After the co-founder of Agamabox migrated his website to Hostinger and received technical guidance from our support specialists, its loading speed improved and conversion rate increased by 14%.

Background

Agamabox serves both businesses and individuals in need of packaging solutions. Whether for gift or product packaging, it offers a wide variety of envelopes, boxes, wrapping sheets, and other options for any occasion.

Agamabox’s clients include small, retail, and industrial-level companies who expect a high level of performance at all times. This is especially the case during shopping seasons like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Black Friday. For this reason, the website had to be optimized for better performance and migrated to a hosting service specifically suited for WordPress.

Challenge

A small business owner, Arminas Kazlauskas, faced an issue: his website took between 10-20 seconds to load and often exceeded the server’s resources. Without a dedicated developer in his team, Arminas needed to ensure a well-performing user experience for his clients and resolve all technical issues by himself.

Although he used a powerful VPS, his lack of resources and know-how hindered the site’s development. The site’s poor performance was the result of no caching solution, almost no optimization, and out-of-date software. While a thorough setup is necessary to create a functional environment for a similar server, it is pricey and time-consuming.

Before learning about Hostinger, Arminas had settled with a hosting provider that didn’t meet the warranted speed and lacked the attentive support and features needed to host an eCommerce WordPress website. As the Christmas season approached, Agamabox sought an urgent and long-term hosting solution.

Action

When Arminas got in touch with the support team at Hostinger, they showed him how to migrate his site to Hostinger and pinpointed some of its code-related issues. Thanks to receiving technical guidance and relevant resources, he was able to accomplish most of the tasks himself.

Once Agamabox migrated to Hostinger, its performance drastically improved. Before taking any website optimization steps, the migration process resulted in an overall performance increase across the board. Some of the parameters improved included the site’s largest content element (LCP), total blocking time (TBT), and cumulative layout shift (CLS).

How so? To be specific, Agamabox used the auto-migration feature to move the website to Hostinger. Hostinger’s support team also recommended a better-suited Cloud hosting plan and installing the LiteSpeed ​​Cache (LSCache) plugin. LiteSpeed ​​Cache is an acceleration plugin with innate optimization features, helping to reduce both page and server load times.

As for the type of server used to host a WordPress website, choosing the wrong kind can be a dealbreaker. LiteSpeed ​​is the go-to option offered at Hostinger, especially for WordPress users, which was the case for Agamabox.

LiteSpeed’s default settings provide faster load times when processing operations and databases upon request. The best part is that once Agamabox switched to a new server, all traffic peaks were well handled while also reducing resource utilization and increasing page speed.

Outcome

So, what was the result? Here’s a performance assessment comparing the Agamabox website before and after moving to Hostinger.

The client’s TTFB was reduced from 10-20 seconds to 0.5-1 second. With such a significant drop, Agamabox experienced a 10x improvement in page load time.

Looking at other Web Vitals, the LCP performance significantly increased – it was reduced from 12 to 2.6 seconds. However, there is still room for improvement, since 1.2 seconds or less is the goal for an optimal experience. The progress was primarily achieved by taking one action: migrating to a different provider. Complete website optimization is necessary to get the highest grade.

Even though there’s still room left for refining the website’s code, like its database requests, Arminas is on the right track. In his case, it is clear that changing hosts can make a huge difference in a website’s performance.

Hostinger’s infrastructure is the reason why Agamabox achieved such notable results right after the initial automated switch to a Cloud plan. Our custom-built stack, powered by CloudLinux, and LiteSpeed, runs on the latest server hardware platforms with multi-core CPUs and high-speed SSDs.

Altogether, they provide instant optimization for production websites. Our engineers have also made various tweaks and network layer adjustments for maximum performance wherever possible.

As for clients, Arminas has no longer received complaints about his website being slow. On the back-end, order handling and various queries that used to take several minutes to load have also been improved, resulting in increased overall efficiency.

Even better, the business’s bounce rate dropped by 20% and the conversion rate has improved by 14%. So, Agamabox can now solely focus on its business and serving its clients instead of being concerned about hosting.

