Category Archives: Web Design

Why Venture Firms Are Investing More and More in Educational Technology

Android Development, iOS Development, Web Design, , , , ,

What if we could go back in time to the 80s and invest in the PC tech boom on the ground floor? Unfortunately we can’t, but one present-day equivalent is educational technology: a burgeoning, constantly evolving business–and it’s just getting started. Each year, technology gets more and more entrenched in the educational experience, whether it’s the rising prominence of mobile devices, or the use of iPads in schools everywhere from Beverly Hills to India. Within a decade, the amount of money venture firms invested into ed-tech startups has quadrupled from $600 million annually in 2012, to an estimate of over $1 billion in 2015. There is not only a need for technology, but at all 4,600 colleges in the US, there are million-dollar budgets dedicated to educational technology. By getting into the game today, one can entrench herself in the educational process and make major profit by becoming a part of a business which will not only sustain, but evolve with technology.

The number one educational technology tool utilized by every college is a Learning Management System, or LMS. The LMS functions as a centralized web system for all academics, supporting syllabus creation, online test-taking, announcements, assignments, and integrated with instructional technology tools.

While Blackboardmaintains the majority of the LMS business, more and more leading universities are seeking alternatives, and the competition is scant–the only major LMS solutions on the market are Blackboard, Canvas by Infrastructure, and Desire2Learn. LMS solutions can charge in a variety of ways. Some charge based on how many users, some based on how many courses are necessary, and others charge an annual site license fee. LMS solutions, like IOS, are constantly evolving with new versions. The money continuously roles in each year, making LMS a crucial money-maker in the educational technology industry.

Mobile seems to be the keyword when it comes to education in 2014. Whereas previously smartphones were the enemy of the instructor, an all-to-easily accessible distraction, schools across the world are now using mobile devices to enhance the state of learning and create a more interactive classroom. For example, Student Response systems have become prevalent in higher education, allowing instructors to interact with students to collect and aggregate data on the fly. Student Response systems generally use clickers, but recently, companies such as Poll Everywhere have developed apps which allow students to use their mobile phones as clickers, making it easier to collaborate. There is a major demand for creating mobile and tablet apps which allow instructors to interact with students. The key to developing educational apps is not to create for the individual, but rather to create a platform for collaboration. The best teachers involve the students. We retain more wisdom out of experience than we do out of textbooks. If one creates a useful, convenient platform for mobile collaboration, money will be made.

The beauty of educational technology applications is that they are easy to market since people love to give them publicity. If a company creates a useful, innovative tool, the blogosphere takes notice, and because colleges are constantly competing, the effective technologies spread like wildfire–meaning major growth and profit for a new and innovative product. Technologies designed for schools can also be rebranded for businesses and even governments. When an educational app serves multiple purposes, the customer base grows, as does the profit.

Technology and higher education are staples of American culture and have evolved rapidly in the past 10 years without showing signs of stopping. Get into the educational technology game now, execute effectively, and watch as you yield major profit and visibility for your company.

At Mystic Media, we’re always looking for the next big vertical. When called upon, our mobile development, marketing, and web design services will give your business the tools to succeed. With our expertise, we can make your application idea, education or otherwise, a reality living up to its fullest potential.

To learn more about our services contact us today at www.mysticmediasoft.com or by phone at 801.994.6815.

The Use of Color In Your IOS App

iOS Development, Web Design, , , , ,

As our interactions happen increasingly in the digital realm, color psychology has become entrenched in the way we experience the world.

Apple’s IOS 7 recognizes this and allows users to customize the colors of their apps. In designing your app or website, you want total control in how the user experiences your brand. The color scheme will subconsciously affect users. It’s no mistake Facebook and Twitter, two of the biggest social media websites in the world, utilize blue as their key color. Blue is calming. Blue makes you think of the sky or the ocean, those serene moments you have to appreciate the beauty of the world. The use of blue, in either case, makes you want to return, creating a soothing effect. In situations of boredom or social awkwardness, we want to return to the social tranquility of Twitter and Facebook, where the user has total control of to whom, what and when he/she responds.

