Atlantic Business Technologies, Inc.

Category: Strategy & Design

  • 4 Questions That Matter for the Mobile App You Want the Most

    Mobile apps are all the rage in the digital marketing world. At this moment, you are most likely rolling your eyes at such an obvious statement. But there’s a good reason apps have only increased in popularity. They help businesses make direct connections with their audience. There are mobile apps that help you do everything. You can manage your social media presence, book a hotel room, or even place an order at a restaurant. But how much do you actually know about mobile apps? Have you been pondering creating an app for your business? Is that the right call?

    What Do We Know About Mobile Users?

    Smartphones and tablets are seemingly everywhere. Since 2011, smartphone ownership has risen 35%. Now, 77% of the American population uses a smartphone. When it comes to apps, the numbers are intense. The average smartphone user has 80 apps downloaded on their phone and accesses at least 40 of them a month.

    It is not too much of a stretch to say that Americans are tightly connected to their smartphones, as users spend about 3.5 hours a day on them. So, it looks like you have a ready-made audience for your mobile app idea. But hold on. There are a few questions you need to ask before you begin building your mobile app.

    4 Critical Questions to Ask Before Building Your First Mobile App

    At Atlantic BT, we’ve had the good fortune of working with clients in a wide variety of fields, helping solve both marketing and IT challenges. Lately, many of our conversations with clients have been focused on the creation of mobile apps. We’ve noticed several recurring questions needed to define the scope of the project. To help you develop the best app possible, and do it quickly and efficiently, we’ve gathered these insights for you.

    1. Should You Build a Mobile App or a Mobile Friendly/Responsive Web Site?

    Sometimes, you don’t need a mobile app. Instead, a mobile friendly version of your site (or a responsive website) will do just fine. Mobile friendly and responsive sites are great options if you simply want to optimize the display of your existing web content on mobile devices. By contrast, mobile apps work best for specific, targeted actions you want your audience to take (i.e. make a reservation at a local restaurant). Mobile apps also take advantage of functions on your phone, such as the GPS, camera, microphone, and more. Knowing what you want your users to accomplish is an important question to answer before you jump into building a mobile app.

    2. Android, iOS, or Both?

    For mobile apps, there are two leading platforms: iOS (Apple) and Android. In today’s mobile environment, you need to develop apps for both platforms. Only developing for iOS is a sure-fire way to tick off your Android audience. Then, you’ll be stuck saying over and over again “Yes, we are currently working on an Android version and hope to release it soon.”

    3. What Will Your Users Do With the App?

    The most successful mobile apps are focused on helping users solve a specific problem. Your app should be no different. Ask yourself what kinds of problems you want to solve for your users. Then build your app to solve that problem. Applications that attempt to do too many things are often not as well received as highly focused apps. A good user experience (UX) process will help you identify the core needs of your mobile app and ensure that those needs are addressed during the building process.

    4. How Will You Update Content in Your Mobile App?

    Mobile app development isn’t a one-time activity. You will need to keep your content up-to-date and make improvements in the app as the platforms grow and change. Build apps on open content management systems using technical frameworks that can adapt over time. Anything less puts you at risk for a dead app as conditions change.

    Get Started with Mobile App Development

    There are many factors to consider when creating a mobile app. At Atlantic BT, we’ve helped companies create innovative and engaging mobile apps that benefited both them and their customers. Our team of consultants, UX strategists, mobile developers and marketers will work with you to help you build the mobile app of your dreams.

  • 7 Mistakes That will Make Your High Seas Web Project Sink

    Most institutional web development projects are unsuccessful. This is an unfortunate reality that many people are loath to talk about. Surveys show that many teams choose to abandon their web project outright. Even those completed often go over budget or aren’t launched on time. Many executives report displeasure with the websites and apps they end up with. Sad.
     
    We’ve been in this industry for 20 years. Plenty of experience has taught us that there are a handful of predictable reasons at play here. These all gather together to throw a web programming project off the rails. Here are 7 all-too-common mistakes you can avoid with careful planning.

    #1 Not Getting All Stakeholders on Board

    When you’re setting out to sail across the open sea, you want to know that everyone on board the ship is on the same page. Do all crew members understand their responsibilities? Is everyone following the same map? If you asked each person why they got on the ship in the first place, would they have the same answer? If it’s all systems go, then you’re in good shape. The team is ready to conquer any storms that may come their way, and celebrate with rum at your destination.
     
