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Developer marketplace

Tanisha bajaj

Who usually needs to hire dedicated development team?

Businesses

For many companies, the option to hire dedicated development team is the most feasible one. Read this article to learn what companies usually use this model.

What businesses need to hire dedicated development team?

It’s always interesting to observe how the business landscape is changing under the influence of various external factors. And here we are talking not only about services, products, or pricing but also about internal processes such as hiring, for example. Today the tendencies that can be noticed clearly show that remote work and outsourcing are becoming more and more popular, especially in the IT industry. 

And there are numerous reasons for it. For example, such an approach is much more feasible for businesses, especially in those cases when software development is not their core activity and they are going to build just one software product. In such a case, it is really more sensible to find a team with whom it will be possible to establish cooperation on a project basis.

Moreover, with outsourcing, your search for the required skills is not limited to the city or region where your office is located. Thanks to the possibility to use a remote work model, you can cooperate with experts from all over the world. There are a lot of options for establishing cooperation with external programmers but one of the most widely spread today is hiring dedicated development team. In this article, we are going to explain what benefits your business will enjoy if you prefer this option and what companies typically hire dedicated development teams for creating their software products.

Dedicated development team model: What is it?

When you hire dedicated development team, it is vital for you to understand that, first of all, you have to establish cooperation with your future outsourcing partner. It will be the company that will provide you with a range of services that will include recruiting, onboarding, and organizing a team based on your requirements. Moreover, this company will be responsible for all paperwork, payrolls, and other administrative tasks. Thanks to this model of work, you will have the possibility to save the resources that are typically devoted to these processes and will have more time to concentrate on your key tasks.

As for the dedicated team, all its members will be fully focused on your project which is a great advantage, especially in comparison to cooperation with freelancers. Hiring dedicated development team will help you to be sure that these specialists will stay with you as long as it will be required by the specificity of your project.

What’s more, it is important to add that even if the requirements of your project change after the start of the development process, it won’t be a problem as you can always change the composition of your team as well.

Also read: How to Build a Social Media Team of Your Dreams

Benefits of hiring dedicated development team

Let’s briefly summarize what advantages businesses can enjoy when they hire dedicated development teams.

No onboarding and recruitment issues: It will be enough just to share the requirements with your outsourcing agency and then conduct interviews with the chosen candidates.

No additional paperwork: All administrative and accounting tasks will be the responsibility of your outsourcing partner.

Great flexibility: When your requirements and needs change, the composition of your team can be changed as well.

Feasibility: The dedicated development team model allows companies to greatly save their IT budget. 

Access to a global pool of talents: When you work with dedicated teams, you can choose candidates from all over the world as all specialists will work remotely. However, in this case, please do not forget that it will be required to provide the necessary software tools for establishing and maintaining efficient cooperation with your team.

Efficiency for long-term projects: When you have just a small project task, you always can find a freelancer who will quickly fulfill it. But when you have a long-term project and at the same time you do not want to expand your in-house team with new specialists, hiring seems to be more challenging. Nevertheless, if you hire dedicated development team, this problem will be easily solved. This cooperation model is perfect for long-term projects as you can work with experts who can provide a full scope of software development services starting from planning and design to post-launch maintenance and support.

Who needs a dedicated development team?

Though it may seem that this business model is a universal one, it is not really true. Of course, it can’t be fully perfect and there are cases when it’s better to choose another variant for establishing cooperation with programmers. That’s why we’ve decided to define some particular groups of businesses that definitely should consider hiring dedicated development team.

Startups

When a startup is just beginning its business journey, it is obvious that the associated risks are rather high. That’s why wise managers prefer not to hire a lot of people from the very beginning as they want to make sure that their idea will work and that they have enough space and force for successful growth. Nevertheless, to start their activities many startups need to launch a software product.

Who will create it for them? The dedicated development team model can become a good solution, especially, given the fact that when you hire dedicated programmers, you do not need to sign any long-term contracts and you can work with them as long as you can afford it and as long as it is required.

