EDITS.WS

Author: Will Morris

  • A Complete Guide to eCommerce Analytics

    With over 905 billion in online sales in 2022, it’s clear that eCommerce is the new norm. If you’ve launched a website for your store, you’re already on the right track. However, finding the right eCommerce strategies for your business can be tricky, and it can be challenging to secure a steady flow of customers.

    Fortunately, when you leverage information gained from eCommerce analytics, you can refine your strategy to maximize your profits. You can learn a lot from just a few simple data points, from tracking cart abandonment to successful conversions.

    In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the basics of eCommerce analytics. Then, we’ll share eight key metrics to track and show you a few of the best tools for the job. Let’s dive right in!

    An Introduction to eCommerce Analytics (And The Benefits of Tracking Them)

    In a nutshell, ‘analytics’ involves collecting and then assessing data for a specific purpose. Typically, this is done using advanced online software. However, some metrics can be determined by completing simple calculations.

    When it comes to eCommerce, the goal is to use insights gained from this data to continuously improve your marketing and sales strategies. Here are a few potential benefits you can gain when tracking eCommerce analytics:

    In order to meet certain goals, online companies usually decide on a specific set of metrics to track. Each one can illuminate something different about customer behavior, web page performance, sales, and more.

    8 Key eCommerce Analytics Metrics to Follow

    Now that you know a bit about the benefits of tracking eCommerce analytics, we’re going to introduce you to eight key metrics you can follow!

    1. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)

    Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is one of the simplest metrics you can track. Yet it’s highly useful.

    As the name suggests, CAC tells you how much it costs to land a new customer. It’s fairly simple to calculate this metric, as long as you know how much you’re spending on marketing and how many new customers you earn.

    For example, you can start with your monthly marketing budget and divide that number by how many new customers you attract each month. This will give you your CAC.

    You’ll want to keep your customer acquisition cost as low as possible, in order to optimize your business model. It’s a good idea to check this metric periodically to ensure that it’s staying at a sustainable rate.

    2. Sales Conversion Rates

    One of the most important eCommerce metrics you can track is your sales conversion rates. You can calculate this by taking your total number of sales conversions, and dividing it by the amount of visitors who had the opportunity to complete that conversion.

    Here’s an example. Let’s say you’re tracking the sales of a new product. Within the first month, you find that 100 people viewed the product page. There were also 30 sales for that specific item. This would make your sales conversion rate 30 percent.

    One common way eCommerce software keeps tabs on sales is by automatically inserting tracking code in confirmation or thank you pages:

    Thank you page for an eCommerce order at Target.com.

    While sales are perhaps the most significant conversion metric to follow, there are certainly others. For instance, you can track how many people are signing up for your newsletter, downloading a free digital product, or even joining your loyalty program.

    3. Cart Abandonment

    Cart abandonment is one of the biggest issues in nearly every online industry. From fashion to car rentals, shoppers often leave items in their carts repurchased.

    There are many reasons for cart abandonment, but high shipping costs and a lengthy checkout process are at the top of the list. Furthermore, cart abandonment is especially common among mobile users.

    Abandoned cart email reminder.

    If you track this metric and discover it’s an issue in your online store, you can make an effort to reduce cart abandoment. You might try some of the following tactics:

    If you can optimize the checkout process so it has a straightforward design and minimal requirements, you’re likely to land more sales.

    4. Average Order Value (AOV)

    Average order vale (AOV) illustrates the average dollar amount that users are spending on each order. Again, you can calculate this using simple division. You’ll need to know your total profit and your total number of orders.

    Ideally, you’ll want your AOV to be as high as possible. However, it’s not uncommon for users to buy just a few products, especially if they are new to your store.

    If your shop has a low AOV, here are some strategies you can use to encourage larger orders:

    • Implement upselling/cross-selling
    • Offer free shipping on large orders
    • Provide discounts

    Upselling and cross-selling can be particularly effective ways to increase your AOV. You can do this by advertising similar, complementary, or superior items on your product pages:

    An example of cross-selling with a 'Complete the Look' section.

    These are typically displayed in sidebars or at the bottom of the page, under a heading like “Complete the Look” or “Frequently Bought Together.” If you’d like to try out this tactic in your WordPress store, you can use a plugin like WPC Frequently Bought Together for WooCommerce.

    5. Repeat Customers

    Repeat customers are shoppers who return to your store for additional purchases. This is another key metric to follow.

    You’ll want to encourage repeat buyers as much as possible. However, with so much competition, it can be difficult to retain eCommerce customers.

    One great way to gain repeat purchases is with a loyalty program:

    Madwell loyalty program sign up.

    You’ll want to provide users with significant rewards. This way, they are incentivized to come back time and time again.

    6. Bounce Rate and Time On Page

    It’s crucial to know how users are interacting with your website and its individual pages. Therefore, two of the most useful metrics you can track are bounce rate and time on page. ‘Bounce rate’ is the number of users who land on your website and leave without clicking through to another page on your site.

    Meanwhile, ‘time on page’ refers to how long users are spending on your web pages. When you first launch an eCommerce site, it’s not uncommon to have a high bounce rate and low time on page, but you’ll want to make every effort to combat this.

    Improving page loading times and overall site performance is key when it comes to reducing your bounce rate. Additionally, prioritizing the user experience is vital to increase time on page.

    Here are some other tactics you can try to improve both of these metrics:

    • Improve your internal linking
    • Install a plugin that targets website performance
    • Enhance your navigation menus
    • Add a search bar on every page

    Each of these strategies will make it easier for users to navigate around your site seamlessly.

    7. Click-Through Rate (CTR)

    In Pay Per Click (PPC) marketing, you can pay to have your advertisements featured on certain pages. With Search Engine Marketing (SEM), you can pay or ‘bid’ on certain search terms. Depending on your bid, the relevancy of your content, and your page’s overall quality, your content can get boosted to the top of relevant search results.

    Meanwhile, organic search results display web pages based on algorithms designed to provide users with the most relevant content – no payment required:

    Google organic search results

    In all of these scenarios, Click-Through Rate (CTR) refers to the percentage of ‘impressions’ (or views) that result in a click. Therefore, you’ll want your CTR to be as high as possible.

    With both classic PPC advertising and organic marketing, you can improve your CTRs by creating concise headlines and useful meta descriptions. It’s also smart to do some keyword research so you can target terms your audience is already looking for.

    8. Audience Demographics

    Last but not least, audience demographics can be extremely helpful when it comes to eCommerce analytics. Here are some data points you may want to track:

    • Type of device
    • Location
    • Age
    • Income level

    You can use sign-up forms to collect some of this information from new users. Alternatively, you can create a survey to learn more about pre-existing customers.

    This data can help you better understand your target audience. This way, you can shape your content marketing strategies, prices, and page designs around their specific needs.

    How to Track eCommerce Analytics

    Now that you’re familiar with some of the most important eCommerce metrics, you’ll need to know how to track them. As we mentioned earlier, you can calculate some eCommerce analytics metrics manually. However, this can be tedious and time-consuming.

    Fortunately, there are plenty of analytical and marketing tools that can automatically track and calculate many eCommerce metrics for you. You’ll want to thoroughly research them to determine which is best for your business.

    If you’re not sure where to start, Semrush and Google Analytics are two of the most popular and reliable tools you can use:

    Google Analytics

    Both are user-friendly and straightforward. Plus, they both integrate seamlessly with WordPress.

    Conclusion

    As eCommerce becomes increasingly popular, it may be difficult for your online store to stand out in the crowd. By leveraging eCommerce analytics, you’ll be better prepared to serve your customers and increase sales.

    You can get started by tracking simple eCommerce metrics like your customer acquisition costs, sales conversion rates, and average order values. Then, you can use a tool such as Google Analytics or Semrush to assess website and ad performance metrics like bounce rates and click-through rates.

    Do you have any questions about getting started with an eCommerce analytics strategy? Let us know in the comments section below!

