If you’re looking for a Salt Lake City mobile app development partner who can take your product from idea to launch (and keep improving it after release), Mystic Media builds scalable, custom iOS and Android applications for startups through enterprise teams—right here in Utah.
We deliver full-cycle product development: app modernization, native and cross-platform builds, UX/UI design, testing, and guided deployment to both Google Play and the App Store—plus ongoing support as your app grows and evolves.
We regularly integrate mobile apps with third-party APIs, custom backends, analytics, and business systems—tailored to your workflows, reporting needs, and data requirements.
Launch + long-term ownership
From concept through release, we help ensure smooth deployment on the App Store and Google Play. Post-launch, we stay engaged with maintenance, feature rollouts, and ongoing improvements as your app adapts and expands.
Featured Salt Lake City case studies
Bean There Camping (Bean Trailer) — iOS + Android app built for real-world connectivity
Built as a proprietary campsite destination resource, this app combines a customer-only campsite database with social features that support discovery, reviews, and trip sharing. It’s designed to work online and offline—ideal for spotty campground service.
Won-Door Programmer — modern mobile tool replacing proprietary hardware workflows
Replaced an installer workflow previously handled by a proprietary hardware device with a modern mobile experience.
Delivered an iOS/Android installer app optimized for phones and tablets, plus an administrative portal supporting installer management and diagnostics.
Apt CoWork — iOS + Android + web app for booking coworking spaces
Delivered iOS, Android, and web applications that let users sign up and book coworking spaces, backed by reporting and monitoring tools—including workspace connectivity tracking.
Supported scoping and MVP planning with milestone-driven execution on a strict timeline to help launch an enterprise education software platform focused on secure, personalized experiences for students and teachers.
How much does mobile app development cost in Salt Lake City?
Costs vary based on complexity, features, platforms, and integrations. We provide detailed estimates after a discovery phase and can tailor solutions to different budgets.
How long does it take to build an app?
Many projects land in the 8–20 week range depending on scope, integrations, and feedback cycles.
Can you improve an app you didn’t build?
Yes—through audits, codebase reviews, redesigns, and enhancement work to optimize performance or scale for growth.
Ready to build your app in Salt Lake City?
Whether you’re launching something new or modernizing an existing product, Mystic Media can take you from strategy and UX/UI through development, launch, and ongoing support—backed by a Salt Lake City-based team and local case study wins.
In a world increasingly conscious of its ecological footprint, the drive towards sustainable energy solutions is more critical than ever. Understanding the intersection of sustainable technology and renewable energy is key to pioneering a greener future. This blog explores how sustainable tech solutions are transforming the landscape of renewable energy, providing businesses with innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint and enhance efficiency. By embracing these advancements, organizations can make meaningful strides toward long-term sustainability and resilience.
Powering the Future
The basics of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro, set the stage for why sustainable energy is essential in our shift away from fossil fuels. With the growing global demand for energy, shifting to renewable sources is not just a choice; it’s a necessity. You’ll discover the impacts of sustainable tech solutions in renewable energy, balanced insights into their pros and cons, and what the future holds for these technologies. Let’s dig deep into this vital topic and see how we can leverage these innovations for a sustainable tomorrow.
The Impact of Sustainable Tech on Renewable Energy
Innovative tech solutions are transforming the renewable energy sector, enhancing efficiency, affordability, and accessibility. These advancements enable us to better harness natural resources like wind, solar, and hydropower, significantly lowering environmental impact while maximizing energy production. They play a pivotal role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and supporting a sustainable response to global energy demands.
One of the significant effects is the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. By integrating sustainable tech solutions, businesses can significantly lower their carbon footprint, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier planet. For technology executives, this means not just complying with environmental regulations but leading the way in corporate social responsibility.
Beyond environmental benefits, these solutions offer economic advantages. Advancements in technology have led to a decrease in the costs associated with renewable energy production, making it more competitive with traditional energy sources. This economic shift makes sustainable tech an attractive investment for businesses looking to align their operations with environmentally friendly practices.
Breaking Down the Benefits
Adopting sustainable tech solutions in renewable energy presents numerous benefits, from environmental impacts to economic savings. For businesses, these solutions can lead to substantial cost reductions over time, as renewable energy typically results in lower operational expenses compared to traditional energy sources.
The environmental benefits are significant. Sustainable tech solutions help mitigate climate change by reducing carbon emissions, conserving water resources, and decreasing the reliance on depleting resources. This aligns with global sustainability goals and reinforces a brand’s reputation as environmentally conscious.
In addition, these technologies often come with government incentives and tax breaks aimed at promoting green energy adoption. This financial boost can be a compelling reason for CTOs and CFOs to consider integrating them into their existing operations. By doing so, companies not only improve their bottom line but also contribute positively to the community and environment at large.
Expanding the Benefits of Sustainable Tech in Renewable Energy
The advantages of adopting sustainable tech solutions extend far beyond cost savings and environmental impacts—they encapsulate a strategic transformation for businesses positioned for future growth. By shifting towards renewable energy, companies can diversify their energy portfolios, reducing reliance on finite, fossil-based fuels. As the supply of traditional fuel sources diminishes, leading to increased extraction costs, businesses adopting renewable energy can avoid these escalating expenses. The stable pricing of renewables offers a less volatile energy cost structure, allowing for more accurate and reliable financial forecasting. This financial predictability is crucial in enabling firms to allocate their resources more effectively towards innovation and expansion, ultimately fostering long-term economic growth.
Furthermore, investing in sustainable technologies positions businesses as leaders in innovation and sustainability, reinforcing their brand reputation and competitive edge. As awareness grows about the detrimental impacts of climate change, consumers and stakeholders are increasingly turning their support towards companies that demonstrate a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship. By showcasing a proactive approach to sustainability, businesses not only enhance their public image but also attract environmentally conscious customers and investors. Additionally, these efforts can facilitate strategic partnerships with other like-minded organizations, leading to collaborations that drive further advancements in sustainable practices. Embracing this forward-thinking approach solidifies a company’s role as a pioneer in the evolving landscape of global energy solutions.
