Category: Custom Development

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Why Every Business Needs a Professionally Designed Website

Image of website designs shown on various digital devices.

In today’s digital era, a business’s online presence is almost as crucial as its physical storefront. A modern, professionally designed website is the cornerstone of a company’s identity, providing many benefits essential for survival and growth in any industry. Below, we explore why every business should invest in a quality website to establish credibility, enhance user experience, and, ultimately, increase business sales.

Establishing Credibility

First impressions are vital; for many customers, a website is the first point of contact with a business. An effectively designed website conveys reliability, professionalism, and stability. This digital presence should align with the brand’s identity, mission, and values, giving potential customers a clear understanding of what the business stands for. A website that looks amateur or poorly maintained can cast doubt on the business’s credibility, driving potential customers to competitors.

Enhancing User Experience

A well-designed website does more than attract visitors—it keeps them engaged. With an intuitive interface, responsive design, and accessible navigation, a professional website ensures that all visitors, regardless of their tech-savviness or device, can easily find what they are looking for. This positive user experience can significantly reduce bounce rates and increase the duration of user visits, which is critical for deepening customer engagement and encouraging repeat visits.

Boost Sales by Increasing Conversions 

The ultimate goal of any business website is to convert visitors into customers, and professional web design is key. By employing best practices in design and user experience strategies, a high-quality website can guide visitors towards taking action: making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting customer service. Clear calls to action, streamlined checkout processes, and trust-building elements like SSL certificates and privacy policies are all critical components that a professional designer will integrate into your site.

Leveraging Modern Design Trends

Staying current with design trends is not just about aesthetics; it’s about leveraging technology that can benefit the business. Modern websites can integrate various functionalities such as social media feeds, e-commerce capabilities, 3rd party integrations, and so much more. Using a mixed combination of functionality helps to streamline the user’s journey on the site, making it easier for them to interact with the business in a way that suits them best.

Investing in a secure and modern website is a must for any business aiming to thrive and succeed.  Contact CPS for a free website consultation to learn how our tailored web design and digital marketing solutions can elevate your company.

Founded in 1994, Creative Programs and Systems delivers professional results for all your computer needs. We design, create, and code various custom software programs and websites. Additionally, we offer superior digital marketing services, including enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and paid advertising. We also repair and support commercial computer infrastructure, build custom systems and servers, and provide secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call (810)224-5252 or email info@cpsmi.com us!

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com

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Redefining Efficiency: The Benefits of a Custom Database System

Businesses and organizations often find themselves relying heavily on spreadsheets for their data management needs. Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel have served as staples in data storage, analysis, and reporting. But is it time to break free from these traditional methods and move towards programming a custom database system? The answer might be a resounding “yes,” and here’s why.

Scalability

As your business grows, so does the data you need to manage. Spreadsheets like Google Sheets and Excel are not built to handle massive datasets. With a custom database, you can plan your architecture according to your growth rate, ensuring that your system is equipped to handle future needs efficiently.

Data Integrity

Spreadsheets are prone to errors. One wrong formula or accidental keystroke can result in inaccurate data, with the error propagating across multiple sheets or even files. Databases, especially those that are ACID-compliant (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability), ensure that your data stays reliable and accurate.

Security

Excel and Google Sheets offer basic security features, such as password protection and restricted sharing. However, these are no match for the robust security measures that can be implemented in a custom database, including data encryption, strict user roles, and advanced authentication methods.

Flexibility and Customization

A spreadsheet has a one-size-fits-all approach, which might not cater to your unique business requirements. A custom database system can be designed with your specific needs in mind, offering the flexibility that off-the-shelf software often can’t.

Complex Queries and Reports

If your data analysis requires more than basic filtering and sorting, spreadsheets will soon become a bottleneck. Custom databases enable you to perform complex queries with multiple joins, aggregations, and conditions. This feature is critical for producing comprehensive reports that can help in strategic decision-making.

Real-time Data Access

Modern database systems can support real-time data access and manipulation by multiple users. With spreadsheets, there’s often a need to lock files for editing, or risk running into version conflicts. Databases are designed for simultaneous use, making real-time collaboration easier and more effective.