    The post A Complete Guide to eCommerce Analytics appeared first on Torque.

  • How to Create a Paid Membership Site with WordPress (2 Ways)

    In the past, advertising and affiliate marketing were the best ways to monetize a website. However, these tactics can be time-consuming and disrupt the user experience (UX). As an alternative, you may want to create a membership site to earn income online. Still, you might now know where to begin.

    Fortunately, it’s easy to create a paid membership site with the right tools. Then, you can configure memberships in WordPress, restrict access to specific pages, and sell subscriptions.

    In this post, we’ll take a closer look at membership websites and how they work. Then, we’ll discuss what you need to get started and explore two ways you can do this. Let’s dive in!

    An Introduction to Membership Websites

    Typically, a membership website is an online space that provides exclusive content for its members. Alternatively, some membership sites are accessible to everyone, but feature gated content and additional resources that require a membership.

    Most of the time, memberships are granted in exchange for payment (usually a subscription). However, sometimes users can become members by simply handing over their email address:

    Once users gain membership status, they can log into the site to view exclusive pages/posts, download files, or receive emails and newsletters. 

    There are many benefits to creating a paid membership site. For instance, you’ll get access to a more engaged audience since users have already expressed interest in your content. In turn, you can enjoy higher retention rates and earn recurring revenue.

    What You Need to Create a Membership Site on WordPress

    To create your membership site, you’ll need a place where you can publish and manage content. One of the best options is WordPress since it’s open-source, free, and easy to use. After you’ve selected a domain name, signed up with a web hosting provider, and installed WordPress, you can add membership functionality to your site.

    When creating a paid membership site, make sure you can carry out the following tasks:

    • Create memberships. You’ll need a tool that enables you to create multiple memberships with clear prices and benefits. 
    • Design a signup page. Users need a way to access your membership plans. Generally, visitors can sign up on your web page with an email address. 
    • Add pricing. It’s a good idea to create a pricing page where users can view all your plans. You might prefer to display this information in a pricing table so that visitors can easily compare plans. 
    • Integrate your website with your sales funnel. For instance, you might want to pull your members’ email addresses to your CRM. Or, you could connect your membership site to an email marketing platform.
    • Set up a payment gateway. If you’re accepting fees in exchange for memberships, you’ll need a payment gateway to authorize transactions.

    Carefully considering the above elements at the outset can help streamline your workflow down the line.

    How to Create a Paid Membership Site with WordPress (2 Ways)

    Now that you know the benefits of creating a membership site, let’s take a look at two ways to get started.

    1. With a WordPress Membership Plugin like ProfilePress

    When you use a plugin like ProfilePress, you can easily set up and configure your membership site. Plus, it allows you to continue creating and managing WordPress content as you normally would.

    Before we get started, you’ll need to enable user registration in WordPress. To do this, navigate to Settings > General in your WordPress dashboard. Then, check the box next to Anyone can register:

    Now, you can install and activate the plugin. ProfilePress is an excellent option since you can use it to create custom forms for signup and login pages. 

    To do this, head to ProfilePress > Settings > Pages:

    Here, you can choose the default form options, or select an existing page. Alternatively, you can create a new signup page to gain greater control over your form fields and settings.

    To create your own form, click on ProfilePress > Forms & Profiles. Select your preferred form type, such as LOGIN or REGISTRATION. Then, hit Add New:

    Additionally, you can create membership plans by going to ProfilePress > Membership Plans > Add New:

    You’re able to adjust your plan details, configure subscription settings, and add any digital products.

    To accept payments on your website, navigate to the ProfilePress dashboard and select Integrate a Payment Method:

    You can either choose Stripe, PayPal, or Mollie. ProfilePress also supports the Stripe hosted checkout page and on-site payment form. You’ll need to connect to your account. 

    Then, it’s a good idea to test the payment method by activating Test Mode:

    Lastly, you can restrict access to your content by setting up rule conditions. To do this, head to ProfilePress > Content Protection > Add Protection Rule:

    Here, you can select the specific pages you want to restrict access to using the + AND/+ OR buttons. Under Access Condition, you’re able to choose who the rule applies to. For example, you can make certain posts accessible only to your subscribers. 

    2. With a Learning Management System like MemberPress

    MemberPress is an all-in-one solution that’s ideal for creating and selling courses. It’s not strictly a learning management system (LMS) though. The plugin also provides general membership features:

    After installation, head to MemberPress > Courses > Add New to begin:

    Then, switch to the Curriculum tab to add materials like infographics, video content, and quizzes:

    Next, you can set up multiple membership options and implement your tiered pricing structure. This is advisable since it gives you greater control over the way users interact with your content.

    To create your memberships, go to MemberPress > Memberships > Add New:

    Choose a unique name and set a price for each of your plans. 

    If you head to Membership Options further down the page, you can customize your signup form and enable welcome emails:

    Then, switch to Permissions to establish which user roles can sign up for your memberships:

    You can use MemberPress to restrict access to your paid content such as blog posts, courses, and landing pages. Although, first, you’ll need to create membership rules. 

    You can do this by heading to Memberpress > Rules > Add New. Then, select Single Course from the dropdown menu and choose the course that you want to configure. Next, pick the membership(s) that your users will need in order to access the course:

    Lastly, you’re ready to add a payment gateway to your website. Head to MemberPress > Settings > Payments and specify which payment gateways members can use:

    Currently, MemberPress supports PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net. Click on the plus icon (+) to add your payment method. Then, connect to your account.

    MemberPress is a useful plugin, but if you’re simply seeking a way to create a simple membership site, it may be a bit excessive. You could end up paying for a ton of features you don’t need. Plus, it comes with a steep learning curve which makes it less beginner-friendly than the previous option. 

    Conclusion

    Creating a membership website is a great way to nurture a community while monetizing your website. However, it can be difficult to get started. Luckily, with the help of some useful tools, it’s easy to create membership options, accept payments, and restrict access to paid content.

    To recap, here are two ways to create a paid membership site with WordPress:.

    1. With a WordPress membership plugin like ProfilePress.
    2. With a learning management system like MemberPress.

    Do you have any questions about creating a paid membership site? Ask in the comments section below!

    The post How to Create a Paid Membership Site with WordPress (2 Ways) appeared first on Torque.

  • How to Add a Table of Contents in WordPress (3 Ways)

    If you publish long-form articles on your blog, you’ll want to provide a quick way for readers to navigate to different sections of the post. Creating a table of contents can help you achieve this, but you might not know how to get started. 

    Fortunately, WordPress makes it easy to add tables of contents to your posts. For instance, you can use a dedicated plugin or create your tables manually in the Block Editor – no coding knowledge required!

    In this post, we’ll take a closer look at tables of contents and discuss the benefits of using them in your posts. Then, we’ll show you three different ways to create them in WordPress. Let’s get started!

    An Introduction to Tables of Contents in WordPress

    A table of contents is a list of your post’s headings and subheadings. Each heading contains an anchor link that takes the reader to that section in the post.

    For example, if a user wants to read about a particular topic in your article, they can simply click on the relevant heading in the table of contents:

    An example of a table of contents in a blog post

    This way, readers can jump to the sections they’re most interested in and skip the rest. They don’t need to scroll down the page and skim through the post to find what they’re looking for.

    Plus, a table of contents gives users a quick overview of the article so they know what to expect. For example, if you’ve written a post about visiting London, readers can quickly see what’s included in the guide (e.g. where to stay, best restaurants, things to do, etc).

    Therefore, a table of contents can help improve the User Experience (UX) and make your posts more readable. This may in turn help you rank higher for relevant search terms. 

    How to Add a Table of Contents in WordPress (3 Ways)

    As we have seen, using tables of contents in your posts can help improve your site’s performance. Fortunately, creating them is easier than you might think. Now let’s look at three simple ways to add a table of contents in WordPress!