Challenges and Considerations
While the path to adopting sustainable technology in renewable energy is paved with numerous benefits, it comes with its own set of formidable challenges. Key among these is the considerable initial investment required. Though the promise of long-term savings is a compelling incentive, the hefty upfront costs can present a major financial hurdle, particularly for small and mid-sized enterprises. Businesses must carefully weigh the initial expenditure against the potential for future returns, a task that requires not only financial foresight but also strategic planning.
Infrastructure modification presents another significant challenge. Transitioning to renewable energy solutions often demands substantial overhauls of existing energy systems. This can be a daunting undertaking, necessitating both time and financial resources to reconfigure or upgrade infrastructure to accommodate new technologies. These projects are not only capital-intensive but can also disrupt daily operations, thereby requiring careful planning and execution.
Moreover, the inherent intermittency of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power demands sophisticated energy storage solutions to maintain a consistent energy supply. This challenge calls for the development and integration of advanced storage technologies, which can reliably harness and distribute power even when natural resources ebb. The refinement of these storage solutions is critical for ensuring energy stability and is an area where continual innovation is needed.
Furthermore, the integration of sustainable tech solutions introduces a level of technological complexity that can be daunting for many organizations. This complexity necessitates a well-trained workforce, equipped with the knowledge and skills to manage and operate these advanced systems. Small businesses, in particular, may find it challenging to recruit, train, and retain the necessary personnel, adding another layer of difficulty to the adoption process. The need for specialized knowledge and skills underscores the importance of investing in workforce training and development as part of the transition strategy. Deploying effective educational programs can empower teams to manage these technologies efficiently, unlocking their full potential and ensuring long-term success in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Pros of Sustainable Tech Solutions
Environmental Impact: Sustainable tech solutions offer a significant reduction in carbon emissions and pollution. By utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower, businesses can contribute to a cleaner and healthier planet. This shift not only helps mitigate the adverse effects of climate change but also supports global efforts to preserve natural ecosystems.
Long-term Cost Savings: Although the initial investment may be substantial, sustainable tech solutions promise considerable savings in the long run. Lower operational costs, coupled with potential government incentives and tax breaks, can lead to financial benefits that outpace those offered by traditional energy sources. Businesses can turn these savings into reinvestments for further sustainability initiatives or operational improvements.
Brand Reputation: Embracing sustainable tech solutions enhances corporate social responsibility and improves public image. Businesses that prioritize environmental stewardship are often viewed more favorably by consumers, stakeholders, and investors. This improved reputation can lead to increased customer loyalty, better brand recognition, and a competitive edge in an increasingly eco-conscious market.
Cons of Sustainable Tech Solutions
Initial Costs: One of the primary drawbacks is the high upfront capital investment required to implement sustainable technologies. The financial outlay can be a significant barrier for businesses, particularly for those with limited budgets. It’s crucial for companies to explore financing options or partnerships that can help alleviate initial financial burdens.
Infrastructure Needs: Integrating sustainable technologies often requires significant modifications to existing systems and infrastructure. This transition can be both time-consuming and expensive, potentially disrupting current operations. Businesses must carefully plan and strategize these changes, ensuring they have the necessary resources and support to manage the transition effectively.
Complexity and Maintenance: Deploying sustainable tech solutions involves technological complexity that requires specialized knowledge and ongoing maintenance. This can present challenges, especially for smaller businesses lacking the resources to hire skilled personnel or provide continuous training. Ensuring the efficient operation of these technologies demands a commitment to maintaining expertise and updating systems as needed.
Balancing these pros and cons is essential for businesses considering the shift to sustainable tech solutions. The decision should be based on a thorough analysis of current operations, budget constraints, and long-term sustainability goals. By weighing the potential benefits against the challenges, organizations can make informed choices that align with their strategic vision for the future.
Future Directions in Sustainable Technology
As we look ahead, the future of sustainable tech solutions in renewable energy appears promising. Technological advances are expected to continue driving down costs and improving efficiency, making renewable energy even more accessible. Innovations in energy storage, such as advanced battery technologies, will play a crucial role in overcoming the challenges of intermittency in renewable sources.
Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning can optimize energy consumption, ensuring maximum efficiency and minimal waste. These technologies can predict energy demand patterns and adjust supply accordingly, reducing energy loss and enhancing system reliability.
Collaboration will be key in this evolving landscape. Industry partnerships and government support will be instrumental in scaling up renewable energy projects, fostering innovation, and creating a regulatory environment that encourages sustainable practices. Business leaders have an opportunity to not only adapt to these changes but to drive the market towards a more sustainable future.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, sustainable technology solutions are poised to revolutionize the renewable energy sector. By adopting these innovative technologies, businesses have the opportunity to substantially minimize their environmental footprint while also reaping economic rewards. The integration of sustainable technologies allows for a decrease in carbon emissions and enhances the overall efficiency of operations, contributing to a more sustainable planet. Nevertheless, it is essential to navigate the associated complexities and costs with careful consideration and strategic foresight. Companies must evaluate the long-term benefits against the initial investments and operational challenges to ensure a smooth transition.
As we delve deeper into how sustainable tech can reshape industries, our subsequent blog will explore the dynamic interplay between sustainable technologies and energy efficiency. This upcoming discussion will shed light on how these advancements can optimize business operations further, drive sustainability efforts, and ultimately, bolster profitability. Meanwhile, organizations should start contemplating the incorporation of sustainable tech to transition towards a more eco-friendly and economically advantageous future. By doing so, they can not only enhance their corporate reputation but also contribute to a more resilient and sustainable global economy. Stay tuned to discover the myriad ways these technological advancements can elevate your business performance and environmental commitment.
In the fast-paced world of technology, developing a mobile app can be essential for businesses aiming to reach a broader audience and streamline operations. However, not all companies have the expertise or resources to build an app in-house. This is where outsourcing mobile app development comes into play. Whether you’re a CTO, CEO, CMO, or a business owner, understanding how to effectively outsource this critical task can save time, reduce costs, and lead to superior product results.
Before you jump into outsourcing, it’s crucial to understand the process, its benefits, and potential pitfalls. This blog will guide you through everything you need to know about outsourcing mobile app development, from the initial evaluation of development partners to future planning. By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp on how to leverage outsourcing to your advantage.
