Android Provides The Best Opportunities For Growth In Developing Countries

Android Development

In the United States, the smartphone and smartphone app market is almost completely saturated.  Nearly 224 million smartphones are in active use which places limits on future market share growth.  Currently, Google’s share of the U.S. market accounts for approximately 40%-50%.  Periodic fluctuations in Google Android’s operating system market share is expected based on the timing of new releases of iOS, iPhones and iPads.

Instead of aggressively fighting for more of the U.S. market, Google and Android app developers are looking towards developing countries for continued growth and global dominance.  So far, the sky has been the limit for overseas markets; something mobile marketing strategists are surely paying attention to.  One reason for Android’s success abroad is not entirely about what Android offers.  Some of the growth Google and Android app developers see overseas is due to Apple’s rigid operating system and high entrance price.  

Below are 7 more reasons why Android apps and smartphones are taking over the globe:

  1. Google Android Play App Store is available in more than 134 countries.
  2. Google can process a myriad of payment types in each of those countries (credit card, gift card and direct-carrier billing).
  3. Mobile phone growth in developing countries is exploding with direct links to growth in GDP.
  4. Companies are developing and selling $50 smartphones, which run Android OS, in emerging economies.
  5. Google understands, and is working hard, to provide tools and tips to app developers so their apps are ready to be offered on the international market.
  6. Fragmentation within the Android universe is decreasing.
  7. Samsung is leading the pack in internet use by mobile devices worldwide and runs the Android OS.

When considering how to increase profits, developing countries need to be a part of a company’s mobile marketing strategy.  Whether the application is for business or pleasure, many new users will be accessing the app with an Android mobile device.  Mystic Media has the knowledge and capability to develop Android applications for both international and domestic markets.  Click here to learn more about our Google Android Development services.

Online Radio Streaming: Apple’s New Battleground With The Release Of iTunes Radio

Radio Streaming

As we reported in, Is Online Radio Streaming Taking Over AM/FM?,  and, Online Radio Streaming is the New Frontier, online radio is changing the way we listen to music.  Since the introduction of many popular internet radio stations, several different companies offering music streaming have come and gone.  While companies like Pandora and Spotify have found success, coming this Fall, there will be a new kid on the block trying to change how the game is played.

As a part of its iOS 7 software release, Apple will unveil iTunes Radio.  With it, Apple hopes to revolutionize its mobile advertising strategy.  Apple has inked deals with McDonalds, Nissan, and Pepsi to make iTunes Radio the number one online streaming service around.  Their goal is to effectively unite music and advertising, and as one of the largest untapped marketing opportunities available on the internet, this appears to be attainable.

According to a report by Forrester Research, internet radio stations offer a powerful medium to marketers and advertisers.  It is a unique platform providing a way to make a guaranteed impression on users.  Website pages overwhelm users with multiple advertisements diluting the impact of each message.  Online radio advertisements are less invasive and end up being more memorable.

The following are two statistics many mobile marketing strategists are paying attention to:

  1. Only 6% of adults are willing to pay for access to ad-free radio streaming services.
  2. Approximately 44% of online radio listeners who remembered ads (approx. 58%) took some action in relation to it.

With the release of iTunes Radio and iOS 7, Apple is making a strong bid to become the number one platform for all things digital.  Tap into the power of online radio streaming and guarantee your message is not only heard but is acted upon.  Mystic Media is a leader in designing marketing strategies and advertisements for online radio stations, and harnessing the power of iOS 7.  Contact us today to learn how your company can leverage the power of online radio streaming.

Using Location-Based Apps To Create Geo-Targeted Free Marketing Campaigns

Android Development, iOS Development

Small businesses require a lot of time and energy.  For some, initial start-up costs can be a huge burden.  As expenses mount up, asset allocation can cause a lot of stress.  Every dollar spent has to be well worth the cost.  Sometimes, key areas of a business can be under-funded.  Mobile marketing budgets should not be one of them.  Cost-effective mobile marketing strategies exist, and should be taken advantage of.  One such strategy is to invest in developing a location-based application.

