video production RSS Digest

Fresh Resources for Web Designers and Developers (April 2024)

Thoriq Firdaus — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 13:00:20 +0000

It’s time for another edition of our collection of fresh tools and resources for our fellow designers and developers.

This time around, we’ve got a little bit of everything, from demos showcasing the latest CSS features to some nifty JavaScript libraries you won’t want to miss. So, let’s jump right in and explore what’s new!

caniemail

Akin to CanIUse. CanIEmail provides a comprehensive reference for email client support of HTML and CSS features. It helps you understand which HTML and CSS features are supported across different email clients to create compatible and accessible email designs.

JSON Viewer editor

This tool makes it easy for you to create, edit, validate, and preview JSON data. It offers features like syntax highlighting, formatting, error checking, and even a structure preview in a chart format. A handy solution for anyone needing to work with and preview JSON data efficiently.

Anchor Tool

CSS Anchor Positioning, featuring the new CSS insert-area property, is soon to arrive in the browsers. This site shows a hands-on demonstration of this new specification in action. You can see various anchor positions and how surrounding elements dynamically adjust.

Pragmatic Drag-n-Drop

Developed by Atlassian, Pragmatic Drag-n-Drop is a JavaScript library to make adding drag-and-drop functionality on the web easy. It provides a range of features such as custom drag handles, support for touch devices, and compatibility with modern web frameworks including React, Vue, and Angular.

WordPress Plugin Readme Parser

It’s a handy Composer package that you can use this package to read the readme.txt or readme.md file in a WordPress plugin and gather information about the plugin, like the plugin name, required PHP version, tested WordPress version, and description.

It’s based on WordPress.org’s readme parser, with some tweaks to ensure compatibility with more PHP versions.

PhosphorIcons

PhosphorIcons offers a flexible icon set with 1000+ icons in six weights: Thin, Light, Regular, Bold, Fill, and Duotone. Designed to look sharp at any size, these icons are available for various platforms and frameworks including React, Vue, Flutter, and Elm.

Cascade

Cascade is a free open-source SaaS boilerplate, providing a minimal setup for starting your SaaS projects. It includes essential tech stack such as Next.js, Prisma, PostgreSQL, and TailwindCSS. It also includes authentication, payments, SEO enhancements, and analytics integration.

With Cascade, you can quickly build SaaS applications efficiently.

Dark Design

This site provides a curated collection of websites featuring dark-themed designs. It showcases websites from various industries and categories, including Education, Commerce, and Agency.

Whether you’re working on a website, app, or interface, this site could provide you with some inspiration.

Cloudflare AI Playground

Cloudflare AI Playground is a online Playground allows you to experiment with different LLM models like Mistral, Llama, OpenChat, and DeepSeek Coder. A handy tool if you plan to run your AI-based application on Cloudflare Workers AI, where you can run these models on its global network using serverless GPUs, bringing AI applications closer to your users.

RunJS

RunJS is an online JavaScript playground where you can write and run code with instant live feedback. This makes it a convenient tool for quickly trying out ideas, testing algorithms, or debugging code.

Valkey

Valkey is a high-performance key/value data structure, aiming to resume development on the previously open-source Redis project. Similarly, it supports various native structures and an extendable plugin system.

Elmo

Elmo is a Chrome extension that can help you condense web content into concise summaries. It also provides instant answers to specific questions from the page, saving you time and effort. It seamlessly integrates into your browsing experience, making it ideal for research or learning without leaving your current webpage.

Banal

Banal provides an easy way to check the bundle size of NPM dependencies directly within VSCode. It allows you to identify and assess the impact of each dependency on the overall size of the project. This helps you make informed decisions about which dependencies to include or remove to optimize performance and resource usage.

Eloquent JavaScript

Eloquent JavaScript is an online book that teaches you JavaScript programming from the basics to advanced topics like functional programming and asynchronous programming. Whether you’re new or want to sharpen your skills, this book is a valuable resource for learning JavaScript.

Firebolt

Firebolt is a React framework for building high-performance, full-stack web applications quickly. It provides a streamlined directory structure, first-class CSS-in-JS support, and an intuitive routing system for pages, assets, virtual files, APIs, and more.

Grep by Example

“Grep by example” is an interactive guide for learning the grep CLI, the text search tool commonly found on Linux systems. It offers step-by-step tutorials and allows users to experiment with examples by modifying commands in real-time.

A11y Myths

A11yMyths is a website that aims to debunk common misconceptions about web accessibility. It provides information and resources to help you build more inclusive and user-friendly experiences on the Web.

AnalogJS

Analog is a meta-framework for building websites and apps with Angular; it’s similar to Next.js or Nuxt, but made for Angular. Key features include support for Vite, Vitest, Playwright, file-based routing, integration of markdown for content routes, API/server route handling, and hybrid SSR/SSG capabilities.

WordPresser on Github

This Chrome extension will add WordPress.org profile links next to GitHub usernames. It helps you easily recognize WordPress users or contributors on Github and collaborate more efficiently. It is available on both Chrome and Firefox.

WordPress.com Studio

WordPress.com Studio is a new desktop app for WordPress users, simplifying local development. It allows you to easily share the local work to collaborate with team members or clients, creating patterns and templates, and customize the site with just a few clicks.

It is particularly beneficial for designers, marketers, and other creative professionals, providing unlimited access to these resources for a set monthly or annual fee. Envato Elements is renowned for its cost-effectiveness and extensive, continuously updated collection, making it an indispensable tool in the creative industry. In this post, I’ll explore several methods to legally download content from Envato Elements at no cost.

Monthly Free Files

Envato Elements provides a selection of free files every month, including fonts, videos, graphics, templates, and more. Visit this page to discover what is available for free each month.

To download these files, you will need to create a free Envato Elements account.

Free Trials

Envato Elements offers a 7-day free trial, during which you can download unlimited files. To start the trial, you must create an account and provide your credit card details. Rest assured, you will not be charged if you cancel the trial before the seven days expire.

Discounts for Students

If you’re a student, you can enjoy a 30% discount on an Envato Elements subscription. While it’s not free, it is significantly cheaper. To qualify for the student discount, you will need to verify your student status with Envato.

Giveaways

Envato Elements occasionally hosts giveaways on social media and other platforms. To participate, follow Envato Elements and meet the entry requirements specified in the giveaway.

Alternative Free Resources

Beyond these options, there are additional sites where you can find free files similar to those offered on Envato Elements. For instance, to download free high-quality images, consider exploring these sites:

For additional resources, view our post on Best Sites to Download High Quality Royalty-Free Images for more details.

To download free stock videos, visit the following sites:

For more options, check out our post on Sites to Download Free High Quality Stock Videos.

We have also published comprehensive lists of sites where you can download free vectors, download free illustrations, and download free SVG icons. I recommend checking these out as well.

The post How to Download Envato Elements Files for Free appeared first on Hongkiat.

Apple Car Key Supported Cars

Hongkiat.com — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:00:28 +0000

Apple introduced the Car Key feature at the WWDC 2020, which lets users unlock and start their cars using the Wallet app on their iPhone or Apple Watch. Here’s a complete list of cars that are compatible with Apple’s Car Key integration.

But first, let’s take a quick look at what Apple Car Key is, and how to get it added to your iPhone.

What is Apple Car Key?

Apple Car Key is a feature distinct from Apple CarPlay. It is integrated within the Wallet app on your iPhone or Apple Watch, allowing you to add your car keys digitally. Once added, you can lock, unlock, and start your car by simply raising your device near the vehicle’s handle.