    You can see how this is a metaphor for web development projects, yes? Imagine if only some of your crew mates supported the ship’s journey. That could leave you at a stand still in the middle of the ocean. In the same regard, if only a few managers or departments are on board with your web development plan? Well, you’re asking for trouble. You’ll have difficulty gathering all the pieces you need to get from Point A to Point B, with success. Consider the content, input, and budget resources your site requires to make it to the finish line. Those who don’t see the value in the project will be unlikely to offer up those necessities. A ship without sails goes nowhere.

    #2 Pursuing Goals That Aren’t Clearly Defined

    As you embark on your seafaring web adventure, you need to know what the planned outcome of your journey will be. Are you aiming to reach an out of grasp location? Or do you have your eye on some serious treasure?
     
    Web programming can help you transform an entire organization. It can give you tremendous advantages in the market by expanding your audience and reach. It can also shave huge amounts of money from your expenses, keeping your gold chest full. For any of these things to happen, though, you have to have a clear idea of how you will achieve them. What outcome, specifically, will prove that the end result is the success you aimed for? Without knowing what those end measurements will look like, you could end up lost. Unable to stay the course, you’ll drift on the waves, shifting from one task or priority to another.

    #3 Letting the Project Creep in Scope

    Project creep is something we warn all our web development clients about. It’s the band of pirates, looting everything you have. Or the whirlpool of doom, dragging your entire ship down into the depths of darkness. It’s Moby Dick, eating you. These shenanigans can, and should be, avoided.
     
    There are so many things you could do with your website. The possibilities seem endless and exciting. As a result, it’s tempting to keep adding new features and ideas to the mix. You may find yourself drifting from your original vision. The whole, entire ocean is at your disposable! How could you not want to explore?
     
    Slow down there, Odysseus. The occasional edit or course correction can be helpful, sure. But once your project becomes unrecognizable, it’s going to cost a lot of time and money to get it back on track. And a Cyclops is going to devour at least one of your guys, and that’s on you. 

    #4 Rushing the Web Development Process

    Once you have a good thing going, excitement will naturally set in. This will be particularly noticeable among business owners and organizational executives. The possibilities associated with a big web development effort will be astounding. So, they will become eager. They’ll want to see their vision come to life as soon as possible. Full steam ahead.
     
    Remember what happened to the Titanic when executives decided to show off? You can’t go ahead and fire up the boilers all willy nilly. A great deal of planning, design, and testing has to take place, even if it seems like everything is fine. Rushing the work or failing to provide detailed feedback could lead to big problems. Duplicated work, for example, could waste everyone’s’ time. Or an unforeseen iceberg could sink it all.

    #5 Ignoring Customer or User Concerns

    Relevant new concepts and web designs will pop up as your project moves forward. You need to be testing and re-evaluating these additions consistently. As you do so, it can be tempting to ignore feedback from customers or users. Your passengers are not making any decisions on this journey. They’re just along for the ride. Why should their opinions matter?
     
    Come on, you scalawag! Your users are the ones you’re designing for, yes? They’re the whole reason you began this trip in the first place. They wanted to get somewhere and chose you to help them. The feedback they provide can be invaluable. You should address any concerns they may have. Listen for comments that come up more than once. If someone says there is a hole in the ship, they shouldn’t have to be a boat expert to report that observation. Always listen to concerns that could affect the successful outcome of your project. The source of the concern is irrelevant.

    #6 Settling For Low-Quality Web Design Work

    Web development is more about power and programming than aesthetics. A pretty ship is pointless if it can’t float. But, that doesn’t mean visuals and interfaces don’t matter. A strong foundation deserves a sleek appearance. Without it, users won’t feel compelled to look into what you’ve created.
     
    If your finished website or apps don’t look sleek and streamlined, well, yikes. You’re going to have a hard time getting others to engage, or climb on board, so to speak. However, don’t allow blind devotion to icon and colors ignore the necessities of a strong web design. Remember, again, the Titanic? They thought too many lifeboats made the deck look ugly. That was a terrible, terrible decision. Find the balance between giving thought and care to the aesthetic of your site and making sure that NO ONE DIES.

    #7 Trying to Follow Unrealistic Schedules or Budgets

    Good web development takes time, money, and effort. Anyone who tells you otherwise is suffering from scurvy. Don’t undermine your project by not providing the funds it needs to succeed. A website that will serve you and your consumers long term, is a worthy investment.
     
