Yep. This is being telecast live from the office. We’ve been happy and smiling and making random movements since like, yesterday.
Why, you may ask are we still doing this? Because Nosheen bought a BlackBerry and that was reason enough for us to indulge in some cool GIF imagery.
Note- Let your eyes linger on this for more than a minute or two, and you will notice cheeky head shakes, some rather curious actions and most importantly smiles on all the faces 
There is no dearth of work in our office, especially when it comes to being creative. It was just one of those regular days when the idea of Thesis came in to being. In-fact, calling it an ‘idea’ is an understatement because it was actually a stroke of sheer brilliance which came from our very own creative designer, Mandy.
From Left to Right – Thesis(in the making) and Mandy
For about a span of 5 Days, co-workers passed by looking at Mandy as if he was painting the wall with ambiguous figures. From the first day, to the next day and the next the excitement kept building up, until their came a day, when we saw her, in full form.
And now, it is hard to pass by without a glance. In fact we know of some who come to hall under the garb of getting some coffee or playing pool, but what they really want to do is take a glance at her, in the hope that she may open her beautiful eyes and say those magical words-
Yep, the beauty of Thesis doesn’t lie in her voluptuous hair, or her eyes, or the way she seems to be gliding farther and farther away from you, but in her maker, her creator-
Thank you Mandy:)
Thesis (Greek θέσις Thesis) is a Primordial Goddess of Creation.
In this office full of hard-core programmers & savvy marketeers, crazy conversations aren’t hard to come by. So we decided to make a comic strip about some of them. Here we go!
Web user experience is the new and most powerful tool of marketing in the ecommerce age. With buyers and sellers both using virtual grounds to make the exchanges, marketing goes virtual too. Since we are dealing here with technology friendly customers, it all the more complicates the process of influencing them.
What is web user experience?
Web user experience is the perceived value of your company aka online store as a result of the exposure to your web presence (which includes banner ads, search engine ranking, your presence on other platforms – social media/ blog/ etc. along with your website).
What makes web user experience?
Functionality:
If we compare an online store to a physical store, functionality of the store would mean how does your customer locate, choose, pick and purchase what they need (out of your products range). If it is easy for them to shop on your store/ online store, then your store gets full marks on functionality and it rates high in user experience. Functionality includes, usability, interaction channel, payment convenience, site speed, site accessibility.
Psychology:
In a situation where there are many more stores selling the same products on the same price and same quality, there comes one more area which can be taken advantage of, or we can say that virtual stores has one more area to prove itself, it is called genuineness. If your website interacts with the psyche of your customers and instills trusts, you are a winner. Positive psychological influences can be accomplished by achieving data security, shipping policies and return policies.
Content:
When we speak of content, we speak of the aesthetic and visual side of website. The design, feel and the semblance of your website, helps create a good user experience. Design is a part of user experience but not the only thing that matters. Content includes design, style, communication and various methods of marketing. So make sure that you’re putting enough thought into it.
Web user experience is a combination of all the above mentioned factors and goes beyond the traditional marketing mix. All these factors are handled/ managed by designers and developers. And that’s why we say it is these warriors that fight the battle of user attention for the companies operating online.
CueBlocks is hiring 7 Magento & PHP Developers! Yeah, you read it right, not 1, not 2 but 7 in all! Here’s your chance to code with a dedicated team of developers who know their craft in Magento too.
If you’re ready to sweat it out with the big guns of eCommerce web development then CueBlocks (a Magento Solutions Partner Company) will be more than happy to see the fire in your belly.
One more thing: Not made Magento your top game yet? Don’t worry impress us with your PHP & Zend Framework know-how and we’ll train you in Magento.
Also, Opportunity rarely knocks again; so if you’re listening then act now by:
Sending your Resumes/ CVs at careers@CueBlocks.com
What is your content strategy? Do you have one?
Content strategy means jotting down everything about what your copy is, can or will be – before you start creating it. A well documented content strategy works like a shiny but very useful add on to your project reports/ propositions that your clients eagerly await every month.
Having said that, content strategy is more about sharpening your craft as a wirter than adding some bling to a client proposition. With a content strategy in mind, it is hard for anyone to lead astray into irrelevance while creating content for various web pages.
The key elements of any content strategy are:
Also, creating a content strategy involves answering three relevant questions:
When strategizing content creation for any website, particularly, eCommerce stores, keep the following in mind:
Usability
You write content to enhance the usability of the website. This includes directions, instructions, guidelines and even 404 error pages. Remember those buttons saying ‘Click here to read more’ or a ‘quick four step guide’. Explain how to place your order, or what can a user do if not buy immediately. These will enhance the usability of your website manifold.
Communication
Each word on your website represents you (the brand). Unless you are operating in a monopoly, you very much need to devise a message that your content should carry. Bringing forward the values that you as a business adhere to or offer, is and can be communicated through content.
Search Engines
Your content can make your website search-engine friendly. All the web pages that rank top for certain keywords should be optimized for that keyword. Placing the keywords repeatedly in your content, makes your web pages optimized for search engines which further lends visibility to your website.
Content refers to everything that conveys meaning. Build your content strategy with usability, communication and search engines as key elements and see your website where you want it to be – ranking top, right?
Attention writers – It’s time to go beyond the nexus of ideas, the web of words and break through the barrier of bias. Confused? What we mean is simply start editing and create that flawless piece of work which gets tweeted, shared and posted all around.
Editing doesn’t get the credit it deserves and many writers seem to share a love-hate relationship with their editors. Well it’s human nature to crib when you’re downgraded or criticized mercilessly by others. Love it or hate it, editing is vital and writers can’t do without it. So the best thing would be to light your own fire and get those glasses on to separate the grain from the chaff, as they say.
In other words, edit your work yourself!
How to proceed with editing?
Grammar – No matter how many goals a goalkeeper saves, people will always remember the ones he missed. There is no room for grammar mistakes for a writer. Go through your copy at least once to remove all the errors before you make it live.
Spell Check - It is important to do a spell-check to correct the typos and wrong spellings which your machine may have missed.
Sharpen the idea - When editing, shorten the sentences and clear the dust around the main idea. Remember writers are allowed to sway but not editors, therefore stick to the point.
Simplify words – Unless it’s about how to propel a rocket into orbit that you’re writing on, use words and sentences that readers can understand.
Structuring - Give a structure to your writing. Structure is important. When editing, divide your copy into relevant paragraphs and give spaces. This makes your copy look better.
Formating – Have you italicized the important words and separated all the clauses with comas? While editing insert punctuations, bullets, bold and italicized words, wherever necessary.
No one will ever complain when you have made something more readable and easier to understand.
Let us know what is your editing mantra or how you slice and dice your copy to get that perfect piece out there to be enjoyed. If you don’t have one then try this and share your experience.
Happy Editing!
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