Erich Stauffer

Category: Technology

  • iPhone App Builders

    iOS apps for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and the iPad are in strong demand right now, but not everyone knows how to make one, or even how to find someone to make one for them.

    A friend of mine pointed me towards Mobile Roadie, which has made apps for “the world’s top publishers and brands,” like Taylor Swift and the Miami Dolphins. Their main selling point is that they make making an iOS app easy using templates. The trade-off is that you may end up getting an app that looks like a template – or worse, just like someone else’s app. But this is how web design got started once it became more accessible and popular to make your own web sites. Not everyone could code their own web sites and not everyone can code their own iOS apps, so then, like now, template businesses are helping users create things that they couldn’t otherwise do.

    Other sites like Appiction will make an app for you using their designers and coders, but the price is higher. Expect to pay in the thousands for a custom-developed web app, much like you would for a custom-designed web site. Remember, the app is going to be used by hundreds, if not thousands of people – and if you’re lucky – millions. So you want your app to work well, be pleasing to the eye, and have a good interface – basic rules of design there. To compare different iPhone app developers and get a quote, visit iphoneappquotes.com.

    If you’re interested in developing your own iOS app, The Daleisphere has an article about how to start. He goes over the hardware, software, and knowledge you’ll need to get started. Basically, it takes a Mac (you can’t write iOS apps on a PC*), an Objective-C (Cocoa) writer, and an iOS app compiler. He references several books and guides to help you get started and has several key links you’ll need like where to get signed up to become a developer. The most popular iPhone development book on Amazon.com is Beginning iPhone 4 Development: Exploring the iOS SDK so that is something to get you started.

    *You can write iOS apps on a PC, but it violates the EULA with Apple (because you have to jailbreak an iPhone), however for those willing to accept that risk, there are programs like DragonFireSDK that will help you write iOS apps on a PC as long as you know C/C++.

  • Stay Connected with USB Backup Power

    Never miss a client’s call again when you carry along a simple, yet powerful USB battery device.

    USB charging has been around for a while, but devices that both store and charge other mobile devices are just starting to come into their own. These USB battery packs are small, affordable, and can keep you from losing a call or the last level on Angry Birds. Almost any device that can power itself off of a USB port can use one of these devices. The one exception is the iPad, which requires a lot more watts, but there are even USB battery packs for that if you need it.

    Think about it, you protect your PC with a UPC battery backup, why not your mobile phone, which is usually equal to or more important than your PC when it comes to the day-to-day operations of your business. How much would you be lost without power to your cell phone? Just keep it charged and keep a backup charged. Think business continuity and be prepared with a USB battery pack extender. It’s the right thing to do. It just makes sense for your business.

  • Indianapolis Android Apps

    Did you know there are Android apps made just for the city of Indianapolis and it’s attractions?

    Visit Indy

    The Indianapolis Convention & Visitor Association’s official handheld travel guide to the city. Discover where to eat, drink, sleep and be entertained, and with the help of your device’s GPS, you’ll see how easy it is to get around. Here’s what you can do with it once you’ve downloaded and installed:

    • Search hotels, restaurants, attractions and events based on your location and interests You can also search using Augmented Reality for a street view of what’s close by.
    • Plan your travels by adding preferred destinations to your favorites and generating customized maps.
    • Redeem cost-saving coupons directly from your phone at top Indianapolis restaurants and attractions.

    Whether you live in Indianapolis or are just visiting, the city offers something for everyone – and this Android app can help you find it.  From awesome hotels to delicious dining, the city that has is home to the NCAA and the Indianapolis 500 welcomes you to discover something more. (more…)

  • Are You Hiding from Your Customers?

    You may have a website, billboards, and radio ad spots, but do you really want more business or are you hiding from your customers?

    Sometimes we can hide in plain sight simply because we are doing everything right – we’re not “rocking the boat” so to speak. Our hope is that if we keep out nose to the grindstone and do everything right, business will come and your business will grow. As you can probably tell by my tone that viewpoint is slightly naive. What has worked in the past may not work now. The times they are a changing and people (your customers) are too.

    What to do?

    It’s not going to be easy. In fact, it’s going to be uncomfortable. That’s because you’re going to have to stop doing what feels good and start getting outside your safety zone. Are you willing to do what it takes to grow? I’m not talking about spending more money. I’m talking about how you spend your time and how you think about attracting customers – that is if you want to. You’d be suprised at how many self-limiting business owners there are out there making excuses for why they don’t hear the phone ringing. You can make the phone ring anytime you want by picking it up and making a call.

    Put the pieces together.

    Cracker has a song that goes, “If you want to change the world, start to spin it.” How are you spinning your business? Do you blend in with the crowd or are you a solution to be sought? You don’t have to be mediocre. You can be great. If you don’t like the customers you have now, attract a different set of clients. Remember why you got into business in the first place and don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself. It’s your business. Own it.

  • Know Thy Customer

    Know who you are. That is foundational. But once you do, focus less on yourself and more on your customer.

    Who is your customer? I am not talking about your target customer. I’m talking about the one(s) you already have. What needs do they have that you are not or are not willing to meet? What are you ignoring or choosing to ignore about their needs. It could be that it’s because it’s outside of your business model or your scope and that’s okay – as long as a majority of your customers don’t have the same need. If they do, you may be seriously misaligned with your customer. Change your mindset and you could be poised for growth and a happy clientele.

    Do your customers prefer a different type of communication than you offer?

    It’s easy to send an email or paper invoice to a customer, but what if your customers prefer a phone call or face-to-face communications? Pay attention to how they contact you and learn from them, then adapt – even if it is uncomfortable for you. You are in business because of them. Without customers you have no business.

