Tag Archives: eCommerce

New Website Design Trends 2015

Category: News
February 26, 2015
Website Design Trends Although it is only a few months into 2015, 2Cubed has already been noticing many new website design trends for 2015. We are seeing some really nice responsive websites that are being created properly and giving customers a full mobile experience, instead of a light version of the website that has little value for your customers. We are seeing many businesses replacing their standard main menu with a responsive-looking burger menu on their full-width websites, but like many things, this probably will just be a fad that disappears as quickly as it arrives – they work great on mobile, but are just frustrating for desktop users! When it comes to Payment Gateways on eCommerce websites, there is a trend to offer multiple payment options for customers to choose the one that they are most confident in. Scrolling sites are still there but on desktop it’s still a bit of an issue. We have come across some clients not knowing to scroll down when they see a large banner image and think this is the only thing on the page. So be careful to show a little bit more than the banner, so that customers know to scroll down if they are supposed to. It’s fine on mobile as experience has taught us that mobile users don’t mind scrolling when browsing. We have seen a bit of a buck in the trend for large banners that take up too much space. Companies want to get the information to the customer as quick as possible and are trying to get their message across quickly and efficiently rather than wasting a chunk of the screen on one message. Some people will never see the second and third banner because they are impatient, and have already clicked away. Fixed-width centre-aligned design still works but in a much more clever way. It looks to be 100% size of the screen. Responsive design has really helped to show different views for different screen sizes.  Instead of sites (and their content sections_ going all the way to either side of the viewport, some sites are opting for a max-width to keep their content centred in the viewport. Photographers seem to be kept busy these days with much more value in having custom photography rather than stock photography displayed on websites. It makes much more sense to follow this approach, as customers prefer to see real company shots on the website. With typography on sites, fonts are getting even larger than 2014. This enhances the visual hierarchy of content and breaks up the page giving an overall better user experience. Give us a shout if you want to discuss any of the above. Hopefully our insight helps you when you are working with your chosen developer designing your website!  

New Online Divorce service launched

Category: Projects
January 6, 2015
diylawyerlogoJanuary is always the busiest time for making huge life decisions – dieting, job hunting, exercising, and getting a divorce! As a result, it’s the perfect time for launching Ireland’s first and only Instant Online Divorce and Separation Agreement Service. DIY LAWYER was founded by Peter P Ryan (BA Hon Public Administration). Peter successfully went through mediation, separation and divorce in regard to his own marriage and is committed to providing easy access to the courts for Irish residents at low cost in relation to family law matters and in particular to applications for divorce, judicial separation and in drawing up separation agreements and defence and counterclaims. New Online Divorce service launched Getting an online divorce with DIY Lawyer is relatively simple. You just purchase the package that you need, then follow the steps and fill in the forms. Print these off and sent them as per the instructions. It could save you thousands in legal fees! Click here to get your divorce proceedings started today!

Happy New Year! A Little Reflection

Category: News
January 2, 2015
Website Trends 2015All of us here in 2Cubed just want to wish all of our customers a Very Happy New Year and a prosperous one at that.  We put a record level of websites live in 2014 and 2015 is lining up the same. Some websites and apps are exceeding expectations and have a lot of excited customers realising the potential of eCommerce for the first time. We’ve helped our customers gain more online sales and customers, even on websites that we didn’t actually build. Hopefully all our customers and potential customers have the same energy for 2015 and expand on the success. Websites and Apps do eat time and energy but saying that everything you put in will be rewarded.  It’s not just about getting the website live, it’s about feeding it with information on a regular basis. It’s more than a once of go live commitment! We are always here to support you 100% and hopefully our positive happy energy here in 2Cubed will be reflected and entice you do work even harder on your website this year. Where business owners don’t have the time to do it all themselves, we take up the slack and ensure it happens for you. (Here’s a sales bit, sorry) We do offer monthly maintenance and online marketing services to ensure that your website or app is receiving maximum exposure. Just want to say congratulations to all our customers that had websites or apps that went live in 2014. Hopefully all the hard work by everyone, will pay off in 2015. It’s exciting times for eCommerce and only see things going from strength to strength.   Looking forward to talking you all in 2015 Jennifer, Ronan, Joe, Sarah & Mark

Web Summit 2014 Day Two

Category: News
November 5, 2014
Web SummitThe second day of the 2014 Web Summit did not have the same glamour of the first – there was no bell ringing by An Taoiseach, nor was there any Hollywood actress on display. However, for the 24,000 strong attendance, the key speakers and business leaders that spoke on various topics throughout the day provided more than enough information to help their businesses succeed. Once again, a variety of content was seen as the way forward, with Jonathan Cloonan of GroupM predicting the continuing rise of Facebook video, while WhoSay’s Rob Gregory posited that brands need to create their own narratives on social media. Jim Bankoff echoed this, saying that Brand building is key – especially using a variety of platforms to reach your audience. Production of a variety of content was key, but Sean Moriarty warned against the proliferation of too much content. “It’s essential for content providers to always, always, always focus on quality. There’s always someone out there who will invest in quality, so if you don’t produce quality content, you won’t get noticed.” Moriarty made the bold claim that “the product on the shelf is not enough.” Instead, customers and visitors to your website are looking to learn and understand your business. This can greatly influence whether they decide to purchase your product or service. IMG_0340The 2014 Web Summit focused more and more on the growth of mobile and mobile applications. Appcelerator’s Jeff Haynie stated that “mobile is replacing the web”, telling the audience that the most important thing in mobile and app creation is simplicity. Facebook’s Dan Rose explained that this was the reasoning behind their controversial decision to separate the chat functionality from the standard Facebook app into a separate Facebook Messenger app. Customers want their apps to carry out simple tasks easily and effectively – if they want something more, they will use their browser or else use their desktop computer. In the past year, 2Cubed has begun developing iPhone and Android Apps, and according to industry leaders, this is something that is only going to grow and grow.