    1. Install a Table of Contents Plugin

    Adding a table of contents plugin to your WordPress site can be a quick and easy way to make your content more navigable. While there are many options to choose from, we recommend Easy Table of Contents:

    Easy Table of Contents plugin banner in WordPress

    This plugin enables you to insert a table of contents into your posts, pages, and custom post types. Plus, it can automatically generate the tables for you!

    Once you install the plugin on your site, navigate to Settings > Table of Contents in your WordPress dashboard. Under the General tab, you can select the type of content you want to create tables for:

    The plugin settings for Easy Table of Contents

    You also have the option to automatically insert them into your posts and pages:

    The auto insert option in Easy Table of Contents settings

    If you’d rather add them manually, you can copy the shortcode and embed it into your posts:

    The shortcode for your table of contents

    For example, you might only want to add a table of contents to specific posts. In this case, you’ll need to uncheck the boxes in the Auto Insert section and use the shortcode to add the table to your preferred content. 

    In the Appearance section, you’ll find several customization options for your table of contents. You can change the font, select the link colors, and more:

    The Appearance settings in Easy Table of Contents.

    Now, let’s see what the table of contents will look like to your readers. If you’ve selected the auto insert option for your posts, you can open a random article on the front end:

    Front-end preview of the table of contents

    By default, the table of contents will appear below your title and introductory paragraph, and before the first H2 heading. However, you can change this in the plugin settings. 

    This plugin is an ideal option if you want to automatically add a table of contents to all of your posts. However, if you only want to use the table on some of them, you may want to consider an alternative. 

    2. Use Custom WordPress Blocks

    You can also add a table of contents as a block. This way, you can insert it directly into your posts and customize it within the WordPress Block Editor.

    At the time of writing, the Block Editor does not offer a table of contents block. However, you can use a plugin like Spectra to add this feature to your site: 

    The Spectra banner in WordPress

    Spectra adds a selection of practical blocks to your site, including a table of contents option. Once you install the plugin, navigate to Settings > Spectra to view a complete list of added blocks. 

    Make sure that the Table of Contents block is activated:

    The list of blocks added by Spectra

    Then, you can open a post in the Block Editor and add the block anywhere you want on the page:

    The Table of Contents block

    As with any block, you’ll get access to some customization settings. For example, you can choose the heading tags that you want to include in your table of contents:

    Customizing the Table of Contents block in WordPress

    To customize the appearance of your table, click on the Style tab. Here, you can change the typography and colors for the title, headings, and more:

    Customizing the style of your table of contents

    Using a Table of Contents block can be a more efficient option if you want to apply the table to certain posts, rather than all of them. Additionally, you can save it as a reusable block, so you won’t have to re-apply the same customization settings every time you use the table in a post. 

    However, you may choose to create custom tables for each post. For example, you might want to include all heading tags in some posts, but only display H2 and H3 headings in others. 

    With the Easy Table of Contents plugin, you’ll have to use the same table for your posts. Therefore, you might prefer Spectra if you want more freedom over the design of your tables. 

    3. Create Your Table Manually in the Block Editor

    You may also choose to create your table of contents manually. Perhaps you want to avoid installing another plugin on your site as you only need to create a table for one or two posts.

    While adding your table of contents manually can be a little tedious, the process is quite simple. First, you’ll want to add a List block to your post. Then, type in your headings and use the Indent option as needed:

    Creating a list in the Block Editor

    Next, you’ll need to create anchor links. This way, when a user clicks on a heading in the table of contents, they’ll be taken to the relevant section.

    To do this, select the Heading block. Then, navigate to the settings panel and click on the Advanced tab. In the HTML anchor field, enter a unique name for this heading, such as “heading1”:

    Adding an HTML anchor in WordPress

    Now, go back to the list, select the corresponding item, and click on the Link icon in the toolbar:

    Adding a link to a list item in the Block Editor

    Next, you’ll need to type in the name that you entered in the HTML anchor field, adding a hashtag at the front. In our example, this will be “#heading1”:

    Entering an anchor link in WordPress

    Once you enter the anchor link, you’ll be able to click on that item to navigate to the corresponding section. You can repeat the same process for the other items in your list.

    When you’re ready, you’ll want to test the anchor links on the front end to make sure they work: 

    Testing the table of contents on the front end

    Remember to add a “Table of Contents” heading above the list. Additionally, you may want to group the heading and list blocks and customize them from the settings panel:

    Grouping the heading and list blocks and customizing them in the Block Editor

    As you can see, you don’t need to install a plugin to create a table of contents. However, if you want to add tables to multiple posts, it may be more efficient than creating them manually.

    Conclusion

    Adding tables of contents to your posts can make it easier for readers to find what they’re looking for. This can help improve the user experience and reduce your bounce rate, which may in turn lead to better rankings in search results.

    In this post, we looked at three ways to add a table of contents in WordPress:

    1. Install a plugin like Easy Table of Contents.
    2. Use a tool like Spectra to add a Table of Contents block to your site.
    3. Create your table manually with the List block. 

    Do you have any questions about adding a table of contents to WordPress? Let us know in the comments section below!

    The post How to Add a Table of Contents in WordPress (3 Ways) appeared first on Torque.

  • How to Create Drip Content in WordPress (In 3 Steps)

    If you sell or create premium content on your WordPress website, you might be searching for different ways to make it more enticing for your audience. It can be challenging to come up with innovative methods to improve user experience (UX) and keep visitors coming back. 

    Fortunately, you can increase user engagement by implementing drip content on your website. When you use this strategy, you release your material little by little instead of all at once. That way, your members will be drawn to return in order to access the next piece of content you make available. 

    In this article, we’ll introduce drip content and discuss how it can benefit your WordPress site. Then, we’ll walk you through how to implement this method on your website using a plugin. Let’s dive in! 

    An Introduction to Drip Content

    Drip content refers to the process of releasing portions of premium content at a time, instead of all at once. This can be for your followers, a broader online audience, or even exclusive members.  

    It can look like dispersing a single chapter of an ebook, a course module from an online class, or one podcast episode at a time. With this method, users receive material little by little over a period of time until they have the entire library.

    If you’ve ever used the language-learning app Duolingo, you might understand the concept of drip content. In order to unlock the next category level, you have to get a certain amount of answers correct in the module you are currently learning:

    A page of Duolingo displaying a locked level

    This model incentivizes users to continue working on their current lesson in order to access the next one. You can use the same concept for your website.

    Many different websites can benefit from this model. However, drip content is particularly well-suited to membership sites. That’s because this kind of website has larger amounts of material that is usually broken up into various segments.

    Why Drip Content Could Benefit Your WordPress Site

    There are many different reasons why you might want to use the drip method for your website. Your motivations will depend on what kind of site you run as well as your ultimate goals.

    For example, let’s say you run a membership website that sells French classes online. By issuing material in small portions, you can help users pace themselves instead of pushing them to get through all of the content at once.

    This can help make the finishing task less daunting, boosting engagement and encouraging participation. Furthermore, some of the advantages of implementing drip content on your site include:

    • Helps users stay committed. Releasing your material on a periodical basis gives visitors a reason to stay devoted to whatever content you are offering them.
    • Boosts site views. If users are consistently being enticed to come back to your website, you’ll grow your page views. This has the added benefit of improving SEO.
    • Keeps attention for the longterm. If you give all your content at once, users might lose interest or tell themselves they’ll come back later. Issuing installments means that there’s a reason for them to come back on a consistent basis.

    As you can see, dispensing your content little by little can bring many benefits to your website. Most importantly, high quality drip content can increase user engagement and interest. This can help grow your blog, program, or business.

    How to Create Drip Content in WordPress (In 3 Steps)

    Now that you know what drip content is and how it can benefit your website, let’s look at how you can implement it on your WordPress site. Keep in mind that this strategy is best used for pages that require users to pay for their content.

    For this walkthrough, we’ll be using the MemberPress plugin. This tool will allow you to create paid subscriptions for your website and make rules about who can access your material. Let’s dive in!

