Reflections & analysis about innovation, technology, startups, investing, healthcare, and more .... with a focus on Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes. Blogging continuously since 2005.

Category: Mobile (Page 2 of 19)

A New Optimization Game in the Age of Mobile

AppStoreIcons-VentureBeat

Graphic: VentureBeat

If you publish apps (and it’s hard to find a company these days that doesn’t), you’d better be up on the new science — and art — of App Store Optimization. Yes, say hello to another acronym: ASO. We all know about SEO — it’s such common practice, we do it like breathing. But when the whole world has gone mobile, when everyone and their mother are publishing apps, if you aren’t into ASO – well, you’re falling behind. It’s a major new focus for app developers and publishers, and a Minnesota firm is ready to take you to school on it.

ASO is the direct result of a phenomenon VentureBeat calls “invisible app syndrome.” In a post today, it explains: “With over 1.5 million apps in each app store, it’s easy for apps to disappear and never be seen… App Store Optimization (ASO) can bring your app out of hiding, placing it squarely in front of the customers who need or want it, and keep them clicking through.”

Minnesota-based NativeX is an experienced player in helping app publishers NativeX-logooptimize for the app stores. It describes itself as “the premiere ad technology choice of top-charting mobile games and apps.” It has an expert team of engineers, data scientists, account managers, and designers, and has been recognized as a leader in effective monetization and user acquisition. Continue reading

Wait, Was That My iPhone That Just Flew Over Your Head?

It could have been if I had a “PhoneDrone Ethos” prototype — I could be buzzing you! But, sigh, I don’t have one … and none of us mere mortals will until they ship in September 2016. That’s as soon as the Kickstarter page promises. Nonetheless, as I write this, the product boasts some $238,000 pledged (well exceeding the $100,000 goal), and more than 900 backers — who apparently have no problem waiting for 11 months.

xCraft, the designer and manufacturer, is a drone company that scored a record-breaking $1.5 million investment on Shark Tank recently.  Continue reading

Retailers Are Lagging, Says Omnichannel Leader

[Note: This post first appeared on April 30th at Minnov8.com, where I’m a regular contributor.]

SPScommerce-Influence-logoRetailers still don’t appear to be facing the profound changes their industry is undergoing, according to Peter Zaballos, VP of marketing and product at Minneapolis-based SPS Commerce, in a keynote he gave yesterday at the company’s annual “omnichannel” conference, called In:fluence15.

“It’s not just about ‘the Amazon effect’,” he said. “It’s about digital engagement.”

Continue reading

SaaS is so yesterday. The new hotness? Software WITH a Service: #SwaS

So, we know you’ve been sitting around wondering… what’s the next big wave in B2B software? Well, so have a bunch of Silicon Valley VCs, according to the author of a recent TechCrunch guest post, “Why ‘Do It For Me’ Is The Next Big Thing.”

Service-keyboard-450wThe author is Anthony P. Lee, a general partner at Altos Ventures, and he makes an excellent argument about how SaaS is no longer enough — specifically, for companies in the ginormous space we call Small Business.

Continue reading

Minnesota ‘Mompreneur’ Leaves Corporate Job, Launches Parent App

[NOTE: This post first appeared yesterday on Minnov8.com, where I am a contributor.]

karla-lemmonKarla Lemmon has done it. She’s left a successful corporate career as a product manager to pursue her dream of becoming a tech entrepreneur and marketing her own app — an app for which she’s convinced there’s a big need.

Little Peanut on the Go is a personal-assistant mobile app for parents to help them stay organized and connected when they or their children are away from home. It lets parents create packing lists and to-do lists, build care schedules to share with caregivers, and little-peanut
connect with their children while they’re away with updates and photos. Little Peanut on the Go just became available this month, first in the Google Play App Store for Android devices. It’s expected to be available very soon in the iOS App Store. (UPDATE: it’s there!)

Continue reading

« Older posts Newer posts »