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How To Minimize Downtime During Magento 1 To Magento 2 Migration

My website is down after site migration! 

This happens with many eCommerce owners and in technical terms, a period during which a website is unavailable for use is known as downtime. 

If your store is down for an extended period during the Magento 1 to Magento 2 Migration, even a second loading delay can significantly affect customer behavior and your conversions. 

The migration plan from Magento 1 to Magento 2 is critical to minimize downtime for this reason. We must learn to minimize downtime during  Magento 1 to Magento 2 Migration. But before that, you must know why downtime is such an essential factor when considering migration!

What Is Downtime?

Whether your site migration is planned or not, downtime is unpleasant. Suppose you visit a website to complete a task but need help because it is down. You are frustrated as a user.

To avoid such sufferings of the users that would eventually negatively impact the site’s ranking, changes are typically implemented with downtime during “off-hours” in the industry. By causing downtime during times of low usage, it reduces the impact on your users. 

However, no “off-hours” exist when your product is used worldwide. Therefore you must abide by some steps and measures to minimize or cut down the downtime.

What Is the Impact of Website Downtime?

Organizations must deal with downtime-related consequences if they are unprepared. Depending on the frequency and extent of the downtime, it can have both short-term and long-term effects. 

 Migrate To Magento 2 With WeDoWebApps With Zero Down Time

Some of the significant impacts of downtime are outlined below.

  • Financial Losses

Costs associated with downtime can vary based on the nature, size, and duration of your business. In the survey by Statista, which surveyed people from all over the world, 25% said that their servers cost between $301,000 and $400,000. Therefore, more downtime is prone to charge more money. 

  • Productivity Loss 

Mission-critical systems cannot be used when a network outage or equipment failure causes downtime. As a result, employees would need help to do their respective jobs. The amount of downtime determines how long an unproductive period lasts.

  • Opportunities Lost In Business

In the present interconnected computerized reality where organizations depend vigorously on application uptime and accessibility, a lack of quick loading time can negatively affect your business. 

Moreover, downtime can bring about terrible encounters, like clients needing help getting to your items or admin panel. At the same time, the representatives can’t uphold them since the vital apparatuses need to be fixed. Such situations have the potential to turn away potential customers as well as current ones quickly.

  • Brand Image Damage

Customers expect an instantaneous experience every time in this fast-paced business environment. Downtime is unacceptable, and delays are intolerable. A single instance of downtime could jeopardize your business’s dependability and reputation. Unhappy customers can result from frequent downtime events, leading to negative customer reviews and a damaged brand image.

  • Loss of Data

Your customers, as well as your business, are impacted by downtime. Corrupt, damaged, or stolen data can result from server or network outages, cyberattacks, or both. If your server goes down unexpectedly, it could expose your store information, essential data or create security patches that cybercriminals could use to gain access without your permission.

Steps To Follow to Minimize Downtime During Magento 1 To Magento 2 Site Migration Process

Step 1: Review And Evaluate Your Magento 1 Store To Determine What Should Be Retained

Review and evaluate your Magento 1 store. Unfortunately, your plugins or out-of-date data are incompatible with the new version.

Check out the extensions that are currently installed. List the extensions used in Magento 1. 

  • Examine the critical aspects to determine which plugins are necessary for the new website.
  • Check custom code on plugins, analyze which database assets you must migrate, and review whether a Magento 1 theme is compatible with a Magento 2 theme before removing unwanted plugins from the Magento Marketplace. You may need to purchase a new responsive magento theme if you still need to.
  • You can devise a strategy for personalizing the new site design and magento 2 theme. It includes the homepage, checkout funnel, and the site’s buttons.
  • Eliminate out-of-date data. You should eliminate out-of-date data from the database. Logs, site information and content, recently viewed products, and products compared are all included.
  • You can also audit the custom code to get rid of functions that aren’t needed.

Attempt an SEO analysis for the store. For example, you might lose customers when you move your store. When you modify the content of the new pages, it affects the site’s ranking.

Check the ranking factors for your store with Google Analytics. It includes fixing 404 errors with high-performing keywords, a robots.txt file, a sitemap.xml file, colonial tags, and product details.

Step 2: Configure Magento 2

For the site migration, you must install Magento 2 on your server. Make sure you meet the requirements of the Magento system.

Set permissions and create the owner of the Magento file system.

The steps for installing Magento are as follows: 

  • Download the software package
  • Magento’s installation options: Archive, Git, and Composer.
  • Agree, and Setup Magento – This includes web configuration and customizing your store. 
  • Create a database on your host. 
  • Upload Magento using FTP. 
  • Extract the files to the directory of your website.
  • Install and finish by creating an admin account.

Step 3: Create A Complete Backup Of The Magento 1 Store

Make a complete copy of the Magento 1 store backup. All files, folders, and the database are included.

The directory called var/backups is where backups are kept. The Magento setup makes it possible to restore it anytime: revert command.

Backups guarantee that no data will be lost during the migration process.

Migrate to Magento 2

Step 4: Start The Migration Process To Magento 2

  • Migration Of Themes

Luma and Blank are the two themes that come standard with Magento 2. Luma is a customizable, user-friendly theme. You can personalize a theme with the Blank option. Your Magento 1 theme cannot be transferred directly to Magento 2. The theme must work with the latest version.

  • Purchase A Magento Theme

Marketplace or providers provided by third parties like ThemeForest. Additionally, you can customize a responsive theme for Magento 2.

  • Migration of Extensions

Examine the extensions that can be incorporated into the new Magento 2 version. Some Magento 1 plugins won’t work with M2. Make sure only necessary plugins are used. This way, relevant plugins are used to optimize your brand-new website.

  • Customization

The Code Migration Toolkit can be used to migrate custom code. First, check out how you customized your previous website. Then, you should create a brand-new custom code for M2. You can modify a few code functions using the PHP developer guide for Magento.

  • Migration Of Data

The M1 data transfer to the Magento 2 version is one of the last components. The Magento 2 Data Migration Tool has been officially made available. It moves the store information and settings utilizing CLI orders.

  • Set Up The Data Migration Tool

Composer is used to install the Data Migration tool on Magento 2. Before installing, verify that the two versions are compatible. The Data Migration Tool version 2.2.0 must be installed using Magento 2.2.0.

Step 5: Select The Optimal Time For Deployment Of Zero Downtime

Selecting a time with the most negligible impact on customers is best for planned downtime. However, downtime will inevitably affect some of your customers if they live in different parts of the world. Because of this, you need to carefully consider when the best time to deploy downtime is when your customer base is smaller.

On the other hand, if your products are sold in a one-time zone, scheduling the deployment at night or not during peak sales hours is best. To avoid losing money, we usually migrate data in the middle of the night. Be prepared to pay more for the IT developers’ overtime because it won’t be convenient for them.

Average Downtime after ransomware attack

Other Ways To Minimize Downtime When Migrating From Magento 1 to Magento 2

Any organization, no matter how big or small, can experience downtime. So, how do you anticipate the unanticipated? You can reduce downtime risks and minimize their impact on your business by following these few suggestions.