Integration Capabilities

Custom databases can be integrated with other business systems like CRM, ERP, or custom APIs. This is something spreadsheets struggle with. Seamless integration means less manual data entry, thereby reducing errors and saving time.

Cost-Effectiveness

While the initial investment in creating a custom database might seem steep, it will save you precious time and money in the long run. Maintaining spreadsheets, managing errors, and dealing with data loss or corruption can be more costly than the initial investment in a robust, custom database.

Spreadsheets are great tools, but they have their limitations when managing large datasets, ensuring data integrity, and facilitating complex queries and reports. A custom database system addresses these challenges and offers benefits that can boost your business. While some may face sticker shock from the up-front cost, the long-term returns in terms of efficiency, reliability, and scalability make it a worthy consideration.

Is your organization at a stage where you’re starting to feel the limitations of spreadsheet software? It might be time to make a leap to a custom database system. Contact Creative Programs and Systems to schedule a consultation.

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Founded in 1994, Creative Programs and Systems provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; offer top-notch digital marketing services including enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and paid advertising; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail info@cpsmi.com.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/

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Five Strategies for Boosting Product Awareness

Connecting with customers is key whether you own or operate an e-commerce or brick-and-mortar storefront. Getting your name out and announcing a new product can be challenging without a proper following. While gaining traction may be tricky, it isn’t impossible. Read on to learn some essential strategies for boosting your business and building product awareness. 

E-Mail Marketing
Newsletters are a great way to announce product changes, specials, and more. Your most loyal customers will likely be interested in hearing up-to-date news. Plus, it’s an easy and inexpensive way to stay relevant and top-of-mind with clients. 

Giveaways and Prizes
Generating buzz around new or best-selling products can really flourish by launching giveaways. Not only do prizes keep repeat customers engaged, but they are also a great way for new clients to swallow your hook, so to speak. 

Professional Media
Great photos or videos can make or break a product. With captivating visuals, brand awareness can gain traction. To showcase your items, choose high-resolution, bright, non-distracting photos or videos that clearly give you an idea of what you are offering.  

Story Time
Many customers genuinely want to connect with their favorite brands, and stories are one of the best ways to humanize your business. Leveling with clients in a real way ensures you pique their interest and keep them coming back for more.

Partnerships and Collaborations
When social media users are already loyal to one product, they tend to follow the parent company. When the business teams up with other like-minded companies, consumers trust that connection, which creates an immense – and swift – amount of engagement. 

Are you looking to boost your business? Contact the digital marketing experts at Creative Programs and Systems today.

Founded in 1994, Creative Programs and Systems provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; offer top-notch digital marketing services including enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and paid advertising; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail info@cpsmi.com.

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/ 

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April 2022 Newsletter- Launch of Wolf Survival Website

Creative Programs and Systems is proud to announce the launch of a new website for Wolf Survival Gear! This e-commerce website is powered by Shopify, a proprietary platform for online stores. The owner of Wolf Survival Gear needed a turnkey, ready-to-go system that could handle a significant yet relatively quick import of all their various products, and we accomplished this using Shopify. It took us less than two months to design the website and build out the specifics.

Wolf Survival Gear is an online source for camping, prepping, and survival supplies. They are an authorized reseller for Readywise (high-quality dehydrated and freeze-dried foods) and Rothco (wholesale military, tactical, and outdoor clothing and gear.)  All products are drop-shipped, direct from the warehouse to the consumer, and are easily coordinated using the admin panel set by Shopify’s software.  

Since Wolf’s new site has been up and running, the digital marketing team at CPS has worked diligently to boost their social media presence and online advertising. We grew their Facebook followers by almost 3k and generated over 50k ads through Google and Bing, bringing in over 10K users since February 2022. According to Shopify reports, Wolf Survival Gear was rated in the top 7% of stores launched the same week in obtaining website traffic. They have sold multiple products via the platform – all in a short amount of time!  

Contact Creative Programs and Systems to strategize a new website design and digital marketing plan customized to meet your needs and help your business grow. Do you have a current website or marketing campaign that is not producing results? We can assist! Our team is terrific at identifying issues and finding solutions to optimize your brand while staying on point with your budget. 

