We live in an interesting time in business. Large enterprise companies and corporations certainly help make the world go round, but startups are becoming more popular and common. Startups are no longer a small sect of business, but rather a formidable player in the overall business game.  As such, people with big ideas today live in one of the best eras for seeing those ideas become a reality and a profitable business venture. The big problem is - how? It can be a challenge to figure out where to start with your big idea, which is why it’s important to seek out experts who have been there and taken ideas from a dream to a success. Our friends at The Startup Garage, a San Diego based consulting company for entrepreneurs and budding startups around the world, have a few tips to get you started: Firmly See - And Be Able To Say - Your Vision You have an idea - but do you have a vision? The adage, “If you can see it, you can achieve it,” couldn’t be more applicable than in a business sense. In 5 years, where do you want to see this idea go? Perhaps you have an idea for a large business that will employ many people. Or maybe you have a tech idea that you’d like to see in the hands of users around your city, or country, or perhaps even the world. Be able to articulately define your vision. This will help get more people on board with what you have been dreaming, and enable you get the right people involved to make it a reality.  Lay Out The Milestones You are well aware there are many steps to take in order to get your idea off the ground - and frankly it can be overwhelming. This is why you need to put together a plan and take a deep breath, knowing that you don’t have to accomplish everything all at the same time. Once you have figured out your vision and are able to clearly communicate it to others, you can start to lay down the footing for the steps required to get there. Who will you want to have on your team? This will come in the team building step. How will you develop your business plan and what is required to achieve it? How much funding do you need right now to get started and how much will you need once it’s going? Sure, these are all steps that can sound daunting on the surface. However once you take the time to write out a road map for your business strategy, you will be writing out a roadmap pointed in the direction of your idea’s success.  Is Your Idea Tech Related? Get a CTO There are many times technology related ideas come to people with little to no tech background. Is this you? That is, you know what you want as an end product, but may not have a clue how to develop it. As Michael Acheatel, President and Project Manager of The Startup Garage puts it, “The biggest mistake that a non-tech entrepreneur can make when launching a tech business is to neglect bringing on a tech savvy co-founder very early on. Otherwise, it is like launching a bakery or restaurant without a chef.” Get the right cooks in the kitchen to create the right product to bring your idea to life. Nail Your Pitch Deck   Now that you have your vision well articulated, your plan in place and are working with the right people, you are ready to start production. Often times production cannot be executed without funding - after all, it takes money to make money. Some tips for how to crush it in your presentations to financial investors include: Clear definition of your business and goals. Avoid too many words - Write your main points but tell them them the details. Relevant illustrations - You aren’t there to entertain, you are there to capture attention and get results. Rough dollar amounts of what you need - Don’t leave them guessing.  Get Experts Involved There are certainly steps you can take on your own in launching your idea from a dream to a reality. But not enough can be said for working with people who have been there and executed on launching successful campaigns to earn and please VC’s and get your product developed, marketed, and out into the public. Assemble a few people you trust who can provide you with the aid you need in getting started - then start shopping for experts who can advise you on the realistic steps you need to take. As previously mentioned, one such group we recommend is The Startup Garage. This is a group of people who have come together to help people with big ideas launch successful startups. They have each either launched their own startups or helped other entrepreneurs find success in their ideas. Do you have an idea you want to make a reality? Check out The Startup Garage here, or ping us at Barefoot Solutions here and we can help you get started.

Apps have been able to help professionals in all kinds of industries. From traveling sales teams to law enforcement, mobile apps have been enabling all kinds of businesses become more efficient. In fact recently we investigated how mobile is helping the medical industry and took a closer look at all of the advancements there. In our next investigation, we discover how integral mobile apps have been in the construction industry. Specifically in construction management, it has been impressive to see how technology has influenced this space. Utilizing apps allows you to more easily transform the visions of clients and create the project you have in mind. Now we’re talking construction here, so let’s be honest - there are no small projects. Everything you do is a massive endeavour, but some are more colossal than others. By using software to help manage construction projects, managers are more able to handle multiple projects and coordinate the many moving parts involved in accomplishing assignments of a large scale. Communication One of the toughest parts in putting together projects in any industry is streamlining communication. Even in highly individualized work like, oh, writing, many people and processes are involved before the final words you are currently reading are set out in front of you. Much more involved is the task of construction management, and you can use all the coordinating help you can get. For example one company, PlanGrid, allows contractors and architects to collaborate with all their project plans, specs and photos. How? Users can upload PDF drawings which then automatically syncs to all teams in real time. Even further, any markups or adjustments can easily be shared with everyone on the construction project. Simplify for Accurate Calculations If there’s one thing that’s important in construction, it’s ensuring your calculations are spot on accurate. And you guessed it, there are apps available for those very purposes. Some allow for easy calculations for all kinds of measurements, such as rectangular prism volumes, volume cost and weight, and total cost and weight of volumes groups. For example, Construction Master Pro offers a wide range of calculators for Android and iOS, including feet/inch