The vision behind the FlikPix mobile application was to transform traditional rating platforms by providing users the opportunity to provide ratings for entertainment content taking into consideration the input of friends, families and contacts.
The FlikPix App looked to overcome the challenges of traditional entertainment rating platforms and deliver a unique, memorable and interactive platform for social discovery and community engagement. The Elegant Media App Development Team worked closely with the App owners to bring their vision to live.
Limitations of Traditional Entertainment Rating Platforms
Traditional entertainment rating platforms face several key challenges that limit user engagement and growth.
1. Over-Reliance on Algorithmic Recommendations
- Problem: Most traditional platforms use conventional algorithms to suggest content. This can lead to generic recommendations.
- Impact: Users tend to get bored with repetitive suggestions that don’t align with the taste of their familial and social circles.
2. Lack of Real Social Interaction
- Problem: Platform users can provide ratings and review entertainment content, but with no real-time discussion or contact-based social discovery.
- Impact: With limited interaction, this can lead to passive app consumption complemented by lower overall user engagement.
3. Privacy Concerns with Public Reviews
- Problem: Many platform users are hesitant to share honest opinions publicly due to fear of backlash or judgment.
- Impact: With fewer authentic reviews the trust placed in the platform by other users diminishes.
4. Difficulty in Keeping Users Engaged
- Problem: Most ratings platforms tend to opt for a ‘rate-and-leave’ model with no incentive for ongoing interaction or discovery.
- Impact: This results in low retention rates as users will only return when actively searching for reviews without continuous app engagement.
5. Celebrity & Influencer Engagement is Limited
- Problem: Many platforms don’t integrate verified celebrity opinions effectively.
- Impact: When celebrity and influencers inputs are not amplified correctly then it provides a missed opportunity for fan engagement and platform credibility.
Background
FlikPix aims to revolutionise how users discover and share entertainment content such as TV shows, movies, podcasts and more, using social discovery.
This entails allowing app users to see what friends are watching/listening to, rate content, and share their opinions on topics of mutual interest. FlikPix does this using:
- Social-driven Recommendations (not just algorithms)
- Real-time Activity Sharing among Friends
- Celebrity & Influencer engagement to Boost Credibility
- Personalised What to Watch/Listen Next suggestions
FlixPix App Development Challenges & Solutions
1. Integrating User Centric Core Features [Features & Functions]
Challenge: The FlikPix App needed to offer a unique selling proposition that would differentiate it from traditional entertainment rating platforms.
Solution: Thorough market research prior to development empowered the owners of the FlikPix App to identify the features and functionality that would be expected from users, in order for it to stand out from the crowd.
2. Optimising App Usability & Navigation [User Experience (UX) Design]
Challenge: The FlikPix App’s user experience had to be smooth, efficient and productive.
Solution: The Elegant Media UI/UX team implemented a UX experience that served the diverse needs of multiple users. Users can create groups and engage in discussions with other users they know, providing an engaging, memorable and functional user flow.
3. Fusing Cross-Platform Compatibility [The FlikPix App should work on all devices]
Challenge: In order to exploit the most of the mobile app ecosystem the FlikPix App needed to be accessible and function seamlessly across both Android and iOS devices.
Solution: The FlikPix App was developed by Elegant Media using Swift for iOS and Kotlin for Android. The App went through several rounds of testing across numerous devices and interfaces prior to its release to ensure a user journey and in-app experience that provided optimal performance and platform integration.
5. Smart Filtering for Quick Access [Find the Best of what’s Streaming Now]
Challenge: The FlikPix App’s dynamic search functions should rely not on traditional algorithms based on engagement or interactions, rather it should make it easy for users to spend less time scrolling and more time watching/listening.
Solution: The App’s interface design includes an advanced smart filtering option that showcases results based on a range of specific criteria such as recommendations based on what the user’s friends, family or contacts are watching or listening to.
FlikPix makes discovering great content simple, social and fun! Download the app. Create your profile. Follow people who get your vibe, share your picks and invite your friends. Browse less and watch more!
FlikPix App Development Process
- Market Research – Before commencing development, market research was conducted to understand the limitations of traditional entertainment rating platforms
- UI/UX Design – It was important to capitalise and optimise the App’s design that evolved into an user interface that worked seamlessly across platforms.
- Backend Development – A Database Management System that was able to deliver insights and statistics in real time was deployed to manage all in-app data.
- Testing – Limited beta testing was provided to selected friends, family and other key stakeholders.
- Launch – The FlikPix App was released on major app stores with the best of feedback received during the testing phase.
Results
Since its launch, the FlikPix mobile app has generated a buzz as the go-to platform for social entertainment discovery. The App’s success is driven by real-time interactions and trust-building features – proving that users want more than just algorithms; they want community-driven discovery for movies, TV shows, podcasts and more.