Location-based applications, or geo-location apps, give businesses an easy and cost-effective way to market themselves in the mobile community.  By placing a geo-location app in the hands of customers, the power to assist in mobile marketing campaigns is just a click away.  iPhone and Android apps, specifically built for geo-location, can greatly expand a business’s audience. 

Some of the many benefits of location-based services are:

  1. Free word-of-mouth marketing via social networks.
  2. Build brand awareness and loyalty.
  3. Form a closer relationship with customers.
  4. Make it easy for prospects to pop in when nearby.

Here is an example of how geo-location apps work:

  1. A customer heads out to their favorite clothing store, restaurant, coffee shop, or retail establishment.
  2. When they arrive, they “check-in”.
  3. A notification gets sent out to the customer’s social network, such as Facebook or Twitter advocating the business.
  4. Friends in the area can join in on the fun and “check-in” when they arrive too, notifying more and more people.
  5. For every 10 “check-ins” and/or for every 5 recommendations, a business might offer a loyalty discount or coupon on the customer’s next purchase.

The overall goal of  a location-based app is to form a stronger bond with customers and learn more about consumer habits.  Fortunately, location-based apps can be utilized by any business.  From clubs, to clothing stores, to restaurants and coffee shops, geo-location apps can be an effective and affordable part of any mobile marketing strategy. 

To learn more about the possibilities iOS and Android app development can provide small businesses contact Mystic Media today.  

Boost Online Sales With The Top 5 Rules of Landing Page Design

Web Design

A very common dilemma clients have, when creating a marketing budget for their website, is figuring out how much to spend on online marketing campaigns.  Clients do not want to waste money if online conversion rates do not result in increased sales.  For businesses both large and small, online marketing strategies are designed to boost sales, and if implemented correctly will do so.

E-commerce solutions, such as search engine optimization (SEO), are extremely multi-faceted.  So much so, oversight of many key optimization elements is unfortunately common practice.  One key element of SEO is landing page design.  A landing page is any page on a website where traffic is driven to stimulate a particular action, or result from the user.  Landing pages are commonly found when clicking on banner ads or affiliate program links.  

For a landing page to be effective, whether it was created to obtain a signature on an online petition, or to pitch a product or service, it should be well thought out and designed to achieve a particular action.  It should not be overly sophisticated nor overly simplified. Common pitfalls of many landing pages include no real incentives, being outdated, lacking information or not visually enticing.

Landing pages are often thought of as being expensive and very complicated to design. However, if designed correctly, landing pages end up being a small percentage of the overall marketing budget and can be developed, tested and implemented quickly.

Below, are 5 rules for designing the best landing pages:

  1. Offer an incentive for visitors to read past the headline.  (Focus on solving the user’s problem or ask the user a question to provoke a particular thought or action.)
  2. Provide customer testimonials and reviews.
  3. Don’t ask for too much information.  (Focus on what’s important and gather more information on a subsequent page.)
  4. Give the landing page one solitary purpose to keep the visitor’s attention helping them focus on the main point of the page.
  5. Pay attention to the color, the shape, and the size of buttons.  (A visually pleasing landing page will engage a visitor quickly and effectively.)

Effective online marketing campaigns need to provide a substantial return on investment.  Mystic Media is a leader in designing effective landing pages, and other online marketing strategies, to boost sales and visibility.  Click here to learn more.

Keeping Healthy With Some Cool iPhone Apps

Healthcare Tech, iOS Development

With the explosion of mobile health, there are a lot of medical apps designed for the iPhone.   Nutrition apps monitor current lifestyle habits to help individuals stay healthy and avoid sickness.  There are also apps specifically designed for pregnant and nursing women to help new mothers monitor the health of the fetus and track feeding schedules.  A number of iPhone medical apps are designed specifically for doctors to assist with differential diagnosis and lab values.

Exciting new iPhone health apps for patients and doctors include:

  1. Sleep – Improves sleep by monitoring individual sleep cycles and heart rate, and helps individuals become more active.
  2. Baby Connect – Record feedings, naps, nursing, diapers, milestones and much more!  Also, share that information with babysitters, nannies and family.
  3. Pocket Pharmacist – Better understand prescription medications to ensure medication compatibility, and minimize side effects and unnecessary drug therapy.
  4. Instant ECG – Excellent learning tool and quick reference for physicians, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare professionals.
  5. Pocket Lab Values – Provides on-the-go information necessary for the daily practice of medicine for practitioners and students.

