Category: Articles

Over the years many businesses have ventured into creating apps to reach a wider audience. According to a study, mobile users spend almost four hours a day on their mobile phone in 2017. Impressive, right? This attraction to creating apps could also be due to the fortunes made by many app developers such as Mark Zuckerberg, as well as the demand for more apps over the years; studies have shown that there was an increase in the demand for app development from 23% in 2014 to 32% in 2016.

Although the app world has been oversaturated, that doesn’t mean that there is no more room for newer innovative and educative ones. Like any other business, you need to focus well on the marketing processes and let your professional partners take care of the tech aspects. Here are a few tips on how to start your app business.

Have An Idea

The fundamental foundation for you venturing into the app business is having an idea; many developers will say 5% of the success lies in having a good idea. Just like any other business, a niche or unique idea is required to push the business forward. However, the idea may not be as good as you think it is not researched thoroughly. For example, according to a study 90 million Americans use mobile payment apps; so this could mean there is a high demand to pay online using apps. Market research is all it takes to determine if your app business idea is in high demand.

Write A Business Plan

For any business to strive for greatness, there must be a business plan on the ground to propel it. The app business is a very dynamic and competitive one. A business plan should contain tactics and strategies; so it’s good to start with a short-term plan before going into a long-term one that requires lots of experience and exposure which you get along the way. A plan should be simple enough in describing your main ideas and the significant steps of achieving them, as well as information about your expenses and the most important steps of recovery. Plans shouldn’t be complex and complicated, so keep it simple.

Choose The Right Platform

Making use of the right platform to showcase your app business is paramount. In the past, developers had to choose between a Blackberry, Symbian, Window phone, iOS, and Android phone to showcase their app but things are a lot easier now. This is because only the last three options mentioned can really be considered as the right platform to showcase your app. In terms of creating brand awareness and advertising your app business, Google Play and third-party Android stores remain the right platform. However, in terms of increasing revenue, Apple App store takes the lead.

Finance Your App Business

An excellent and awarding app project may require a healthy sum of money for funding. Having your great idea and the enthusiasm of venturing into the app world is a breakthrough, but the real work starts with raising that cash. The easiest way is to borrow a payday loan. There are many payday loans online direct lenders only, however, you must also have an ideal business plan because some lenders will surely listen to it.

Consider The Pricing

The pricing of the type of app you want to create should be considered. Whether free or paid, counting your cost before launching your app is essential. This is where monetization comes into play. You should note that many users already have access to free apps so you should propose an app that is worth paying for. One way of monetizing your app by having a Pro-Version of it. This can be done by adding advertisements, direct selling or in-app purchases.

Choose The Right App Marketing Strategy

Marketing is essential in the promotion of products and services and apps are no exception. Once your app is ready, the next step is to think of the possible avenue to promote it. This can be achieved using the social media channels like YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat. With such channels, the commentary is very important in your product promotions where you let your users know more about your app. Creating a website also becomes an essential part of your business; not all users will get every product details on social media but with the website, most users will be eventually covered with the knowledge of your app and how it all works.

Prototype and Feedback

It is advisable not to dive into the app market with a totally ready app that’s suicidal; there may be a risk that your app may need improvement as times move on, or users may not like your app. Now imagine that all the time, effort and money invested in creating the app is a total waste. In order to avoid this, the best decision is providing an interactive prototype which includes the main features of your idea and the fully designed visual framework. The interactive prototype acts as a test drive for your app which the users and also investors can work with.

Make Improvements

Essentially every user needs new details about a product, therefore you must constantly upgrade your products and auditory. Users wouldn’t want an old-fashioned app presented on their mobile phones. So, be ready to pay for new additional features to your app and any other maintenance or improvements issues that may arise in the near future.

Have The Best Development Team

This phase involves more team building and looking for trustworthy partners to join you accomplish your visions. You might require the services of coders, copywriters, and photographers. Don’t go searching for freelancers but the major priority should be partners for long-term cooperation and people that are an embodiment of your visions.

