Tag Archives: Featured

AI, Marketing

Best AI Marketing Tools to Grow Your Business Quickly

Have you ever wondered how to make your marketing more effective? Well, the secret weapon might be artificial intelligence (AI). But what is AI? Think of it as a computer brain that learns from experience, a bit like how you learn to ride a bike. Now, imagine that brain doing marketing for you, or alternatively, like having a smart robot that can learn things on its own and assist you with your work. Sounds exciting, right? In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best AI marketing tools. We’ll talk about their key features, how much they cost, their pros and cons, and my overall impressions.

HubSpot:

 

A Comprehensive Tool for All Your Marketing Needs. First on our list is HubSpot. It’s like a swiss army knife of marketing tools. It does a bit of everything, from email marketing to social media, CRM, scheduling software and so much more. Imagine having a multitasking assistant who can handle multiple things at the same time. That’s what Hubspot does for you! It uses AI to help you understand what your customers want.

Whether you’re in retail, real estate, marketing, sales, construction, or accounting, HubSpot can be a valuable tool for your business. Here’s what you get:

Key Features:

Hubspot offers a wide range of services, from email marketing to search engine optimization (SEO). The tool also includes a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. Think of it like a digital address book that keeps track of your customers and their needs. HubSpot also has tools for social media and a lot more.

  1. Core CRM Software: HubSpot offers a free core CRM software that allows you to manage contacts, track deals, and view your sales pipeline in real time.
  2. Real-Time Lead Behaviors Notification: Stay on top of assigned leads, form submissions, deal mentions, and more with real-time notifications.
  3. Personalized Email Sequences: Create customized email sequences for both leads and existing customers.

Pricing:

 

HubSpot offers several pricing tiers:

  • Free Plan: Includes one deal pipeline, unlimited users for one team or department, and up to one million contacts, companies, deals, or task details. It’s a great starting point for small businesses.
  • Starter Plan: If you need more features, the Starter Plan starts at $30 per month (billed annually). It includes additional functionalities like calling (up to 15 minutes), templates, notifications (up to 200), snippets (reusable text blurbs), and document uploads.
  • Professional Plan: For more advanced needs, the Professional Plan offers even more features at a higher price point.

Pros:

I liked that HubSpot has so many different tools in one place, many of them for free. Plus, it’s pretty easy to use. It saves you from the hassle of managing multiple services at the same time. It’s like having a one-stop-shop for all your marketing needs.

  1. Core CRM Software Is Free: You can get started with HubSpot without any upfront costs.
  2. Real-Time Lead Behaviors Notification: Stay informed about lead interactions instantly.
  3. Personalized Email Sequences: Tailor your communication to engage both leads and existing customers effectively.

Cons:

On the flip side, because it does so much, it can be a bit overwhelming for new users.

  1. Per-User Plans Can Get Expensive for Small Businesses: As your team grows, costs may increase significantly.
  2. Only One Email Per Contact: Keep in mind that you can send only one email per contact.

Impressions:

Overall, I think HubSpot is a great tool, especially if you want to do a lot of different kinds of marketing. HubSpot is well-designed and widely used across various industries. However, consider your business size and future growth when evaluating whether it’s the right fit for you. While HubSpot offers an excellent product, there are more cost-effective alternatives available.

Remember that choosing the right marketing tool depends on your current list size and where you expect it to be in the coming years.

Try Hubspot

Hootsuite:

Hootsuit social media management

 

The Social Media Maestro. Managing multiple social media platforms can be quite a task, right? But what if you had a tool that could manage all your social media platforms in one place? Sounds interesting? That’s exactly what Hootsuite does!

A powerful social media management tool that simplifies the process of handling multiple social media accounts. Whether you’re a professional, part of a small team, or running a small-medium business, Hootsuite has features that can help you streamline your social media marketing efforts.

Before we delve into the details, let’s understand how Hootsuite came to be. Back in the day, before Facebook took over the social media landscape, platforms like Friendster and MySpace made attempts at connecting people online. However, it was Facebook that truly revolutionized social media. Brands quickly realized its potential for running banner ads and engaging with customers. Enter Hootsuite, born out of the need to manage multiple social media accounts effectively.

Key Features:

Hootsuite allows you to manage multiple social networks, schedule posts, and measure your success all in one place.

  1. Unified Dashboard: Hootsuite provides a single dashboard where you can design, schedule, and publish content across various networks. From Instagram to Facebook, TikTok to Twitter, YouTube to Pinterest, and more—you can manage them all from one place.
  2. Streams: The Streams feature allows you to monitor different social media channels simultaneously. Set up Streams to track mentions, keywords, hashtags, or posts from specific accounts. It’s not only useful for monitoring but also for content creation and engaging in conversations.
  3. Automatic Scheduling: Save time by scheduling your posts in advance. Hootsuite’s scheduling feature ensures your content reaches your audience at optimal times.
  4. Analytics: Hootsuite Analytics provides in-depth performance reporting. Track metrics like fans and followers, engagement levels, traffic sources, and more. You can even schedule reports for automatic distribution via email—perfect for client reporting.
  5. Collaboration: Assign tasks to team members within Hootsuite. This feature is crucial for businesses providing customer service support on social media.

Pricing:

Hootsuite offers various pricing tiers to suit different needs:

  • Free Account: While limited in functionality, it’s a great way to get started.
  • Paid Plans: Pricing starts at $739 per year for professionals and small teams.

Pros:

Hootsuite is like your personal social media manager. It saves you time and helps you stay organized.

  • Easy sign-up process
  • Ability to connect multiple accounts (including YouTube)
  • Post scheduling
  • Free account option (albeit with limitations)
  • Intuitive analytics

Cons:

The interface can be a bit overwhelming for beginners.

  • Learning curve for all features
  • Costs can add up if you need additional team members .

Impressions:

In summary, Hootsuite simplifies social media management by offering essential features like scheduling, monitoring, analytics, and collaboration—all from one platform. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced marketer, Hootsuite can help you stay organized and efficient in your social media efforts.

Remember: Social media marketing is about building relationships with your audience—so use Hootsuite wisely! 

Try Hootsuit

MarketMuse

MarketMuse data driven content

Next, we have MarketMuse. This tool is like a personal assistant that helps you write better content. It uses AI to suggest topics and keywords that will attract more readers. Think about an AI-powered content planning platform that’s famous for its advanced SEO and planning functions. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced marketer, MarketMuse provides valuable insights to enhance your content creation and optimization efforts.

Key Features:

MarketMuse examines the top-ranking pages for your chosen topic and suggests ways to make your content better.

