Author: Vince Kattoula

The Car Continues to Evolve… Thanks to Mobile

Post author By Vince Kattoula
Post date July 20, 2017

The car and mobile technology have both come a long way. Over the years, technology like the radio, cassette player, CD player, and Bluetooth have all made their way into the car. Some have stayed, and some have been phased out. Over the past three years, tech giants Apple and Google have made their way into the car as well. Because of this, consumers are changing how they access their favorite music, personal playlists, and go-to podcasts when on the road.
It’s no secret why Apple and Google are trying to make a name for themselves in the car. Whether it’s the newest iPhone or the latest Samsung Galaxy, people consume media on their terms through the device of their choice. Per Techsurvey13, 64% of people can connect their mobile phone in the vehicle they drive or ride in most often. Apple and Google have capitalized on this by allowing drivers to seamlessly connect their mobile phones in the place where they spend hundreds of hours annually – their car.

Who can connect their mobile device in the car?

About 1 out of every 5 respondents to Techsurvey13 like the idea of autonomous cars. Soon the driver will have no need to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. Instead, their hands will likely be holding some sort of mobile device and their eyes will be glued to that. This opens the door for your brand to establish its place within the mobile ecosystem. One of the best ways to get your brand into the connected car is to enable your mobile app. That way, you are where your audience is.
Apple and Google getting involved is one indicator that drivers are more loyal to their OS/mobile device than they are to a car brand or radio station. No matter what kind of music your station plays, it won’t be able to compete with listeners’ preferences, subscriptions, and personal playlists. With our App Everywhere® initiative, we can help keep your brand connected within the connected car.
Let’s talk mobile! Click here to set up a conversation. You can also give us a call at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

Connected Car Mobile Apps

The Connected Car Ecosystem is Here to Stay

Post author By Vince Kattoula
Post date July 13, 2017

The number of connected cars on the road is growing quickly and they are changing how people use technology while they drive. For this reason, auto companies and tech companies are jockeying for position within the connected car environment. In fact, Alpine has introduced the first in-dash wireless CarPlay receiver you can install yourself. Today, new car buyers seem more concerned with how they’ll be able to access their personal playlists from the dash than they are with the horsepower under the hood.
Silicon Valley has realized that people are more loyal to the OS on their mobile device than they are a car brand or radio station. Because of this, it has set out to disrupt the automotive industry. And so far, it’s doing a pretty good job. Vehicle manufacturers are rolling out new models with support for Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto. This technology allows drivers to access certain apps, like maps, messaging, and media, directly from their smartphone. It also allows companies to collect behavioral data about their consumers.
Businesses can use this data to target drivers with location-based offers or alerts as they pass through specific geographical locations. This creates a more efficient and personalized targeted advertising system not only for the brand, but for the driver as well. Even further, offering drivers content which they can consume on demand is important. And what better way to do that than with a mobile app right on their dashboard screen?
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: The car is one of the biggest challenges out there for everyone from media companies to restaurants to retailers. But, it’s also one of the biggest opportunities to expand your brand as well as your reach. One thing is for sure: the connected car ecosystem is here to stay. And it’s only going to become more advanced as innovative technologies continue to emerge.

Watch the video below to get a better understanding of how we can help your brand stay connected.

To find out how we can help grow your business using connected car technology, contact us today. You can also call 248-353-9030 or email us at sales@jacapps.com.

Mobile Apps Radio

6 Common Mistakes Radio Stations Make with Mobile Apps

Post author By Vince Kattoula
Post date July 6, 2017

The appeal of having a mobile app for your radio station is obvious. An app has the potential to increase the reach of your station and increase engagement with your listeners. It’s impossible to do everything right at first, but there are some common mistakes that you can avoid.

6 Common Mistakes Radio Stations Make with Mobile Apps

Not aligning it with your strategy
If your app isn’t aligned with your overall strategy (both programming and sales), you will almost certainly fail. What you’re doing on-air, on your website, and in your app, should all support your overall goal and strategy in the same way.
Too much stuff
Don’t overwhelm your audience with a too many features. This makes the user experience confusing, especially since they will only grasp about two or three features at a time. One of the things we recommend to clients with a lot of content is to put a few things on the app at a time. Then, in a few weeks, come back and add more. That way you have a refreshed reason to promote your app and a new reason for people to come back and check it out. People who started using one or two features as habit are now offered something new that hopefully they’ll make a habit as well.
Not promoting the app
Promote your mobile app. All the time. In lots of different ways. Through multiple channels. You should promote your app in a way that connects to users so that they’ll want to open it right at that moment for a specific reason.
Poor or confusing branding.
Make sure you get your branding right. Over the years, we’ve noticed that it’s very easy to let your app become generic or to update something on your website and forget to update it on the app. The goal is to keep your branding as synchronized as possible.
Poor usability
Test, test, test! Make sure your app’s functions are clear and easy to find because an app that’s tough to use almost always gets deleted. The items in your navigation should be in an order that makes sense to the user. Everything within your app should align with how you’re talking about it so that when people go to look for a certain item, they can easily find it.
Not having the right support
Making sure your app is supported is a must. Your app provider should be keeping it up-to-date with the latest OS versions and devices. As you track traffic patterns within your app, keep a close eye on what things are working and, more importantly, what things are not.

