Open Street Map is a new mapping tool on the cyber landscape, already dominated by a host of other online mapping platforms like MapQuest, Wikimapia and most importantly, Google Maps! The reason why there is a brewing controversy on whether Open Street Map might bite into the popularity of Google is that, it is aimed at rectifying the inaccuracies, which crop up from time to time in the Google’s immensely popular mapping platform. Experts believe that Open Street Map is going to be a welcome relief for those who are utterly distraught with the technical challenges of Google Maps. A cold war between this new open source mapping platform and the cyber giant Google is quite evident especially after global names like Foursquare and Craigslist have shown their preference for Open Street Map over Google’s mapping platform.

What is Open Street Map?  

Open Street Map (OSM in short) is a collaborative project (community mapping system), founded by Steve Coasts in the year 2004. In the initiation phase, OSM was mainly focused on collecting mapping data in United Kingdom only. In the year 2006, when Open Street Map Foundation was set up, OSM officially started encouraging collection, distribution and development of geospatial databases on a broader scale, encompassing Netherlands, India, China and other geographic locations around the world. Presently, this open source community mapping system has more than 1 million users, 20,000 among the total user base happen to be very active. What is more, recently OSM has been offered a generous fund of $ 575,000 by the celebrated Knight Foundation.

 How Does It Work?

Open Street Map relies on crowd sourcing important data on buildings, streets, regions etc rather than purchasing it from various agencies. After the collection process is completed, the data is used by MapBox (a Washington based custom map designing platform) and turns it into embeddable maps. The database gets self updated in a timely manner and is passed on to the users for free usage. While working with Open Street Map you can share, add and edit the data. You can use OSM as an online editing tool and choose to add more meta-data as well as details to the maps.

Can Open Street Map overshadow the Popularity of Google Maps?

In a real-time survey conducted earlier this year, researchers were surprised to find that 2000 unique users are adopting the OSM platform every day. The figure triggers a question as to whether OSM is replacing the popularity of Google Maps. At present, it is hard to forecast that the day of Google Maps’s dominance is soon to be over. But, it is quite evident that OSM would surely emerge as a powerful player whom Google would not take lightly!

Have you signed up for Open Street Map Project yet? Give it a try and shoot us your observation and views.

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In the early half of March, Matt Cutts the chief architect behind most Google updates till date gave an indication that an impending Google update is on the cards. Further, he said that this new update is going to be huge compared to earlier versions and that it would pack a punch to the sensitive underbelly of black hat SEO practitioners and link baiting experts. While addressing an august gathering at Search Marketing Expo, Matt broke the ice and almost announced the certain arrival of Penguin 2.0 updates which are going to take place in a few weeks from now. Matt made it clear that the impending updates are going to unleash some shock waves across the cyber sphere. To survive the impact, businesses that essentially thrive via the digital workspace, need to make their SEM and SEO activities more streamlined. He specifically mentioned that web pages with quality issues should be fixed with immediate effect, proper focus should be given on building the quality of links and tendency of spamming should be altogether discarded. Here’s a little enlightenment on the most crucial aspects related to the forthcoming Penguin 2.0 updates.

What is it all about?

If you probe deep into this forthcoming Google algorithm update you will find that these are just the extensions of the Penguin updates that were affected earlier last year. However, you might spot a thin line of difference. This time the updates are scheduled to address the discrepancies in linking practices in a comparatively ruthless manner. It was clear in Matt Cutt’s statement that any online platform, which seems to indulge in some sort of unsavory practices is going to get penalized. As Penguin 2.0 comes into effect, Google web spam team will assess a whopping number of website data to ensure whether websites are resorting to any unfair linking practice as well as black hat methods of SEO.

What do these updates mean to digital companies?

According to Matt Cutts as well as experts from the SEO industry, digital or online businesses should be highly focused on the upcoming changes in Penguin updates. It is imperative that online business fraternities should stay away from spamming packages as well as black hat forums. They should adopt organic policies only to ensure that visitors park onto their websites time and again.

What should you do to combat the impact?

• Focus on Content Marketing: You should adopt a full proof content marketing strategy to combat these impending updates. Make sure that you are going to contribute information-rich content like ‘How-to’ articles, press releases, e-books and tutorials. Foremost, make sure your content is unique.