Businesses that have limited budgets

It is not always feasible to create a full-scale in-house software development department, especially if your budget is not very big. The dedicated development team model will help you not only to save your budget but also plan it smartly. There are no hidden costs and you always know in advance how much you will need to pay as service costs are always calculated based on the rates of all team members. And when you know the exact composition of your team and all the rates, you can always know the final amount beforehand.

Fast-growing companies

Those companies that are actively expanding need to be able to quickly react to their changing needs. And by hiring dedicated development team, it is possible to do it as you can always change the composition of this team and add the required skills and qualifications. 

Well-established businesses with projects that have specific needs

Even those companies that have their own in-house software developers quite often use the service of dedicated teams when they need to have some exclusive or niche expertise. Quite often companies hire dedicated programmers who specialize in such innovative technologies as IoT, AI, ML, VR/AR, and blockchain.

Conclusion

As you can see, today a lot of companies of absolutely different types and sizes hire dedicated development teams for the needs of their projects. If you are also considering an option to establish cooperation with external specialists, we recommend you carefully analyze the characteristics of this model in order to make sure that you will be able to fully enjoy all the offered benefits.

 

Where Do Chatbots Fit Into A Modern Online Marketing Strategy?

Technology

This article will discuss about where do chatbots fit into a modern online marketing strategy.

The general perception of chatbots is in an interesting place. Raise the topic with someone who doesn’t follow the tech world very closely and hasn’t used a chatbot in recent years, and they’re likely to bring up weak efforts to pass the Turing test: in other words, online bots trying to feign humanity but failing miserably. It’s a dated view, but it’s still out there.

What those people haven’t noticed is how far the world of chatbots has come in a relatively short timespan. They’re now in widespread use in the business world, powered by natural language processing technology that can parse a remarkable amount of everyday talk — and they get better (and more accessible) with each passing day. The question, then, isn’t whether they’re worth using, but how you should be using them. In this post, we’re going to look at one area in particular — namely online marketing — and consider the role that chatbots have to play in today’s online world. Let’s get started.

Chatbots can provide vital direction for inbound marketing

Owing to the advances of technology, a smartphone is an ever-updating globe-sized map, and a marketing podcast doubles as an MBA in your pocket. In short, you need to do less research because vital data is at your fingertips — but what of the other actions that are often necessary for business? What of customer service, for instance? It’s certainly a core component of online marketing given the role of inbound marketing (cultivating interest from those seeking you).

To be clear, we’re talking about service of actual and prospective customers, just as dismissive treatment of a browsing shopper in a brick-and-mortar store (someone yet to buy anything from you) is still classed as part of customer service. If you have someone’s interest and you don’t take advantage of it, it can quickly fade away: the online world has plenty of distractions.

When someone finds your business site, chatbots can ensure representation regardless of the time of day (or night) and level of activity. They’re best used in a hybrid configuration through systems capable of fielding common queries but passing complex matters through to human support assistants who can capably handle them. Take the chatbot by Crisp, for example, which enables its users to build conversational ‘paths’ that route the more intricate queries to the relevant agents. 

Also read: 4 Effective App Marketing Strategies That Will Drive Installations

Chatbots can collect invaluable shopper insight

Great marketing requires broad insight into what people are looking for, because you can’t fulfill shoppers’ needs if you don’t know what they are — and chatbots are incredibly good at collecting relevant information. After all, they need to be capable of solid NLP (natural language processing, something that’s more common than you might think) to be functional at all, and the manner in which they parse the queries they receive (how serious they are, what topics they concern, etc.) can easily be recorded.

You can then review that information at your leisure and use it to bolster your general marketing campaign strategy. Throw in the ease of A/B testing through chatbots (an example: define two greetings, run them in equal numbers, and see which one performs better) and you have a fantastic option for steering your tactics.