    Another stumbling block leaving your project in an uncomfortable position, is unrealistic demands. If your crew is hard at work but you lack patience, the problems will be two-fold. First, the job will not be well done, as it’s not complete. Jumping the gun leads to lackluster, rushed, work. This will also diminish team morale. Then, it’s only a matter of time before you have a mutiny on your hands and a weak ship to try to escape on. Low funding and irrational expectations? That’s shortsighted and will almost always cost you more in the long run.

    Start Your Web Development Project Off on the Right Foot

    If you want to stretch your sea legs and get your web project started on the right foot, here’s some advice. Work with a creative team who knows what it takes to get the job done. They’ll gather the right information, craft the ideal map, and keep everyone sailing forward.
     
    Contact Atlantic BT today to schedule a consultation with our experts. We know a thing or two about the ocean.

     

     

  • Every Buyer’s Path Leads to the Stronger Content You Need

    Imagine for a moment that you could step into a meeting with a potential customer or client and know exactly what they were thinking. Wouldn’t that make it a lot easier to close the deal? Can’t you imagine how magical it would be? Oh, the content you could throw their way. Every word tailored to their specific needs. The look of shock and joy on their faces. What divine bliss is this?

    Alas, we haven’t invented a telepathic helmet here at Atlantic BT. We did try but in the end, we don’t know what we were thinking. We did hope to be the first to make a pair of glasses that gives you ESP. But, Mark Zuckerburg already has those and is now using them to great aplomb. We digress.

    Despite the lack of these fantastical tools, there is a way to predict what your users need and want. Customers follow a predictable thought pattern called The Buyer’s Journey. This happens every time they visit your website. Once you understand it, you can create content that leads them from one step to the next. Guiding their path can result in sales or an appointment.

    Naturally, different buyers are going to move at their own pace, with their own unique quirks. However, they will almost always follow a three-step process that begins with awareness, moves to research, and ends with a decision.

    To show you how this works in the real world, let’s give an example. We have an adult who is searching for a dental solution. Here is where The Buyer’s Journey might take them.

    Awareness

    The first thing that happens on The Buyer’s Journey is a realization. The buyer discovers they have a need. This could be for themselves, their friends and family, or even an entire organization. One way or another, they suddenly find themselves on the search for information, and possibly a product or service.

    In our example, we have an adult who has noticed pain in their mouth. So, they might start searching for things like: “symptoms of sensitive gums” or “why does sugar irritate my teeth?” They know they have a problem, so they start looking for answers.

    Research

    In the research phase, potential buyers begin looking at companies, products, and services that can solve the problem they are having. In other words, they are looking at possible solutions without committing to any of them.

    Our adult with dental concerns may begin comparing different dentists, or checking out specific mouthwash or toothpaste products. They’ve moved beyond the source of the issue and have started investigating potential answers.

    Decision

    The decision step in The Buyer’s Journey speaks for itself. But, it’s still worth pointing out that people like to be reassured that they’re doing the right thing. So, they’ll read testimonials, check out reviews, and look at things like money-back guarantees. They’ll also want to know if there are any big obstacles (like high prices or restrictive terms) that may get in their way.

    Assuming they want the solution strongly enough, they’ll decide to move forward and make a purchase.

    How to Use The Buyer’s Journey for Stronger Content

    Once you know what your customers have on their minds, it’s easier to create content that appeals to them. First and foremost, you must understand your audience. Recall our adult looking for answers about their own mouth pain. The questions they have, and the solutions they would find, might be different compared to a parent who needed the same thing for their child.

    When you know the person and the problem, you can tailor your blog posts, landing pages, and even social updates accordingly. You want to guide buyers through each step of their journey. Here’s how that might look:

    • For buyers who are in the awareness stage, you’ll want to talk about the “pain points” associated with their current condition. This spurs them to keep looking for solutions.
    • During the research step, you can compare your services with your competitors. Now, potential customers are more informed (and amenable to buying from you).
    • Finally, you can help them make a good decision by providing social proof in the form of strong reviews, industry certifications, and other supporting materials.

    Put all these together and you have everything you need to move buyers through your sales funnel. In the end, you will have helped them find the solution that best fits their needs.

    Is Your Digital Marketing Strategy Speaking to Buyers on Their Terms?

