Susan Melnick Creates Innovative Communication App

By: Susan Melnick

A new and innovative app has hit the market! StatusNow App, created by Susan Melnick, this free app is a virtual and digital assistant that enables users tailor messages to individuals or groups to ensure they do not miss any important information. As an entrepreneur, wife, and mother of 4 children, Melnick’s has made her dream a certified reality. By allowing people to stay connected to those who are most important to them, while completely disconnecting from their phones, she has created a new way to communicate.

I caught up with Susan for a quick interview, as she discussed her development process, how StatusNow App has shaped her life, and how it enables users to live in the present. Check it out below.

Susan Melnick Interview

RESPECT: What is the StatusNow App for?

SUSAN: The StatusNow App is for anyone who has a reason to answer his or her phone.

RESPECT: How can athlete’s or student’s benefit from using StatusNow?

SUSAN: Absolutely. There are so many different examples of how this could work for athletes/students. One example is to invite everyone from your team to be your contact and create a “TEAM” group. If you’re in class, the library, eating, or on a date, simply leave a message that only the team could see if they needed you. This simply tells them when they can expect a response from you.

Another example is geared for students entering college—it’s a year of transition. Create groups for your parents, close friends, roommates, and employer if you have a job, etc. If you’re away from your phone, you’re letting all those people know when you’ll be back. If you have a job and your employer is trying to give you an extra shift, and they receive your voicemail, it’s a way to let them know when you’ll be back, so you don’t miss out.

RESPECT: Is there a way we can have a status for select contacts to see?

SUSAN: Yes, once you create your status, you can select either individuals or a pre-assigned group of people to view it.

RESPECT: What are your favorite features of the App?

SUSAN: My favorite feature about the App is the expiring contact. The way the app works is that you invite people to connect. It’s not everyone; it’s not your whole contact list. It’s only the person whom you feel may need to get in touch with you. Once you have your list, you can create groups – friends, coworkers, family, neighbors, etc. If I wanted to invite a co-worker who I was working on a project with for 6 months, I only invite him/her to be in my contact list for that long. This way, going forward, I know my lists/groups are current. I don’t want to give someone permission to view a status if they no longer have a reason.

RESPECT: Can you give an example of time in your life that you wish you would have StatusNow App?

SUSAN: My dad was sick and living out of state. I constantly would answer the phone if I ever saw my mom calling. Most of the time it wasn’t an emergency, but I never knew that until I answered. Looking back, I wish there was a way for me to tell my mom I’m working out, in a meeting, out to dinner with my husband, etc. and be able to be present, knowing she would know where I was if it was urgent.

When you have a sick relative, especially one who lives out of state, missing an important call could be the difference of making a flight that day vs. the next one. Plus, the amount of guilt I would have had if I missed something urgent because I was reading to my son’s class (for example) would have been awful. No one should feel guilty doing something for themselves, but that’s easier to say than do.

RESPECT: What made you come up with such a creative name?

We went through a lot of name choices. Honestly, the adults were over thinking it and the kids started talking and came up with really simple ideas. We wanted to create something that applied to both the person posting the status and also the person searching. StatusNow is your status right now and the current status is someone is finding you. When we were starting the App, we weren’t sure whom our target customer would be – if it were the poster or the searcher. We needed something for both.

RESPECT: Besides changing your status, what else can the StatusNow App do to make your life a little more organized?

SUSAN: There is so much more beyond organization. It creates a way to be 100% present and focused on what you’re doing, while giving anyone peace of mind who may be trying to reach you. StatusNow also syncs with your calendar, and you can create repeat status for reoccurring events.

RESPECT: This is such a great and creative App! Are there any other apps you are working on for the future?

SUSAN: I am not looking to create anything new but I am looking to expand there. There are several features I would love to add to make this even easier and more user-friendly.

To learn more about this amazing new app click here.