• Adopt a Proper Action Plan for Link Building: An action plan is going to make your link building strategies work in favor of your business. Therefore, hit upon a befitting plan that includes effective use of webmaster tools and link auditing practices and get ready to face the Penguin with confidence.

• Curate Your Corporate Blog: Maintain your business blog and offer superior value propositions to your targeted visitors by embedding infographics, implementing proper formatting of the posts and posting quality content that people should love to bookmark. Use your blog as a marketing tool and increase your leads or sales.

• Avoid Exact Matches: Google tends to raise red flags to the anchor texts that happen to exhibit exact matches. Therefore, you need to shun the tendency of using exact matches.

You need to act proactive rather than acting reactive in this situation. Use your insight. Anticipate the problems. Plan ahead and eliminate the obstacles which are going to come your way.

Let us know what you think of the Penguin 2.0 updates. Share your valuable comments. Stay connected.

Do you own an ecommerce platform and look for effective and engaging ways to persuade your target audience to make some purchase decisions? You bet you are going to accomplish your objectives if you are going to set your priorities the right way. Focus on the following golden principles, which are going to work great for you.

Use mixed case insertions

In order to engage your potential clients and push them towards making up their mind to purchase your products the first thing you should do is design mixed case insertions or ads for your ecommerce platform. It has come out during an online survey that mixed case font patterns can boost the ratio of click through up to 80%.

Be innovative with the product descriptions

The way you choose to describe your products or services is definitely going to make or break your prospects of profit puking sales. You need to be creative but you should not go overboard. There should be simplicity in the tone that you use to describe your products. You can make the description engaging and eyeball grabbing by incorporating bulleted points, supporting images etc. Do not write the description in a way, which gives an impression that you are trying to make a sale. Choose a conversational style and share the most captivating details about your products, which are sure to titillate a desire to purchase in your prospective visitors.

Include some trust-marks

Astute web professionals expound that consumers are always on the lookout for a secure deal while exploring various ecommerce platforms. If you have to gain their trust then you are supposed to use some trust-marks in a way that calls attention. To win the trust of your target consumer groups you have to design some logs pertaining to secure payment methods or leading credit cards. Make it sure that you get the logos aptly installed in header or footer section of your website.

Offer free shipping facilities

You can bet that your consumers are in love with free shipping offers. You need to capitalize on it.  Include some free shipping offers and you are sure to experience a noticeable increase in the click through ratio pertaining to your ecommerce portal.

Add charismatic call to action

A captivating call to action is the ace in the hole. Do not forget to add a clear and unambiguous call to action button in your interface. You need to have a befitting strategy to create, place and optimize the copy as well as the design of your call to action button. If you do it the right way, you are on your way to trigger the success of your online branding and marketing initiatives.

Make it sure that you are going to use the suggested methods religiously.  To make these principles work you are going to need a little bit of dedication, patience as well as determination.

Would you like to receive more information rich updates on ecommerce solutions? Stay tuned to our posts. 

Get a unique logo design

It is very important to have a logo for your business. A logo is considered as the face of a business and it’s the logo that’s going to stick in the minds of the consumers. To design a logo that matches well with your company’s services, you need to hire a professional logo design company in India so that you come up with a design, which speaks to the target audience and represents your brand.

Stock up on pieces of stationery

After you get a unique logo design for your company, make sure you don’t forget to stock up on stationery pieces by using your logo on them. It is even essential to have envelopes, letterhead and business cards, which feature the logo to maintain professionalism and consistency. If you want to build loyalty and trust with customers, it’s essential that they see how serious you’re about your business. Stationery is just a simple way of conveying that message.

Launch a site

Nowadays consumers spend a lot of time on Internet. Before purchasing anything, they browse the Internet and look for products and services online. So, if you have a website of your company built in a professional manner by a reputed website design company in India, you can rest assured that your visitors will be converted into potential clients. With the help of the website, your customers will also be able to refer your brand to others easily.

Start blogging

You need to create a corporate blog for your website in order to get noticed online quickly. However, just creating a blog and updating it with relevant content once in a while won’t be enough. You need to update it on a weekly basis and discuss on topics that are of interest to your target audience.