  1. SERP Analysis: MarketMuse excels in analyzing search engine results pages (SERPs). It helps you understand what content ranks well for specific keywords, allowing you to optimize your own content effectively.
  2. Content Optimization: MarketMuse provides topic-based keyword research and content optimization features. These tools help you create high-quality, relevant content that resonates with your audience.
  3. Keyword Relevance: Finding the right keywords is crucial for successful SEO. MarketMuse simplifies this process by suggesting relevant keywords based on your content plan.

Pricing:

MarketMuse offers several pricing tiers:

  • Free: Limited access with basic features.
  • Standard: Priced at $149 per month (or $1500 annually), this plan provides more comprehensive features.
  • Team: For $399 per month (or $3900 annually), the Team plan caters to collaborative efforts.
  • Custom: If you need personalized features, MarketMuse offers custom pricing based on your requirements.

Pros:

I really liked how MarketMuse helps you understand what your customers are looking for. It can save you a lot of time and guesswork.

  • Advanced SEO Insights: MarketMuse’s SERP analysis and content optimization features are top-notch.
  • Keyword Research Made Easy: Finding relevant keywords becomes a breeze with MarketMuse.
  • Optimized Content Creation: While it won’t replace full-blown SEO efforts, MarketMuse helps you create optimized content efficiently.

Cons:

However, it’s a bit pricey, especially for smaller businesses.

  • Learning Curve: Some users may find the platform slightly challenging initially.
  • Not a Complete SEO Solution: While powerful, MarketMuse should complement other SEO tools rather than replace them entirely.

Impressions:

Overall, I highly recommend considering MarketMuse for your content marketing needs. With its advanced AI technology, it can greatly improve your content creation process and help you achieve better results.

MarketMuse strikes a balance between simplicity and functionality. It’s an excellent choice for marketers looking to enhance their content strategy without overwhelming complexity. Remember that no tool is a magic bullet; use MarketMuse alongside other SEO practices for optimal results.

Try MarketMuse

Chatfuel

Chatfuel AI Marketing Service

 

Fourth, we’ll look at Chatfuel which we can describe as : Simplifying Business Communication

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses need efficient tools to streamline communication and enhance customer engagement. Chatbots have emerged as powerful allies, automating interactions and providing timely responses.

It’s a tool that helps you build chatbots. What’s a chatbot? Imagine a robot that can chat with your customers on your website or social media, answering their questions and helping them find what they need.

Key Features:

With Chatfuel, you can build a chatbot without knowing any code. It also lets you customize your chatbot to match your brand.

  1. User-Friendly Interface: Chatfuel’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface allows even beginners to create chatbots without extensive technical knowledge. No coding required!
  2. AI-Powered Chatbots: With advanced AI technology, Chatfuel enables businesses to build smart chatbots capable of handling complex customer interactions. These bots can provide personalized responses, improving user experience.
  3. Seamless Integrations: Chatfuel smoothly integrates with popular messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. This ensures your chatbot reaches your audience where they already spend their time.
  4. Rich Media Support: Enhance your chatbots with images, videos, and GIFs. Visual content makes interactions more engaging and dynamic.
  5. Analytics and Insights: Detailed analytics help you track chatbot performance, identify trends, and optimize effectiveness. Data-driven decisions lead to better outcomes.

Pricing:

Chatfuel offers flexible pricing options:

  1. Free Trial: Test the waters with 50 conversations per month.
  2. Entrepreneur Plan: Starting at $14.99/month, this plan provides 500 conversations.
  3. Startup Plan: For more conversations, the Startup plan begins at $24.99/month.

Pros:

I was impressed by how easy it is to build a chatbot with Chatfuel. Plus, it can help you assist customers 24/7 without having to hire extra staff.

  • User-friendly interface for easy bot creation.
  • AI-powered chatbots handle complex interactions.
  • Seamless integrations with popular platforms.
  • Rich media support enhances engagement.
  • Detailed analytics for data-driven decisions.

Cons:

But, there’s a learning curve to figure out how to make the most of it.

  • Free plan limitations on subscribers and interactions.
  • Learning curve for advanced features.
  • Platform dependency on external services like Facebook Messenger.
  • Limited customization options for specific branding needs.
  • Customer support response times could improve.

Impressions:

Overall, Chatfuel is a powerful tool for businesses who want to improve their customer service. The service is worth examining for its ability to build chatbots without any coding knowledge and its potential to enhance your customer service. However, there is a slight learning curve to fully utilize its features.

Chatfuel empowers businesses to improve customer service, lead generation, engagement, and sales. Whether you’re a local brand or a market giant like Adidas or Netflix, Chatfuel’s safe integrations and user-friendly platform make it a valuable tool in your marketing arsenal.

Try Chatfuel

SEMrush

SEMRUSH-SEO-MANAGEMENT

 

Finally, we have SEMrush. It’s a tool that helps you understand how your website is doing compared to others. It uses AI to analyze lots of data and give you insights.

In the vast digital landscape, businesses strive to rank higher in search results and increase their online visibility. Enter SEMrush, an all-in-one SEO platform designed to help achieve these goals.

How SEMrush Works

SEMrush provides an in-depth analysis of websites, offering insights into search engine optimization (SEO), competitor analysis, keyword research, organic traffic growth, backlink insights, SEO auditing, and social media analytics.

Key Features:

SEMrush gives you data about your website’s traffic, the keywords you’re ranking for, and more.

  1. Keyword Research: SEMrush boasts the world’s largest keyword database with over 20 billion keywords. It helps businesses discover relevant keywords for their content.
  2. Rank Tracking: Monitor your website’s performance in search engine rankings over time.
  3. Website Audit: Identify and fix on-page SEO issues to improve your site’s health.
  4. Competitor Analysis: Understand your competitors’ strategies and discover opportunities.
  5. Backlink Insights: Analyze your backlink profile for better link-building strategies.
  6. Local SEO: Optimize for local searches with location-specific keywords.
  7. Social Media Toolkit: Gain insights into your social media performance.
  8. PageImprove: Enhance on-page SEO directly from your Chrome browser.
  9. Keyword Gap Tool: Identify keywords where competitors outperform you.

What Sets SEMrush Apart?

  • Robust Feature Set: SEMrush offers a comprehensive suite of tools for SEO, content marketing, and social media management.
  • Unique Add-ons: Features like online reputation management, heat maps, trends analysis, lead finder, and client portal set SEMrush apart.
  • Industry-Leading API: Access data programmatically for advanced users.

Pricing:

SEMRush pricing

 

  • Free Plan: Limited to 10 requests per day.
  • Paid Plans: Starting at $108.33 per month (billed annually).

