Tag: mobile app

KNX-News-Radio-In-Depth-Adam- Rizzieri

KNX Radio Los Angeles: Now What For Elon Musk & Twitter?

Posted on | by adam
Agency Partner’s CMO Adam Rizzieri joins KNX News in Los Angeles

It finally happened. Elon Musk officially owns Twitter. It only cost him $44 Billion and yes, he way over-payed for the typically underperforming social media company. This purchase is a major win for all of the former shareholders who really didn’t stand a chance of earning $54.20 per share based on the company’s rocky trajectory. $54.20 is literally 8 times the company’s revenue projection over the next 12 months and in context, social media companies like Meta have only a 3x revenue multiple in their company valuation. So an 8x multiple is just huge! Elon bought Twitter for $54.20 per share when in reality, a market standard would have put the company closer to $24 per share.

 

 

So… yes, it’s true. Elon Musk is the new, self-appointed “Chief Twit” and the social media company’s former CEO, Parag Agrawal is now unemployed, as is the company’s former CFO Ned Segal and the former Chief Censorship Officer, Vijaya Gadde. But don’t feel bad for them. Apart from suppressing extremely relevant news stories around the time of the 2020 election, this leadership team routinely abused their power to silence conversations that did not mesh with their personal political beliefs. Twitter’s leadership team used their extreme power to dictate national discourse. As of now, the damage has been done, and while their leadership team was rapidly fired leading up to Halloween, collectively, they are set to bring in some $90 Million from the deal. So again, don’t feel bad for them. They’ll be fine.

The Twitter purchase saga was no doubt, entertaining for bystanders, and Musk was extremely public about his concerns of the ratio between real humans and bots on the platform. Once he expressed his interest in buying the company, he gained access to internal information that made the purchase much less attractive. Despite that, from day one Musk has been adamant that his intentions for buying Twitter were not purely money motivated.

He wants to create a super app called “X” that truly enables and facilitates free speech. So maybe it’s okay that he over-payed? Sure, $44 Billion is literally billions of dollars… it’s a ton of money! But maybe, just mayyybe he will turn this social media company into a profitable business that creates value beyond just dollars and sense.

Moving forward, Twitter could change in major ways. In the short term, the now private company can do a lot of things that public companies cannot do. Musk, as the owner, will fire everyone that cannot handle a simple “mean Tweet.” Expect to see his army of engineers work to defeat bots and authenticate all real human users. A true measure of actual humans will help enable to platform to cater to advertisers that funnel revenue into the business.

Additionally, Twitter will likely become an open-source application. With its algorithm open to the public, it can avoid the secrecy and perceptions of bias that the company has carried on its back for many years. In the short-term, users should expect to enjoy expanded character counts, moving away from the 280 character limit, and also an ability to post videos that exceed the current 140 second limit. Elon loves a good parody video, and many of those videos are longer than 140 seconds.

Must Twitter DOGE cryptoWhat about DOGE and blue checkmarks? We have heard insight that Twitter will enable payment processing and we know that Elon loves him a good DOGE coin meme. Tesla accepts DOGE so expect to see that cryptocurrency boost in value as Twitter adds some interest to it. As far as the blue checkmark users, we know that Elon wants to see the company authenticate all users. It is possible that Twitter Blue subscribers will be given access to the blue check, typically reserved for celebrities and influencers, but it is also possible that blue checks will be subjected to a monthly fee as Musk looks to make the company more financially healthy.

Over the long-term, Musk truly believes that he can turn Twitter into a super app. When we think of “super apps,” think of China’s WeChat app, which allows for everything from payment processing, to direct messaging, public micro-blog posting, file sharing and more…. What China’s government doesn’t want you to know is that WeChat is also used to track the movement, behavior, and relationships of Chinese nationals that are traveling abroad – we expect that Musks’s “super app” will be way less creepy and not totalitarian in nature. And get this: he might even bring Twitter’s founder, Jack Dorsey BACK into the mix.

To opine on the issue, Adam Rizzieri of Agency Partner Interactive joins Audacy’s Los Angeles business news radio show “KNX In-Depth,” with hosts Mike Simpson and Charles Feldman.

Listen to their conversation below.

 

FastTech-2022-Award-Tech-Titans

Dallas Innovates: Tech Titans Announces 22 Fast Tech Companies of 2022

Posted on | by adam
First Published on Oct. 6, 2022 at DallasInnovates.com. Authored by Lance Murray

Tech Titans, the Richardson-based tech industry group, released its list of Fast Tech companies, the 22 fastest-growing technology companies in North Texas based on three-year revenue growth from 2020 to 2022.

Dallas Innovates - Tech Titans - Fast Tech Awards 2022The organization said that the ranking is compiled from nominations that were submitted directly to Tech Titans, and from independent research using publicly available information conducted by Moss Adams and Comerica Bank.