    Step 1: Install MemberPress and Create a Membership

    To get started, download the MemberPress plugin on your WordPress site:

    Installing the MemberPress plugin on WordPress.

    Once you’ve installed and activated the plugin, you’ll need to set up a payment gateway. This will provide users with a way to pay for your material. To do this, navigate to MemberPress > Settings > Payments:

    Settings section in MemberPress.

    Here, you can set up your preferred payment gateway. MemberPress offers numerous popular options, such as Stripe and PayPal.

    To add one or more options, click the Add Payment Option at the bottom left of the page:

    Adding a new payment gateway in MemberPress.

    Once you’ve added a payment method, don’t forget to click the Update Options button.

    Now, let’s create a membership. This will provide a place for your users to subscribe to your content. To do so, go to MemberPress > Memberships and click on Add New:

    Creating a new membership in MemberPress.

    From here, you’re able to edit your membership. You can add a title, choose a price, and add content:

    Adding a new membership using MemberPress.

    In the Membership Terms editing box, you’ll find the field labeled Billing Type:

    The editor box in the membership field.

    This will allow you to choose either a one-time or recurring payment option. Click Recurring, which will activate an ongoing payment model.

    Once you’ve chosen this option, you can select how often you want users to pay for your content under the Interval field:

    Choosing an interval for a membership.

    After you’ve selected your interval, you’re able to decide whether you want to create a trial period or limit your payment cycles.

    These will have additional configuration options depending on your choice. Once you’ve made all your edits, go ahead and click on Publish at the top of the page.

    Step 2: Add a Rule

    Now that you’ve created a membership for your content, it’s time to configure rules. The rules you put in place will determine who has access to your site.

    To do this, go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to MemberPress > Rules:

    The Rules page in MemberPress.

    Then, click on Add New. This will take you to a page where you can control who has access to your website material.

    Under Protected Content, you’ll find a dropdown menu that allows you to block different pages of your website:

    The Protected Content section in MemberPress.

    Here, you can choose which areas of your website to protect. For example, if you want to protect only a particular group on your site, you can choose the A Single Group option:

    Choosing A Single Group in the rules dropdown menu.

    Then, type in the group you want to protect.

    You can also choose the conditions under which users will have access to your content. The dropdown menu under Access Conditions allows you to set them:

    The dropdown menu under Access Conditions.

    If a user is logged in and matches the conditions you established, they’ll be able to access your protected material. When you’re done making edits, click on Save Rule.

    Step 3: Enable the Drip Feature

    Once you’ve set up your rules, it’s time to enable the drip function. Stay on the Rules page and scroll down until you see the Drip / Expiration section:

    The Drip / Expiration section on the Rules page.

    Check the Enable Drip box:

    Enabling Drip in MemberPress.

    This will trigger additional settings that you can customize. For example, you’re able to choose the amount of time you want users to wait before they can access the next piece of content:

    Editing the time users will wait to receive content.

    You’ll also be able to choose the action that will trigger the “drip.” Just under this section, you can decide whether or not you want the content to expire.

    If you choose this option, you can configure when the content will expire and after what action the user takes:

    Selecting expiration for drip content.

    When you scroll down, you can also choose a message that visitors will see if they try to access your content without proper authorization.

    You can customize this in the Unauthorized Access section:

    The Unauthorized Access section in MemberPress rules.

    From here, you can create a message that notifies visitors that they are not authorized to access certain content. You can also provide them with a login page that allows them to sign up for your membership.

    After you’re done, scroll back up to the top of your page and click on Save Rule:

    Save Rules.

    This will automatically apply all of the criteria that you configured to the front end of your website. That’s it! You have now set up drip content for your WordPress website.

    Conclusion

    Thinking up new ways to increase user engagement isn’t easy. Drip content is a method you can implement on your WordPress site to encourage people to stay interested in your material. This in turn can boost page views and help you grow your program. 

    To recap, here’s how to create drip content in WordPress using MemberPress:

    1. Install the MemberPress plugin and create a new membership for your website.
    2. Create a rule so that only registered users will be able to access your material.
    3. Enable the drip feature for your rule and publish your changes.

    Do you have any questions about how to create drip content in WordPress? Let us know in the comments section below!

    The post How to Create Drip Content in WordPress (In 3 Steps) appeared first on Torque.

  • How to Monitor Your Website Performance (5 Ways)

    Nowadays, nearly every business has a website. Therefore, you’ll want to retain your competitive edge by providing an excellent User Experience (UX). However, you might lack the knowledge and skills to measure your site’s performance.

    Fortunately, you can monitor your web performance easily with the right tools. For instance, you can track important data about your site’s accessibility, speed, and database performance. Then, you can make the necessary adjustments to improve your UX.

    In this post, we’ll take a closer look at website performance monitoring. Then, we’ll explore five effective ways to monitor your site. Let’s get started!

    An Introduction to Website Performance Monitoring

    Website performance monitoring is about tracking essential data to make your site more user-friendly. Once you identify areas for improvement, you can take the necessary steps to reduce bounce rates and boost your search rankings. 

    Website monitoring should be a continuous process. This is because factors that affect performance are constantly evolving and changing. This includes your connection speed, operating system, and the number of files on your site. 

    There are different types of website monitoring methods you can use. One of them is synthetic performance monitoring. This is an active approach that evaluates your user journey and measures your availability, functionality, and responsiveness. 

    You could also opt for real user monitoring. This assesses your user interactions, taking note of load time and transaction paths. 

    How to Monitor Your Website Performance (5 Ways)

    Now that you understand a bit more about website performance monitoring, let’s look at five ways you can implement it on your website.

    1. Track Your Uptime

    Uptime refers to your website being available and accessible to users. On the flip side, when downtime occurs, your site is unreachable. This can result in a loss of traffic and revenue.

    The main cause of downtime is a poor hosting service. Other times, unstable plugins and themes can take their toll on your website’s performance. 

    You can measure your uptime using a WordPress monitoring tool like WP Umbrella:

    This management tool provides automatic backups, update management, and maintenance reports. Plus, you’ll be alerted by Slack or email whenever downtime occurs. Better yet, this tool can even prevent PHP errors caused by themes and plugins, which are common causes of downtime. 

    To improve your uptime score, you may need to switch to a quality web host like WP Engine.  Additionally, we recommend that you ditch any unnecessary themes and plugins.  

    WP Enfine and WP Umbrella are by the way compatible and can give you a competitive edge if you want to manage multiple website effortlessly. 

    2. Measure Your Time to First Byte (TTFB)

    Time to First Byte (TTFB) evaluates the responsiveness of your server. Specifically, it measures the time between the browser requesting a page and when it receives the first byte of data from the server.

    A poor TTFB score can be influenced by many factors. For instance, it can be explained by a slow SSL certificate validation, poor network connection, and more.

    To find out your TTFB, you can use a tool like Pingdom. This combines synthetic and real user monitoring to assess your site’s availability, page speed, and transaction paths:

    Alternatively, you could opt for the free Geekflare TTFB tool to find out how fast your TTFB is from three different locations. Simply enter your URL and you’ll get an immediate result:

    To improve your score, you can try implementing a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Cloudflare. This will ensure that your website loads quickly, no matter where your visitors are located around the world.

    Another way you can improve your TTFB is by using a caching tool. Some hosting companies offer built-in caching with their plans. If yours doesn’t, you can use a plugin like WP Super Cache.

    3. Check Your Page Load Time

    Page load time refers to the average time it takes for your entire page to load, including all text, images, and other elements like JavaScript. It’s an important metric to monitor since it lets you know how fast your server is running.

    It has been found that the bounce rate increases by 32 percent as page load time goes from 1 to 3 seconds. Therefore, keeping a check on this figure can help you retain your visitors. 

    The easiest way to measure your page load time is to use a tool like WebPageTest. This enables you to assess your users’ real experience from different locations:

    Then, you can improve your site speed by reducing image size and quantity. You may also need to compress your media files. 