When starting an app business, it can be very competitive and requires lots of research. By writing up a business plan, you will be able to determine your niche and if there is a demand for the service. With the help of the above tips, you will not only be able to start app business on a budget, but you will also be able to have a clearer direction as to exactly how to execute the plan and the direction it is heading to sustain itself in the future.

In order to facilitate and entertain the users, new apps are being introduced every day. This crowd of apps creates a very tough competition and quite expectedly, the best ones win. However, the users are always looking for better options and do not hesitate in switching apps if provided with a fetching opportunity. This article is going to show you how to keep your users enticed with your app with very simple steps that the makers usually overlook.

1.    Research is key

If you want users to stick to your app, you need to walk in their shoes. Think like the user, interact with them and learn about what they would want. Learn about their preferences, priorities and tastes. Market research is one of the most important contributing factors for the popularity of an app. When your app will be engineered in accordance with the consumers’ demand and needs, its success is entirely ensured. So, keep an eye on the people’s changing preferences and structure your app relevantly. This will surely earn you loyal users.

2.    Always be on your toes

One of the most significant traits of successful creators is to always strive to fill the room for improvement. They look for ways to make their apps better all the time and never turn sluggish if their app is doing well. They aim for better. So you need to stay abreast with all the upcoming breakthroughs in technology and find a way to install the relevant ones in your app. Just keep updating your app for the convenience of your users and you will have happy users.

3.    The simpler the better

The users already have to deal with a lot of complicated things in their lives on a daily basis. The last thing they need is a complex app in their phones which they have to struggle with. Simplifying your app will make your app user friendly and the consumers will be attracted to it because it will take least of their time and brain. Not all of the users are tech-savvy; a complicated app will make them irritated and they might develop an aversion for your app if they have to struggle to operate it. Easier layouts and options make apps appealing.

4.    Ace that first impression

First impression really matters when it comes to apps. If your users are greeted with dull and very basic signup pages or login screens, they may not be very much intrigued to keep the app. The attention of the users can be grabbed by welcoming them with dynamic informative screens where they are educated regarding the features your app. This tells them what they can expect from your app. Afterwards, a signup screen can be made to appear. It creates a background of your app for the users and they are more likely to sign up and stay on your app for a longer time.

5.    Do not force your app on your users

While it is clever to stay active in your users’ lives by sending them push notifications and alerts for updates, overdoing them may cause more harm than good. Receiving too many notifications from your app can put them off. They get agitated and some even get anxiety by so many notifications every time they go online. Keep your notifications in check and adopt a balanced approach. Make an effort to make them remember you but do not forget to give your users their space.

6.    Respect the feedback

Users feel important and cared for when you ask them about their opinion of your app. Ask your users to rate your app, add a comments and suggestion section for how they think the app can be made better for them. Do not adopt a defensive approach to criticism. Be open to it. Also, do not just take their theoretical suggestions. Make an actual effort to see if these ideas are in some way feasible and always thank your customers for it. Let them know you care about their opinion and respect what they have to say.

In conclusion, if you want your users to stay involved, look through their eyes, relate with them, ask for their opinions and always strive for achieving better than yesterday.

About the Author: Megan Dennis is a passionate tech blogger at Appiskey, a Florida based Mobile App Development Company specializes in iOS and Android game development. She is passionate about technology and loves to analyze the tech industry in his spare time and stay in touch with the latest happenings. He also writes technical articles. Follow @megandennis07 for more updates.

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The online casino business brought a lucrative new side to gaming, as well as attracting a whole new demographic that is a world away from the archetypal “gamer” image. Suddenly, innovative games, and variations on ones that are centuries old, were being developed for a middle aged, high income target market – or in other words, the kind of market that you might ordinarily see in a bricks and mortar casino.

It is a market that is growing annually, and the recent legislative changes relating to sports betting in the USA are broadly expected to herald a more general relaxation in the rules related to online gambling in general across many states.  When combined with the fact that online gaming VPN technology can allow anyone anywhere to access these apps, the growth trend will only continue. This will open up a still larger market and see the sector grow even more rapidly over the coming years as more and more people learn how to play casino games using online tutorials and guides from providers such as Online Casino BlueBook.

