DevOps

DevOps is basically a hybrid of lean and agile. In this model, both developers and operation teams collaborate to speed up and innovate the software development process. It involves continuous feedback, improvements, and the automation of manual processes.

Which one is the best?

Of course, modern SDLC methodologies have added advantages. But to make an informed decision, it’s important to dig deeper into these models. So, don't forget to read our next blog, "What is Waterfall and its pros & cons."

Got a project idea? You can discuss with us to decide which model can best fit your idea. Please contact us at info@symphony-software.com or 414-218-4644

https://symphony-software.com/contact-us-milwaukee-web-design-and-mobile-app-development

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Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Stage 1: Ideation and Requirements GatheringStage 2: Analysis and Planning Stage 3: Design & Prototyping Stage 4: Development (Coding Phase)Stage 5: TestingStage 6: Documentation & Implementation Stage 7: Maintenance Final Note

Custom software development is key to the long term success of organizations. A custom software system is tailor-made to the unique and specific demands of your enterprise. It scales with your business growth and maximizes the overall productivity. In addition, custom software is a wise investment that brings significant money savings in the long term. 

At Symphony Software, we take pride in our unique approach to custom software development. We use an in-depth software development life cycle (SDLC) to make sure you get what you need. 

Let’s take a look at our SDLC and its stages.

What is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

SDLC is a systematic process of converting an idea into a product(software) with quality and correctness. We have some ideas at the beginning of this process, like building a mobile application that allows users to order food. In the end, you want to have some users using it. 

Different Stages of SDLC

SDLC has different stages, and each stage has some deliverables. Each deliverable feeds to the next stage in the process.

This stage answers questions like “what problem do you want to solve,” “what are we going to develop.” For example, do you want to improve your customer experience and need a mobile app for your business? Do you need custom software to ease your inventory management process? 

The first stage of SDLC involves meetings between our project managers and clients for discussing their needs, goals and expectations.  

Once we’ve gathered all your requirements, it’s time to plan out the software.

Our project managers, designers and developers sit together to analyze the requirements and plan accordingly. We investigate the validity and possibility of these requirements into a fully-functioning software system.

Based on these insights, we plan requirements for hardware, operating systems, programming language, security, time and cost estimate, etc.

The design phase of SDLC is not just about visual design. It also covers:

User Interface: How customers will interact with the software. How the software will respond to user input.

Platforms: What will your product run on – deciding operating systems or consoles?

Programming: How to overcome coding challenges during the development stage?

Communications: What's needed for the software to communicate - a central server, applications, etc.?

Security: How to make software abide by certain security requirements? How to protect users' information from potential threats.

An SDLC that involves prototyping demonstrates the basic idea. The prototype is sent to stakeholders for review. Designers use the feedback to improve the application. Creating prototypes is less expensive than rewriting the entire code.  

The real work begins now! First, developers translate the design to a computer programming language. 

The entire task of software development is divided into modules assigned to various developers. Developers start coding using the decided programming language. This is the longest phase in SDLC. Developers also use predefined coding guidelines and tools like compilers, debuggers, and interpreters.

Developers deploy the software in the testing environment. Then, testers test its functionality and ensure that it works according to the client's requirements. All bugs or defects are communicated with developers. 

This process repeats until the software is bug-free and fits your business objectives.

Finally, the software system is deployed to the client's side. We provide users with the necessary training and documentation to help operate the software. In addition, we make sure that there are no environmental issues associated with the new release.

According to the changing environment and users, the system may need modifications or additional capabilities. In this stage, we provide constant support until users fine-tune the system.

These are the basic stages of the SDLC process. Depending on the SDLC methodology we use for your software development, there can be more phases. You'll learn about SDLC methodologies in the next blog. So, keep reading. 

If you’re looking for custom software development, or you want to digitize your business processes with a help of experienced team, please contact us at info@symphony-software.com or 414-218-4644

https://symphony-software.com

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Tips to Get Most Out Of Your Website as a Business

Websites are as common today as newspapers used to be in their times. Not to mention that we have a wide range of sites starting with personal blogs and ending with news and entertainment! Still, in this article we’ll only talk about the business website. This type of a web page is designed to present your business and support it in front of you possible clientele, and most businesses large or small, have one in today’s day and age.