This isn’t to say that regular support assistants can’t yield relevant insight, of course: the conversations they have can still be recorded and used for this purpose. But since their contributions can’t be as strictly regimented (even with scripts, they’ll inevitably mix things up somewhat, with typos at a minimum causing issues — HelpDesk has some useful points on this topic), they can’t be as useful when you want to run direct comparisons.

Chatbots can represent your brand on various platforms

Great inbound marketing does more than keep you covered on your website: it ensures that your brand is there wherever someone searches for it, and chatbots can do this across social media platforms in particular through widespread integrations. Through deploying your chatbots in such a manner, you can capture interest from many angles simultaneously.

Having brand ambassadors not only monitoring those channels but also responding to queries would be costly and inconvenient, particularly in this time of international retail being commonplace. You never know which time zone the next prospect might be living in, so they could reach out in the middle of your nighttime. Is it worth paying people to deal with those requests when you could simply use automation instead?

Increasingly, chatbots are also capable of multilingual interaction, meaning they can meet international users not only in their preferred time zone but also their language. For brands that operate across multiple geographies with several different languages, multilingual chatbots are pretty essential — especially since 72% of shoppers are more likely to purchase a product if it’s presented to them in their native tongue. 

Chatbots can personalize the customer experience

The majority of businesses already recognize the value of personalization when it comes to boosting customer engagement and generating leads. Nowadays, consumers expect (you might even say demand) personalized experiences when interacting with brands over the web: indeed, 80% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand that offers a personalized experience over one which offers a generic, impersonal one.

On the one hand, chatbot software enables you to customize your messaging depending on the channel you’re interacting with your users through. For instance, you might opt for a different tone of voice — or offer alternative conversational logic — when interacting with a customer through Facebook Messenger or Instagram than you would through your own website. In this sense, chatbots enable brands to meet their customers precisely on their terms, providing tailored solutions that meld seamlessly with their preferred platforms. 

On the other hand, chatbots are also capable of tailoring solutions specifically to an individual customer based on their anticipated needs and preferences. The most sophisticated chatbots use machine learning — a subfield of AI which enables a computer program to ‘learn’ from past experiences — to store information about previous interactions with users, and use this insight to offer the most relevant solution to the user’s query. In an age where personalization is an essential element of any online marketing strategy, chatbots perform a crucial role. 

Conclusion

Wrapping up, the answer to the titular question is that they should be featured heavily at the enterprise level. The greater your business ambitions become, the more important it is that you leave no stone unturned in your effort to represent your brand — and only through the unrivaled efficiency and economy of chatbots can you achieve that in a practical way.

 

Is Ethereum Still Safe And Easy Choice For Investors?

Blockchain

Is Ethereum Still Safe And Easy Choice For Investors? Let’s find out!

Ethereum is an open-source, decentralized platform that underpins most cryptocurrency industries. Is Ethereum a wise investment? This is the issue we address today. We’ll discuss this cryptocurrency’s performance and provide information on highs and lows.

Ethereum’s performance since launch and until 2022

You should research the market performance of cryptocurrencies before thinking about  buying any. Investors frequently use the finest crypto analysis tools to assess the general health and volatility of the markets. 

Brief ETH price history 

In July 2015, Ethereum was introduced at $0.75 per token. Within three months after the launch, the price of Ethereum reached $0.42, its all-time low. In January 2018, ETH temporarily surpassed $1,360 before declining and staying below $1,000 until January 2021. Before falling by over 60% to nearly $1,700 in July of the same year, the cryptocurrency had just set a new high of around $4,170 in May 2021. When tokens surpassed $4,890 in value in November 2021, this cryptocurrency had its most significant value.

This shows a growth of about 652,000% from Ethereum’s first introduction. This peak didn’t endure since cryptocurrencies are volatile by nature. The following month, Ethereum had decreased by around 8% to trim over $3,700. If you had invested in Ethereum at its launch, you would still have made a healthy 411,000% return. By the beginning of 2022, a $1,000 investment would result in a massive portfolio of ETH tokens valued at $4.1 million.

