Content creator
Content creators can set up accounts, receive notifications about jobs they might be interested in, connect with brands, and get paid for reviewing products.
Yontent
A platform where beauty brands pay influencers and bloggers for product reviews
Our client’s request
Our client contacted us with an idea to create an Instagram-like application that would connect content creators with health & beauty brands. On this platform, bloggers and influencers would get paid to review products. The platform would have a full-text search engine and support Chinese. To validate his idea, our client decided to start with an MVP.
Analysis
Every day, users create lots of content, including reviews of their favorite products and of disappointing products. However, many people don’t receive any compensation for their reviews – only likes. Social media apps such as Yontent help micro-influencers and freelancers connect with brands and create product reviews for money. Yontent not only helps creators make extra money but also gives them the freedom to generate creative posts and learn about new brands and products. Brands, in turn, can promote their products, increase their profits, build loyalty, and get real feedback from users.
Solution
Steelkiwi built the Yontent iOS mobile application and a website to generate traffic to it on the App Store.
User Roles
Administrator
An administrator can manage all content on the application and website: create, edit, and delete posts, block spammers, manage payments, and resolve issues between bloggers and brand managers.
Brand manager
Brand managers can find influencers to become their brand ambassadors and sponsor influencers’ product overviews.
Results
Duration:
August, 2018 – January, 2019
Team:
Backend - 1 Frontend - 1 UI/UX - 1 Mobile - 1 QA - 1 PM - 1
Created the UI/UX
Our client came with a general idea and a mood board that included the main colors and the company logo. This helped our designers get an understanding of the project.
We created a design of Yontent in Sketch, following iOS guidelines and taking into account our client’s preferences. We used apps such as Pinterest, Instagram, Trip Advisor, and Twitter as sources of design inspiration.
Developed a website backend and CMS
We created a website on Python 3.6 and used Django 1.11 LTS as the main web framework. On the website, we added the Django admin panel to allow admins to create, read, update, and delete any content on the website. To allow the Yontent app to communicate with the Yontent website, we implemented an API: new content that appears in the application can be viewed on the website as well. We also generated a QR code so users can download the app right from the website using a QR code scanner application.
For keeping all user data, posts, and information about coins and payments, we used a PostgreSQL 9.6 database. We used AWS S3 for storing media (such as high-quality images) in the fastest and most secure way.
To check that everything works well, we wrote unit tests using Pytest and did manual testing. These tests allowed us to be sure that the website was stable and ready for production use.
Developed the frontend
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the main technologies used to build the Yontent website. To optimize CSS performance and improve support for additional code, we used Stylus, a CSS preprocessor. We used Masonry.js to build a grid with elements distributed optimally within the available space. We also used libraries such as Owl.carousel.js to create sliders and Skrollr.js and aos.js to animate elements when scrolling the page.
Developed a native iOS application
The iOS application is the main product through which bloggers can create posts and make reviews of health and beauty products. We built the iOS app using Swift, as it fit all our development needs and is the best language for iOS app development.
Using Yontent, users can always stay up to day with beauty products. We implemented a full-text search engine that allows users to search not only by symbols but by meaning.
To enable uploading of high-quality photos to Yontent, we chose an optimal crop ratio. We did this to speed up loading times for posts and enable loading with a slow internet connection.
To collect analytical data on which screens users visit most often and when users like and unlike posts, save and retrieve favorite posts, publish and edit posts, and register and log in, we integrated Firebase Analytics. We used Fabric for crash analysis and reporting. We also used Alamofire so the Yontent app works and manages requests faster.
Implemented features
Content creators can create personal profiles with their name, picture, and bio. Additionally, they can create posts and save them as drafts, search for posts, and like, comment, and save posts from other users. Brand managers can also create profiles of their brand, adding a logo and other information.
Coins are used to pay content creators for their work. Marketers can buy coins and pay with them for content. These coins are converted into money and paid to a content creator for the work done.
The application distinguishes the most active content creators from the rest and puts them at the top of the ranking list. This helps brand managers choose the best content creators for their brand. Сontent creators define which content is in demand by brand managers.
Users receive notifications of all new activity in their profiles: likes, comments, followers, and job offers.
Technology Stack