Still, as a Milwaukee web design Company we often meet with people who don’t know what to do with a website once they have it. So, below we put together a list of tips and advice that can offer guidance when it comes to working via the World Wide Web.

#1: Be Unique

Yes, there are many platforms that allow even the most illiterate in technology to create a website! However, the focus shouldn’t be on how to make the site, but on how to show the uniqueness of your business. After all, why would a possible client choose your business when there are, at least, a couple dozen businesses like yours out there?

If you don’t know how to design a website based on your company’s goals and mission, hire professional web development services – the final cost will be a lot smaller than the risk you take by building a site through site-building platforms.

#2: Be Visible

Once you have a wonderful design up and running, it’s time for some real work. This means you’ll have to find interesting and ingenious solutions to attract an audience and direct people towards your products and/or services. Some of the best online stores managed to get on top because they had well-designed SEO campaigns and took advantage of the level of communication only the online space can offer.

First, you must make sure the content you create is appealing and targets needs you can solve. For instance, if you want to attract people that search for gardening tools, your content must be about gardening tools.

It’s also important to be present where your audience is – this means joining online groups, posting on forums, or even launching a guest blogging campaign.

#3: Be Engaged

Nowadays people want to know the companies with which they interact through transactions. Thus, you’ll have to be open for discussion and share your thoughts and ideas with your audience. And, the best tool for this is Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and so on).

The hashtag feature is extremely useful and it works on most social networks. This feature allows you to find people who want to talk about things that are somehow connected to your business. Continuing with the gardening tools example, such a company should look for people who like living in the countryside and love gardening or taking care of their decorative plants. These are the people that are most likely to buy from you.

Overall, when it comes to getting the most out of your website, it’s not just about the web development services you should employ; it’s also about your actions and what you intend for your business. If you are open and prove to your audience that you have something great to offer, people will come!

If you’re looking for custom software development, or you want to digitize your business processes with a help of experienced team, please contact us at -

info@symphony-software.com or 414-218-4644 https://symphony-software.com

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The Best Choice for your Business in USA

As a well-established and experienced Milwaukee Web Design Company, we know how important a great site is for business these days. But it’s not just about knowing how to design a website, the entire process is important. After all, most small to medium businesses can afford to hire a talented graphic designer to create a fantastic template. What it matters is the process that leads to the site and the process that happens after the site is live. And this is where you will definitely need our help!

Below we listed some of the services we can offer to help your business grow in the online world so it can develop in the real world. We also know that some business managers tend to leave online marketing and similar activities outside the budget. But, while this may seem like a good way to save money in the short term, in the long term, you’re just allowing the competition to fly by you. Even more, our web development services are tailored for small and medium-sized businesses so everything can be customized according to your budget.

Milwaukee Web Design – The Process

We are located in the Chicago area, and most of our customers are local, but we do work on projects that come to us from other corners of the world.

Now, once we take on a project, before starting the web development  process, we like to establish the flow of the business. According to the type of site the client wants (presentation, Ecommerce, or just a landing page) we first analyze the situation in the company. This way, we put together the natural workflow which allows us to create a customized solution, tailored to your unique needs.

This is the process that helped us create some of the best online stores in our portfolio and keeps our customers happy and satisfied.

Web Development Services

Our list of services is varied and this allows us to work on different types of projects. From app development, to custom software, to gorgeous-looking sites that impress the audience. Our team is well-trained in dealing with customers and we have professionals from all the important fields to help you out with knowledge and support.

As a custom software development company we know how important it is to create software that is unique to each business. We had many clients who started with using off the shelf software, but came to us complaining that they were losing precious time (and money) because the solution didn’t completely respond to their needs. This led to wonderful projects that allowed us to grow as a company and a team of professionals.

Marketing in the Online Environment

Our customers know and understand the importance of good advertisement in the online environment. And we understand their need of being promoted towards the correct type of audience in order to increase sales and make their brand known. After all, a site alone won’t do the job of a sales team – you need to put together SEO campaigns, create ads, and make sure people hear about and visit that wonderful site you just put together.

