I’ve been sharing (here and here) my progress on a new app I’m currently designing and today I’d like to give you a closer look. Below are some of the wireframes for the various screens that make up the app. Each is followed by a brief description.
Any and all feedback is appreciated
The ‘Team’ page is the core piece of the app, which will likely serve as the home screen or dashboard. This is where you can quickly see everyone on your team (a.k.a. your network of co-workers/collaborators/subcontractors/employees/etc.). Organize and filter by tag (which might be used as “skills”, or other taxonomies of your choice).
Podcasts are among the oldest types of syndicated content on the web. Yet the format remains a popular choice among content producers looking to connect with a wide audience. Audio podcasts were the norm for many years, but video has taken the podcasting world to new heights.
In this article, I’ll to walk you through the steps necessary to ensure your video podcast gets off to a great start. We’ll cover everything from conception to technical set up, promotion, and monetization. Every podcast is different, but this guide should help you navigate your way through the process and hopefully spark some broadcasting inspiration.
Today, I’m showing you a diagram of how the various app screens and navigation might work. As with anything in this early stage of development, nothing is set in stone. I’m sure a lot of this will seem abstract (read: makes no sense whatsoever), but it is what it is. Have a look:
There’s no turning back now. The web has gone mobile. More users are accessing the web from more places on more devices than ever before. What does this mean for web designers and site owners? It means that in every project we do, we must address a mobile strategy.
Your strategy will differ depending on what type of project you’re working on, but make no mistake, you do need some kind of strategy for how your website (or your client’s website) functions in the mobile space. Whether you’re designing a site that is mostly static (is anything on the web really static anymore?), a content-driven news site, or an interactive web application, it’s best to pursue a well-rounded approach — one that includes a thoughtful look at your mobile website user experience.
In this article, I aim to highlight 10 crucial items that you, as the web designer, developer or site owner, need to consider at the outset of your mobile site design project. These ideas touch on all aspects of a process, from strategy to design and implementation. But it’s important to be accountable for these points up front to ensure the successful launch of your mobile site.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been slowly organizing ideas for a new project. Today, I’d like to share a quick overview of what’s in store.
Defining the problem:
As a solo business owner, I regularly hire freelancers to build virtual teams on a per-project basis. In order to sustain this freelance-agency hybrid model, my network of freelancers must continuously grow over time. Meaning, I regularly interview, evaluate, hire, and partner with new people every few weeks in order to build up my network.
To keep track of my network, I’ve been relying heavily on Gmail search and my own (un-trusted) memory. When a new project comes along, I’d ask myself, who do I know (off the top of my head) that would be a great fit here? Who have I interviewed before, liked, but never hired? Did I receive a resume months ago that might deserve a second look today? Without a systemized organization tool, these questions are harder and harder to answer.
So yes, I’m building that tool: An app to organize and grow a virtual team. The concept is something like a CRM (customer relationship manager), but for a team rather than sales leads (“TRM?”).
This app will do the following:
Act as an enhanced contact manager for my virtual team (more on this later).
Help me better organize applicant’s email cover letters & resumes.
Help me stay in touch with my network during the times when we’re not working together.
What this app won’t do:
It won’t be a project manager. It’s not a Basecamp competitor and won’t try to be. While Basecamp (and other PM apps) serve the project-in-progress phase, this app will focus tightly on the pre-project team-building phase.
It won’t be a to-do list app. This app is less about tasks and milestones, and more about contacts, relationships, and growing a business.
It won’t be an accounting/invoicing/time tracking. Nope, not a FreshBooks competitor either.
This app won’t be an alternative to those listed above, but rather work in conjunction with them. It may even find ways to sync with project management and accounting apps to help tie things together.
Up Next…
I’m mid-way through creating some wireframes for the various screens, functionality, UI. I plan to share those once they’re a bit farther along.
There are some unanswered questions yet to be addressed, like:
Hosted or self-hosted? (leaning hosted)
What features to add?
Perhaps more importantly, which features to remove?
What to name the app? (got a few ideas…)
I’ll be posting answers to these questions and other developments as this project moves forward.
One concept I keep coming back to lately is this: A sustained business is one that constantly changes over time—no matter what.
Creating business innovation is about constantly looking ahead. Constantly asking yourself, what’s next? Where will my market turn in the next year? How will my trade change moving forward? Where will I be at personally over the next year, 5 years, 10 years? If you’re comfortable today, it can be tempting to shut out these questions.
Comfort is the enemy. I’m learning that the real risk in business is staying too comfortable. You’ve got to keep the momentum going. Not in terms of sell, sell, sell, but in terms of change, change, change.
Looking back to 3 years ago, I embarked on a major change in my career path. I left my secure full-time job to go freelance and go into business for myself. It was a huge risk. I had no idea how hard it would be to build a steady stream of client work, make enough money to pay the bills, and get my business and life on solid footing. It took at least a year of watching my savings plummet, then slowly build back up again to figure it all out. It took two years to match and exceed the income I was making at my previous job. Now 3 years in, I can say I’ve got the one-man operation running smoothly. I’m able to support my current lifestyle. I’m comfortable.
And that’s just the queue I need to kick the change muscle back into gear.