At jācapps, it’s all about the end user and that is why we work to understand your consumer. We specialize in helping radio stations find the mobile intersection of your brand and your consumer. Our apps are fully customizable and we always support what we sell.
Don’t make a mistake that you don’t have to. Click here to set up a conversation about your station’s mobile strategy. You can also give us a call at 248-353-9030 or shoot us an email.

Mobile Apps Techsurvey

Techsurvey13: 9 Takeaways Regarding Mobile Technology

Post author By Vince Kattoula
Post date June 29, 2017

Every year, our sister company, Jacobs Media, fields their Techsurvey, the radio broadcasting industry’s largest online survey. Now, in its thirteenth year and with over 50,000 respondents, it allows them to identify key trends in the mobile, social, and connected car spaces. Techsurvey has been quoted throughout the media world by companies such as CNN, The New York Times, and eMarketer.
Techsurvey helps media companies better understand their audiences, and their brand, in a world where technology changes quickly. One of the insights this survey provides is the evolving role of mobile technology.

We’d like to share with you some of the key takeaways about how consumers use mobile technology:

87% of respondents own a smartphone. This number has increased by 25% since Techsurvey9.
97% of Millennials own a smartphone. Moreover, 92% of both GenX-ers and GenZ-ers own a smartphone.
41% said they are addicted to their mobile phone, with Millennials topping out at 63%.
27% of radio listeners said mobile apps were the main reason for listening to less radio. GenZ-ers topped the list at 57%.
Among cell phone, smartphone, or tablet owners, 44% wake up using their phone/tablet – a 4% increase since Techsurvey11.
26% of smartphone/tablet owners reported to have downloaded their home station’s mobile app. 23% are aware that their home station has a mobile app, but have not downloaded it.
Among smartphone/tablet owners who have downloaded their home station’s mobile app
- 57% use the app for streaming either frequently or occasionally.
- 45% rate the mobile app as being good and 29% rate the mobile app as being excellent.
64% of respondents connect their mobile phone/mp3 in the vehicle driven or ridden in most often.

The popularity and addictive quality of mobile devices is something every brand should tap into in their own unique way. You should be thinking about what unique content or service you can deliver to your listeners. Over the past decade, we have experienced first-hand the joy apps deliver to our clients. Having your brand appear on the screen of your audience’s most precious possession is a rush, and maybe the most important part of future-proofing your radio station.
Click here to reach out to us today to talk about your mobile strategy. You can also call us at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

Techsurvey Voice Commands

Techsurvey13: 6 Takeaways Regarding Voice Command Technology

Post author By Vince Kattoula
Post date June 22, 2017

Every year, our sister company, Jacobs Media, fields Techsurvey, the radio broadcasting industry’s largest online survey. Now, in its thirteenth year and with over 50,000 respondents, it identifies key trends in the mobile, social, and connected car spaces. Techsurvey has been quoted throughout the media world by companies such as CNN, The New York Times, and eMarketer.
Techsurvey helps companies better understand their audiences in a world where technology changes quickly and how their brand is represented in that world. One of the insights this survey provides is the emerging role of voice command technology.

Here are some of the key takeaways about how consumers use voice command technology:

88% of respondents reported to have a radio where they live – down 1% from the previous year. But only 76% of Millennials have a radio where they live.
11% of survey-takers own a smart speaker such as Amazon Echo (“Alexa”) or Google Home.
Overall, 20% said they use the voice command features on devices they own on a frequent basis. That includes connected car systems, smartphones, etc. Furthermore, about 1 out of every 4 GenX-ers use these features frequently.
25% said they use voice commands occasionally.
Among those who own smart speakers, 47% use the built-in voice command feature frequently.
38% of smartwatch owners use the built-in voice command feature on a frequent basis as well.

At jācapps, we understand the power of voice and how it has the potential to change the way people listen to radio, podcasts, etc. in their homes and their cars. That’s why we debuted SonicAi, a joint venture with Amplifi Media that develops “skills” for voice-command devices, or smart speakers, like Amazon Echo and Google Home.
Click here to reach out to us and set up a conversation about how voice command technology will impact your brand. You can also give us a call at 248-353-9030 or email us at sales@jacapps.com.