Whether or not you are synesthetic, any given color triggers a specific response, on which a UX web/app designer must capitalize.

Synesthesia is the neurological phenomenon in which one sense triggers another. For example, when musicians like Kanye West explain how they are able to SEE sounds in colors, thus the way they experience creating music feels to them more like painting, a “sonic landscape”. Synesthesia is a philosophically mind-bending piece of evidence toward the interconnected manner in which we experience the world–our five senses interpreting different aspects of the same information in service of creating a physical truth. It’s also vital to your app design.

As with all aspects of UX app and web design, use of color serves two purposes: aesthetic, and functionality. Aesthetically, you want to use color create the proper emotional response to your brand. IOS 7 recognizes current color trends and capitalizes on the emotional landscape to benefit the user. With the recession and political landscape, U.S. consumers are gravitating toward brighter, more radiant colors for comfort. IOS 7 allows users to customize their color palate, leaning toward nuanced, joyous colors such as lighter blues and purples, as well as red-tinged oranges.

In creating your app, you must take into account the association users have with the colors you use to create the best possible user experience. Green, like blue, is associated with nature, as well as intelligence, and wealth. Purple is regal, lavish, as well as feminine. Pink is ultra-feminine, but also stylish. Red is an alarming and stimulating color. It’s attention-grabbing, stressful and threatening, but also confident. Stop signs and red lights are obvious uses red’s potential. Yellow is equally stimulating, though less obnoxious. Yellow is known to increase concentration. Also vital is the use of white, black, and grey to create negative space. A color overload seems unprofessional, it’s important to focus on two or three main colors in your scheme. The right color scheme for your brand depends entirely on your corporate identity.  At Mystic Media, we’re confident we can put our finger to the pulse of your company or application idea to create the best possible digital reflection.

With regard to functionality, color is vital to separating the various sections of your application or website to increase usability. Skeumorphism is officially old-fashioned. In the era of flat design, users will decipher the functions of buttons and links based on color. Users utilize color more than they do text in exploring the digital world, thus its important to color-code the different sections of your app or website based on theme. USA Today recently redesigned their website, color-coding each of the sections and drifting away from the idea of making the digital reading experience mimic the print. The IOS 7 separates apps based on colors customized by the user. Although you could allow users to customize your color scheme, at Mystic Media, we believe it’s more confident to establish your brand through a tactical color scheme.

Ultimately, the color scheme is a reflection of the personality of your company. It’s important to trust your instincts. Or trust ours at Mystic Media. We’re dedicated collaborators confident in both taking direction and creating aesthetics to maximize the potential of your app or website.

Contact us today at https://www.mysticmediasoft.com/ or by phone at 801.994.6815

Responsive Web Design Is The New Web Design

Web Design, , , , , ,

Ultimately, a website serves two functions. As an advertisement of the website’s brand, reflecting the values of the company through the color scheme and visual outlook, and as a functional website, requiring usability for users to navigate, understand, and utilize the information and tools provided. Combined, these two factors create the aesthetic through which online visitors judge a company. By staying up to date on the latest trends, the website owner can maximize the quality of its internet visibility, boosting the perception of the company.

The web design landscape is constantly changing as technology continuously upgrades. With the emergence of smartphones came expectations for companies and websites to set-up a mobile presence equally as functional as their desktop site. If your company expects to stay current, you must keep up with current trends. At Mystic Media , we specialize in Responsive Design and recommend it for all of our clients.

Companies utilize a number of tactics for their mobile presence. Some choose to design a mobile app link to website  which acts as a mobile website. Others design a whole other mobile site acclimated for easy browsing on mobile devices. Without adaptation, websites which perform slowly on mobile platforms are left in the past. The most common trend in web design confronting this problem is “Responsive Design”.

Responsive design entails a website which readjusts itself depending on what platform it’s being viewed on, be it desktop, mobile, or tablet. Responsive design has become the new norm in the web design field, about 8/10 websites on the internet are of responsive design. Whether or not a client specifies they are seeking a responsive site, they generally expect it.

