1. Clearly Define Your Requirements

Before diving into LMS options, it is vital to outline your specific requirements. Take some time to identify the needs and goals of your institute. Consider factors such as the number of learners you intend to accommodate, the types of courses you plan to offer, and any specific features or functionalities you require. Understanding your requirements will help narrow down choices and make an informed decision.

2. Seek a User-Friendly Interface

One aspect of selecting an LMS is its user interface—ensuring it is intuitive for instructors and learners to navigate seamlessly. When searching for an LMS, it’s essential to find one with a user interface that’s easy to navigate and has well-organized content. For Example, the Bridge learning app or other e-learning platforms greatly benefit users.  If the interface is clunky or confusing, learners may be discouraged from using the platform, which can negatively impact the effectiveness of your training programs.

3. Creating Courses with Necessary Features

Next, consider the features related to course creation and management offered by LMS providers. Look for features that allow instructors to easily create, edit, and organize course content. It’s also beneficial if the LMS supports multimedia formats, like videos, audio files, and interactive quizzes. In addition, features such as uploading content, drag-and-drop functionality, and the ability to duplicate courses can save instructors time and effort while making it easier to update and maintain course materials.

4. Assess Reporting and Analytics Capabilities

Another important aspect is assessing the reporting and analytics capabilities of an LMS. Keeping track of learner progress and evaluating learning outcomes is crucial for any training institute. Therefore, choose an LMS like Bridge learning app that offers reporting features. Look for functionalities that provide insights into learner performance, such as completion rates, quiz scores, and time spent on each module. It’s also advantageous if the LMS allows customization of reports so they can be easily shared with stakeholders.

Advanced analytics features like analytics or data on learner engagement can offer insights to enhance course quality and improve learner success.

5. Ensure Scalability and Integration Options

As your training institute expands, choosing an LMS that can grow with your needs is crucial. Consider the scalability of the LMS and its ability to handle a growing number of learners and courses. Additionally, check if the LMS seamlessly integrates with tools and systems you already utilize, such as a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system or video conferencing platform. Integration capabilities can streamline tasks, enhance data accuracy, and elevate the learning experience.

6. Evaluate Technical Support and Training

Before finalizing your decision on an LMS, thoroughly evaluate the support and training offered by the LMS provider. Ensure they provide support options like phone assistance, email communication, or live chat support. Look for a vendor renowned for their responses and exceptional customer service. Furthermore, consider whether they offer training resources like video tutorials or user guides to assist instructors and learners in maximizing their use of the LMS.

7. Seek User Feedback and Reviews

It may be beneficial to seek feedback from training institutes that are already utilizing the LMS you are considering.

It’s an idea to connect with colleagues or join communities to gather insights from real users. User reviews can offer perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the LMS, its reliability, and the level of customer service the vendor provides. While it’s important not to be discouraged by a review when considering a particular LMS, it is crucial to take note if there is a consistent pattern of negative feedback.

Conclusion

In summary, selecting an LMS for your training institute requires evaluating factors such as your specific requirements, an easy-to-use interface, user features, creating course reporting capabilities, scalability options, integration possibilities, technical support availability, and user feedback. By considering these aspects, you can make a decision. Choose an LMS to enhance your institute’s training programs while providing your learners with a seamless learning experience.

The post How to Choose the Right LMS for Your Training Institute appeared first on WP Pluginsify.

What is Custom Print on Demand?

Custom print on demand refers to a printing method that enables businesses to produce and sell merchandise without the need for inventory. This approach allows businesses to design their custom print products and have them printed and shipped as per each order, eliminating investment and storage space requirements. By leveraging custom print on demand platforms, businesses can offer various products, including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, bags, and more, all adorned with their designs.

If you’re exploring custom print-on-demand services, give this a view for a hassle-free and personalized printing experience. With the ability to print unique designs on a variety of products, this innovative approach allows you to bring your creative visions to life while enjoying the convenience of on-demand production. Give this a view and unlock the potential to turn your ideas into tangible, customized merchandise with ease.

Designing Merchandise for Social Impact

Designing merchandise for impact involves more than creating visually appealing products. It entails integrating elements that raise awareness and provide support for causes or initiatives.

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when designing merchandise with an impact:

1. Conduct Thorough Research: Before diving into merchandise design, it’s crucial to research the cause or initiative you want to support. Gain an understanding of the issues at hand, their societal impact, and how you can contribute to raising awareness and garnering support. This knowledge will empower you to create designs that effectively communicate the message and resonate with your intended audience.
2. Create Compelling Designs: The foundation of any merchandising campaign lies in creating designs. Ensure your designs are visually captivating, easy to comprehend, and aligned with your brand identity. They should evoke emotions, spark conversations, and inspire people to take action. Consider collaborating with designers who can bring your vision to life.
3. Opt for Top Quality Products: When it comes to custom print on demand items, prioritizing product quality is important. Choose high-quality products that are durable and comfortable for users or wearers. This not only enhances the perceived value of your merchandise but also encourages customers to support your cause by making a purchase.
4. Provide Relevant Information: In addition to incorporating designs, include details about the cause or initiative you’re supporting. This may involve sharing statistics, facts, or impactful quotes that are relevant to the issue at hand. By educating your customers about the cause, you can establish a connection. Inspire them to contribute to positive change actively.
5. Collaborate with Nonprofit Organizations or NGOs: Partnering with nonprofits or NGOs is a strategy to amplify the impact of your merchandise campaign. Seek organizations that share values and goals and pledge a portion of the proceeds from each sale to support their initiatives. This collaboration does not only enhance your credibility but also enables you to reach a wider audience and drive more significant social change.