Understanding the Need for Outsourcing
Outsourcing mobile app development can seem daunting at first, but done right it can be a strategic move for your business. The decision to outsource often stems from a lack of in-house expertise, which can hinder a company’s ability to develop an effective application. By partnering with an external team of experienced developers, businesses can gain access to innovative ideas and expert execution. This collaborative approach is particularly valuable for companies with limited technical staff or those venturing into the mobile market for the first time. A capable outsourced team comes equipped with a breadth of experience across various industries and platforms, which can significantly enhance the quality and functionality of the final product.
Another compelling reason to outsource is cost efficiency. Hiring full-time developers can be prohibitively expensive, especially when you consider not only salaries but also training, benefits, and other overhead costs. Outsourcing allows businesses to contract skilled professionals on a project basis, thereby significantly reducing these expenses. This approach also minimizes the financial risks associated with developing an app internally, as there is no need to invest in costly technologies and infrastructure. By leveraging external resources, companies can allocate their budgets more strategically, investing in other areas of business growth while still ensuring a high-quality application development process.
The speed of development is another critical factor that makes outsourcing appealing. With an outsourced team, businesses can expedite the development process by accessing a pool of developers who are ready to start immediately. This rapid initiation is especially beneficial when time-to-market is crucial for gaining a competitive edge or responding swiftly to market demands. By outsourcing, companies can streamline the development timeline, reduce bottlenecks, and ensure faster deployment of their mobile applications. This strategic advantage allows businesses to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape, seizing opportunities without delay.
Choosing the Right Partner
When embarking on the journey of outsourcing your mobile app development, selecting the right partner cannot be overstated. It is the cornerstone of your project’s success. Start by conducting thorough research to identify potential partners who possess a solid track record within your industry. Look specifically for companies that have amassed a considerable portfolio of projects akin to yours. This evidence of past performance serves as a clear indicator of their capability and reliability, offering insight into their adaptability and problem-solving prowess in scenarios similar to what your project might encounter. Don’t hesitate to ask for references or case studies that highlight their past successes and challenges. These can provide invaluable real-world insights that go beyond the polished facade of marketing materials. Websites like Clutch can also serve as a great resource.
Effective communication forms the backbone of any successful outsourcing partnership. It’s imperative that your chosen partner can communicate fluently in your preferred language, ensuring that ideas, concerns, and updates are conveyed with clarity and precision. This eliminates potential misunderstandings which can lead to costly errors or delays. Establishing a structured communication plan is advisable, incorporating regular meetings and the use of collaborative tools.
Slack and Microsoft Teams allow real-time messaging, file sharing, and video calls for seamless interaction. For project management, Trello and Asana offer task boards for tracking progress efficiently. Zoom is great for video conferencing, ensuring clear face-to-face communication. These tools enhance coordination and align teams, improving the success of outsourcing partnerships. This practice fosters transparency and keeps the project aligned with the set goals and timelines, ensuring that no critical updates go unnoticed. Consideration of potential time zone differences is also crucial; aligning schedules to allow for overlap can significantly enhance real-time communication and responsiveness.
Assessing cultural compatibility with your outsourcing partner is essential. Look for a partner who shares a similar set of values and understands the intricacies of your business’s goals; this alignment ensures a seamless integration with your existing team. Creating a harmonious working environment is crucial for fostering a coherent collaboration where both parties are deeply invested in not only achieving but exceeding the set objectives. This synergy often results in the development of an app that is not only functional but also embodies the essence of your brand, resonating well with your target audience.
Equally important, remember that you often get what you pay for. Rather than searching for the cheapest option, prioritize quality and experience. The right partner will have the expertise to anticipate needs, mitigate risks, and add meaningful value throughout the project lifecycle. Look for a partner who asks the right questions to fully understand your requirements and goals from the start. A partner who asks insightful questions will gather the necessary information to accurately define the project scope, saving you time and ensuring alignment on expectations. Ultimately, investing time in building a strong, culturally aligned partnership with an experienced provider can yield a product that truly reflects your business aspirations and stands out in the market.
Managing the Outsourcing Process
Efficient management of the outsourcing process is essential for success. Begin by setting well-defined goals and deliverables that align with your business objectives. Providing a detailed project brief is crucial; it sets expectations and gives the development team a comprehensive roadmap to follow. This clarity not only streamlines decision-making throughout the project’s lifecycle but also aids in evaluating progress and making necessary adjustments. A well-articulated brief can serve as a pivotal reference point for resolving ambiguities and ensuring everyone is on the same page, thereby minimizing potential miscommunications. Based on the project brief, budget, and timeline, your outsourcing partner should create a specific scope of work. This scope of work should outline each feature and milestone within the app, breaking down the project into manageable, measurable steps. This detailed document becomes a key guide, aligning both parties on expectations and providing a framework for accountability, helping to keep the project on track and ensuring that every component is thoroughly planned and executed.
Budget management is another indispensable aspect of outsourcing. Despite its cost-effectiveness, it’s vital to have a transparent financial plan. Clearly defining your budget and discussing it openly with your outsourcing partner helps establish financial boundaries and priorities. Agreeing on payment milestones corresponding with specific phases of the project can offer financial control and reinforce accountability. This structure should be outlined as part of the contract, ensuring that both parties are aligned on expectations and obligations. A contract that includes these financial milestones not only provides a framework for payment but also serves as a safeguard, reinforcing commitment to deliverables and timelines. This practice not only helps in avoiding unexpected expenses but also ensures that resources are allocated efficiently at each stage, which can significantly impact the project’s outcome.
Incorporating quality assurance (QA) as a core component of the outsourcing process is imperative for delivering a successful mobile app. Establishing robust testing protocols and encouraging consistent feedback from the development team ensures that the app functions as intended and meets your quality standards. A reliable outsourcing partner should have their own dedicated QA team to identify and address issues early on, but it’s equally important for your company to have an internal team of testers who can test the app independently and provide valuable feedback to the developers. This dual-layered approach to QA is a crucial step in ensuring that the app not only meets technical specifications but also aligns with user expectations and business objectives. This continuous evaluation can detect discrepancies early, allowing for timely corrections. Allocating adequate time and resources for thorough testing can preempt subpar performance and avert costly post-deployment fixes, ultimately safeguarding the app’s launch integrity and user satisfaction. Integrating QA throughout the development cycle underscores a commitment to excellence, providing a solid foundation for achieving your business goals.