Pros:

  • All-in-one SEO suite.
  • Content marketing tools.
  • Advertising insights.
  • Local SEO support.
  • Social media analytics.

Cons:

  • Limited free plan.
  • Expensive premium plans.
  • Some features may have a learning curve.
  • No 24-hour customer support.

Impressions:

In conclusion, SEMrush is a powerful tool for improving online visibility and driving organic traffic. Whether you’re a seasoned SEO professional or just starting out, SEMrush has something to offer.

Remember: Keep learning and exploring—your digital success awaits!

Who Is SEMrush Best For?

  • Bloggers and influencers.
  • Businesses of all sizes seeking online growth.
  • Marketing agencies.
Try SEMrush

Final Words

So, there you have it: five of the best AI marketing tools. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, so the best tool for you depends on what you need. Do you want a tool that does it all, like HubSpot? Or do you need something more specialized, like HootSuite, MarketMuse, Chatfuel, or SEMrush? By understanding what each tool offers, you can make an informed decision and take your marketing to the next level.

Ultimately, each of these tools has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to carefully consider your specific needs before making a decision. With these powerful AI marketing tools at your disposal, you can take your marketing strategy to the next level and achieve success in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

—

Disclosure: Please note that we may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links below, at no expense to you, should you decide to purchase a paid plan. This blog does not provide financial advice, it is purely for entertainment and fun.

Deals

The Ultimate List Of Amazon Prime Day 2021 Deals

The holiday shopping season is finally upon us, earlier than usual, aren’t you excited?

► Get your Amazon Prime Membership HERE.

Amazon Prime Day set for June 21 and 22 after a whole year of a global pandemic delay. The Seattle-based e-commerce giant unveiled a preview of many of its deals with some mad impressive discounts on the line of Amazon devices.

As Amazon’s product offering continues to grow, the Prime Day popular products are said to remain the same as before, everything from the Amazon series of Echo smart speakers to the Fire TV streamers, plus the Fire line of tablets or the Kindle eBook readers, which will get up to 60% off of their regular price.

Be sure to check out the below for the full list of deals available during the two day sale! You can already find your very EARLY DEALS HERE.

Amazon Devices

  • Save up to 50% off Amazon Fire TV devices including the Fire TV Stick 4K with Alexa Voice Remote ($24.99)
  • Save 30% on Luna Controller ($48.99)
  • Save up to 70% on Echo devices including Echo Show 8, 2nd Gen ($94.99) and Echo Auto ($14.99)
  • Save up to 50% on Fire tablets and accessory bundles including the all-new Fire HD 10 ($79.99) and Fire HD 8 Kids ($69.99)
  • Save up to 40% on Ring devices including Ring Video Doorbell Wired ($44.99) and Ring Alarm 5-piece kit ($119.99)
  • Save up to 40% off Kindle devices including the Kindle Paperwhite ($79.99) and Kindle Kids Edition ($64.99)
  • Save over 40% off Blink devices including Blink Mini ($19.99)
  • Get 35% off eero devices including the Amazon eero 6 dual-band mesh Wi-Fi 6 system three pack ($181)
  • Get 30% off the Amazon Halo Band ($69.99).

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Electronics

  • Save on select laptops, desktops, and monitors from brands like Acer, ASUS, and LG
  • Save on select HP products
  • Save up to 40% on Amazon Basics electronics
  • Save 40% on select Sony and JBL headphones
  • Save 25% on Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit Mario and Luigi editions from Nintendo.

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Smart Home

  • Save 38% on a bundle featuring the latest smart lock from August, the Smart Lock Pro, and a 3rd Gen Echo Dot
  • Save 30% on select smart home devices from TP Link, Sengled, GE, Sylvania, and more.

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Small Businesses 

  • Save on sustainable and reusable food wraps from Bee’s Wrap
  • Save on blankets, mattress protectors, pads, and toppers from Bare Home
  • Save on Zest Tea products on premium energy hot tea
  • Save on Finer Form for gym equipment such as multi-functional weight bench
  • Save on Wildflower Honey Fire Cider Apple Cider Vinegar Wellness Tonics
  • More deals from small businesses can be found at amazon.com/supportsmall.

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Home & Kitchen

  • Save on select SodaStream Fizzi Sparkling Water Maker bundles
  • Save on Hestan ProBond Collection Cookware Sets
  • Save on Stasher Reusable Storage
  • Save on Dash Chef Series Immersion Hand Blenders
  • Save up to
  • Save up to 40% on kitchen products from Amazon Basics.
  • Save 20% on select Schumacher automotive products and Cooper tires.
  • Save on select rugs from Safavieh and nuLOOM, mattresses from Malouf
  • Save on air purifiers and vacuums from Bissell
  • Save on air purifiers from BlueAir
  • Save up to 40% home essentials from Amazon Basics. 

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Fashion

  • Save up to 40% on select active and lounge styles from Shopbop including Honeydew Intimates, Splits59, and Beyond Yoga
  • Save up to 20% on select styles from The Drop
  • Save up to 40% on select C9 Champion apparel
  • Save on select Columbia sportswear
  • Save on men’s and women’s fashion from Amazon brands.

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Beauty

  • Save on premium beauty products along with hair tools from Revlon
  • Save 50% on 23andMe Health + Ancestry Personal Genetic Service Kit.

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Automotive, Tools & Home Improvement

  • Save $50 when you spend $200 or more on select BOSCH tools
  • Save $10 when you spend $50 or more on select BLACK+DECKER tools
  • Save $10 when you spend $40 or more on select DEWALT tools

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Lawn & Garden

  • Save 20% on select Outland Living fire tables and fire bowls
  • Save on select Cuisinart smokers and accessories
  • Save on Bestway inflatable spas

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Baby

  • Save up to 30% on baby diapers, wipes, and more from Amazon brands Mama Bear and Solimo
  • Save up to 40% on Graco baby products.

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Sports & Outdoors

  • Save 20% on Bowflex exercise equipment and Schwinn exercise machines
  • Save up to 40% on fitness products from Amazon Basics
  • Save up to 30% on Under Armour for the Family
  • Save on Coleman, Marmot, and ExOfficio outdoor gear
  • Save on CamelBak water bottles and accessories
  • Save on Columbia Sportswear

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Toys & Games

  • Save on building sets from LEGO, Playmobil, and Magna-Tiles
  • Save on toys from Barbie, Fisher-Price, NERF, Melissa & Doug, Little Tikes, and more.