The final rankings will be announced during the Tech Titans Awards Gala on Oct. 27.

2022 Fast Tech Companies in Alphabetical Order

5Q Cloud
Don Goldstein, CEO
The company provides solutions through its own Virtual Private Cloud Services with data centers in Atlanta and Dallas.

Agency Partner Interactive
Muhammad Younus, CEO
The firm helps growth-focused businesses achieve ROI-driven strategies by providing bespoke custom web design, website development, and digital marketing.

AmplifAI
Sean Minter, CEO
An AI-driven performance enablement platform built for enterprise teams.

Chargeback Gurus
Srii Srinivasan, CEO
e-commerce chargeback and fraud prevention specialists. 

Cloud Ingenuity
Suzanne Kosub, CEO
A trusted partner in technology that focuses on business, architectural and organizational outcomes by aligning people, process, technology, and data.

Cypher Learning
Graham Glass, CEO
An Al-infused platform is empowering schools, businesses, and entrepreneurs worldwide.

EmpowerMX
Dinakara Nagalla, CEO
A software suite dedicated to helping airlines and MROs plan, execute, and optimize their operations.

Entouch
Jon Bolen, CEO
The company delivers sustainable solutions that reduce energy usage, drive profitability, and simplify facility management for multisite operators.

Lone Star Analysis
Steve Roemerman, CEO
A provider of predictive and prescriptive analytics and guided artificial intelligence.

Newline Interactive
Kevin Wang, CEO
A global leader in interactive touchscreen displays.

Ntegrated Solutions
Mark Floyd, CEO
An IP telephony firm specializing in communication solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses.

o9 Solutions Inc.
Chakri Gottemukkala, CEO
The provider of a knowledge-powered analytics, planning, and learning platform for next-generation global enterprises.

ParkHub
George Baker, founder and CEO
A provider of parking management systems that offer a birds-eye-view of parking lot operations.

Perry Weather
Colin Perry, CEO
A provider of real-time emergency weather and lightning alert systems.

Qentelli Solutions
Prasanna Singaraju, CEO
Digital and cloud transformation through DevOps implementation, automation, agile transformation, AI and deep learning.

Siepe LLC
Michael Pusateri, CEO
A public cloud-managed services and data analytics provider addressing the technology needs of asset managers.

Take Command Health
Jack Hooper, CEO
The company focuses on employee health benefits at an affordable price.

TimelyMD
Luke Hejl, CEO
A student-centered platform that is designed for digital natives. Its solution offers on-demand access to mental health and medical care and a diverse, culturally competent provider network.

Trintech
Teresa Mackintosh, CEO
A leading provider of financial software empowering the offices of finance to maximize value within their organizations.

Velo ITG Holdings LLC
Taylor Toce, CEO
A managed IT services provider focused on providing businesses with the technology and support they need to achieve maximum velocity in their markets.

Zimperium
Shridhar Mittal, CEO
A mobile security company that’s purpose-built for enterprise, securing both mobile devices and applications so they can securely access data.

Plus, meet the 43 finalists for the Tech Titans Awards

Last month, Tech Titans announced 43 finalists for the Tech Titans Awards who also will be honored at the event.

You can see that list here.

KNX-News-Radio-In-Depth-Adam- Rizzieri

KNX Radio Los Angeles: Twitter Finally Tests An Edit Button

Posted on | by adam
Agency Partner’s CMO Adam Rizzieri joins KNX News in Los Angeles

It’s finally happening, Twitter is now going to test its much-anticipated “edit” function.

Twitter said in April it would come out with it due to popular demand. Twitter Blue subscribers will get to tinker with it in the coming weeks first. Adam Rizzieri of Agency Partner Interactive joins Audacy’s Los Angeles business news radio show “KNX In-Depth,” with hosts Mike Simpson and Charles Feldman.

Listen to the radio coverage below.

 

For more information, click to read the blog, “Is Twitter Finally Adding the Edit Button?“

ecommerce-on-laptop

Why Your Business Should Consider an eCommerce App

Posted on | by Agency Partner

Ever since the 2020 pandemic, businesses with ecommerce capabilities experienced a surge of revenue from online sales. Consumers recognized the convenience of online shopping and continued with that practice. As digital marketers, we should recognize this cultural shift from in-store shopping to online shopping. The truth is that there is a lot of opportunity in ecommerce, and this is a great time to explore the newest trend of getting an ecommerce app. 

Now your first thought might be that an ecommerce app is an unneeded investment for your business and that you have other priorities that are more worthy of your time and energy, but that idea shouldn’t be shot down so quickly. We will be sharing some important stats that show the growing trends of online shopping via a mobile device and how an ecommerce app can be the one thing that sets you apart from the rest of your competition.  

Everyone is going mobile. 