Responsive design saves money on development with a one-size-fits-all model. Instead of developing a separate site or application for mobile users, the main website serves all screens, from desktop, tablet, and mobile, thus maximizing functionality. The consistency also solidifies your brand continuity.

Responsive design has been around for about five years. During that time, has emerged as the mainstream favorite visual aesthetic for web design. Flat design can actually work concurrently with responsive design, as flat design is primarily a visual aesthetic utilizing vibrant colors, simple shapes, and more white space with large typography, increasing the ease of usability in browsing layouts.

Gaining popularity when Microsoft  unveiled its “Metro” interface with Windows 8, flat design has the most modern, futuristic look, disregarding the notion of skeumorphism, a design term meaning digital graphics which reflect the physical object, (for instance a digital calculator which looks like a physical calculator). By abandoning traditional physical design, one can maximize the functionality of the digital tool. For example, it seems archaic to navigate between the buttons off the calculator with the mouse when one can just type them.

Combining the functionality of responsive design with the visual aesthetic of flat design generally yields the most futuristic, impressive web layout in the current online climate. A poorly constructed or outdated website gives off the same unprofessional impression as a dilapidated office. Don’t let an antiquated design scheme drag your brand down, stay up to date using responsive design with a flat aesthetic.

Mystic Media is a leader in responsive web design and can help your company save time and money. Contact us to learn more.

Calling All DJ’s! Tap Into The Power Of Online Radio Streaming Today

Radio Streaming, Web Design, , ,

Online radio streaming players can help you increase visibility, attract new listeners, and gain access to a much broader audience.

If online radio is a new concept, it is quickly becoming “the” medium to consume music and news.  Recent reports state that amongst 13-35 year olds, online radio streaming accounts for about half of their radio and music listening time.  As the market for online radio grows it is important to tap into its huge potential now and outpace your competition.

Sign up today and get your own custom Radio Streaming Player that comes with

FREE custom iPhone and Android apps for only $49/month.
Discounted from $99/month

We are offering this “Special Program” for a limited time so hurry and act now!

To learn more, contact: Gary Lee at 954-481-9402 ext. 243 or glee@securenetsystems.net.

Don’ forget to mention Promo Code: Mystic2014

Mystic Media understands the tremendous opportunity online radio streaming provides.  With over ten years of experience as an authorized partner with Securenet Systems, the fastest growing online Radio Streaming provider in the world, we are offering a new Radio Streaming Special Program called “Mystic Radio Stream”.  View sample player

Our designers can help craft custom players guaranteed to increase your audience.  A fully loaded player also comes with built-in advertising to help you generate additional revenue.  National sponsors love the reach online radio streaming provides and are spending more and more advertising dollars as a result.  Along with promoting a vast network of national sponsors, you can advertise and charge your venues and clubs where you perform.  Our players offer the ability to create custom video pre-rolls that are seen every time the player is opened. This provides maximum exposure and can bring in a substantial amount of revenue.

Click here to view a sample player…

We understand how to leverage the power of radio streaming to attract advertisers.  Our marketing strategists are some of the best in the industry and can put together effective marketing campaigns.  Contact us today! Don’ forget to mention Promo Code: MM1073

As stated above, radio streaming provides one of the best ways to help a DJ attract new listeners and get maximum exposure to your current fan base.  A custom player can be used to educate and entertain listeners.

Imagine having a tool box full of tools to help build a successful radio streaming business.

A fully loaded custom media player can run audio and video pre-rolls.  Educational programming can be uploaded to the On-Demand player and video programming can be displayed for your sponsors as well.  Other advantages to a custom player include making audio/video announcements of special events, having coupons available for listeners to download and much more.

Online radio is the radio of the future.  Don’t hesitate to leverage the power of a custom online media player to increase visibility and listening audience.

For a free consultation/brainstorming session to discuss individual needs, feel free to contact: Gary Lee at 954-481-9402 ext. 243 or glee@securenetsystems.net.  Don’ forget to mention Promo Code: MM1073

No Setup Fee ~ No Contracts ~ 100% Customer Satisfaction

Paying Attention To Entry Page Bounce Rates Will Increase Relevancy And Conversions

Web Design

Generally speaking, bounce rates higher than 60% are a cause for concern, and bounce rates as high as 80% represent a major problem.  High bounce rates are a reflection of poor website design and can result in low online sales conversion rates.  However, not all websites are designed with the same goals in mind.  Therefore, interpretation of bounce rates should be taken into perspective with regards to the objectives of the particular website.