Be Social

The best way to communicate with your target audience is through social media. After you create a logo for your brand and develop a brand voice, you will need to make sure you get your brand on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and other social media networking sites. You should also post engaging content every day and interact with users to build a good rapport.

Branding a business is surely a tricky affair but make sure you achieve these five things, as they will keep you on a path towards victory. These goals can be attained easily with some thoughtfulness and time. So, don’t miss out on establishing a great brand and creating a reliable customer base.

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Key benefits

College Admission Software seamlessly centralizes the admission system. The solution is laurelled for its unfailing capacity of giving a qualitative expansion to the admission system of a particular college. It genuinely enhances the capacity of continuous evaluation or monitoring. At the same time, it makes the institutional structure more integrated. Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent benefits:

•  Modernized framework for entrance exams
• Automated approval/ rejection of applications
• Less paper work
• Effective information management

Key features

The key features of this high octane software solution can be encapsulated in shape of:

• Enrollment management
• Record maintenance
• Hassle free registration
• Creating dynamic forms
• Exam modules
• Placement management for the students
• Attendance modules
• Organization of polls as well as notices
• Reporting suites
• Constant customer support
• Discussion forums

Superior contact management

College Admission Software solution empowers the college administration with superior contact management functionalities. The solution is good enough to help you receive database pertaining to prospective students from the internet. The administrative body of the college can also use the solution to:

• Track telephonic communication as well as virtual correspondences
• Generate custom fields
• Weed out fraudulent records
• Establish targeted communication with the prospective students
• Create, track as well as manage virtual campaigns
• Maintain activity logs for the students

The procedure of admission management tends to get smarter with the intervention of College Admission Software. A very lengthy and tedious process like college admissions gets shrunk and turns out to be an affair that can be tackled in a New York minute.

We do hope that you found the post advantageous. If you wish to keep yourself updated with more information on epoch making software solutions then keep reading our blog posts!

If you browse the Internet, you can find a lot of information on hosting but most of them will be biased personal opinions of authors. This would result in more confusion without you actually being able to make your choice with the right web hosting platform. The fact is it doesn’t matter which web hosting platform you select. For most of the people, it is important to select a good web host than to be concerned about the type of server that they use.

A comparative study between Linux and Windows

The Windows OS is developed and owned by Microsoft. On the other hand, Linux is an open source and usually free, which means setting up and running a Windows web hosting platform can be bit more expensive. However, the price tag involved in running a server doesn’t affect the rate of a hosting package. Regardless of the fact that Windows server are costlier to run, purchasing a Windows web hosting package is a cheaper option when compared to Linux hosting package that offers the same service.

Many people assume that since their PC runs on Windows, they will need to purchase a Windows hosting package. However, this is not correct. You can access your web account through the control panel or FTP and both Linux and Windows servers support them.  Only few FTP commands seem to be somewhat different between the two servers. Moreover, some FTP programs are designed with one or the other web hosting server in mind. All this means, sometimes you may find an error text while trying to obtain your FTP program for doing something.

Most of the web features can run fine on both the platforms including MySQL, PHP, etc. If you want to develop your website using FrontPage, ASP, .NET environment, Access, Media, Windows Streaming, or any other exclusive Microsoft technologies, you should make use of a Windows host. Limited support is available for many of these above-mentioned technologies in Linux but they may be costly and generally lack in features. If you use server specific technologies and change hosts, you will rather have a tough time than if you use the technologies, which are able to run on any system.

The stability and reliability of the various platforms have always been the topic of argument for people. On one hand, Windows is considered as an insecure operating system because it’s being widely used in the home PC’s. Generally, people spend a lot of time looking for faults in such a common system. On the other hand, as Linux is a very common server type, it is said to have had many hack attempts on it.  Hence, the security of the platforms comes down to the proficiency of system administrators. However, if you are bothered about the security, then it’s important for you to ensure that the hosting firm you choose is highly skilled and reputable.

As far as the performance of the servers is concerned, there is not a big difference between Windows and Linux. Linux performs faster than Windows because the latter usually attempts to provide an ‘all in one’ package. If you intend to point out a difference between the two, it will be difficult for you but if you consider performance then this may affect your decision.

To get more information on website hosting, stay connected to our blog!

“Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design” –Charles Eames 

The famed maxim on the true objective of a designing initiative seems to reverberate well in the present scenario when around 5.9 billion users try to access the internet with the help of their mobile devices. A Nielson market research claims that more than 30% mobile internet users choose the luxury of smartphones. The statistics is probably good enough to call attention to the necessity of designing a mobile version of your business or personal website. Here are some effective methods to trigger standard responsiveness, fast loading time and superior UI layouts in the mobile version of your site. You should try them out to make your website behave friendly with mobile screens, keeping all the functionalities intact.

Define the target audience and your objectives

If you have to make the mobile version of your website work then the first thing you should do is to have a crystal clear perception of your target audience and your objectives. You can hit upon proper strategies and designing principles provided you have the right impression about the mobile devices which your target audience prefers to use. While designing the mobile website you should bear it in mind that your target audience might have a taste for a wide spectrum of mobile devices such as iPhone sets, Android devices, etc. The layout of the site should be receptive enough to meet the requirements pertaining to these diverse platforms.

Keep the Touchscreen issues in mind

While working on the design you must pay attention to certain issues that might pop up with the Touchscreen devices. Though smartphones are believed to enhance user experience, operators might still find some trouble with small text links or small buttons. If you have small text links and buttons in the mobile version of your site then the users might not be at ease while trying to tap them. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you go for large buttons as well as large text links.

Have a careful eye on screen resolutions

There is a dramatic difference between the screen resolutions of mobile sites and normal websites. In general, web interfaces flaunt a resolution like 1024*768. Whereas most of the smartphones and other mobile devices have a screen resolution like 320*480. Design the layout of your mobile site keeping this noticeable difference in mind.

Choose vertical navigation

Industry experts believe that vertical navigation is much better that horizontal navigation and is more suitable for your mobile sites.  If your site has vertical navigation features then mobile users can easily focus on page content as well as scroll your website effortlessly.

Streamline breakpoints and grids

Breakpoints and grids happen to be the backbone of your mobile site. To upsurge the UI patterns you have to consider rationalizing the breakpoints and grids. Take care of the gutters and width to avoid issues interfering with the responsiveness of your website.

Do you wish to venture into the latest trends in web designing and development? Keep reading our posts.

A CMS or a Content Management System is a web application, which is used for organizing documents, pictures, movies, scientific data, phone numbers etc. With it, you can even manage and control the content within your site with an easy to use WYSIWYG edit interface. This means, by using it you can easily delete, add and edit images or text in the pages of your site in very less time. However, you do not need to have an HTML or programming experience for doing all these. All you need to have is a little experience with MS Word. Only then, you can manage your own website’s content very easily. It is also important for you to know that you can do this editing on any web browser and from any part of the world.

Earlier, implanting a CM system was quite expensive but now with the convenience of open source systems, a l CMS website is easily available at an affordable rate.

Why you need a CMS for your site?

Small companies find difficulty in keeping the content of their website updated because whenever they need to update something, they need to get in touch with a web developer, which involves money. So, this means every time a company wants to add something new in its website, it needs to spend money. It doesn’t become possible for a small company to hire a web developer whenever needed for updating/editing or deleting content and images. Hence, what happens is that the website stagnates and the visitors get to see irrelevant and out-of-date information. However, with a website having a CMS, you can manage your content even if you lack technical knowledge or experience with web design and HTML. A CMS website design will allow you to publish your content online in a lesser time and you do not need even need to call a website development company to make the changes to your own website.

To develop a CMS website, you need to take the help of a professional company. Imperium Technology Solutions are professional CMS website developers. After we develop your CMS website, we give you the complete control over it. You just need to sign in to your site for controlling and managing the content. If you need any further support, we can help you.

Advantages of a CMS

A CMS is essential to the success of every website and yet most of the companies are not acquainted with this computer program.  A company having a website can benefit in a number of ways by implementing a CMS. The benefits include:

• Improved consistency
• Increased flexibility of site
• Increased security
• Greater growth capacity
• Reduced maintenance costs for site
• Lesser duplication of information
• Support for decentralized authority
• Quicker turnaround time for new pages and changes
• Greater site navigation

Beside all these, the ultimate advantage, which CMS provides is supporting your business strategies and goals. For instance, a CMS helps in improving sales, increasing user satisfaction, assisting in connecting with public and document management.

For more information on Content Management System, keep reading our posts!  