You can also share your car keys with friends or family via Messages, Mail, or AirDrop, enhancing convenience. Additionally, Car Key supports Express Mode, which lets you use your car key without needing to unlock your device or authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode.

How to Add Apple Car Key to iPhone

To use your iPhone or Apple Watch as your car key, you need to ensure compatibility with your vehicle. Check with your car manufacturer or dealership to see if your vehicle supports this feature.

You will need an iPhone XS or later, or an iPhone SE (2nd generation), running the latest version of iOS; or an Apple Watch Series 5 or later, or an Apple Watch SE, with the latest version of watchOS. Make sure you are signed into your device with your Apple ID.

Here’s how to set it up:

Ensure that your car is associated with the account provided by the car’s manufacturer.
Set up your key using the car manufacturer’s app or via your car’s display screen. Follow the instructions to set up your key.
When you are sent to the Wallet app, tap ‘Continue’.

When prompted with on-screen instructions, place your phone near the key reader while your phone and car pair.

Please note that when you pair your car key with your iPhone, it might also be automatically paired with your Apple Watch.

Car Models Supporting Apple Car Key

Brand	Model Years and Types
BMW	2021 – 2023 1 Series
	2021 – 2023 2 Series
	2021 – 2023 3 Series
	2021 – 2023 4 Series
	2021 – 2023 5 Series
	2021 – 2023 6 Series
	2021 – 2023 8 Series
	2021 – 2023 X5
	2021 – 2023 X6
	2021 – 2023 X7
	2021 – 2023 X5 M
	2021 – 2023 X6 M
	2021 – 2023 Z4
	2022 – 2023 i4
	2022 – 2023 iX
	2022 – 2023 iX1
	2022 – 2023 iX3
	2023 i3
	2023 i7
	2024 i5
BYD	2022 – 2023 HAN
Genesis	2023 GV60
Genesis	2023 G90
Hyundai	2023 Palisade
	2023 IONIQ 6
	2024 Kona EV
Kia	2023 Telluride
	2023 Niro
	2024 Seltos
	2024 EV9
Lotus	Emeya EV
Mercedes-Benz	2024 E-Class

Is There an Official List?

There isn’t an official list of car models that support Apple Car Key by Apple yet, but here’s one that’s closest if you want to keep yourself updated. This is a list of cars that support CarPlay by Apple, and alongside each of the models that support Apple Car Key, a key icon is added.

The post Apple Car Key Supported Cars appeared first on Hongkiat.

Workplace Communication: Why It Is More Important Than Ever

Vartika Kashyap — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:00:14 +0000

Workplace communication is a living term with dynamic nuances.

At its worst, the absence of effective communication can lead to negative consequences such as absenteeism, employee turnover, increased conflicts, low morale, and compromised productivity.

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According to David Grossman’s findings in ‘The Cost of Poor Communication,’ inadequate information in an organization results in an average loss of $62.4 million per year.

That’s absurd.

And yet, often, we simply allow poor communication to take the wheel.

If you are letting it happen, it’s high time you reconsider your communication strategy, no matter the scale and sector in which you operate.

So, without further ado, let’s find out why you should invest more heavily in workplace communication and how you can achieve it.

What Is Workplace Communication?

Workplace communication is the foundation of a strong work culture. Whether remote or hybrid, effective workplace communication serves as an insightful manual for how your teams interact with each other.

Whether synchronous or asynchronous, these concepts refer to the exchange of information, such as providing and receiving feedback, sharing project information, statuses, and updates, or presenting ideas. Defining your company goals, fostering teamwork, and coordinating various aspects of work are influential factors that drive effective workplace communication.

Some examples of workplace communication include:

1:1 sessions
Quick dial-ins
Quick messages
Team or group meetings
Project or task updates
Formal presentations
Written documents
Informative emails
Video conferences
Non-verbal communication

Why Do You Need to Focus on Improving Workplace Communication?

Effective workplace communication is the backbone of a successful organization.

It ensures smooth operations and synergy among team members, preventing misunderstandings and confusion from evolving into chaotic quagmires.

As a leader, you should not allow these disruptions to waste employees’ potential and efforts.

Investing time in refining your communication strategy yields both short-term and long-term benefits, empowering individuals and teams, and benefiting the organization as a whole.

Let’s explore other ways effective communication can elevate a company’s success standards.

Increases Productivity

According to Harris Poll’s The State of Business Communication in 2023, effective communication is trusted by 72% of business leaders to increase productivity, with 50% of workers agreeing. Improved communication strategies make employees feel empowered, understand their roles, fulfill duties efficiently, and seek collaboration opportunities, leading to smoother operations and faster achievement of results.

Enhanced Engagement

Effective communication fosters an environment where employees feel valued, heard, and respected, increasing trust in management and commitment to the organization. Transparent and regular communication across teams builds cohesion, motivating employees towards achieving company goals.

Reduces Conflict

Lack of communication or clashes of diverse perspectives, cultures, and beliefs can lead to conflicts, misinterpretation, and miscommunication, adversely impacting employee relationships and organizational environment. Refining communication styles prevents the workplace from becoming toxic and ensures information is conveyed and understood accurately.

Improves Retention

According to the Work Institute’s Retention report, the average replacement cost for an employee earning a median salary of $50,000 a year is $16,500. Promoting effective workplace communication is cost-effective as it enhances employee retention, reducing the need for frequent recruiting and training.

Better Collaboration

Effective communication is the basis for collaboration. When everyone is aware of each other’s needs, preferences, strengths, and weaknesses, it fosters a supportive environment. Tools like ProofHub enhance collaboration by providing a centralized platform for team communication, project management, file sharing, and task tracking, ensuring seamless teamwork and unified project progression.

5 Key Tips to Improve Workplace Communication

Now that you have a complete understanding of effective workplace communication and its importance, let’s move forward and examine practical tips to enhance communication within your organization.

1. Know What to Say and to Whom

Communication is an art that requires understanding of different communication styles. Being aware of your audience allows you to select your words carefully to be considerate. Consider the medium of communication that best suits the message and the audience, whether it be face-to-face interaction, email, or messaging. Establish clear communication guidelines to ensure messages align with the intended context and content, fostering a close-knit community.

2. Practice Two-Way Communication

Effective communication is bidirectional. It involves listening as much as talking. Keep an open perspective, understand the contributions of others, and provide a space for everyone to be heard without prejudice. Ensure that you reach out to acknowledge and consider every unique perspective, as not everyone will proactively share their thoughts.

3. Be Mindful of Your Non-Communicative Gestures

Non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions, body language, and voice tone, can unintentionally convey messages. Be mindful of these non-communicative gestures during conversations to avoid misunderstandings and project approachability, sincerity, and empathy, especially during challenging discussions.

4. Create a Collaborative Environment

Assess the quality of engagement within your team to ensure it’s genuine and not just superficial politeness. A healthy communicative environment prioritizes psychological safety, encouraging open exchange of ideas, feedback, and thoughts without fear of judgment. Modern workplaces benefit from enterprise communication solutions for internal collaboration, promoting an open dialogue exchange beyond traditional ideations.

5. Use Technological Applications

The adoption of remote and hybrid work setups globally has presented challenges in managing effective communication, especially in a distributed workforce. Utilizing technological tools like Chanty or Slack can streamline communication, serving as efficient alternatives for face-to-face interactions and ensuring everyone is aligned and informed.