  • Plan for Disaster Recovery

Your disaster recovery and business continuity plan limits your company’s resilience. Not only will having a comprehensive BCDR (Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery) plan in place help you prepare for unforeseen downtime events, but it will also give you the ability to act appropriately if downtime does occur.

  • Establish a BCDR Solution

Your business continuity plan will be successful using a robust BCDR solution. In the event of downtime, this will help you quickly recover and enable you to continue providing services to your customers. Modern BCDR solutions are automated and have cutting-edge features that keep you safe and save you money, time, and effort.

  • Guarantee Your Gadgets Are State-Of-The-Art

Patches for operating systems, hardware, and software should be installed and updated frequently to guarantee device stability and safety. In addition, your devices’ health and performance will improve if you keep up with system updates and regular maintenance.

  • Check Backups Frequently

Your backed-up data is your last resort during downtime. However, you can rapidly get back up and begin regularly working when everything goes awry. Make sure your data recovery works by periodically testing your backups. If you can restore your data when needed, your backed-up data will be useless.

  • Always Keep An Eye On Your Devices And Network

To monitor the health and performance of your devices, use a network and device monitoring tool. Solutions for network and device monitoring provide an additional layer of security and aid in early problem detection, allowing you to address issues before they cause systems to crash.   

  • Train Workers

One of the leading causes of downtime is human error. However, regular employee training can significantly reduce the frequency of human error. In addition, your employees should be aware of emerging cyber threats like ransomware, malware, and phishing attacks and strictly adhere to your organization’s standard IT policies and procedures.

Magento 2 migration services

Conclusion 

Any downtime decrease benefits your customers and the product’s engineers. However, even though “off-hours” deployments may be an option, they can potentially worsen engineer burnout and alienate users in different time zones. 

Your users and team will appreciate any progress you can make, even if you are still at zero downtime daytime deployments. Here at wedowebapps.com, a magento theme development company we can help you minimize downtime while successfully migrating your site within fixed price ranges.

How to Migrate Magento Store from cPanel to Cloud?

Due to the world-class features Magento offers, you will find 171,162 online eCommerce stores built on Magento. Numerous online shops that use Magento for their online store storage are located on various platforms.

We frequently get a lot of inquiries about transferring the Magento store from the hosting environment of cPanel to a new website. Some users might need clarification on whether they should make the same decision as those who switched from Magento to this new website. After all, it powers over 0.9% of all active websites on the internet. 

Let us begin by understanding why switching Magento to a different server is essential for the best solution. Then, we will discuss how to migrate the Magento Store from cPanel to Cloud.

Magento Shared Vs. Cloud: What Is It? Which one is better? 

Magento Shared

Many of us are familiar with shared hosting being among the most traditional forms of web hosting because it is affordable for new businesses and one-page, lightweight websites. To ensure that each website receives an equitable amount of the server’s resources, shared hosting involves hosting multiple websites on a central computer that the hosting company manages. 

The quantity of resources varies according to the package you purchase from your supplier. With this allocation, the price will remain cheap and straightforward for consumers.

Cloud Hosting

Another viable option is cloud hosting, which lets you put your website on a specialized cloud server, providing numerous benefits to your application. It includes a feature allowing you to expand the server anytime and monitors Magento server problems.

Magento Cloud hosting may be a more affordable option compared to shared hosting. Still, one significant benefit is that you only pay for the services that you use, rather than spending for resources that are not being used. You can take into account the following cloud-based architecture when transferring your Magento website:

  • Godaddy
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Google Compute Engine
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  • Rackspace
  • Vultr
  • Linode

As a result of not worrying about server-related problems, you generally have more time to make the most of your company. By eliminating all the hassles associated with setups and server management, Cloud ways, a well-known and dedicated cloud server, is among the best ways to manage cPanel to cloud hosting.

Users who want to migrate to the cloud securely and efficiently can benefit significantly from migration tools. You will learn more about the top program and cloud transfer tools in the following sections of the blog.

By enhancing its performance and raising the level of security by increasing the sales ratio, Magento stores concentrated on their best and suggested choices while keeping all of these factors in mind. 

Let us examine some essential distinctions between Magento Store and cloud hosting plans.

What Problems Can Occur in the Magento Cloud Hosting?

As a versatile and powerful e-commerce application framework, Magento is well known for needing more technical knowledge to deploy directly to cloud hosting. 

It includes appropriate layout and optimization to assist it in performing much better, as trying to manage your server could be challenging to use such a provided service. 

Compared to on-premises systems, cloud software settings benefit their customers in many ways, including flexibility, automated upkeep, and simple scalability. 

Due to these advantages, many people and businesses switch from on-site to cloud-based sites. However, not all clouds are made equal, and many discover that moving their tasks and processes between cloud platforms could be advantageous.

Transferring apps and information to the cloud can be difficult, and if done incorrectly, it may even compromise security and compliance. 

Fortunately, users can simplify the procedures involved in moving workloads with cloud and application transfer tools, which also offer tools for monitoring and documenting migrations.

Undeniable Advantages of Magento Store Migration from cPanel to cloud

  1. When you move your Magento store to CloudWays, SSD cloud hosting from Magento provides greater control over your remote server and resources to support it. 
  2. You can also use advanced caching possibilities such as Varnish, Memcached, and Redis to improve your store’s performance. 
  3. Additionally, CloudwaysCDN is simple to set up and will speed up your Magento shop only with a few clicks. 
  4. The newest tools like Apache, Nginx, PHP-FPM, and MYSQL combined with an optimized framework can help your Magento shop run faster than ever.
  5. By conducting routine firmware upgrades, the Magento cloud hosting provides the security to guarantee that your Magento shops are equipped with platform-level defenses. 
  6. You could also use auto-healing servers to reduce the likelihood of shutdowns, which can result in business disruption. 

Step-By-Step Guide to the Migration of Magento Store From cPanel to cloud 

Here is a quick process to follow if you want to move your shop from Magento cPanel hosting to Cloudways. You only need to restore your store’s database before starting with Cloudways to get all the necessary information.

Step 1: Start with cPanel for Magento.

Putty or an SSH interface can connect to your Magento cPanel server. Try to browse your Magento 2 store’s primary directory once completed. Run this command to plan a copy of the database for your shop.

mysqldump -u your username -p your name > database.sql

Step 2: File Organizer should be updated

Enter your cPanel hosting database login and name in the above command line, and then upload your chosen file. After you run this program, you will be prompted to input a database password and cPanel hosting database username. Now access File Organizer through your cPanel hosting.

Step 3: Explore the base path.

Afterward, go to your store’s central location to explore the root directory. 

Step 4: It is time to bundle up all of your files and directories at this point.

Your website’s database copy is now available, and you can access it at www.yourdomain.com/magentobackup.zip.

Step 5: Create a new account.

Once you have done that, you can start Magento 2 with just a few steps by creating an account at Cloudways.

This gives you the option to select the server of your choosing from their infrastructure partners, and you must then establish the server’s location and size to meet your needs.