    At Atlantic BT we build great websites. More importantly, we generate online marketing plans that get real-world results because they move buyers to action. If you could use that kind of focus on your company website, now is a great time to contact us and schedule a free consultation.

  • Which Valuable Website Metrics You Should Focus on and Why

    Digging into a web analytics package can be, for the average business owner, a bit like drinking from a fire hose. It doesn’t take much for the statistics and ideas to become overwhelming. With brutal force, you’re getting smashed in the face with numbers and charts and lines that go up and down. It looks like chaos. No, it feels like chaos. This is more daunting if you aren’t sure what you should be looking for in the first place. How can you know which set of website metrics matter the most?
     
    However, you can find real insights within your analytics package. They’re easy to spot if you know what to focus on. You can zero in on the important trends and results that matter. The kind that make or break your online marketing campaigns.
     
    With that in mind, we want to show you which website metrics you should focus on and why. Generally speaking, they fall into two different groups. We’ll break down each one.

    Measuring Traffic

    The first set of web analytics that matter have to do with bringing traffic to your website. After all, what can you do if people can’t find your company online? You can’t sell products or services over the web, or create conversions of any kind. You have designed your website to do all those things and then some. But users have to find you, first.

    Most business owners peek at their overall visit statistics from time to time. But, we encourage you to go a little deeper and look at things like:

    • Unique Sessions – How many real visitors are you getting to your website each month?
    • Organic Traffic Sources – What keywords are users searching for that helps them to find your website? What websites are generating links to yours?
    • Paid Traffic – How many visits are you getting from your internet advertising campaigns? What is your cost-per-visit?
    • Mobile Traffic – What percentage of your website visits originate from smart phones and tablets? Are there certain devices that are more popular with your customers than others?

    These statistics will all tell you if you’re doing a good job of acquiring visitors or not. As a result, you’ll have some leading indicators into your future sales or conversions.

    Following Engagement

    As important as traffic statistics are, they don’t tell you the whole story. More engaged visitors are the ones who are likely to do business with you. Good news. There are a handful of statistics you can look at to measure visitor engagement.

    • Bounce Rates – How many visitors are coming to your website and then leaving without clicking any links or taking any action?
    • Exit Rates – At what point are visitors leaving your website? Which pages have the most departures?
    • Page views Per Visit – Are most visitors hanging around to look at multiple pages and pieces of information? Generally, more activity is a higher sign of interest.
    • Conversion Rates – Which offers are visitors responding to? Are you getting enough leads or buyers to justify the resources devoted to your organic and advertising campaigns?

    Attracting traffic without generating conversions won’t get you anywhere. You can’t get leads or sales until you have people coming to your website. So, both sides of your web analytics matter. Don’t make the mistake of overlooking one type of indicator over another.

    Are You Getting Enough From Your Website?

    If you feel like you aren’t getting all you could be from your website, you’re not alone. It might be time to work with a web development team that knows how to turn your plans and ideas into results. Contact the web design and online marketing experts at Atlantic BT, today. Let’s set up a free consultation and see exactly how we can help.

  • Should You Spend Big On An Advanced CRM?

    Recently, we came out as pro website and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) integration. There are a few reasons why. But, when you boil it all down, one clear advantage stands out. The ability to both manage data effectively, and take advantage of sales opportunities.
     
    But, what if you’re in the middle of planning your web development project and haven’t decided on a CRM? In fact, you’re not even sure you want to spend the money on a CRM platform (like Salesforce) yet. Is it worth the extra bite out of your budget?
     
    It goes without saying that no answer will suffice for every company and situation. What works for one of our clients wouldn’t be a smart move for another. And, the bigger your business is, the more you can expect to spend on an advanced CRM.
     
    We’ve worked with hundreds of clients, including many corporations and large institutions. You don’t know what we’ve seen…but we’d like to tell you. Here we offer some guidance for you as you consider whether a CRM is a sound investment or not. These are a few things we would encourage you to think about.

    Evaluate the Real Advantages

    Slick presentations can be distracting when you’re evaluating advanced CRM systems. We don’t mean there’s too much hype around the products. But the focus should be on what works best for you. Do the features and benefits offered line up with your existing business plans? In other words, don’t consider everything the CRM could do. Instead, look at the different ways your team is likely to put it to good use. Then you can figure out whether those advantages are worth the cost. Having it for the sake of having it, doesn’t benefit anyone.