    4. Keep an Eye on Your Bounce Rate

    As we mentioned earlier, your bounce rate is the percentage of visitors that leave your site after landing on one page. There are several reasons why users may decide not to hang around and explore the rest of your website. For example, they may be put off by slow speeds and poor web design. 

    It’s important that you monitor this metric, as it’s a large teller of your UX. Sites with high bounce rates tend to be slow and unresponsive.

    If you want to keep an eye on your bounce rate, Google Analytics is one of the best tools to use:

    You can also gain insight into your customer journey with features like real-time reporting, funnel exploration, and engagement levels. To boost your bounce rate, you can make sure your site is responsive, your content is readable, and your Calls-to-Action (CTAs) are strong and clear.

    5. Monitor Database Performance (Connection Time and Error Time)

    There are two main ways that you can monitor your database performance. The first is connection time. This refers to the time it takes for the user to make a connection with your server. The second is error time, which measures the percentage of requests that contain errors. 

    These metrics are especially important if your site features lots of dynamic content pulled from your database. Plus, a slow-responding site often has a poor-performing database. 

    SolarWinds Database Performance Monitor is a comprehensive tool that looks for database indicators like Queries Per Second (QPS) and Transactions Per Second (TPS):

    It also identifies the number of open database connections and the number of queries for each error code, enabling you to find frequently occurring errors.

    To improve your database performance, you can increase your memory limit, strengthen your CPU, increase disk space, and optimize queries. Most of these can be done by upgrading to a more powerful hosting plan.

    Conclusion

    The key to a successful website is to prioritize your UX. Otherwise, you risk sending visitors directly to your competitors. With the right tools, you can access important metrics like page load time and bounce rate, and take steps to improve them.

    To recap, here are five ways to monitor your website performance:

    1. Track your uptime using a WordPress monitoring tool like WP Umbrella.
    2. Measure your time to first byte with Pingdom.
    3. Check your page load time using WebPageTest.
    4. Keep an eye on your bounce rate with Google Analytics.
    5. Monitor database performance using a tool like the SolarWinds Database Performance Monitor.

    Do you have any questions about website performance? Let us know in the comments section below!

    The post How to Monitor Your Website Performance (5 Ways) appeared first on Torque.

  • How to Price Your Development Services (6 Tips)

    If you’re a freelance WordPress developer, you may not know how to price your services. It’s hard to strike a balance between making a substantial profit and not overcharging your customers. If you can’t find a happy medium, potential clients might leave you for the competition. 

    Fortunately, there are various ways to determine a fair price for both you and your clients. Identifying costs and evaluating competitor rates can give you a good benchmark for your services. That way, you’ll be able to set an attractive price while making the money you deserve. 

    In this post, we’ll look at why it’s essential to set up the right pricing system for your development services. Next, we’ll dive into some tips on determining your development service pricing. Let’s get to work!

    The Importance of Pricing Your Development Services Fairly

    Freelance development can be a lucrative career — data suggests that web developers make an average of $75K per year. However, setting a fair price as a freelancer can be tricky, especially if you’re starting out.

    You might be tempted to accept any amount that an agency or client offers you. While this approach can function in the short term, you could end up with less money than you’re worth and get burnt out quickly. On the flip side, charging too much can push customers to seek out a better deal elsewhere.

    Knowing what other developers of a similar skill set are charging can give you a good benchmark for your services. By doing research, you can inform yourself of pricing models and gauge how much you’re worth.

    How to Price Your Development Services (6 Tips)

    Now that you know the importance of pricing your development services fairly, here are a few tips to help you!

    1. Determine the Market Rate

    Knowing the market rate for development work will help you price your own services. You can research what others are charging through freelance resources or developers’ websites. Online resources such as Glassdoor can help you determine the market rate for your skillset:

    The Glassdoor website showing web development results.

    You can sign up for a free account and filter information based on criteria such as experience, education, and location.

    It’s also helpful to determine other factors, like the size and scope of the projects you’ll be taking on, if you want to charge an hourly or fixed rate. You’ll also need to determine the kinds of businesses you’ll be working with. This information can help you set a fair price within the market range.

    2. Check to See What the Competition Is Charging 

    While market research is important, it’s also helpful to dive deeper into the individual rates of web developers. Researching your competition to see what they are charging is the best way to measure where you fall within the pricing spectrum.

    The best way to do this is to look at freelance websites such as Upwork and Fiverr:

    Looking up freelance work on Upwork.

    To get accurate data, search for services such as “web design” or “WordPress development” and look at freelancers’ websites. This method will let you see what comes up in search results and dive deeper into what individuals are charging.

    3. Evaluate Your Skill Level

    How much you charge will also depend on your skills and experience. For example, if you’re starting in the field, you shouldn’t be charging as much as someone who’s been in the business for five years.

    Likewise, if you have supplemental certifications, longer experience, or a higher level of education, you can consider charging more.

    For instance, a Bachelor’s degree in computer science or web development would put you at the lower end of the pay scale. However, a Master’s degree or Ph.D. would warrant much higher rates for your services.

    Something else you might want to consider is maintaining an up-to-date portfolio of all of your work:

    Patrick David's web design portfolio.

    It will allow you to present your work professionally to potential clients. You can also consider displaying customer references, which can help if you want to start charging more.

    4. Factor in External Fees

    Promoting your skills through word-of-mouth might be less expensive in the short term, but you may not reach a broad audience. That’s why you should consider marketing yourself on freelancer websites to expand your reach.

    Unfortunately, many third-party freelancer websites charge ongoing fees or take a cut from your earnings. Sites like Upwork will charge a fee on your earnings, so be sure to factor in those charges when coming up with your rate:

    Freelancer service fees on Upwork.

    If you choose to forgo freelance websites, you should consider creating your own site. Then you’ll need to factor in the extraneous costs involved in creating and running your website. How much you’ll pay will depend on numerous factors, such as what kind of hosting plan you choose.

    Other costs to consider include traveling, phone bills, and marketing efforts. It’s worth tracking all your expenses so that you have a better idea of your overhead costs.

    5. Select a Pricing Model

    Choosing a pricing model will determine when and how you get paid. There are two typical pricing models: one-time and recurring.

    One-time pricing means your customer pays a single amount upfront and receives the product when it’s completed.

    On the other hand, recurring pricing is when the customer pays regularly, usually on a monthly or annual basis. This setup allows them to continue receiving support and updates for your product.

    The right model for your business will depend on the services you provide for your clients. If you want to sell ongoing support for buyers, a subscription option might be a good choice. On the other hand, a one-time payment plan is a good option if you prefer a project with a pre-determined finish date.

    Selecting a suitable payment system will help you stay competitive. It can also help ensure that your services are profitable.

    6. Create a Contract

    After you’ve set up your pricing, it’s important to create a contract. It will help you clarify details with clients and set expectations that you’re comfortable with.

    Consider including certain details in your contract, such as:

    • Payment information
    • How long the project is expected to take
    • If you’ll support the project after its completion
    • How many revisions the client can receive
    • What happens if the client wants to cancel the project

    By drawing up a contract and going over it with your clients, you’ll both be aware of the project timeline, payment requirements, and other restrictions. It’s also worth consulting a lawyer to verify everything is legally sound.

    Conclusion

    Pricing your development services is an essential part of working as a freelancer. By carefully considering factors such as market rates and your experience, you’ll be able to gauge a price that fits the bill. That way, potential clients won’t be turned off by your charges, and you’ll get paid what you deserve.

    To recap, here are six tips for determining prices for your development services:

    1. Research the market rate.
    2. See how much other developers with a similar skillset are charging.
    3. Determine your skill level.
    4. Factor in external fees such as freelance website charges and marketing costs.
    5. Choose a pricing model that works best for your services.
    6. Draw up a contract, so you don’t run into any legal issues with clients.

    Do you have any questions about fairly pricing your development services? Let us know in the comments section below!

    The post How to Price Your Development Services (6 Tips) appeared first on Torque.

