It seems almost every day we get bombarded with ads clamoring for us to download the hottest new app that will change our lives.

Need something to track your sleep, or something that can convert images to text? There’s an app for that! How about the note-taking app that’s somehow better than all the others on the market? There are quite a few of that, too! But which app should we get?

How can budding apps compete with already established titans in a market where recognition is everything?

Enter: Growth hacking.

It’s growing, growing, growing

But what exactly is growth hacking?

To put it simply, growth hacking is a strategy where creative tactics are employed in any part of the product development process and consumer journey to focus on growth. For startups and app creators, it’s certainly a viable alternative to reach a larger audience in a shorter period of time at a lower cost compared to traditional marketing.

Shane Shan, director of APAC Huawei Consumer Cloud Service, explains that “creativity at growth” means that developers must have a broader view of the entire process and they should pay close attention to every step in the product and user journey.

Perhaps the most important point of growth hacking, though, is its collaborative nature. It takes the efforts of everyone—from marketers, engineers, developers, to even the end-user—to optimize every step in the process and achieve growth quickly and effectively.

Applying their knowledge

Who better to peel away the curtain than the judges at AppsUP 2021: Huawei HMS App Innovative Contest? They will help budding app developers better understand the mobile app industry.

Nowadays, it’s not enough to just have a useful and creative app. It is also necessary to understand your potential user base by figuring out what they want. And delivering on that promise is an essential part of your app’s development stage.

“To grow your product, especially a video game, good community management is key,” shared Adam Ardisasmita, chief executive officer of Arsanesia.

He recommends having a platform like a Discord server, where users can actively give feedback and suggestions to improve the app.

Having actual user data to support whatever features you change or add to your product is important in ensuring your app’s continued success.

Jojo Flores, co-founder of Plug and Play Tech Center, asserts that app developers should be flexible when it comes to feedback.

I’ve got an app, now what?

Involving creative decisions even in the early stages of development can be a great boon.

Frequent testing from an early stage can prevent last-minute changes later in the timeline that could end up quite costly for both time and budget.

Gwen Guo, chairperson of Singapore Games Association (SGGA), advises new app developers to first study their target market well and then create their marketing plan based on that. Next is to “form relationships with the launch platforms, understand what features these platforms have to boost visibility, whether it’s a featured page, new apps list, or seasonal collections.”

These lists can really help boost their app to a larger audience. Figuring out how they work and using them to their advantage is what makes a user click the download button.

But the types of users are also important. “User engagement is important to sustain the business for an app. Sometimes, a high per-user engagement is better than having more users, which really doesn’t increase value. For example, it’s better to have one million paying users than having 10 million non-paying users,” Flores adds. That’s why over time, apps have updates that encourage increased app usage.

Guo also recommends taking the time to build a community around your app, “Building a nurturing community that not just helps drum up hype for the app but also follows up with responsive support for customers, helping with customer retention and eventually ratings.”

Hack it out with AppsUP 2021

Another common growth hacking strategy is forging partnerships.

“Establishing channel partnerships is one key step in making this (growth) happen, and a partnership with such platforms as the HUAWEI AppGallery becomes vital to product success,” Flores said.

Since its launch in 2018, the AppGallery now has over 550 million active users globally. And though it’s relatively new to the market, it’s much easier for apps to be noticed in a less saturated platform.

Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) is constantly introducing new features such as AI, AR and analytics in their open capabilities—HMS Core kits to help developers create better user experiences.

“Understanding these tools and their capabilities will be useful for production planning—developers can either create new apps that push the potential of these features or use these features to enhance what they already have in current apps,” Guo said.

HMS’ launch of AppsUP 2021 is a perfect opportunity for developers to take advantage of the HMS Core kits and earn a path to the third-largest mobile ecosystem.

AppsUP 2021 is open to all mobile app developers and app owners, whether they be students, professionals, or startups. Developers must be based in the APAC region and the submitted apps must be developed or integrated with at least one HMS Core kit and published to AppGallery to be eligible.

Don’t miss this opportunity to launch your app to millions of screens across the globe and win from the $200,000 APAC prize pool.

