So, you’ve got a brilliant idea for an app – great. You’ve decided that you want your app on the Google Play Store, even better. Now, what’s next? You need to create your app. If you don’t have the skills to do this yourself, you’ll need to hire a developer.
Much like hiring for any other role, you’ll want the best candidate possible. This means that there are plenty of things that you need to look out for, but more importantly, plenty of things that you need to avoid.
To help you find the right developer, and avoid the wrong one, here is what to avoid when hiring an Android app developer.
Whilst it’s important to save money where you can, simply choosing the cheapest developer can do more harm than good. Like most things in life, you often get what you pay for so scrimping on your spending could leave you with an app that isn’t quite what you were looking for.
When setting your budget, try to have a range rather than a single number. This gives you flexibility when trying to find your developer of choice. There will of course be developers outside of your price range, but the cheapest developer may not be able to deliver what you need. Price is not a guarantee of quality, but it is often a good indicator.
Whilst a timely delivery is important, getting your app too quickly is never a good sign. If your developer cuts corners for the sake of speed, this can come back to bite you further down the line. For example, if you find issues during the testing phase, this is only going to delay how quickly you’re able to send your app live.
Go into this process with a reasonable expectation in mind so that you aren’t waiting too long, and more importantly, that you don’t receive an unfinished app.
Don’t close yourself off to overseas options when searching for a developer. For starters, there are numerous developers living the life of digital nomads. This means that they work from different parts of the world depending on their travel plans. There are also highly skilled and highly resourced developers all over the world who will be able to deliver your app.
The biggest consideration will be communication. Depending on where your developer resides, there may be a language barrier which can cause problems during the development process. Keep this in mind when making your decision.
If a developer has bad reviews, you might be taking a risk by entrusting your app to them. It’s important when selecting a developer that has some examples of their work so that you can see what they’re capable of and whether they can deliver what you need.
If a developer can’t provide you with examples of their work or references from previous employers, this could be a red flag. Granted, some developers may be just starting out and as a result, they won’t have much experience to show, but this should give your pause when making your decision.
If a prospective developer is unable to provide a guarantee and/or support services, they likely aren’t worth your time or money. This means that they likely doubt their services, and it can leave you vulnerable to being exploited.
Another important consideration is resources. After all, you need a developer that can deliver what you’re asking for. This may require certain resources such as software, technology, or even a certain number of staff.
Before you go hunting for developers, try to gauge what is required to deliver that app that you want so that you can get what you pay for.
This is another major red flag. Keeping the development of your app quiet will help you to remain ahead of your competition and protect your business. Therefore, getting a developer to sign an NDA is so important. If key parts of your app or unique features are leaked to competitors or the general public, this can reduce your ROI and harm potential returns.
As you can see, there are a lot of things that you need to avoid when hiring an android app developer. Follow these tips, keep an open mind, and before beginning your search, make sure that you take the time to understand exactly what you’re looking for. This will make your search much easier. To see how we could help you with Android app development, get in touch with Zudu today on 01382 690080.