Smartphones have become a trendy device across the United States, where 81% percent of the population owns one. Many of our digital experiences are being optimized for mobile because our devices are so accessible to us. We have our smartphones wherever we go, which makes it very convenient for us to search for something via the web at any time. A recent study has stated that over half of all website traffic is sourced from a mobile device.

Our generation is heading towards mobile, and websites are being optimized for this transformation. Web developers are now keeping in mind that the mobile layout can be just as important as the desktop version. 

With this shift, sales coming from a mobile devices gained a lot of growth. The feeling of convenience has become the selling point during this transformation. Due to our busy schedules, consumers don’t always have the time to grab their laptops to purchase. Meanwhile, their phone is conveniently right next to them. Now putting two and two together, we now understand that mobile devices have accounted for the increase of sales coming from a mobile device. 

Now we are going to share another statistic that should further your consideration in getting an e-commerce app. 78% of users prefer using an app to a website when online shopping from their mobile device. Given this statistic, businesses that have ecommerce capabilities should reconsider investing in an ecommerce app. 

An ecommerce app can enhance your brand.

Let’s first look at an example of a widely used ecommerce app that has a major impact as an ecommerce industry leader.  

Amazon is the top industry leader when it comes to ecommerce. The app is the most popular shopping app with about 150.6 million users. Amazon is loved by many because of the experience users have when purchasing through the app. Customers are extremely satisfied by the amount of convenience they’re able to experience when making a purchase.

The process is straightforward for customers to purchase, track, and review all within the app. You can even set up and do a return! The process is seamless, with very little room for error. Because of the user experience on the app, Amazon has become a brand that many worldwide love. 

An eCommerce app can also enhance your brand experience. Depending on your industry, an app can be very beneficial to your consumers. If you are in an industry where your buyers frequently come back to make another purchase, you should consider getting an app. It will make the consumer’s shopping experience more convenient. 

Also, consider the competitors in your industry. Do they have an app for their users to make a purchase? If not, is there an underlying issue they are experiencing where a mobile app can be the solution? To get ahead of competitors, you sometimes must be the first to do something. Being the first will easily set you apart from the rest of the industry. 

By having a mobile app, you also can improve and increase communication with your customers. The great thing about an app is that consumers are fully immersed in your brand while using it. Unlike web browsers, you have a lower risk of users exiting out of your site and searching for another competitor.

If they are using your app, the user is more dedicated to shopping with you. There is little competition around when the consumer is in this position. Customers shopping from mobile apps have a 130% higher conversion rate than purchasing from a mobile website. 

Having an app can lead to more marketing opportunities. 

Ecommerce apps can also open new marketing opportunities, which are push notifications. It’s no surprise that push notifications have higher engagement rates than emails and social media ads. Push notifications can grab a lot of customer attention because the notification shows up on their smartphone’s home screen. This marketing tactic is hard for the user to overlook due to its nature.

It also makes it a lot easier for the user to reach your site. Unlike email and social media ads, the customer must be in a different app before getting to your site. They must digest the content in their email or social media timeline, notice your email or ad, digest the content, and click the link to get to your website. It is too many steps, which could lower your customer’s chances of landing on your site.

Unlike emails and ads, push notifications will notify the user’s phone, and once clicked on, it will direct the user directly to the page that is relevant to the notification. Your message will be a lot more direct, and the user is less likely to get distracted. 

Apps are also a great place to centralize any information about your ecommerce shop. In the app, you can promote upcoming sales and personalize account information, and more. The opportunities of what you can provide your customers are endless. An eCommerce app is an excellent opportunity to truly connect with your customers and give them a great shopping experience. 

If you are curious about web app development, learn more about our services at Agency Partner. We live in the digital world, and we know how the digital landscape changes by the minute. To learn more about our mobile application services, contact us here. 

app_development

How Much Does it Cost to Make an App in 2020

Posted on | by devops
Expert Tips on Application Development

If you’re here, then chances are you want the direct answer to “how much does it cost to make an app in 2020?” In reality, the answer varies depending on a wide variety of factors. You can’t possibly provide a universal cost when there are overseas and local options available. 

Also, there are certain things that can affect the bottom line of any app. In order to receive an accurate estimate of the costs of developing an app for your brand, you should take the proper steps of familiarizing yourself with the app development process.

As such, this guide will go over all of the details of how much it would cost to make an app in 2020.

What is the Worldwide App Development Costs?

Whether you’re a business leader or executive, you likely know of a secret production tactic that organizations across the world utilize. This is sending production overseas to save money.

This has happened for generations, and it continues to happen in the app development industry. As you can imagine, costs for developing a fully-functional app vary tremendously based on the country you enlist assistance from.

According to a report from GoodFirms, the average cost for a basic app is somewhere around $40,000 and $60,000. An app that needs a few custom functions could you run you between $60,000 and $70,000, which is good news for businesses on a budget that needs a few more accommodations with a basic app. 

A complex app with numerous custom functions could cost you more than $100,000. Now, these are the total costs of apps. Let’s say that an app developer is charging you $50 an hour and is building a basic app for you. 

