Vokal Interactive – Reid Lappin
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About the Episode
Coming up today’s guest started his mobile app agency while in college and grew it to 10 employees and $1 million in sales within its first year and he talks about how he’s able to land some major brands including the 49ers and Walgreens. Also listen to the process they use when a client has an app idea and how you can apply to your own business.
Reid Lappin is the CEO at VOKAL Interactive.
Show Notes
Earning $1 Million and Landing Fortune 500 Clients
Reid and a college buddy were kicking up ideas in a bar in a Chicago (that bar ended up as their first client) and thought about using their iPhones to order drinks or food, see specials or chat with other patrons in the bar. They were able to sell this idea big time and after graduating in college, they had employed 10 people, landed a Fortune 500 client, got featured in a CNBC program and earned $1 million revenue within the first year.
Reid shares that his team was able to land major clients by letting folks know what you are doing, highlighting what it is that you are really good at and really understanding the business and what their needs are. They always work on knowing the customers of their clients as well as they do to know how and where they can add value. To make the relationships stick, they understand and align with the key performance indicators that matter to their clients and stakeholders for the longevity of doing business with them.
The Art of Turning Ideas to Successful Businesses
Reid shares that it’s not a complicated process to turn an idea to fruition, it’s even more of an art than a science, but you do need to have a process and a competent team to get a job done. What you need to do is to understand what the market place is, the size or the competitive landscape of the business you are entering, and all the basics. Then look at who you are building for, who the end users are, and what the end service that you are looking to design is. Understand the persona that you are building the product for so that the features, branding elements, etc. are really geared toward these user groups and anchor them with the business value that it provides to your client’s organization. It takes a lot of market research, rapid prototyping, hiring the right people to get it to be a success.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to build a mobile app?
Treat an app as a business, don’t just build it because it’s a great idea. Don’t be afraid to fail and try things out. Know that it’s going to be ups and down the whole way through. Find the right team, pick people with integrity, and tap people are leaders in the industry.
Show Mentions
– Fav app: Uber: (iTunes | Google Play)