And we’re here to help! Our list of services includes customized SEO campaigns and professional help from our team. Even more, the cost is only a fraction you would pay a full-time employee and you have access to a wide range of knowledge and tools.

So don’t waste any more time looking for talent to help you manage such an important project! Visit our site and find the offer that suits your company the best!

,Know about our services at - https://symphony-software.com/services

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Best Web Practices To Grow Your Business Online

Did you know that 96% of Americans shop online? Still, in spite of this crushing number, we still have 29% of small businesses without an online presence! This happens because some business owners see the web process as an off-putting task that requires advanced technical skills and large investments.

While it does take advanced technical skills to put up a site the proper way, in today’s world the investment is not that big, especially if you find the right people to work with you. For instance, we are a web design company in the Milwaukee area, and we work on a wide range of web and mobile app development projects for small businesses.

Also, in the hope that business owners will start to see the web for its true value, today we want to talk about web practices that help you grow your business.

#1: The Responsive Design

In our day and age, most people use their phone or tablet to go online and, if your site doesn’t implement a responsive design, you will lose a large share of your possible clientele. Even more, search engines like Google modified their algorithms to boost mobile-friendly sites while leaving the classic ones behind.

So, if you want to make sure your business will grow, you should talk to a graphic designer about a responsive template.

#2: Call People to Action

It’s important to be straightforward with your site’s visitors and ask them to do what you want them to do. In the website design world this is called a call to action, and it’s very important to know how to implement it.

For instance, if you want visitors to sign up for your newsletter or you want them to start shopping, create the perfect path that will lead them to the action. Some of the best online stores took off because they knew how to make visitors understand what they can get from the moment they landed on their home page.

So, don’t get yourself lost in describing your mission or talking about how you got in the business. There is a special section for this, but your home page should be about the relationship that can be established with your customers.

#3: Clear Contact Details

In web design it is very important to keep an open channel between your company and your customers. That’s why you must make your contact details visible at all times. Also, it’s important to show you can be contacted via several channels, not just by phone from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week.

Some customers may not be available in this interval and they may want to send you an email or leave a chat message.

#4: Be open about your History

As a web design company in Milwaukee, we always encourage our customers to tell their business story.  By opening up about your difficulties, you show you understand other people’s tough times and you help them relate.

Still, it’s important to keep it simple and connect your history with your services /products – if your story is long, people tend to go over it or they will get bored halfway.

#5: Be Social

Many business owners make the mistake of thinking that having a website is enough. Sadly, in a world where mobile app development is the word of the day, you must make efforts to put your site in front of possible customers. And this is where the social aspect comes in.

Invest time and some money in your social media presence in order to reach people that may be interested in using your company. Still, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to put up a page on every social media platform known to man – choose a few channels and stick with them until you see some results.

Categories: Graphic Designing | Mobile Apps

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How to Convert Visitors into Customers using UX?

The term UX comes from User Experience and describes every interaction your users have with your website/mobile app or other online services you provide. In short, it’s the way users get to use your online pages (mobile or otherwise) and how they feel when doing so.

How Can UX Help My Business?

In today’s day and age, when there are lots of sites and apps, it’s the small details that make the difference. For instance, you should think less about what you want people to do on the website and more about how they feel when they reach it.

Do they know where to go for more information? Do they feel their needs are being considered? Do they feel anxious when they land on your page, or do they feel calm and ready to browse?

If your viewers feel good on your site, they’re more likely to stay and look around. And they may even become customers in the process!

How to Create Great UX?

Most business owners hire a professional UX designer for this, but no one knows your business better than you. You are the one who knows the type of response each action should get from viewers, so it’s best to be involved in creating a good UX.

Even better, you don’t need any technical or design knowledge; you only need post-its. Here’s why:

Start by getting into the customer mindset.

Next, think about the actions you would expect your site to offer and write each one on a post-it. An action can be anything from ‘learn more about a product’ to ‘watch video reviews’.