    Ignore Some Features

    To piggy-back on our first piece of advice, keep in mind that CRMs are not one size fits all. Any fully-functional CRM is going to have some features your business won’t need or use any time soon. If those features make a significant impact on the cost, and you won’t take advantage of them, then it may be a waste. At the very least, compare the different pricing and package levels with thought and care. Then, you won’t invest in upgrades that are irrelevant to your situation.

    Compare the Costs

    Here you are, comparing the different versions of the CRM you’re considering. You might even be looking into competing software solutions. As you do so, see if you can make some educated predictions about the gains you’ll see from each one. Of course, you can’t peer into a crystal ball (or can you?!) and make hard assumptions. But, you may be able to figure out how likely it is the CRM will pay for itself in the coming months and years.

    Look at the Soft Benefits

    Business executives generally look at the costs and benefits of a CRM system via the numbers. But, don’t forget there are softer elements to the equation. What else does the investment provide, outside of financial gain? The right platform will save your team a great deal of time and cut down on data entry errors. It will also increase productivity and morale. These factors can carry more weight than the monetary ones. Finding the right balance between the two may tip your thinking in the right direction. Not every major business advantage shows up on a balance, but they do, without a doubt, add up.

    Are you looking for a web development and online marketing partner who can help you make the most of your technology? Contact the Atlantic BT team in North Carolina today, to schedule a free consultation.

     

  • How to Know Which Web Hosting Option is Best For You

    When you begin planning for your new website project, you’ll be making plenty of choices. You’ll decide what you want your new site to look like and which creative team you’ll hire to build it. But, even after all that, your decision making isn’t over. Where will your website actually live? Deciding which web hosting option is best for you, is the biggest choice you’ll make. 
     
    Most business owners and executives are aware they need web hosting. But, they tend to think of it as a technical service or a line item on an invoice. In reality, it’s a valuable piece of your web design and online marketing puzzle. It can affect your website’s speed, performance, and even security.
     
    Here we have a very brief overview of your web hosting options. Each one will include a couple of the advantages or disadvantages they may have. Let’s start with the choice you’ve most likely seen advertised the most.

    Shared Web Hosting

    Shared web hosting is self-explanatory. It’s the loading of many websites (sometimes dozens or even hundreds) onto the same server. Because sharing is caring.
     
    The advantage of this type of setup is its simplicity and cost effectiveness. When you see web hosting advertised for only a few dollars a month, it’s a shared hosting plan they are promoting. The disadvantage is the potential issues you can run into. There can be problems with malware. Page loading times can be slow if it’s too crowded on the server. “Neighbors”, whom you’re sharing with, running questionable websites, can also slow things down.

    Dedicated Web Hosting

    With a dedicated web hosting plan, your business rents server space by itself. That means you don’t have any other websites stored on the same drives. This speeds up your website and eliminates security concerns brought on by others.
     
    Unfortunately, dedicated web hosting packages can be very expensive. On top of that, if you end up needing more space than you’re getting, you’ll run into bottlenecks and outages. Then, you’ll have to move your website elsewhere, which can be costly and time-consuming. That’s not fun.

    Cloud Web Hosting

    A cloud hosting plan makes your site available from many different servers. It may even include various countries or continents. In an ideal world, that means it’s available from many sources at once. So, obviously, availability shouldn’t be an issue. Also, cloud hosting plans tend to be much more affordable. Compared to dedicated hosting plans, this option wins the budget race.
     
    However, there is a big downside to cloud web hosting. Heavy traffic or regional outages can bog down servers. Customers also have limited control over the back-end infrastructure. That’s why it’s important to work with a reliable provider or third party.

    Hybrid Hosting Packages

    Hybrid web hosting packages combine the best of all worlds for many organizations. They offer dedicated server space with continued  availability and backups from the Cloud.
     
    Other than speed and reliability, the big advantage here is price. Often, you can get hybrid hosting packages for much less than a dedicated server. And, you wouldn’t have to give up all that stability and reliability in the process.

    Need Help Finding the Right Resource for Your Business?

    Which hosting plan is right for you? A lot depends on your website, goals, and budget.

    At Atlantic BT, we don’t only help you build and launch a great website. We also ensure that every detail, web hosting included, is ideal. Your website will see strong performance, reliability, and online security. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We can get our team of designers and programmers working for you.