"You have to be able to adapt to the new economy, the attention economy."
Steven Cravotta is the 24-year-old entrepreneur/web developer behind popular apps like Wordle!, Puff Count, and Grid. With a vision of using his refined skill set to improve people’s lives, Cravotta thrives on the challenge of solving real-world problems in a way that is both meaningful and fun. Naturally creative, he is living proof that the best, most fulfilling return on investment comes from believing in and relentlessly pursuing one’s own ideas – no matter what the critics may say.
Cravotta grew up in Atlanta, Georgia watching his dad navigate the field of sales and marketing. Drawn to the expanding world of social media, he experimented with promoting products on Twitter and Instagram, learning the basics of marketing through the age-old process of trial-and-error. Eager to apply these principles to his own suite of products, he dove into the world of app development with a keen eye for the essential elements of a truly marketable user experience. He released his first app – Grid, an engaging puzzle game that quickly went viral – while juggling high school athletics and classes.
Cravotta went on to earn his Advertising/Marketing degree at Pepperdine University. While there, he noticed the rise of student vaping and saw an opportunity to create a product with real-world applications. Analyzing audience feedback, TikTok comments, and his own experience as a vaper, he developed Puff Count. This #1 quit vaping app offers a host of intuitive features that have effectively helped over 100k users. Fueled by the feeling of changing the world for the better, Cravotta now keeps a running list of ideas to empower and help others with everyday problems.
Most recently, Steven Cravotta has been widely recognized for his Wordle! app, offering a fun way to challenge the mind and grow strengthen vocabulary. Released in October of 2021, it reached millions of daily users within months, and was purchased by the NY Times. He also currently serves as Marketing Coordinator for top-rated affiliate management agency Advertise Purple. He lives in Santa Monica, California.
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Table of Contents
2020 and 2021 threw a lot of curve balls into business on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past couple years, how can businesses thrive in 2022? What lessons have you learned?
Steven Cravotta: You have to be able to adapt to the new economy, the attention economy. With diseases going around and people spending a lot of their time at home, there has never been a better opportunity to take your business presence online.
Much of my success with Puff Count and Wordle has been from social sharing on platforms like TikTok and Twitter.
The pandemic seems to keep on disrupting the economy, what should businesses focus on in 2022? What advice would you share?
Steven Cravotta: TikTok.
Not only are younger generations on TikTok more than any other social media, but the format of the video content on TikTok is what is performing best for paid ads.
Getting on TikTok will teach you how to market best in this current era.
How has the pandemic changed your industry and how have you adapted?
Steven Cravotta: Advertising was already leaning more digital, but this pandemic has solidified that. Adapt by keeping up with digital trends and always testing out different ways to market on the various social platforms.
What advice do you wish you received when the pandemic started and what do you intend on improving in 2022?
Steven Cravotta: Build / grow as many TikTok accounts as you can. Invest in digital currencies. Build digital products.
I intend on building more digital apps, SAAS, and agency businesses in 2022 and using TikTok to promote them all organically. With this cashflow I will invest in digital currencies as the economy keeps taking on more and more debt and inflation.
Online business surged higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for 2022?
Steven Cravotta: This trend will continue, as people are already comfortable with this type of shopping / working.
Its hard for me to wrap my head around making people go back to work after we have proved for over 2 years that working remotely is a viable option. Businesses will continue to struggle with employee focus / work hours because they cannot be micromanaged. Employees will continue to explore other ways to make money / start their side hustle while having downtime from work at home.
How many hours a day do you spend in front of a screen?
Steven Cravotta: 6-8 hours.
The majority of executives use stories to persuade and communicate in the workplace. Can you share with our readers examples of how you implement that in your business to communicate effectively with your team?
Steven Cravotta: I typically tell stories about my past successes and failures to show my team I have been there in the past, and we can overcome whatever we are facing right now.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now?
Steven Cravotta: The biggest challenge I face is with my app, Puff Count. It’s incredibly hard to convince people to quit an addictive substance, and even harder to get them to pay to do so.
Marketing this product has been a huge challenge on my creative skills, and has encouraged me to think outside the box in terms of generating revenue from this product.
In 2022, what are you most interested in learning about? Crypto, NFTs, online marketing, or any other skill sets? Please share your motivations.
Steven Cravotta: I believe NFT’s will disrupt the venture capital / funding industry heavily. Companies can build NFTs and allow them as a way for customers to “invest” and own a stake in the company through digital assets that have real world application.
Hope to continue marketing and learning how to be a great TikTok marketer.
A record 4.4 million Americans left their jobs in September in 2021, accelerating a trend that has become known as the Great Resignation. 47% of people plan to leave their job during 2022. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. Do you think leaders see the data and think “that’s not me – I’m not that boss they don’t want to work for? What changes do you think need to happen?
Steven Cravotta: Employees need to be appreciated more than ever and given options. With social media and work from home, employees know they have a lot of options. Give them a reason to stay.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Steven Cravotta: Be able to attend multiple meetings at once.
What does “success” in 2022 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Steven Cravotta: Success in 2022 means helping people live better lives.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Steven Cravotta for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Steven Cravotta or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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