Magento app

Step 6: Setup the server

Once finished, select “start now” to finish the process. When the following message appears, along with the Magento 2 program underneath it, you will know that the server has been properly installed:

Step 7: Remove the previous database.

You must delete the Cloudways deployed application’s database and files before migrating your Magento shop to cPanel. SSH can be used to connect to your Cloudways hosting, after which you should choose the base location for your shop. Clean up all the saved files and directories initially by executing the following command:

rm -rf *

Step 8: Connect to the SFTP interface

Now, from your account’s program interface, select Launch Database Manager. Drop all the tables after selecting them after you launch Database Manager. Now enter the SSH terminal’s instructions to log in to the Cloudways Magento app.

wget https://yourdomain.com/magentobackup.zip

Step 9: Extract each file. 

Run the instructions to unzip the file and load the database onto your Cloudways app.

MySQL -u CLOUDWAYS-DB-USERNAME -p CLOUDWAYS-DB-NAME < database.sql

Enter the above command the database credentials for your program deployed on Cloudways. Next, enter the passcode and navigate to the env.php file to change the database passwords to those for Cloudways.

Why Must You Select Cloud Hosting Solution For Your Magento Store Migration?

Many people wonder why they must opt for cloud servers to migrate the Magento store. Here, we will discuss some reasons behind using Cloud hosting for migrating the Magento store. 

Scalability

During peak sales periods and store promotions, e-commerce shops frequently need the ability to scale their server resources quickly.

  • Performance

The primary reason behind choosing cloud hosting performance as it is a reliable hosting solution that offers private cloud computing, ensuring the store’s speed and performance.

  • Security

The fundamental procedures of cPanel to Cloud hosting are designed with security in mind. The computers also include security features like 2FA, firewalls, and anti-malware programs.

  • Resources

A specialized resource allotment is included with your cloud server. It is simple to understand the advantages of cloud hosting when combined with the scaling function.

  • Costs

Although the pricing plans initially appear expensive, you will ultimately save money by forgoing the cost of repairing problems that frequently arise with inexpensive hosting.

Migrate magento

  • Downtime Risk

Cloud computers experience minimal downtime and better efficiency due to the highly optimized design.

  • Better Management of Traffic Spikes

Cloud computers are generally better equipped to handle sporadic traffic surges due to several critical characteristics that make up cloud hosting.

Some Best Practices When Migrating the Magento Store to Cloud

Hosting in cloud options like DigitalOcean, AWS, Linode, etc., provides a ready choice to grow up. In other words, you can begin with the least for your website. Eventually, if the site traffic increases significantly, we can add more resources.

Again, cloud web pages will be utterly safe from typical security threats. The cloud barrier will protect the complete cloud network.

The dependability of cloud technologies is also well recognized. As a result, it usually prevents website outages caused by server failures.

Recap of the best practices our transfer engineers adhere to when moving cPanel to the cloud.

  • cPanel host and cloud server are similar. Setting up equivalent software versions, such as PHP, Web server, MySQL, etc., is part of this.
  • They are Lowering TTL numbers well before the transfer itself. By doing this, DNS propagation-related website outages would be avoided.
  • Deleting the instance’s current material and adding new content.
  • Before making the fundamental DNS changes, access the page on the new server.
  • Final rsync of the website’s database and content to incorporate all changes.

Conclusion

Technology is currently advancing at an exponential rate. Things continue to get better and stronger in this wonderful technical age that we are living in. Likewise, the realm of eCommerce systems for companies of all kinds does.

If you fight against this shift, you will only suffer loss. Your company will become chaotic if you are a step behind everyone else. Moving your Magento shop from cPanel to cloud hosting servers is best advised to prevent this. This will allow you and your company to remain on top of trends and grow to their full potential.

We hope the transition of your Magento shop from shared cPanel computing to cloud hosting goes smoothly for you. We hope you are through with the Magento 2 migration procedure. You will also comprehend how Magento cloud hosting would be the best choice for your online store. 

Connect with WeDoWebApps.com to learn more about the migration process from cPanel to the cloud server for a Magento store. The experts here are well aware of the need, and we assure maximum efficiency for the migration process. 

Top Services in Shopify Development And The Best Companies Offering Them!

Shopify is the most sought-after platform for eCommerce businesses. It offers them a chance to go online with their products and facilitate their brick-and-mortar store with its easy-to-use interface. In addition, merchants get to customize and design intuitive storefronts for their businesses. 

Over 4.4 million eCommerce websites operating on the internet today are built with Shopify. The platform offers numerous features to make your store stand out. 

The best part about using the platform is that you don’t need prior coding knowledge. Though this sounds great to merchants as they think they will not require developers to get their store up online and running, it is only sometimes true. As a merchant, you can build your store on Shopify or maintain it only when basic tweaks are needed.

It will require expert hands if you are looking for an online store with a few functionalities and customizations. This is where Shopify development services come into the picture. A professional Shopify programmer will make your store good-looking, superfast, and extraordinary. 

Agencies offer multiple services to have the varied needs of merchants covered. Before going through the best Shopify development service providers, let us first have an idea of the different types of Shopify store development services.  

Common Types of Shopify Development Services

When you plan to develop an online store on Shopify, you will know that you may need different services. Below we list a few types for you to understand better. 

1. Development and Customization of Shopify Theme 

Custom theme development and design services are the most sought after Shopify website development services. However, to provide a good and positive shopping experience, you will need a neat website that can easily be navigated. 

Shopify offers a repository of free and paid themes, but you may find them generic for your storefront. It might be one of the reasons behind an impressive boost of 201% in the use of Shopify from March 2020 to January 2022. 

The themes can be customized, too, with the help of some tweaks in the codes, but you may need something else. Shopify theme development services will help you develop a custom theme that aligns with your brand and products. 

Furthermore, as your business grows, you must customize the developed theme to scale and fulfill your growing needs. 

Professionals are aware of the necessary aspects of your online store, and so they take care of everything from start to finish and afterward. 

2. Migration To Shopify 

When developing an eCommerce store, the market is flooded with platform options that offer flexibility to start your store. Several merchants already own a store and decided to migrate to Shopify because of its advantages. You need expert help. 

Shopify eCommerce development services cover migration services. The platform has 2.1 million daily active users, and several business owners are switching to Shopify. 

Experts will transform the entire setup of your online store from the previous platform to Shopify. They make the process hassle-free and also take care of the data during the transfer. Then, the Shopify eCommerce website development company will discuss your requirements, and after consulting, they will start the process. 

During the migration process, they will also ensure that all your SEO efforts are carried to Shopify. Experience is required to carry out the process seamlessly and ensure all specific needs are catered to. 

3. PSD To Shopify, Theme Conversion

When it comes to the development of your online store, images and design are often available in PSD format. Images in this format are no doubt of high quality, but at the same time, they can make a website heavy. That said, this affects the load time to a great extent. 

More load time of websites is not acceptable, and visitors often abandon one that takes more than 2-3 secs to load. Hence, it becomes necessary for merchants to use images of the right size, format, and resolution. 

Furthermore, Shopify web development services help in the theme conversion of PSD to Shopify so that high-performing stores are built. 