fraction math calculators, and a version that can be used to estimate materials needed for stair railing and fence projects. Offsite Monitoring Sometimes you need to travel. Other times you’re curious how things are going when you’re across town. Mobile apps now make it easy for you to track progress of workers. If you have installed fixed cameras, apps like Control Center 7 take robotic snapshots, which contractors can send to colleagues, review videos and operate cameras remotely. This particular app works with Android, iPad, and iPhone. Even Easier Being Green The demand for green building is louder than ever. From residential to commercial projects, the entire industry is affected by the call for green building. While you can spend half of your time researching new environmentally friendly options, Green Pro is an app that lets architects, engineers, and contractors understand, access and track Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits for projects. Users can access credit requirements and find out when a particular requirement has been met. Overall, construction management requires a vast amount of talent and an acute eye for detail. While apps can never replace the human element required, they can help make your job a little bit easier and create visibility across teams. Meet and exceed client expectations and build safely, effectively and deliver aesthetic products your team can be proud of. Bear in mind that while construction companies have their similarities, each company is unique and has naturally developed its own processes over time. Given this, the best approach may be to build custom web and mobile apps to manage varied parts of the business. At Barefoot, we are experienced in understanding the needs of construction management companies, gaining insight into the needed outcomes, and able to build these powerful custom apps. The goal is to develop apps that integrate with each other to meet all of your project management needs and help you become more efficient, focused, and on track. Have an idea for a construction management app and want to get started? We can help, let us know what you have in mind.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – EVERYONE is on their mobile. Over the past 2 years smartphone adoption has grown from 36% - 61%. Of those users, mobile apps dominate over three-quarters of phonetime. Sure, many kids are goofing with games but businesses have much to gain by entering the mobile app market. Seattle-based jewelry giant Blue Nile realized the importance of mobile commerce the first time the site made a $40,000 diamond sale via mobile device. “This is the future of shopping,” pointed out then CEO Diane Irvine. Many things will move the needle for your business. Today one of the most important is the mobile app – and here’s why.   More Sales Opportunities People are addicted to their phones. Standing in line, sitting on the bus, or waiting for change from the teller – these are all small pockets of time your customers are on their phones. While they could be checking former colleagues’ LinkedIn profiles, they should be checking out that shopping cart they put together on your app and place that order with you already. They could be browsing the newest and greatest you have to offer - but you need to make it easy for them with an app.   Simplicity Given the small screen necessity of big buttons and clean design, you can focus your audience on exactly what you want them to see. Not only that, but providing your clients with on demand access to your service is not only imperative, but gives them the easiest way to reach you better. Think of an app as a bookmark taking stable residence on a user’s phone screen. It’s familiar, always there, and easily accessible as a part of your customer’s everyday phone life. Now THAT’S simple.   Geo-targeting Knowing where your customers are can sound a little creepy. Even worse, knowing that your competition is already utilizing your customer’s location and sending them offers...while you sit idly by. Think of geo-targeting as helping your customer right where they are. A young couple is strolling by a movie theater and the fair lady receives a 10% off push notification to a movie showing starting in 30 minutes. They happen to be a 5 minute walk from the theater and decide to head on in. Thank you mobile app! Geo-targeted advertising is not only helpful for your customer, but can be profitable for you. Use the information everyone else already has - and capitalize on it.   Reward Your Customers Who doesn’t love earning rewards? Or getting free stuff? Providing a rewards program for your customers is easy via mobile app, and a fine way to encourage user engagement. Rewards programs can efficiently be tracked and redeemed via mobile app, while the instant gratification of this method makes for a fun and satisfying game your customers. Then you can be the fun company with a loyalty program that engages your customers and encourages them to interact with your brand.   Boost Team Productivity You want to be the boss who gives your team the right tools to do their jobs well. Mobile apps are a great way to simplify complicated programs to get your team the data they need quickly.  For example CRM mobile apps are a great way to assist sales teams while they are on the road closing deals. What could be more important to a sales professional than the ability to quickly find the information they need, without the complications some of the most robust CRM software programs can provide? Additionally sales tracking apps are a great way to manage deals while running around meeting clients. Mobile apps are a great way to make every trade show, convention, and off site meeting simple and well documented.   Brand Building Much of traditional marketing has died with oversized 90’s desktops, but the importance of boosting brand recognition will never change. The mobile app is a great place to do it. I wasn’t kidding about phone addiction - the average consumer spends 127 minutes a day on mobile apps. Now remember how your app could be a bookmark on their everyday mobile home screen? Yeah, that’s cementing your logo right into their everyday life - making your brand memorable, friendly and familiar. The added joy? It’s fun to get creative with your branding. For example, Volkswagon’s SmileDrive Android app allows users to share fun moments with their friends via virtual travelogue. They connect via Bluetooth (safety first fellas) and record their adventure whilst traversing the road. They can earn badges and points for passing other SmileDrive users, and at the end of the trip can share experiences with friends and family. All the while, Volkswagon gets the attention - and business.   Mobile apps are one of the best new ways to grow your business - hands down. Don’t know where to start? Just ask us here.