Pros and Cons of Outsourcing
Outsourcing mobile app development offers numerous benefits but also presents some challenges. One major advantage is access to a global talent pool. This allows you to find experts with specific skills that may not be available locally. You can also benefit from diverse perspectives that can enhance creativity and innovation in your project. Cost savings are another significant benefit. By outsourcing, you can avoid many overhead costs associated with in-house development, such as salaries, benefits, and office space. This enables you to allocate resources to other critical areas of your business.
However, outsourcing can also present challenges. Communication barriers may arise, especially when working across different time zones. This can lead to delays and misunderstandings. To mitigate this, establish clear communication protocols and consider partners who operate in similar time zones or have flexible working hours. There is also the risk of losing some control over the development process. Regular updates and transparent communication can help maintain oversight and ensure that the project stays aligned with your vision.
Planning for the Future
Outsourcing is not just a short-term solution; it can be an integral part of your long-term business strategy. Building a robust partnership with your outsourcing team and keeping them informed about your company’s evolving needs ensures a more seamless and efficient collaboration on future projects. Such relationships foster innovation and creativity in addressing future challenges and opportunities. Having a reliable partner who understands your business also offers the flexibility to scale operations up or down, based on project demands. This adaptability can provide a strategic advantage, enabling your business to respond rapidly to changing market conditions.
Consider utilizing feedback and lessons learned from past outsourcing endeavors to hone your approach moving forward. Evaluating what worked well and identifying areas for improvement will refine your strategy and pave the way for even better outcomes in future projects. Such introspection not only bolsters your development processes but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement within your organization. Additionally, tap into the expertise of your outsourcing partner to stay informed about the latest technological advancements and industry trends. Their insights can help ensure your app remains competitive, modern, and aligned with evolving industry standards.
Embracing a proactive approach by integrating emerging technologies can secure your app’s relevance and effectiveness in delivering value. Your outsourcing partner, equipped with a global perspective and diverse skill set, will be instrumental in navigating these technological shifts. By maintaining consistent communication and setting clear objectives, you ensure your partnership evolves in tandem with market demands. This strategic foresight can profoundly impact your business’s growth trajectory, positioning your app and company at the forefront of innovation and success.
Conclusion
Outsourcing mobile app development can be a game-changer for businesses seeking to expand their digital presence without the overhead of an in-house team. By understanding the process, choosing the right partner, and managing the collaboration effectively, companies can create high-quality apps that meet their strategic goals.
With careful planning and execution, outsourcing can offer both immediate benefits and long-term advantages. It’s a powerful tool for innovation and efficiency that can help your business thrive in the competitive tech landscape. Stay tuned for our next blog on Sustainable Tech Solutions for Renewable Energy, where we’ll explore how technology is transforming the renewable energy sector and contributing to a more sustainable future.
How Gamification Can Boost Retention on Any App Part 2: Optimize Onboarding with Gamification
The Mystic Media Blog is currently endeavoring on a 3 part series on how gamification mechanics can boost retention on any app—not just gaming apps but utility apps, business apps and more. In this second entry, we explore how to refine and gamify your onboarding process to keep customers coming back.
ONBOARDING
Your app has been downloaded—a hard-fought battle in and of itself—but the war isn’t over; the onboarding process has just begun.
App onboarding is the first point of contact a user has within an application. It’s one of the most crucial parts of the user experience. Situating users in your application is the first step to ensuring they come back. Twenty-five percent of apps are only opened once after being downloaded. Many apps simply do not make it simple enough for users to understand the value and get the hang of the application—step one in your retention process.
Here are the top tips for smooth onboarding:
MINIMIZE REGISTRATION
A prolonged registration process can turn off new users. Users do not always have time to fill out extensive forms and can quickly become resentful of the pacing of your app. Keep registration to a minimum, minimize required fields, and get users going faster.
We recommend enabling user registration altogether with “Continue as Guest” functionality. Games typically employ this and it enables users to get hands on with the application before they undergo the tenuous account creation process. Hook them with your app, then let them handle the administrative aspects later. Account creation with Google, Facebook, or Twitter can also save quite a bit of time.
Gamification is all about rewarding the user. Offer users an incentive to create their account to positively reinforce the process and you will see more accounts created. If they haven’t created an account, make sure to send prompts to remind them of what the reward they are missing out on. As we detailed in our last entry, FOMO is a powerful force in gamification.
TUTORIAL BEST PRACTICES
When a user enters your application for the first time, they generally need a helping hand to understand how to use it. Many games incorporate interactive tutorials to guide the user through functionality—and business apps are wise to use it as well. However, an ineffective tutorial will only be a detriment to your application.
Pacing is key. A long tutorial will not only bog the onboarding process down, too much information will likely go in and out of the user’s brain. Space your tutorial out and break it into different sections introducing key mechanics as they become relevant. On-the-go tutorials like the four-screen carousel below by Wavely help acclimate users quickly and easily.
And don’t forget to offer a reward! Offer users some kind of reward or positive reinforcement upon completing tutorials to encourage them to continue using the application.
AVOID DEAD ENDS AND EMPTY STATES
An empty state is a place in an application that isn’t populated with any information. For example, favorites, order history, accomplishments, etc.—these pages require usage in order to be populated for information. New users will see these pages and become confused or discouraged. Many applications will offer self-evident statement such as “No Favorites Selected”. Or, in the case of UberEats below, no message is displayed.
It’s confusing and discouraging for users to see these statements. Avoid discouraging your users by offering more information, for example: “Save your favorite restaurants and find them here.” Check out Twitter’s exemplary message for users who’ve yet to favorite a tweet below.
CONCLUSION
Onboarding is the first and most crucial step to building a relationship with your userbase. One of the major things business apps can learn from gaming apps is that time is of the essence when it comes to capturing a user’s attention. Keep it short, punchy, and to the point.
When creating any application, retention is a vital part of ensuring users are engaged and continuing to use the app months and years after downloading. Mobile games have been on the forefront of developing advanced retention mechanics, but regardless of whether your app is a game or serves an entirely different purpose, retention is the key to enriching your app’s relationship with its customers and engraining usage into the user’s life.