Generally, Photoshop is used to create a design for the Shopify theme. Next, the Photoshop design (PSD) needs to be converted into a functional Shopify webpage. Knowledge of HTML, CSS, and Shopify optimization setting is a must-have. 

Shopify web design services will help you get a functional store up and running. 

The experts of such a company will keep the look and feel of the webpage the same, and they will make it functional for your visitors to shop easily. 

4. Updates and Maintenance of the Shopify Store 

A Shopify development company’s task continues after your online store’s configuration and setup. Maintenance of your store is critical so that you have it running smoothly throughout. The shopping experience defines the success of an eCommerce store it offers its customers. 

To ensure a seamless user experience, merchants must regularly check for updates and maintain their stores. Shopify store maintenance services will help you get such aspects sorted. 

The increase in website traffic or the product listing may result in a dip in the store’s performance, and the experts take care of such aspects. 

Dealing with technical issues and ensuring a bug-free website is not something you can manage. Expert help will fuel the maintenance of your online store and enable you to focus on growing your business. 

With the growth of your business, your website will need scalability and upgrade as well. This is where Shopify store upgrade services become essential. 

Shopify store services are best-taken care of by professionals so that you can concentrate on your business. Hire dedicated services to have an error-free and high-performing store on the web. 

Shopify development company

5. Store Setup And Customization on Shopify 

Shopify offers an intuitive online editor to set up a basic online store quickly. In addition, the platform has templates available for merchants like you so that you can integrate all the basic required functions integrated. However, more than the basic customization, flexibility is required to meet all your needs. 

As an online store owner, you should ensure that it is professional, clean, and loads quickly. With the help of store development and customization services, you can get a store built that delivers next-level user experience. 

Besides, Shopify store development services also help reduce cart abandonment rates and enhance conversions. Furthermore, businesses saw an increase of almost 50% in their sales after building their stores on Shopify. 

With professional development Shopify services, you can get as many features and functionalities integrated as you want.  

6. Shopify Third-Party Integration Services

Undoubtedly, Shopify is one of the robust eCommerce platforms offering numerous features to merchants. One of the significant features of the platform is that it is highly versatile and offers seamless integration with any system or service. 

Sometimes, your store may need integration with third-party services for enhanced store management, better efficiency of your business, improved marketing, etc. 

You will need third-party integration services if you want to integrate a custom service with your Shopify store. Shopify’s management services help integrate ERP tools or even CRM with your Shopify store to help you obtain the maximum benefits. 

Best Companies Offering Shopify Development Services 

Now that we know the different types of Shopify development services that you can avail of for your online store, the problematic part awaits. Choosing the right Shopify development company for the services is a task, and you need to ensure to make the best choice. 

To help our readers make an informed choice, we have done the tricky part and, after considering several factors, have shortlisted the best Shopify development partners for businesses of all scales. 

WeDoWebApps is Know As The Best Shopify eCommerce Development Companies

WeDoWebApps has been a Shopify partner for several years and has been offering expert Shopify services to businesses across the globe. In addition, we have experience providing top-tier Shopify store design and development services for Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants.

We are a full-service Shopify website development company, offering reliable services to help you get your store online. Our team comprises talented and dedicated people with varied expertise in different fields who understand the importance of quality in their work, and this is how to manage to deliver outstanding results. 

They also offer consultation services for merchants needing help with how and where to start. So if you are looking for a trustworthy and experienced Shopify web development company, we have your needs covered. 

The Next Best Shopify Development Company Is React Native Development Company 

React Native Development Company has been a team of certified developers offering eCommerce development services for years. They are a popular name in the Shopify development industry and help optimize business processes for their clients. If you are looking to get new features developed for your Shopify store, they are the people you can reach out to. 

The team at React Native Development Company offers a smooth and seamless shopping experience by building online stores with complex functionalities. They serve the specific needs of businesses of all scales, whether small, medium, or large, and help them by building stores from scratch.

Shopify development services

They are a full-service Shopify eCommerce development company, offering various services for various needs. 

They offer all types of Shopify development services at much more affordable rates. Their team of professional development is always after developing innovative solutions to help the business of their clients succeed. 

Read more about NopCommerce Development Services

Conclusion

If you are looking for Shopify development services, you now know there are several different kinds of services that you can opt for. Since the Shopify development services are numerous, and they have different features, the needs vary from business to business. Know your needs, and then you can make an informed choice. 

Besides prioritizing your needs, you should define your budget before looking for the appropriate match to build your store. Pick a trusted partner for your business, and you can get started with achieving success with Shopify development services. To hire Dedicated Shopify developers contact us now.

Changing Your Magento Server? Here’s What You Need To Know.

As time passes and your business advances, you may feel the need to migrate Magento store to a new server that is more effective, fast, and reliable. 

For instance, you require an upgraded web server, are unsatisfied with your hosting company’s service quality, or wish to expand your platform performance with different add-ons and believe it will function steadily. 

Regardless of the reasons that you have for migrating the Magento store,moving a working store is not a simple task, and you may encounter different hurdles while executing it. Here, we’ll explain the best Magento 1 to Magento 2 data migration steps to move your Magento store to a new server smoothly. 

What Is Magento?

Magento is an open-source and one of the finest e-commerce platforms written in PHP. It employs various PHP extensions & frameworks, namely Symfony and Laminas. Magento’s website allows its users to manage their online store’s appearance, content, and functionality without undermining the user’s shopping experience. 

Moreover, Magento website offers its users a combination of helpful features and tools, including marketing, catalog management, and search engine optimization tools.

In general, a new Magento store can accommodate any store, regardless of its size. Whether you’re serving a few customers or the numbers are huge, Magento delivers a free Magento Open Source and a full of feature Magento Commerce, implying the platform can develop and grow with your business.

Often, companies have to switch platforms as they advance and develop. However, Magento setups make it simple to remain in one spot and keep advancing. 

The platform likewise presents its customers with various plug-ins and themes to do whatever they wish and however they like their website to appear. It can even improve customer experience and strengthen customer relationships.
Read more: Hire Magento Developers: Everything You Need to Know!

Steps To Be Followed To Magento 2 Migration To Another Server

In case you are moving to a dedicated hosting service, the probabilities are they will deliver a free migration assistance with your hosting subscription. 

However, if you are migrating to a DIY provider such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or DigitalOcean, you will have to do everything on your own and follow the Magento 2 data migration steps carefully.

Before you start, keep in mind that you take an entire backup of your website. If you are operating on a dedicated hosting service, you can utilize the control panel to manually back up your store or contact your service provider’s tech support crew for help. 

As an option, you can take a photo of your server if you are harnessing a provider like AWS or DigitalOcean.

STEP 1: Prepare A Complete Backup Of The Magento Database

Throughout the Magento 2 server migration, you must maintain and shift two fundamental parts of your Magento store: the filesystem and the database. 

The Magento database includes information of/about your store, e.g., orders, products, customers, and store settings. And the file system consists of all product media, the Magento codebase, and extension code.

We will move the Magento file system’s contents utilizing rsync, a file synchronization tool on Linux. 