The current price

Investing in Ethereum between its 2015 introduction and the beginning of 2018 would have cost you somewhere between $0.75 and $1,360, as we’ve already mentioned. Since early 2021, Ethereum has not gone below $1,000, and it is still one of the most widely used cryptocurrencies among all types of cryptocurrency investors. It’s interesting to note that Ethereum’s infamously high transaction fee dropped by almost 50% around its all-time high of $4,890 in November 2021. In 2022, Ethereum’s volatility has increased more recently. 

Beginning in 2022, the price of Ethereum was around $3,770. The cost of the cryptocurrency dropped steadily until about $2,400 at the end of January. Since July 2021, Ethereum has fallen below $1,000 to its lowest price. Ethereum’s volatility was stoked by indications that the Federal Reserve may continue raising rates to handle inflation. Government officials are interested in producing government-issued digital currency and more crypto laws. Due to these events, bitcoin prices have been similarly downward. As of the beginning of November 2022, the Ethereum price is trading around $1,200.

Also read: What is the Relationship Between Bitcoin and Ethereum?

Highs and Lows

Since the cryptocurrency’s launch, we have tracked Ethereum’s performance and have started to determine if it is a wise investment.

See Ethereum’s highs and lows here for a recap:

  • Launch of Ethereum in July 2015 – $0.75
  • Ethereum reached a record low in October 2015 of $0.42.
  • ETH increased to over $1,360 in January 2018, marking a more than 181,000% growth since its debut.
  • Tokens climbed to about $4,170 in May 2021, up 990,000% from their all-time low.
  • July 2021: Crashes to $1,700, a 60% drop in only two months.
  • The asset reached an all-time high of $4,890 in November 2021, a rise of over 158% in just four months after updating the local minimum.
  • Ethereum fell to $2,400 in January 2022, a 50% decline from its all-time high two months earlier.

Due to these historical peaks and troughs, you should now better grasp Ethereum’s volatility and its suitability as an investment. Naturally, most cryptocurrencies are speculative and unstable. Also, always use verified crypto exchanges when you decide to make money from crypto trading.

Also read: Solana vs Ethereum | A Comparative study of top 2 blockchains

Is Ethereum’s utility still good?

Ethereum has a first-mover advantage in the smart contract field, which is considered to be so significant since many users will continue to use Ethereum as the standard option to deploy decentralized apps. It is simpler to spend ETH since its utility is substantially more significant than Bitcoin’s. Everything from NFTs and enterprise blockchain solutions to DeFi applications uses Ethereum’s technology. ETH, the native token of Ethereum, is the second most valued cryptocurrency in the market.

Below are some applications for Ethereum:

  • By running a contract and asking the public for donations, developers may utilize Ethereum to fundraise for their projects.
  • The Ethereum blockchain is the foundation for several of the top NFT games and collectibles.
  • Ethereum switched to the less energy-intensive Proof of Stake (PoS) mechanism from Proof of Work (PoW).
  • The network switch to PoS, also known as Serenity or Eth2, is to support more transactions and eliminate bottlenecks.

Conclusion

We have discussed cryptocurrencies today and attempted to provide an answer to the question, “Is Ethereum a Good Investment?” There are several advantages to including Ethereum in your portfolio, such as further upgrades that will boost the network’s scalability and bandwidth, making it well-positioned to withstand the test of time.

What to Look for in a Geolocation API

Technology

This article will discuss about the what you need to look for in a geolocation API. Let’s get started!

Introduction

Geolocation APIs are a critical component of any location-based app. They give you the ability to pinpoint the exact location of your users, which makes it easier for them to find their way around and provides valuable data for better marketing and advertising campaigns. But how do you know if an API is good or not? Here’s what you need to look for in a geolocation API:

A good geolocation API can help you build a useful and robust location-based app

Geolocation APIs are a popular way to add location-based functionality to your app. They do this by providing you with real-time access to the user’s location data, which can be used to create compelling experiences.