Takeaway

Workplace communication has significantly evolved over the years, yet predicting its definitive future remains challenging. Remaining in the comfort zone is not conducive to progress.

Despite uncertainties, improving workplace communication is crucial to ongoing success, as its significance has grown beyond simply exchanging information.

In conclusion, continually enhancing your communication skills is essential to transforming your organization into a productivity powerhouse.

The post Workplace Communication: Why It Is More Important Than Ever appeared first on Hongkiat.

100+ Zapier Zaps (and Recipes) to Boost Productivity

Ashutosh KS — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:00:03 +0000

Automation is a hot topic in the technology sector today, and for good reason. It’s a key driver of productivity, enabling maximum efficiency in various tasks, particularly when it comes to web services. This is where Zapier comes into play – it’s one of the simplest tools for automation.

Zapier stands out as a highly popular automation tool. It’s compatible with hundreds of web services and even supports conditional workflows. Plus, you can start using it for free! While the free version does have some limitations (like missing out on conditional workflows), it’s definitely worth exploring. Intrigued yet?

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How does Zapier function?

Zapier operates by establishing links between various web applications and services. These links are referred to as “Zaps”, which are based on the concept of cause and effect, or more specifically, triggers and actions. In Zapier’s terminology, a “Zap” is a connection that binds a trigger and an action together.

To illustrate, suppose you post an image on Twitter, which is set as a trigger. Zapier recognizes this activity and then executes the corresponding action. For instance, it might take the image from your tweet and save it to your Google Drive. Fascinating, isn’t it?

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How to create and use zaps?

Before talking about the useful zaps, let’s see how to create and use them:

First of all, open and log in to Zapier (or sign up if required).

You’ll see the home screen asking you to create your first zap. Type and search for the apps you wish to connect. Next, select a trigger and an action from their dropdown and click “Use Zap“.
Note: Alternatively, you can click the links given below to check out those zaps directly, and then, you can continue below to configure them.

In the zap editor, click “Connect an Account” to connect the trigger app or service first. Then, click the “Save + Continue” button.

Now, pick a sample (if asked) to test the zap and click Continue.
Then, select the app or service to carry out the action when the trigger happens. You need to select this again even if you picked it earlier.

Now, select an action to perform in the zap. Of course, if you selected it before, it will be pre-selected for you. So, just click Continue.

Then, press “Connect an Account” to connect the app or service you wish to perform an action. After you connect it, click Test to check its connection with Zapier, and finally, click “Save + Continue“.

Next, you must configure the options for the action. It will differ per the action in your zap, but it will be simple as shown here. For example, I am creating a zap for saving my tweets’ links to a text file in Dropbox.

Finally, on the next screen, test your zap before activating it. If you’re satisfied with it, click Finish to save and activate your zap.

Zaps for Google Apps & Services

Allow me to introduce you to the concept of “zaps”, a tool for automating Google apps and services. While Google Apps Scripts offer a more customizable approach to automation, Zapier provides a quick and easy alternative.

For those seeking greater flexibility, we recommend exploring our collection of handy Google Apps Scripts. These scripts can help you master Gmail and automate tasks in Google Drive.

Zaps for Productivity Tools

Next, let’s check out the zaps aka recipes for automating productivity apps like Evernote and Slack. Then, you can boost productivity even more.

HubSpot

Send new HubSpot contacts to Google Contacts

Add new HubSpot contacts to a MailChimp list

Get Slack notifications for new HubSpot form submissions

iPad Unavailable" message and provide several solutions to resolve it.

Table of Content

Understanding "iPad Unavailable" Messages
Ways to Fix It:
Summary

Understanding “iPad Unavailable” Messages

When your iPad displays an “iPad Unavailable” message, it typically results from multiple incorrect passcode entries. If you enter the wrong unlock code five times in succession, the device activates its Security Lock feature.

The duration of this security lock increases with each incorrect attempt: starting at 1 minute and extending to 5, 15, 30, and finally 60 minutes. If incorrect attempts reach 10, the message changes to “iPad unavailable” without a timer, indicating that the device is completely locked.

Under these conditions, remembering and entering the correct passcode may no longer unlock the device.

Try These Few Ways to Fix It

Method 1: Enter the Correct Passcode

This is the straightforward solution. If your device displays the message “iPad Unavailable/Security Lockout, try again in X minutes” on the lock screen, wait until it permits you to attempt entering the passcode again.

Make sure to enter the correct passcode to avoid further waiting times for subsequent attempts.

Method 2: Resolve ‘iPad Unavailable’ Using a Specialized Tool

If your iPad shows “iPad is unavailable” without a timer, or you prefer not to wait for the timer to expire, consider using a dedicated software solution to unlock it.

iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius is a tool designed to remove various types of security locks from iOS and iPadOS devices, including screen lock passwords, MDM restrictions, Screen Time passwords, and Apple IDs. It supports a wide range of Apple devices, such as the latest iPhones, iPads, and iPods.

To use iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius to solve the problem, follow these steps:

Download and install iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius on your PC. Launch the software and select the “Unlock Lock Screen” option.

Connect your iPad to your computer using a USB cable and click “Next” to proceed.

The software will automatically detect your device and prompt you to choose a location to save the firmware package. Click “Download” and wait for the download to complete.

Once the firmware is downloaded, click “Unlock” to begin the unlocking process. The software will then immediately resolve the “iPad Unavailable” issue.

Wait for a few minutes, the software will notify you “Unlocked screen successfully“, your iPad will reboot and you can access it and restore data from backup.

Pros: This method has a high success rate for resolving "iPad Unavailable" messages and other passcode-related issues on both iPads and iPhones.

Cons: It requires access to a computer to use (download and install) the software for unlocking the device.

Method 3: Unlock an Unavailable iPad via Erase Option

No computer? No problem. Apple provides a solution for users who have accidentally triggered the iPad’s secure lock mode. The “Erase iPad” option on the iPad unavailable lock screen allows you to unlock your device without a computer.

However, this method will completely erase all content on your device and requires your Apple ID and credentials.

Enter the incorrect passcode seven times consecutively until the iPad displays “iPad unavailable", try again in 15 minutes.” At this point, an “Erase iPad” button will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Tap the “Erase iPad” button, then tap it again to confirm that you want to erase all content.

Enter your Apple ID password when prompted, and tap “Erase iPad” again to begin the erasure process.

Pros: This method allows you to unlock your iPad without the need for a computer or iTunes.

Cons: It is only effective on certain devices running specific versions of iOS and requires a valid internet connection to work.

Method 4: Erase an Unavailable iPad via iCloud

If the “Find My iPad” feature is enabled on your device, you can use iCloud to erase your iPad and when it’s erased, it’s automatically unlocked.

Here’s how to do it:

Visit iCloud.com/find on another device, and log in with your Apple ID associated with the iPad.
Click on “Find My” from the dashboard, and you’ll be prompted to re-enter your Apple ID and password for verification.
From the “All Devices” list, select the locked iPad, click on “Erase iPad,” confirm the operation, and wait for the process to complete. The iPad will then be unlocked.

Pros: This method does not require any software downloads.

Cons: You must have the Apple ID and password used on the locked iPad to perform this operation.