Benefits of Custom Print on Demand for Social Impact

Custom print on demand offers advantages for businesses aiming to create merchandise with an impact. Here are some key benefits:

1. Cost Effective: Custom print on demand eliminates the need for investments in inventory, manufacturing, and storage. This significantly reduces risks for businesses of all sizes, making it an accessible option.
2. Flexibility and Adaptability: With custom print on demand, businesses can quickly adjust their merchandise offerings based on issues or events. This flexibility allows them to stay relevant and connected with their audience, leading to impact and consumer engagement.
3. Eco-Friendly Practices: Print on demand platforms have made it possible for businesses to ship their merchandise globally, allowing them to reach an audience and make a social impact by connecting with supporters from all around the world.
4. Environmentally Conscious Model: One of the advantages of custom print on demand is that it promotes sustainability principles. By producing merchandise when there is a demand, this approach reduces waste, minimizes carbon footprint, and contributes to a more environmentally friendly business model.

To summarize, custom print on demand offers businesses a tool to design merchandise that creates impact. By researching the cause, creating designs, selecting high-quality products, providing relevant information, and collaborating with nonprofits or NGOs, businesses can create merchandise that raises awareness and supports social causes. The cost-effectiveness, flexibility, reach, and sustainability of custom print on demand make it an ideal approach for businesses seeking to make an impact on society. So why not embrace this technique? Start designing merchandise that not only showcases your brand but also leaves a lasting social impression.

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Spotify: Your Gateway to the Music Universe

Spotify, with its 345 million users and a colossal library of 70 million songs, isn’t just a streaming service; it’s a global music phenomenon. It’s your personal DJ, your concert hall, and your musical companion. But what makes Spotify truly special is how it puts the power of music in your hands.

The Spotify Experience

Spotify’s magic lies in its algorithms. These intricate systems analyze your listening habits, preferences, and moods to curate playlists tailored just for you. Discover Weekly, Release Radar, and Daily Mixes introduce you to new tracks while keeping your favorites close. The more you listen, the smarter Spotify becomes, anticipating your musical desires.

Comparing Spotify to the Competition

In the realm of music streaming, Spotify stands out. Its free tier offers access to an extensive library with occasional ads. Premium users enjoy an ad-free experience, offline listening, and unlimited skips. While competitors like Apple Music have their merits, Spotify’s free tier and superior algorithm-driven playlists give it an edge.

Mastering the Spotify Stage

For artists, Spotify is more than a streaming platform; it’s a stage to showcase your talent. Here’s how to shine:

1. Optimize Your Spotify for Artists Profile: Create an engaging artist profile with high-quality images, a compelling bio, and regular updates. Use Spotify’s newly introduced features like “Canvas” for visual storytelling to capture your audience’s attention.
2. Craft Playlists: Curate playlists that resonate with your audience. Mix your tracks with well-known songs to attract listeners. Collaborative playlists can also connect you with other artists and their fan bases.
3. Engage with Fans: Connect on social media, share artist updates, and interact with your audience. Spotify’s Fan Insights offers valuable data to tailor your content and engagement strategies effectively.
4. Monetization: Utilize Spotify’s monetization options. Promote your merchandise, tickets, and exclusive content through your profile. Leverage the Spotify for Artists platform to access additional resources and opportunities for revenue generation.
5. Collaborate: Collaborate with other artists to reach new audiences. Cross-promote your music and tap into each other’s fan bases for mutual growth.

Rocketfame: Your Shortcut to Stardom

A quick boost can make a significant difference in the competitive music world. Rocketfame offers the solution. Add your desired service to your cart, provide the link to your song or playlist, and complete the purchase. Rocketfame, experts in artist promotion, takes it from there.

Rocketfame: Your Trusted Partner

With a decade of experience and over 50,000 satisfied customers every month, Rocketfame is your go-to platform for boosting your Spotify presence. Our 24/7 support ensures you’re never alone on your journey. Plus, we back our services with a money-back guarantee, safeguarding your investment.

In a world where music is a universal language, Spotify is your stage, and Rocketfame is your ticket to the limelight. Explore music, share your passion, and let your melodies resound worldwide. With Rocketfame, the spotlight is closer than ever.

Unlock the rhythm, own the stage, and let your music be heard. Begin your Spotify journey today, and allow your artistry to flourish in the digital symphony of sound.

The post Elevate Your Spotify Presence: Buy Spotify Monthly Listeners appeared first on WP Pluginsify.

As technology continues to advance, messaging apps have become a popular way for people to communicate. However, with the increasing concern for privacy and security, the need for secure messaging apps has become essential. Two of the most popular secure messaging apps are WhatsApp and Signal. In this article, we’ll compare WhatsApp vs. Signal and determine which one is more secure.

Encryption

Both WhatsApp and Signal use end-to-end encryption to ensure that messages are protected from prying eyes. End-to-end encryption means that only the sender and the recipient can read the messages, and no one else, including the app’s developers or government agencies, can intercept the messages. This makes it almost impossible for anyone to access the content of the messages.

WhatsApp uses the Signal Protocol, which is widely regarded as one of the most secure encryption protocols. The Signal Protocol uses a technique called perfect forward secrecy, which generates unique encryption keys for each message. This means that if one message is compromised, the other messages will remain secure.

Signal, on the other hand, was developed with security and privacy as its primary focus. Signal also uses the Signal Protocol, and it has been audited by independent security experts to ensure that it is secure. Signal also offers an additional layer of security called the Signal PIN. The Signal PIN allows users to secure their Signal account with a PIN, which provides an extra layer of security.

Verdict: Both WhatsApp and Signal use the same encryption protocol, but Signal has been developed with security and privacy as its primary focus, making it slightly more secure.

Data Collection and Sharing

WhatsApp collects some user data, such as phone numbers, device information, and user location. It also shares some data with its parent company, Facebook, including phone numbers, transaction data, and mobile device information. WhatsApp claims that it does not share the content of user messages with Facebook.

Signal, on the other hand, collects very minimal user data, only requiring a phone number to create an account. It also does not share any user data with third-party companies or advertisers.

Verdict: Signal collects very minimal user data and does not share any data with third-party companies or advertisers, making it more secure in terms of data collection and sharing.

Open-Source

The signal is an open-source app, meaning that its source code is freely available for anyone to inspect, modify, or distribute. This allows security experts to review the code and identify any vulnerabilities or weaknesses. Open-source software is generally considered more secure because it allows for greater transparency and accountability.