 

GO TO AMAZON

Pets

  • Save up to 40% on pet food, treats, and essentials from Amazon brands Wag, Kitzy, and Amazon Basics.

 

GO TO AMAZON

 

Grocery

  • Deals throughout the store from 6/16-6/22 on exclusive new seasonal items including Whole Foods Market Summer Sunset Pie (25% off)
  • Whole Foods Market Heirloom Caprese Pizza ($10)
  • Butterfly Berry Lemonade ($1) plus favorites like single-serve mochi (buy one, get one free)
  • Beef rib steaks ($11.99/lb.), Chilean sea bass (25% off), and reusable water bottles (30% off).

GO TO AMAZON

Games

Sony Playstation 5 Officially Announced, Starts at $499 for Regular Model, Launches Nov. 12

Sony has officially announced some details about the highly anticipated PlayStation 5 including release date, price, game titles and more.

PlayStation 5 Price, Models and Availability

The new PS5 will start at $399.99 for the Digital Edition which doesn’t include a physical disc, and $499.99 for the “regular” version that looks just the same but with Blu Ray included. Both models to arrive November 12 in selected countries such as North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. Sony tweeted that the pre-orders would begin today, September 17 so you can check out this option if interested, right here

The “rest of the world” will get their chance to celebrate the new release a week later, on November 19.

The Sony PS5 will compete directly with Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Series S game consoles that already been announced exactly 7 days before. Microsoft’s console to launch only two days ahead of Sony’s consoles for $500 and $300, respectively.

PlayStation 5 Games and Trailers

As part of Sony’s annual tradition, the company unveiled some trailers and demos for the upcoming games such as Final Fantasy XVI which already made a great impression on everyone around, as well as Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Resident Evil Village and more. Be sure to check out the videos below:

  • Astro’s Playroom (Japan Studio) – pre-installed on PS5
  • Demon’s Souls (Bluepoint Games / Japan Studio) – US$69.99/CAD$89.99/¥7,900/€79.99 (RRP)
  • Destruction All Stars (Lucid Games / XDEV) – US$69.99/CAD$89.99/¥7,900/€79.99 (RRP)
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games) – US$49.99/CAD$64.99/¥5,900/€59.99 (RRP)
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition (Insomniac Games) – US$69.99/CAD$89.99/¥7,900/€79.99 (RRP)
  • Sackboy A Big Adventure (Sumo Digital / XDEV) – US$59.99/CAD$79.99/¥6,900/€69.99 (RRP)

PlayStation 5 Showcase - Opening Sizzle

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Gameplay Demo | PS5

Resident Evil Village - 2nd Trailer | PS5

Hogwarts Legacy - Official Reveal Trailer | PS5

 

Games

Microsoft’s $299 Xbox Series S and $499 Xbox Series X Officially Announced, Release Date & Pre-Order Info Revealed

Microsoft announces today the official release of Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, with both devices set to arrive to market on November 10th, and pre-orders begin September 22, as retail prices starting at $299 and $499 respectively. 

Update: Xbox Series X pre-orders are live

US Xbox Series X:  ► Amazon | Microsoft | BestBuy
US Xbox Series S:  ► Amazon | Microsoft | BestBuy

Xbox Series S

The Xbox Series S which gets from Microsoft the formal description of a “next-gen performance in the smallest Xbox ever”  is said to be around 60% smaller than the Xbox Series X device, but with a similar CPU clocked at merely 3.6Hz and with a gaming performance of 1440p at up to 120 FPS and 4K upscaling. The console is set to be an all-digital edition which means without a disc drive included inside.

The fact that Xbox Series S delivers four times the processing power of an Xbox One console means you get a very capable device for a relatively small price.

Microsoft already teased the $299. Xbox Series S, in a tweet on Tuesday, claiming it would be the “smallest Xbox ever”.

Xbox Series X

As per Xbox Series X, which is described as the most powerful console ever made, it has been “designed to deliver a new level of fidelity, feel, performance and precision never seen before in console gaming”, boasting a more powerful GPU than what the smaller series offers along with a full hardware support for AMD’s latest RDNA 2 performance. 

The X series also enables you to “spend less time waiting and more time playing, as it virtually eliminates load times with the 40x boost in I/O throughput from last generation. With next-generation SSD and Xbox Velocity Architecture”

Both devices support Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Vision via streaming media apps like Disney+, Vudu and Netflix at launch. Plus: Dolby Vision support for gaming will come in 2021.

In addition to that you get access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate experience including:

  • Over 100 high-quality games to play on console, including next-gen Optimized games
  • Over 100 high-quality games to play on PC
  • An EA Play membership to play more than 60 of EA’s biggest and best console and PC games
  • And over 100 games to play from the cloud

Microsoft is offering a bundle of the Game Pass Ultimate with Xbox Series S at $24.99 a month for 24 months and with Xbox Series X starting from $34.99 a month for 24 months.

Internet, Marketing

Step by Step on How to Set Up Your Business Blog

The beauty of the blog is its ability to connect a business with its audience. That could be its customers, its stakeholders, its clients or even its employees. A blog is an excellent choice of online content that can drive traffic towards your product or your services, entertain readers and promote your brand.

If your business doesn’t have one, it could be that you haven’t known where exactly to start.

Come up with your idea

An idea might be good, but if you don’t believe in it, will you put the work in to make it a success? Your blog premise should be coming from your heart, something that you are passionate about, compliments your product and entertains the reader.

Something ground-breaking wouldn’t hurt, but it doesn’t always have to be complicated. Straightforward content like answering frequently asked questions or listicles, articles in the form of a list, are often useful.

Decide on your platform

If you already have your own website, you will probably want to start your blog there, on a new page. Make sure it is evident from the home page and a distinctive part of your brand – the blog could have a slightly different font or web design to the more “business” parts of your site.

If you’re creating your blog from scratch, there are several easy to use platforms you can choose from, for example, Blogger or WordPress.

Choose your writer

Maybe you are a wordsmith yourself, and within your business, you have the time to sit down and get creative. If you do, fantastic. If not, you might want to hire a blog writer or, if that isn’t financially viable, pay writers on a freelance basis to do so. If there is a budding blogger in your ranks already, offer them the opportunity to show off their knowledge and flair.

Alternatives to in-house writing are explained by Click Intelligence with guest blogging a popular option. Whoever it is uploading on your blog, their content should be tailored to your company, creative and engaging.

Promote your blog

Once your blog is up and running, you want people to read it. You’ve had the bright idea, your product is golden, and your writer is talented. That’s all going to waste if nobody is paying any attention.