Once you have a list of all the actions, try putting together a rudimentary user flow. To do this, just arrange the post-its in the order a customer would want to access them.

Now think about the complexity of each action. Good UX rules suggest that each action should take less than 5 steps. For instance, the purchase action should go something like this:

Access home page;

Select the category of products you want;

Find the product you want;

Start the checkout process.

Think about Emotions

A good UX is all about emotions, so try to figure out what you want people to feel. For instance, when they first land on your page, viewers should feel welcome and excited to discover more.

But how exactly do you do this? UX designers use shapes, colors, videos, and other tricks of the trade to create a visually-pleasing environment. But you can also add content and structure to the mix.

Sketch your Site

Now that you have a user flow and know what each page should convey, it’s time to start sketching your site. Based on this, a professional UX designer will be able to put everything together and create an astonishing website that coverts.

Keep in mind that it’s important to continuously test the effectiveness of your site and the user experience it offers. And then, based on the test results, you need to optimize the interface and continue to improve it.

If you’re looking for custom software development, or you want to digitize your business processes with a help of experienced team, please contact us at info@symphony-software.com or 414-218-4644

Categories: Graphic Designing | Web designing

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Key Factors To Driving Small Business Forward!

When it comes to moving forward in business, there are two main factors you need to watch out for: increasing sales and decreasing costs. If you manage to achieve a balance between these two key factors, you’ll soon notice a change in your pace towards success.

Still, while it’s easy to talk about this, increasing sales and decreasing costs require smart strategies and a lot of analysis. After all, there is a lot of trial and error before you actually manage to find a strategy that works.

As a Milwaukee Web Design Company we worked with many small businesses and helped boost their way to greener pastures. We’re also experienced in various web development services and custom mobile apps solutions that helped many small businesses increase sales and reduce costs.

To get a better idea of how web design and custom software can help, below we have a few examples.

Increasing sales with Modern Technologies

We already know that a website is vital for your small business – there is no doubt here. But did you know that a professional graphic designer can help you increase sales by up to 30%? By talking to an experienced web agency, you will get to understand your own audience better and your site will get simpler, easier to navigate, and a lot more attractive.

Some of the best online stores are designed to attract a specific target audience in order to increase sales faster.

Custom software solutions are also a fantastic way to make sure your business is going up. Even if you don’t hire a software developer to create software for sales, it’s enough to have one that keeps your internal processes organized.

Finally, custom mobile apps are great for keeping in touch with customers via push notifications or geolocation technologies. But that’s not all! You can use a custom mobile app to promote your store and allow possible clients a faster way to place orders or make reservations.

Decreasing Costs with Modern Technologies

A web development services company will find the easiest and less expensive solution for you to run your business through a modern website. This means fewer employees and a lot more satisfied customers (due to the user-friendly interface on your site). Even more, by employing an experienced web design agency to cover marketing campaigns and SEO activities, you eliminate the need for training new employees.

A custom software development company will help boost your team’s productivity by creating software perfectly tailored to your needs. Off the shelf software may seem tempting, but it always comes with fillings you don’t need but you stumble upon on the worst moments.

Finally, a mobile developer who is familiar with your business process will know how to create the perfect app for your business. This means lower maintenance costs and fewer bugs that can be easily fixed.

Hoping we managed to convince you that modern technology is a blessing for a small business, we end this post here. But not before we mention that, in our future article, we’ll have some real-life examples as to how you can increase sales and decrease costs.

Categories: Custom Software | Graphic Designing | Mobile Apps

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How Your Sales Team Can Use a Mobile App?

With more and more people set on using mobile devices, the domination of custom mobile apps is growing as we speak. Even more, according to recent data, it is expected that by 2020, mobile apps will generate about $189 billion in revenues via in-app advertising and app stores. So, you can see how, to an innovative marketer, a mobile app can be a genuine gold mine.

As an app development company, we worked on a wide range of projects and below, you can see the top ten most innovative ways to use an app to increase sales.

#1: Offer Coupons for Installing the App

If you feel your users are dormant (they download the app but don’t buy anything), offer a time-bound coupon valid for their first few purchases within a number of days from the installation. Companies that applied this method got about 35% increase in sales revenue.