The total cost based on the standard hours worked will be around $25,000, $40,000 to $70,000 for medium-complexity apps, and more than $70,000 for complex apps. Again, these rates vary from region to region. 

Here is an image to help you understand how app development rates vary in each worldwide region.

software_development

If you take a look at all of these rates, they should look a bit normal except for one thing. The app development rates in India are noticeably cheaper, which is expected since outsourcing is ubiquitous in that region.

Here comes the tricky part. You can’t just automatically send your app development project to India and expect quality. In fact, here are some things to consider before starting your app development project.

  • There are thousands of app development companies, experienced and new, local and overseas, large and small, and expensive and affordable. Selecting the right one for your brand will require in-depth consumer research.
  • A lot of misconceptions occur about finding the right app development company, such as expensive apps lead to better quality and new app companies are ill-equipped to handle large projects. 
  • Be wary of choosing cheap overseas app development companies. This isn’t to say that all of them do horrible work. Since apps are quite costly, do your research before falling too much in love with the price tag.

The last bullet is very important and will be discussed in further detail in the next section.

Local Development vs. Outsourcing

Local development is simply the act of hiring an app developer close to your place of business. Outsourcing is hiring a company that isn’t local. From a logical standpoint, it seems right to hire a local company. 

After all, you’ll be able to communicate with them face-to-face on the goals of your project. This isn’t always the case for all businesses. In fact, every business is different. Some may just have the wherewithal to purchase any type of app and wouldn’t care where they procured app development services.

Some may have a stringent budget and have to be mindful as to where every dollar is going. In the case of the latter, here are the pros and cons of hiring a local app developer vs outsourcing these services.

outsourcevslocal
As you can see, local development has its perks. You get to receive deeper involvement and straightforward communication without any hurdles. However, local companies are usually more affordable and have a limited amount of resources.

Companies outside of your region are cheaper, more flexible, have a huge talent pool along with a high-level of expertise. Though, there are some challenges regarding time zone discrepancies and a lack of being directly involved in your project.

Depending on the scope of your project and budget, you should think carefully about the selection you make. 

Time and Money Issues Relating to App Development

App development companies generally prefer to charge an hourly rate for their projects. This means that you can estimate the amount you’ll spend on an app depending on the hours of development. 

Here is a breakdown of the typical hours spent on app projects based on complexity. 

  • A basic app will take approximately 500-700 hours to complete. 
  • A basic app with custom functions will take 700-1000 hours to complete.
  • A time-consuming, complex app will often take more than 1200 hours to complete.

If you were to quickly acquire the hourly rate of a prospective app company, you would be able to determine the ballpark amount for how much you should spend. 

What Affects the Final Cost?

When you hire an app developer, you cannot expect to receive an extensive list of development costs right off the bat.

What usually happens is that you will be sent a proposal, a bill, and the company will estimate the preliminary hours it took to construct the build-out. 

App companies cannot predict other costs that may be necessary, which include:

  • Platforms
  • App maintenance
  • Functionality and features
  • Specific customizations
  • App administration and backend infrastructure
  • Structure and location of the development team

Give Us a Call Today!

Do you want to know more about how you can develop an app for your business? If so, give us a call today at (877) 682-2012 or click here to receive a free quote. 

Not big on reading? That’s okay. Watch “How Much Does it Cost to Make an App in 2020” instead.

Using the power of Artificial Intelligence, we turned this blog into a video for you. Check it out below!

 

inbound_website_marketing

6 Steps to Creating a Successful Inbound Website.

Posted on | by devops
Tips from Web Development Experts

Inbound websites are the way of future marketing. Analytics surf your content for your businesses interests and funnel specific ads relative to those interests directly to your customers. It’s called Inbound Marketing. Instead of outbound marketing, that of casting a wide net, this method focuses on the conversion of a specific target audience.

Outbound marketing is becoming more ineffective as customers are showing signs of ‘banner blindness’. They want to know why the product is good for them, specifically. There are a number of things to consider to make your website an inbound traffic lane. 

Your Website Sells

Whether it’s blogs, education, a portfolio, or physical products, your website is your first line of sales. Your sales team should be referencing your webpage daily for leads. Your webpage should strive to sell your product for you so that by the time a customer talks to a sales rep, the sale has already been made. 

Your Website is all about the Customer 

Customers want to know they can trust in their time and energy investment. To accomplish this you need to provide valuable content–answer questions, provide education, be up-front, honest, and direct. 

Customers want clear, concise information to get them straight to the point. The best way to deliver that information is video. Customers want to connect and relate to others. They want normal people to review the product and explain to them, specifically, why that product is going to improve their lives. 