Improving your social media presence will help provide you with a platform on which you can share your blog. If you already have an active social media channel, use it to share out your blog using hashtags and linking to relevant pages. This will improve the chances of your post being seen and, hopefully, clicked on.

Getting guest writers or doing interviews is another excellent way to promote your blog. If somebody has been interviewed for one of your articles, they are sure to share it in their circles and increase your reputation. You should also post regularly so that people don’t click on your blog and see that it hasn’t been updated in months and forget about you.

Conclusion

Blogs are an easy but exciting way to converse with your audience, drive traffic to your website and keep your brand fresh. Remember to be creative and produce a varied range of content. Once there is a decent number of posts on your blog, your audience is more likely to come back again, or spend longer clicking around your website. Most of all, make it a fun part of your business.

General

The Hottest Buzzwords in Supply Chain Management Right Now

With something as expansive as supply chain management and as important as controlling the flow of goods in a world where manufacturing, release, and retail needs to be done in record time, there’s no surprise that there is an awfully big drive for innovation in the supply chain management space. With this innovation comes new terminology and jargon that might sound like it has nothing to do with the supply chain, but we’re going to see more and more of it in the coming years.

Just as we got to grips with ‘just in time’ supply chain management, we are presented with terms like ‘door to floor’ and ‘destruction of density’. Let’s have a look at some of these terms and what they mean.

The Internet of Things

This one has been around for a while and might most commonly be known for internet-connected gadgets that enable home automation and improve the lives of consumers with not much technical know-how by turning their homes into smart homes.

Examples of these devices are:

  • Smart TVs
  • Home Assistants (Like Alexa or Siri)
  • Google Home
  • Nest Thermostat Controller
  • Ring Doorbell Cameras
  • Philips Hue Smart Bulbs

In the supply chain, the Internet of Things enables a very different kind of experience for consumers. Products like the Amazon Dash and Alexa enable almost instant ordering, buying, and payment for items for delivery, and that’s going to be important for supply chain management.

Gig Worker

The gig worker is a bit of an anomaly in business today, but it’s one that has quickly become irreplaceable, and in supply chain management, this is particularly true. A gig worker is a freelance employee that is paid for doing a specific job but without contracts or any long-term employee relationships.

Examples of gig workers and companies that offer them are:

  • Taxi or Rideshare drivers (Uber, Lyft)
  • Delivery drivers (Doordash, Postmates)
  • Handyman or task workers (Taskrabbit)
  • Moving (Dolly, Burro)
  • Grocery shopping (Instacart)
  • Property rentals Airbnb, Rentah)
  • Virtual Assistants (FancyHands, Zirtual)

Gig workers from the perspective of a supply chain manager offer very unique benefits, particularly because you’re not hiring staff who might not always have enough consistent work to fill their days because you need them for times of surging business, like holiday shopping or when there are storms and bad weather.

It’s also beneficial from the gig worker’s perspective because they aren’t tied down by specific hours or to a single employer, and they have much more flexibility in their role.

It’s no surprise then that gig worker is one of the hottest buzzwords right now.

Supply Chain Digital Twin

A supply chain digital twin, at it’s most fundamental, is a clone of a physical and digital process of your business. This is used for a number of things in supply chain management, but perhaps the most common is the identification of risks and opportunities based on real data from your business. This offers supply chain managers the ability to understand and interpret data in new and innovative ways.

Some advantages of a supply chain digital twin:

  • Discovering and correcting bottlenecks in your supply chain.
  • Testing new innovations and changes in your supply chain processes.
  • The ability to monitor and report on risks and test contingency strategies.
  • Transportation planning and logistics.
  • Being able to optimize and monitor your inventory.
  • Forecasting your operational capacity and requirements for the near future.

Supply chain digital twin systems are big business right now and are only set to get bigger as time goes by and the power and usefulness of these systems are recognized and discovered by more supply chain managers and incorporated into more supply chain certifications and courses. Click here for a supply chain management program you can study online.

Supply Chain Impatience

This one is a result of our own desire for instant satisfaction, but it’s also one of the biggest drivers of the industry’s need to constantly innovate newer or better ways to deliver to their customers faster. Supply chain impatience is very much what it sounds like – our need to get our orders as fast as possible. In the past, it would be fairly normal for an online order to take a couple of days to reach you, but with companies like Amazon innovating with one day or even same-day deliveries with services like Amazon Prime, and taking advantage of the rise of gig workers (remember those), delivery is becoming quicker and quicker.

Some companies are even testing innovations like drone deliveries to get their products into the hands of their customers as soon as possible. This buzzword is only here to stay because you can be sure as soon as we hit one-hour deliveries, we’ll want them in half an hour.

Destruction of Density

There’s a reason why buying in bulk is cheaper. Buying a thousand of something costs the selling business much less than to sell one thousand individual units. Money can be saved in so many areas when the sales density is higher.

  • Less packaging is needed.
  • Fewer accounting transactions.
  • Less checkout or order processing staff.
  • Only one delivery.
  • Density in shipping.

It’s that last one that leads us to the buzzword ‘destruction of density’. In the past, shipping products and the rates you’d pay to ship these products would be directly proportional to the quantities you want shipped. Filling up a container with a product and shipping it is always going to be cheaper than shipping a few products. The rise of supply chain impatience, however, means more agile and quicker shipping is expected by consumers, which means businesses don’t always have the luxury of time to fill up a full container before shipping. This is where the shipping density decreases, leaving the business shipping costs to go up.

The challenge right now in the supply chain management world is epitomized no better than by the destruction of shipping density. The successful companies are those that embrace the ability for logistics and supply chain managers to use technology like the supply chain digital twin to streamline and improve their logistics practices to drive down the costs of their supply chain and ultimately increase the business profitability.

 

 

Design, software

How Augmented Reality Is Being Used in Home Decor

Augmented reality or AR is growing at a compound annual growth of 24.4% and is predicted to be worth $950 million by the end of next year. This technology may seem futuristic, but in reality it’s being used in a variety of different markets. From construction to maintenance, AR is able to solve problems and make processes faster and easier. 

One unlikely candidate for this type of technology is the home decor and renovation sector. While a home remodel might not strike you as a space to integrate digital content with the real world, there are many innovative apps that are doing just that. 

Augmented reality apps allow you to do a variety of things, from see how furniture will look in your apartment to test out paint colors to measure the room and create a floorplan. These AR apps make the process quick, easy and attainable to anyone not just contractors and interior designers. 

 

How Do These AR Apps Work in Your Home?

Each app has a different set of directions based on its intent, but in general they can be figured out in a few steps. First you’ll be selecting the feature you want. This could be a new sink for the kitchen or a rug for the living room. Some apps allow you to choose specific products you can buy and others give you generic items to test out.

