Smartphones, Smart Business: Custom Apps
Projection: By 2014, mobile Internet will more than likely take over desktop internet usage.
Reality: Business marketing has evolved using terms such as smartphones, SEO, mobile sites, geolocation and social marketing.
The Now: The most rapidly producing field is mobile technology from mobile sites to smartphone applications (apps).
We’re sure you have heard, “There's an App for that!” And if  there isn’t, Stellar Blue will develop it. Stellar Blue recently just launched an app for Appleton Supply Company to help their sales team and customer estimate products needed for home construction! Click here for more information.
Smartphone applications are created to make the user experience more interactive. So let's make them interact with your company! Application examples:
• Product estimator to help with a purchase
• Fun, helpful daily tips to enlighten
• Fitness Calculator
• Apps that allow you to track your company's website traffic
The beauty of an app that reflects your business’ products, services or mission is that you are putting your brand in the hands of current and potential clients and employees. Like social media, you are creating an outlet in which you know your consumers are already on.
We are no longer in a market where consumers pursue the producers. It is up to the producers to pursue the consumers in all the markets they are found. With the average American spending 2.7 hours per day on their mobile device, it’s about time we explore your potential.
It starts with an idea. Stellar Blue will work with you to develop a custom idea to create an app to help with internal or external business. Next, Stellar Blue will develop and design the application to suit your needs. Lastly, Stellar Blue will publish your branded app on all major platforms such as the iPhone and Android market.
Let Stellar Blue explore with you the potential. Contact us today at info@stellarbluewebdesign.com or (920) 905-0250.
Amanda Betts - Marketing Director
Stellar Blue Web Design, LLC
Visit Amanda's LinkedIn profile
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Items to Consider during App Development
The first step when creating a custom app is naturally, what are you developing? What is the type? It is for internal purposes, promotional, entertainment, educational, etc? In some ways this can be the most exciting part and the biggest hurdle for you and your organization. However, there are other elements to consider when developing an app for your brand. Stellar Blue highlights those items:
Pricing – Pricing an app is a double edge sword. Is the app’s purpose to generate revenue or is it to spread your brand loyalty? Or is it both? First recognize that there is no magical number and it may require trial-and-error. It may be beneficial for the app to be free for the first 6 months during a beta phase and after it’s caught momentum, then it’s relaunch with a price.
Sometimes the value of an app is purely another marketing initiative that has no direct revenue purpose. These apps, typically known as ‘free,’ are more readily shared and searched because there is no charge. However, playing the devil’s advocate, the average price for an app currently is $2.30, which combines business and game applications. Food for thought.
Timeline – App development is not an over night sensation nor is it as short as many website developments. Creating an app from scratch includes planning as well as designing, developing and testing across very different platforms: iOS, Android, Blackberry, etc.
Depending on the complexity of an application from a simple functionality bit to an in depth database, application development takes an approximately 3 months of time from start to finish. ‘Start’ being the planning phase and the finish is the completion of the tests. Keep in mind the easiest way to keep a timeline moving forward is continuous, clear communication between you and the developer.
Platforms – As mentioned above, apps are developed for all the major smartphone operating systems. From Apple’s iOS to Android to Windows, each operating system requires specific language and functionality. This is all backend technology. The users from the frontend won’t notice a difference. The seamless transformation between platforms is the longest part of the development.
App Store Optimization – Optimization doesn’t stop with your website. It continues right on through to your apps. Even in a virtual app store, the keywords and descriptions for your applications make the difference in the results for searchers. Whether you are charging for your app or if it’s free, you want it noticed and you want it downloaded. App Store Optimization ensures that your app will be found. From pre-launch tactics to quality app images, Stellar Blue will work with you to properly keyword your app.
App development is an exciting topic. Contact Stellar Blue at info@stellarbluewebdesign.com or (920) 905-0250 to begin the conversation!