Method 5: Remove ‘iPad Unavailable’ Message via iTunes

You can also resolve the "iPad Unavailable" issue using iTunes, which does not require internet access, nor does it require your Apple ID and credentials. Here’s how you can do it:

Update iTunes on your Windows PC to the latest version, then connect the unavailable iPad to your computer.
Put the iPad into Recovery Mode.
Once in Recovery Mode, iTunes will automatically detect the iPad. You will be prompted to either “Restore” or “Update” the device. Select “Restore” and wait for the factory reset process to complete.

Pros: This method allows you to unlock an iPad without needing the Apple ID associated with it.

Cons: Entering Recovery Mode can be complex and may be challenging for some users.

Summary

Dealing with an “iPad Unavailable” message can be stressful, especially if you don’t remember your passcode or if the waiting time to retry is too long. So here’s a re-cap, depending on your situation, you can select the most convenient option:

Direct Passcode Entry: The simplest method, which involves entering the correct passcode after waiting for the designated lockout period to expire.
Specialized Tool (iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius): Useful for bypassing the lock without a waiting period, particularly if the device is completely locked. However, it requires a computer to operate.
Erase via iPad Options: A viable option if no computer is available, though it results in the loss of all data on the iPad unless backed up.
iCloud Erasure: Effective if “Find My iPad” is enabled, allowing remote erasure and unlocking of the iPad. This method also erases all contents on the device.
iTunes Recovery: A method that doesn’t require internet or Apple ID credentials but involves complicated steps to enter Recovery Mode.

Each method serves different needs and comes with specific requirements and drawbacks. Whether you have immediate access to a computer, whether your device has “Find My iPad” enabled, and whether you know your Apple ID and passcode can all influence your choice of method.

Evaluate your circumstances and choose the approach that best fits your situation to efficiently restore access to your iPad.

The post Is Your iPad Displaying the ‘iPad Unavailable’ Message? Here’s How to Fix It appeared first on Hongkiat.

10+ Online Tools to Create Cartoon Characters of Yourself

Nancy Young — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 13:00:11 +0000

If you are not comfortable using real photos to represent yourself in any online profiles and avatars, why not create a cartoon character of yourself? It’ll be fun and unique to others when you are representing yourself in a cartoonized way in your online profiles.

Thanks to many free web services, you don’t have to pay an artist for your cartoon illustrations. All you have to do is upload your photo or run some mix-and-match. Here are 13 websites that allow you to create a cartoon character of yourself.

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Sapiens Character Builder

Explore a variety of customizable body parts, backgrounds, and poses in three styles to create character illustrations for your projects. Sapiens Character Builder by UI8 provides a straightforward way to assemble unique characters.

Cartoonify.de

Cartoonify is a straightforward online tool for creating cartoon avatars. You can choose from 300 different graphic elements to add to your character and save your creation in PNG, SVG, or upload to Gravatar. There’s also a how-to guide to help you create your character on the site.

AI Cartoonizer

AI Cartoonizer can turn any photo into a cartoon-style image. It lets you turn your face into anime, caricature, or Disney-style characters within a few seconds. The tool is also available for Android and iOS. You can edit and tinker with the created characters and add text, frames, and additional effects.

Media.io

Meda.io is an instant cartoon character maker that fast and free. Just upload your photo, start the process, and get an interesting image within seconds. You can give effects to your photos or turn them into caricatures and share the characters with friends or on social media. Plus, you don’t have to create an account to convert your photos.

VanceAI Toongineer

VanceAI Toongineer is an AI-powered tool that turns your normal photos into cartoons in the quickest way possible. You can give your pictures some amazing effects and artistic touch. The created images are high-quality, so you can easily get them printed.

Image to Cartoon

Image to Cartoon enables you to turn your photos into cartoon characters and avatars with just a few clicks. You can add any interesting body (batman, superman, aviator) to your characters and add your characters to a cool background and have fun with it. The best part is, the image you’ll create will be deleted from the app within 3 hours.

Bitmoji

Create realistic and creative cartoon characters with Bitmoji. On the website, you need to create an account and start making a perfect bitmoji adding your peculiar features. Moreover, you can share the created bitmoji in any iOS or Android app and add them to iMessage, Gboard, or as a Chrome extension to your browser.

Photokako

Claiming to be one of the best online photo editors in Japan, Photokako lets you turn your photos into different effects and characters. Interestingly, the site features hundreds of effects or editing samples so you can easily pick the best for your photos. Plus, its free and really easy to use.

Avatar Maker

Avatar maker can help you create an interesting avatar for yourself or for your projects. Through an interesting interface, you can add different elements to your avatar in terms of hair, face, eyes, clothes, and background. Once done, you can download your character in SVG or PNG format.

Cutout.pro

An AI-powered tool, Cutout.pro, can turn your portrait photos or selfies into 3D cartoon characters. You can drag-and-drop, upload, or paste the image URL and cartoonize it with one click. The website is also available as an Android and iOS app.

Befunky Photo to Cartoon

Befunky Photo to Cartoon lets you upload your photos on PNG, JPG, or BDF format and convert them into cartoon characters. There are different editing features for changing color, touchups and adding text, graphics, and frames etc. You can also choose from a number of pre-made effects and apply to your photos.

Instructables craft

The site has detailed instructions how to create a drawing or cartoon of yourself in Photoshop or Illustrator. Note: you need to have Photoshop or Illustrator to follow the instructions and perhaps some drawing skills.

Portrait Illustration Maker

Portrait Illustration make is a free cartoon avatar generator. Just hit the “Randomizer” button and the site will automatically generate avatars randomly. You can save the Avatar image by right-clicking them and using the Save Image As option from the context menu.

Pho.to

This awesome site can not only turn your landscape photo into a watercolor drawing, but also make your face morph. Just upload your photo to the website and get numerous changes of facial expressions.

The post 10+ Online Tools to Create Cartoon Characters of Yourself appeared first on Hongkiat.

10 Best Support Ticketing Systems for 2024 (Free and Paid)

Ashutosh KS — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:15:23 +0000

Whether you’re running a small online business or a large corporation, if your business revolves around customer service and interaction, adopting a ticketing system is a wise move, or at the very least, worth considering.

These systems are more than mere tools; they’re vital lifelines for businesses dedicated to exceptional customer service and efficient support processes. The ideal ticketing system can elevate your support strategy, transforming every customer interaction into a chance for growth and building loyalty. If your aim is to streamline and keep track of customer interactions, these systems are indispensable.

In this post, we’re excited to spotlight the best support ticketing systems available, both free and paid.

Overview:

	Zendesk: Great when integrated with other Zendesk products. See details ↓ Starts at $19/agent/mth. Try for free
	Atera: All-in-one IT management with flat-rate pricing See details ↓ Starts at $99/user/mth. Try for free
	NinjaOne: Boosts IT efficiency with rich features. See details ↓ Visit site for pricing. Try for free
	Hiver: Integrates with Gmail. See details ↓ Starts at $15/user/mth. Try for free
	SysAid Helpdesk: Easy to set up. See details ↓ Visit site for pricing. Check price
	Freshdesk: Free for up to 10 agents. See details ↓ Starts at $15/agent/mth. Has free plan. Try for free
	Zoho Desk: Great choice for current Zoho users. See details ↓ Starts at $14/user/mth. Try it
	ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus: Easy-to-use interface. See details ↓ Starts at $10/user/mth. Try it
	Salesforce Service Cloud: With the most comprehensive features. See details ↓ Starts at $25/user/mth. Try for free
	Deskpro: Install and run on the cloud or on-premise. See details ↓ Starts at $29/agent/mth. Try it
	Hesk: Free and self-hosted content management system. See details ↓ Free. Download
	Tidio Ticketing System: Easy to set up, requiring no coding knowledge. See details ↓ Starts at $29/agent/mth. Has free plan. Try for free
	osTicket: Free, open-source, and community-supported. See details ↓ Free. Cloud-hosted starts at $12/agent/mth. Download

Zendesk

The first in our list is Zendesk. It is a great tool created to cater to the requirements of customers, service agents, and managers. It has a user-friendly interface that lets customers raise their concerns or issues through different platforms such as websites, emails, phone calls, and even Facebook. Service agents can view customer details and participate in group discussions, while managers have access to important data and reports for analysis.