It seemed like 2022 was going to be a year of getting back together. Conferences would be in person again and meetups would abound as people made up for lost time.

Alas, the pandemic continues and the future remains uncertain. If you’re not able to get out in person to market your business or website, here are 5 things you can do to market your business without leaving your home.

1. Get into podcasting

Podcasting has exploded in recent years. While everyone is familiar with the big names like Joe Rogan, there are hundreds of thousands of smaller podcasts covering just about every imaginable topic.

If you are looking for a great online marketing tip, try these two opportunities to promote a business through podcasts.

1. Start your own show. If you create a guest-format show, it gives you the opportunity to invite influencers in your business category on your show and create one-to-one relationships with them. This will also grow your audience and awareness of your brand.

   Hosting a podcast is a lot of work, though. Starting your own podcast requires setting up a mini home studio, creating podcast cover art, signing up for a podcast hosting service, audio editing, and coming up with great content for each show.

2. Be a guest on other peoples’ podcasts. This will introduce you to their audience and you don’t have to worry about editing and publishing the show yourself. You can find podcasts looking for guests on services like my own, PodcastGuests.com.

Cost: $ 0- $ 1,000 depending on if you are a guest or host your own show.

2. Hold a virtual event

Virtual events used to be a second-rate experience to in-person events, used only as a less-expensive alternative to in-person events. But the pandemic has changed that. Virtual event platforms like Hopin help recreate some of the magic of in-person events. The upside is that the barriers to attending are much lower when online, so event holders can reach a much larger audience.

Another way to market your business online is to hold a virtual event to build your name as a thought leader in your industry. Invite your customers and partners as speakers to make them feel important while also delivering great content to those who attend. Holding a virtual event can pay dividends through improved relationships and visibility.

Cost: $ 0- $ 500 depending on the size of your event.

3. Audio conversations

Remember Clubhouse? It was all the rage a year ago, only to fizzle out. While activity has waned, there are still active rooms with dozens or hundreds of users. And if you’re into Twitter, you can use Twitter Spaceswhich is essentially Twitter’s version of Clubhouse.

Marketing your personal and company brand in audio rooms like these is a balancing act. You don’t want to just show up to promote because you might be kicked out and then tarnish your brand. Instead, you should concentrate on adding value and subtly introducing the company.

For example, if you help answer a question someone else has, that person might click on your profile and follow you. If you do a great job, the room moderator might even give you a shoutout.

You can also introduce your brand carefully when asking a question to others in the room. For example, “Hi, this is Jeff with example.com. I have a question about… ”

Another benefit to joining rooms is that you can learn from others.

Cost: $ 0

4. Post on LinkedIn

You already post on Twitter and other social media platforms. What about LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is often overlooked as a social media platform because it didn’t start out as one. It was all about making connections. But LinkedIn is a fantastic platform to amplify your message.

The difference between LinkedIn and other social networks is that LinkedIn is all about business. No politics and cat pictures here. That makes it a good network to post, share and comment about business topics.

In addition to posting your own updates, be sure to comment on others’ updates to help build your clout.

Cost: $ 0

5. Start an email newsletter

Social media platforms decide who sees your content. Google decides how high up to show your content in searches. These are gatekeepers. Fortunately, there is one type of marketing that gets you directly in front of your customers and prospective customers: an email list. No one can take your email list away from you.

Starting an email newsletter is simple thanks to platforms like MailChimp. They will manage your subscriber database, help you design emails, and take care of the technical part of sending mail. Or you can try a platform like Substack, which allows you to focus on the writing without having to deal with all the behind-the-scenes clutter.

The key to a successful email newsletter is good content and consistency. Don’t get overzealous when you start. Stick to a content plan that works for you, such as a monthly email to your customers with updates, sale prices, etc.

Build your list slowly by asking existing customers if you can add them to your email list. Ask your subscribers to forward the emails to anyone who might enjoy receiving it. And entice people to sign up for your email list by offering them something in return, like a free online report.

Building an email list takes time, but it’s nice to know there’s no gatekeeper between you and your audience when you “own” your own email list.