For example, you could use a geolocation API in your app to show users which restaurants are nearby and offer them directions or reservations through a button click. You could also use it for targeted advertising: when users are on their phones near a certain restaurant, you can show them an ad for that restaurant or offer coupons in the hopes of enticing them into visiting the establishment. This type of targeting is especially important for businesses who want their ads seen by customers who might be interested in what they have to offer—and it’s made possible by using an accurate geolocation API.

The best start with a well-documented API, so you don’t have to waste time figuring out how it works

A well-documented API is a great starting point for any developer. When you’re just getting started with geolocation, it’s hard to know where to begin. There are so many options available and each one has a different set of features and limitations. Well-documented APIs make it easier for developers who don’t have much experience with the technology or programming language used by that API in particular.

Without documentation, it can be difficult or impossible to figure out how an API works without asking someone else for help by asking questions like “how do I use this?” or “what does this part mean?” The worst thing that can happen is wasting time trying out different things at random until something works—a process which may not even lead anywhere useful!

Also read: 8 best list of smart contract platforms

Make sure the API can handle high volumes of requests

Before you purchase a geolocation API, make sure it can handle high volumes of requests. In addition to the number of requests per second (RPS), you should also consider the maximum number of concurrent connections and the amount of data that is returned in each request. These factors will determine how well your app performs under pressure—for example, if it’s a popular game that has millions upon millions of players but only one server running all its features.

The best way to test an API’s performance is through load testing or stress testing. Load tests simulate real-world usage scenarios by sending a large number of requests at once; stress tests go one step further by requesting more resources than normal in order to see how they respond under pressure.

Look for an API that lets you customize what information you want to get back

It’s important to look for an API that lets you customize the data you get back. It may be helpful to receive lat/long in a specific format, or maybe it makes more sense to get the data in a different format than what is provided by default. You will also want to make sure that the geolocation API you choose has enough coverage so that there are no holes in your dataset.

Real-time updates are an advantage

  • Real-time updates are more accurate.
  • Real-time updates are more reliable.
  • Real-time updates are more up to date.

You want to be sure your data is accurate and reliable

You want to be sure that you’re getting accurate, reliable data. You’ll know this because:

  • You’ve seen examples of the kinds of reports or dashboards that you can build with your geolocation API.
  • You’ve made sure it supports the formats and protocols (like HTTP) that will work best for your needs.

A great geolocation API can be an important component of a location-based app

A geolocation API is a software library that provides an interface to a location-based service, such as GPS or cellular triangulation. It can be used to determine the position of a device in relation to another entity, such as another user or coordinate on the earth’s surface. This information can then be used by applications for a wide range of purposes, including mapping and navigation services, social networking apps that let users keep track of each other’s whereabouts (and/or stalk them), disaster relief efforts where emergency responders need to know where they need to go in order to get help—and the list goes on!

In our next article we’ll take a look at how you might go about choosing one of these APIs for your app.

Conclusion

A good geolocation API can help you build a useful and robust location-based app. The best start with a well-documented API, so you don’t have to waste time figuring out how it works. Make sure the API can handle high volumes of requests. Look for an API that lets you customize what information you want to get back. Real-time updates are an advantage. You want to be sure your data is accurate and reliable

VPS vs Shared Hosting — Which Is Best For Your Business?

Businesses

This article will discuss VPS vs Shared Hosting. Let’s get started!

With myriad options and providers available — offering various benefits, potential pitfalls, and cost implications — choosing the right hosting solution for your business’s website or application isn’t a straightforward decision. You may have considered several options already, but two of the most popular are VPS and shared hosting. 

Trying to decide between VPS and shared hosting for your business? While both offer many advantages, the choice comes down to your specific needs and budget. VPS hosting provides more control over your virtual server — giving you the ability to customize it to your unique requirements — while shared hosting is a more economical option and offers resources that are shared among multiple websites, making it ideal for those with limited budgets. 