WhatsApp, on the other hand, is not open-source. This means that its source code is not available for public review, making it more difficult to identify potential vulnerabilities.

Verdict: Signal is open-source, which allows for greater transparency and accountability, making it more secure.

In conclusion, both WhatsApp and Signal are secure messaging apps that use end-to-end encryption to protect user messages. However, Signal has a slight advantage over WhatsApp when it comes to security. Signal collects minimal user data, does not share data with third-party companies or advertisers, and is an open-source app. These features make Signal more secure in terms of data collection and sharing and overall security. However, WhatsApp is still a very secure messaging app and maybe a better choice for users who value convenience and the app’s popularity. Ultimately, the choice between WhatsApp and Signal comes down to personal preference and priorities.

The post Whatsapp vs. Signal: Which Is More Secure? appeared first on WP Pluginsify.

Screen recording proved to be very useful for teachers, streamers, customer services, and all types of jobs where you need to show and explain something to people. By recording your screen while doing your work, you can actually record step by step instructions or lessons with examples on how to get something done.

Loom is one of the most popular apps to use when providing that kind of service and it still remains one of the go-to apps for screen recording.

But, with the price for the premium version being ten dollars per creator per month, it is definitely not the cheapest option around.

For that reason, today, I will present you with five alternatives that can do even more.

1. Berrycast

Berrycast is an app that can record video, audio, and the screen at the same time in very high quality. It is a great alternative for Loom that records internal and external audio, for even better videos that show absolutely everything and feel exactly like seeing something in person.

Another thing that is very good about Berrycast is that you can customize videos that you are recording for even better quality and a personalized experience. It can also help with providing clear guidelines if someone needs to get familiar with the type of work they will be doing.

It is very simple to use. Meaning if you are a streamer or want to be, you are literally just three clicks away from recording your sessions.

When talking about prices, this app can be yours for only $59 (lifetime deal) if you purchase it on AppSumo. So forget about endless emails, complicated and long explanations, and training every single employee. Just record yourself and solve all your problems at once!

2. Screencastify

Screencastify is a screen recording app that is probably one of the simplest apps out there. With the very simple user interface, anyone can start recording in just a few minutes.

There is an option to choose exactly what you want to record, the whole tab, the webcam, or the screen, which comes in very handy. The offline recording option is also a very good addition you can use even when you are not connected to the internet.

One issue with this app is that it is a Google Chrome extension, which means that you can use it in the desktop version only. But on the upside, you get features like instant saves to your Google Drive and the ability to chose the type of file when exporting.

The free version has a five-minute recording limit, which is kind of not that great, but you can always get the premium one which costs only $49 per year.

3. Vidyard

Vidyard is another screen recording app that you can use to create videos for your employees, coworkers, basically anyone you need and want to share content with.

It is very user friendly, you can upload videos using a drag and drop mechanism,  there is an option to customize your videos, and there is also a video analytics screen where you can see exactly how many people are watching your videos and who your main audience is.

Vidyard is advertised as a free app, but they are actually a freemium app because the free version comes only with the basic screen recording features. Its prices go from $15 per month for the premium version all the way to 1250$ per month for the business version.

4. AceThinker

AceThinker is a screen recording app that you can do everything with. You can choose what you want to record, edit the videos, and convert those same videos using this app. It is a good solution to have all of those features in one place so you don’t have to jump from one site to another just to get your videos done.

What is also good about it is the 24/7 customer support which they offer. So if you get stuck on something or if you are experiencing some problems with the app, they can help you, no matter when.

The mobile mirror feature is also something that a lot of people will find useful, especially the mobile game streamers.

When talking about prices, to get all of the features, you need to pay separately for five different apps, which is not really worth it unless you really want to use all the apps.

5. ScreenFlow

ScreenFlow is not your average screen recording app. It’s a professional video recorder and editor for making amazing videos. With this app, you can create high-quality videos that will impress everyone, so if you are a business owner that is trying to sell a product or a service, this app is exactly what you need.

If you are a blogger trying to reach a bigger audience, with ScreenFlow you can transform your blogs into vlogs and take the experiences you share with other people to the next level.

The app is packed with professional editing tools, limitless export options, as well as styles and templates that will make your video tutorials easier to create and more exciting to watch.

When it comes to fees, it is a bit more pricy than the rest, with the starting price being $129. Oh, and also, the app is for Mac users only.

Conclusion

In this article, you have seen five different examples of screen recording apps. While all of them have their good and bad sides, the one that stands out the most is definitely Berrycast.

Considering the great features that it has and it being so cheap, you should definitely think about getting this app for yourself.

The post Top 5 Loom Alternatives That Will Fulfill All Your Screen Recording Needs appeared first on WP Pluginsify.

In the past 3 years, YouTube has become the most visited website with around one billion monthly visitors. Vlogging has also become a big thing in the past few years. It has allowed content creators to show their followers what their day looks like, what they use, and what products they recommend.

Today, creating content is much easier than it used to be. Editing software solutions are now available to everyone, some even free, and some at a really high price. The trick is to know which one will be the best for you.

In this article, we hope to help you in your search for a good tool to create/edit your videos, by presenting a few of our choices.

BIGVU

BIGVU is a mobile app that allows small content creators to shoot, edit, and post videos. You can choose the type of content you would like to create; marketing videos, news, vlogs, tutorials, and much more.

It has many great features that allow you to create content with ease. From the drag-and-drop functionality, customization, transitions, to its simplicity of posting your videos to other social media platforms.

The best thing about this tool is how simple it is to use, which means that you do not need a whole lot of knowledge in editing.

When it comes to pricing it has three plans, all with different limitations. But the cool thing is that with each plan you have all the possible features. The ‘’Single’’ plan allows 5 users and 10 devices ($69), ‘’Double’’ allows 10 users and 20 devices ($138), and ‘’Multiple’’ allows 20 users and 40 devices ($207). To see how great this tool actually is you can check out the many positive reviews left by its users.

WeVideo

WeVideo represents an easy-to-use video editing and sharing tool, perfectly made for schools and businesses. Its best feature is the support of all types of content formats, not only videos but also pictures and audio.