Website SEO

You need to be findable on search engines, and that means understanding search engine optimization (SEO) and formatting. You need to consider how your website functions and make it an appealing search result for the analytics. This has a great deal to do with dwell time (how much time a customer is on your page), content freshness (updates of what is on the page as well as how it is presented), website load speed (refresh rates), mobile access (computer to ‘phone conversation), and SSL Certification (the security of your website). 

Experience-Driven Websites

The business needs to express consideration for the customer experience. Your customer wants a personalized experience where information is clear and straightforward. Here questions can be answered quickly and easily, purchasing is a streamlined process, and the service is friendly and approachable. 

Website Conversion Rate 

Conversion rate is that of taking the unknown viewer and turning them into a known repeat customer which can be accomplished by adding a self-selection tool, such as a form, quiz, or chatbot on your website. This process will direct the customer to the desired information without forcing them to hunt through your content, generating data for the analytics to show that your site is providing value. 

Your Business Website  

At the end of the day, the biggest key to website success is you, the business owner. You need to be able to access and use your website with ease: to update content, track analytics, review sales, and provide excellent customer service.

Agency Partner can help you get there by building you a website with these points in mind. We’ll also include an easy to use content management system (CMS), ensuring that the back end work of maintaining and updating your website is a breeze. 

Not big on reading? That’s okay. Watch “6 Steps to Creating a Successful Inbound Website” instead.

Using the power of Artificial Intelligence, we turned this blog into a video for you. Check it out below!

 

android_vs_ios

The Difference Between Android and iOS App Development

Posted on | by devops
Tips from Web Development Experts

Two of the biggest brands, Apple with iOS and Google with Android, are consistently upgrading and reaching new levels within the tech world. Whether they’re improving phone features or fixing bugs, the value by which these companies operate is obvious–to improve the end-user experience.  

To keep users happy, certain aspects of the app development process need to be taken into account. Especially if developers intend to see a return on investment. Essentials such as programming languages, design principles, time constraints, budget, user spending, and location all need to be considered. 

Programming Languages 

The tools used to create an app need to be taken into account. Those with expertise in Java or Kotlin will find Android a viable choice for the development phase, as iOS apps are coded in Swift. When it comes to the building sites, or the Integrative Development Environments (IDE), Studio and Xcode cater to Android and iOS app design respectively. 

Design Principles 

Aesthetics play a crucial role in the success of an app. Visual elements have powerful impacts on users and their concentration or distraction levels. When these elements fit in with the intent of the application, users are inclined to continue using it, based on the ease and enjoyment it provides.

Costing Variations

If you are creating your own app, rather than hiring a specialist, there are no initial costs during the design and development phases. However, publishing your app on the Android and iOS stores will cost a small sum of money. Android has a one time fee of $25 USD, while Apple charges $99 USD annually.

App Store Verification 

App Developers need to be aware of the potential damage that they could do to a brand if their product is not perfect. Android app creators need to be vigilant about potential bugs and errors within their designs, as the screening process prior to launch is carried out by a bot.

Unfortunately, bots are not perfect just yet, which sometimes leads to applications being launched onto stores with minor faults–users are very quick to criticize any faults or bugs that are found. Apple’s verification can take up to three weeks to complete as it undergoes in-house expert scrutiny which makes it possible for rejection. 

Monetizing Applications

As a developer, armed with the knowledge that out of the two audience options, Android users are less likely to pay for apps, there is the chance to capitalize through in-app, optional purchases and the implementation of advertisement banners.

Android And iOS App Development

Developing an app for iOS may seem like a quicker process than doing so for Android, as the developer would only need to consider the Apple product lines released within 5 to 6 years. Whereas, when developing a mobile app for Android it must work on a wider variety of phones and tablets, which use varying Android operating systems. This explains why the app launches and updates are released earlier in iOS.

The end goal is to have the app available on both platforms., however, which can be costly to implement in the beginning. As is evident, when narrowed down to the skeleton, deciding between Android or iOS development systems is not an easy feat, however, the answer lies in the specs as well as the developer’s resources and intent.

With the help of our in-house experts, Agency Partner can assist with the design and development phases of both iOS and Android systems, curating your ideas and transforming them into innovative applications. From mobile versions of websites, restaurant applications, and games, Agency Partner can help you launch your app with ease.

We even provide industry-leading support post-launch, with a team of digital marketers who will make sure that your app is well-received by your target market.

Not big on reading? That’s okay. Watch “The Difference Between Android and iOS App Development” instead.

Using the power of Artificial Intelligence, we turned this blog into a video for you. Check it out below!

 

custom_web_application

99 Problems But Custom Application Development Isn’t One

Posted on | by devops
Tips from App Development Experts

Creating a custom application is no small feat and it sounds pretty terrifying to most people, especially if you have no experience. If you happen to need a complex custom application with several integrations to power its features and functionalities, you should opt to hire a professional to take care of the design and development for you.

At a super high level, here is a look at some of the components that go into this effort. 