  • How to Increase the Stability of Your WordPress Website (5 Ways)

    While factors such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO) are essential for your site’s growth, they don’t mean much if it isn’t secure. If you haven’t taken measures to increase the stability of your WordPress website, it might be at risk of poor performance and cyber hacking.

    Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to stabilize your WordPress website. Actions such as using managed hosting and tightening up your password security can help safeguard your website and improve its performance. This will help ensure that your data is protected and your site is functioning optimally. 

    In this post, we’ll discuss the importance of having a site that performs smoothly at all times. Then, we’ll show you different ways to improve your site’s stability. Let’s get to work!

    Why WordPress Stability Is Important

    WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS) that powers over 40 percent of all websites on the internet. While the platform is considered very safe, its popularity makes it an easy target for malicious actors.

    Cyber hackers can do a lot of damage to your site. They might steal your data, add spam links to your pages, and even take down your site entirely. Furthermore, a site that is not secure can experience frequent downtime.

    Additionally, your WordPress site could experience other issues that affect its performance. For example, if you use a shared server, your page could go offline when there is a surge in traffic.

    A website that is constantly down or glitchy can affect your brand reputation and damage your sales. That’s why it’s important to increase uptime as much as possible.

    Fortunately, there are many measures you can take to stabilize your WordPress website. Making your site more secure can help improve its speed and overall performance. This may in turn boost your traffic and conversion rates.

    How to Increase the Stability of Your WordPress Website (5 Ways)

    Now that you know the importance of having a stable WordPress site, let’s take a look at some steps you can take to make it more reliable.

    1. Use Managed Hosting

    Unmanaged hosting means that you’re responsible for maintenance tasks like software updates and security scans. It is usually a cheaper alternative, which is why some people choose it over other options.

    With managed hosting, the hosting company takes care of updates and provides security measures so that you don’t have to. These tasks are important as they can help stop cyber attacks on your site. They can also prevent glitches and other issues caused by outdated plugins and themes.

    WP Engine offers fully managed WordPress hosting to help you keep your site secure:

    The WP Engine homepage.

    It offers a 40-percent page speed increase for your site and guarantees uptime during traffic spikes. This way, you wouldn’t have to worry about poor site performance and lost conversions.

    2. Implement a CDN

    A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a network of servers located around the globe. When you use a CDN for your website, static versions of your site’s files are delivered from the server that’s geographically closest to the visitor’s location.

    Overall, a CDN helps improve page loading times. This can lead to a better user experience, and therefore a lower bounce rate.

    If you’re looking for a powerful CDN for your website, Cloudflare is a popular option:

    The Cloudflare homepage.

    This software provides you with a global network of servers designed to make your website secure and reliable. There is a free option for single websites, with paid plans starting at $20 per month.

    3. Enable Automatic Backups

    Keeping a backup of your website enables you to recover information quickly if ever it gets hacked or you accidentally delete essential files. If a mishap occurs, you’ll be able to easily restore an earlier version of your site.

    There are plenty of backup options available for your WordPress site. For example, the BackWPup plugin enables you to do backups of your website for free:

    The BackWup homepage.

    This plugin has many features, including:

    • Complete automatic restore
    • Encrypted backups
    • Full database backup
    • Management of backup archives

    It’s important to note that many managed hosting plans offer automatic backups. Check with your provider to see if your WordPress website comes with a backup plan.

    4. Tighten Login Security

    Having a strong login procedure can help protect your WordPress website. You can do this by using a Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) plugin, like WP 2FA:

    The WP 2FA homepage.

    When you set up 2FA, a verification code will be sent to your mobile phone. You’ll need to enter this code into your WordPress login page to access the dashboard. This can help stop unauthorized users from gaining access to your site with automated password guessing and brute force attacks.

    You can also protect your website by using long and strong passwords. A secure login process can provide overall stability for your site and keep your data safe.

    5. Install an SSL Certificate

    A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encrypts the information exchanged between your website and your users. This makes it more difficult for hackers to steal personal data.

    Sites with an SSL certificate use HTTPS instead of HTTP, which makes them more secure. Many hosting companies like WP Engine will provide this certification for you.

    If your hosting provider doesn’t offer this feature, you can use a plugin like Really Simple SSL:

    The Really Simple SSL homepage.

    This tool will automatically configure your website to use SSL for extra protection. It also has additional features and a server health check to help you ensure that your site is performing optimally.

    Conclusion

    Although WordPress is a secure platform, it still has many vulnerabilities. To keep it safe, you’ll need to take some precautionary measures. These will help protect it from cyberattacks while increasing its performance. 

    To summarize, here are five ways to increase the stability of your WordPress website: 

    1. Choose a managed WordPress hosting provider such as WP Engine.
    2. Implement a CDN such as Cloudflare to improve your site’s performance.
    3. Enable automatic backups with a plugin such as BackWPup.
    4. Protect your password and login process with a tool like WP 2FA.
    5. Check to see if your web host offers an SSL certificate, or use a plugin such as Really Simple SSL.

    Do you have any questions about how to improve the stability of your WordPress website? Let us know in the comments section below!

    The post How to Increase the Stability of Your WordPress Website (5 Ways) appeared first on Torque.

  • 6 Best Web Hosts for Developers

    With so many web hosts available, it can be difficult to choose one that offers the specific development features you need. Especially since most web hosts cater to general users that might be looking for a more basic service.

    Fortunately, it’s easier to choose a web host when you know what to look for. Whether you want an intuitive control panel, an affordable solution, or powerful security features, we can help you find the hosting provider that best suits your web development needs.

    In this post, we’ll discuss some of the features to look for in a web hosting provider. Then, we’ll explore six of the best web hosts for developers. Let’s get started!

    What to Look for in Developer-Friendly Web Hosts (5 Key Factors)

    Here are some of the key factors to consider when choosing a new web host for your development needs.

    Resources

    Whichever server your sites or apps end up on, it’s essential that they have enough resources to execute effectively. Some of the key resources to pay attention to include general storage, bandwidth, and the central processing unit (CPU).

    All of these factors will determine how your programs are executed. Additionally, it’s useful to check what sort of random access memory (RAM) is offered because this will limit the amount of data you can access quickly and easily.

    Scalability

    When choosing a developer-friendly web host, it’s best to think long-term. You may want to ask yourself: what plan will be more useful if I’m expecting significant growth? On the flip side of that, you don’t want to start out with big ambitions only to end up paying for a bunch of features you don’t use.

    That’s why it’s a good idea to choose a developer web host that enables you to scale your resources up and down as you need. Therefore, pay-as-you-go plans can be an excellent solution since they’re more flexible.

    Frameworks

    While you can manually install dependencies using SSH, it’s much quicker to choose a developer web host that’s already configured to run your preferred programming language. Typically, the more popular frameworks to look out for include PHP, Python, and MYSQL.

    However, it’s also useful to make sure that your web host supports multiple programming languages if you plan on working with more than one. Additionally, you might want to access numerous server types such as Apache and Node.

    Security

    Security is always an important consideration with any type of hosting. While shared hosting can be a more affordable option, it can involve greater risk since it lacks proper barriers between applications. Therefore, if one website on the server gets infected, there’s a chance that your website will also go down.

    What’s more, rather than simply choosing the type of hosting service you’d like, consider some of the extra features offered by the provider. For instance, some hosting companies include automated backups, staging environments, firewalls, and website monitoring as part of their packages.

    Reliability

    One of the main considerations with web hosting is that your site remains available and accessible at all times. Otherwise, you can lose out on traffic and revenue. This can also make your site appear untrustworthy.

    With this in mind, the best developer web hosts will offer no less than 99.99 percent uptime. It’s also crucial that you can easily get in touch with the support team should any issues arise.

    6 Best Web Hosts for Developers

    Now that you know what to look for when making a decision, let’s check out six of the best web hosts for developers.