With the 2013 release of the new iPhone this Fall, growing demand for lifestyle and medical apps will increase.  Patients and doctors enjoy the assistance medical apps provide.  Nobody is complaining about the way mobile healthcare apps increase the overall health of patients, as well as decreasing medical costs!

Enlist Mystic Media’s help to keep pace with this new trend.  We design wonderful, effective smartphone apps to meet the needs of today’s marketplace.  Click here to learn more about our app development services.

Juicy Rumors: What Is Apple Really Up To With the New iPhone?

iOS Development

Staying true to form, Apple has been cagey about the release of its newest iPhone. Speculation is running wild. Will the new phone debut in September or later in the Fall of 2013?  Will it be called iPhone 5s or iPhone 6?  One thing is for sure, since the release of its first iPhone in 2007, Apple has released a new iPhone each year, in the Fall.  To add to the speculation about the new iPhone,  the possible updates and innovations fuel endless rumors.

Here are some of the rumors about the new iPhone 5s/6:

  1. Near Field Communication (NFC) – Combined with fingerprint scans, this feature could make the new iPhone safer and easier to use to make payments and send data.
  2. Camera – Beefier camera (13 megapixels) and larger flash will keep pace with the trends of other smartphone makers.
  3. iOS 7 – The new iPhone will be the poster child for the new operating system to help increase sales of both iPhone and iOS 7.
  4. Display – Apple may offer two different-size screens to compete with Android.  The screen will have a 1080p full HD display.

If Apple has proven anything since its inception, the new iPhone 5s or iPhone 6 is sure to set another bar for others to reach.  The new phone will increase demand for the design and building of mobile applications specifically for Apple products.

Of course, Mystic Media is great at designing mobile sites and apps that will take advantage of the new iPhone and generate even more revenue for your business.  Click here to learn more about our mobile app development and iOS development.

Smartphones Help Patients Take Charge of Their Own Health

Android Development, Healthcare Tech, iOS Development

One of the biggest problems in healthcare today is missed medications.  Patients who knowingly, or accidentally, forget to take their prescription medication account for approximately 45% of all medication-related hospitalizations.  This problem leads to billions of dollars in annual health care costs.  Fortunately, this is one area of healthcare that is easily managed.  Medical apps for patients help stem the tide of increasing healthcare costs by placing medication and other health-management needs in the palm of their hands.

Medical apps are being developed for both Android and iPhone operating systems that offer gentle reminders to take medications and/or provide helpful information regarding symptoms and other basic medical questions.  In 2013, smartphone apps usage is growing at a fast pace.  Estimates project that over 20 billion apps will be downloaded in 2013.  Included in this number are medical apps for patients and for doctors. 

Some of the best medical apps for Android and for iPhones are:

  1. Drugs.com Medication Guide (Free) – Store all of your medication info, set reminders to take pills, look up prescription pills and learn about possible side effects.
  2. Diabetes in Check (Free) – Monitor type 2 diabetes with healthy eating tips (i.e. recipes and nutritional info), exercise reminders, blood sugar monitors and medication reminders.
  3. ZocDoc (Free) – Type in your zip code and insurance type and locate a doctor in your area that best suits your needs.
  4. WebMD (Free) – Check symptoms, learn more about a specific condition, identify pills and locate local health facilities in case of an emergency.

Of course, with the demand for medical apps growing daily, you should take advantage of this new market and let Mystic Media design an innovative smartphone app for you.  Contact us to learn more.

Hot Web Design Color Trends for 2013

Web Design

Like we reported in Flat Design Specialists for iOS 7, web design and development style has changed.  And, as every fashionista knows, style changes aren’t complete without new color schemes to match.  Web design color trends for 2013 boast more pastels, grays, neons, and color blocking.  With these new trends, web and graphic designers can create visually pleasing websites that are easy to use.