With that in mind, the Mystic Media Blog will endeavor on a 3 part series on how gamification mechanics can boost retention on any app—not just gaming apps but utility apps, business apps and more. In this first entry, we will explore how appointment mechanics can boost engagement and the importance of passing the Starbucks Test.
THE STARBUCKS TEST
Can your users have a meaningful experience with your application in the time it takes for a barista to make a caramel machiatto—roughly two minutes? That’s the challenge that Nicolas Lovell and other app developers put forth known as The Starbucks Test. We’ve covered it previously in several of our blogs on Gaming and Monetization strategies.
The goal of the Starbucks Test is to encourage users to use the application at any point in their day. When an application becomes a regular part of a user’s life, it puts game developers in the catbird seat to extract revenue through ads and/or in-app purchases. For business apps, it means users are going to be familiar with the app’s interface and ready to use it when they need it most.
With the firm goal of adding features which will pass the Starbucks Test in mind, the question becomes: What can your app offer users within 2 minutes?
The answers vary wildly depending on the application. Some mobile games are designed for the user to complete a full core loop within the Starbucks Test, while others offer side tasks which can be swiftly completed. Shopping applications can prompt users to view new products and time-sensitive price updates while business apps can offer short informative articles or reward users for completing their profile on the app. The key is to not only put forth an action that can be completed swiftly, but to offer users something in exchange for the user’s actions.
CREATE A REWARD SYSTEM
In order to gamify an app, you need to not only create tasks but incentivize the user to complete them by offering some kind of reward. For games, this is easy as almost all games incorporate some kind of level or point system. For non-gaming apps, you have to get creative. Consider these three common rewards:
Discounts: Offer a direct discount for services, products, or in-app purchases in exchange for completing an action in the application. Discounts that are time-sensitive will add urgency and create FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). Many apps offer some type of discount in exchange for providing reviews on app stores.
In-App Currency: Offer an in-app currency reward for completing an action in the application. For example, loyalty points help keep customers engaged and incentivize them to shop with you. The Starbucks app employs a profuse gamification strategy using it’s loyalty point program on their mobile app.
Badges: Some apps employ badge systems to great effect. For example, Alamo Drafthouse patrons receive credit toward a badge system every time they visit the theater. Badges give users the feeling of status and strengthen a user’s identification with brands while incentivizing them to continue using the app to attain new badges.
APPOINTMENT MECHANICS
Once you have a rewards system, the time comes to create tasks that can be completed on a daily basis without infringing on the user’s time. Many mobile games use appointment mechanics—a concept that can extend beyond the gaming sphere. Appointment mechanics are time-based incentives that reward users and create FOMO. If the user does not complete the action in time, they miss out on a reward.
Often appointment mechanics refresh after a specific time interval—hourly, daily, weekly, etc. One commonly used appointment mechanic is a daily login bonus. All the user has to do is login to receive a reward—be it loyalty points or in-app currency. Take it a step further, and you can offer consecutive daily bonuses which accrue as the user completes daily logins. Consecutive daily bonuses can be applied to any action—for example, rewarding users with double loyalty points for using your app to order a product or service on consecutive days.
Mindfulness apps like Headspace take appointment mechanics to the next level by asking the user when they’d like to be reminded to use the app on a daily basis. These regularly refreshing mechanics keep a fresh reward in front of users at all times.
In our next entry, we will explore optimizing the onboarding process to foster long-term relationships with your users.
While the debate over whether Bitcoin will become the dominant cryptocurrency is far from over, the mechanics behind Bitcoin are unquestionably revolutionary. Blockchain technology has the potential to disrupt more than just currency, but industries ranging from healthcare to Wall Street.
The Blockchain is a secure ledger database shared by all parties participating in an established, distributed network of computers. The Blockchain decentralizes the process of validating transactions, allocating the duties to computers throughout the network.
Blockchain is revolutionary because it eliminates the need for a central authority, allowing for a real-time ledger that is not dependent on a single entity governing the transactions.
Imagine if in order to make changes to a text document, you had to email a colleague who would then update the document on Microsoft Word and send the updated file out to all relevant parties on the team. The updating of information would quickly become an inefficient process that is heavily dependent on the central entity (the colleague). Blockchain posits a workflow that is more like Google Docs in that it allows updates to be made in real time and shared across the network instantly without the need of a central authority. Blockchain enacts this principle by relying on computers within the network to independently validate transactions through cryptography. Thus, the validity of the ledger is determined by the many objective computers on the network rather than a single powerful entity.
The idea of decentralization can also be applied to WhatsApp, the popular messaging app that revolutionized texting and cut the cost of transactions globally. WhatsApp cut out the central authority of phone carrier companies by building the same functionality on a decentralized network (the Internet).
If you’re still confused about Blockchain, check out this awesome video by Wired breaking it down in 2 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-UYHvPKt9E
Blockchain has already found usages in many different industries.
SMART CONTRACTS
Smart contracts are coded contracts embedded with the terms of an agreement. They are a method for businesses and individuals to exchange money, property, materials, or anything of value in a transparent way that avoids the services of a middleman (such as a lawyer). Smart contracts not only define the rules of an agreement, they automatically enforce the obligations provided in the terms of the contract.
Smart contracts have revolutionized the supply chain and threaten to eliminate the use of lawyers for enforcing contracts. Smart contracts and blockchain ensure data security that could also lead to the transferring of voting to an online system, potentially increasing voter turnout significantly.
HEALTHCARE
Within the healthcare industry, Blockchain has the potential to revolutionize data sharing between healthcare providers, resulting in more effective treatments and an overall improved ability for healthcare organizations to offer efficient care. A study from IBM showed that 56% of healthcare executives have a plan to implement a commercial blockchain solution by 2020.
SUPPLY CHAIN
Both within the Healthcare industry and elsewhere, blockchain is redefining supply chain management. Blockchain can provide a distributed ledger that tracks the transfer of goods and raw materials across wide-ranging geographical locations and stages. The public availability of the ledger makes it possible to trace the origin of the product down to the raw material used. For this reason, blockchain has also been applied to track organic produce supply chains.
The boon of the Internet of Things and smart objects means that blockchain technology can be extended to process data and manage smart contracts between individuals and their smart devices or even smart homes. Imagine a world where your refrigerator automatically orders eggs when it senses you are running low based on your egg eating habits. This world will be facilitated by a smart contract run on Blockchain technology embedded in an IoT device.