Once the product is chosen, you’ll scan the room with the camera on your phone. This will give the AR software an idea of the original space. Often times the app will direct you to scan the floor so it can gauge the depth of the room. 

When the room is scanned, you’ll be able to view how your feature looks in the home. You can adjust its size and position to how you would normally have it and see if it will fit in the space. 

animation of augmented reality in home decor

 

7 AR Apps You Can Try in Your Home

Not all AR apps are the same. They each have a different specialty. To help you decide which is best for your home, ApartmentGuide has a list of seven augmented reality apps for the home. 

Build.com

This is an app made for remodeling the home. It specializes in home appliances and allows you to experiment with different finishes and styles. 

magicplan

This AR app will help you measure how many square feet you have in your home. This is helpful when renovating or viewing a new home. It will create a floorplan so that you know exactly how much space you have to work with.

Graham & Brown

This company lets you visualize a new paint color or wallpaper on your wall without sampling it yourself. This app will also estimate how much wallpaper or paint you’ll need to complete the projects which save you money and time. 

ColorSnap

ColorSnap is perfect for those painting a room. It allows you to conceptualize a color palette and will also suggest complementary colors to try. 

DecorMatters

This app is made for redecorating your space. It allows you to view home furniture, decorations and art from popular stores like IKEA, Target, Overstock, WestElm, Crate&Barrel, Living Spaces and Ashley. 

roOomy

If you want to stage a room, roOomy allows you to create a custom design. This app is targeted towary homebuyers, renters and real estate agents.

Housecraft

This app allows you to see furniture in a space, but only provides generic furniture. This works well for people who don’t want to be pressured into purchasing anything right away. 

Video

5 Great Tips for Starting a YouTube Channel at Home

Whether you’re looking to connect with other like-minded people, grow an audience as a career, or just want to express yourself with something you’re passionate about, starting your own YouTube channel can be one of the best ways to move forward. We live in an age of content, and it’s not surprising you might want to try the path out for yourself.

However, getting started with your own YouTube channel is no easy feat, and while a lot of creating content is trial and error to see what works and what doesn’t, today we’re going to explore the top five tips you need to know to get off to the best start.

Get the Essentials

The amazing thing about YouTube is the fact that anybody can do it. All you need at a real basic level is a camera and a microphone. When you’re starting out, even just an iPhone or smartphone will be enough, but there are a few pieces of basic equipment that can help you improve your quality from the word ‘go.’

Things like gimbal stabilizers, tripods, external microphones, lenses, decent lighting equipment, and memory cards are all fantastic things that will help you make content easier. Don’t forget you’re also going to need some form of video editing equipment!

Provide Valuable Content

When you’re going through your content during the editing process, you need to make sure every single second of content is providing value to your viewers. You might spend days, weeks, or even months creating and recording content, but if it doesn’t fit into the final cut, don’t put it in or try and force it. Create a plan you can follow.

The idea of creating content is the fact that you enjoy yourself, and you keep your viewers engaged in what you have to offer. Of course, if your style is to be all over the place, that’s also fine!

Quality Audio is Key

So many YouTubers starting out will focus on making sure their video is the highest possible quality, and everything looks as good as it can be. However, it’s important to remember that the audio is just as, if not more, important. If people can’t hear what you’re saying and can’t listen to your ideas, they’re not going to be able to connect with you.

Whether you need to invest in a proper microphone or learn how to sound proof a room, there are plenty of ways to improve the quality of your audio easily. Again, just keep it in mind as you’re creating content!

Start Small, Build Up

Just because you’ve started making content, you don’t need to splash on expensive equipment and fancy editing software that costs thousands of dollars. Start small with free software and experiment. Get to know the features and what it can do, and slowly build yourself up over time. This will help you learn the skills you need, rather than overwhelming yourself too quickly.

Use Other Social Media Channels

Just because you’re on YouTube, doesn’t mean you need to just stay on YouTube. Instead, start a Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram account to work alongside your YouTube channel. You can create other content throughout your day, and it will help you grow and interact with your audience, only resulting in more loyal viewers.

Summary

Whereas you can follow these tips to help you successfully get started on YouTube with your own channel, it’s important to remember that everyone’s journey is different, and you’ll need to think outside the box and, most importantly, be yourself!

Business, Marketing

5 Great Customer Retention Ideas That Work

An army of loyal customers is every company’s goal. Yet, it’s one that can be quite hard to accomplish. Here are 5 ideas for customer retention that work.

1. Know Your Business

Having your own business means much more than having a job and paying you salary. Your basic roles are in finance, administration, marketing, and the responsibility of personnel. You need to know what you can deal with yourself and which parts you’re going to need help with. One person can rarely succeed in all of these to get the best results.

Many companies are run by people with great business acumen, yet they fail because they don’t have all the information they need to do their job. This includes a clear notion of marketing mix, market segment, customer service, target markets, product selection, promotional activities and pricing tactics. You need a well-devised business plan if you want to succeed. This will help you make the right decisions.

2. Pay for Good Training

Train your employees to always be available. Retail has always been about interacting with shoppers. Yet, staffs are often so busy multitasking that they ignore customers who are obviously looking for help. They need to be trained and taught that no task is more important than paying attention to customers because customers pay their salary.

If you have a larger company, you should train your managers to be the best salespersons. A manager probably won’t recognize, analyze, and give direction when a sale is lost if he or she doesn’t have the background knowledge to begin with. A good manager will know how to make a sale.

Finally, teach your managers how to train their associates. It can be that staffs are promoted to managerial positions not based on skills, but on how long they’ve been working for a company, and the disastrous results soon follow. They need proper retail sales training themselves if they’re to manage effectively. It takes more than criticism or praise. Both approaches can create a lot of damage to your staff that are left adrift.

3. Get a Reliable POS System

A full-scale POS solution like Aloha POS is of paramount importance to customer retention. It will allow you to efficiently manage all your back office activities. Reliable systems are rich in features to optimize inventory management and take the guesswork out of purchasing decisions.

A POS system addresses the needs of businesses in many sectors and industries, including grocery stores, convenience stores, apparel, fashion, and sporting goods, liquor, gift shops, and specialty stores.

Among its advantages are the following:

  • Top-Notch Order Fulfillment
  • Robust Email Marketing
  • eCommerce
  • Inventory Management

You’ll be able to attract more customers by offering better value. You’ll also be able to offer more opportunities to shop at your store. It’s your job to give your customers what they want, because if you don’t, they will stop doing business with you. The products and services you provide should be in tune with customers’ needs and wants.