    And lastly, pay attention to words like ‘wish’ and ‘hope’ in conversations.

    Picking up on key words of wanting like ‘wish’ and ‘hope’ can be great indicators of new advice, products, or services that you could be offering.

  • Tablet PCs Effect on Business

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    How will tablet PCs affect business?

    Now that tablet PCs are becoming more pervasive and in some cases, cheaper, how will businesses be integrating them into their business processes and technology planning?

    McDonalds and Sam’s Club have both been using tablets to pre-checkout customers in line and now medical doctors are considering using them in their practices. Public kiosks, which previously used bulky CRT monitors and desktop PCs and more recently, flat panel LCDs, can be replaced by a simple tablet PC. Even point of sale (POS) machines could be replaced by cheap tablets.

    With all of the choices out there, how will businesses know which tablet PC is best for their business?

    If you’re big enough to have your own technology department or a business analyst, you can ask them, but if you’re a small to mid-size business there are resources on the web like Tablet Comparison that can help. If you are really serious about getting the most out of the technology you might consider hiring a consultant or outsourcing the project, even if you have your own technology department.

  • Top 5 Quick and Dirty Hosted Blog Publishing Services

    Whether or not you have your own domain, sooner or later you’re going to have the need for a hosted blog platform to create more backlinks.

    Webories, the web directories web site, has two articles on hosted blog publishing services* (“Top 5 Hosted Blog Publishing Services” and “Top 5 Hosted Micro-Blogging Publishing Services”) that I would like to add to with my top 5 ‘quick and dirty’ hosted blog publishing services. Some of these are new to me, but they come recommended by The Challenge, which I also recommend for anyone starting out making money online.

    1. LiveJournal – a free blog publishing service centered around it’s users. There are paid options to make it more secure. “Discover global communities of friends who share your unique passions and interests.”
    2. Xanga – “The Blogging Community” is a free blog publishing service. It’s ad based, but paid options reduce the number of ads. You can also get a personalized URL (domain name). If you do, make sure it contains your primary keywords.
    3. Blogger – Blogger is an easy way to share your thoughts about anything. There are a host of features to make blogging as simple and effective as possible and integrating with Google Adsense is a snap.
    4. Identi.ca – Identi.ca is a micro-blogging service. Join for free to share short (140 character) notices which are broadcast to their friends and fans using the Web, RSS, or instant messages.
    5. Posterous – Posterous lets you post things online fast using email. You email us at post@posterous.com and we reply instantly with your new posterous site. If you can use email, you can have your own website to share thoughts and media with friends, family and the world. And they don’t care what anyone says, “Posterous is NOT a micro blog!”

    *A blog publishing service is inherently hosted by someone else who manages the server, its software, and its settings. It’s a kind of software-as-a-service, or SAAS thing. Blog platforms, on the other hand, is blogging software that you host on your own server or hosting company’s server. You manage the software and its settings. A good example is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. WordPress.com is a blog publishing service while WordPress.org is a blog platform. They both use the same software – the difference is in who maintains it: you or them.

  • Top 5 Places to Get Paid to Take Surveys

    How to make money online taking surveys

    A while back I wrote a post entitled 12 Ways to Make Money Online. #9 was ‘Online Surveys’, which is what I am going to be talking about today: the top 5 places to get paid to take surveys online.

    Survey Club – Take Paid Surveys online and get paid cash for surveys with No Membership Fee. Make money with Survey Club! Join our Free Paid Surveys club and get instant access to the best paid online surveys.
    Paid Surveys – Work at home, Get Paid For Your Opinion, paid surveys and online focus groups.
    Survey Scout – Take online surveys and make from $1 to $15, or more. Participate in focus groups and make up to $100 a day. Take phone surveys and you can earn as much as $10 and hour. Try new products (and keep the free products too).
    BigSpot – Join for free by completing the short sign up form. The information you provide helps us match you with survey companies that fit your profile. After joining, you’ll see a personalized list of companies that want to reward you for taking surveys. The more free survey companies you join, the more you can earn!
    Surveys 4 Checks – Members are provided with a step-by-step guide on wow to make money online taking surveys. There is no limit to how much you can make because the income is determined by you! The amount you make will depend on how much time you have to commit each day. The more surveys that you do the more money you will make.

    For more ideas on how to make money online taking surveys, check out Mooladays.

  • Cost Publishing Media Group Crazy about eReaders

    Cost Publishing’s media group, which consists of over sixty blogs, has just under 10% of it’s web sites devoted to the ereader market, which consists of electronic readers, or read pads and their corresponding ebooks, covers, and accessories. Some are specific to particular brands such as Barnes & Noble’s Nook and Amazon’s Kindle. Both cover the ereader devices and accessories to protect them, but one focuses on Nook covers mostly.

    It’s no wonder that Cost Publishing has decided to focus so much on the ereader market. 2010 seemed to be the year of the ereader as new models seemed to come out almost every month. Both major big-box, brick-and-mortar book stores (Borders and Amazon.com) started selling ereaders along with Target and Wal-Mart. Amazon.com reports that its Kindle is their number one selling item and it sold more in Christmas 2010 than any year before that. All of that leaves people craving information about where to buy ereaders, what they will do, and how to protect them, which is what Cost Publishing provides.

    Cost Publishing also publishes about food, health, politics, and news. According to their website, “Cost Publishing was founded in August 2008 by Erich Stauffer and Jason Cobb. The word ‘Cost’ is a contraction or portmanteau which uses the first two letters of Cobb and Stauffer’s last names. We value innovation, entrepreneurism, and intelligent design.” If their goal is to add value to the Internet community by providing guides to those seeking products and services, then they have succeeded.