For inquiries, visit AppsUP 2021’s official website at http://bit.ly/appsupapacpc.

 The no. 1 smartphone brand in the PH culminates the Global Fan Fest celebration with its biggest ever Shopee sale on August 26-28!

2021 has truly been an incredible year for realme as it was recently hailed the no. 1 smartphone brand in the Philippines for the first two quarters, and with its global milestone of reaching 100-million fans worldwide. As a tribute to the realme Squad for their continuous support, the brand is set to launch its biggest ever Shopee Super Brand Day Sale on August 26 to 28.

The sale is in line with realme’s month-long Global Fan Festival celebration this month which has been jam-packed with a remarkable roster of events, promos, and other initiatives dedicated to the brand’s loyal Filipino fans. With amazing deals, discounts, and vouchers, realme’s Shopee Super Brand Day sale is a testament to the brand’s mission of providing the best digital lifestyle experience for every Filipino.

Starting at 12am on August 26, the Squad can shop for their favorite realme smartphones and realme TechLife products at exciting deals of up to 50% OFF on selected devices. Fans can avail of the well-loved C-Series: the realme C11 2021, the realme C21Y, and the realme C25S, all with a P1,000 discount. The recently launched 5G game-changer, the realme 8 5G, will also be available for only P9,490 (P1,500 OFF SRP), while the realme 7 will be up for grabs at only P9,990 (P5,000 OFF SRP). 

To make one’s stay-at-home experience more delightful, realme TechLife products will also be available at discounted rates. realme’s stylish smart audio products such as the realme Buds Air 2 will be available at 50% OFF, and the realme Buds Q2 can be purchased at P400 OFF. Other AIoT products on sale include the realme Watch 2 and the realme Watch 2 Pro, both at P1,000 OFF, and the realme Smart TV at P3,000 OFF. 

In addition to the big discounts offered, Shopee vouchers will also be available for use when you use ShopeePay. These include Free Shipping vouchers, Shopee Mall discount vouchers for an extra 10% OFF, and cashback vouchers guaranteeing 8% cashback from your transactions. 

With all these surprises and more, realme’s Shopee Super Brand Day Sale is definitely one you wouldn’t want to miss! Visit realme’s official Shopee page to check out other exciting offers during realme’s biggest Shopee sale this year. 

For more info, updates, and other surprises, be sure to follow realme on Facebook at facebook.com/realmePhilippines, @realme_PH on Twitter, and @realmephilippines on Instagram. #DareToBeYouwithrealme #realmePH

 For retro feels and a pop of color in your kitchen: Midea’s newest microwave ovens

Are you looking for a super functional microwave oven that will spice up your kitchen with a pop of color? Check out Midea’s new line of Retro Microwave Ovens which are so extra in both departments – it’s both multifunctional and a certified head turner!   

 

Midea, the world’s largest manufacturer of major appliances, presents these new microwave ovens with smooth, rounded edges and a sleek, retro pop feels. They come in two colors that are rarely be seen in the market: Retro Blue and Retro Red. 

So, if you prefer something fiery and bold, the Midea 20L Retro Red Manual Control Microwave Oven (P3,395) might be ideal for you. Apart from its distinctive color, it offers topnotch features: energy efficient as it only consumes one peso in electricity consumption in three minutes of cooking; a mechanical timer of up to 35 minutes; and it can cook food in seconds while preserving natural nutrients of ingredients, and compared to conventional frying, foods cooked in Midea’s Retro Microwave Oven results in 10 percent less fat.

If you’re opting for something cooler and more muted, the Midea 20L Retro Light Blue Digital Control Microwave Oven (P4,095) answers that. This product has all the elements of the Retro Red but with additional features such as eight preset cooking menus, so you won’t need to search for the perfect time to heat up a certain dish. Its timer lasts up to 95 minutes, and it has a child lock function to make sure that your child or anyone unfamiliar with the product and its control panel will not be able to change the settings.

If you think Midea’s Retro Microwave Oven can only be used for heating up food, think again. Truly multi-functional, you can rely on these microwave ovens to whip up a quick dessert like cookie or brownies in a mug, make a quick egg dish, dry herbs, peel garlic faster, or even make a quesadilla.

