There aren't many Web services that really impress the editors of Website Magazine. We're privy to many also-ran's, many second-fiddles, copycats and the like. Rarely, are we fortunate enough to find truly innovative digital offerings, solutions and services. We're actually lucky in that Website Magazine sits at the crossroads of interactive excellence and get to see much, if not all of the good (as well as the bad and the very virtually ugly, too).
There are the standouts, of course; innovative solutions that are not just unique but very well received by their audience. Below are a few of the solutions that managed to capture my attention this past year, and the following are some of our absolute favorites.
Zapier: If you like IFTTT, you're going to love Zapier. The solution lets software as a service users create integration's that push and pull data between hundreds of Web applications - without the need to write any code or work with application programming interfaces.
Animatron: An online tool for creating HTML5 animations and interactive content right in your browser. It lets you collaborate with other users, import artwork, create custom shapes, draw directly within the tool and much more. Use the intuitive Animatron Editor to design and publish movies, banners and infographics that play everywhere, from desktop browsers to mobile devices. No coding necessary - what you see is what you get.
Email Aptitude: A technology services (and consulting) firm, Email Aptitude keeps rolling out products focused specifically on the email channel that disrupt the whole notion of innovation. The company offers solutions for triggered email based on weather conditions, abandonment automation, view-through email conversion tracking, competitive intelligence and a lot more that is worth a look.
Docalytics: A B2B document management and publishing platform for whitepapers. Documents are viewable in the Docalytics proprietary viewer and offers features including inline lead generation, analytics and insights on user behavior. The platform also integrates with CRM and marketing automation solutions.
Dispop: A self-service display and retargeting platform that enables marketers and advertisers to launch and manage campaigns on the Web (and social media sites) easily. Dispop differentiates itself through a unique approach to creative optimization thanks to a team of professional designers the company staffs.
Treehouse: It's not common to encounter a real game changer, but Treehouse could be exactly that. The self-service HTML5 web application enables anyone to produce videos, designing and publishing their own interactive content.
Piqora: A marketing and analytics system for Pinterest, the platform makes it possible to host and manage contests and sweepstakes on the social network. Piqora is interesting thanks to its image recognition and URL parsing technology, and provides a visual CRM of sorts of a brands most influential brand advocates.
Yub: Revolutionizing brick-and-mortar retail won't be easy, but if anyone can do it, it's Yub. The affiliate network enables retailers to track consumers from online clicks through to actual purchases and in-store activity. The best part? No integration is required on the part of the retailer.
Kaltura: An open-source, white-label video platform that could prove quite disruptive to the video publishing niche. Kaltura's new MediaGo solution enables content owners (be they publishers, service providers or retailers) to distribute and monetize their premium content through subscriptions or advertising.
Hey wait, there's only nine! That's right - you can count! Actually, we wanted to leave one spot open so you - a Website Magazine subscriber - what standout services and solutions impressed you this year. Don't be shy - share your favorites with our readers by sharing a comment below! Need a little inspiration? Check out these services which are definitely built to impress!
- Mistio - PointDrive - Parse.ly - TapClicks - Stipple - ScriptRock - Clef - Zapper - PassionTag - Zurmo