Some websites, such as those designed for e-commerce, are built around multiple page views to reach the end goal of selling a product or service.  Other websites are optimized to fulfill objectives quickly (i.e. answer a question, solve a problem, etc…).  Websites or landing pages designed to provide information or solve a problem make bounce rate metrics less relevant.  The number of page visits, page views and unique visitors are more relevant and help identify whether or not objectives are being met. 

For websites or landing pages designed for e-commerce, bounce rates are a very relevant metric.  The overall goal is to get visitors to stick around, click on multiple pages leading to an online sale or conversion and then exit the website.  By effectively designing website content to engage a user, bounce rates are reduced, website relevancy increases and search engine rankings improve. 

The following are the top 5 ways to reduce bounce rates and increase conversion rates:

  1. Intuitive Navigation – Make content easy to read.  Prominently display a website search box.  Utilize heat maps and other analytic tools to understand how visitors are using/finding information.
  2. Attractive Content – Use colors and contrast wisely.  Also, chose attractive sizes and shapes for icons and buttons.
  3. Mobile-Friendly Website – Design content to be easily digestible for people on the go.
  4. Design Information Around Objectives – Make headlines easy to read, utilize the same copy from the ad on the landing page and be obvious about the intent.
  5. Reduce Distractions – Don’t use pop-up ads or auto-play audio or video.  Be mindful of ad placement and always make external links open in a new window.

Mystic Media can help! We provide industry leading  Website Development, Search Engine Optimization and Mobile & Tablet Application Development services guaranteed to reduce bounce rates.  Contact us today for a free consultation, and to learn more about bounce rates and why we are the best web development and digital media agency around.

Boost Online Sales With The Top 5 Rules of Landing Page Design

Web Design

A very common dilemma clients have, when creating a marketing budget for their website, is figuring out how much to spend on online marketing campaigns.  Clients do not want to waste money if online conversion rates do not result in increased sales.  For businesses both large and small, online marketing strategies are designed to boost sales, and if implemented correctly will do so.

E-commerce solutions, such as search engine optimization (SEO), are extremely multi-faceted.  So much so, oversight of many key optimization elements is unfortunately common practice.  One key element of SEO is landing page design.  A landing page is any page on a website where traffic is driven to stimulate a particular action, or result from the user.  Landing pages are commonly found when clicking on banner ads or affiliate program links.  

For a landing page to be effective, whether it was created to obtain a signature on an online petition, or to pitch a product or service, it should be well thought out and designed to achieve a particular action.  It should not be overly sophisticated nor overly simplified. Common pitfalls of many landing pages include no real incentives, being outdated, lacking information or not visually enticing.

Landing pages are often thought of as being expensive and very complicated to design. However, if designed correctly, landing pages end up being a small percentage of the overall marketing budget and can be developed, tested and implemented quickly.

Below, are 5 rules for designing the best landing pages:

  1. Offer an incentive for visitors to read past the headline.  (Focus on solving the user’s problem or ask the user a question to provoke a particular thought or action.)
  2. Provide customer testimonials and reviews.
  3. Don’t ask for too much information.  (Focus on what’s important and gather more information on a subsequent page.)
  4. Give the landing page one solitary purpose to keep the visitor’s attention helping them focus on the main point of the page.
  5. Pay attention to the color, the shape, and the size of buttons.  (A visually pleasing landing page will engage a visitor quickly and effectively.)

Effective online marketing campaigns need to provide a substantial return on investment.  Mystic Media is a leader in designing effective landing pages, and other online marketing strategies, to boost sales and visibility.  Click here to learn more.