Additionally, Zendesk can be used on Android and iOS devices.

Zendesk’s price:

Zendesk starts at $19/month. Try a demo.

What we like:

There are many options for customer engagement.
The tool supports a variety of file formats for upload.
It offers a selection of community themes and a feature for global UI changes.

What we don’t like:

There isn’t much flexibility for structural modifications.
The ticketing system lacks a feature for sorting.
Integrations do not support two-way synchronization.

Check out Zendesk

Atera Helpdesk

Atera Helpdesk is an all-in-one IT platform that combines remote monitoring and management with professional service automation. This powerful tool simplifies IT operations by integrating various functions into a single, easy-to-use interface. IT professionals can efficiently manage support tickets, monitor client networks, and conduct remote troubleshooting.

Featuring real-time analytics and automated workflows, Atera optimizes efficiency and reduces response times. Its comprehensive set of tools supports everything from patch management to security monitoring, ensuring IT systems operate smoothly and securely. Atera’s predictive analytics enhance proactive maintenance and facilitate informed decision-making, improving customer satisfaction.

Ideal for small to medium-sized IT businesses, Atera Helpdesk offers a cost-effective, flat-rate pricing model that allows for unlimited scalability, helping IT teams reduce manual tasks and focus on more strategic initiatives.

Atera’s price:

Atera offers a free 30-day trial with no credit card required.

Its Pro paid plan starts at $99/month. Other paid plans include the Growth plan, starting at $129/month, and the Power plan at $169/month.

What we like:

Combines RMM, PSA, and remote access.
Unlimited devices, cost-effective for growth.
Intuitive interface simplifies IT management.
Quick and helpful customer service.
Streamlines tasks like alerts and backups.

What we don’t like:

Mobile app less functional than desktop version.
Takes time to master features.

Could it be because of lackluster offers, or is there some hidden reason influencing shoppers not to fill up their carts with more products?

Many stores miss out on potential earnings by not adequately incentivizing customers who have already shown an interest in their brand. Or perhaps they attempt to do so but leave a lot of money on the table.

It’s essential to implement strategies to increase the average order value (AOV), which is the average value of all your sales transactions.

Factors Contributing to Low AOV

Let’s take the example of the famous Dollar Shave Club, which skyrocketed to success by promoting one-dollar razor blades.

Undoubtedly, they had great marketing from the very beginning on all fronts, such as creating winning video ads, which are still showcased as a shining example.

However, their business wouldn’t have survived by selling one-dollar blades alone, not even at scale. The average order value (AOV) would have been way too low to make it a profitable venture. Their major profits come from other products, as they offer a range of men’s care products from electric trimmers and razors to shower gels and deodorants.

You should similarly think about your store. Shoppers may come in for one enticing offer, possibly priced lower, but end up loving your brand and purchasing more than they originally planned.

To increase average order value, there are a few key things to consider:

Pricing Strategies – Although they depend on the market and your ideal customer persona for whom the product is made, you still have control over many factors such as minimum order requirements, bundling, discounts, tiered pricing, cross-selling, and discount strategies. Be careful with discounts. If people see discounted offers too frequently, they may never purchase products at the normal price.
Product Assortment – Shoppers appreciate having a variety of options. Only if the website is difficult to navigate and customers feel overwhelmed by the abundance of products, could it pose a hurdle. To increase average order value (AOV), the product assortment must be well organized, especially with complementary products available for cross-selling.
Customer Behavior – You need to understand deeply how your customers buy. How do they come to your website? Is it from social media or Google? The behavior of visitors on your website can be easily monitored. By analyzing their user’s journey, you’ll be able to pinpoint hurdles and what stops them from buying more.
Industry Dynamics – Purchasing patterns and AOV depend on the industry you’re in, so it’s beneficial to understand AOV standards to gauge where you stand among the competition.

Strategies for Increasing Low Average Order Value

Here are successful strategies to implement to increase low AOV.

1. Product Bundling

To ensure success, package products that complement each other or make sense together, and offer them at a discounted price.

For instance, you can pair shower gel with body lotion and deodorant, as these items are commonly used together.

Additionally, consider creating themed bundles for special occasions like Christmas or Valentine’s Day, or invent your own themes like Jimmy Lion, a renowned sock brand, has done with gift packs such as the Dog Day Pack, Cat Night Pack, and Frida Kahlo Pack.

Jimmylion

Another effective tactic is to combine a bestseller with items that aren’t selling as well, thus facilitating the sale of accumulated stock. In addition to discounts, consider adding an exclusive item that’s otherwise unavailable to make the bundle more appealing.

Furthermore, you can combine variations of the same product, like the socks mentioned above. This strategy works particularly well in industries like cosmetics or food, where scents and tastes are easy to combine.

However, ensure that your bundles present clear benefits to the customer without causing confusion or hurting the brand image.

2. Upselling and Cross-Selling

These two terms refer to techniques we employ when shoppers browse your website or during the checkout process.

Upselling involves convincing the customer to purchase a more expensive item or a higher-tier option than what they originally intended.

There are various methods for upselling. In practical terms, we also call it upselling when we offer shoppers a bundle instead of an individual product. Often, an upsell involves a package deal. With stackable products like razor blades, toothpaste, or supplements, offering more of the same at a discount is an effective strategy.

For example, the bone broth brand Broya upsells by offering different quantities on the product page. In addition to providing options for 5, 8, 16, or 24 pouches in a variety pack, they show how many servings you get with each option. This increases the perceived value for customers.

BroyaLiving

Now, let’s consider an example of cross-selling, a technique aimed at selling complementary products.

Loftie, a brand specializing in items that enhance the sleeping experience, employs a cross-selling technique. When you add their alarm clock to your cart, they also offer you a sleep mask.

Credit: ByLoftie

Since a sleep mask is significantly cheaper compared to an alarm clock, it appears inexpensive. This perception stems from comparing one item to another, leading to a psychological effect where we perceive the mask as cheaper than if we were considering it on its own.

The key to success lies in personalization. Offer something relevant, such as items frequently bought together. Otherwise, recommend your best sellers, especially if you have not yet collected extensive purchase history data.

3. Free Shipping Thresholds and Incentives

Shipping fees are the most common reason why shoppers abandon their carts. At least 48% of cart abandonments happen because extra costs like shipping and fees are too high. No other reason for cart abandonment reaches such a high rate.

Determining a free shipping threshold requires careful planning and analysis of profit margins. There are several approaches to consider.

Some stores decide to include shipping costs in the product price by raising it. However, if your average order value (AOV) tends to be low, the free shipping threshold should be set at least around 30% higher. The objective is to incrementally raise the bar for free shipping but not to scare away customers at the same time.

Show shoppers both a visual and numerical representation of how much more they need to spend to reach the minimum order amount for free shipping. This method has proven highly effective in motivating them to make additional purchases.

drinkolipop

Finally, combining free shipping with incentives such as signing up for a loyalty program or membership can further raise the appeal. We’ll delve into these strategies in more detail below.