#2: Offer the Chance to make Purchases

If you already have a fan base for your mobile app, make sure to introduce the possibility of placing an order directly from a mobile device. If people can browse your products, they should also be able to order directly from the app, right?

#3: Don’t ignore Push Notifications

A custom mobile app gives you access to the phone of your customers and this is as close as you’re going to get! Use push notifications wisely and you will be able to notify customers of sales, offers, and so on. Just don’t be greedy – no one likes to get notifications every day!

#4: Be Creative with Notifications

If you don’t want to stress your customers with general notifications, ask you mobile developer to create an app that will notify people on sales the moment they are close to you store. After all, if you’re nearby, why not take the opportunity of visiting your favorite store?

#5: Use Customers as Referrals

Include a feature that allows customers to share your products on their social media accounts. You can also include a discount for the most loyal and supportive customers or special offers.

This feature will allow you to tap into the power of digital word of mouth, which is pretty powerful!

#6: Mobile Reservations

A custom mobile app specially created for reservations is a powerful sales drive. By opening your calendar to customers, you eliminate the middle man (the employee who takes on calls) and you cut on costs. Even more, customers will like it more – no need to call and make a reservation within a specific time interval (plus, no more busy lines).

#7: Implement a rating system

If your business is in the services industry, a rating system would work wonders for new customers. By allowing users to post reviews and rate each service (or specialist) separately, you offer new comers a base of trust.

#8: Create a Community

We had an app development project for music lovers where the main idea was to put people with the same tastes in touch. You would learn about fans close by, get in touch with artists, and you could share content and thoughts about music. So, via a mobile app, we managed to create a very targeted community (you can see more about this here).

#9: Create a Help Desk

One of the main complaints we hear is that businesses are not open enough when it comes to communication. So, instead of opening a phone line for your customers, allow them to talk to you directly from their mobile devices. Ask your app development team to create a Help Desk app where people can post complaints, ask questions, and leave reviews. This will lead to a more engaged clientele.

#10: Create a Virtual Place

This may be a bit more complex, but it is a fantastic way to attract customers! Create a virtual store or a place of business where customers can virtually experience your products. It’s true that it’s not a good fit for every product, but it is a fantastic way to stand out of the crowd!

Categories: Mobile Apps

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How Can Custom Software Boost Productivity?

Most businesses today use software to increase the efficiency of their process and reduce costs. It’s a perk of the era we live in and it’s a great way to keep things moving smoothly. But did you know it matters what type of software you’re using?

The main software used in companies today is off-the-shelf and treats general problems, in the sense that it can be used for a wide range of activities. However, a general soft won’t bend over your business’s needs just how you want it. There will always be something that doesn’t just fit right and, in many cases, there are tons of functionalities you’re not using even though you paid for them.

So what’s the solution then? We recommend every business that crosses our threshold to invest in custom software. It may be a bit more expensive in the short term, but on the long run, it’s the perfect solution to have all your needs met.

But, before you consult with a custom software development company, let’s clear things up: how exactly will custom software be of help?

Happier Employees and Time Better Spent

According to a study performed in the UK, 41% employees say that the job doesn’t create the right conditions for them to work at their peak productivity level. And this is not happening just in Britain, everywhere you go, you’ll meet motivated employees who want to do more but can’t.

Custom software comes to solve this problem by offering users a more intuitive and user-friendly interface. A custom software development company will know how to integrate the existing work flow and terminology in the soft and how to offer a product that doesn’t seem new or too complex.

Take a quoting system for example (one of the projects we developed). In any business, quoting takes a lot of time and consumes resources, but with our system, the company managed to automatize the process and reduce costs with personnel.

Automate your Business processes

Automatic processes are the best way to boost business productivity! But off-the-shelf software can’t know all your business processes and you might miss a lot. Take for example, the work we did for a start-up activating in oil trading (check our portfolio for more). We automatized the invoicing process, the auctions, and the bank-to-bank payments. Even more, the platform we created also covers inventory and order management. The end-result is clean and highly effective for our client.