The market itself seems at first glance to be dominated by the big multinational corporations – the kind of companies you see sponsoring the world’s largest sports teams. But this doesn’t preclude indie developers from taking advantage of the global gambling craze within their games. Here are some examples of how they go about it.

Games within games

It’s something that we’ve seen since the dawn of gaming – back in the1980s, fledgling game developer Firebird created an adventure game called The Wild Bunch in which you could take time out from the gunfights and bar brawls to play poker and win in-game money for supplies such as food, ammunition and medicine. Many found the poker to be more fun than the game itself.

Years on, and we see a similar phenomenon in games like Shenmue, where you can gamble to win in the Lucky Hit game.

Loot boxes

Loot boxes provide a way for players to acquire random rewards, either through gameplay or by investing real money into the game. They have attracted an enormous amount of media attention over recent months and have even been declared illegal in some parts of Europe, but there is no disputing that loot boxes have become increasingly prevalent in games of all genres.

Interestingly, the whole loot box concept is one that has been pursued more vigorously by the major players, and the indie developers have remained largely unaffected by the whole loot box controversy. On reflection, perhaps that is for the best until the whole furor has died down and the major markets have got their legislation in order.

If you can’t beat ’em….

We suggested earlier that the online casino sector itself is dominated by large companies. This is true, but many smaller players and indie developers are finding room to thrive in this ever-growing market through taking new and innovative angles.

These include adding more skill-based aspects to traditional games of chance, such as slots, or using AR and VR technology to create a casino experience that is closer than ever to the real thing.

Let’s face it – choosing between Android and iOS remained the most discussed agenda in the mobile market. While some prefer Android platform, others go with iPad/iPhone application development – turning the discussion into an endless battle and making it extremely difficult for a novice to decide which platform to go for.

If you are one of those who are struggling with this serious question and have a dire wish to know which platform is best, I would like to suggest iOS (or better say iPhone) because of the following reasons:

1. Platform Fragmentation: Android is far more fragmented than the iOS platform. If you look into the market, you would find that iOS is present only on iPhones and Apple devices. Whereas, the Android OS is available on different devices manufactured by companies like Samsung, Nokia, and Sony. The mobile OS appears differently on all the devices, which implies not all apps will work on all the Android devices. An outcome of this is that developers will have to decide the number of devices their app will be compatible with.
2. App Development Time and Cost: The different types of devices have varied specifications, which adds to the mobile application development timeline and cost. In other words, you would have to put more efforts and cost in case of Android app development when compared to iPhone application development
3. App Update: Unlike Apple, Google has no monopoly on the Android platform which implies we can’t expect the same update to be rolled out on all the Android devices at the same time. It depends completely on the manufacturing industry. This is again a major factor why I consider developing apps for iPhone over Android.
4. App Security: Although Google gave out an array of hope by launching security-related features in Android Oreo, the Apple is still the ruler of the industry in terms of mobile app security. Apple has set stringent guidelines which must be followed to make your iPhone application development process successful. Plus, the Android is an open-source platform because of which anyone is able to modify the code to add malicious content into an application, making the Android platform unfavorable for providing highly-secured services.
5. App Revenue: Though Android has a bigger piece of market share, most of its target audience is from developing countries who are less willing to pay for high-end services. However, iPhone is mostly owned by businessmen and people from developed nations who are capable of affording this extra cost for better services. This implies the iPhone holds a better opportunity for app monetization. So, if you want to earn higher revenue, iPhone is the right platform to go for.

Although the aforementioned points prove that the iPhone is a better option over Android for mobile application development, you can do your own research to understand which platform is right for your app idea.

It’s never too late to put a bigger focus on your health, but it can definitely feel overwhelming to start on the path towards a healthier you. Where do you even start? Well, the BetterMe: Weight Loss Workouts app is the perfect place to head if you need some help putting your health first. They can provide you with customized meal plans and workout routines that can set you down the road to a healthier and happier you!