This tool was purposely made for making video editing as easy as possible. And some of its additional features include text editing, green screen, slow motion, and many more.

Along with a free trial, it has 3 plans. The first is the ‘’Power’’ plan, which costs $9,99. The second is the ‘’Unlimited’’ plan, which costs $15,99. And the third is the ‘’Business’’ plan with a price of $39,99.

Lumen5

Lumen5 represents another great video editing tool. Some of its best features include video personalization, a big media library that allows you to insert all types of media, music, photos, or even other videos.

Just like BIGVU, this tool offers three different plans. ‘’Starter’’ with 10 videos per month which costs $19. ‘’Premium’’ with 15 videos per month which costs $59. And ‘’Business’’, which is the most popular plan with 20 videos per month for $149.

VideoStudio

This is another affordable tool with some useful features, but it does have some cons. For example, the interface alone feels old, it is only Windows-supported, and it has limited flexibility of timeline tracks.

Still, it is fair to mention all the good things this tool offers. Firstly, it is really easy to use, which means you can find your way around it even if you are a beginner, and it is able to upload videos to other social media platforms.

VideoStudio is available in a Pro version for the price of $79,99 with an upgrade of $59,99. And the Ultimate version which costs $99,99 with an upgrade of $79,99.

Filmora

Wondershare’s Filmora is another awesome tool for video editing. This tool allows you to create incredible-looking videos without much effort, knowledge, and experience.

It allows you to create and edit videos with a resolution up to 4K, insert special effects into videos, remove unwanted background music, and do much more.

When it comes to pricing it offers many plans in different price ranges. You can choose what type of content you would like to use Filmora for and then the plan that best suits you. You can find all of the pricing plans and features listed on their website.

Clipchamp

Another innovative free online video editor is Clipchamp, a platform where anyone can make professional videos with no-watermark from within the Google Chrome web browser.

It’s so simple-just drag and drop your files, crop and edit with text, transitions, and music, and export within minutes with this editor. If you’re looking for a webcam recorder and screen recorder, Clipchamp can do that too for free.

It’s particularly popular with social media content creators, marketers, and small businesses because of its wide range of creative and engaging templates. These templates are pre-designed by professionals, making the video-making process fast and ensuring all videos are engaging and effective.

Explore their flexible pricing plans if you want to upgrade and export videos in 1080p.

Adobe Premiere Elements

Another great tool to help people gain some experience and knowledge in the video editing business.

This might not be as simple as the tools mentioned above, but with this tool, you get more complex and professional video editing features.

Some of its best features include the improvement of low-light videos, GIF creation, and the possibility of uploading to YouTube, Vimeo, or other social media platforms. Plus, with its Guided Edits feature, you can create amazing-looking time-lapses and much more.

When it comes to pricing, Adobe Premiere Elements offers a one-time payment plan which costs $99,99.

Promo

Promo.com’s online video editor comes complete with easy-to-use features, on-the-spot branding for your videos, and a massive online media library powered by Getty Images and iStock so you never ever run out of content.
Promo video maker offers a free trial that allows you to create a video by uploading your own footage, using Promo.com’s free standard media, or combining the two. Free users will be able to access all of Promo’s video tools and music collections. They will have a Promo watermark and can be shared only via a link.

Conclusion

If you are a content creator or simply enjoy video editing, you should really consider using the tools listed above. Take everything into consideration; the price, the features, your level of knowledge, and other people’s reviews.

The video editing business keeps growing every single day and there is so much competition out there. That is why you want to create content that will stand out and attract as many people as possible.

Would you like more advice on excellent video editors to create the most eye-catching content? In that case, I suggest you take a look at Movavi Video Editor, Lumen5, Pinnacle Studio, Nero Video or VSDC Free Video Editor.

We hope you find this article helpful and you consider using one of our choices when working on your future videos.

The post Top Video Creation Tools for Producing the Most Eye-Catching Content appeared first on WP Pluginsify.

No matter if you’re a photographer and prefer to take photos yourself or if you just get your photos online, you should know that only a little editing goes a long way. You can capture the perfect image but sometimes only 15 seconds of light editing can make it look exceptionally better.

There is no point in cashing out big money for image editing tools since you can create the perfect images with little to no cost at all. However, due to the overload of options, it can be difficult to make a choice between various image editors.

On that note, we summed up some of the best ones to use and listed their features to make your decision easier.

1. Crello

Crello is a user-friendly program that comes with a variety of built-in templates, images, and videos. It is designed for both beginners and marketers thanks to its numerous features and an interface that is very easy to learn.

When it comes to image editing, everything is mostly one-click – resizing, cropping, contrast, and other effects.

Furthermore, Crello allows you to dig deeper into the design and create highly professional content. Even in the case where static images and fonts just aren’t doing it for you, you can use animation to bring your graphics to life.

Crello comes with an annual plan costing $67 and a free of charge, no questions asked 60-day money-back guarantee.

2. Pixlr

Pixlr is probably living proof that you don’t need to be a professional in order to edit photos professionally. This very easy to use program might be the number one substitute for software like Photoshop or Lightroom, especially due to the user-friendliness. Plus, it uses AI-powered tools for all the editing and designing you could possibly need.

Have you ever thought that removing image backgrounds with one click without steady hands and time-consuming cropping is impossible? Pixlr allows you to do exactly that.

You can use layers to create eye-catching photos for days, add textures, accents, gradients, and many other effects in order to achieve the vibe you want.

If you’re creating posters or images with inspirational quotes, you’ll find Pixlr’s collection of decorative text very useful and inspiring. Additionally, stickers have been trending on every app around and it’s not any different with Pixlr where you can choose among thousands of stickers, icons, shapes, and borders.

Even though it’s free to use, the best features unlock with the premium plan which costs $49 not annually, but as a one-time purchase and is therefore very worthy of the investment.

3. Fotor

If you’re looking for a simple editor with the most basic functions, then you should add Fotor to your list. Fotor is nothing like Photoshop, you don’t even get to use a paintbrush.

