Media Mechanic / Blog

Ideas from the work.

Perspectives on AI, web applications and the decisions behind useful software.

2022-03-18

Is Building a Mobile App Still a Good Idea for Your Business?

As a small or medium-sized business in Portland, Oregon, you might be thinking about building a mobile app. But you might be wondering—Is Building a Mobile App Still a Good Idea for Your Business? In this post, we’ll look at the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision. Why Mobile Apps Are Still Popular in 2022 Mobile apps are still a powerful tool for businesses. People use their phones for almost everything—shopping, ordering food, b

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2021-10-05

Website vs. Web Application: What’s the Difference and Which Do You Need?

At Media Mechanic, we often get asked about the difference between a website and a web application. It’s an important question because it helps define the best approach for your online presence, whether you're using something like WordPress or building a custom solution using tools like Laravel. So let's get started: Website vs Web Application, what’s the difference and which do you need? What’s a Website? A website is typically a collection of p

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2021-07-13

Why Small Businesses Should Choose Cross-Platform App Development

For small businesses in Portland and beyond looking to develop a mobile app, one of the biggest decisions is choosing between native development (building separate apps for iOS and Android) or using cross-platform app development frameworks like Flutter, React Native, or Xamarin. While native development offers deep platform integration, cross-platform development has become the smarter choice for most businesses. Advancements in technology have

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2020-07-23

How Small Businesses Are Adapting and Thriving During COVID-19

Hey howdy to our extended Media Mechanic family! 2020 has certainly been a challenging year, but there are some incredible examples of small businesses not only surviving but thriving despite the odds. One such story that we saw in the news worth sharing was that of Gotham Greens, a New York-based urban farming company. don’t hesitate to reach out. — The Media Mechanic Team Source: "Gotham Greens Sees Jump in Demand During Pandemic." Bloomberg, J

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2020-05-12

How to Adapt to Working From Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hey there, We know times are tough right now. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, the way we interact, and the way we do business. If you’re a small or medium-sized business owner, you’ve probably had to adjust quickly to remote work—and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Here at Media Mechanic, we’re no strangers to change, and we’ve been learning along with you. As we all navigate this new reality, we wanted to shar

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2019-12-02

Web Development Trends in 2019: A Look Back

As we reflect on the past year, it's clear that the web development landscape experienced significant shifts. Let's take a look at some of the key Web Development Trends in 2019 we think you should be aware of that defined the last twelve months. 1. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) PWAs gained substantial traction in 2019. These applications offer a seamless experience by combining the best features of web and mobile apps. They load quickly, work offl

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2018-11-15

Why Your Small Business Needs PPC

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is a powerful way for small businesses in Portland to attract more customers online. Unlike traditional advertising, where you pay a flat fee, PPC lets you pay only when someone clicks on your ad. This makes it a cost-effective way to drive traffic to your website and increase sales. Let's get into why your small business needs PPC. Instant Visibility With PPC, your business can appear at the top of search engine r

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2018-05-23

Why Every Small Business Needs a Modern Website

In today's digital world, having a strong online presence is essential. Why every small business needs a modern website comes down to three key factors: building trust, attracting customers, and driving growth. For small businesses in the Portland metro area, a well-designed site serves as the foundation of success. Whether you own a retail shop, restaurant, or service business, your website is the core of your online presence and a powerful tool

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2017-04-28

When to Custom Build a Bespoke Website

Do You Need To Build A Custom Website? A bespoke website is a custom built website or web application tailor-made to the specific demands of your business. They are custom designed & built by experienced professionals such as GUI/UX designers and programmers. These professionals will spend time analyzing requirements, developing concepts, architecting data, designing interfaces, coding functionality and testing. It can be time consuming and costl

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2017-04-08

Should you use WordPress or build a custom website?

So you are in the market for a new website. The question is, should you build it from scratch or use something like WordPress to create it? Let's outline a fairly generic scenario: You need a new website You are on a budget, so cost is an issue Functionality beyond just an "online brochure" is needed You want control of your website An eye catching design that looks professional is very important to you You don't want to wait 6 months to launch i

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2016-10-25

iPhone or Android? Which is good for you?

iPhone or Android? A common question I get asked (occupational hazard): "You're a smart-phone guy... which do you think is better? iPhone or Android phones? Which should I get?". Here is my honest answer: "it depends". This is really a two part question I will discuss over the next two articles. The first part is which phone is right for you to USE. The second part is directed at clients: which platform should you BUILD for.So which phone should

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2016-10-18

Bossman back from Japan vacation

Hello! Well that was fun. My wife and I just got back from our 10 day vacation to Japan as part of my Aikido federation's training trip (outside of Media Mechanic, I am an Aikido martial arts instructor). This was our first long term vacation in nearly 10 years. This was our way of celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary. We spent four days at Ki Society World Headquarters while I participated in Aikido training with the world's top Ki Aikido

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