Before heading down that road, you need to get acquainted with the surprising reasons for which App Store rejects the app. Here is the list of things you need to consider before submitting your next app.

Violation of HIG

If you do not follow the HIG or Human Interface Guidelines of Apple, your app will get rejected. Being an iPhone developer, you should make it a point to go through the HIG and follow it before starting to develop the app. Many apps prove gross defilements of the HIG—for instance, splash screen is a big NO as stated in the HIG). However, under no circumstances you can say that App Z had done this and it already exists in the App Store as your justification when your app is rejected by Apple. Even if you claim that, Apple will never accept it as a valid explanation.

Mismatched icons

Apple requires the 512×512 iTunes Store icon match the 57×57 icon displayed on the iPhone. Having mismatched icons means violation of the HIG and it is for this reason that Apple rejects a number of apps. Although there is nothing in the HIG stating that these two icons should match, since it is Apple Store, you have to play by their arbitrary rules. The icons need not be alike but there must be something or the other, which is shared between two.

Consistent button images

If you plan to use any of the existing images, which Apple offers for buttons, you should be careful to use it for the same function. While it is stated in the HIG that you can use a standard button in a non-standard manner if the app is offering an ‘immersive environment’, you’re better off making your customized buttons to evade the risk of refusal. When you use ‘action button’ image, make it a point that tapping on it brings up menu with choices. Apple can reject your app if it’s not done this way.

Misuse of logos and trademarks

A number of apps get rejected for including imagery and icons, which Apple thinks to be a trademark violation. Make sure not to use Apple logos or icons or trademarked material in the product images or in your app. However, this includes using the icons, which feature drawing of the iPhone.

Use of Beta or unfinished apps

You might be surprized knowing that the use of the word ‘Beta’ ‘Preview’ or ‘Version 0.9’ or an indication, which proves an app is unfinished are the top-most reasons for which Apple rejects an app. So, you should submit your app for review only when it’s complete.

Mentioning other supported platforms

It’s quite obvious that you will want the world to know that the app you have developed is also available on other platforms. So, if the app is available on Android, Windows or Blackberry, remember to advertise this on your website and not in the App Store description or the app itself. Not only Apple but also no app marketplaces would like it if apps highlight the names of rival platforms.

Hope you’ve found the post useful! For more information and news on mobile application development stay connected to our blog. 

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”- Steve Jobs

Your website is exactly the right thing that you need to create a captivating online presence. You can reach out to your potential clients and offer your products and services in an effortless fashion with this ultimate tool. However, if you have to make it sure that your site gets the attention of your target customers then you have to make the right designing decisions in the first place. You need art inspired, sprightly as well as reactive deign or enticing layouts to make an impact on your potential consumers. Here is a brief enlightenment on a few easy to grab tips, which are going to blaze up the overall layout of your website and help you get more business in due course of time.

Capitalize on interactive web banners

Interactive web banners are quite in vogue nowadays and they are definitely going to help you capture the engrossed attention of your target consumer belt in a breeze. The banners look surprisingly enticing. If creatively executed, the banners serve great as interactive display ads and indulge the visitors in purchasing your products or services. What’s more, they can be easily embedded in your interface without causing any trouble to the performance and speed of it.

Make the design mobile friendly

Mobile friendly web design is an important credential for a business site in the present era when tablets as well as smartphones rule the market.  A whopping number of internet users access the web through their tablets as well as smartphones. To capitalize on them you need to work on the mobile friendliness of your site. Get your site designed keeping the touch centric activities, bandwidth issues and smaller displays in mind.

 Hit upon a superior navigational plan

Navigational features have a great role to play in your website. Therefore, you should keep a razor sharp focus on this particular issue. It is important for you to ensure that your visitors are going to access several sections of your site at ease without facing any sort of technical issues. A superior navigational path is going to going to affect the psyche of your potential visitors and coax them to become your clients.

Include hard hitting content

The design of your site is going to look little imprecise without compelling content. While designing your interface, you should never ever ignore the importance of the content that you wish to embed in your site. Your site should sport content, which is highly informative, unique and original. Your site needs search engine friendly engaging content that matches the grandeur of the design.

We sincerely believe that you found the post worth checking out. Keep on reading our posts avidly to stay updated with more and more designing tips.