But as the Magento database is stowed in a distinct location, we will prepare a backup of the database in the Magento file system to allow us to move everything to the new server employing just a single command.

If you are deploying a Magento 2.3.0 version, you can prepare a Magento 2 database migration database settings backup within the Magento admin panel by obeying Adobe’s guide for Magento backups or through CLI. 

For additional latest Magento versions, you will just have to employ the command line in order to back up the store database.

By following the below steps, you can prepare a full backup of your Magento database through the command-line interface utilizing the mysqldump program:

  1. Access your server over SSH and shift to the Magento filesystem owner.
  2. Navigate to the Magento filesystem root by changing and typing the command given below in the terminal:

<code>

$ cd <path-to-magento-root>

</code>

  1. Confirm you are in the correct location by executing the command given below to document/list all the directory contents:

<code>

$ ls -la

</code>

You may notice a checklist of all the folders and files in the Magento root directory, namely, app/, var/, pub/, and vendor/.

  1. As soon as you have confirmed that you are in the correct location, you can utilize the mysqldump tool to make a full backup of the Magento database by running the command given below:

<code>

$ mysqldump -u magento-db-user -p magento-db-name > var/backups/magentobackup.sql

</code>

Remember to substitute the value for magento-db-user and magento-db-name with the proper values for your store. Furthermore, ensure that the /var/backupsfolder subsists in your file system. Or else the command will show an error.

After running the command, you will have to type the Magento database user password. 

Once you have typed the password and pressed “Enter,” you will not be able to view anything until and unless the database backup is finished.

Generally, you can anticipate the new database backup to take about 30 seconds to 1 minute per gigabyte. Therefore, if you are migrating an extensive store database, get ready to wait for a little before the backup finishes.

You will not get a verification notification until the backup database is done. Rather, the terminal will restart to the normal prompt screen.

  1. Confirm the contents of the var/backups directory by executing the command given below:

<code>

$ ls -la var/backups

</code>

And here you go, you had your database SQL file saved successfully inside the Magento file system. 

Before you move ahead, make sure to place your store in maintenance mode. It will deter data fickleness/inconsistencies/instabilities throughout file migration.

You can allow maintenance mode by navigating to the Magento root directory location and running the command given below, being the Magento filesystem owner:

<code<>

$ php bin/magento maintenance:enable

</code>

STEP 2: Create The Destination Server

Without further ado, you must create your destination server by installing the extensions Magento demands for its procedures and operations. 

It’s crucial to note that you must verify each extension version is well-suited and compatible with your Magento version during Magento 2 extension migration. Before going ahead, you can cross-reference Adobe’s system requirements and compatible software for Magento’s 2.3.0 versions and so on.

You must also confirm your server contains the resources required to run a CPU-bound application such as Magento.

Given below are some things to remember while you create your new server:

  1. Make sure you use the exact title for the Magento file system owner on the destination server as the origin server.
  2. Utilize equivalent database credentials on the origin as well as on the destination server.
  3. Employ equivalent credentials for additional tools, e.g., Redis or Varnish, on both servers.

As soon as you organized and made your new server, ensure you cleared the Magento destination root folder by running the commands given below as a superuser or the directory owner:

<code>

$ rm -r /var/www/public_html/*

</code>

Confirm the directory is cleared by documenting or listing its contents utilizing the command described below:

<code>

$ ls -la /var/www/public_html

</code>

Once you have confirmed it’s cleared, you can carry on to the subsequent stage and relocate your store data to the new server.

migrate Magento store to new server

STEP 3: It’s Time To Migrate The Data

Without any delay, it’s time for you to migrate the store data to the new server. We will employ rsync because of its performance benefits and reduced bandwidth consumption. 

First, you’ll have to log in into the destination server as the filesystem owner and execute the command explained below to start copying from the origin server over SSH:

<code>

$ rsync -avzh ssh <username>@<origin-server-ip>:/var/www/html/ /var/www/public_html/

</code>

Command defined:This command can be split into 7 parts including:

  1. rsync
  2. -avzh
  3. ssh
  4. <username>
  5. <origin-server-ip>
  6. :/var/www/html/
  7. /var/www/public_html/.

When you run the command mentioned above, you will have to type a password for the <username> user on the origin server. 

It is required if you connect via SSH with the password login, but not with the key. Once the transferring starts, you will witness a lengthy output on your terminal screen as it moves ahead. 

The whole file transfer process can take minutes to finish, which might depend on the stored data size.

Once it’s done, you can confirm if all files have been copied by executing the command given below in the destination directory:

<code>

$ ls -la

</code>

Once you have ascertained all the folders and files corresponding to the origin directory, you can continue with the subsequent steps.

STEP 4: Configuration Of Your New Store

When we applied the rsync command to shift the files to the new host server domain, we maintained all ownership and permissions according to the new server domain folder. 

If the filesystem owner on your new server has the exact title as the one has on the origin server, you will not have to reallocate ownership.

Nevertheless, you must reallocate file permissions to guarantee that the remaining setup functions steadily. Run the command given below as the filesystem owner in the Magento root folder:

<code>

find . -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

find . -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;

find ./var -type d -exec chmod 777 {} \;

find ./pub/media -type d -exec chmod 777 {} \;

find ./pub/static -type d -exec chmod 777 {} \;

chmod644 ./app/etc/*.xml

chmod777 ./app/etc

chmod777 var/log

chmod777 generated

</code>

Then, we will have to restore the backed-up database from the Magento files system. You’ll have to execute the command mentioned below in the terminal:

<code>

$ mysql -u magento-db-user -p magento-db < var/backups/magentobackup.sql

</code>

It might take some time to complete. The screen will restart to the normal prompt screen once it completes. Once it is done, you are finally all set to go live.

STEP 5: You Can Go Live Now!

The following steps will smoothly get the job of Magento 2 migration done if you have observed and done everything precisely. Before you’ll be able to surf the website, you will have to update the DNS records of your domain and show it to the latest one server IP address.

Once you have done that, it will take a few minutes to hours to propagate, which will rely on your Time-To-Live settings. For the time being, let’s fix together some odds and ends before you begin operating your website.

First, you will have to install cron to enable Magento to execute major background tasks. Run the command given below as the Magento filesystem owner in the Magento root directory in order to install cron:

<code>

$ php bin/magento cron:install

</code>

Then, change and set up your store into production mode so that it will disable cache management, recompile data, and turn off maintenance mode. It is doable if you run the command given below:

<code>

$ php bin/magento deploy:mode:set production

</code>

Once it completes, you can access your store in a browser. You may witness the website running slowly when you will load it for the first time. This problem must be fixed once the Magento cache starts generating after the initial load.

Is Migrating Magento Store The Right Choice For You?

The decision of Magento 1 2 migration can’t be nor should be taken instantly. It requires meticulous forethought and implementation. 

The whole objective behind operating a perfect website is to deliver customers and visitors an excellent user experience that results in increased conversions and sales. It is where the significance of migrating to Magento 2 plays its role. 

Below are some of the essential characteristics of moving to Magento 2 that can influence customer experience.

