Opinion: Be realistic about diving into freelance | 2020 trends: Watch for these design elements to make a splash | GroupM: US ad spend up 6.2% in 2019, TV dips 7%
December 5, 2019
Current News and Ideas for Web Developers and Marketers
Eric Karkovack outlines the risks and challenges involved in becoming a freelance web designer and warns it's not for everyone. Uncertainty of schedules and pay; dependence on clients; full responsibility of coding, budgets and marketing; and the costs of training and keeping up with the latest developments are among the potential pitfalls he lists, adding "It's up to us to determine where we'll be happiest and then make the most of the opportunities we have."
GroupM reports that US ad spend growth this year will rise 6.2% to hit $244 billion and increase by 4% during 2020, with a 7% drop in TV ad investment, which, excluding political advertising, will reach $64.3 billion in 2019. The company projects digital ad spend growth of 20% in 2019 and 13% in 2020, while out-of-home advertising is up 8% this year.
Fresh content, especially limited-edition elements with seasonal themes, can boost engagement around the holidays, Carl Livie writes. He recommends developers consider new devices that will be on the market at the end of the year and the new app downloads and usage that will follow.
Entrepreneurs can gain visibility, and ultimately bring in more customers and profit, by using the right hashtags on social media, writes eVision Media founder Susan Friesen. Setting weekly themes and employing humor are two techniques she suggests to increase engagement.
Eric Karkovack gives solutions to problems caused by bad WordPress practices, which he says are easy to fall into in the name of convenience. Security can be compromised by unused plugins so cut the clutter, use firewalls and strong passwords to thwart hacking attacks, and maintain a backup copy of websites to avoid having to start from scratch, he writes.
This infographic from Shutterstock reveals the top colors that will be used digitally in 2020 -- Lush Lava, Aqua Menthe and Phantom Blue. The company predicts a shift from pastel hues to bold shades.
Wish-list reminders, giveaways, discounts and gift guides can ignite holiday marketing, entrepreneur Syed Balkhi writes. Start with a holiday email "because it makes [customers] feel valued and it helps improve customer loyalty and retention," Balkhi writes.
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