Cost: $ 0 to start

Kick your marketing into a higher gear

These five ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many ways to market your business online. Pick one or two to focus on over the next few months. If you don’t gain traction, come back to this post and pick another idea!

And when you’re ready to get back in the world, be sure you have up-to-date business cards. With Namecheap’s Business Card Maker, we make that easy!

For some time now, we’ve all had a pretty good idea of ​​what virtual reality is. This probably comes through extensive media coverage of new advancements, along with the various science fiction books and films that constantly feed the imagination.

Do any Star Trek fans recall the Holodeck, where visitors can enter virtual worlds of their own choosing? It doesn’t take much to appreciate that capabilities like these hold great potential for humanity. And while the simulated realities of The Matrix or Black Mirror are far from utopian, they are no less intriguing.

But it’s no good envisioning futuristic wonders if we are unable to put them into practice. So with that in mind, where are we in the progression of virtual reality and the technologies that are available to us, now and in the near future? Just how real is virtual reality for business use?

Key definitions

Let’s start by defining some key terms that are commonly used to refer to these new technologies.

• Virtual Reality (VR) describes a simulated computer-generated environment that is usually an audiovisual experience, but it can also incorporate touch, motion, and smell. This may use apparatus like head-mounted devices (HMDs), hand-held controls, and haptic devices, like digital gloves or motion platforms.

• Augmented Reality (AR) is the attempt to bring virtual reality into the real world. AR usually involves overlaying or projecting computer-generated text or visuals on objects or devices in the real world. Devices often include AR glasses or a Heads-up Display (HUD).

• Mixed Reality (MR) is a similar term that describes the blending of the real, perceived world with digital creation. MR differs from AR in that it allows users to interact with their digital devices so they are not only viewing projections.

• Extended Reality (XR) is the umbrella term more frequently used to encompass all the technologies of virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality.

One thing that sets some of these technologies apart from the media we are more familiar with is Field of View (FOV). This describes how an environment can be viewed in terms of angle and degree.

The Degree of Freedom (DoF) determines the immersive experience of XR, and this is currently measured in level 3 (3DoF) and level 6 (6DoF). 3DoF allows movement by three axes, but only from one point, ie. the head, while 6DoF allows a greater range of movement. Merge and Google Cardboard are examples of headsets used in conjunction with smartphones that have 3DoF functionality. Daydream Standalone from Google has Worldsense 6DoF tracking.

The evolution of extended reality

Experiments in augmented reality may go back to the nineteenth century, with stereoscopes that altered normal viewing. But the history of virtual reality really began in 1956 with the Sensorama. Created by cinematographer Morton Heilig, this invention used 3D visuals, sound, and vibration in an attempt to create an immersive experience beyond the movie theater.

This was followed up in the 1960s by the Sword of Damocles, which was the world’s first XR headset with computer-generated graphics, although it needed to be suspended from the ceiling. By the 1980s, VR headsets and gloves were manufactured for sale by VPL Research, and the term “virtual reality” was popularized.

In the 1990s, VR was introduced to arcade games, then console video games like Sega VR-1 and Nintendo Virtual Boy. These were not hugely successful, and things were quiet on the XR scene for the next decade.

The Oculus Rift VR Headset was created in 2010, and four years later, the company was acquired by Facebook. Google released Google Glass AR glasses and the more affordable Google Cardboard.

2015 brought us Samsung Gear VR, a collaboration with Oculus, and HTC Vive, both virtual reality headsets. 2016 saw the release of the HoloLens Headset from Microsoft and PlayStation VR from Sony.

The years that followed saw more large companies venturing into XR technologies, including HP, Nvidia, and Pico. The majority of headsets rely on the use of chips from Qualcomm.

Something that sets apart the various head-mounted displays is whether they need to be tethered to a particular device or not. Oculus GO and Google Daydream do not require a connection to another device, while Oculus Rift or HTC Vive are tethered headsets. Pico Neo headsets are popular for enterprise use because they don’t need to be tethered and they can be centrally controlled.

Augmented reality made itself known to the world in 2016 with the release of the hugely popular Pokemon GO, which was taken up by smartphone users the world over. AR is commonly used with smartphones and smart glasses, but there are also many wearable, handheld, projection, and tracking devices used for more specific purposes.

