CEOs of startups that develop mobile apps are very much familiar with the constant struggle between speed and quality. In mobile app development, the infamously longer development cycles, as compared to traditional web applications, are problematic for developers and entrepreneurs. Being the first-to-market can be the difference between a runaway success and a product that […]
Apps
Does Your Business Need an App or Mobile-Compatible Website?
No one seriously doubts that mobile is the future of the web. We crossed the point at which a business could blithely ignore mobile users a couple of years ago. Today, if you’re not mobile-friendly, you’re in trouble. But what does it mean to be mobile-friendly? There are two choices: native mobile apps or the […]
Why Developing Good Apps Is Not Cheap
Why is app development so expensive? I get this question a lot, and it often comes from a shell-shocked CEO or CIO who discovers his five-figure-budget project ends up being six or even seven figures. That’s crazy. Why is app development so expensive? The easiest explanation is that apps are cheap; it’s the engineering and design talent […]
What Is an Alexa Skill?
Amazon’s Alexa is the cloud-based brain behind Echo/Dot/Tap. It is similar to Apple’s Siri and Google Home. Similar to these devices, Alexa gives the benefits of a personal assistant at your fingertips. With just the sound of your voice, it searches the Web, shops online, creates a to-do list, and delivers weather reports. It even […]
Securing Conversational Apps
The new conversational world changed not only the way users interact with businesses, but also the way businesses deploy and secure applications. The shift from a direct interaction using a browser or a mobile app, to a mediated interaction using a third-party device or a platform such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Facebook Messenger, or Siri, creates new challenges for […]
5 Steps to Build a Brand Community Around Your App
These days, it seems like every company out there is trying to build community around an app. It’s a more engaging way to win over your customers than by bombarding them with advertising, and it’s a creative—and yes, trendy—way to stand out in increasingly crowded marketplaces. And we’re not just talking about apps run by […]
4 Ways That Conversational UI Is Enhancing Our Lives
Throughout the years, technology has continued to dramatically transform. Everyday tools, that use to sit on your desk ten years ago, now fit right in your pocket. Advancing technology reshapes the way we communicate with each other. Today, conversational apps allow us to instantly communicate with other apps and websites with the help of conversational […]
This LA Startup is Bringing Interior Design To the Masses Fueled with Technology
When it comes to furniture and home décor, we often have trouble visualizing what a couch or vase will look like in our home. Yet we know what the room looks like and we also know what the item looks like; albeit independently. Enter Hutch (formerly HOMEE), a mobile interior design platform that lets you upload […]
This LA Startup Uses AR to Find Your Next Date
When you are walking down the street no dating app is ever tell you if you have just passed by the love of your life…until now. FlirtAR, the world’s first Augmented Reality dating app, uses AR software so you can the view the name, age and interests of other FlirtAR users passing by. While dating […]
How to Network on Instagram Direct Message
Instagram DM (Direct Message) is the single biggest networking and business development opportunity of this decade. Eventually users will have greater privacy permissions, allowing them to block direct messages from occurring on the platform. As of right now, this does not exist, with Instagram allowing you to DM any user on the service. Here’s my […]
3 Ways to Grow a More Engaged Instagram Following
Every day, I hear questions like “How do I grow my Instagram account?” and “How do I use Instagram to grow my business?” at my consulting and coaching business. There are countless articles addressing things like photo quality, bio, post times, tagging, etc. However, no one seems to be talking about the most important things. When we […]