5 Things to Consider:

1. Choose a Hosting Platform 

A web host is a location where you decide to set up shop for your custom application. It is your landlord to whom you pay rent to house all of your digital content. Each page within your application is a room with its own set of amenities and décor such as the images you display on the walls.

As you can imagine, some applications will have more detail than others depending on the level of attention given to keeping it clean and orderly.

Just like any lease contract, you will want to do your homework when choosing a provider to host your custom app. Read all the terms and conditions and be sure to consider scalability. 

2. Choose a Brand and Domain Name 

A domain name or URL is your location’s home address. A website will typically serve as the front door to your web application — once you’re there, you step right into the app after successfully logging in.

In cases where you are building a custom app for mobile, whether it by for iOS, Android, or a Hybrid app, your website serves to direct people to the app store for downloads and updates.

3. Map It Out 

This step is a process of strategically mapping out the type of furniture and décor that will go in each room. As stated above, each page of your app is its own “room” and each will serve a specific purpose. Your Home Page, or Landing Page, will serve as your front door — the first visual people see upon arriving at your site.

Some people display big beautiful photos on their front door to entice people to enter while others may post their store hours and the services they provide and call it a day. 

Before you start designing or building rooms, you should have a clear strategy for the furniture and décor (i.e. content) that those pages will contain. Whatever you do, at each step, be sure to put yourself in the customer or users’ shoes when making decisions.

4. Design Your Custom Application

The design step is easily the most complicated step for most people because it is the first technical step of building a custom app. People often hire a professional UI/UX designer. UI designers are experts at designing the User Interface, which is what app users interact with at face level. The UI is what you see.

Additionally, a UX designer is someone who is an expert at User Experience design. These designers are a little more technical in nature and they aim to bridge the gap between the User Interface, the end users’ wants and needs, and how all that pertains to the overall business goal of the application. 

5. Keep Up With Maintenance 

Once you are up and running, you will want to ensure everything stays running smoothly and in working order.

You’ll most likely need a maintenance repair person. If a light bulb goes out or the air conditioner breaks, who is meant to repair it? As often as not, hosting providers will offer this as an additional service or as part of a package deal. So it’s worth having a look at the ones that do — especially if you are not very tech-savvy.

As you can see, building a basic application can be simple if you want a simple app for your business. However, the more complexities you add to your application, the more you’ll have to consider as it pertains to scalability, design, and development needs.

Choosing the right web host platform for your business app can be a daunting first step. Although no two applications are the same, all great apps have one thing in common – a plan from start to finish and an ability to consistently improve. You could go it alone, but with Agency Partner, we’ll help you get past any learning curves to ensure that your project creates the most immediate value for your stakeholders.

Not big on reading? That’s okay. Watch “99 Problems But Custom Application Development Isn’t One” instead.

Using the power of Artificial Intelligence, we turned this blog into a video for you. Check it out below!

Web Design Mockup Process

How to Create a Web Design Mockup

Posted on | by devops
What is it and what role does it play?

If you consider a finished website as the main theatrical performance, the web design mockup could be regarded as its dress rehearsal.

What is a Web Design Mockup?

A web design mockup is the first visual representation of a website before it is created. This essential design phase is as an opportunity for stakeholders to express their desires and alleviate concerns.

The web design mockup will demonstrate all the visual aspects of the website, from color schemes and layout to fonts, images, navigation, and your company branding. The purpose of the mockup is to bring to light any irregularities or imperfections in the design. Perhaps the client has different expectations regarding the style, size or placement of certain elements, all of which can be quickly rectified during the web design mockup process.

Stages of a Web Design Mockup

Brainstorming

The first step of the web design mockup process is to thoroughly brainstorm everything. The most important question at this stage is: What do you want your website to accomplish? To answer this question, you must first know who your target audience is, what they want from your site, and what you can offer them. Use a whiteboard and write down their demographics, pain points, and your offerings.

Then decide what the objective of your site should be. Do you want to generate a mailing list? If so, then you should have a call to action, ask them to sign up for a newsletter or download an ebook.

Map it out

Next, map out the components on paper – content, images, logos, navigation tools, social media links, and the ever-so-important whitespace. As a design element, whitespace, or “blank” areas, make content more approachable because it is less dense and less likely to overwhelm the user. Graph paper and stencils with common navigation bar and buttons shapes will simplify the process.

As you design the layout, consider that you only have about eight to 10 seconds to capture your visitor’s attention. A clean, uncluttered appearance with easy navigation and relevant content is crucial. Further, a clean design may assist you when optimizing your site for smartphones.

Tip: If your goal is to generate leads, be sure to place the initial request for information – the call to action – toward the top of the site, then give your audience a second chance at the bottom.

Design It

This is where the design really begins to blossom. Using software like Photoshop, you can lay out all the pieces and evaluate color, whitespace, consistency, and repetition. Also, since it’s predicted that three-quarters of the world will access the internet via smartphones by 2025, this is when you should consider whether the design layout is optimized for these devices?