Hot Web Design Color Trends for 2013

Web Design

Like we reported in Flat Design Specialists for iOS 7, web design and development style has changed.  And, as every fashionista knows, style changes aren’t complete without new color schemes to match.  Web design color trends for 2013 boast more pastels, grays, neons, and color blocking.  With these new trends, web and graphic designers can create visually pleasing websites that are easy to use.

Here is a list of the 2013 web design color schemes:

  1. Muted Pastels – In order to provide a more subtle feel to websites, designers are turning to a muted color palette full of pastels and neutral tones.  This aids prevents visually overwhelming users and provides a friendlier atmosphere.
  2. Accented Grayscales – This design allows for simplicity, by easily directing the user’s attention to important information and interactive elements.  By alternating grays with bright accents, the designer can also provide a more polished look.
  3. Neons and Brights – Just like skinny jeans from the 1980s, neon is making a strong comeback.  Designers can create fresh and interesting sites that mix and match neon and other bright colors together.
  4. Color Blocking – This trend is less about web design color combinations or schemes and more about functional style.  Color blocking is a great minimalist choice for graphic designers wanting to clearly define categories, sections and/or single elements.

Each one of these web design color trends can add functionality and provide a visually pleasing experience to the end user.  Understanding color combinations and schemes is required for excellent web design and development.  Mystic Media can design or re-design your site and make it completely up-to-date.  Contact us to learn more.

Harness the Power of Device Multi-Tasking

Web Design

The speed of technology moves at such a fast rate that it can be difficult for businesses to keep up.  Another challenge for businesses, big and small, is the shrinking attention span of current and potential consumers.  More and more consumers are utilizing multiple screens to consume content.  This can make content marketing tricky, because businesses have less and less time to get their messages across.

Research has shown that approximately 90% of users move between multiple screens to accomplish one particular task.  This means that the device used to start the activity is not the device used to complete the activity.  While this can complicate matters for content marketers, here are 5 tips for effective multi-screen marketing:

  1. Make room in your budget for search and mobile search.
  2. Ensure that your content can be consumed on any type of device.
  3. Use focused and action-oriented messages in emails.
  4. Streamline user actions to enable tap-to-call, -map, -email and/or -calendar.
  5. Create social media content that is device agnostic – compatible with different operation systems and devices.

Mystic Media can create both web and mobile versions of your site and tap into the power of multi-screen marketing for your business.  Contact us to learn more.

Can Your Audience Find You From Their Mobile Device?

Web Design

Life for small businesses can be hard.  Attracting new customers and making sales can be difficult if you don’t have the right mobile marketing strategy.  The best marketing plans make businesses visible on every type of device.  Over the past couple of years, consumers have steadily utilized mobile searches more and more and demand is not slowing down.

Mobile searches are also changing content consumption habits and causing shifts in consumer buying behavior.  Consumers require quickly digestible information, like restaurant and clothing store locales found on Google Maps.  According to Nielsen’s findings, 55% of mobile searches triggered purchases within 1 hour of the search.  Eighty-four percent of all follow-up actions performed on a mobile device occurred within 5 hours.

To make sure your business can attract customers and make sales, follow these 5 steps of effective mobile marketing:

  1. Make your business’s website mobile-friendly.
  2. Give potential customers more access to you via embedded maps on your website.
  3. Brand yourself on social media networks (i.e. Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, etc.).
  4. Invest in traditional and mobile search buys.
  5. Be able to meet your prospective customers at their preferred purchase location (i.e. website, phone number or retail location).  

Of course, Mystic Media has all the tools you need to optimize visibility for your business.  Click here to learn more about what we do.

Digital Advertising is Making $ense in 2013

Web Design

Online advertising is taking off in 2013.  Internet ad revenues reached a historic high of $9.6 billion in the 1st quarter alone.  Digital advertising is increasingly becoming the go-to medium to download content.  And, based on 2013 web design trends, increased functionality and ease of use are making digital advertising a bet that is paying off in a big way.

Advertising via interactive media speaks to consumers in a way that doesn’t assault their senses.  It also puts them in control of what they are exposed to.  As your business looks towards the future, a sound marketing strategy must address these facts.

Mystic Media can design a truly effective digital advertising campaign for you. Contact us today to learn more!