The global app is booming, and all signs are indicating that it will only continue to grow. Surely this is great news for hopefuls looking to launch their own app? In a sense, it certainly is. On the other hand, though, this means that the market is more congested than ever. This means that should you try to launch an app, it needs to be as good as it can be.

Unless you’ve spent months learning to code and trying to understand the ins and outs of developing an app, you’re going to need the help of a developer to bring your vision to life. Building an app is a long, complicated, and often stressful process, which means that picking a developer is one of the most important decisions that you’ll make.

A simple online search will reveal an untold number of developers, both local and overseas, that could help you with your app. The question is, how do you find the right one for your next project?

In this guide, you’ll find everything that you need to know to find the perfect developer for your needs.

Common hiring methods

There are a number of ways that you can recruit a developer to help you. The most methods for finding a developer are:

Outsourcing

One method is to outsource your needs to a third party. This is often a business set up to develop apps for clients. These could be large businesses with teams and a long list of resources or smaller firms that look after a smaller portfolio of clients. The pricing of this option will vary depending on who you plan to outsource to and the type of app that you hope to create. One significant benefit of outsourcing, however, is that these businesses and services will often be fully equipped with all the tools required to build your app.

Hiring a person/team

An alternative to looking outside of your business is to bring on a new member of your team with the skills that you need. This will mean that you have the exclusive attention of your new hire to oversee the end-to-end development of your app. You will need to provide this person with a salary and all the materials that they need to build your app, however, this may be worth it for the commitment that you receive and the protection that you’ll get from an employment contract.

Freelancers

Your final option is to find a freelancer. As things like side hustles have become more popular, more people are using their skills to make some extra cash. Freelancers are very appealing, as they are often flexible and affordable as you don’t need to supply any resources and you don’t need to cover things like vacations and sick days. However, freelancers often don’t have the same experience as others in the industry, which can often be why their services come so cheap.

Top tips during the selection process

Here are the most important things to consider when trying to find a developer.

Consider your budget

Before going into the process of finding a developer, you need to get a good understanding of your budget. Start by doing some research about what other similar apps to yours have cost in the past. This will help you to set a benchmark that you can set your budget against. Next, determine the upper and lower limits of your budget so that you have some room to negotiate if needed. Finally, be mindful of your decision. As attractive as a cheap option may be, this may not yield the best results. Conversely, a high price doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get exactly what you asked for. So, try to stay within your budget as best you can.

Programming language

Another key decision that you’ll have to make is what app store you’d like your app to feature on. Will be it the Google Play Store or Apple’s app store? Perhaps you’d like to feature on both? Whatever you decide, your developer of choice needs to be able to build in the right programming language. It’s better for you to choose your store and then your developer, not the other way around.

Relevant portfolio

Checking the history of a potential developer is a must. If a prospective developer that your considering has a proven track record with similar apps, you can make your decision with more confidence. You can take a risk with a new developer if you don’t have deep pockets, however, what you save in money you lose in experience.

References

As we touched on earlier, developing an app is a long and complicated process. It’s stressful and requires a great deal of patience and communication for the process to be successful. Checking references can allow you to see how a given developer operates and can save you a lot of pain and difficulty later down the line. The last thing that you want is to be stuck in a development process with a difficult person or team.

Conclusion

Finding a developer is not an easy process. It will require a lot of time and careful consideration on your part. However, by keeping the tips and tricks that we’ve outlined in this guide in mind, you’ll be able to find the right developer for your project. Feel free to take your time, all that matters is that you make the right decision for yourself. Reach out to the app development experts at Zudu for support.

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