4. Customer Loyalty Programs and Memberships

Acquiring a new customer typically costs five times more than retaining an existing one. Repeat customers are your most valuable asset. Let’s examine this through the lens of the Pareto principle.

The Pareto principle, or the 80/20 rule, suggests that 80% of outcomes result from 20% of causes. Applied to e-commerce, this implies that a significant portion of revenue or profits comes from a small fraction of customers.

In other words, if you have this core 20% of customers who are enthusiastic about your products and keep coming back, it forms a strong foundation for business growth without major retention challenges.

The first step is to create loyalty or membership subscriptions. Apart from offering discounts, some brands take it a step further. Take, for example, Pot Gang, a UK brand specializing in gardening gear.

It’s not just their watering cans that have excited people about the brand.

They offer a unique membership subscription where members receive a monthly box with seeds, pots, and everything a beginner needs to start growing veggies and herbs.

Pot Gang

Each month, subscribers receive different seeds with pots to grow seasonal plants. It’s not solely about selling gear, but rather about creating a ‘gang’ of gardeners and guiding them step by step on their gardening journey.

Loyalty programs and memberships not only increase customer lifetime value but also average order value. For instance, a customer who subscribes to toothpaste is more likely to purchase a toothbrush and dental floss as well.

Conclusion

We’ve outlined four reliable strategies for boosting the average order value in e-commerce stores. Numerous factors influence a shopper’s journey. By systematically approaching and understanding purchasing signals and patterns, you can significantly enhance revenue per transaction and grow your business.

If people have already visited your website, they’re interested in and need what you offer. This presents the ideal opportunity to capture their attention, encourage them to purchase additional products, and guide them through a seamless checkout process.

The post 4 Strategies to Increase Low Average Order Value (AOV) in E-commerce appeared first on Hongkiat.

30 Best Color Tools for Web Designers (2024)

Hongkiat Lim — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 13:00:44 +0000

Choosing a color theme for your web design project might seem simple at first, but finding the perfect color combinations or creating a color scheme can be tricky, especially if you’re unsure which color tool fits your needs best.

To make this easier, here are some of the top color tools for web designers to help you pick the best color schemes for your projects. Let’s dive in.

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Apps For Web Designers on Budget

Web design can be costly for designers; not only its process is time-consuming, but its tools also involve... Read more

Mesher’s Color Gradients

Ever thought a simple spacebar press could dramatically enhance your website’s look? Mesher makes it happen, generating random, stunning color gradients effortlessly.

Khroma

Imagine an AI that knows your color preferences! With Khroma, after choosing 50 colors you love, it’ll craft palettes just for you, avoiding colors you dislike.

Muzli Colors

Need the perfect palette? Muzli Colors lets you create, edit, and match palettes effortlessly. Dive into UI kits or upload an image to discover its palette.

Material Design Palette

Pick two colors and watch Material Design Palette do its magic, offering a full palette and shades with hex codes. Available in various formats for download.

Colourcode’s Palette Builder

Find unique color combinations with Colourcode’s intuitive UI. Just move your cursor and adjust with dials for the perfect palette.

Color Inspire

Ales Nesetril brings you curated palettes right from his artistic explorations on Instagram. Dive into a world of color for endless inspiration.

Colorable

Adjust and customize colors to perfection with Colorable. Enter hex codes to check how well your colors match.

Pigment

Pigment offers a fresh take on color palettes, focusing on lighting and pigment for those of us who prefer creativity over math.

147 Colors

Curious about every CSS color? 147 Colors is your go-to, allowing easy browsing, viewing, and filtering to design the perfect palette.

Adobe Color

Formerly known as Adobe Kuler, Adobe Color is among the most favored features offered by Adobe for mixing colors. It’s a go-to for designers looking to craft the perfect palette.

ColourLovers

ColourLovers is a vibrant community for those passionate about colors. It’s a treasure trove of images and their color palettes, ready for you to explore and use in your projects.

Coolors

Coolors is your go-to for speedy color scheme generation. It’s incredibly user-friendly, letting you swiftly create and share color palettes. By selecting the main color from images, it uncovers perfect color matches for your design.

Color Snapper 2

Exclusively for Mac users, Color Snapper 2 is a dream tool for graphic designers. It’s crafted to let you experiment, fine-tune, organize, save, and export colors directly from your screen with ease.

Colordot

Colordot is a fantastic tool for both web and iOS, enabling you to effortlessly create and share color schemes. Whether with a tap of your finger or a snapshot from your camera, selecting colors has never been more intuitive.

cccolor

For a straightforward and effective color picking experience, cccolor is your tool. Not just a color picker, but also a HEX/RGB/HSL converter, it simplifies finding the ideal colors for your designs. Plus, it offers palettes of tints, shades, and tones based on your selected colors.

Adobe Capture

Adobe Capture turns any photo into a color palette, brush, or pattern with just a click. Whether you’re on your desktop or on the move with your mobile, it brings your creative ideas to life.

LOL Colors

Curated by Mackenzie Child, LOL Colors offers a palette of inspiration with clickable colorful teardrops and ready-to-copy hex codes. It’s a playground of color for designers looking for the perfect match.

Gradients.io

Gradients.io is perfect for those who love gradient fills. With a collection of squares in various color palettes, complete with hex codes, it makes choosing and using gradients a breeze.

Color Hunter

Find an image you love, upload it to Color Hunter, and watch as it crafts a color palette inspired by your image. It’s an invaluable tool for designers seeking color inspiration from their favorite visuals.

TinEye

With TinEye, dive into a sea of over 20 million Creative Commons images from Flickr and extract the colors you need. Adjust the dividers, add tags, and find the perfect color for your project.

Paletton

Paletton is designed for graphic designers aiming to create websites with harmonious color combinations. Explore pre-made palettes or craft your own, ensuring your site stands out in just the right way.

Color Explorer

Color Explorer takes color analysis to the next level. This comprehensive tool allows you to create, analyze, and fine-tune your color schemes with ease—and it’s completely free.

How to Quickly Remove Image Background on Your Mac

Hongkiat.com — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 07:00:52 +0000

Here’s a handy tip that might be new to you: Did you know that you can quickly remove the background from an image on your macOS without needing any online background removal tool or image editors like Photoshop? And it works surprisingly well!

If you want to remove an image’s background on your macOS without using any additional tools, here’s what you do:

Click once to select the image you want the background removed from.

Then right-click, and navigate to Quick Actions > Remove Background.

And that’s it! A new version of the image, with the background removed, will be created, labeled with the suffix “Background Removed” in its filename.

Below is a comparison of the original image and the one with the background removed, done solely via macOS.

Original image

Image with background removed

Now, in the context of performing tasks quickly via the right-click menu, also known as the context menu, there’s more you can do. For instance, this article shows you how to add a new item to the right-click menu, or how to remove items from the context menu if it starts to get cluttered.

The post How to Quickly Remove Image Background on Your Mac appeared first on Hongkiat.

TikTok’s New Keyboard Shortcuts

Hongkiat.com — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:00:55 +0000

TikTok, the social media platform gradually becoming the go-to place over others like Facebook, Instagram, etc., is predominantly used on mobile devices. Users swipe up and down to navigate through videos, tap once to pause, and double tap to like a video.

But did you know that the desktop version also supports shortcut keys?