Both options offer their own unique benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of each before making a decision. In this article, we’ll discuss the differences between VPS and shared hosting, and help you determine which one is best for your business.

What is VPS Hosting?

VPS, or virtual private server hosting, is a type of shared hosting. However, it is more powerful compared to standard shared hosting due to having more server resources available to each customer. It is similar in many ways to cloud hosting, but there are some fundamental differences, too (click here for a detailed breakdown of cloud vs VPS hosting). 

VPS hosting gives you full access to your own virtual server, allowing you to install and configure your operating system and software as you see fit. This is different from shared hosting, where the server resources are shared by all of the websites on the same server — this can result in increased downtime if one of those websites experiences a security breach or an unexpected surge in traffic. 

Because the VPS server is virtual and you have control over the operating system and software, it is an ideal choice for businesses with high-traffic websites. VPS hosting is typically more expensive than shared hosting, but it is an excellent option for those who require more server resources.

What is Shared Hosting? 

Shared hosting is typically a less expensive hosting option compared to VPS hosting, where each website is hosted on a single server. With shared hosting, a single server can be used to host thousands of websites. This means having to share resources and bandwidth with multiple other users, meaning you have far less control over your servers or the performance of your site. 

Since shared hosting is one of the more affordable hosting solutions, it’s ideal for small and medium-sized businesses, those with smaller IT budgets, and individuals who are just starting out  — for example, bloggers or solopreneurs launching ecommerce businesses. 

Some types of shared hosting also come with website builder software, allowing you to create and manage your website without having to install any software or use any coding knowledge — again, making it a solid choice for startups or individuals with little experience or access to a web developer. 

Advantages of VPS Hosting

  • Full control over your virtual server. With VPS hosting, you have the power to install and configure your server’s operating system and software as you see fit, giving you flexibility and control.
  • Reliable speed and performance. VPS hosting typically offers faster loading times and an improved overall performance when compared to shared hosting, since you have access to your own virtual server and are at less risk of downtime. 
  • Ideal for high-traffic websites. VPS hosting is ideal for businesses that have high-traffic websites and require more server resources. You can customize your VPS server to meet the unique needs of your website as well as add additional resources as required.

Disadvantages of VPS Hosting

  • More expensive than shared hosting. VPS hosting is typically less budget-friendly than shared hosting, and as such is usually more suited to medium-sized or large businesses. It’s important to consider your current budget as well as future needs when choosing a VPS hosting solution.
  • Requires advanced technical knowledge. If you’re not tech-savvy, VPS hosting may not be the best choice for you, since it typically requires a higher level of technical knowledge to fully utilize the server resources. 
  • Requires maintenance. VPS hosting is a great option for businesses and individuals who require more server resources, but it also requires regular maintenance to ensure the server stays running smoothly.

Advantages of Shared Hosting

  • Economical and ideal for small businesses. Shared hosting is the most affordable hosting solution, and that makes it ideal for small businesses, startups, and those on a tight budget. 
  • Easy to set up and manage. Shared hosting is ideal for beginners with little or no technical expertise. You will have access to your account via a control panel, which allows you to manage your website and add/remove resources remotely.
  • Website builder software available. Many types of shared hosting come with website builder software, making it easy to create and manage your website without having any coding knowledge.

Also read: Best VPN for Crypto Trading

Disadvantages of Shared Hosting

  • Higher risk of downtime. As server resources are shared among multiple websites, downtime is more likely. A security failure or a sudden spike in traffic caused by another website on your server could result in your site becoming temporarily unavailable. 
  • Speed and performance may suffer. The sharing of resources with other users will also impact website speed and performance, which is unlikely to match that of VPS hosting since surges elsewhere may cause your site to become less responsive.
  • Not as secure. If another website on your server were to suffer a cyber attack, theoretically all other websites sharing that server would also be vulnerable. Shared hosting is therefore considered a less secure option than VPS hosting. 

