3 things web designers can learn from the gambling industry

3 things web designers can learn from the gambling industry

We’ve watched as the gambling industry has swept across the United States, picking up millions of new bettors as it breezes from coast to coast. There has never been anything quite like it, as the leading betting websites from Europe and Las Vegas do battle.

The aim is to grab a sizeable share of the goldmine uncovered when White House officials voted to lift the nation’s long-running and profoundly unpopular ban on betting in 2018. What followed was a stampede of bookies.

Picture the scene. You’re the head of a significant gambling app in the United Kingdom with generations worth of experience giving customers the best treatment. Then the United States invited bookies to trade and attract the business of millions of sports fans. 

These followers of the NFL, NBA, and NHL have been starved of the chance to use their sporting knowledge to target a profit or enjoy the thrill of betting on their favorite team to win.

An aggressive approach

The sportsbooks that acted swiftly and aggressively made the best possible start, signing up the first wave of bettors. Things slowed during the pandemic when no sporting action was shown live on TV, and fans were banned from attending stadiums. But the industry is now back to full speed, and the race is on to impress. But how does a bookie become successful in the face of so much competition? 

We chose to analyze that question in this article to learn a thing or two. The gambling industry is as competitive as any other you’ll see in business, and clever marketing is often the difference between attracting customers and losing clients to rival apps. Just like the sports they cover, the lines between success and failure are fine, almost invisible. Keep reading as we discuss the three takeaways from how major bookmakers have secured success in their chosen industry. These are hints, tricks, and tips you can use on your website or that of your employers. There’s nothing out of the ordinary here and no software that will cost you a fortune. These simple marketing methods have been tried and tested over the last 100 years.

cheer leaders performing during halftime break at the NBA gaming gambling industry
Google Images Creative Commons Licenses

Welcome bonus

The essential thing bookies do to attract new customers and persuade others to move from the competition is incentivizing the sign-up. This is known in the industry as a welcome bonus, and it gives all new registrations a free bet equal to their first deposit and wager. Sign up, deposit $50, and get a $50 free bet.

The deposit-matched welcome bonus isn’t the other offer – others include enhanced odds and risk-free bets – but it is the most popular. It works for both the bookie and the customer as the app gets a new follower while the player collects a free bet. The more generous the bonus, the more attention it attracts on social media and in registrations.

Free bets encourage new players to register, but that incentive could be anything you wish to offer. It could be stock, days out, prizes, vacations, or just free stuff. Be more generous than the competition, and your business will reap the rewards.

Closely monitor the competition

You must know precisely what they are up to beat the competition and do it better. Whether your website is for a car garage, window cleaning, or luxury spas, it doesn’t matter. You must work harder if you’re not the best in your field.

Don’t just look at competitor sites and pick the flaws in them. Look for what they do well and ask yourself, could I do it any better? Track their offers and prices, and contact the customer service team. Buy an item and rate the service. You want to pick up the good points from your rivals and work on where you believe they can improve.

The top bookies are big fans of the competition but would never admit it to customers. Check and compare two more sports betting apps today, and you’ll find there is little difference between the look and feel of the site as well as how it operates.

User-friendly site

Above all else, your website and the mobile app must be user-friendly, fast, and stylish. The aim of any e-commerce site is to make a sale. The longer a customer is on your page without making a purchase, the more likely they are to leave. Keep everything clear and basic, allowing your product to do the talking.

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Why did Instagram remove the shop tab and replace it with Reels?

Why did Instagram remove the shop tab and replace it with Reels?

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with over 1.4 billion monthly active users. The app is constantly evolving and introducing new features to keep its users engaged and entertained. One of the latest changes that Instagram announced is a redesign of its home screen navigation bar, which will take effect next month.

The new navigation bar will have four tabs: Home, Explore, Reels, and Profile. The Home tab will show you your main feed of posts from accounts you follow. The Explore tab will help you discover new content based on your interests and preferences. The Reels tab will showcase short-form videos from creators around the world. And the Profile tab will let you access your own account settings, stories, posts, reels, guides, and more.

Image of instagram reels
With Reels on Instagram, you can create short, impressive, and addictive videos of 15-30 seconds in length.