It is perfect for general photo editing that doesn’t require advanced features, or in other words, it is perfect for beginners, hobbyists, and social media influencers. However, it’s not fully limited – you can create posters, banners, business cards, invitations, and other things very successfully with this tool.

Moreover, Fotor’s performance is flawless and won’t overcrowd on data. It can also handle RAW files normally.

This software is completely free to use, so there’s nothing stopping you from using it this moment.

4. Google Photos

This is another editor that’s perfect for hobbyists and can be used literally anywhere with just your Google account. It is rather friendly and simple to use, allowing you to edit your photos effortlessly.

Most important functions like crop, color correction, auto contrast, etc. are available despite the fact that it has a limited set of features for advanced photo editing.

Still, with Google Photos you can bring your content to life by using animation, holiday-themed effects, applying filters, and interactive elements.

It is entirely cost-free unless you plan to use an excessive amount of storage in which case any potential charge is associated with storage space.

5. GIMP

What’s great about GIMP is that it might be the closest thing to Photoshop but is in fact, free. It includes advanced tools for professional image editing, all the general art features (brushes, free-form drawing, etc.), and using it you can convert different image formats.

By being open-source, it allows you to add your own features and filters, as well as customize the interface to your desired needs.

With GIMP, it’s extremely easy to get rid of minor details with digital retouching and fix any distortions with its powerful enhancement tools.

It allows you to edit animations as well, meaning formats like GIF are supported among others.

6. Inkscape

Inkscape would be somewhat of an alternative to Adobe Illustrator. It has a rather sleek interface which makes finding your way around it very easy.

One of the best features it has is the creation and manipulation of objects which makes it stand out among the competition.

The program is based on the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format, enabling you to create stunning graphics for banners, social media posts, etc. without ever distorting the quality of images. And just like GIMP, it is open source and customizable.

Choosing the right editing tool

Now that you’ve been acquainted with some of the most popular programs for photo editing, all that’s left to do is get started on testing them out.

If you’re still wary, start with either free programs or those with a free trial and then move on to premium plans in case the editor doesn’t meet your expectations.

Remember that your end goal here is to improve your business, expertise, brand identity, or whatever it is that you do. Sleek and eye-catching photographs are more likely to grab a reader’s attention before any text does, so don’t take editing lightly!

The post Best Online Image Editors That Will Take Your Creativity to the Next Level appeared first on WP Pluginsify.

But do you know an image needs optimization? Optimizing images can be helpful for your page SEO in many ways. During content creation, most people still think that image optimization is all about using proper alt text and naming them well.

However, optimizing an image is much more than just naming it and using suitable alt text.

In this article, I will describe some useful steps which you can use to fix your site image issue that appeared on GTmetrix and Pingdom.

Breaking down the image added above:

1. Due to the image optimization problem, the page speed score in GTmetrix is very low.
2. You can see the total page size is 6.78 MB which is significantly high; I would keep in under 3 MB so that the site can be loaded in just 1-2 sec.
3. Serve scaled images are the issue that appears in GTmetrix/Pingdom because of unscaled images according to your template settings.
4. Optimize images is the issue which appears because of the lossless version of those images can save extra data which will improve your page speed score.

* Remember page speed score is another essential metric that can help your page to rank high in search engines.

Learn How Fix Image Optimization Issues That Appears in Pingdom and GTmetrix

To fix these issues, apply the following optimization techniques.

#1. Find Unoptimized Images

After adding the images into your post-scan your URL to find image problem. There are tools like GTmetrix and Pingdom, which can help you identify the problem with image optimization issues. GTmetrix shows the issues in detail so I would recommend you test a particular page with GTmetrix.

As soon as the scanning is finished, it will display all the results into two different tabs, “Page Speed” and “Yslow.”

There are seven types of image-related problems that can occur during page scanning. Here’s what to do to fix those problems:

1. Serve Scaled Image: Resize the recommended images into the correct scale that your theme’s HTML & CSS support.
2. Optimize Images: Compress the images losslessly.
3. Specify Image Dimension: Define the width and height of images in HTML or CSS codes.
4. Make Favicon Small and Scalable: The recommended size of a favicon is 16x 16x.
5. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): Serve your images from a CDN URL.
6. Minimize Redirect: Serve images with HTTPS.
7. Combine Images Using CSS Sprite: Combine multiple images into one image using CSS sprites.

#2. Serve Scaled Images

If you get this warning to serve scaled images by GTmetrix, it means that the page has some oversized images. GTmetrix will recommend you to resize those images into the correct dimension (will be provided by GTmetrix) that your theme requires.

As soon as you scale the images to the recommended dimension, the serving scaled images warning will disappear. Scaling the images will help you to decrease the page size as well.

Caution: Do not change the image title while scaling the images.

You can either use an online image editor or any offline tool to resize the images as required. I use iLOVEimg, which is a free online editor and allows you to compress, convert, and resize images. Another tool that also works great for compressing both PNG and JPEG images is TinyPNG.

First of all, download the recommended image file from GTmetrix. Open the image editor and upload the image file which was downloaded from the GTmetrix link shown in the warning.

Note down the recommended image size from GTmetrix and set the dimension in the image editor. Resize and download the resized version.

Now upload back the resized image to the same file location using the cPanel file manager or any FTP client. Note that you should see an overwrite confirmation popup while uploading the image then select overwrite and upload option.

Follow this procedure and resize + upload back all the images which appear on GTmetrix recommendation. As soon as you finish the process clear your website cache and rescan the page with GTmetrix and the warnings will disappear.

#3. Optimize Images

The “optimize image” warning usually appears when the page contains some uncompressed images. Losslessly compressing an image will reduce the size of the image and image files will resize themselves instead of via CSS. Most importantly, the page load time will decrease by a little %.

To fix this problem, the open optimized image in a new tab which is recommended by GTmetrix and download it.

Now copy the original filename from GTmetrix (Image URL) and rename the downloaded file by pasting the copied name.

