| Smartphone technology, largely due to the | | | | some of these pictures. |
| overwhelming success of Apple's iPhone has created | | | | And that's exactly what they want. You see, they |
| a remarkable opportunity for business owners and | | | | don't just offer all these great recipes, they tell you |
| customers to connect to the web and the world in | | | | exactly where to find the ingredients in their grocery |
| new ways. As you may have noticed by the influx of | | | | stores! Now you can see how this could be profitable. |
| iPhone commercials, there's an app for just about | | | | People who already shop at Whole Foods will be |
| everything on the iPhone. With this new technology | | | | more likely to buy more items as they experiment with |
| comes a new opportunity to reach out to your | | | | these recipes, and people who have never shopped |
| customers and potential customers. Custom | | | | here will be more likely to come in, knowing that they |
| Application Development allows you to turn your | | | | can easily locate all of the items they need for their |
| iPhone app idea into a reality. Let's take a quick look at | | | | new recipe under one roof. Brilliant! |
| how one forward thinking company is doing so | | | | I think you can see the impact a simple app can have |
| profitably. | | | | on a business. And it doesn't just apply to iPhone |
| As an example, let's take a look at gourmet grocer, | | | | users. Smartphones are everywhere, and with |
| Whole Foods, who has a great (and free) iPhone app. | | | | Google's Droid on Verizon, the competition for better |
| Now you may be thinking, "yeah, but if it's free, and it | | | | and cheaper smartphones will make it even more |
| cost them money to get it developed, how is it | | | | important to have visibility in the mobile marketplace. |
| profitable?" Good question, let me explain. | | | | Now take a look at your business. How can you |
| What Whole Foods has done is create a robust, user | | | | extend your reach through a free or even paid |
| friendly app that give the user a TON of great recipes | | | | application? How can you harness the power of this |
| and cooking ideas based on a bunch of different | | | | evolving marketplace, step in front of your market, and |
| categories including "Course" (Brunch, Snacks, | | | | provide a service that your clients/customers may not |
| Beverages, Main Dishes and more), "Category" | | | | even be anticipating? This is a provocative question |
| (Entertaining, Budget, Family Friendly,etc) and Special | | | | which deserves your attention. |
| Diet (High Fiber, Low Fat, Gluten Free, etc). You can | | | | Creating a custom application can extend your reach |
| target exactly the type of meal you are searching for | | | | and influence well beyond your current market, and |
| in seconds. For example my search for | | | | has the power to grow virally without much promotion. |
| "Vegetarian,Entertaining, Appetizers" yielded recipes for | | | | It can become another tool in your evergrowing |
| Homemade Hummus, Tomato Bruschetta Spread, | | | | arsenal of marketing and communication firepower. |
| Roasted Peppers with Marinated Feta and Greek | | | | What are you doing to step up your game? |
| Olives and on and on. I'm getting hungry just looking at | | | | |