To get started, download the app from the App Store or Google Play. You’ll have access to all the features on the app for a free, seven day trial. Once the first week is up, you can decide whether to pay a monthly fee or a one-time price of $59.99. The app basically works like your own private personal trainer and nutritionist. To come up with the perfect plan for you, you’ll just need to answer some basic questions, like your age, weight, and dietary preferences, as well as what your goals are. There are also some additional questions like which parts of your body would you like to work on, how often do you exercise, and what your preferred intensity level is when you work out. The BetterMe team of experts will then send you a completely customized plan that exactly fits your preferences and needs.

The BetterMe app takes all the guesswork out of getting healthier, because you’ll receive a weekly meal plan that details which foods you should be eating at every meal (that means you’ll have no excuse not to be eating better!). Additionally, they’ll provide you with specific workouts that will help you target the problem areas you want to work on. You’ll also have instructional videos right at your fingertips, so you can make sure you’re doing all of the exercises correctly. A huge part of committing to a healthier lifestyle is making sure that you have motivation to help you continue down the right path. The BetterMe app sends you helpful reminders and motivational tips designed to push you to keep reaching and surpassing your goals.

If you’re looking for a lot of variety, the BetterMe app might not be the best fit for you. The meal plans and exercise regimens are pretty strict and don’t allow for a lot of different options or flexibility. On the other hand, if you need a focused plan that you can easily stick to, this app will be extremely helpful.

Don’t wait to become the best version of yourself – download the BetterMe app today!

It’s never too late to put a bigger focus on your health, but it can definitely feel overwhelming to start on the path towards a healthier you. Where do you even start? Well, the BetterMe: Weight Loss Workouts app is the perfect place to head if you need some help putting your health first. They can provide you with customized meal plans and workout routines that can set you down the road to a healthier and happier you!

To get started, download the app from the App Store or Google Play. You’ll have access to all the features on the app for a free, seven day trial. Once the first week is up, you can decide whether to pay a monthly fee or a one-time price of $59.99. The app basically works like your own private personal trainer and nutritionist. To come up with the perfect plan for you, you’ll just need to answer some basic questions, like your age, weight, and dietary preferences, as well as what your goals are. There are also some additional questions like which parts of your body would you like to work on, how often do you exercise, and what your preferred intensity level is when you work out. The BetterMe team of experts will then send you a completely customized plan that exactly fits your preferences and needs.

The BetterMe app takes all the guesswork out of getting healthier, because you’ll receive a weekly meal plan that details which foods you should be eating at every meal (that means you’ll have no excuse not to be eating better!). Additionally, they’ll provide you with specific workouts that will help you target the problem areas you want to work on. You’ll also have instructional videos right at your fingertips, so you can make sure you’re doing all of the exercises correctly. A huge part of committing to a healthier lifestyle is making sure that you have motivation to help you continue down the right path. The BetterMe app sends you helpful reminders and motivational tips designed to push you to keep reaching and surpassing your goals.

If you’re looking for a lot of variety, the BetterMe app might not be the best fit for you. The meal plans and exercise regimens are pretty strict and don’t allow for a lot of different options or flexibility. On the other hand, if you need a focused plan that you can easily stick to, this app will be extremely helpful.

Don’t wait to become the best version of yourself – download the BetterMe app today!

If you’ve just got to have all the latest technology, your car should be just as forward-thinking. There are tons of ways you can bring your vehicle into the 21st century. But here’s a list of our top five favorite must-have car gadgets!

1.Tire Plus Gage System

If you want to make sure your vehicle is in tip-top shape, buy a handheld pressure gauge to make sure your tires are properly inflated at all times. The Fobo Tire Plus system actually uses Bluetooth gauges to send the data about your tires straight to your phone, so you’ll always be able to monitor the health of your tires. Plus, the system can monitor up to 19 cars, so you can get data for all of the cars in your household. On another safety note, making sure your car’s air filter is up to snuff is also vital for your vehicle’s well-being. Check out automotive air filter reviews online to find out which model would be best for your car.