Here is a list of the 2013 web design color schemes:

  1. Muted Pastels – In order to provide a more subtle feel to websites, designers are turning to a muted color palette full of pastels and neutral tones.  This aids prevents visually overwhelming users and provides a friendlier atmosphere.
  2. Accented Grayscales – This design allows for simplicity, by easily directing the user’s attention to important information and interactive elements.  By alternating grays with bright accents, the designer can also provide a more polished look.
  3. Neons and Brights – Just like skinny jeans from the 1980s, neon is making a strong comeback.  Designers can create fresh and interesting sites that mix and match neon and other bright colors together.
  4. Color Blocking – This trend is less about web design color combinations or schemes and more about functional style.  Color blocking is a great minimalist choice for graphic designers wanting to clearly define categories, sections and/or single elements.

Each one of these web design color trends can add functionality and provide a visually pleasing experience to the end user.  Understanding color combinations and schemes is required for excellent web design and development.  Mystic Media can design or re-design your site and make it completely up-to-date.  Contact us to learn more.

The Smartphone Is In: Are Mobile Medical Apps Replacing Doctors?

Android Development, Healthcare Tech, iOS Development

What does FDA regulation have to do with mobile phone applications?  It’s called mHealth and it is taking mobile health to a higher level.  With the ability to access information anywhere, smartphones and tablets are changing the way doctors provide care to their patients.  Mobile medical applications are growing at a very fast pace.  And with increasing demand on doctors to be in more than one place at a time, these health apps make it easier for doctors to deliver care.

Many mobile medical apps pose minimal to no risk at all to patients.  Health apps that turn mobile devices into medical devices can pose a risk and need federal regulation.  Some of these apps are only accessible to doctors.  However, a growing number of mobile health apps are directly available to patients – raising concerns that patients will believe themselves to be experts and not seek medical advice because their medical smartphone apps said this or that.  Thus, the need for some regulation of mobile health apps, not total regulation, seems appropriate.  In order to find out what medical apps are currently under FDA regulation, check out: http://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/deviceregulationandguidance/ 

Mobile health apps increasing in popularity among doctors and patients are:

  1. iHealth Blood Pressure Monitor – Connect a cuff to your smartphone or tablet and monitor your blood pressure.
  2. SmartHeart – Uses wireless transmission to send information from your heart monitor to your mobile device.
  3. OnTrack Diabetes – Free application that allows diabetics to track crucial information connected to diabetic health: blood glucose, food, blood pressure, exercise, pulse, medication and weight.

One thing is for sure, mobile health apps are a trend that is continuing to grow.  mHealth is increasing in importance and mobile health apps are making things easier for doctors and patients alike.  If you are interested in tapping into the growing, lucrative market of medical-oriented apps, Mystic Media can create the mobile app you’re looking for.  Contact us to learn more.

Mac Isn’t So Big Anymore: Android Tops 2013 Tablet Purchases

Android Development

During the 2nd Quarter of 2012, Apple and Android tablets shared equally in leading total global shipments.  That was 2012.  In the 2nd Quarter of 2013, Apple tablet sales slipped from 17% to 14.6%.  Meanwhile, Android tablet sales rose from 18.5% to 34.6%.  Does this spell the end for Apple’s ability to compete in the tablet marketplace?  No, not really.  However, this does mean that Apple’s marketing team needs a new strategy.

Android’s steady progress is a result of building partnerships with the likes of Samsung, Amazon, Google and other tablet manufacturers.  This allows for new Android tablets to be released into the market every quarter.  Unfortunately for Apple, keeping pace with this type of productivity might not be possible.  Thus, with the release of Android Studio 0.2.0, Android tablets are definitely a device to focus on for your business’s marketing strategy.  

Here is a list of the top Android tablets in 2013 where your audience could find you:

  1. Nexus 7.2
  2. Sony Xperia Tablet Z
  3. ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime
  4. Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
  5. Amazon Kindle HD

Mystic Media can develop great Android Apps and mobile sites that are Android compatible to help you tap into this growing market.  Click here to learn more about our Android Development Services.