4. Sustain your Unique Image

To attract more customers and understand them better, develop a unique image. This image is important and is a function of your marketing materials and efforts. Customers create their perceptions of your store from your name, location, web site appearance, products, prices, visual merchandising, displays, signs, business cards, customer service, newsletters, advertising material, and anything else that relates to your business.

Try to think like your customers do; buy, show, sell, and give them interesting information (not only what’s interesting to you). Your success is determined by the customer.

To maximize your online revenue, you need to develop a website where to sell your products. You can build the site yourself if you are familiar with HTML or similar programs and codes. It is essential that you determine the niche of your website. Some niches are less lucrative than others. You have to find a balanced relationship between passion and profit until you start making money.

For many years, many people have been selling private label products through sites like Amazon. The profit potential of the Amazon FBA program is huge. You need to make a product, choose a manufacturer and start selling this product on Amazon. The first step is having the right keywords. To obtain long-term customers, you need to acquire them to begin with, and this isn’t very easy either.

Also ,use multiple channels for customer service. This creates an opportunity to create an omni-channel experience, where the customer’s experience with the brand is consistent across different channels and devices. This brings about loyalty and greater customer satisfaction because it makes your customer service offer user-friendlier, which is exactly what your brand needs when your customers need assurance they will be served well, as always.

5. Market Based on Good Customer Experiences

Share any and all positive customer experiences with your brand with as many other people as possible. Collect customer feedback and share your reviews to inform your customers of the perks that your company can provide. Sharing “success” stories across an omni-channel communication system will be viable because new customers tend to trust old and loyal ones more than advertising. To maximize value, leverage these interactions effectively.

Creating customer loyalty is no easy feat, but know that customers are driven by their goals like all people and they will be loyal to the company that can meet their needs. If your competitor offers them a better deal, their positive experience with your company doesn’t matter. The customer will go for the better deal.

To build customer loyalty, you need to be aware of your customers’ needs very well. A multi-channel service system is one of the best ways to stay connected with your customers, particularly if they need help with something. Your customers will have better access to your service staff, which will generate a higher number of customer interactions. The more often you can interact with your customers, the better your chances of influencing their experience and retaining them.

Tech, Wearables

Curious to Know What to Do With AR and VR? Look to the Artists

Most businesses are connected to the concept of using virtual and augmented reality in some capacity, and while the possibilities may seem endless, that concept also becomes quite overwhelming. Nailing down exactly what VR and AR can do for you may mean looking to where the technology is being used in its most creative form. At museums around the world, artists are stretching the limitations of this tech and it may be that through understanding their concepts one can find how best to employ these tools for their own purposes.

As museums create immersive concepts, pieces that allow for greater depth, and even some ways to change history, it’s crucial to consider what the best way to use this tech may be exploited for you. AR and VR are about to explode into everything from marketing and shopping to education and entertainment, and before that happens in earnest, it’s best to find out how you might explore the tech for your own purposes.

Below, Invaluable has an infographic showing innovations in AR and VR from museums around the world. All it takes is a small amount of imagination to see how this might connect to your and your own professional journey.

General, Hardware, software

Apple’s Fascinating 43-Year Journey From Small Project To $1 Trillion in Valuation

Is there any more fascinating success story in the world of tech than that of Apple Inc.? What began as a small project in the back of Steve Jobs’ parents’ garage has turned into the first trillion dollar company in the world.

It all started with Apple I, the first Apple product released by Jobs and Apple’s co-founder Steve Wozniak in 1976. Following the success of Apple’s first two personal computers – Apple I and Apple II – the company went public in 1980, and its founders became multi-millionaires overnight.

The 1980s saw the debut of the first personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI), named Lisa, as well as the release of the Macintosh computer.

What followed, however, was a series of setbacks for Apple, including Jobs’ resignation in 1985. If you want to know what happened next on Apple’s journey to $1 trillion, take a look at the comprehensive infographic below by The Watchstrap.co detailing the success story of the biggest tech company in the world.

 

software

The Masters of NoSQL Group: Redis vs MongoDB

MongoDB and Redis are totally different NoSQL databases. They each have different performance capabilities and the Application Programming Interfaces are both different.

The two have gained massive following for being among the most popular solutions for data storage. The key point is that both technologies deliver superior performance through a simple structural interface.

The superiority of each database solution lies in the unique needs of each development team. We are quite sure that most teams will boast of how grander their choice is than the other. Well, here comes the kicker; Redis and MongoDB are both awesome.

In case you don’t take my words, here are facts to base my argument. The distinctive user cases are what exemplify each database solution over the other.

User Case One: Storage of Session Cache

Redis uses flexible data storage technique similar to python dictionary or a hash. Storing its data in main memory makes Redis an extremely fast database technology. Where teams want to store and access temporary data on the fly, Redis becomes the appropriate tool.

MongoDB uses schema-free data storage procedure similar to JSON documents. The storage here can only be accessed through MongoDB’s query language which has a striking resemblance with SQL.

Session caching involves a computer user setting up memory unit that stores session caching for site visitors. Session caching data is only meant to be temporary. In most cases, the cached storage will hold pages and items that website visitors have clicked for 24 hours.

In this case, Redis is the best choice. Mainly because such data is temporary and when there comes its needs; it should be assessed quickly and with a faster technology solution.

The fast response time and simple lightweight structure of Redis makes it an exemplary solution for hot data.

User Case Two: Scaling

Redis is limited growth by the amount of RAM in a system. But MongoDB would easily support multi-threading. In case you plan to scale up in future; it is advisable to use MongoDB because it supports multiple scaling methods. It is however possible to scale up database software using Redis but the process is more complex and capital intensive. When it comes to MongoDB, the process is quite simple and concise.

Hence, you can easily notice the clarity of the different ways that the Redis Vs MongoDB user cases fit various needs.

User Case three: Query Flexibility

MongoDB remains to be the most effective data storage solution for querying data in a variety of ways. The schema –structure for data storage offers the user a flexible for data storage in a variety of ways. In fact, you do not even have to create table fields.

MongoDB also comes with a set of querying tools that gives users the best opportunity to query data in different ways.

User Case four: Performance

The performance of Redis is unrivaled. A user needs the fastest data storage solution and when it comes to choosing speed and reliability over other user cases.  Redis provides unmatched support for performance.

However, the speed of MongoDB is also good. But the gap between performance of both Redis and MongoDB is unmatched.  

Conclusion

Now that you are armed with familiarity of different user cases for each data storage solution; you can easily make an informed decision on the best solution for your software needs.

