Pre-Order - Branded Mobile Apps For Square POS

Ahead of The Curve

We make it a point to know all of our competition, as well as the various global technology markets very well. That means Agencies all the way down to 3rd world countries where people hire lower cost developers. We also understand all the various frameworks, practices, “in” things to do, etc.

Every now and then we do a sort of stealth survey for RFPs (Requests for Proposals) where we’ll show Agencies or Freelancers a Mobile App or Website (ie. something we made, but we don’t tell them that). We let them think we’re a client who “just wants something similar”. And, then we get bids (and timelines) from them.

From these bids, we essentially know that anywhere on earth it would take any team, group of individuals or company about $5M+ (and god knows how much actual time) to re-create our entire IP Portfolio. And, by the time they actually did, it would all be obsolete - and we’d already have the next wave of technology developed.

Who We Are

We’re a Chicago-based Technology Solutions company - that specializes in creating high quality Native Mobile Apps, Responsive Websites, Web Apps, Software, APIs, Frameworks, SDKs (software development kits for apps), etc. We’ve been creating solutions for 20+ years and in that time we’ve amassed a heck of a lot of technology, expertise, best practices, etc.

Our current digital IP Portfolio is worth about $5M+. IP = Intellectual Property. That means all the stuff we make that’s unique that can be used to create mobile apps, websites, etc. How do we know it’s worth $5M+? Good question. Here’s that answer »

Yes, we’ve tried the VC-route and it wasted more valuable time than it helped. And, since we’re typically 2-5 years ahead of everybody, which has secured us some very big partnerships, we figured it was about time we tried a different approach.

What Is A Fractional Partner?

To elaborate - just about everyone these days has a variety of side gigs, jobs and hustles. So, it doesn’t make sense asking for any sort of major commitment in an effort to build something bigger. So we came up with the idea of “fractional” partners.

Keep doing what you do - that, makes you valuable and connected. Then, if all the Partners simply give 5% of their time - together we can create traction, opportunities and economies of scale that generate more value and return for that 5% than we would’ve been able to do otherwise. Simple.

It’s really no different than what VCs are doing these days with pool investments. We’re just doing it with effort, time, sweat equity, a few bucks a month, existing clients, etc.

Getting Started Is Easy

We want this program to be really easy and even fun for our Partners. Mostly, just keep doing what you do - just also keep Pre-Order in mind as you go through the course of your normal week.

We believe Apps already effect everybody. Just look at the world around you. We also believe our Apps can help just about any businesses or person imaginable because they have so many features already built-in.

So here's a list of suggestions for you:

1. Simply mention it to your clients, customers or just people in general

2. Do they already use Square?

Take note of what a business, cafe or restaurant uses for payments (Square is really recognizable and if they already use it, then it makes them an easy target).

3. Share our Media Kits!

We've created 2 super cool PDF Media Kits for clients, customers, etc. One if for the Apps, the other is for Branding & Design. Now, if you do design, then obviously don't share that one! We don't want to take business from you! We want YOU to use these Apps to boost your business and demand!

We've learned from experience the Media Kits basically do all the heavy lifting for you, so you don't even have to explain or know the product that well in the beginning.

You can think of it (if you want) as sort of just referring or relaying potential customers over to us. You line em up, we'll knock em out! Then, send you a check (or technically a deposit or transfer!)

4. Ask people if they want a free demo.

This is such a simple thing, but we've found that it's the single most powerful thing that gets people to try our service. When they can hold an App in their hands that has their logo and branding and their services or products - it's really jaw-dropping for most people and instantly shifts their perspective to what it would be like to really have an App. It sort of "sells" itself.

"Rich" Push Notifications

"Rich" Push Notifications are extremely powerful, built-in notifications that are even more advanced than regular push notifications and almost no one outside of various multi-billion dollar companies has or is offering them, yet alone offers them by default in an App.

Most businesses pay for the ability to send SMS Text Messages - we offer those AND Rich Push Notifications for free - by default - already built in.

"Rich" Push Notifications allow you to embed video or images, plus clickable website links. So just imagine the marketing power.

For example: You could behaviorially target Customers, then show them an image or video of their favorite menu item, retail product or service, then put a clickable link at the end of the push notification text that takes them directly to a special landing page that you've already built analytics tracking into.

Our Approach

First and foremost, we’re almost like an extinct species. We make “Native” Mobile Apps, whereas SO much of the tech industry centers around “Hybrid” Cross-Platforms.

Simply put - those are stupid. But, only because we exist and what we do is proof that it’s possible.

Native - means, native to the environment of the devices that the App is made for. ie. XCode (the platform) and Swift (the language) are Apple's native App ecosystem. And, Android Studio and Java are Google's.

Basically, in a nutshell - a hybrid platform attempts to create mobile apps as one body of code, which is supposed to make it easier to maintain, update and all of that (vs 2 separate ones). When in reality it ends up costing way more than just making 2 separate apps on each respective platform (ie. Apple and Google Play Android), taking way longer and being way less stable.

For the most part, famous brands don't do that. They make Native Apps - but yeah, they have more money. But if hybrids were so great, why don't famous brands do it more? And do you actually know of any famous apps that ARE hybrid apps?

Think about it - you're trying to make one code base for 2 very distinctly different platforms owned by 2 very competitive behemoths (Apple and Google). That doesn't sound very smart.

We used to do it. And, we found out fast - it's murky. You're muddying the waters and chasing a moving bullseye.

No matter how smart all these geniuses who support this madness are or claim to be - you know who they aren't smarter than? Both Apple and Google. THEY have hundreds, if not thousands of the most talented engineers on earth - and in case you missed it, they are BOTH device companies now.

In Apple's case, that's the primary thing that's making them billions. So they are constantly working on new chipsets and hardware to keep their phones (and tablets) fresh, so they can get people to buy or upgrade to the new ones. And everytime they change the insides of those phones, it sends a ripple effect down their ecosystem. And, do you know what's last in the totem pole? Apps.

That whole device thing makes Apps a nightmare to keep updated and working, which is precisely why it's stupid to even try to do it with hybrids.

Who can keep up with Apple and Google? They can't even keep up with themselves, which is precisely why they release new phones and then constantly have to come out with OS updates to fix stuff for months after a new phone releases.

The wiser thing to do, that is way more sustainable, way less expensive, way faster, etc. is to just follow the damn rules that both Apple and Google layout for THEIR App systems. Simple. If they tell you to do something a certain way, do it. Not because you're a follower or something. It doesn't mean you're not talented and independent. It just means you acknowledge that THEY are the ones who control that platform and it's inevitable that in 6 months (that's about how often they both release primary versions + S versions of their phones and devices, right?) those App coding functions, logic and rules are going to change.

So when you go hybrid what you have to do is wait for some team to update THEIR platform to reflect Apple and Google's recent changes, THEN update your App(s) vs just getting right now to updating your App(s) natively.

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