CONCLUSION
While the first blockchain was created for Bitcoin, applications for blockchain are constantly being implemented across industries. As Harvard Business Review smartly points out, the question in most industries is not whether blockchain will influence them, but when.
Many different cryptocurrencies are utilizing variations on Blockchain technology in order to process transactions—some of which are doing so in a more efficient manner than Bitcoin. Next week, we’ll explore the top cryptocurrencies on the market right now and which ones your business should accept.
Are you missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get in on a currency that could continue to dramatically increase in value over time?
Whether or not the recent surge in value of Bitcoin is a fluke, many agree the idea of cryptocurrency is here to stay. With physical cash having already taken a backseat to credit cards, does it stand to reason that digital currencies will become more prominent in the years to come? Many people are betting big on the answer to that question being yes.
Last week, we explored an overview of cryptocurrencies. For businesses with their eyes on the bottom line, the question becomes: Should you accept cryptocurrencies?
Here are the major factors to consider in making your decision of whether or not to accept cryptocurrencies:
THE POSITIVES:
FRAUD PROTECTION
One of the biggest pros of cryptocurrency is the way in which it protects your business from the risk of fraud. When payments are made through credit cards and PayPal, merchants risk these charges later being reversed if they are deemed a fraudulent purchase. With Bitcoin, payments are irreversible, so the bill for fraud is no longer footed by merchants.
INSTANT INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS
The internet enables the sending of cryptocurrencies overseas to be as easy as sending them across the street. With no central authority to verify transactions, not only do international payments come with no additional cost, they are instant. Cryptocurrencies offer international payments with no extra fees, 0 business days to transfer, and no minimum or maximum transaction amounts, making them an excellent payment option for businesses looking to expand to far-reaching markets.
CHOOSE YOUR OWN TRANSACTION FEES
Instead of paying fees per transaction, cryptocurrencies allow you to pay fees that determine the speed at which money is received. The processing power required to process transactions is distributed across computers on the internet. Network owners make money by allowing merchants and users to use their systems to process transactions. Thus, users can choose their fees based on how fast they require their payments to be sent.
NO PCI-COMPLIANCE NECESSARY
While accepting credit cards online typically requires PCI-Compliance to ensure credit card information is stored safely, cryptocurrencies require businesses to secure their wallets without necessitating the federally-imposed fees that come with processing sensitive information like credit cards. Blockchain technology ensures that cryptocurrencies are secure and that security is cheaper to maintain.
ACCESS A NEW CROWD
As an emerging market with niche followers, the cryptocurrency audience is known for their fervor for all things related to their passion. By adopting cryptocurrencies at an early stage in their development, a business can set itself apart and expand their market to receive visibility from the avid cryptocurrency crowd that has invested in cryptocurrencies at this early stage.
THE NEGATIVES:
MARKET VOLATILITY
Perhaps the greatest detriment to the cryptocurrency movement is the erratic nature of the value of the currency. Bitcoin is the staple cryptocurrency and with its value fluctuating wildly from day-to-day, most cryptocurrency owners would rather save their Bitcoin in hope that its value continues to spike than spend it on consumer goods.
What’s more, retailers may be afraid of accepting something that could lose value fast. When Square announced it was piloting a program to buy and sell Bitcoin through its app, Bitcoin’s price skyrocketed. If a major retailer like Amazon or Target were to elect to accept Bitcoin at their locations, no doubt Bitcoin’s value would spike once again. Thus, the silver lining of the market volatility is if a retailer does begin to accept it early, they could potentially make a large return on their initial investment.
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE
Another major issue for merchants to consider is forthcoming regulations and potential litigation relating to the cryptocurrency markets. With cryptocurrencies still in their infancy, lawmakers are working to enact regulations to govern and tax them. As cryptocurrency becomes more mainstream, merchants that accept cryptocurrencies will have to be adaptable to periodic changes in the laws which govern cryptocurrency.
BOTTOM LINE
While there are some risks in accepting cryptocurrencies, there are potentially massive rewards. Becoming an early adopter of major cryptocurrencies when they are low in value is an investment that could pay off big time if the value of the currencies continues to rise. For forward-thinking entrepreneurs who are ready to adapt to their business environment, the decision to accept cryptocurrency is an easy one. As they say: the early bird gets the worm.
Recently, Bitcoin has flooded the news cycle, rising in value from about 1,000 per bitcoin on January 1st 2017 to upwards of $16,000 as of December 7th 2017. Square, a prominent payment app, recently announced they will pilot a program that allows for Bitcoin trade. With Bitcoin on the rise, the all-important question becomes: Should your app or website accept cryptocurrencies?
Over the next several weeks, we will endeavor on a series of blogs to answer all of the questions necessary to make that decision, including:
What cryptocurrencies are, how they work, and why they are important.
The pros and cons of accepting cryptocurrencies on your app or website
Choosing your cryptocurrency wallet.
What Blockchain is, how it’s important to cryptocurrencies and its other revolutionary applications.
An exploration of why Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency and of other prominent cryptocurrencies.
In order to explore cryptocurrencies, we must start at the beginning. The first successful cryptocurrency was Bitcoin, created in 2008 by the still unknown inventor Satoshi Nakamoto. While Nakamoto’s identity is still a mystery, the significance of their invention is not. They initially announced it as a “Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System”. Past attempts at creating digital currency involved a decentralized system, however, Nakamoto attempted to decentralize the currency by mimicking the technique of Peer-to-Peer file sharing networks.
In order for a payment network to function, there must be a ledger to prevent fraudulent double spending—forged transactions. In the physical world, banks function as the central entity which keeps records about balances. With Bitcoin, Nakamoto created an alternate system. Since the network is decentralized, every entity on the network must have a list with all transactions to check if future transactions are valid. Not only that, there must be an absolute consensus about the records in order for them to become a part of an immutable record of historical transactions known as the “Blockchain”.
Nakamoto set in place a rule that only “miners” can confirm transactions. Miners take transactions, verify them in exchange for a token of cryptocurrency, validate them, and spread them in the network so that every node adds them to the database and the transaction becomes a part of the blockchain. The only way to create a valid Bitcoin is for a miner to complete this function.