  • It delivers more promising SEO and search features
  • 50% quicker page loading time
  • Touch-friendly and thoroughly responsive UX
  • Enhanced UX for admin panel accompanied by an upgraded backend
  • It has more occasional needs for third-party or custom extensions
  • It delivers manageable checkout and reduces the cart abandonment rate
  • E-retailers can handle more extensive amounts of SKUs and orders
  • It is simple to make and handle web content
  • It allows you to make more user-friendly and mobile-optimized experiences
  • Users can select from PaaS and self-hosting alternatives.

So basically, it is certainly an excellent decision to migrate to the latest version and retain your e-commerce business as competent and expandable. 

This platform will provide access to the latest features and extensions, convenient maintenance, reduced Magento 1 to 2 migration costs, and a lot more advantages. 

What Are Some Mistakes To Avoid While Migrating? 

There are a lot of things that you need to take care of during the Magento 1 to 2 migration. It’s important to avoid these mistakes while migrating and those mistakes are as follows:

  • Starting without forethought or appropriate preparation, arrangements, and goal setting.
  • Not studying the effect of migration internally.
  • Not corroborating convertibility/acceptableness/modifiability
  • Not experimenting sufficiently
  • Overlooking SEO equity
  • Not discarding obsolete and futile data
  • Not heeding Adobe’s officially recommended method and tools
  • Bypassing consultation with experienced Magento data migration agencies
  • Not outsourcing licensed or qualified Magento migration experts
  • Not scanning the webshop post-migration.

magento 2 server migration

Conclusion

Magento 2 is a more significant and beneficial update until now, and Magento 2 migration steps are pretty straightforward too. 

You’ll get a lot of features and benefits from Magento 2 migrations and upgrades such as adaptable website architectures, engrossing customer experiences, streamlined business experience, 50% quicker page loading speeds, secured payments, and more straightforward maintenance and upgrades. 

Ultimately, Magento 2 is a more functional, enhanced, and rapid version of Magento. After coming across objections and contradictory remarks, the developers rebuilt it and eliminated all the flaws. If you are searching for a quicker, securer, and expandable website, Magento 2 is all you need!

We at WeDoWebApps help you migrate your Magento 1 site to Magento 2 seamlessly. Need help? Contact us anytime. 

Mobile applications at WEDOWEBAPPS

In the present scenario in the world of digital services, companies across the globe like to include applications as part of their marketing campaigns; having a website isn’t enough for products in business anymore as there is an increment of usages of smartphones in daily based. Companies need to think about some effective solutions so that companies can easily connect with clients whether they are searching for products and services using internet-connected smartphones or tablets.

A mobile application brings a massive change in business to manage tasks easily and gives agility in the industry. Besides this, it helps to gain several commercials as many people access your mobile application. As there is a craze for mobile apps, many companies are using it to order cyberspace and reach out to their clients directly. No doubt your website is mobile responsive and mobile compatible, but a much better approach to expand your customer base requires building a personalized app for your app. As it helps customers quickly access and WEDOWEBAPPS LLC like to bring revolutionary changes in your business.

With the help of WEDOWEBAPPS LLC, the process can be simple and robust. We will provide you with high quality, cost-effective, efficient services that can change the way of your business and bring revolution to your business. We have professionals who convert your website into a mobile application development or build your dream application according to your expectation. Your specific needs relating to your lack of mobile app can be addressed with great care at WEDOWEBAPPS LLC. We give shapes to your dream applications and make them successful.

So what are you waiting for?? Just drop us your needs at sales@WeDoWebApps.com

Playing with WordPress Codex and Resources

The reason that WordPress is getting popular among a web designer, developer and a WordPress development company is the accessibility of resources available online and the fact that anyone can rely on the funds. The resources are beneficial and should be bookmarked irrespective of the size of the developer.

In this article, we look at Codex.

Codex is online documentation, or it can be regarded as the online wiki and is located on WordPress.org. WordPress describes it as an “encyclopedia of WordPress knowledge” for a WordPress development company. It can be visited through the below link.

https://codex.wordpress.org

As it is a wiki-based website, therefore, anyone can edit, make changes and add original content to it. Serving as a base for many articles and tutorials at the WordPress.org, Codex has been extremely useful at a collective level and, is available in many languages for providing better support. If the desired style is not readily available, then it can be translated into the one on visiting the below link.

https://codex.wordpress.org/Multilingual_Codex

While using the Codex, the most common method is to search the Codex by using the search box in the header. It works on the same criteria of keyword, and thus, the relevant article can be found using the Codex. One can also navigate through the quick index for an easy reference and go through the lesson of the desired need. Additionally, the glossary terms are another useful tool for a WordPress development company employee.

Reference of functions

The Codex has all the WordPress functions described, and this is what makes it most popular. With each Codex article or tutorial, a reference page is linked and helps in services. One of the biggest challenges of providing different services for different APIs is also taken care of by Codex, as with each Functional Reference page, the corresponding WordPress API function is also available. It makes it easy for a WordPress development company. Also, since it is an ongoing project and Codex is still in the phase of development, there might be some of the topics, where function reference is not available. While all the official function reference can be browsed through the below link.

https://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference

It seems perfect to develop a WordPress website using the Codex, but it has been into a controversy over the accuracy level of the articles. The articles were reported to plague the freshness of the Codex articles. It is a community project and depends not on a particular individual or a WordPress development company. Still, it needs an approach to widen the scope of the Codex and WordPress, and this is how WEDOWEBAPPS LLC is a significant contributor to the Codex.

PSD to HTML Conversion Conflicts

When it comes to developing a website, the whole process initiates with designing a .psd file in Photoshop software which is later on converted to HTML, though this technique was developed a way back and websites developing techniques have changed multiple times, PSD to HTML conversion is still significant till date. Though the technique of converting PSD to HTML is still the same but with some amends within the techniques. As two main factors that decide traffic on the site, users’ experience while operating the site preserves as crucial factor in deciding factors, while the same reason relates with more traffic on the site. Both are recurring factor to each other and thus, relative as well. It becomes utmost responsible task for a PSD designer as well as PSD to HTML developer.

If we look at the history of website development, in the recent past the website development technologies and frameworks have been updated multiple times. This way, the developers’ approach while developing the site has also changed significantly. In spite of this fact, the main aim of the website development, shifts from providing high-end functionalities and the layout of the website. Keeping the functionalities of the websites maximum and keeping the user experience with minimal steps is what the main challenge faced by the designer as well as the developers, irrespective of the platforms on which the websites are built. Also, PSD to HTML conversion always remain one of the initial step in every development, which is not technically tough, though there may me some of the challenging tasks for the developers in providing exactly the same functionality that the business logic may require in terms of layout and animation or mouse effects. The reason for this statement are explained in the following sections of the articles.