So, by investing in custom software, you not only reduce those repetitive, daunting tasks assigned to personnel, but you also boost productivity.

Customized Reports

Reporting is an integral part of the business, but it’s also quite dreaded by employees and even business managers. A well-built, comprehensive report can offer an accurate picture of your development and growth which is why most off-the-shelf software companies boast about this. Still, they can’t get the level of detail and personalization custom software could offer.

Categories:

Best Internet Marketing Company | Custom Software | software developer

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Is Small Business Web Design Helps with Conversion?

In many cases, the website is one of the most vital elements for small businesses. It is the main way the business gets to attract clients and market services and products, so it is the very heart of the sale process.

But how do you get from design to great conversion rates? According to our experience as a custom web design company, you need a site that’s awesome!

While this is a general explanation, it is true that an aesthetically pleasing design will make your viewers stop and browse. This happens because the site is easy on the eyes, creating a user-friendly interface that keeps people entertained while offering a wonderful browsing experience.

A beautifully designed site is impressive and keeps users engaged as they browse through pages. Even more, it’s important to make sure the design supports the essence of your business so users don’t get confused and leave. This is why the services of a custom web design company are more than needed when you put together the interface. A company like ours has the experts and the necessary resources to help create gorgeous and affordable designs for small businesses.

Top 3 Awesome Small Business Sites

Since images are more powerful than words, let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful sites that not only convert but boost the business to the top.

#1: 4 Rivers Smokehouse

The design is simple but it speaks volumes to curious viewers or returning customers. Using parallax scrolling, the site uses gorgeous images to make you think about delicious food and fantastic flavors. It only takes a few moments for the design to catch your attention and, even if you don’t usually like meat, you may want to drop by just for a salad.

As a Milwaukee-based web design company, we helped create many similar designs for local restaurants and coffee shops. The secret is in the images and the journey you make the user take while browsing.

#2: Cliffside Industries

Small businesses come from all sorts of niches, so a custom web design company must adapt to every client’s needs. In the case of Cliffside Industries, the design is clean and follows a more traditional line. This site is created as a luxurious catalog with an elegant interface and lots of navigation options that make browsing a true pleasure!

Their strong point is represented by high-quality images and the ingenious use of the available white space.

#3: Hello Baby

The design in this case is light but highly responsive. Users get more information as they interact with the site – they are not bombarded with useless details from the start. This is a great technique that helps with keeping viewers entertained and offering them exactly what they want when they want it.

The technique is called flat design and it is very popular among small businesses today as it makes things simple for the user. It’s easy to implement, but requires the attention of a professional custom web design company.

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Importance of A Mobile App in Business!

people spend most of their online time on mobile devices (51% of mobile digital media time in the US alone). So yes, if you’re not mobile, you will lose customers. But being mobile doesn’t necessarily imply investing in mobile app development.

A mobile-friendly business can follow two main paths: custom mobile app (native software) or the mobile web. A native application comes with lots of advantages such as easy push notifications, access to the hardware, and better performance. However, many businesses choose the mobile web and here’s why.

Adding Value to the Customer Experience

Before you start making calls to find a professional graphic designer that can build an awesome template for your app, stop and think. Will the app bring value to your customers’ experience? Are they going to use it to improve their day-to-day activities?

If the answer to these questions is ‘no’, then you probably don’t need an app. No one is going to download and install it if all it does is promote your products. You can still do this by using the mobile web and you have a better chance of getting new clients this way.

What will it do?

The main aspect you need to figure out in mobile app development is the purpose of the app. So what do you plan on doing with your app? Will you help users find your locations all over the country? Or maybe you’ll help them find products and compare prices.

Regardless of purpose, make sure you understand it clearly before you hire web development services. If you can’t clearly define a role for your app, then you should reconsider creating one.

How is it different from your site?

The site is a must-have these days, and it must be responsive. This means your user-interface will adapt to any screen type and resolution. So why do you need an app then?

If the custom mobile app you plan on developing doesn’t bring anything new compared to the site, then the app will be redundant.

How will an App benefit your Business?