Technically, anyone can be a miner. Since there is no central authority to regulate mining and prevent a ruling party from abusing it, Nakamoto set a rule that miners need to invest some of their computing power to the solving of a cryptographic puzzle using the SHA 256 Hash algorithm, in order to verify transactions. Without getting too technical, the miner must complete a cryptographic puzzle in order to build a block and add it to the blockchain, the reward for which is a specific number of Bitcoins depending on the difficulty of the puzzle. Miners compete to solve these problems and the first to solve it and validate the transaction receives the reward. This is part of the consensus that no peer can break.
While the system is complex, the use of the currency is ultimately quite simple. As outlined in BlockGeeks overview, 5 properties separate Bitcoin transactions from other transactions:
Bitcoin transactions are irreversible.
They are not tied to real-world identities but to pseudonymous addresses. This is one of the reasons Bitcoins are frequently used on the black market.
Transactions are enacted instantly and are global.
Cryptocurrencies are secured by a cryptography, making them extremely secure.
Without a central authority, cryptocurrencies are permissionless to use.
Cryptocurrencies often limit the supply of tokens, which is true of Bitcoin. The token supply of Bitcoin decreases in time and will reach its final number sometime around 2140. The monetary supply is controlled by a schedule written in code—in other words, purely through mathematics.
Whereas the statement on your bank account represents a debt owed to you by the bank, Bitcoins are not indicative of debts, they are literal currency with inherent value like a diamond. And the value of that currency has skyrocketed in the past year. Only 10 years after its creation, Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are currently in an inchoate stage, making it all the more important for intelligent citizens to track their progress and global impact.
Next week, we will review the pros and cons of accepting cryptocurrencies through your app or website. Stay tuned!
Emojis have become a staple of text communication in the 21st century. According to Digiday, over 6 billion emoji messages are sent per day. iMessage, Facebook Messenger, GChat, Snapchat & more have all integrated unique emojis into their platforms. Where there is popularity, there is money to be made.
An Emoji is defined as a small digital image or icon used to express an idea, emotion, etc., in electronic communication. Emojis evolved from emoticons, which are pictorial representations of a facial expression using ONLY punctuation marks, numbers and letters. The first intentional use of an emoticon has multiple origins depending on your source. In 1857, historians documented the use of the number 73 to express love and kisses in Morse code. Some credit a New York Times article covering an Abraham Lincoln speech in 1862 with introducing the phenomenon. The first documented use of “:-)” and “:-(” overtly to express emotion was in 1982 at Carnegie Mellon.
As online chat became popular, so did the use of emoticons. In an era of computer-mediated communication, emoticons help communicate nonverbal cues in digital threads. From emoticons, emojis emerged, eschewing the punctuation and using images to directly convey emotion. The first emoji was created in 1998 or 1999 in Japan by Shigetaka Kurita. Emoji was first integrated with iMessage in iOS 5. Snapchat recently bought BitMoji for $100 million. Messaging apps like Facebook Messenger and G-Chat are all following WeChat’s lead in creating their own visual keyboards. iOS 10’s iMessage App Store pushes stickers, opening up a new visual possibilities for app developers and advertising.
With big money on the line, here’s how top companies are monetizing their emojis:
DOWNLOAD FEE: Some emoji companies sell their apps with a download fee. For a flat rate of $1.99, the user receives access to all emojis. Most users will find it hard to justify paying for an emoji app unless they have a pre-existing relationship with the brand, thus this technique is best for major brands like Kimoji, Amber Rose’s MuvaMoji, the newly released Mike Tyson emojis, etc.
EMOJI PACKS/PREMIUM CONTENT: A more popular monetization method than a download fee is the individual pricing of emoji packs and premium content. Both paid and freemium apps can enact this monetization method. A company may offer one emoji keyboard for free with download of the app, then offer premium content, potentially sponsored by another brand, for a fee. Emoji> is among the top purveyors of this strategy.
BRANDED CONTENT: Perhaps the most effective monetization method for emojis is branded emojis and stickers. Fortune recently profiled a start-up named Swyft that generates revenue creating branded emojis & sticker packs. A sticker pack they created for Gwen Stefani’s album Spark the Fire was downloaded almost a million times and resulted in 41 million impressions in 10 days.
App developers looking to push their own emoji packs can generate revenue with branded partnerships after establishing popularity. BitMoji built up an audience over time with a seemingly endless keyboard of expressions. Upon attaining popularity, BitMoji was able to acquire tons of sponsored sticker packs to generate revenue. BitMoji’s success led to Snapchat’s decision acquire BitMoji and integrate an established brand rather than create their own unique emojis.
RETENTION: In order to build an audience and monetize, emoji keyboards must retain their users. Ads aren’t a popular monetization method for emojis since users like their digital conversations ad-free. Animated Emoji Pro integrated games into their app in order to increase user retention and ascend in ASO rankings. Users get lost BitMoji’s vast selection of icons, increasing usage time.
LOCALIZATION: Localization is another major way of enhancing retention on an emoji keyboard. A study by SwiftKey found radically different patterns of emoji usage depending on geographic location. Creatively utilizing geolocation services to localize the user experience for an emoji keyboard can be a vital tool in building and retaining a national or even global audience.
Succeeding with an emoji app requires innovative thinking, attention-to-detail, marketing & careful consideration of audience. Like TV, print, & web messaging, well-crafted emojis require good creative, and meaningful visuals that convey emotion. With 45 billion messages sent per day in the US alone, there is great potential for a well-crafted emoji app to become profitable business with the right combination of concept, execution, and an experienced app developer.
With all the fuss about iPhone 7, iOS 10 and the new Pixel, it’s easy to forget Android recently unveiled their latest OS: Nougat. In line with Android’s other dessert-themed software titles (Marshmallow, Lollipop, KitKat, etc.), Nougat is a treat. It’s a refined version of Marshmallow with improved UX, specs and a lot more. Both iOS fans and app developers take note, here are Android Nougat’s top features:
MULTI-WINDOW MULTITASKING
The most notable feature of Nougat is Multi-Window Multitasking. Unlike iOS, Nougat allows users to run multiple apps on their screen at once, allowing users to watch a movie while they text, view a recipe while they keep their eyes on the timer, or use any number of applications. Multi-Window Multitasking can be utilized with three display options: Split-Screen, Picture-In-Picture and Freeform Mode.