Podcasting Radio Techsurvey

Techsurvey13: 7 Takeaways Regarding Podcast Listening

Post author By Vince Kattoula
Post date June 15, 2017

podcasting — white headphones on top of computer tablet.

Every year, our sister company, Jacobs Media, hosts their Techsurvey, the radio broadcasting industry’s largest online survey. Now, in its thirteenth year and with over 50,000 respondents, it allows them to identify key trends in the mobile, social, and connected car spaces. Techsurvey has been quoted throughout the media world by companies such as CNN, The New York Times, and eMarketer.
Techsurvey helps radio stations better understand their brand and, more importantly, their audiences in a world where technology changes quickly. One of the insights this survey provides is what role podcasting plays for radio stations.

We’d like to share with you some of the key takeaways about how radio listeners consume podcasts:

21% of respondents listen to podcasts on a weekly basis or more. Furthermore, weekly or more podcast listening is the highest with Millennials at 33%.
18% said they listen to 3-5 podcasts per week and 12% listen to 6 or more.
45% hang around the house when they’re listening to podcasts and 37% said they are driving when listening. Additionally, 36% of those who were surveyed listen to podcasts while at work.
51% of podcast listeners prefer to listen on their smartphone while 30% prefer their desktop/laptop.
45% of respondents prefer music as their main podcast category, followed by radio shows that aired at 39%.
38% of those surveyed use a web browser to listen to podcasts and 37% use the iTunes/Apple podcast app.
16% of radio listeners said they’re listening to less radio due to podcasts with Millennials totaling 24%.

So, what’s the best way of delivering podcasts and other on-demand content to your audience? Clearly, it’s with a mobile app. With Apple and Google getting involved in the connected car ecosystem, and more than a third of respondents driving while listening, the car is an important place for your brand to deliver its content.
If you’re currently involved with podcasting, or looking to get involved, make sure to check out the largest gathering of podcasters in the world at Podcast Movement. This year, it takes place in Anaheim, CA from August 23-25. And, if you work in/around radio and would like $100 off your Podcast Movement registration, our sister company, Jacobs Media, was nice enough to provide a discount code. Use JACOBS100 for the $100 discount when you register here.

Podcast Movement 2017: Broadcasters Meet Podcasters

As always, you can reach out to us by clicking here. Or, you can give us a call at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com.

Connected Car Radio Techsurvey

Techsurvey13: 6 Takeaways Regarding the Connected Car

Post author By Vince Kattoula
Post date June 8, 2017

We’d like to share with you some of the key takeaways about consumers and their connected cars:

64% of respondents can connect their mobile phone/mp3 in the car they drive or ride in most often.
In-car media system ownership rose to 22%. Last year, 20% of respondents owned an in-car media system and the year before, only 18%.
66% said they either like or love their in-car media system.
The percentage of time spent in a car with AM/FM totaled 64%. Listeners’ personal music totaled 11%, while streaming audio and podcasts came in at 4% each.
AM/FM radio remained the most important feature among those planning on buying/leasing a new vehicle in 2017. Bluetooth comes in at number two, with a 5% percent increase from last year. Not surprisingly, the need for a CD player in the car dropped 18%.
Listeners’ attitude towards autonomous cars remained steady with 22% of respondents saying they like the idea. At 32%, millennials are the most enthusiastic about autonomous cars and males seem to like the idea more than females.

The connected car is radio’s biggest challenge, but it’s also radio’s biggest opportunity. One thing is for sure – the car isn’t what it used to be. We can help you maintain your place there as this crucial ecosystem evolves.
The key to staying connected starts with us! Click here to reach out to us today. You can also give us a call at 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com to learn how your station can stay connected.

App Everywhere Mobile Apps

4 Essentials Needed to Build You a Great Mobile App

Post author By Vince Kattoula
Post date June 1, 2017

The appeal of having a mobile app for your business is obvious. Just ask any smartphone user what some of their favorite apps are and I’m sure the list will go on and on. Now ask them what their favorite mobile website is and you’ll probably hear crickets chirping. It’s no secret why having an app can help grow your business. But we thought you should know of some essentials needed before we can start.

Here are 4 things you need before we can build your brand the next great app.

Apple Developer Account

One of the first things you’ll need to secure is a developer account from Apple. This account costs $99 USD per year and there is also an enterprise version which costs $299 USD annually. Users can post questions and share their thoughts with fellow developers and Apple engineers, submit bug reports and request enhancements, as well as receive personalized help by contacting Apple directly.
To set one up, and for more information, visit developer.apple.com.