This is also the best opportunity to evaluate your brand messaging. Do the color schemes and font select support the image you want to project?

Test Test Test!

Now is the time to run the web design mockup through its paces. Does going from one section to another correlate visually? Are there any elements of the website that need to be removed or added? Next, show the prototype to as many members of your target-audience demographic as possible and collect feedback for improvements.

At the end of this process, you should be ready for the programmer. However, be prepared to start again, from the beginning if necessary, to refine your design and get it right the first time.

Summing Things Up

A web design mockup can save you time, money, and embarrassment. With these simple steps, you can look forward to your debut knowing that the performance will be its best. At Agency Partner Interactive, we have the web design and digital experts who can help you through each stage of the process, as well as provide digital support services such as digital marketing and IT strategy consulting. Contact us today to see what we can do for you.

Not big on reading? That’s okay. Watch “How to Create a Web Design Mockup”

Using the power of Artificial Intelligence, we turned this blog into a video for you. Watch it below.

 

web design discovery process

What Role Does the Web Design Discovery Process Play?

Posted on | by devops
A Web Design Discovery Process Overview
What To Expect

To a neophyte, a website design discovery session is both exciting and mysterious. It is that first big meeting between a web development project team and key stakeholders that come together to ensure alignment around business goals, web design strategy and scalability, and general expectations around the process moving forward, among other details.

From the perspective of a website’s design and development team, the discovery phase is the most important phase of all. It’s the first stage of a web development project that investigates how the future website will best serve the demands of a business and its consumers. This is where questions about features and functionalities come into discussion. What sort of engine is under the hood of this new site? Does it need to integrate with payment processors, customer relationship management systems, marketing automation platforms, or something else? Are there specific cybersecurity or data privacy issues that have to be considered? For example, if you’re building a healthcare website, are there any HIPAA compliance issues for us to address? All of these questions matter in the earliest stage of your website design. 

You could say that the design thinking that goes into this process is the first phase of research and analysis. And, the most important piece? Considering your end-user and recognizing for whom the website is being designed.

Discovering Your Website’s End Goals

Of the many best practices of any web designer, a critical one is a thorough analysis of the website’s goals. Much like an interview process, you should expect that your website designer and web developer will quiz you on a series of topics related to your business, its goals, and how the website should play into that mix. Without a doubt, a quick deep dive into your company’s brand is also a part of this conversation.

In our opinion, a company’s brand comes down to six key components:

  • Focus on your customer
    • Who is your target audience?
    • How does your website impact that audience?
  • Culture
    • What can your customer expect from you? Do you promise that same thing every time, with everyone?
    • How can your new website further validate and support your customer and brand culture?
  • Voice
    • Is your brand serious and buttoned-up or is it playful and fun?
    • This impacts the tone of your web content, and can even play into your color psychology.
  • Feelings
    • What does your market think of you? What do you want them to think of you?
    • Consider how the American Airlines Customer Service portal make you feel, and then check out Tesla’s website. Big difference!
  • Impact
    • What are your values and how does that impact your every decision?
    • Does the website design look capable of achieving a specific, measurable business outcome?
      • If so, what is your specific, measurable, achievable business goal from this web project?
  • X-Factor
    • How do you position your brand relative to others?
    • Your new web design must truly empower your site, relative to your competitors…. does it showcase your X-factor?

It is important that you think through what your new web project is going to achieve. For the most part, you only have to show up to this meeting with your business problem, your vision, and your goals. From there, a capable team of website designers and web project managers will guide you toward the most impactful project plan.

In this first meeting, there are no “good” or “bad” answers. If your responses are thoughtful and relevant to your website, then they are valuable responses that will be strongly considered. If for some reason, key things are left out or added at a later date, your project team will work with you to determine the best path forward.

As a friendly heads up, we’ll inform you that the process may well seem like an awkward one — you may even feel uncomfortable being a part of it because some of the business questions you are asked are very specific — but the goal is to leverage your website as a digital marketing tool and establish your company’s image to the world. Everything we talk about is intended to get us from A to B (and then to C, D, E, etc). 

An example of discovery session questions may be as follows:

  • What is the desired project outcome? 
  • What is the project’s expected timeframe?
  • What is the budget for this project for its initial development?
  • Have you considered a budget for routine or periodic maintenance and updates?
  • Who is the project sponsor and what is their relationship to the key decision-makers?
  • Who is your target end-user and what are their expectations?
  • Are there any security requirements specific to accessibility or HIPPA compliance?
  • Is your website in need of post launch support, such as SEO services?
  • Do you need the assistance of a content writer to ensure that your messaging is powerful? 