 

 

Wearables

20 Coolest Things You Can Do With The Apple Watch

If we’re talking about companies that have consistently lived up to their marketing promises, it’s impossible not to mention Apple Inc. Just one look at the latest Apple Watch and it becomes clear why this tech giant has garnered a worldwide following that few other companies can rival.

Have you ever forgotten to put your phone on silent and ended up embarrassing yourself in the middle of an important meeting? With an Apple Watch on your wrist, situations like this one will become a thing of the past because all you need to do to reject a call is cover the screen of the smartwatch with the palm of your hand.

Apple Watch also allows you to ditch your phone entirely and check your messages and emails on the go, shop online, and keep track of your fitness progress – to name but a few.

To find out what other cool things you can do with your Apple Watch, check out the infographic below by The Watchstrap.co.

Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin: A Contemporary Way to Make Payments

While bitcoin has been around for nearly 10 years, it is still a relatively new phenomenon and its use in the retail industry has been somewhat slow. But one of the most frequently asked questions by folks who’ve just heard of bitcoin is,”Where can I use it? What can I buy with it?”

Online Shopping

While many online shoppers are used to making payments via fiat gateways,there are some online retailers that have moved along with the cryptocurrency tide. Although major retailers such as Amazon do not accept bitcoin payments, there are some workarounds that circumvent that.Meanwhile sites such as Overstock, Newegg and Gyft have integrated bitcoin into their payment systems.

Digital Purchases

The gaming community is likely one of the most demanding group of people out there.Since blockchain technology gained traction,some video game retailers jumped at the chance to attract its tech savvy community.You can now purchase video games in many sites and pay with bitcoin.Some good examples are microsoft, g2a and gamesplanet. You can also pay for your application subscriptions such as Tunnelbear and Namecheap by funding your accounts with bitcoin. With the value of bitcoin plummeting  in the recent past,most companies now use gateways such as bitpay to process payments in order to safeguard buyers and sellers from volatility.

Travel Services

Are you planning to go for a vacation or business trip? If so bitcoin might come in handy.You can book your flight through cheap air.An added advantage is that when you pay with bitcoin you don’t have to fill the address form thus saving time.If you are looking to purchase a specialized vacation package with tours,cruises, plus pay for it through bitcoin payment, Ships And Trips travel are ready to serve you. Another company, Expedia, is known for offering competitive rates when it comes to travel services plus they support booking hotels with bitcoin.

There is no denying that bitcoin as a mode of payment will improve over time. With many people getting wary of giving out their private information before transactions, bitcoin is surely in the forefront in terms of payments that offer anonymity. Despite the fluctuations and legal woes,the future of bitcoin as a payment method is getting brighter by the day.So the next time you purchase something, try out bitcoin.

Real Estate, software

How Augmented Reality is Transforming the Construction Industry

The building and construction industry has started appreciating the benefits of technology. Though it has taken quite some time, the construction industry is prepared to capitalize on technological advances just like any other industry.

The construction industry is now going paperless. Big blueprints, plans, and endless forms are being done away with. Construction workers and foremen are becoming familiar with the use of smartphones and tablets.

Construction records and data are now being stored on hard drives, cloud, and servers. The entire industry is becoming paperless. This technological advancement has taken years before being incorporated into the construction industry. In fact, the construction processes and systems had remained unchanged right from the 1940s.

Currently, things such as automation, mobile computing, cloud-based data analytics, and artificial intelligence are being used. These components are not only boosting margins but also driving efficiency. Besides, there is the use of drones to gather information from areas inaccessible to humans.

Augmented reality is expected to really change the construction industry. This is possible if only construction companies embrace it.

Augmented Reality

AR (Augmented Reality) has some close relationship with Virtual reality. Augmented reality is becoming more and more useful in offering solution to daily activities. It is evident in surgical procedures and social media filters.

Augmented reality takes up the virtual world elements and integrates them to the real world. As a result, it enhances everything you feel, hear and see. Augmented reality is aimed at enhancing our real world. It adds touch feedback, sounds, and graphics into the natural world.

How does it work?

Augmented Reality works in three technologies which are:

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping( SLAM)

SLAM is focused on solving complicated Augmented Reality simulation problems. It is neither a specific software nor an algorithm. It is a group of algorithms which solves both localization mapping and simultaneous problems.

Recognition Based

This is also referred to as Marker-based Augmented Reality. Here cameras are used to discover objects or visual markers, for instance, NFT makers and QR codes to reveal an overlay whenever a device identifies a marker. It makes use of cameras to differentiate a natural project from a marker. This gives the user a chance to assess all the object’s details.

Location-based

Location-based is also referred to as markerless. It uses an accelerometer, velocity meter, and digital compass to offer data in relation to augmented reality visualizations and location which are activated by the inputs. This Augmented reality technology is becoming more popular now that it can be used right from your smartphone. It is used in searching nearby services and mapping directions.

Augmented reality applications in the Construction industry

There are many ways in which Augmented reality will be applied in the construction industry. Below are the ways through which this technology will benefit the construction industry:

Accuracy

Accuracy is very crucial in construction activities. First of all, accuracy saves money and time. Augmented reality is going to provide exact measurements and specific details in construction plans. Engineers, Architects and project managers are to get the needed data for better speed and accuracy.

Saves time and money

Time and money are important in construction. AR is expected to save not only time but also money. It will curb any need for brand new architectural plans, that indeed is time-consuming and expensive. This technology, allows you to modify virtual plans and 3D models prior to construction.

Project management

Augmented reality does not condole any guesswork. This technology will do away with manual drawings and records. It is expected to deliver accurate images and create whole spaces. Not only planning but also managing projects are to become a time saving and efficient.

Design Analysis

AR is going to induce accuracy in design analysis. Architects and other construction professionals will go through a project to correct possible errors. No guesswork will be carried out. Thorough inspections are going to be carried out in the finished building to get rid of any simple mistake.

Actual Construction

Construction processes are bound to take the least time possible. A construction expert can access a project’s virtual model easily. The smooth flow of construction processes is expected to make companies save money and time.

Construction safety

Safety is very important during construction. Workers at the construction site need to be protected at all costs. This is a mandate that is going to be quite easy with the application of Augmented reality technologies. Augmented reality emphasizes on equipment training effectiveness to ensure safety is upheld during construction. Besides, AR is to ensure instant access to every worker at the construction site.

Change is inevitable

It is evident that important changes are set to be incorporated in the construction industry. The industry is to undergo a great revamp. Augmented reality is arguably one of the things at the center of the revamp. The use of tablets and smartphones in construction is going to become popular.