As a Milwaukee-based web design company we’ve also seen many businesses benefit from their apps so let’s take a look at their real potential:

Camera usage – an app allows the user to take pictures of your products and share them on social media channels

Push notifications – you have direct access to your client’s phone and you can notify them of sales as they walk by your shop

You can implement a system where the app communicates with your store’s system to let you know the name and preferences of the client who just walked in

An app can offer discounts according to a customer’s social influence in regards to your products

Apps can offer customers the possibility to virtually try a product and test its features.

So yes, apps can be mind-blowing, but only if you design them that way. Consider all your options and see if your business can offer more via an app than what it’s already offering via a mobile-friendly site. For more on this topic, in in a future post, we will share examples on how various small businesses are using mobile apps innovatively to improve sales and reduce costs.,

Visit here for more details! https://symphony-software.com

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Guest Blogging is worth!

Guest blogging is an easy and quite lucrative way of promoting your site, product, event, and more. It’s actually considered, by many SEO specialists, as being the solution to all your growth and conversion problems when you don’t have a huge marketing budget.

The concept of guest blogging or guest posting is well-known in the digital marketing world and goes in two directions:

Posting content on other blogs/sites and asking owners to include a link back to your site

Inviting guest bloggers to post content on your own site/blog

In the first case, you have the chance to expand your footprint without spending thousands of dollars on promotion campaigns. Usually, the link is included in the author bio, but there are cases when you can include one or more links directly in the text. In both cases, readers have a chance of reaching you.

If you invite other bloggers to become contributors on your site, you create the amazing opportunity of getting high-quality content at low cost or for free (depending on the terms you discuss with your collaborators). Even more, each collaborator will want to promote their piece, so your site gets free publicity in social media. What could you want more?

Is there any Risk for My Site?

According to a survey performed by Social Marketing Writing, 62.96% of people replied that they find a blog with multiple authors as being more credible. While this is another point in favor of guest blogging, there are also risks involved.

The main risk is represented by low-quality content, followed by duplicate posts (bloggers who post the same piece on several sites). If you allow this to happen, Google will lower your page index and this leads directly to a drop in search results.

So, as you can see, there is quite a risk involved. However, there are ways to avoid such a disaster and still reap the benefits of a well-designed guest blogging campaign.

How to avoid bad Guest Blogging

There are a few rules every good digital marketing agency and SEO specialist follow when it comes to guest posts. Below we listed the most important ones:

Always check for plagiarism! There are special online tools that can tell if the content is being reused. Avoid spammy blogs for as much as possible and never accept content that doesn’t look right.

Make sure the content is useful and relevant to your site. After all, none of your readers would want to know about toothpaste when your main topic is bread backing (just an example).

Build a relationship with site owners who want to post in your blog and the ones you want to post your articles. Once you create a connection with people you can trust, guest blogging will be a lot more productive.

Don’t overuse the anchor text! It’s recommended to use your brand’s name or URL when linking back to your site.

Make sure the end-user (site readers in this case) will enjoy the type of content you create and distribute.

How to search Guest Blogging sites in your niche?

Newbies looking for a chance to do guest blogging. But first thing come into mind, “What I can search on Search Engines to get exact niches for guest blogging?”

Read continuously….

Here are few queries which may help you. Queries to follow. Google it!

Keyword “guest post”

Keyword “guest blogger”

Keyword “writers needed”

Keyword “blog for us”

Keyword “write for us”

Other sources are Social media platforms, forum communities, blog directories, normal search queries and spy on your competitor backlinks with paid and free tools. That’s it!

Categories: Off Page SEO | SEO 

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How Color Combinations Can Impact Interactive Website Designs

In our modern world, a good website design is one that inspires emotions and allows the visitor to experience a wonderful journey while browsing. For this, colors, shapes, page structure, and even images have a paramount level of importance. However, our personal experience as one of the best Milwaukee Web Design Agencies showed us that among all these factors, the color combination is extremely important.

If the tones are not right, your site may not have the possibility to send the right message to the right people. After all, many scientific studies proved that colors touch our basic inner emotions, causing effects on our mood and behavior. Even more, according to Neil Patel, 85% of the reason a person decides to purchase a product is in color.In conclusion, there is a powerful level of connection between colors and conversions.