Applications and adoptions in current use

Virtual and augmented reality have found applications across a wide range of industries and business fields. While initially they were mainly associated with gaming and entertainment, enthusiasm has recently declined in these areas, as shown by this recent industry report. But in other sectors, extended realities are in high demand.

One sector that calls for the extra help of XR is retail. Online shopping is growing by the day – growth which has only been accelerated by the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic. VR and AR are able to address some of the difficulties of customers that cannot physically see or feel the products they wish to purchase.

One example of this is Ikea’s Augmented Reality App. It enables people who are shopping for furniture to see how items would look, and fit, in their homes. Other brands making the most of augmented or virtual reality technologies to improve the customer experience include Sephora, Apple, Nike, and L’Oreal.

Another sector that’s enjoying the benefits of XR is real estate. Buyers can be taken closer to the property (and the purchase) through virtual tours that show every corner of a property. Companies like Matterport carry out 360 digital capture then provide real estate agencies with life-like ‘walkthrough’ tours. Market leader Zillow has also developed its own 3D home tool.

In design, engineering, and construction, XR has an important place for modeling and projecting proposed projects. Companies like IrisVR are able to build immersive VR experiences from floor plans.

Great achievements have been made in healthcare, thanks to XR technologies. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) has been used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, while the Accuvein AV500 Vein Wipe makes the work of nurses quicker and simpler.

VR and AR have an important place for training, usually through simulation of real-world applications, which may also include telepresence or remote presence. This has already been applied to a wide range of fields, from the military to business. And it includes Hilton Hotel using Oculus for Business, to VR sports training Strivr that’s used by both the NBA and the NFL.

The need for training has opened up opportunities for budding XR businesses. Pixo VR is an XR company that made the move from gaming to training due to the increased demand and potential. VirtualSpeech is a program specifically developed for training in public speaking.

We have all seen the world become much more accustomed to video calls, white-boarding, and screen sharing in the time of COVID-19, but VR can take the experience even further with immersive collaboration. A major pet food company is using Oculus Quest headsets to let sales personnel become more familiar with the products and processes in a way that is more affordable and safe.

XR is not only available to large corporations with the extra funds to invest. According to a recent survey, 40% of SMEs use XR in training. Immersed is a VR software that enables businesses of all sizes to take part with centralized, untethered programs that can be customized to meet specific needs.

The challenges for extended reality

The future’s looking good for extended reality, but there are still some hurdles that need to be overcome.

XR is a new and fast-growing industry and suffers a lack of talent relative to high demand. And as a new technology, XR remains largely unregulated, but everything that takes place in any virtual environment could potentially have legal ramifications in the real world.

Online privacy and security are already a huge challenge for all businesses. But the expansion of XR may represent an additional vulnerability where personal behaviors and responses to virtual content are concerned.

An adverse impact on health is another concern, and this has been recorded in headaches, nausea, dizziness, and eye strain caused by changing sensory input. These effects vary from user to user, and they can have a considerable impact.

The future

The rise of XR is undeniable. According to data from PwC, XR’s boost to global GDP was $ 46.4 billion in 2019 and will increase to more than $ 1.5 trillion by 2030. This means that the upcoming decade will see a huge increase in attention on this relatively new industry.

In 2021, around 17% of Meta (formerly Facebook) worked in extended reality. The rebranding of the company is a way of gearing up for the Metaverse, which is the XR-enabled virtual environment that many view as the future of the internet. This will probably be built on Web 3.0 – the next iteration of the world wide web that will be decentralized and blockchain-powered.

Microsoft, Meta, and gaming platforms like Roblox are introducing XR technologies and readying themselves for the metaverse, which is a new virtual world that’s slowly but surely getting closer to realization.

Extended reality is soon to be noticed in many aspects of everyday life, and for businesses around the world, it will either be an important technology or an opportunity. We are at the brink of an exciting new technological revolution in which our two-dimensional tools are soon to become 3D and immersive. This year is set to introduce some exciting new trends in tech, which are sure to involve extended reality. What has for a long time been virtual is about to become real.