Ben Benesh - Mobile & Web Developer
Stellar Blue Web Design, LLC
Visit Ben's LinkedIn profile
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Stellar Blue Crew's Favorites
Apps are fun. Apps are business. Apps are in use daily. The Stellar Blue Crew has been suggesting Apps to help better you business now for a few months. We thought it would be ‘fun’ and ‘business’ worthy to share with you some of our personal favorites:
Dustin’s Recommendation: K-9 Mail
“It’s great for checking your emails. It is an advanced email client for Android phones. If your consume large amounts of emails a day, K-9 will help you chew through it.” K9 is free and has a 4.4 Star rating on the Android Market. Click here for more.
Jim’s Recommendation: Vlingo
“Hands-free control to call, text or send an email – it’s perfect for when you are on the go. It has voice to text technology that allows you to tell your phone what to do.” Vlingo is available for iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows phones. There are free versions and more advanced versions starting at $6.99. Click here for more information.
Amanda’s Recommendation: Adobe Photoshop Express
“Besides all the major social media apps, I simply adore Photoshop Express. You can edit, tweak and add special effects to images on the go. You can that begin sharing those images right away! It would be great if you are on site of a project and need to add a photo to Facebook but you want to crop and clean it up first.” This App is available for both iOS and Android. The iOS and Android markets give it 4 stars. Click here for more information.
Greg’s Recommendation: Shazam
“Ever have that helpless feeling when you hear a song on the radio that you really like but have no idea what song it is? Shazam unlocks the mystery. You place your phone near the music and the app will display the song’s details within a few seconds!” Shazam is a song recognition application for the iPhone. You can checkout the details of the iPhone app in your iTunes Store. Shazam is currently free for both iPhone and iPad.
Ben’s Recommendation: Google Docs (newly released!)
“This app provides easy access to Google Docs. You can even take a picture of a document and it will convert it to text in a document. It’s great for students and business individuals alike!” Currently, Google has only launched this in the Android Market. Click here for more information.
Contact us at info@stellarbluewebdesign.com if you'd like to discuss any one of the above applications or to find out more of our favorites!
Stellar Blue Crew
Stellar Blue Web Design, LLC
Visit Stellar's LinkedIn profile
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Come join Amanda Betts and Greg Waters from Stellar Blue Web Design August 2nd at the Heart of the Valley Chamber's Business Over Breakfast. We will explore your mobile marketing potential through specialized mobile websites and smartphone applications. View real time examples of local companies who are taking advantage of their marketing potential and learn how you can too! The presentation will also include the unveiling of the Heart of the Valley Chamber’s mobile website with a hands-on demo of the content! Click here to register!
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Part of Stellar Blue’s mission is to stay on top of the #1 search engine by closely monitoring its activity and changes in algorithms (the rules). Google has just recently launched a new algorithm called Panda. Panda places a much stronger emphasis on your website content. Google is favoring websites not that clearly demonstrate their authority on a subject(s) or a service(s). In other words, develop strong, rich content to place on your website. Update your content to rich content that strong places your company's name in relation to a concrete topic. Let Google know you are the authority!
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Congrats to Tri-City Glass & Door on the launch of their website redesign that features products with expandable text and clear communication with feedback forms. The next time you have a need for high-quality automotive glass products, brand-name residential and commercial windows, doors, mirrors and hardware, give Tri City Glass & Door a call. Click here to learn more!
Congratulations to Cerebral Palsy of Mideast Wisconsin for their new website! They provide services and programs that help people and families touched by cerebral palsy, physical & developmental disabilities and other behavioral challenges. Covering nine counties with over 600,000 residents, this dedicated organization supports a community of caregivers and volunteers that are united in mission, service and advocacy on the behalf of those in need. Click here to learn more!
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Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Sole Burner 5K Walk/Run for the American Cancer Society. The event raised nearly $96,000 with 3,222 participants! Stellar Blue would like to give a special thanks to those who walked as part of our team. We appreciate the time, camaraderie and spirit! See you next year when we run, walk, skip, jog towards a cure!