2.USB Charger

If you’re always charging your phone, a USB charger from a brand like Scosche can actually allow you to charge two devices at once. It has 12 watts to help give you the fastest charge possible. Plus, the one from Scosche will work nicely if you’re on a budget, and it’s compatible for iPhones, portable speakers, Bluetooth headsets, GPS, and other devices.

3.Radar Detector

Always on the lookout for cops when you’re out driving? You can put your mind at ease by purchasing a radar detector. The Escort Max 360 has dual antennas and smartphone compatibility that lets you network with other drivers nearby. You’ll never get stopped for a ticket again!

4. Backup Camera

Backup cameras can be a great asset if you tend to bump into things (hey, everyone does it!). There are several models that are super easy to install – you just mount a small camera over your rear license plate. Then the device uses Bluetooth and WiFi to transfer live footage right to your smartphone, where you can switch up customizable views to get the best one. No more denting your bumper!

5. Head-Up Display

For a futuristic display of important data for your vehicle, consider a head-up display (like the one from Garmin). It’s a compact device that actually projects info right above your dashboard. It includes everything from turn-by-turn navigation to the speed limit, so you’ll have all the info you need right in your sightline.

Make sure your car has all the coolest gadgets by checking out these high-tech options!

About the Author: Erin Konrad

(photo source: https://pixabay.com/en/navigation-car-drive-road-gps-1048294/)

(Sponsored post) In today’s highly competitive online world, speed is one of the key metrics that sets one website or app apart from the others. And lack of sufficient speed will virtually cancel out all other positive aspects of your pages, considering that conversion rates drop 80% and 40% of site visitors immediately leave when a page takes more than 3 seconds to load.

If it’s a matter of fixing computer problems on the user end, that’s one thing. But if it’s the website, app, or network, then software developers using Microsoft’s asp.net program need to learn these key asp .net performance tuning tips and take intensive, logical steps to eliminate the problem before they lose half or more of their users.

The first step is identifying the cause of the costly slowness, which is what we’ll focus on here. Here are some of the most common answers to the question, “What’s slowing down my Web pages?”

1. It could be the network.

Sometimes, it’s your network/hosting service that has the “glitch” that is slowing things down. There may be coding errors, network errors, or simply too large to handle traffic volumes. If that’s “all” it is, then you might just need to find a bigger, better network to host your web traffic.

2. Images overload.

You need good images, both static and dynamic, to keep up user engagement, but unless those images are of the ideal size, dimensions, and formatting, they can greatly slow down load times and become counter-productive. Plus, you may just need to trim back a little on your image quantity or allow fewer ads.

Using an image as a page background or header can often slow down pages, and the lack of an “SRC tag” with HTML-integrated images will also reduce speed.

3. High HTTP Requests

HTTP requests can account for the large majority of page-loading times, and only by optimizing the number of “elements” your page houses can you get it to handle more requests faster.

Each page element requires an HTTP request to load it, which means more elements take longer to load, but you can’t decrease elements too much or you lose page quality. Aim for simple design that is clutter-free and everything has a purpose.

You have to find the optimal balance that prevents slow loads while making the page worthwhile to load to begin with.

4. You need browser caching.

If you’re not using browser caches of image/script/style sheets on your Web pages, you’re slowing things down unnecessarily. People who visit the same pages multiple times don’t mind “cookies,” because they know it helps their pages load faster – and that helps you as much as them.

Anything elements of the page that are cached don’t have to be downloaded every time, which makes the 2nd page load and beyond potentially much faster. High satisfaction rates with repeat visitors/customers is key to business success, so caching is crucial.

5. You need to “zip” some files.

When dealing with long text or rich content, browsers can download files much faster if they are sent by Gzip or another data compression method. A smaller size means easier extraction and minimal page-load time. It’s as simple as that.

Not all browsers, unfortunately, support Gzipped download, but many do. And reducing memory from 250 kilobytes to 35 can have a dramatic effect wherever “browsers are on board” with it.

There are, of course, numerous other possible problems with code, formatting, and servers that can slow down page load times, but these 5 are among the most common.