Is Shared Hosting or VPS Hosting right for my business?

Before choosing either VPS hosting or shared hosting for your business, it’s important to consider your current needs as well as future growth potential. For example, if you don’t require a raft of server resources and you’re on a tight budget, shared hosting might be an ideal option. If you’re a beginner to hosting and you have little technical expertise, shared hosting may also be a great choice since it’s often the easiest hosting solution to set up and manage. 

However, you should be aware that with a more affordable hosting solution come greater limitations: with shared hosting, server resources are split among several users, meaning you’ll have less control over your server, less flexibility to scale, and your website or application will be more vulnerable to downtime and performance issues. It’s also considered to be less secure than other hosting options. 

On the other hand, if your business is likely to require more server resources in the future, shared hosting is not the best choice since it does not offer the same level of customization or scalability as a VPS hosting solution. VPS hosting is ideal for businesses with high-traffic websites that require more server resources than a shared hosting solution will be able to provide, while it will be less likely to cause system downtime or loss of performance as it is less vulnerable to surges in traffic or security issues. 

All this means, however, that VPS hosting is invariably far more expensive than a shared solution, which often makes it inaccessible to small businesses or those with tighter IT budgets. It’s also likely to require more server maintenance than shared hosting, and therefore a higher degree of technical expertise is typically required — although, this may depend on your choice of VPS hosting provider, as a managed solution will take the burden of server maintenance away from in-house teams. 

Whether you opt for a shared or VPS hosting solution — or an alternative such as dedicated or cloud hosting — be sure to plan thoroughly, assess the unique needs of your business, and carefully consider your budget. Your choice of hosting provider can be make-or-break for your business, so it’s not a decision that should be taken lightly.

 

Influencer Marketing — The Key To Subscription Box Success

Marketing

This article will discuss about the Influencer Marketing — The Key To Subscription Box Success. Let’s get started!

Influencers — no matter your opinion on these bright-eyed social superstars, there’s little doubt that they’re a boon to the modern marketing department. The cultural currency (or at least, the perceived authenticity) attributed to influencers can often make (or break) a campaign. It’s little surprise then that the best influencers are in such high demand — especially in the world of subscription ecommerce. 

Subscription box companies, in particular, have embraced influencer marketing as a key factor in their success. But what are influencers exactly? When did subscription box services become so popular? And how does one go about finding the perfect influencer to market their brand? In this article, we’ll explore all of these ideas, so if you’re curious — read on!

What’s a Subscription Box?

So, first things first — what is a subscription box service? Well, our answer probably won’t surprise you too much: it’s a delivery service that customers subscribe to, whereby goods are packaged and delivered in a box. Shocking, we know. 

It’s a simple concept, but it’s one that’s really taken off in the last decade. Undeniably a large part of this success is owed to the fact that the subscription business model can be applied to almost any niche imaginable. Fancy receiving a box of animal remains every month? Want cake-ready sprinkles delivered regularly? Or, perhaps you’d just like a few rolls of toilet paper to appear on your doorstep each week. Not an issue. If it can fit into a box, there’s likely a subscription service for it.

In any case, the overarching premise is always the same: customers sign up to receive their boxes according to their preferred frequency (weekly, monthly, or otherwise), and a recurring payment schedule is set up. Some providers may allow their subscribers to select the items they receive, while others will send out a box with a completely random or provider-curated assortment of goods. 

Undoubtedly, many subscription boxes exist solely as novelty items. We’re not sure how many people are receiving animal bones in the post every month, but we’re assuming (and hoping) it’s low. However, there are scores of subscription services that offer both widespread appeal and genuine value to their customers, too: Birchbox, Graze and Tails are all prime examples.

Feeling inspired? If you’re yet to start your own subscription service, or you’re curious about the best way to do so, you can read more in Chargebee’s guide to creating a subscription box service.

What is Influencer Marketing?