But what happened to the Shop tab and the Create post button that used to be on the navigation bar? Well, Instagram decided to remove them and move them elsewhere on the app. According to Instagram’s blog post, “With more people creating and watching short entertaining videos on Instagram than ever before we want to make it easier for people to access this content.” That’s why they moved the Reels tab to the center spot on the navigation bar, replacing the Shop tab.

The Shop tab was introduced in November 2020 as a way to make it easier for users to discover and buy products from their favorite brands and creators on Instagram. However, it seems that Instagram realized that shopping was not a priority for most of its users when they opened the app. Instead, they wanted to see more engaging content like reels.

That doesn’t mean that shopping is gone from Instagram altogether. You can still access it by tapping on a shopping bag icon at the top right corner of your home screen or by swiping left on your main feed. You can also find shoppable posts with product tags throughout your feed and explore page.

As for creating a new post, you can do that by tapping on a plus sign icon at the bottom left corner of your home screen or by swiping right on your main feed. You can also create stories by tapping on your profile picture at the top left corner of your home screen or by swiping right from anywhere on the app.

The redesign of Instagram’s home screen navigation bar is part of its ongoing effort to adapt to changing user behavior and preferences. By giving more prominence to reels, Instagram hopes to compete with other short-form video platforms like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. By moving shopping and creating posts to secondary locations, Instagram hopes to streamline its user experience and focus on its core features.

What do you think of these changes? Do you like them or not? Let us know in the comments below!

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People in their 30s Play Video Games More Than Generation Z, Why?

People in their 30s Play Video Games More Than Generation Z, Why?

Video games are a popular form of entertainment for people of all ages, but who plays them the most? You might think that Generation Z, the cohort born between 1997 and 2012, would be the most avid gamers, since they grew up with digital technology and have access to a wide range of gaming platforms. However, according to a recent survey by Redmond Pie, people in their 30s actually play video games more than Generation Z.

The survey found that 86% of respondents aged 30 to 39 reported playing video games in the past six months, compared to 81% of those aged 18 to 29. Moreover, people in their 30s spent an average of 8 hours and 13 minutes per week on gaming, while those in their late teens and twenties spent only 7 hours and 20 minutes. So what explains this surprising trend?

One possible reason is nostalgia. People in their 30s grew up with classic video games such as Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, Tetris, and Pokemon. These games have a nostalgic appeal for many older gamers who may want to relive their childhood memories or share them with their own children. In fact, some of the most popular video games today are remakes or sequels of old favorites, such as Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Another possible reason is financial stability. People in their 30s tend to have more disposable income than younger generations who may be struggling with student debt or low wages. This means that they can afford to buy more expensive gaming devices such as consoles or PCs, as well as more games and subscriptions. They may also have more leisure time than younger generations who may be busy with school or work.

A third possible reason is diversity. Video games today offer a wider variety of genres, themes, styles, and modes than ever before. There is something for everyone’s taste and preference: from casual puzzle games to hardcore shooters; from realistic simulations to fantasy adventures; from single-player campaigns to multiplayer online battles; from indie titles to blockbuster franchises. People in their 30s may enjoy exploring different types of games and finding new experiences.

In conclusion, while it may be assumed that Generation Z is the most hooked on video games, people in their 30s are actually more likely to be gaming enthusiasts. From nostalgia to financial stability to a wider variety of game offerings, there are many factors that may contribute to this trend.

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Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, you decide?

Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, you decide?

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are two popular cloud-based solutions that offer productivity apps, email, file storage, communication, and collaboration tools for businesses of all sizes. But how do they compare in terms of features, pricing, and security? Here is a brief overview of some of the main differences between them.

Before delving into the comparison, are you thinking about switching from one platform to another? If so, you might be particularly interested in the process of migrating from Google Workplace to Microsoft 365. If you’re pondering over making this transition, you’ll find many helpful guides and tutorials online to assist you.

Differences between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace

File/Cloud Storage

One of the most noticeable differences between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace is the amount of storage they provide per user. Microsoft 365’s Business Basic plan offers 1 TB of file storage per user, while Google Workspace’s Business Starter plan only offers 30 GB of combined file and email storage per user. However, Google Workspace’s higher-tier plans offer more storage than Microsoft 365’s equivalent plans: 2 TB or 5 TB per user for Business Standard or Business Plus plans respectively, compared to 1 TB per user for Business Standard or Business Premium plans.