Looking Externally

Understanding your business needs and objectives is absolutely essential. We need to understand where your company is relative to its market niche, and we have to understand where it’s going. A website can make a small business look massive, and similarly, it can make a big brand seem small and local. What is your goal and what does your web visitor expect from you? What do your customers need? We’ll need to establish the following subcategories to get things right:

  • Demographics:
    • The cultural narratives, region, and identity of the world from which your target market hails.
    • We will likely factor in the psychographics of your customer and work to understand how your site fits into that.
  • Backstory problems:
    • What are the problems, or pain points, of your audience?
    • What can your website provide to address those problems?
  • Your customers’ needs:
    • What are your audiences’ interests, what are they looking for, and how can your website provide a solution?
    • Is a mobile experience just as important as a desktop web experience?
  • How to exceed their needs:
    • What can we do for your business that won’t just satisfy your customers, but “wow” them?
    • Does this website need to accelerate your sales process? What sort of data do you wish to collect?

What’s the Point of this Web Discovery Process?

The point of the discovery process is simple: to design and develop an absolutely brilliant business site. 

Without a proper alignment around what it should do and for whom, then we’re sort of shooting in the dark. That’s why we work to clarify objectives, align around a project plan, and make sure that the voice of all stakeholders is heard and considered.

When we say everybody, we mean you, our client, and your team, including users, decision-makers, and anyone that will touch this project. Everybody also means our team as well, including the web designer, the website developers, and the marketing content creators – quite literally, everybody. That very reasoning is why discovery is one of the (most important) best practices to begin any web design process.

Not sure what to ask in your own website kickoff meeting??  Here's what to ask.

Summing Things Up

From day one, our experts will work with you to build your website based on information obtained during the web discovery process. Our award-winning web designers and web developers will confer with you throughout the entire development process. If revisions are necessary, we will work to ensure that the final result of your website becomes an extension of your brand, creating an engaging user experience, and helping to grow your brand’s reach and subsequent success.

Throughout this process, you can expect us to share suggestions and offer helpful solutions that help you more rapidly achieve your desired end result. Our goal is to help you enjoy the fastest, most impactful return on investment. To get the ball rolling on your project, all it takes is a quick, no-obligation first conversation. So let’s get the ball rolling.

We have completed over 1500 projects and we can share information that will help you fill in the blanks faster than not — Reach out to the Dallas based website experts at Agency Partner today.

Not big on reading? That’s okay. Watch “A Guide to the Web Design Discovery Process”

Using the power of Artificial Intelligence, we turned this blog into a video for you. Watch it below.

customer-loyalty

Customer Loyalty is More Important than you Think

Posted on | by devops
Customer Loyalty is More Important than you Think 

The success of a business mobile app is measured in many different ways. For some companies, nothing is more important than conversion rates or increasing the number of customers who make a purchase. For others, unique app views are paramount because it means that more new people are finding the company and seeing the brand for the first time. Regardless of how you measure success, one thing that must always be considered is customer loyalty – how loyal are app users to your particular brand name?

The Weight of Brand Loyalty in Mobile

For any business looking to market their brand, they often conceptualize their ideal customer as being whoever is the most likely to be able to influence the greatest amount of people. For example, they might target users who are extremely active on social media platforms and have a high following. The truth is, however, it doesn’t matter how many people that person is connected to if they are not loyal to your brand.

In fact, you would net far greater results to have a loyal app user with 50 social media followers advocating for your than you would with a regular app user with 5000. Why is that? Brand loyalty is everything! Especially when it comes to increasing the reach of your business mobile app.

When a customer is loyal to your brand, and to your mobile app, they are much more involved. This means that they are not only using your app regularly, but they might also be interacting with your brand through other forums as well, like on social media, and they are also telling their friends about the service they receive and the products they buy. As an added advantage, customers with higher engagement levels have been proven to regularly utilize mobile features like app sharing or referrals, which in turn drives more downloads and encourages new users.

There have been several studies dedicated to determining how increases in loyal customers relate to increases in overall profitability. For example, a 2013 report found that the average brand categorized 20% of their customer base as ‘loyal’ – and that these loyal customers visited the brand more than 10 times in a year.

How to Increase Mobile Customer Loyalty

Now that you understand the true weight of customer loyalty as it relates to your business mobile app, how do you go about guaranteeing that your customers remain loyal to your brand – and do not simply delete your app after the first use? Here are a few tips:

  • Focus on users who are most likely to use apps. Rather than fighting to keep one-time app users on your website, target the users who are already using apps frequently.
  • Research when and how you should be using push notifications.Push notifications are a fantastic way for apps to engage with infrequent app users, however, they have become more closely related to spam than a viable marketing tool. There is still value there, however, research how to use push notifications in a meaningful and helpful manner.
  • Offer rewards or incentives for customer loyalty.Thanking your loyal customers with rewards, points or some other incentive is a surefire way to increase loyalty to your brand and to entice new users to download anse use your app.

What other great tips do you have for increasing customer loyalty or brand loyalty? What has worked for you? We want to know.