Remember the “cool” or “popular” kid in school? Well, think of an influencer as the online equivalent of that. Influencers are individuals who command a large following on social media and are considered experts in their niche. In essence, influencers are the trendsetters of the web. They’re able to influence their followers’ opinions, behaviors, and purchasing decisions (making them invaluable marketing assets). Brands often partner with influencers to promote their products or services to a wider audience and gain credibility simply by association.

In many ways, influencer promotions are similar to the celebrity endorsements that were once common in the media. However, influencers offer several benefits over traditional celebrity endorsements:

  • Influencers often have a more personal and authentic connection with their followers, which can make their endorsements more believable and relatable.
  • Influencers often have a more specialized audience, too, which can make their endorsements more targeted and effective.
  • Influencers often have a more flexible and customizable approach to endorsements, which can make them more adaptable and cost-effective for brands.

Since both influencers and subscription-based businesses exist primarily online, it’s no surprise that influencer marketing has been a major factor in the success of many subscription box companies. 

Also read: Studying Marketing?| Advantages and Disadvantages

How To Use Influencer Marketing To Boost Your Subscription Box Business

Now you’re all clued up on what a subscription box is and why influencers are important, let’s dig into how to correctly bring influencers into your next subscription box marketing strategy. 

1. Identify the right influencers

When looking for influencers to work with, it’s important to consider their relevance to your business and their ability to reach your target market. For example, if you sell a monthly box of organic skincare products, you might look for influencers who are well-known in the beauty industry and have a large following of health-conscious individuals.

One example of a subscription box company that has successfully used influencer marketing is FabFitFun. They have partnered with a variety of influencers, from fashion bloggers to fitness instructors, to promote their seasonal box of beauty, wellness, and fashion products.

2. Offer something in return

To get influencers to promote your business, you need to offer them something of value in return. This could be a discount code for their followers, a free trial of your subscription box, or a special edition box featuring exclusive products. In any case, don’t be afraid to negotiate. As is so often the case with celebrities and prominent figures in the media, fame can get to an influencer’s head. Approach each opportunity with the understanding that your marketing team may be forced to contend with a diva mentality.

3. Be authentic

When working with influencers, it’s important to ensure that their content and message align with your brand and values. This will help build trust and credibility with their followers. Let’s face it — there’s no sense in hiring an influencer who specializes in deer hunting to promote a subscription packed full of vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics! An obvious example perhaps, but your chosen influencer’s values must align perfectly with your product and your target audience. 

Take HelloFresh, for example — they frequently work with influencers who are passionate about healthy eating and have a personal connection to the company’s mission of providing fuss-free, healthy meals. 

4. Plan things out (or don’t!)

Some influencers are marketing veterans, while others might need a little guidance. This will usually depend on the number of followers they have and their experience in the field. If your chosen influencer commands an army of one hundred thousand fans, they’re likely familiar with what brands expect in terms of the content they produce. On the other hand, micro-influencers (those with fewer than one hundred thousand followers) may need more guidance. 

Would you prefer your influencer’s promotions to covertly blend in with their usual posts, or are you looking to craft a more in-your-face collaboration? Talk this through and plan any additional digital assets that may be needed. The key here is to avoid dictating to your influencer. 

5. Track and tweak

As with any marketing campaign, it’s crucial to track your results. Thankfully, if you run your promotion as part of a paid ad on Facebook or Instagram, both platforms have an extensive set of tools to enable you to track engagement and clicks.

Tracking your campaign will help you understand the impact that influencers are having on your business, and identify which influencers are providing the greatest return on investment. Once it’s time for your next marketing push, take some time to reflect on the impact of your previous efforts and put any learnings into practice. 

Influencer marketing can be a highly effective way to promote your subscription box business and gain the trust of potential customers. By identifying influencers in your niche, offering them a free box to try out, collaborating on content, and tracking the results, you can effectively use influencer marketing to boost your business and reach a wider audience. For more business tips, check out our guide to streamlining workflows through tool integration.

 

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