So now you’re sold on what an app could do for your business, but what now? Building an app is one of the most complex and difficult tasks to accomplish. You want to be sure that you’re hiring the best app developers to complete the job. As app developers, we know how much of an investment this is for your company, and we have some tips to steer you in the right direction.
- Portfolio
- Price
- Communication
- Design
- Maintenance
Portfolio
One of the most important things to look at when hiring app developers are their portfolios. How many apps have they created? What are the reviews on the app store like for those apps? If the app developers’ past work isn’t listed in the app store, this might be a red flag. Their portfolio will also give you a better idea of the company’s experience and the extent to which they’ve gone for their past clients.
Think about the app you are looking to have created. Have the app developers you’re currently considering ever created an app for your same industry? Do they have experience building the type of app you have in mind? The complexity of an ecommerce app is different compared with an app used to read articles. App developers should be transparent with how they plan to implement app functionality and frameworks to make your vision come to life.
Price
A clear idea of price comes with the right research and understanding of what kind of app you are looking to build. Don’t just listen to the first guy you talk to. This is one of the biggest investments you can make so due diligence research is quite necessary.
It’s a good idea to have a clear understanding of pricing before you go into talk with a potential app developer. Once you have a broad idea of a budget you would like to stick to, talk about various finance options with your app developers. For example, if developing an app is too pricey for you at the moment then you might consider a platform starter kit to start.
Communication
You’re investing a lot of time and money to make sure your app is a success. Because of this, it’s critical to ask questions about how the app developers plan to communicate. How often will they be communicating with you? A project update should be delivered as least once a week or more depending on the type of app and timeline. App developers understand how big their role is in helping to brand someone else’s company. With that being said, app development should always be a two-way street.
It’s important to make sure that you feel comfortable asking any and all questions to your app developer team. As app developers, our goal is to produce something that the client can be the most proud of. Ask yourself if the app developer you’re going after shares the same visions you have for your future app. There should be an alignment in goal and motivation felt between both parties. A solid app developer will also communicate with you at every stage of the app development process.
Design
If coding gives the app a heartbeat and organs, then design/framework serve as the skin and bones. Look at the designs the app developers have done for their past clients. Do those designs align with any of your ideas for the design of your app? Communication comes into play when conveying your app design ideas to the app developers.
Don’t be afraid to ask for an app mockup during the proposal phase, if they don’t offer it first. Functional design teams can be separate from app developers so clarify if this is the case when you hire app developers.
Maintenance
Once your app is launched, there are a number of things that can come up in the future like updates, bug fixes, and/or new features. You’ll need to inquire about the app developers’ policies on the maintenance following the launch of the app. Is there an extra monthly fee for ongoing maintenance, or is it included in the contract? You can also ask what their process is with fixing bug issues and how they stay up-to-date on any updates that may arise.
Hiring an app developer can be a stressful and overwhelming experience for any business owner. Whether you’re a new business owner or have some technical expertise, these tips will help you secure the app developers that are best suited for your app.
At Clever Coding, we maintain an experienced portfolio, competitive pricing, excellent communication, functional design options, and maintenance. Feel free to contact us if you would like to know more!