We’ve talked about virtual reality and we’ve discussed augmented reality, but what’s up with their not-so-distant relative, mixed reality? According to Recode, mixed reality

“...lets the user see the real world (like AR) while also seeing believable, virtual objects (like VR). And then it anchors those virtual objects to a point in real space, making it possible to treat them as ‘real,’ at least from the perspective of the person who can see the MR experience.”

The Magic Leap One headset is a leading example of this exciting technology and how it can be used for app developers.  

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Is your website primed for lead generation and conversions? Let’s dive in and talk about what this important question really means - and how you can take concrete steps towards generating more leads right now.

Conversions: A Major Part of the Digital Marketing Puzzle

When all parts of your digital marketing strategy are working in harmony, something amazing happens. Your website is well-designed and responsive. It hosts stunning, informative content, which you amplify over email and on social media to extend your brand reach. Your on-page and off-page SEO are on-point, generating consistent, quality traffic to your site. Everything operating like clockwork - that’s a beautiful thing.

But even in cases like this, it’s still possible that you’re not seeing the conversion rate that you might be hoping for. And at this point, worry sets in.

After all, you may be thinking, what use is all of this traffic and brand engagement if people aren’t actually signing up or buying anything?

That’s a common worry - and the cause might not be as cut-and-dry as you (or your digital marketing team) would like it to be.

The reality is that a lot of inbound and outbound marketing strategies are about drawing eyes to your brand - and that’s where they end. For some marketing companies, their reasoning is that their job is done. They got eyes to your site - now it’s up to you to make the sale.

We take a different stance. Instead of adopting this walled-off approach, where your marketing efforts and the look, feel, and flow of your website are separate, we feel it’s important to think about content holistically - not just as a marketing mechanism, but also as a way to ease visitors down your conversion funnel, where they make the transition from being a curious lead to a hot prospect.

With that said, it’s important to recognize that getting users to your site is one thing; generating conversion is something else. But a lot of the same tactics that you use in your SEO-focused writing, social media campaigns, and other digital marketing efforts can also be put to work on your website, helping get new leads from call-to-action, to landing page, to that all-important email or form-fill.

Optimizing Your Website for Conversions

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We all have art movements we’re drawn to, whether it’s abstract expressionism, realism, or cubism. And because some of us aren’t able to replicate some of these famous art styles with a physical paintbrush, there’s a new app that does the hard work for you.

Called Animatix, the app promises to bring your photos to life in a fun and exciting way. Basically, the app helps to turn your still photos into animations that can mimic a classic cartoon style, or replicate hand-drawn sketches and pieces of art.

Developer Code Organa describes the app as:

“us[ing] real-world animation techniques to breathe life into your still photos, adding motion that makes their edges and color come alive.”

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It’s easy to think of a website as a work of art, like a sculpture or painting. A designer conceives its layout, as well as its look and feel. A developer translates this design into a usable form. And then it goes live on the world wide web, where it sits comfortably, waiting to be found and shared.

But that may not actually be the best way to think about your site. Because, frankly, it’s not just some item that just hangs on the wall of a museum. Instead, it’s a living, breathing thing, subject to change. It’s active and alive and engaging with users as part of the digital ecosystem. It’s not just some passive object sitting by itself!

And even then, think about this: The paintings in museums may look like they’re just sitting there, but there’s actually a lot of work that goes into preserving and protecting them. From hiring security guards, to installing protective features, to regularly restoring or refurbishing a piece of work, art isn’t stagnant either. There’s a ton of behind-the-scenes effort that goes into making sure that an amazing piece of art and sculpture is safe, and always ready to display for new guests.

Your website works the exact same way! Developing a brand website is not just a one-time, “set it and forget it” proposition. Even after a site goes live, it’s important to take steps to maintain it, so that it’s safe, functional, and always primed to help your business generate new leads.

But just why is ongoing website maintenance so vital - and what goes into an effective maintenance strategy? Let’s dive in!

The Critical Importance of Website Maintenance

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Instagram, for a long time, was regarded as a repository for selfies and vacation photos and not much else. But today? It’s the fastest growing social media platform by a mile, inching towards a billion users. It beat Snapchat at its own game. And it’s become a powerful tool for businesses.

And for businesses, success on the platform in 2018 is all about how you use it.

For all its growth and changes, Instagram is still a visual-first platform, emphasizing photo and video sharing. As such, it’s a remarkably powerful tool for improving your brand reach and recognition, getting your messaging and branding in front of audiences. But what about referral traffic and conversions? Can this visual platform actually be used to drive warm leads directly to you?

While it may not be the easiest social media goal, it is certainly possible to use Instagram to drive traffic, form-fills, and conversions. All it takes is a plan - and a bit of digital marketing savvy.

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If you’re reading this from a coffee shop - while you also have spreadsheets, sales reports, or your personal portfolio open in other tabs at the same time - you might just be a digital nomad.

Today, technology has made it easier than ever to get work done without having to tether yourself to a traditional office. Digital suites, Skype, task managers, messaging apps like Slack - all of these innovations have made it possible for people, and perhaps even entire businesses, to work without having to ground themselves in place.

For some people, this means getting to work from the comfort of home. For others, it means making stops at a shared office space, or the classic coffee shop. And for still more, embracing the life of a digital nomad means truly hitting the road, working and traveling all at the same time.

Our friends over at Hubspot have a great article spotlighting some digital nomads turning work into a vacation, available here. One big takeaway from that read, for us Geeks, was this: Embracing the traveling lifestyle and combining it with work can be an amazing opportunity, one that leads to increased productivity and more “moonshot” thinking. But it can also mean having to make sacrifices - when it comes to time and when it comes to budget.

But here’s one sacrifice you shouldn’t have to make: digital marketing.

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Our founder and Chief Geek Jason Finn has always been a bit of a star around Chicago - and today, he’s having the spotlight shined on him yet again!

Jason was recently featured in a great article by Voyage Chicago, which you can check out right here.

Voyage Chicago is a media outlet all about putting the spotlight on local influencers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and artists.

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For those of us who feel like we just have too many separate items on our desk and want to relieve that clutter in the most high-tech manner possible, SmartDesk by Cemtrex could be just the solution.

Cemtrex promises that “this advanced workstation combines and reimagines all the needs of the modern office in a beautiful, intuitive sit/stand desk”.

But what makes this desk stand out from all the rest? Far more than just a desk with a built-in computer and keyboard, the SmartDesk comes replete with features that make it worth a look.

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Looking for a fun way to help your kids become the next generation of Star Wars lovers? There’s a gadget on the market that newcomers and long-time fans alike will love with the passion of the twin suns of Tatooine.

Primed for nostalgia, Radio Flyer’s kid-sized version of the legendary Luke Skywalker Landspeeder from the Star Wars franchise is basically the “first kid-sized Landspeeder you can drive.” (However, your kids won’t be able to go at intergalactic speeds, as the 12V rechargeable battery only reaches up to 5 mph.)

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Getting tired of having to go to someone’s Instagram bio, just to click a link to see a full length video on a different streaming app? Your instagram videos will no longer be constrained by length, width, or time - and it’s all thanks to IGTV.

Launched by Instagram in June of 2018, IGTV (or Instagram Television), aims to allow users to create their own video channels, and have the ability to post and view full-length and full screen videos instead of resorting to an edited-down one minute snippet.

According the IGTV’s app store description:

“It’s built for how you actually use your phone, so videos are full screen and vertical. And IGTV videos aren’t limited to one minute, which means you can see more of your favorite content.”

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