Read more about PSD to Drupal and Magento Conversion

Since the time PSD to HTML conversion has been adopted in developing the websites, the time has rolled over either ways and therefore, this technique is said to have both pros and cons. One of the main reasons for still developing the initial design with the Photoshop for providing layout design is image assets that are incorporated to the site to provide the modern and sleek design and layout. At the moment, the best websites have value added efforts in developing the websites, this includes highly customized sliders and animations to the site. Earlier, the PSD to HTML conversion used to be a straightforward process as the process of designing to developing the HTML code used to take least time and least options for resolutions. As one of the limitations of the PSD to HTML techniques with the demanding time and changing technologies, providing mobile responsiveness for several screen sized devices to the site in different browsers, adding to the multiple platforms criteria such as Android as well as iOS takes lots of customization even in small complex designs to a PSD to HTML developer.

App Developer iPhone

The development of iOS Apps is not as easy as the one for Android apps. No doubt both require high integration of system tolerance, iOS apps require tremendous efforts in perfecting the same for best performance. At an iOS Development Company, all these efforts are taken care of with the team of expertise, dedication, and perception to meet the project taken up. The ideal iOS Development Company has several requisites or features that govern the service’s effectiveness as an App Developer iPhone.

Characteristics of ideal iOS Development Company

When it comes to the App Development for iPhone devices, the context is polished in itself to describe the specific nature of complexity that the App Developer iPhone will have to go through. However, the tasks are simplified with the use of modern and latest programming techniques. As an ideal iOS Development Company, there are certain characteristic features that users will encounter. Some of these include:

Conceptualization

Having the most abstract idea or concept for the application is a crucial part of the developers. Uniqueness and legibility have to work together for any purpose to be emphasized on the team. Only after this phase, the team would move forward with the procedure for working on the applications.

Methodize plan

After generating the concept in iOS Development, the teams work on arranging and organizing the stages for the particular idea. It is an essential part where teamwork and creativity complement each other. Before the actual generation of the program, App Developer iPhone needs to achieve this phase of complete awareness of the target. Moreover, it designs a layout for the teams and distributes tasks accordingly.

Optimization of design

In this phase, the design of UI and UX for the program takes place. The overall benefit depends on the user’s experience, and hence, the first and foremost concept followed by any company is the design of the User Interface (UI) commands. This stage concentrates on increasing the user’s ability to access the most basic application functions in development.

Development of Code

This is where the actual work begins for the programmer, as we can say. The App Developer iPhone prepare manuscripts and perform endless coding cycles until the appropriate function takes place in the application. Code generation is essential as it fixes the form’s effectiveness as per its design—most App Developer iPhone access XCODE IDE to create the perfect iPhone apps.

Read also: App Programming iOS

App testing

No application passes or qualifies for the launch without the appropriate testing of the same. The more time the application performs effectively here, the better it can expect results after the launch. Hence, for any ideal iOS Development Company, the testing phase marks the utmost significant step of all.

Hence, these are the characteristics that any user will search for in an ideal iOS Development Company for the most effective results. Knowing to choose between the Android and iOS platforms is an integral part of app development. Furthermore, in the next section, the post will enlighten all about the reasons to choose iOS development rather than the Android platform.

Why choose an iOS Development Company?

Most App Developer iPhones are well-versed in understanding the development of both Android and iOS platforms. However, the iOS Apps development overrides the choice between the two due to many different reasons. Below are the reasons why most developers would opt to develop iOS platform applications;

  •       Desirable App Quality; In terms of the number of apps, the Android platform outnumbers the iOS app market. But, when due consideration is taken, users can see that the iOS App is much better than the Android platform. The Development Company provides various services for the preparation of apps in media, entertainment, games, and software. For these reasons, it is believed that the company entails desirable App quality.
  •       Negligible Data Carrier; Android apps contain most of the services with third-party tools that compromise the app’s quality and effectiveness. Most Pre-installed apps also fall short of the promised quality. Apple services enquire and only permit those apps in the market that do not depict decisive protocols. The apps in iOS app stores are formally introduced in the same. Moreover, the data carrier does not apply to products unless they involve in-app purchases. Hence, opting for an iOS App development will be more beneficial.
  •       Enhanced User experience; As compared to the user experience on the Android platform, the users of iOS devices excel in the same by a tat. The latest iOS version complements the user interface that most of the apps orient. Fragmentation issues on the Android platform exceed the points on the iOS platform. Despite that fact, the UI for iOS Apps are developed most effectively. Hence, the overall experience with iOS Development is much advisable.
  •       Easier HTML coding; The iOS Development have advanced techniques to program their apps. The preparation and execution of programming via the HTML coding system make it easier for iOS App development. The same is already so popular on the web as a plus point that most App Developer iPhone opts for.
  •       Professional conduct and integration; As the details in the above section of this post describe, there are several characteristics that the ideal company will depict. With the best in creative, concise teams, the developers come up with better iOS apps. They work according to plan, concept, program code development, testing, and finally, towards launch.

There are many more reasons that we can come up with as we think for better iOS development services through related companies. These details will provide a clear idea of how and why to choose an ideal iOS Development company necessarily.

Finally, what leads the productive and positive test results is the successful launch of the application. Maneuvering an iOS App launch is also necessary for time checking and calculating the risk the App Developer iPhone will in to take. Hence, these are the characteristic that any user will search for from an ideal ios development company for the most effective results. To hire our Dedicated Swift Developers contact us.

Website Usability – Definition, Importance, and Tips to Improve

With the search engines updating their algorithms constantly, it is essential for business owners to focus on the core elements. These days more and more people are shifting on mobile devices from desktops. Therefore, it becomes imperative to enhance website usability. 

But first, What is actually Website Usability?

Simply put, website usability defines the website’s ability to be accessed seamlessly and efficiently on various devices. In other words, website usability is the measure of efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction with which the users can achieve their goals on a website. 

Since the search engines focus on providing the best user experience, it has become crucial to redesign your websites. With easy navigation, user-friendly responsive website designs, you can provide your customers with the best browsing time on your website. Whether an eCommerce business, enterprise, or brand, improving the usability of the website is the key to online success. 

When businesses improve web usability, it helps them boost their SEO practices and increase conversion rate. 

Why is Web Usability Important?

Why is Web Usability Important

There are various benefits of improving website usability for your business to achieve success. Following are the sure-shot benefits of enhancing the usability of your website:

1. More Traction

Several businesses, usually budding startups, struggle a lot to generate more traction and traffic to their websites. The best way to overcome this is to resolve all the technical issues on your website and let more traffic come in. Since the search engines also focus on technically stronger websites, you will get more organic results making you more visible on the internet. 

Whether your main focus is more sales, branding, or generating traffic, enhanced usability can help you achieve your goals when you focus on more traction, the overall authority of your business increases. 

2. Brand Awareness

Many businesses these days struggle to get recognized against their competitors on the internet. This might happen because of the higher bounce rate of your website. Due to the high bounce rate, it becomes challenging for visitors to navigate through the web pages. So, with improved web usability, you can ensure a minimum bounce rate and provide a smoother browsing experience to the users. 

When you offer a good user experience to the customers, the overall branding of your website improves significantly. Whether you drive traffic from social media, website, or organic results, brand awareness will ultimately increase irrespective of any factor.