Now with the help of a Cpanel file manager or any FTP plugin and upload back the optimized images into the correct location (wp-content/uploads/date/….).

The location must be the same to solve the problem. While uploading the optimized image, make sure you get a popup to replace the old image file with the new upload. Then select confirm.

Repeat this procedure for all the unoptimized images. Once finished clear cache and re-test the page with GTmetrix/Pingdom and optimize images warning will be solved.

#3. Specify Image Dimension

Mentioning the image width and height (In HTML and CSS codes) enables faster rendering. This mention helps the server by rejecting the need for unnecessary repaints.

“Specify Image Dimension” warning appears when GTmetrix finds any image on your website without width/height mentioned inside the HTML or CSS code. These days some of the themes automatically add the image dimension while some others don’t.

Visual editor plugins for WordPress and live page builders such as Divi and Elementor allows you to mention every image dimension. It is the right approach by the developers so that you won’t face this problem + using these plugin you can fix the issue that appeared in GTmetrix too.

But if you don’t use any visual editor in WordPress then adding width/height in HTML code will help you to solve this warning. An excellent example of using dimensions in code is:

Once you have edited all the images and added their respective dimensions then clear the site cache and recheck the page in GTmetrix whether the issue was fixed or not. If you have done it correctly, then the problem won’t appear again.

#4. Make Favicon Small and Scalable

Favicon is the icon connected with a web page. This little image that remains in the “favicon.ico” file is stored in the server’s root. During a page load, the browser requests this .ico file, and hence it needs to be present with the page.

Every single time a browser asks for this favicon file, the cookies along the server’s root is sent. So making the favicon small in size will help to reduce the cookie size for the server, and it will improve the website performance score in testing tools.

You need to make sure that the favicon size is 16x16px, and the file is in favicon.ico format, and is cached using a caching plugin. Making favicon cacheable avoids frequent requests for it.

#5. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

CDN (content delivery network) is a set of web servers distributed over multiple locations all around the globe which delivers your content more efficiently to the users. The advantage of using a CDN is that it can provide an equally fast website performance to all your users from different locations around the world.

When you are using a CDN, you need to serve the images from a different URL, which is called your CDN URL.

For example:

• Image URL without CDN: https://yourdomain.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/an-image.png
• Image URL with CDN: https://static-ea7a.kxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/an-image.png

The CDN URL can be different for different CDN providers. There are many CDN providers available; I prefer to use KeyCDN and Cloudflare. But this can be your personal choice. Most of the CDN providers are good, make sure that you have picked the right one.

Cloudflare – Cloudflare serves the website contents with 150+ data centers while KeyCDN has in total of 34 data centers. Cloudflare is much easier to combine with other CDN providers, which will increase the data centers resulting in faster content delivery.

But Cloudflare doesn’t set separate CDN URLs for the images. Instead, it serves the same image with caching+compression. So to get a different CDN URL you can serve images from KeyCDN.

KeyCDN – Setting up KeyCDN with your WordPress site is easy.

Create an account, verify your email address and you will be ready to serve your site + it contents with CDN. Create a new custom zone URL where you want to pull content from during the browser request.

Go to “zone” from the KeyCDN dashboard and fill-up the form.

Save the zone, and it will lead to a new window where you will see the newly created Zone’s status + your CDN URL and SSL status. You can add more zones if you want and manage your available zones efficiently.

Now on your WordPress install CDN enabler plugin (lightweight) and use the CDN URL from KeyCDN that you have created earlier.

Now clear your website cache and Cloudflare cache (if you use Cloudflare) and re-test your website address in GTmetrix. This time the “Serve Images From CDN” warning should disappear.

#6. Combine Images Using CSS Sprite

Nowadays, themes developers use small icons to create and design a beautiful website.

Moreover, we use icons in our pages, mostly on the homepage. On my website, there are four icons on the home page. But they are one image which has combined using CSS sprite.

It is a good practice because combining four images into one decrease the total number of browser requests to the server and speed up page loading time as well as decrease server load.

Creating CSS sprites can be a little bit technical, or you can use a CSS sprite generator.

Quick note: Don’t apply CSS sprite for your great images on your page such as featured images, images that describe your writings. Because combining these images will lead to loss of individual alt tags. Alt tags are an influential SEO factor for images.

#7. Some Bonus Tips To Optimize WordPress Images

Above mentioned techniques will help you to fix image optimization issues in GTmetrix + optimize WordPress images. However, there are more factors when it comes to image optimization. You can use these tricks to optimize website images, even higher standards. I will mention a few ways which you can apply to the image.

#7.1 Apply Lazy Load

You can halt the image loading while the other parts of a website such as layouts, fonts, CSS are loading. It may or may not affect the visitor’s experience, depending on how fast your web server is! Because as soon as the site starts loading the images will be waiting for other components to be fully downloaded.

Now if your site can load the non-image part real quick then applying lazy load is beneficial.

I use Autoptimize caching plugin for my site, and there is an option to enable lazy load for images. On applying lazy load, the site score has improved from 90 to 93 on GTmetrix along with a slight improvement in loading time. If you consider using a different plugin, then use the lazy load plugin.

(You can see my GTmetrix site report here) [lazy load enabled]

For more Lazy Loading plugins alternatives read our post – 10+ Best Free Lazy Loading Plugins To Speed Up Your WordPress Website.

#7.2 Remove EXIF data

EXIF data contains information such as image shutter speed, image ISO, focal length, the model of the camera, image data, and much more. These pieces of information don’t need to include while using that image on your website. So try to remove them.

Popular WordPress image optimization plugins like Imagify, ShortPixel, and Smush have an option to keep or remove EXIF data. So while configuring these plugins, make sure you have unchecked it.

#7.3 Use Correct Image Format

I prefer to use JPEG, PNG, and WebP format on my website.

PNG is an uncompressed version of an image. So you should use PNG with small images with fewer color effects because a high-resolution image with more color effects can increase the size of a PNG file.

JPEG is concentrated so that it can be used for colorful images. JPEG is lower in size, and hence, they lose their quality. You can see the difference between JPG and PNG from this popular demonstration by Labnol.