It’s essential to note how each platform manages its storage differs too. Take Microsoft 365; it teams up with OneDrive to offer cloud storage and ensure your files are synchronized across different devices for effortless access and sharing. Microsoft 365 has robust file versioning and backup capabilities so that your data is never lost. 

On the other hand, Google Workspace leverages Google Drive, celebrated for its intuitive interface and smooth tie-in with the rest of Google’s app ecosystem. Google Drive supports real-time collaboration, meaning multiple team members can work on the same document simultaneously. This flexibility could benefit teams working together closely, regardless of geographical location. Nonetheless, the two can be put together to benefit your company’s productivity.

Email

Both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace use their own email clients: Outlook for Microsoft 365 and Gmail for Google Workspace. Outlook has more advanced features such as scheduling assistant, shared calendars, task management, and offline access. Gmail has a simpler interface and integrates well with other Google apps such as Calendar, Meet, and Chat. Both email clients offer spam filtering, encryption, archiving, and data loss prevention.

In addition to the mentioned features, Outlook and Gmail have unique advantages. 

Outlook’s integration with Microsoft tools like Teams and OneDrive facilitates collaboration and scheduling, which is ideal for a corporate environment. Gmail, meanwhile, excels in search and sorting features, thanks to Google’s search technology. It offers features like ‘nudges’ for email follow-ups, intelligent replies, and a ‘priority inbox’ that helps manage emails by learning user habits. 

Ultimately, the choice between the two platforms hinges on individual preferences and business needs.

Productivity Apps

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace both offer a suite of productivity apps that include word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, note-taking, and form creation tools. The Microsoft 365 apps are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Forms; Google Workspace’s apps are Docs, Sheets, Slides, Keep, and Forms. Microsoft 365’s apps have more functionality and formatting options than Google Workspace’s apps, but they also require more bandwidth and processing power to run smoothly. Google Workspace’s apps are cloud-native and can run on any device with a web browser. Both suites allow real-time collaboration, version history, and offline access.

Communication and Collaboration

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace both offer communication and collaboration tools that include video conferencing, instant messaging, team chat, and project management. Microsoft 365’s tools are Teams, Skype, Yammer, and Planner; Google Workspace’s tools are Meet, Chat, Groups, and Currents. Teams has more features than Meet such as breakout rooms, polls, whiteboard, and live captions, but Meet has a simpler interface and can accommodate up to 250 participants per call compared to Teams’ limit of 100 participants. Chat and Yammer are similar in functionality to team chat platforms that integrate with other apps; Groups and Currents are similar in functionality to social networking platforms that allow users to create communities and share content.

Security

Both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace have strong security measures in place to protect their users’ data from unauthorized access or loss. They both use encryption at rest and in transit; they both offer multi-factor authentication; they both comply with various industry standards such as GDPR; HIPAA; ISO; etc.. However; there are some differences in how they handle security updates; backups; recovery; etc. For example; Microsoft 365 allows users to control when they receive security updates; while Google Workspace applies them automatically without user intervention. Microsoft 365 also provides more granular backup options such as item-level restore; while Google Workspace relies on its version history feature for restoring files.

Conclusion

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are both powerful cloud-based solutions that can help businesses improve their productivity; efficiency; and collaboration. However; they have different strengths and weaknesses depending on the needs and preferences of each business. Therefore; it is important to compare them carefully before choosing one over the other.

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Microsoft brings new Bing AI-powered chatbot assistant to Skype

Microsoft brings new Bing AI-powered chatbot assistant to Skype

Skype is one of the most popular and widely used communication platforms in the world. It allows you to make voice and video calls, send messages and files, and share your screen with anyone, anywhere. But did you know that Skype now has a powerful AI assistant that can make your chats productive and fun? Learn more about the new Bing AI-powered chatbot that is now available in Skype.

Early this month, Microsoft launched a new Bing search engine and Edge browser powered by a next-generation OpenAI large language model. It features new AI chat and compose tools that bring together search, browsing, and chat into one experience across the web. It gives you a unique conversational experience, a better search with complete answers, and the ability to generate content. Microsoft announced it will bring this feature across most of its products. So this is how Microsoft is fusing the new Bing AI-powered chatbot assistant with Skype.

new Bing in skype Microsoft AI-powered chatbot assistant

The new Bing in Skype is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology which is one of the most advanced AI models in the world. It uses deep learning and natural language processing to generate realistic and relevant responses based on your input. It also uses the latest advancements in AI technology to provide you with the most real-time answers and insights.

