Ayoudo: An App to Make Life Easier

• By
• Jen Mah

Image by Jen Mah
Ayoudo's sleek, easy-to-navigate interface aims to help you find help fast

The Ayoudo app helps people make meaningful connections while delivering "trusted help"

Founded by Vancouver entrepreneur Michael Tippett, Ayoudo is an app with a simple premise – to help people connect in the real world.

Whether you need someone to mend your favourite shirt, replace a window or source a photo for your website, simply post your desired task, how much you’re willing to pay for it (along with an acceptable finish date) and then wait for people in your area to offer their help.

Users can rate one another once a task is completed, commenting on anything from the quality of work to the speediness of payment.

This built-in system of quality control creates a sense of credibility and community, which turns the app into a mini-social network.

With people increasingly focused on strengthening their virtual ties, Ayoudo is a tool that not only helps you get things done, but introduces you to real, live people.

Cultivating Communities

The interesting thing about Ayoudo is that as natural pockets of interest groups develop, it becomes a forum to discuss, share and meet people with similar interests.

For example: since jobs can be done on a volunteer basis, gardeners can join with other green-thumbed cohorts who are just a few kilometres away.

According to Tippett, not only does the app bring the “simplicity of Twitter . . . the power and depth of Craigslist and the security of eBay,” Ayoudo carries the unique element of intrinsically advocating community collaboration.

Erasing the anonymity behind tools such as Craigslist and eBay, and the lack of face-to-face interaction behind acts like tweeting and liking, Ayoudo promotes relationships built around action – around doing, meeting, and connecting.

The Ayoudo team has taken notice of these developing communities and has begun hosting events like their Social Garden Party.

Beyond simply introducing the Ayoudo concept to the community, events like these have been launched in an attempt to help spark the collaborative mentality behind the app.

Why Ayoudo?

In a world where apps and web sites are constantly competing for user numbers, Ayoudo openly compares itself to relevant social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Craigslist and eBay.

In doing so, the company actually holds a compelling argument for how they have created a unique, previously unfilled platform, going so far as create campaign slogans such as: "Yes. You can put videos of your wedding on Facebook . . . but social media won't organize your wedding" or "Yes. You can tweet about the flood . . . but social media won't help sandbag your property." Bold perhaps, but true.

Safety Concerns

As with most cyber-made connections, it’s important to exercise a little caution. As several posted tasks often require users to hand out personal information, keep in mind the resources available to you before readily handing out your phone number, address, or any other intimate details.

The Canadian-Anti Fraud Center runs a program called Phone Busters (1 888 495-8501) that is dedicated to recognizing, reporting and stopping internet and telephone scams. Even if you're simply unsure, throw embarrassment aside and give them a call.

Availability

Ayoudo is currently a free app available only on iPhone, but is accessible to anyone through their website. Try it out. You might tidy up your garden and make a new friend in the process.