WebP is a new web-optimized image format which is a combination of both lossless and lossy compression. Developed by Google and useful for the website as it provides better image quality with less image size.

Final Words

As long as images remain one of the crucial parts of an article and webpage, image optimization is necessary. I tried to mention some key points using which you can optimize WordPress images. However, as I said earlier, there are more tricks that you can apply to speed up the page performance.

Some of them which I have not added in this article (Because it is a performance-related article) are Hotlink Protection, Name + Alt Tag, Image URL Redirect minimization, and leverage browser caching especially for images, etc.

Anyway, make sure to optimize your full website performance since this is a crucial factor in SEO these days. If you have any thoughts or doubts regarding this article mentioned below, I’m always happy to hear from you + help you.

The post How to Fix Image Optimization Issues That Appears in Pingdom and GTmetrix appeared first on WP Pluginsify.

It’s such a powerful brand that it even has become a verb, “to Photoshop.” It merely means editing an image. Being one of the most considerable and leading products, Photoshop demands a humongous fee in return to the feature that it provides. Even if you wish to access this software, you’ll have to take out a certain amount from your pocket every month.

So, what’s left for businesses who’ve just started or individuals who wish to edit pictures and create exceptional designs? Fortunately, the internet has something for everyone always.

Out there, free Photoshop alternatives to this pricey software do exist, and they provide fantastic quality as well. With a perfect option in your hand, you can create exceptionally great designs within a few clicks. And the best thing about them is that they aren’t even difficult to grasp or learn. Everything can be done within a few clicks.

Best Free Photoshop Alternatives You Should Use

Here are the top 9 free Photoshop alternatives that you can use instead of trying to work out with Photoshop.

1. GIMP

Back in 1995, GIMP was announced as software for public use. And, today, it’s one of the leading image alteration platforms available on the internet. Not just that, but this one is also integrated with a variety of powerful features and functionalities for graphic designing.

It provides an extensive toolset, quite similar to Photoshop, in several ways. Hence, it’s a tremendous no-cost image editor alternative. Although the interface is different from Photoshop; however, there’s a version available that mimics the feel and look of Adobe, enabling you to ditch Photoshop and migrate over to this one.

Everything that you’d be accustomed to is within the reach while using GIMP, such as color correction, painting tools, selection, enhancement, cloning, and more. GIMP works adequately on several platforms, such as Mac, Windows, and Linux.

2. Inkscape

Inkspace is an open-source, free vector graphics editor that you can use for both professional as well as personal work. Despite coming without any price tag, this software feels and looks hugely prestigious. Moreover, it’s one of the few such platforms that are precisely compatible with Linux apart from iOS, Android, and Windows.

With the interface, it’s quite similar to Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, and Xara X. One of the aspects that sets it apart is it’s Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) use. And then, it uses an open XML-based W3C standard as its native format.

Some of the best features that you can find in Inkspace include an option to import and export several file types, intelligent drawing tools, multilingual support, a variety of add-ons, and much more.

3. Pixlr

Pixlr is a browser-based application that can act as a perfect alternative to pricey Photoshop. Robust in nature, this one comes with a myriad of features, focused on providing progressive enhancing and editing options. As long as you’ve got Flas 10 or above installed to your system, this application will run effortlessly on almost every modern browser.

With Pixlr, you can work on a variety of graphical formats, such as PNG, JPEG, and GIF. It may also help you with PSD files. However, the ones that are complex or large might not open on this platform. The web-based Pixlr is integrated with a webcam feature, built inside the dashboard that allows you to manipulate and capture pictures on-the-fly.

It boasts of 600+ overlays, effects, and borders. Additionally, from cropping to re-sizing, whitening teed, removing red-eye, and a lot more can be done on this platform. Along with the browser version, this option also has free apps for iOS and Android devices that you can install and edit right through your tablet or smartphone.

Although a pro version is available of Pixlr, however, you can be sure of satisfactory in the free version that you wouldn’t have to spend money from your pocket for any add-on.

4. Canva

Another browser-based app, Canva, is a platform that doesn’t leave any stone unturned in keeping a designer’s requirements fulfilled. Whether you’re just starting up or are already a professional, Canva’s easy-to-use interface makes the process of image designing and editing thrilling for everyone.

Used by more than 10 million people across the globe, this app serves millions of stock images, an extensive range of filters, shapes, and icons, along with hundreds of fonts. With the resources reachable within a few clicks, all you’d have to do is drag and drop into the fitting position and begin the editing process.

To say the least, it completely stands by its slogan, “Amazingly simple graphic design.” If you’re a seasoned graphic designer, you’re sure to find Canva, a lightweight platform with tons of compelling features. Right from Facebook covers to wedding invitations, blog images, business cards, portfolios, and much more can be designed on this platform. Furthermore, the available templates and tutorials will make your work even stress-free.

5. The Canvas Photo Editor

The Canvas Photo Editor is a fantastic free online image editing enhancement tool for beginners. Within a few minutes, you can edit images and make them shine.

Although it comes with no price tag, this editor provides you all the essential tools to edit your photos. You can use it both personally and professionally. If you are a beginner or you have never edited any photos, even then, you can do it smartly with this tool.

With a wide range of tools like crop, rotate, filters, frames, resize, shapes, text, backgrounds, and much more, you can give an artistic feel to your photos. One of my favorites is the “merge tool.” It allows merging two different images to help you create a unique, customized image.

Each tool in Canvas Photo Editor comprises many options. Like the filters, have ten different options for you to choose from. What I like best is the stickers feature, where you can choose from hundreds of unique stickers for your images.

It is smarter and easier to use as compared to many similar tools out there.

6. Fotor

Fotor is a one-click enhancement tool that can help you make the pictures shine within a few seconds. With advanced features like batch image processing, premium-level filters, and more, this free picture editor is perfect for boosting the quality quickly.

Although it doesn’t work for advanced requirements, such as clone brushing, healing, and retouching, however, for simple, high-end filtering, you can undoubtedly rely upon Fotor.