Bing will not just be a search engine in Skype even though it’ll leverage search heavily to give you answers. It will act as a conversational agent that will understand your natural language and provide helpful answers to your questions. You can start a chat with Bing anytime by typing @Bing in any chat window. You can ask Bing anything, from factual queries to personal opinions, from trivia to jokes. It can find information, generate content, summarize articles, and more right in Skype.

new bing skype chatbot

For example, if you want to find a recipe for lasagna, you can simply type @Bing lasagna recipe and Bing will show you some relevant results from the web in Skype. If you want to generate a poem about love, you can type @Bing poem love and Bing will write one for you using its creative skills. If you want to summarize the latest news on COVID-19, you can type @Bing summarize COVID-19 news and Bing will give you a brief overview of the current situation.

But that’s not all. Bing also has a voice functionality that allows you to talk to it using voice commands. You can access this feature by tapping on the microphone icon next to the chat box. You can then speak your query or request and Bing will respond with voice as well. This way, you can have a more natural and engaging conversation with Bing without typing anything.

The new Bing in Skype can make your chats more productive by helping you find information quickly and easily. It can also make your chats more fun by generating content for you and entertaining you with jokes and trivia.

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Here is how to be productive on the go with the free Microsoft Office app

Here is how to be productive on the go with the free Microsoft Office app

The Microsoft Office app is a mobile app that lets you view, create, and edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more with Office apps designed for mobile devices and tablets. It serves as a hub to access Microsoft 365 apps in one place including Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and OneNote. The app works seamlessly with office 365 to connect you to your documents and content.

Image showing iOS and android  Microsoft Office app

The app helps you to be productive by allowing you to work from anywhere, anytime, with anyone using Office apps for Android and iOS. You can use the Office app for free and download it from Google Play or App Store and access Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other features without a subscription. However, some advanced features may require a Microsoft 365 subscription.

You can scan and save documents with OneDrive document scanning using your phone. Letting you skip the bulky scanner and turn your paper documents, receipts, and whiteboards into PDFs. Another feature that helps you to be productive on the go is co-authoring. You can collaborate with others on Word and PowerPoint documents stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. You can see who else is working on the document and their changes as they happen. We share more on scanning to pdf and co-authoring below.

Here are five things that you might not know about the Microsoft Office mobile app

  • You can scan a document or a whiteboard in Outlook by tapping on the camera icon while composing a mail. The app will automatically trim and enhance the image for you.
  • You can use voice commands to create emails or dictate text in Word or PowerPoint. Just tap on the microphone icon on your keyboard and start speaking.
  • You can use Lens mode to capture text from images or documents. The app will convert it into editable text that you can copy or paste into other apps.
  • You can use Quick Notes to jot down ideas or reminders without opening a new document. Just tap on the note icon at the bottom of your screen and start writing.
  • You can use Smart Lookup to get definitions, synonyms, or related information for any word or phrase. Just select it and tap on Smart Lookup from the menu.

To scan a document with your camera using the Microsoft Office app, follow these steps:

  1. Lay out your paper on a flat surface
  2. Open the Microsoft Office app
  3. Tap Scan to PDF
  4. Adjust corner points if needed
  5. Tap Confirm
  6. Save as PDF
  7. You can also scan multiple pages into one PDF file by tapping Add Page after each scan.

Co-authoring on the go

Co-authoring features allow you to work together with others on Word and PowerPoint files stored online. To co-author with others, you need:

  • A shared storage area such as OneDrive or SharePoint
  • Apps that support co-authoring such as Word or PowerPoint for office mobile

When you open a file that someone else is editing you will see their name at the top of your screen. You will also see their cursor position and changes as they happen. You can also chat with them using Skype for Business by tapping on their name. To invite others to co-author with you just share your file link via email or other apps.

Other exciting features

  • Action pane: A quick way to access common tasks such as signing PDFs converting images into text creating QR codes etc.
  • Lens mode: A powerful tool that lets you capture text from images documents whiteboards etc.
  • Quick Notes: A simple way to jot down ideas and reminders without opening a new document
  • Voice commands: A convenient way to create emails dictate text etc.
  • Smart Lookup: A handy way to get definitions synonyms related information etc.

If you want to learn more about these features please visit this link.

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