Split-Screen mode splits the screen across the bottom when held vertically, or across the middle when held horizontally.
Picture-In-Picture mode will be optimized for Android TV and will eliminate the controls and interface elements while keeping the content portion to scale.
Freeform mode will allow users to customize the size of each application, like one can with a desktop or laptop computer.
Android has always been a major advocate of customizing notifications, and Android Nougat improves their system. Users customize their quick settings to ensure they are only alerted to the top-level notifications. Users can also maintain conversations within the notifications bar to make it easier to chat without having to go back and forth into apps.
Bundled notifications allow users to see what is happening within their apps at a glance without clogging their feed. Simply tap to expand the box and view more info without going directly into the app.
FASTER PERFORMANCE, MORE BATTERY, LESS MOBILE DATA
The best improvements of Nougat OS are not flashy new features, but overall improved functionality. Google’s “Project Doze,” designed to increase phone battery length, was introduced with Marshmallow, but gets a big upgrade with Nougat. Doze shuts down CPU and network activity while the phone screen is off. Previously, Doze only worked when the device was motionless, but now it can operate whenever the screen is off.
Data overages can add up quickly. Google seeks to counter the threat of overages with Data Saver, a program which kicks in whenever the user is on a metered data connection and limits apps and background processes to a set amount of data. Rather than cutting off data usage at a preset limit, Data Saver makes Android phones more efficient with constant refinement.
Both Data Saver and Project Doze are bolstered by minor technical improvements to Project Svelte, Android’s device optimization initiative, creating a more efficient phone.
SEAMLESS UPDATES
Android isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. Their Nougat OS functions primarily as a UX improvement over Marshmallow. Android has instilled major security improvements, including file-based encryption. Android has also taken a page out of the Chrome OS playbook by adding seamless updates, which will allow system updates to install in the background.
NEW EMOJIS
On the lighter side of things, Android has installed 72 new glyphs and has revamped their 1,500 emojis to appear more realistic. Nougat is also compatible with Vulkan API, which opens up a world of low-overhead graphical possibilities.
WHEN CAN I GET NOUGAT?
As with any Android update, the real question is: when is it coming to my phone? Nougat is out, but device fragmentation on the Android platform entails a staggered availability based on the hardware. While Google’s Pixel phone could soon alleviate some of these fragmentation problems, Android still cannot move at the speed of iOS—but Nougat’s improved functionality is a welcome addition for both app developers and consumers.
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We partnered with Mystic Media to develop our web app. They were fantastic to work with right from the start. They truly are a partner and have our success as a top priority. Chris is great to work with, very responsive, organized, transparent and his teams have done a top notch job with our web app. We will continue to work with Chris and his team moving forward.
Dallin Henrie
2024-02-08
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I would recommend Mystic Media for software development. This was my first experience in needing some customized software tools. Despite my non-tech background, they guided me through the process with clear communication and responsive support. The final product exceeded my expectations, and their ongoing maintenance ensures smooth operation. The longer I've continued to work with them, the more impressed I am with their attention to not just finish a job, but to ensure that things continue running well.
Travis Wilcox
2024-02-06
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The team at Mystic Media has been excellent! From day one, they have been like a partner instead of a vendor. Their team is very professional and has worked hard to help us be successful. Our project was complicated and required software and hardware components working together. The team tackled each piece and delivered a great product of which we can be proud. We are very happy to have worked with Chris and team and we hope to have a long and fruitful relationship going forward!
KT Tape
2023-09-06
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We worked with Mystic Media to build an iOS and Android app for our business. We had a separate partner do the UX/UI, and Mystic was responsible for Development and launch of the app.
Their team was good to work with - the quality of development was high, we've had very low crash rates post app launch, and they built what we designed, very true to the intent of the UX. I would also callout that we had some inevitable design/functionality changes. When that happened, the Mystic team was responsive to changes and creative in helping us figure out how to solve them while being careful with our budget.
We also used Mystic to create the images & videos used in our app store listings and for paid digital/social ads for the app launch. They did well revising creative with our feedback, delivering the needed assets on time, and getting us live!
The Mystic team has also been responsive to feedback. We had some challenges with the ticket system, they've helped us resolve those pretty quickly and have been very open & responsive to that process feedback.
Would recommend!
Brianna Forrest
2023-06-07
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My company used Mystic Media to develop a database to organize daily observations from pollution control equipment. Mystic Media was responsive to specific user needs throughout the project. The resulting database has a great user interface, is easy to use, and is organized efficiently. The database allows quick set-up of new users, plants, and control equipment and can easily be queried for a given timeframe. You can tell their products are developed with the needs of the end user in mind! It has been easy to work with Mystic Media and they always explained issues at a level I was able to understand. We would not hesitate to use Mystic Media in the future and, in fact, we plan to!
Nick Uthe
2022-08-09
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I had an excellent experience working closely with Christopher Silvestro and Mystic Media over the course of a year to develop the Bean There Camping App! We were happy to find a local dev agency since our app project was put on by Bean Trailer here in Salt Lake City, Utah. Starting out we had the UI and other plans cooked up and handed the backend project off to Mystic to get us into the Apple and Google Play Store. Mystic Media hit all of our deadlines, had great communication, and overall was a great partner to execute the job with. Overall, Chris's forward thinking approach and professionalism made our experience working together a breeze. Thank you to Chris and the Mystic Media team, we appreciate you!
Danielle Noel
2022-07-21
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Mystic Media has been amazing to work with. Their team has incredible attention to detail and they always complete tasks in a timely manner. Their processes are organized and methodical. They are very knowledgeable in their craft. They give prompt and frequent progress/timeline updates during projects to avoid any surprises. We appreciate the clear communication! Chris promptly calls whenever an issue arises. Instead of acting as a traditional “vendor”, they are a true partner to our business and an invaluable asset. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone
Carl Goodman
2021-06-21
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Great folks to work with. They were very knowledgeable about mobile apps, were efficient, and professional
Russell Taylor
2021-06-13
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Great company and great experience. Mystic Media has the knowledge and flexibility to help on such a diverse range of projects. I am a current customer and I look forward to many more partnerships with Mystic in the future. I’m forever grateful for their creative abilities, technical expertise, and awesome advice.