    1. WP Engine

    WP Engine web hosting provider

    WP Engine is a powerful, security-rich web host that can provide you with smooth and speedy performance. Thanks to its native user portal, it’s ideal for working with WordPress. It’s also a great option for collaborative work, enabling you to set unique user permissions, assign roles, and log activity.

    What’s more, with WP Engine, you’ll get access to three staging websites, one for development, one for staging, and one for production. Better yet, each staging area comes with its own unique management menu.

    Features:

    • All plans can function as reseller hosting
    • Choose from twenty server locations
    • Access three staging environments

    Pricing: WP Engine plans start at $20 per month.

    2. InterServer

    InterServer web host homepage

    InterServer is a straightforward developer web hosting service that’s highly customizable. However, it does come with a steep learning curve, so it may not be the best option for beginners. Still, it’s a popular choice since it enables you to work with lots of programming languages including PHP, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, Perl, and Fast CGI.

    One of the best parts about InterServer is that it’s a scalable solution, so you only pay for what you need. If you find yourself requiring more resources at any time, each plan provides a little more than the last, with just a small price increase. This is a great feature since many hosting providers have a large disparity between upgrades.

    Features:

    • Provides a staging option to work on your site privately and safely
    • Plans include unlimited websites, storage, bandwidth, and an email account
    • Offers free security features like a virus scanner, web application firewall, and in-house malware database

    Pricing: You can start using InterServer for just $2.50 per month.

    3. Kamatera

    Kamatera website

    Kamatera provides a highly-configurable environment. For example, you can use it to build a cloud VPN from scratch and determine the exact amount of RAM, CPU, and storage that you’ll need. However, to fully take advantage of this requires a fair bit of technical knowledge and experience.

    In any case, Kamatera is a great developer web host because it offers a flexible pay-as-you-go service. Therefore, you can adjust your server resources and your bill will instantly reflect this change. This makes it one of the best web hosts for scaling your applications. Kamatera also doesn’t scrimp on security, providing firewall protection, distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection, and 24/7 support.

    Features:

    • Uses a cloud load balancer to stabilize performances during traffic spikes
    • Choose from eighteen data centers around the world
    • Instant setup

    Pricing: Kamatera hosting plans start at $4 per month.

    4. Hostinger

    Hostinger website

    Hostinger is a well-known, reliable hosting solution that’s great for experimenting with your app. With this option, you’ll get access to your very own hPanel . This is a user-friendly, native management panel that’s simple to use and provides a clean, stylish interface.

    What’s more, you can access Git support with any plan you choose, tracking changes and restoring previous versions easily. Hostinger also offers an access manager with all shared plans, allowing you to allocate specific roles and access options to team members.

    Features:

    • Weekly backups with all plans
    • Choose your own data center closest to your audience
    • All shared plans include DNS management, a free SSL certificate, and an email account

    Pricing: Hostinger plans start at $1.99 per month for a single shared website. However, you can get VPS Hosting for $3.49 per month, and cloud hosting starts at $9.99 per month.

    5. Liquid Web

    Liquid Web web hosting provider

    Liquid Web is particularly well-known for its cloud hosting and VPS hosting plans. It’s a flexible solution that enables you to choose your own control panel, whether you prefer to work with InterWorx, Plesk Web Pro, or cPanel.

    No matter which plan you choose, you can expect Git support, and amazingly, Liquid Web offers a 100 percent uptime guarantee. Better yet, if downtime does occur, you’ll be compensated ten times the amount you’ve lost. Plus, Liquid Web uses WP-CLI so that you can update, backup, and administrate your site easily.

    Features:

    • Access a ton of security features like firewalls, DDoS protection, and website monitoring
    • Enjoy a 100 percent uptime guarantee
    • Get full root access

    Pricing: Liquid Web plans start at $25 per month.

    6. InMotion

    InMotion hosting website

    InMotion is a fully-featured web host that accommodates many programming languages like PHP, Ruby, Perl, and Python. This is even the case for its shared hosting plans. You can also add multiple users to your website and limit their actions easily on your account.

    InMotion is one of the best developer web hosts for reseller hosting and includes white labeling for agencies. Plus, it’s a reliable solution, offering 99.99 percent uptime and 24/7 support. Additionally, you can benefit from plenty of security features like malware protection and free SSL certificates.

    Features:

    • Git support with all plans
    • Provides SSL, SSH access, unlimited bandwidth, and free email
    • WordPress is auto-installed and you can access other eCommerce tools

    Pricing: InMotion plans start at $2.29 per month.

    Conclusion

    With so many hosting providers available, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your web development tasks. However, it’s easier if you know what to look for. When you consider factors like resources, frameworks, and scalability, you’re off to a good start.

    To recap, here are six of the best web hosts for developers:

    WP Engine: A powerful solution, great for testing and collaboration.

    InterServer: Good for scalability, enabling you to pay for what you need.

    Kamatera: A highly-customizable environment that bills by the second.

    Hostinger: An affordable web host that’s also beginner-friendly.

    Liquid Web: Guarantees 100 percent uptime and allows you to choose your own control panel.

    InMotion: A robust web host, best for reseller hosting.

    Do you have any questions about our list of the best web hosts for developers? Let us know in the comments section below!

    The post 6 Best Web Hosts for Developers appeared first on Torque.

  • How to Implement Video Marketing in Your eCommerce Store (4 Ways)

    Are you looking for a more engaging way of promoting your products? Video marketing is a great medium for showing customers the value of your products rather than telling them. However, it can feel tricky to tackle if you don’t have experience with this advertising approach.

    Fortunately, implementing video marketing in your eCommerce store isn’t all that challenging. With an online video editor like InVideo, it’s simple to create audiovisual media, from fun marketing clips to seasonal gift guides.

    In this post, we’ll take a closer look at video marketing. Then, we’ll show you four ways to implement it in your eCommerce store. Let’s get started!

    An Introduction to Video Marketing 

    Video marketing has grown massively in recent years, recording an online usage reach of over 90 percent. And yet, only 54 percent of businesses include videos on their landing pages. 

    However, using videos is an easy way to bring your products to life. Unlike with static images, you can effectively show your product(s) in action:

    You can also demonstrate the benefits of using your products more effectively. This can help buyers understand your goods better, instilling plenty of confidence in their purchasing decisions. 

    Additionally, videos can make your web pages more engaging. You might utilize humor, add music, and harness the power of storytelling to entertain, inspire, or encourage visitors to act. Videos can also help you build brand awareness by showing your company’s personality.

    How to Implement Video Marketing in Your eCommerce Store (4 Ways)

    Fortunately, you don’t need to invest in expensive equipment to create high-quality videos. Instead, you can use a free online video editor like InVideo to achieve the same effect in half the time. Here are four ways to use this interactive medium in your online store!

    1. Create Marketing Videos

    Instead of using static images in your marketing campaigns, videos are far more interactive. They enable you to generate an emotional response from your audience and guide them toward a desired action on your page.

    Better yet, using video advertisements gives you a greater opportunity to share key information about your product. For example, you might address customers’ common questions and build a strong brand image. 

    If you’re launching a marketing campaign, you might want to share a special offer or discount. If this is the case, you could benefit from using a Black Friday Sale Reel:

    This fun, vibrant clip enables you to display your featured product(s) while drawing attention to the discount. Of course, you’ll likely include your video advertisement on your website. Moreover, you might also consider sharing it on social media since 50 percent of users admit to purchasing a product after seeing it in Instagram stories.

    2. Share Product Videos 

    Product videos let you show users the value of your products rather than simply telling them. You can utilize a video to demonstrate your item in greater detail or create a tutorial that explains how customers can use it:

    As you can see, product videos can clearly present the benefits of your products. For example, you might show that your items are super easy to use, or you can boast about a one-click installation process. Either way, it’s much easier to show off your unique selling points using video marketing. 

    Product presentations are also helpful, allowing you to put forth your ideas about your eCommerce products. Alternatively, you could share a style guide video and cross-sell related items in your store:

    With the right music, persuasive text, and high-resolution images, you’re able to convey a particular mode, tone, and feel for your brand. 