Web Summit 2014: Day One

Category: News
November 4, 2014
Web Summit 2014 Nasdaq Bell2Cubed attended the Web Summit again this year, keeping up to speed on the latest trends, ideas, and innovations in web, app, and software development for 2014 and far beyond. The first day of the 2014 Web Summit once again proved an enlightening experience, with a host of interesting speakers from around the globe speaking on a range of topics. Taoiseach Enda Kenny praised Ireland as a place for enterprise, but more significant was a similar utterance from Stripe co-founder John Collison. The Limerick native has grown Stripe from a company of two to over 160 in just four years, opening an office in Silicon Valley, but believes Ireland is still a great place for budding businesses and start-ups. IMG_0329Adobe’s Mark Zablan spoke about the rise in subscription-based services (something 2Cubed is familiar with, from our work with the FileMe Mobile Storage application), while Matthew Garrahan from the Financial Times discussed the rise in video content as a way to connect with customers, and the importance of having an authentic voice when reaching your target audience. Paul Macinnes, who claims to have invented live blogging in the past, echoed this sentiment, speaking about how the Guardian see the future of online content as combining video and written content. Web Summit Main HallForbes’ Lewis Dvorkin believes “good content is hard to produce”, and had an extremely insightful conversation with Flipboard’s Mike McCue and Jimmy Maymann of the Huffington Post on the future of online media. The rise of mobile was a common theme throughout the day, as Facebook’s Erik Johnson testified, but admitted that eCommerce websites need to do more to reach their target markets. According to Johnson, “Over 40% of users begin browsing on one device and finish shopping on another device.” Having a simple shopping experience from start to cart (a term I’ve coined myself, but that’s bound to catch on!) is essential, with Steven Guggenheim from Microsoft asserting that “shopping cart engagement gets better the quicker a site is”. Some of these things can be the difference between a successful website or mobile application and one that fails. Similarly, a good website can even be the reason why a business succeeds or doesn’t.

2Cubed Customers Nominated for Web Awards 2014

Category: News
September 12, 2014
We’re delighted to announce that some of our customers at 2Cubed (as well as 2Cubed ourselves!) have been nominated for many categories at the prestigious Realex Fire Web Awards 2014. Web Awards 2014 The following is a list of the websites we have worked on that have been nominated for the Web Awards. Web Agency of the Year 2Cubed Most Beautiful Website in IrelandPeregrine Marketing Most Innovative WebsitePeregrine Marketing Best SME Website Micro (5 employees or less)2Cubed Best SME Website Medium (20 employees or less)Intelligent Surface Solutions Best SME Website Large (21 employees or more)Prim-Ed Best Responsive DesignRotech Best eCommerce Micro (5 or less full-time employees)Eoin O’Connor Best eCommerce Medium Buttercups Uniforms Best eCommerce Trading InternationallyPrim-ed Best eCommerce RetailRobins Glen Best Science and Technology SiteIntelligent Surface Solutions Best Website of a StartupPeregrine Marketing Best Sports SiteNew Ross Golf Club Best Music SiteMusici Best Entertainment WebsiteSouth East Television Best Arts WebsiteCountyBooks

Trading Online Voucher Scheme helps local businesses get online

Category: News
July 4, 2014

Online-Trading-VouchersmallRegister Your Interest Now!

Vouchers will be available to a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure (Net of VAT), whichever is the lesser; Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte T.D. has launched an excellent grants scheme for budding small and medium enterprises who wish to help their businesses grow online. The Online Trading Voucher scheme is designed to help these small companies to access the opportunities open to them through trading online. This will help companies right across Ireland to access new markets so that they can grow and create more jobs. Eligibility Criteria:
  • Vouchers will be available to a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure (Net of VAT), whichever is the lesser;
  • Voucher approval must be gained prior to incurring any expense;
  • Own labour is not an eligible expense;
  • Third party costs only will be considered;
  • All third party/supplier invoices must contain proper business details (e.g. Tax and Business Registration details).
The vouchers are targeted at businesses with the following profile:
  • Limited Online Trading presence;
  • Less than 10 employees;
  • Turnover less than €2m;
  • Applicant business must be registered and trading for at least 12 months;
  • Business must be located in one of the pilot areas under this phase of the scheme.
What the vouchers can be used for
  • IT consultation;
  • Development or upgrade of an e-commerce website;
  • Implementing Online payments or booking systems;
  • Purchase of Internet related software;
  • Purchase of online advertising (this purchase cannot make up any more than 30% of approved Voucher costs and can only be drawn down in one payment phase);
  • Developing an app (or multiplatform webpages);
  • Implementing a digital marketing strategy i.e. Social media marketing;
  • Consultation with ICT experts for early stage adopters of online strategy;
  • Training/skills development specifically to establish and manage an on-line trading activity.
If you would like your company to benefit from this fantastic grant, which covers for funding up to 50% of your expenditure, please contact 2Cubed for more details. You can call us on 051-440425, email hello@2cubed.ie, or else get in touch using the live chat on our website! [ccf_form id=”1316″]