Color Psychology in Web Design

Color Psychology is the science that studies how colors affect human behavior. When it comes to web design, its theories and principles teach us that a site’s success in terms of conversion rates depends on how we use color. Of course, this is not valid just for web design — anyone working with people will have to consider learning about colors. But how exactly do you apply color psychology on a website template?

Our years of experience working on many and varied web design projects in the Milwaukee area thought us that there are several factors to consider such as:

Where to use the colors

How to choose the best colors for your business

How to connect colors with your audience

Let’s take them step-by-step and see how these factors will impact web design.

Where to use colors

When it comes to a template, there are a few areas common to any design that must be highlighted through color. These are:

Borders

Pop-up windows

Headline areas

Background

Banners or hero graphics

Buttons — especially if you have call for action elements

Now, the colors you choose for these areas is usually influenced by the type of audience the site is going to have.

How to choose the best colors for your business?

Colors generate emotions and you need to understand the type of emotions you want your visitors to have when browsing your site. For this, we took two examples of two different companies, with completely different audiences and compared them.

The first company is L’Oreal — the well-known beauty brand that addresses women from everywhere. They tend to use luxurious color combinations like pink shades on a purple background trying to create a special, sophisticated image that is easy to understand and apply.

The second company sells bouncy jump houses and has a completely different audience. Thus, they use mostly shades of green, red, and yellow to create a fun and inviting page.

How to connect colors with your audience?

The trick here is to know what your audience likes in terms of color. For instance, it was proven that women don’t like colors like brown, gray, or orange while men dislike brown, purple, and orange the most.

In any situation, you have to know where to use colors and how to use them and everything is reduced to understanding your audience.

Categories: Color Psychology, Graphic Designing, Interactive Designs, Web designing

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2 Key Factors To Driving Small Business Forward

When it comes to moving forward in business, there are two main factors you need to watch out for: increasing sales and decreasing costs. If you manage to achieve a balance between these two key factors, you’ll soon notice a change in your pace towards success.

Still, while it’s easy to talk about this, increasing sales and decreasing costs require smart strategies and a lot of analysis. After all, there is a lot of trial and error before you actually manage to find a strategy that works.

As a Milwaukee Web Design Company we worked with many small businesses and helped boost their way to greener pastures. We’re also experienced in various web development services and custom mobile apps solutions that helped many small businesses increase sales and reduce costs.

To get a better idea of how web design and custom software can help, below we have a few examples.

Increasing sales with Modern Technologies

We already know that a website is vital for your small business – there is no doubt here. But did you know that a professional graphic designer can help you increase sales by up to 30%? By talking to an experienced web agency, you will get to understand your own audience better and your site will get simpler, easier to navigate, and a lot more attractive.

Some of the best online stores are designed to attract a specific target audience in order to increase sales faster.

Custom software solutions are also a fantastic way to make sure your business is going up. Even if you don’t hire a software developer to create software for sales, it’s enough to have one that keeps your internal processes organized.

Finally, custom mobile apps are great for keeping in touch with customers via push notifications or geolocation technologies. But that’s not all! You can use a custom mobile app to promote your store and allow possible clients a faster way to place orders or make reservations.

Decreasing Costs with Modern Technologies

A web development services company will find the easiest and less expensive solution for you to run your business through a modern website. This means fewer employees and a lot more satisfied customers (due to the user-friendly interface on your site). Even more, by employing an experienced web design agency to cover marketing campaigns and SEO activities, you eliminate the need for training new employees.

A custom software development company will help boost your team’s productivity by creating software perfectly tailored to your needs. Off the shelf software may seem tempting, but it always comes with fillings you don’t need but you stumble upon on the worst moments.

Finally, a mobile developer who is familiar with your business process will know how to create the perfect app for your business. This means lower maintenance costs and fewer bugs that can be easily fixed.

Hoping we managed to convince you that modern technology is a blessing for a small business, we end this post here. But not before we mention that, in our future article, we’ll have some real-life examples as to how you can increase sales and decrease costs.