Interview with Office Harmony
Posted by AVAI Mobile Developer on Tue, Feb 16, 2010 @ 10:43 AM
AVAI recently partnered with Office Harmony to create the free Stress Check app and the $1.99 Office Harmony app. Take a look at what they had to say when we interviewed them.
1. What does your app do?
The Stress Check app was originally a 20 question stress test that I designed using qualitative research methods. My goal was to design a quick way to measure a person's level of work stress specifically. In designing the test, I created scales based on how the questions grouped together. Four scales emerged: interpersonal, physiological, control, and situational. Therefore, upon completion of the test, all users receive an overall stress score as well as their specific stress domain scores along the 4 scales. This way a user knows the intensity of their stress as well as how it manifests (i.e. through the body, in social situations, etc). Stress Check has since grown to include stress tools via in app purchases (IAPs). Therefore, users can now take the test as well as access stress management tools- all from one app.
2. How did you come up with the idea for the app?
My company, aiir Consulting, LLC, engages in executive coaching, leadership development, and stress management skills training. We had strong convictions about the app store early on and felt that a successful company in the 21st century needs to connect to its customer using a multi-method approach. Our goal is to have our customer work with us in person and takes us home in their pocket. For non-clients users, we're delighted in helping thousands of people become less stressed.
3. Why did you choose to do an iPhone app?
Interestingly, most of our customers are blackberry users. Only problem here is that the blackberry user is more of a personality type than technology choice. Or perhaps the two inform each other. In short, I don't know a blackberry user who has looked into their app store. Android is a young market and should we broaden our platform exposure, this is where we'd be looking.
4. What has been the response to the app?
When stress check was for sale, we were getting a few takers here and there. Overall, sales were somewhat disappointing. When we made it free, users began downloading it like bananas. In several weeks it rose to the top 5 slot in the medical free app section. We now have over 100,000 apps downloaded around the world and are looking for creative ways to begin monetization.
5. How are you marketing and promoting the app? What is working and what isn't?
Our marketing has been pretty hands off thus far. We do plan on sending our app to popular reviewers to review as well as place a gorgeous business card in select locations that cater to folks who appreciate stress reduction. We also plan on utilizing advertising on social networking sites. We have yet found a way to use twitter successfully, this is a disappointment and we plan to investigate a better strategy to build our twitter network.
6. What advice would you offer someone thinking about doing an app?
First and foremost, do your research on competition. The app store is very saturated. For every idea you have, there are probably 10 or more comparable apps. If you still feel your app can offer a competitive advantage, become very clear about what this is and do not lose the focus. This is going to be what sells your app. Right now there are at least several other stress tests in the app store. None give you more than an overall score. My goal with stress check was to drive deeper in providing more meaningful insight into stress levels. Furthermore, I distinguished my test by focusing on the specific area of "work stress". Customers seem to have also liked this idea.
Second, be prepared to be flexible. I actually intended stress check to be an 'added value' proposition for the app Office Harmony (my other app for stress management). I decided to isolate stress check and make it free to bring lead generation to Office Harmony. I never expected Stress Check to perform so much better than Office Harmony. As a result of how the market perceived our apps, I've had to shift my strategy flexibly to begin focusing more on Stress Check.
7. What does the future hold for you?
We're looking forward to bolstering the value of Stress Check through further updates. We like the stress reduction space, despite its increasing saturation. Should our sales strategy continue to be successful, we'll look into offering additional content and broadening to further mobile platforms. We think the app store is do for some consolidation. It will be really interesting to see if developers start forming strategic partnerships and/or alliances. I wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing M & A activity given how many synergies are likely out there. This is a space in our business development we're increasingly interested in.