For those browsing TikTok on a desktop browser or their desktop app, there are keyboard shortcuts available. They are few but sufficient to navigate through TikTok without the need for a mouse.

Here are the newly added keyboard shortcuts TikTok has introduced.

Keyboard Shortcuts for TikTok on Desktop

↑ – Go to the previous video

↓ – Go to the next video

L: Like a video

M: Mute and unmute a video

For more TikTok tips, check out these related posts:

Turning TikTok videos into ringtones

Removing a TikTok video watermark

If you’re also interested in downloading Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok available only in Mainland China, check out our post on How to Download Douyin.

The post TikTok’s New Keyboard Shortcuts appeared first on Hongkiat.

The Taobao Shopping Experience: An Insider’s Guide

Hongkiat Lim — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:00:35 +0000

Taobao, often considered the Chinese equivalent of Amazon, is a vast online shopping platform known for its extensive range of products and competitive pricing.

If you’ve found a product on Amazon, there’s a good chance it’s also available on Taobao – provided you know the right keywords to search for it.

In this post, I’d like to share some insights into Taobao, from a buyer’s perspective.

Endless Array of Products

Right off the bat, once you’ve signed up and logged into Taobao, you’re presented with a plethora of products on the homepage.

It showcases a wide variety of items you can purchase, along with suggestions that the site thinks you might like based on your previous searches and shopping habits.

As someone who has been an avid online shopper for years, frequenting platforms like eBay, Amazon, Etsy, and Red Ribbon, I can attest that the volume and variety of goods available on Taobao are quite unparalleled.

Things are Cheap!

It’s well-known that many products we use are manufactured in China, so it’s not surprising that items found on Amazon can often be found on Taobao at significantly lower prices.

For instance, a quick search for an iPhone screen protector on Amazon reveals prices ranging from $5 for the cheapest option to $18 for the most expensive, with an average cost of about $11.

On Taobao, however, prices for a similar item start as low as 9.90 yuan (approximately USD 1.37) to 69 yuan (around USD 9.5), with an average price of about 40 yuan (USD 5).

However, price isn’t the only factor to consider when making a purchase. Product quality, shipping fees, and delivery times are also important considerations.

My point isn’t to convince you that Taobao is always the cheaper option, but rather to highlight its potential for offering similar, if not identical, products at more attractive prices.

It’s worth checking Taobao when looking to get the best bang for your buck.

But there’s an exception

However, it’s important to note that not everything on Taobao is cheaper compared to Amazon and other e-commerce platforms. The price often depends on the item’s source and shipping location.

For example, the Cricut Explorer 3 machine, which is probably not manufactured in China, costs around 3500 yuan on Taobao, equivalent to about $480 USD.

Price of Cricut Explorer 3 on Amazon.com

Price of Cricut Explorer 3 on Taobao

This is significantly higher than Amazon’s price of around $249, not including shipping.

Detailed Logistics Information

One critical aspect of online shopping is tracking your order: knowing when it’s dispatched and when it will arrive at your doorstep.

While most established e-commerce stores provide this information, Taobao takes logistics tracking to another level of detail.

The following screenshot gives you the of the kind of comprehensive logistic information provided for every product ordered from Taobao. They are in Chinese, but I’ll explain.

But first, let’s first understand the delivery options Taobao offers, as they may vary by country and region.

Essentially, there are two shipping modes: by sea and by air. Additionally, you have two methods for how your items are shipped: directly or collectively.

If you purchase just one item, you can opt to have it shipped directly to you, either by sea or by air.

However, if you’ve ordered multiple items from different sellers on Taobao, you can choose the collective shipping option, again, either by air or by sea.

In collective shipping, each seller sends your product to a dedicated warehouse. Once all your items have arrived at the warehouse (which can take about 3-7 days), Taobao can then package them together and ship them to you or your designated address.

No matter which shipping mode you choose, Taobao provides comprehensive updates about your order’s journey. These updates include:

The status of the product on the seller’s side (acceptance, processing, and dispatching)

The status of the product in transit (location and intermittent stops en route to the warehouse)

The status of the product in the warehouse (arrival, processing, and packaging for shipment)

The status of the product during shipping (departure from the port, arrival at the destination port, and arrival at the destination warehouse)

The status of last-mile delivery to your address

Deals at Lower Prices

If you’re a savvy online shopper, you’re probably familiar with various strategies to purchase items at reduced prices.

For example, on Amazon, waiting for sales events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday can lead to significant savings. Similarly, hunting for coupons or discount codes on other sites can also lower the cost of your purchases.

Similarly, Taobao offers numerous ways to shop smarter and save money. To start, you might come across shop vouchers. Additionally, Taobao has a system of coins that can directly be converted into discount cash.

There are several ways to earn these coins, including:

Reviewing a purchased product

Claiming coins after making a purchase

Participating in in-house Taobao games

Beyond that, some shops on Taobao also offer discounts to returning customers, encouraging shoppers to come back for more deals.

Final Thoughts

Taobao is like a huge online shopping place, almost like Amazon but in China, with tons of different things you can buy for really good prices.

You can find almost anything you want there, often cheaper than other places. But it’s not always the cheapest for everything, especially items not made in China. Taobao also makes it easy to keep track of your orders with detailed shipping info, and there are lots of ways to save money like with shop vouchers or coins you can earn.

Whether you’re used to shopping online or new to it, Taobao is worth checking out for deals and a wide selection of products.

The post The Taobao Shopping Experience: An Insider’s Guide appeared first on Hongkiat.

5 Best CRM Tools with Facebook Messenger Integration

Eoin Wiley — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 10:00:50 +0000

Businesses need to stay connected with their customers in the most efficient way possible, and one way to achieve this is by integrating customer relationship management (CRM) tools with widely-used chat tools, like Facebook Messenger. This article will serve as your guide to understanding this integration better. We will delve into five CRM tools, discussing their unique features, how they integrate with Facebook Messenger, and their pricing structures.

Screenshot: PipeDrive

Whether you’re a small business owner trying to manage customer interactions, a marketer aiming to generate leads, or simply someone interested in the digital communication landscape, this is for you. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview that will help you make informed decisions about using CRM tools with Facebook Messenger. Let’s get started.

Overview:

PipeDrive: Links Facebook Messenger conversations to PipeDrive contacts, deals, and leads is easy. See details ↓
Starts at $14/user/mth.

Try for free

Salesforce: Unify customer profiles for deeper connections, enhancing efficiency and conversion rates. See details ↓
Visit site for pricing.

Try for free

Kommo: Great when it comes to lead generation.. See details ↓
Starts at $15/user/mth.

Try for free

ChatSilo: Create Messenger funnels in minutes. See details ↓
Starts at $29/mth.

Try for free

HubSpot CRM: Ability to create a chatbot for the Facebook Business page.. See details ↓
Visit site for pricing. Has free plan.

Try for free

1. PipeDrive

PipeDrive is a CRM tool that is specifically designed with a sales focus. It offers an integration with Facebook Messenger, which is a platform where many people spend a significant amount of their time. This integration provides a direct and conversational way for individuals to take action, making it a highly effective tool for businesses.

One of the key features of PipeDrive’s integration with Facebook Messenger is the ability to unify all conversations. This means that all your interactions on Facebook Messenger can be brought together in PipeDrive, making them both accessible and shareable. This feature allows for a seamless flow of communication and ensures that no important messages are missed.