You can have your hands on a foolproof tilt-shift tool, a myriad of vibrant and vintage color tweaks, everything effortlessly accessed through the menu system. One of the brilliant features of this tool is batch processing. You can feed this platform a pile of pictures, and it’ll filter all of them in a go.

7. Photos Pos Pro

Photos Pos Pro – If all you want is an advanced photo editing tool with a simple interface, look no further. There’s a possibility of this tool not being well-acclaimed as others in the list; however, in terms of quality, it inevitably leaves the rest of them behind. After all, if you’re getting unconventional image-enhancing tools free of cost, what else can you wish for, right?

This editor’s tool is more accessible and smart in comparison with others. All of the features and functionalities are arranged consistently and logically. Moreover, if that organized menu structure intimidates you, there’s also a Novice layout option that you can choose to have an easy-going process.

The expert layout of Photos Pos Pro comes with both layer and layer masks for stylish editing. And then, you also get a variety of tools to adjust levels and curves manually. Despite the focus being on excellent editing. This platform makes it easy to have one-click access to filters through the main menu section.

8. PiZap

When it comes to preparing pictures for social media, PiZap offers a fun-filled ride. The free online editor that it is, PiZap, is available in both Flash and HTML5 editions, making it adequate for almost every device.

This platform gives you an option to select a picture from different sources, such as hard drive, Google Photos, Facebook, Google Search, Stock Images, or Google Drive. Now that’s an impressive feature. However, you’d have to look out for copyright issues if you’re taking images straight from Google. And, some of the stock images are only restricted for premium use.

The editing interface of PiZap has a modern, classy design and uses sliders for prompt adjustments. It’s one such system that works way efficiently than drop-down menus and tricky icons.

Once you’re done, you get an option to share the design on almost every prevalent social media platform along with Dropbox, Google Drive, and PiZap’s servers. Alternatively, you can also send your creation through email, save it in a hard drive, and embed the code.

In the end, the exporting of qualitative work is only for those who’ve opened their wallets for the premium plan. But, for social media sharing, a free option is better than anything else.

9. Instasize

Instasize is a photo and video editing app perfect for those who are always on-the-go. The mobile-based application is by far easier to use than Photoshop but is still a heavyweight in terms of features and tools offered. With Instasize, both iOS and Android users can achieve beautiful, professional-grade photos without the need for an expensive camera.

New users can play around with the app’s wide selection of filters until they find one that matches their brand’s aesthetic. They can also get creative by choosing a striking border, collage layout, or adding text overlays with their font of choice. Those who want to get into the little details will enjoy the app’s beauty tool, which is designed to work on faces and even background elements.

With the app’s complete suite of editing tools, users no longer need to hop around from app to app to get to their desired result. Instasize is free for download; however, for a small add-on of $4.99 a month, you can unlock exclusive content and more advanced features.

Which One Do You Choose?

Photoshop is a powerhouse ace, ready to help you run the horses of your professional mind. However, apart from all the pros that it has, it’s true that Photoshop is a pricey choice and isn’t compatible with everybody’s skills.

If you’re starting up or don’t want to spend a hefty amount for an image editing and graphic creation tool, you’re probably well-off with these free Photoshop alternatives.

If you look closely, these top 9 free Photoshop alternatives have almost everything you wanted for your images, or maybe even more. So, stop trying to run in the race, and consider these options.

Before anything else. Write down your requirements, conduct a thorough research over these options, and then take the plunge with the best available software.

If all these Adobe Photoshop alternatives are not suitable for you, use Online Photoshop Editor that is free and will help you do basic photo editing, designing, and color correction.

In case a marvelous option is missed, do let us know in the comments section below.

The post 9 Best Free Photoshop Alternatives 2020 appeared first on WP Pluginsify.

If you want to record more impressive expert interviews and improve the quality of your video calls, there are a few ways to go about it:

Check the Quality of Your Internet Connection

At the end of the day, the quality of the call that you’re recording will be heavily affected by the quality of your internet connection – both in terms of its stability and bandwidth. That is something that you should check on in advance.

Try to make sure there are no other programs (or users on your network) taking up bandwidth. It may help to set up the Quality of Service feature on your router as well.

If possible you should connect to the router using an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi. It can significantly help improve the stability of your connection, and ensure there is much less interference.

Get a Good Microphone and Earphones or Headphones

The best way to improve the audio of your video call is to use a good external microphone while wearing earphones or headphones.

Make no mistake the quality of an external microphone alone will be a big improvement, as the built-in microphone on most webcams isn’t all that great. On top of that using earphones or headphones will prevent an echo that is caused by the microphone picking up audio from your speakers.

If possible try to suggest your subject use earphones as well, to minimize the echo coming from their side of the call.

Improve the Lighting

Lighting can have a big impact on how impressive the video looks, so you should take steps to improve it. Ideally, the room that you’re in should be brightly lit, and it is best if the light source is positioned above and behind your monitor and webcam.

If you happen to have a softbox or some other source of diffused light that would be best. However, if you don’t but you notice the shadows are too dark, you can try to soften the light or DIY a softbox.

Adjust the Webcam Settings

Depending on the type of webcam and the software you’re using, you may be able to adjust various settings including the brightness, contrast, exposure, resolution, and frame rate.

As a rule it is best to record in as high a resolution and frame rate as possible – ideally 1080p and 60 fps if possible. The rest of the settings should be adjusted depending on how the video looks.

Most webcams will have an automated white balance option too. It is good to leave it on, but you should make sure there is a prominent white element in the frame that it can balance the video off.

In Conclusion

Learning how to record Skype calls or calls from other platforms is normally easy enough, and some may even have built-in features that let you do so. If they do not you can use a screen recorder, such as Movavi Screen Recorder for example.

All in all, you should notice a marked improvement in the quality of your video calls if you follow the steps described above. That will let you record much more impressive expert interviews, and ensure that they look professional.

Be sure to test the recording in advance before you start the actual interview so that you can iron out any problems if need be.

The post 4 Ways to Record More Impressive Expert Interviews via Video Calls appeared first on WP Pluginsify.