    What’s more, if you’re an independent seller, you can always put a quirky spin on your video:

    One way you can do this is by encouraging shoppers to give you their business instead of mass merchants like Amazon.

    3. Social Media Videos 

    The type of social media video you should create depends partly on your chosen platform. For instance, if you prefer short, snappy clips, TikTok and Instagram Reels are great options. 

    Furthermore, you could also build meaningful customer relationships with live videos by hosting Q&As or carrying out product tutorials. In this case, Instagram and Facebook are excellent choices. 

    “How to” videos tend to perform exceptionally well across social platforms, especially if you partner with affiliate marketers and influencers:

    You can also feature these videos on your website. Here, they can act as customer reviews, increasing buyers’ trust through a more interactive format. They can be exceedingly helpful since 90 percent of consumers check online reviews before buying from a business.

    If you’re still trying to establish your brand, you could capitalize on pop culture trends, share celebratory news, or give a walk-through of your business premises. This way, customers can get to know you better. 

    4. Seasonal Videos and Gift Guides

    Seasonal videos are great for positioning your brand as relevant and fresh. Plus, you can target a more specific demographic with video ads.

    For instance, you might celebrate the change of the seasons or honor global events like Father’s Day and Pride Month:

    Gift guides are also excellent for showing off a variety of related products that shoppers might be looking for:

    You could share specific themed gift suggestions such as budget-friendly gifts, home accessories, or presents for sports fans.

    Conclusion

    Video marketing is a great way to engage with your audience while showing off your products in their best light. However, video can be a daunting medium if you’ve never used it before. Fortunately, an online editor like InVideo makes it quick and easy to create powerful clips you can share online.

    To recap, here are four ways to implement video marketing in your eCommerce store:

    1. Create short marketing videos.
    2. Produce in-depth product videos.
    3. Share social media videos.
    4. Leverage seasonal videos and gift guides.

    Do you have any questions about video marketing for eCommerce? Let us know in the comments section below!

    The post How to Implement Video Marketing in Your eCommerce Store (4 Ways) appeared first on Torque.

  • 3 Best Abandoned Cart Recovery Plugins for WooCommerce

    One of the biggest problems that store owners face is cart abandonment. Even if the right customers are viewing your products, they could add items to their carts and leave your site without making a purchase.

    Fortunately, you can use abandoned cart recovery plugins to remind customers that they left products in their carts. These tools can help you boost sales and prevent users from turning to your competitors.

    In this post, we’ll explain the benefits of using an abandoned cart recovery plugin. Then, we’ll recommend some of the best options on the market. Let’s get started!

    Why You Should Consider Using an Abandoned Cart Recovery Plugin

    Even if visitors place your products in their shopping carts, there’s no guarantee that they’ll purchase them. In fact, eCommerce stores have an abandoned cart rate of about 70 percent.

    There are several reasons why customers abandon their carts. These include surprise costs like expensive shipping options or extra fees. Unexpected charges can cause customers to leave your store and do their shopping elsewhere.

    Another possible cause of a high cart abandonment rate is an inefficient checkout page. If you don’t make it easy for customers to purchase a product, they likely won’t complete their orders. Therefore, you’ll want to provide a smooth checkout experience.

    However, even after taking the necessary measures, you may notice that your online store still has a lot of abandoned carts. In this case, you can use an abandoned cart recovery plugin to encourage second visits.

    If customers were initially window-shopping, a reminder email can prompt them to purchase the items they wanted. The right tool can help you track your customers’ carts and send messages about abandoned items. By following up with customers, you can help decrease your abandoned cart rate.

    3 Best Abandoned Cart Recovery Plugins for WooCommerce

    Once you decide to start targeting customers who have incomplete purchases, you’ll need to find the right tool for the job. Fortunately, many WordPress plugins are designed specifically for abandoned cart recovery. Let’s look at some of the best options on the market.

    1. Metorik

    Metorik plugin

    If you’re having trouble tracking your customers and their abandoned carts, Metorik can be a useful tool. This plugin provides extensive reports for your revenue, orders, customer retention, and much more. Plus, you’ll be able to view your most-abandoned products and which customers were interested in them.

    Once a visitor places an item in a cart, Metorik starts tracking it. If the cart is abandoned, you can send automatic email reminders with discounts to increase completed purchases. Then, the Metorik dashboard will display your new recovery rates and conversion stats.

    Key features:

    Pricing: Metorik is a free WordPress plugin. However, you’ll need to connect it with a Metorik account. Registration starts at $50 per month, but you can also sign up for a 30-day trial.

    2. Retainful

    Retainful plugin

    During the abandoned cart recovery process, you’ll send emails to customers to encourage them to revisit your store. Retainful enables you to automate these email campaigns.

    This plugin offers an easy way to contact customers, thanks to its pre-designed email templates and a drag-and-drop editor. It also enables you to show pop-up windows to visitors who are about to abandon the checkout page. By including one-time coupon codes, you can grab a customer’s attention and incentivize them to complete their purchase.

    Key features:

    • Reports on when live carts are abandoned and recovered
    • Automated abandoned cart emails
    • Drag-and-drop email editor
    • Single-use coupon codes
    • Integration with Mailchimp, HubSpot, ConvertKit, and more

    Pricing: Retainful has a free plan that supports abandoned cart recovery, 500 emails per month, and up to 300 contacts. If you need to extend these features, the premium version starts at $19 monthly.

    3. Abandoned Cart for WooCommerce

    Abandoned Cart for WooCommerce

    Abandoned Cart for WooCommerce is another plugin that sends messages to customers after incomplete purchases. After a user clicks on the add-to-cart button, they can enter their email, phone number, or Facebook account details. If they abandon their items, they’ll automatically receive reminder messages.

    To quickly create a workflow, you can choose one of the pre-designed abandoned cart email templates. Alternatively, the rich text editor enables you to create new templates by copying and pasting HTML. Then, you can use merge tags to personalize the emails with details about the customer and product.

    Key features:

    • Reports on abandoned and recovered products
    • Ability to track coupon redemption rate, Click-Through Rate (CTR), and email open rate
    • Automated reminder emails, texts, and Facebook messages
    • 12 WooCommerce abandoned cart email templates
    • Option to apply discounts and coupon codes
    • Integration with Mailchimp, Drip, Sendinblue, and more

    Pricing: Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce is free to download. The premium version starts at $149 per year and includes abandoned cart email templates, coupon codes, and pre-built workflows.

    Bonus: Live Cart by WP Engine

    It won’t matter if you bring customers back to their carts if your site is bogged down with cart fragments. Though necessary for performance, cart fragments can slow down your site, especially during high-traffic events such as the holidays.

    Because they constantly have to be running to power parts of your cart, namely “add to cart” or live inventory numbers, the rest of your pages like “About Us” or “Contact” can become slower.

    In favor of site speed, many developers opt to disable them altogether, but WP Engine customers have access to a better solution, Live Cart.

    Live Cart makes sure those fragments are only running when needed. Simultaneously optimizing your cart and site speed. It comes built into all WP Engine eCommerce plans.

    Conclusion

    Even with the right advertising methods, customers could still leave your products in their carts. With the right tools, you can target these visitors and contact them with discounted offers. By simply reminding customers about their abandoned carts, you can increase your number of completed orders.

    To review, here are some of the best abandoned cart recovery plugins for WooCommerce stores:

    1. Metorik: A cart-tracking tool that identifies commonly abandoned products, recovery rates, and conversion stats.
    2. Retainful: An email marketing plugin with a drag-and-drop editor, pre-designed abandoned cart email templates, and exit pop-ups.
    3. Abandoned Cart for WooCommerce: A useful plugin for sending emails, texts, and Facebook reminders to customers who abandon their carts.

    Do you have any questions about the abandoned cart recovery plugins featured in this post? Let us know in the comments section below!

    The post 3 Best Abandoned Cart Recovery Plugins for WooCommerce appeared first on Torque.