UDIDs (iPhone only)

A Unique Device Identifier, or UDID, is a sequence of 40 numbers and letters specific to each device. To find out what your UDID is, visit whatsmyudid.com (using Safari on your iPhone) then follow the prompts.
Here’s an example of what a UDID looks like: 2b6f0cc904d137be2e1730235f5664094b831186

Images and artwork

To get started, we’ll need images and artwork specific to both iOS and Android devices, along with ones that can be used for both. For iOS, we’ll need one for the App Store listing along with one for an icon image (what appears on the user’s screen next to their other apps). For Android, we ask for a store listing image as well as a feature graphic. A header image is required for both iOS and Android. Sizes and examples can be viewed in the image below.

Feed and Stream Links

Your news and social media feeds are not only essential to keeping your audience engaged. They’re necessary for us to get started as well. This includes your RSS and/or XML feed(s). If you’re unsure how to provide us with these feeds, we are more than happy to help guide you through the process to get exactly what we are looking for.
OPTIONAL: Google Developer Account
Upon registration, there is a one-time fee of $25 USD. With this account, users can access development tools, manage their store presence, track app performance from their Android device, and receive help with publishing, security, and much more. Additional information can be found here.
Note: If you choose not to set up your own Google Developer Account we will build the app in our own account.
To sign up, visit Google Play then follow the prompts.
Click here to contact us today. You can also call 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com to set up some time to talk.

iMessage Stickers Radio

Bumper Stickers Are Back… On Your iPhone

Post author By Vince Kattoula
Post date May 22, 2017

With the introduction of iPhone stickers as part of the release of iOS 10, stations and shows can now publish fun images for fans to use as part of their text message conversations. We are proud to have created stickers for The Dave and Chuck the Freak Show on Detroit’s WRIF (Beasley Broadcast Group). They have become the first radio station to publish custom stickers for the iPhone.
The instant reaction is that these virtual stickers are just like the bumper stickers of old, but they really aren’t. The object with these isn’t to slap your brand on someone’s phone or text messages. Rather, it’s to add your brand into everyday conversations using clever images, catchphrases and other elements. The Dave and Chuck the Freak Show stickers are terrific examples of making branded elements work for users’ everyday conversation.
“This was a terrific idea from Chris Brunt and the WRIF team,” notes our COO, Bob Kernen. “We are happy to be involved in executing it for them. The Dave and Chuck the Freak Show is a phenomenon here in Detroit. These stickers are going to be incredibly popular. It’s another jacapps ‘first,’ and we are excited that Beasley Broadcast Group is leading the way.”

See how stickers work in this video:

Considering the vast array of options to help spruce up your text conversation, we think it’s worth checking out how to use stickers in iMessage. Click here to learn how to install and use sticker packs. Just scroll to the bottom of the page, fill out the form, and download our infographic.
If you want to learn how we can get your sticker pack in the App Store, or have any questions, reach out to us today by clicking here. You can also call 248-353-9030 or email sales@jacapps.com to set up some time to talk.

Radio Smart Home

Smart Speaker Usage to Grow About 130% in 2017

Post author By Vince Kattoula
Post date May 18, 2017

radio smart speaker mobile apps — Voice control vector illustration. Smart computer voice control with human voice. Smart phone, smart house, modern computer technology.Voice control command background.Voice control businessman office

Last week, eMarketer released a report which showed that 35.6 million Americans will use a voice-activated assistant device, or smart speaker, at least once a month in 2017. Compared to 2016, that’s an increase of 128.9%. Quite the jump indeed. Even though Amazon has led the smart speaker trend, companies like Google, Microsoft, and soon Apple, have set out to transform the way we interact with media in our cars and homes.
Our sister company, Jacobs Media, asked radio listeners how often they use the built-in voice command feature on the devices they own in Techsurvey13, the radio industry’s largest online survey. They found that nearly half (45%) of respondents use voice commands frequently or occasionally. One out of every five said they use them on a frequent basis.

To no one’s surprise, Millennials are the ones leading this craze. According to eMarketer, about one-fifth of the population, use voice-enabled digital assistants at least once a month on any device, and millennials make up just over half of that. By 2019, the total number is expected to grow to over 66 million, with Millennials accounting for about 39 million.

What does this mean for your station?

Listeners are becoming increasingly comfortable with this kind of technology. After all, voice provides the lowest friction interface between consumers and them getting what they want. It’s time to keep your audience engaged beyond their phone, tablet, and even their car. You need to make it easier for them to access your content, and what better way than using their own voice? Voice command technology presents radio stations with an opportunity to reestablish themselves in the home, at work, in the car, at the gym, and wherever else they may be.
Along with our partners SonicAI, we can help your station create the “skills” necessary to get your brand onto the Alexa platform. In fact, we can help your station establish a mobile strategy that will help your brand become easy to find everywhere, including the “smart home” and “connected car.”
Click here to reach out to us today, give us a call at 248-353-9030, or email sales@jacapps.com.