Another significant feature is the ease with which Facebook Messenger conversations can be linked with PipeDrive contacts, deals, and leads. This feature is designed to boost productivity and manage communications with your leads and clients on Facebook Messenger more effectively. It simplifies the process of keeping track of various conversations and ensures that all relevant information is readily available.

PipeDrive also allows you to select the app extension visibility for your connection with Facebook Messenger. You can choose between private visibility settings, where only the user who installed the app can see and reply to Facebook Messenger conversations in the Messaging Inbox and link them to contacts, leads, or deals in PipeDrive, and shared visibility settings, where any user in the company account can do the same. This flexibility allows you to customize the integration to best suit your business needs.

Learn more about: Pipedrive Integration with Facebook Messenger.

PipeDrive’s Price:

As for the pricing, PipeDrive offers various pricing plans. You are encouraged to visit their pricing page for more detailed information. They also offer a free 14-day trial with no credit card required.

Visit PipeDrive

2. Salesforce

As one of the world’s largest CRM platform, Salesforce has made a significant stride in integrating Facebook Messenger into its system. This integration aims to provide businesses with unified customer profiles, fostering better in-depth connections and creating a customer-centric environment.

The integration of Salesforce and Facebook Messenger offers businesses a unified view of their customer profiles. This feature allows for better in-depth connections, providing a comprehensive understanding of each customer’s journey. It creates a customer-centric environment where consumers can freely navigate their shopping journey, whether on social media or any other platforms they decide to switch to halfway through.

One of the key benefits of this integration is its ability to shorten sales cycles. By leveraging instant messaging, businesses can close deals faster, thereby increasing efficiency. Furthermore, the integration can boost conversions, particularly from customers who prefer to use Facebook Messenger for their interactions.

Salesforce CRM goes a step further by using tools like Facebook lead ads, click-to-messenger ads, and comment auto-replies to strengthen the customer database. This feature not only enhances the quality of the customer database but also streamlines the cross-channel customer experience.

Related: How to integrate Facebook lead ads data with Salesforce

In terms of work efficiency, the integration boosts productivity with a two-way sync of Salesforce contacts, leads, and opportunities. This feature ensures that all customer data is up-to-date and easily accessible. Moreover, with the Salesforce lead stage positioned right next to the chatbox, the integration significantly upgrades the quality of customer service.

To integrate Salesforce with Facebook Messenger, certain requirements need to be met. These include having a Salesforce account with API access, a Facebook account, a Facebook Business Page, and admin access to the Facebook page. This ensures a seamless and effective integration process.

Learn how to: Set Up Facebook Messenger in Salesforce Service Cloud.

Salesforce’s Price:

Salesforce offers various pricing plans for different business needs. However, the specific pricing details are not directly listed on their website. You are encouraged to contact their sales team or visit their pricing page for more detailed information.

They also offer a free trial with no software to install and no credit card required.

Visit Salesforce

3. Kommo

Kommo, previously known as amoCRM, has carved a niche for itself as a conversational sales tool specifically tailored for small businesses. It holds the distinction of being the world’s first Sales CRM based on Messenger, offering a suite of custom-tailored messenger features and automations. These features are designed to enhance your communication with customers, making Kommo a powerful tool in your CRM arsenal.

One of the standout features of Kommo is its lead generation capability. Whenever a new person sends you a message on Facebook, they are automatically added to your pipeline as an incoming lead. All you need to do is approve, and their lead profile is created instantly. This seamless process ensures you never miss out on potential customers.

Kommo also boasts a built-in chat feature within the lead profile. This means you can continue your Facebook conversation without ever having to leave Kommo. Every interaction is logged and visible in the profile’s feed, providing you with a comprehensive communication history at a glance.

Another innovative feature is the Salesbot. With Kommo, you can create the perfect Salesbot companion and integrate it with Facebook Messenger. The Salesbot takes over the conversation, saving your team valuable time and enhancing communication efficiency. It can even be equipped with AI responses that understand the intention behind questions and provide appropriate responses, including invoicing.

The integration of Facebook Messenger is built-in and designed by the Kommo team, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. Setting it up is as simple as navigating to the digital pipeline in the incoming leads column, scrolling down to the chats block, and clicking the connect button. With Kommo, integrating your CRM with Facebook Messenger is a breeze.

Learn more about: Kommo’s integration with Facebook Messenger.

Kommo’s Price:

Kommo offers three pricing plans:

Base: For small businesses that want to boost sales quickly. It includes a unified inbox, unlimited sales pipelines, task management, and more. It costs $15 USD per user/month.

Advanced: For growing companies that want to automate their work. It includes everything in the Base plan plus no-code Salesbot, pipeline automation. It costs $25 USD per user/month.

Enterprise: For larger businesses that keep up with a lot of leads. It includes everything in the Advanced plan plus an increased client database, advanced client profiles. It costs $45 USD per user/month.

You can try Kommo free for 14 days with no credit card required. For more detailed information, you can visit their pricing page.

Visit Kommo

4. ChatSilo

ChatSilo is a compact CRM tool designed specifically for Facebook Messenger. Its primary goal is to assist you in nurturing leads, managing projects

Everything You Need to Know About Webloc Files

Hongkiat.com — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 07:00:34 +0000

At its core, a Webloc file is straightforward – it’s a small file that stores the URL of a website.

You can think of it as a direct link to a web page that you can double-click to open in your default web browser. The concept might seem simple, yet it’s this simplicity that encapsulates the beauty of Webloc files.

They enable users to keep a tidy and organized desktop or folder system where important or frequently visited websites are just a click away, without the need to open a browser and navigate through bookmarks.

Origins and Purpose of Webloc Format

The Webloc format has its origins in the Mac OS, now known as macOS.

It was introduced as a convenient way for users to save links to websites directly from their browsers to their computer. This was particularly useful for users who needed quick access to specific web pages without the need to launch a web browser and sift through bookmarks.

Technical Overview

At its essence, a Webloc file is an XML plist (property list) file that macOS utilizes to store properties and configuration settings for various applications.

However, for Webloc files, the primary focus is on storing a single URL. When you create a Webloc file, macOS wraps the URL into this plist format, which then allows the operating system to recognize and act upon the file, essentially treating it as a direct link to the internet.

Creating a Webloc File on macOS

The process is intuitively simple:

Navigate to the website you wish to bookmark outside your browser.

Drag the website’s URL from the address bar of your browser to your desktop or any folder within Finder.

macOS automatically creates a Webloc file, using the webpage’s title as the file name.

FAQs

What is a Webloc file and why is it useful?

A Webloc file is a macOS-specific file format used to save web URLs as files on your computer. It allows you to access your favorite web pages directly from your desktop or any folder, bypassing the need to open a browser and navigate through bookmarks.

Can Webloc files be opened on Windows?

Natively, Windows does not recognize Webloc files. However, several third-party tools and online services can open or convert Webloc files to Windows-compatible formats, such as URL files. This ensures that the convenience of Webloc files can be enjoyed across different operating systems.

Are Webloc files safe to use?

Webloc files are generally safe to use, provided they link to trusted websites. However, like any file that directs to online content, they can be manipulated to lead to malicious sites. Always ensure the Webloc files you open come from reputable sources, and consider scanning them with security software if you’re unsure.

Can I edit a Webloc file to change its URL?

Yes, Webloc files can be manually edited to change the URL they point to. This requires opening the file with a text editor capable of handling XML, such as TextEdit on macOS. Be cautious when editing to ensure the file format remains intact.

The post Everything You Need to Know About Webloc Files appeared first on Hongkiat.

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