3. Higher Loading Speed

Website loading speed is the most significant running factor that affects the overall credibility of the business. To increase your website usability, ensure that your website loads faster without hassle on both desktop and mobile devices. In addition, if you are adding new web pages to your site, make sure that those pages also load faster and seamlessly. 

If you need, you can also use Google’s free website speed testing tool to check whether your website loads faster on every device or platform.

4. Improved Sales

If we talk about an eCommerce business, then website usability is the most important factor to take into account. There are many functionalities of a website that should work seamlessly in order to regain customers. 

For example, eCommerce businesses are directly connected to so many online transactions, and you need to make sure that your website works fine on all the platforms. You need to necessarily focus on website usability to significantly increase your sales. When you combine SEO tactics with website usability principles, you tend to get more sales. 

5. Security 

Security is yet another important aspect to be considered for web usability. When you ensure that your website and visitors’ personal data are safe, you gain more recognition among your competitors. Therefore, always integrate the SSL certificate and other necessary documents to give your customers the most secure user experience. 

Ensuring your customers that you care about the safety of their data will help you gain more traction and sales, thereby increasing the usability of your website. 

After knowing about the key benefits of improving the website’s usability, you might have realized how vital website usability is for your business to grow. Many web design companies worldwide will offer you the best web design services for your website development. 

Tips to Improve Website Usability 

Tips to Improve Website Usability 

One of the greatest tips to improve website usability is to keep your website design consistent. Apart from this, there are many other tips that will help you improve the way the users interact with your website. Some of which include:

1. Strive to Have a Scannable Website content 

These Days, people are hardly free to read every single piece of content on your website. In most of the cases, customers just scan your website and find the content that is valuable to them. If they don’t see what they are looking for, they will probably not be returning back. 

The best way to improve usability is to make the website content scannable. Achieve this by using bold letters for important information and bullet points to enhance your website’s usability. Doing this will make your website easy to scan, and you will potentially gain more customers for your business. 

2. Use Good Images 

Using good images is a notable tip for increasing site usability because these help you break up the content. For example, instead of writing content for a point, try using images that add relevant information for that particular point. 

Even though images play a vital role in the website’s usability, avoid using poorly optimized images or so many images as it can compromise your site’s usability. Instead of overdoing it, use properly optimized and limited images on your website.

3. Simple and Clean Navigation

A well-functioning website can improve usability but ensure giving a simple layout to every web page. Additionally, always try to avoid horizontal scrolling as users get irritated while horizontally scrolling the websites. A responsive website that fits every screen resolution can help you avoid horizontal scrolling.

What’s more important is to avoid the use of many navigation elements. Also, don’t use so many links within the headlines as users will hardly find what they want, which will significantly impact your website’s usability. 

4. Split your Content into Heading and Subheadings 

As we said earlier, visitors hardly read all the text written on your website. Therefore, catchy headlines are the most important for your website. Writing creative headlines can be beneficial as it is the very first thing a customer notices and builds interest in reading your content. 

Apart from headings, structuring your website plays a crucial role in usability. Structuring your website with H1 and H2 tags will make your website look more appealing to your customers. It is an excellent way of resulting in long clicks and increasing engagement levels. 

5. Improve your Website’s Loading Speed 

The slow loading speed can affect your website’s usability as it can cause you to lose a potential visitor. This is because a visitor gets irritated and leaves the website before it gets loaded fully. Additionally, search engines like Google use website loading speed as a significant ranking factor. This means you will lose an opportunity to rank higher on Google, ultimately losing customers. 

Therefore, to resolve this issue, optimize your images and videos by reducing the file size before uploading them on the website. This will significantly increase your website’s loading speed. 

6. Ensure developing a Responsive Website

With an increase in the number of smartphone users, having a mobile-friendly website is not an option but a crucial part of web usability. Still, if you fail to incorporate responsiveness in your website it will affect your Google ranking and usability, thereby losing a high volume of traffic.

As you implement responsiveness to your website, ensure it maintains the same theme as the desktop version, regardless of the user’s device. For instance, the layout of a casino website will be different on both the desktop and the mobile versions. But, you need to make minor changes like changing the image size and maximum width of the page to have a responsive website. 

If you have a website and want to incorporate responsiveness or are a business looking to develop a responsive website, we can help you offer cost-effective, responsive website design services

7. Add a Homepage Link as Part of your Main Navigation

Adding a homepage link on the top of your website will increase your site’s usability as it will enable the users to access the homepage easily. Definitely, the younger professionals know that the website logo acts as a link which eliminates the need to add the homepage link. 

However, if your target audience is the older demographic, they may be confused about getting back to the homepage. If they do not see the home button, they won’t be able to recognize the logo as a link to the homepage easily. 

8. Repair Broken Links

Broken links are terrible for website usability, but the good thing is that they can be fixed easily. There are several free and paid tools on the internet that may help you find the broken links on your website, so you can check and fix them. 

9. Use Varied Multimedia

Even Though it is said that content is king, images, audios, and videos play a vital role in appealing to the customers. Deliver the content that best suits your business and your users, and remember not to forget to optimize your multimedia to increase the site’s usability. Upload the content that provides value for the users. 

10. Include Outbound Links 

Adding some outbound links to your website will make the visitors feel valuable. This will make the content more relevant and useful for the customers. Linking your content with the high authority sites will not only make your website look trustworthy but will also make your web content more meaningful and relevant. 

Now you know what you can do to improve the website’s usability. So, if you think that your website is not easily accessible for the users, implement these tips to enhance your site’s usability. 

You can achieve a clear and usable website by

  1. Simplicity – Focus more on developing simple websites. If you do not distract the customers with tacky web designs, they will likely be able to do what you want them to do on your website. 
  2. Consistency – Keep your visitors minds at ease. Maintain consistent experience across the entire website to keep them engaged with your website for a longer time. 
  3. Direct Feedback – Giving valuable feedback to any interaction is essential. The moment a visitor starts interacting with your website, give them a success or a failure indication of their actions.
  4. Familiarity – Offer your customers what they already know. Taking inspiration from your competitor’s website is nothing wrong. Even Though new things attract customers, sometimes it can even confuse the customer about what to do. Therefore, offer them something they are familiar with.
  5. Guidance – Hold your visitor’s hand. Do not expect the customers to explore your complete website on their own. Instead, give them a website tour and show them what and how you want to offer. 
  6. Good Information Architecture – Understand the mental models of your visitors. This will help you understand how the visitors want you to structure the content on your website. 

Summarizing Website Usability 

Website usability is the most significant element that cannot be achieved overnight. However, this is something every business website should primarily focus on. Avoiding website usability may cause you to drop down on the search engines and ultimately lose your potential customers. 

Achieving website usability requires hard-core research and a repetitive approach of constantly testing and enhancing. Keep the above points in mind when you start developing or optimizing your website to offer the best user experience to your customers. 

Designing an optimized website is a crucial part, but when the website is developed, website usability testing is highly recommended. If you are a non-tech geek having trouble creating or optimizing your website for usability, avail responsive web design services and let the professionals do their job. WeDoWebApps LLC has handled various design projects and can help you achieve success the way you want.