 About Midea

Midea is the world’s largest manufacturer of home appliances, offering customers a wide range of surprisingly friendly products for day-to-day living at home, at work, and anywhere else they might be. Midea provides high-quality home appliances for air treatment, refrigeration, laundry, large and small kitchen solutions and fresh storage, recognized globally for their exceptional design and outstanding functionality. For more information about Midea’s home appliance solutions or to avail of exciting deals, visit www.mideaph.com. You can also shop for products exclusively available on our official stores at Lazada and Shopee.   

Chinese tech giant Huawei has donated $200,000, or about P10.11 million, to PLDT Smart Foundation (PSF) to help fund the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications Inc.

The CSR initiatives for funding to be determined by both PSF and Huawei will include disaster response, rehabilitation and recovery, promotion and enhancement of education in the country, environmental conservation, and the use of technology in health services.

“I would like to thank Huawei for the $200,000 donation to PSF, which will go a long way in supporting our CSR programs like education, disaster relief, environment, telehealth, and many more,” PSF chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

PLDT and Smart have been longtime partners with Huawei.

PSF and Huawei’s partnership started years ago when Chinese tech giant donated disaster relief equipment, such as tents, rechargeable lights, and other tools, for PSF’s disaster response program.

It has also contributed 13 sets of school-in-a-bag with Huawei laptops for Smart’s education program, and the recent telehealth equipment for Makati Medical Center and Cardinal Santos hospitals.

Huawei vice president Daniel Guo said the company intends to contribute more to the country through its support to the programs and initiatives of PSF.

Huawei is a leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices.

It operates in over 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world.

“The initiatives were chosen to align with the program sectors of PSF, as well as to highlight the technology solutions of Huawei. These programs are also aligned with Huawei’s overall CSR strategy,” PSF president Ma. Esther Santos said.

“Moving forward, PSF projects will try to inject technology solutions enabled by technology companies Huawei and PLDT-Smart. This is also aligned with PSF’s vision-mission of a connected, empowered, progressive Philippines,” she said.

PSF, which serves as the social outreach arm of PLDT and Smart, has created programs focused on education, livelihood and social enterprise, disaster response and recovery, youth, arts, and sports development.

Get your LG OLED TV with massive discounts through their partner retail stores and e-commerce channels

Entertainment has been reaching more and more people throughout the world — through the comfort of their homes. Gone are the days where audiences get to watch a movie in the cinema or watch a live concert with a massive crowd. “Home-tainment” has become the new norm, and LG Electronics (LG) is reinvent-ing and reshaping entertainment experiences by creating the same sensoria and visual ex-perience that make the audience feel like they’re living it.

LG is reimagining what home entertainment can be. With its cutting-edge technology that delivers an effortless experience that will make you enjoy your time at home and an ele-gant design that will fit your space as if it’s a work of art, LG’s line of groundbreaking OLED TVs will surely fit your elevated lifestyle and taste. The unbelievable delivery for viewing and gaming has earned itself the right to be known as the best gaming television. With its sharp picture, swift response, smooth motion and slim design, it’s the total-game changer for your viewing and gaming experience! 

LG is shaking up the home entertainment industry by giving the best deals for you to elevate your viewing and gaming experience at home through their OLED MADNESS CAMPAIGN happening until August 31, 2021 (Tuesday) through its partner retail and online channels like Ansons, Abenson, SM Appliance, Western Appliance, Lazada and Shopee.

Mechanics:

1. Customers can purchase LG OLED TV models at promo price from March 5 to August 31, 2021 when purchased via straight card or cash payment in partici-pating LG Authorized Dealer Stores.

2. Sale offers are not valid for corporate or institutional transactions.

3. Grey units/ parallel imported LG TV models shall not be considered as eligible products in the promotion.

4. Cash Discount offers are not valid in conjunction with other cash discounts cur-rently being offered in stores.

5. Discounts are not convertible to cash or any other product.

6. In the purchase of goods and services which are on promotional discount, the sen-ior citizen can avail of the promotional discount provided under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, whichever is higher.