Build Me a Website Too!

Founded in 1994, Creative Programs and Systems provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; implement internet marketing strategies for enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) results; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail info@cpsmi.com.

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What Does an ADA Compliant Website Mean?

You might have heard the term ADA Compliant, referencing the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law under the first George Bush in 1990. The bill was enacted to prohibit discrimination against those with physical disabilities to ensure fair and equal access (or accommodation thereof) to public places. Initially, the focus was on eliminating barriers and providing access for all, to all businesses, schools, and public areas. Recently, “Places of Public Accommodation” under Title III of ADA, has come under scrutiny as to whether or not websites and mobile apps are included within these laws.

The Threat of ADA Non-Compliance

Websites with significant inaccessible components can be seen as discriminatory against persons with disabilities. In the recent past, there has been an influx of lawsuits threatening the disbarment of schools, health care providers, and agencies that accept government funds for operation. These litigations have scared a lot of businesses and municipalities to update their website and make them ADA compliant, sometimes falling victim to online extortionists who charged an obscene amount of money by taking advantage of people’s fears of a lawsuit. 

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

While standards were provided for businesses to accommodate those with physical handicaps, we are still waiting for confirmed guidance for the internet, web-based, and mobile applications. In the meantime, guidelines have been established and are frequently referred to in court. 

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) who develops international web standards, originally came up with recommendations in 1999 called Web Content Accessibility Guidelines or WCAG 1. As the web and digital technology expanded, WCAG 2 was released in 2008, which also widen the range of people with disabilities it serves to include those who are blind, deaf, learning and cognitively disabled, and those with limited mobility. WCAG 2.1 was released in 2018 to fill in the gaps further and includes mobile responsiveness and other guidelines for those who suffer from poor vision. Both WCAG 2 and 2.1 have valuable principles that every business owner should abide by; however, the 2.0 version is considered a baseline for accessibility, and the 2.1 version should be used as your testing standard to improve usability for all. FYI…Another round of updates is already in the works, known as “Silver” or WCAG 3.

Grey Area in ADA Website Compliance 

Courts have come to varying conclusions whether coverage is limited to physical spaces and whether a company’s website is included in these requirements. Currently, neither Congress nor the Department of Justice (the primary federal government agency responsible for enforcing ADA) has adequately clarified the scope of ADA in terms of website accessibility compliance for private companies. While WCAG 2, Level AA (the success criteria level that most courts generally rely on) is frequently referenced in litigation, some courts have interpreted Title III of the ADA to include websites as public domains that should be accessible to all, while others have not. There seems to be no ADA web-based standard for private entities and for companies who employ less than 15 people; especially, for states like Michigan, who have yet to adopt legislation governing website compliance. 

Perks of Being ADA Compliant

The most significant incentive for meeting compliance is knowing that you have done all that you could to be fair and opportunistic for all people, no matter their skill level. It’s just good business practice to have an online presence that can be received by all. Also, the WCAG guidelines have a lot of great suggestions to help make your website read and look better to the end-user, which, if it is engaging to visitors, the longer they remain on your site will essentially increase your sales. Another consideration in becoming ADA compliant is that we, Creative Programs and Systems (CPS), study the trends of Search Engine Optimization and predict that compliance will soon be a ranking factor for organic SERP placement. SERP is the natural placement of your business listing when queried in search engines, not paid advertisements. It’s a win-win!

There are no automatic or instant solutions available from a widget or a plugin to make your website ADA compliant. Updating your website to become ADA compliant is a process and you can start by breaking down sections of your website to make it more manageable. But, really getting a head start is something and CPS can help get you there. It boils down to having proper, clean coding and best practices in software development from a professional team of programmers who can interpret federal and state policies and deliver a product that not only meets compliance but is also modern and informative. If you seek to obtain a reputable website developer, such as CPS, to ensure full compliance with WCAG 2.1, contact us today. CPS also provides Managed IT services, SEO and digital marketing, and customized programming and software that meets your needs. To learn more, visit www.cpsmi.com.