So you want to hire an app development company for your new app idea, but how do you find the right one?
Choosing the right app development company for your project can be a difficult task. You want to ensure that the company is the right fit for you in every way, from your project scope to ease of communication.
Here are some things to look for to determine if an app development company is a good fit for you and your company’s needs.
Table of Contents
Determine Your Own Goals
Before approaching a development company, you first need to design your entire project scope.
You need to make sure you have an understanding of what your company’s needs are so you can make your desires clear when discussing the project with potential developers.
Make sure you know the exact details of what your app is addressing, from goals to features.
Most importantly, make sure you have a clear understanding of the user needs you are looking to meet.
During the custom mobile app development, creating an amazing user experience is crucial to the app’s eventual success.
In order to create a good UX, you need to thoroughly explain the user needs you would like to meet with your application to the development company.
Where Do You Begin Your Search?
Now that you know your project scope, it’s time to begin your search for an app development company to work with.
There are a wide variety of resources you can use to find a mobile app development company, but the best places to start are with your professional network, social media, mobile app company online directory websites (such as Upcity), and search engines.
Your Professional Network
A great place to start your search is with your professional network. Inform your connections of your high-level needs, and ask them if they have any recommendations or even if they have experience with custom app development.
Your professional connections are a great resource for mobile app development companies that you may not have heard about otherwise.
Also, fellow professionals in your industry may know of companies that are a good fit for the specific needs of your field.
Social Media
Social media is a great tool to find a company to work with. On your various social media networks, be sure to post and describe your project and its requirements, sharing as much information as you feel comfortable.
Then, you can essentially wait for the best app development company to come to you. Social media can be very helpful in reaching developers that you may not be able to otherwise.
Online Directories
Online directories are another great resource for finding the right app development company for your project. Clutch, GoodFirms, Toptal, and App Futura are just a handful of websites that you can use to find an app development company.
These websites contain profiles of app developers, including their portfolios and reviews of their past work.
While doing your research and reviewing these profiles, pay special attention to companies that have won awards, have been mentioned on tech news sites, and have good, relevant experience to your project scope.
Search Engines
Finally, search engines can be a useful tool in finding a company to work with. Just keep in mind that search engines typically only show big-name companies on the first page, and these big names may not be compatible with your budget.
However, if you keep digging, you are bound to find the best mobile app development company for you.
Make sure you pay special attention to these companies’ reviews and past work before you pursue working with them further.
Take a Look at Their Portfolio
Once you find a company that you think may be compatible with your business, take some time to take a careful look at their portfolio.
Review their past work and even download some of their applications. Don’t just trust what the company tells you, but make sure you are able to see their real output.
While looking at the development company’s portfolios, gather an understanding of their process and methodology.
Ask yourself if their strategies will be compatible with your goals for the project. If you think the answer is yes, it is time to move forward and see if this company can meet all of your needs.
Can They Meet Your Needs?
Now that you’ve found a company to work with, the next question you need to ask yourself is whether or not they can meet the needs for your specific project.
From the early stages of design, to the final launch of your app, you want to ensure that this company will be a good fit for your custom app development.
Here are some factors to consider when determining if an app development company can meet your needs.
Platform
It is important to know what platform you want to use up front. If you want to build an app for multiple platforms, make sure the company you choose to work with has that capability.
You do not want to put yourself in a corner and choose to work with a company that can only develop for one platform when you need your product optimized for multiple platforms.
Design
Consider each company’s approach to user experience in app design. Ask yourself, “can this company design the app for my target audience?” if they can, you are on your way to the best mobile app development company.
By examining their past work, you can determine if a company has the experience necessary to design for your audience.
Remember that design is just as important as coding, so it is definitely something to consider when choosing a development company.
Timeline
As you look at app development companies, consider your project time constraints. Make sure the company that you choose has the capacity necessary to meet your desired timeline.
Regardless of whether or not you have a strict or short timeline, you still want to develop a timespan for your project and that the best mobile app development company will be dedicated to it.
Launch
When your app is complete and ready to be launched, you must first submit it to the designated app store(s). It is important to understand that a good firm will guide you through the submission process or even submit the app for you.
Once your app has been launched or near launch, you must consider the marketing efforts you will use to promote your app.
An important question to ask your app development company is whether or not your app will be integrated with social media because this will make a great difference in the marketing of your app.
When discussing the launch process with an app development company, try to look for a company that will stick with you throughout the entire process.
If you do not have experience launching an application, you don’t want to get stranded after development is complete.
Maintenance
Maintenance is another key area to discuss with a potential development company. Be sure to ask if they will be willing to make corrections if any bugs or problems arise.
Also, ask yourself if this is a company you could see yourself working with long-term so that you can potentially work with them to release app updates or add new features and functionalities as time passes.
Pricing
Although the price is an important factor to consider while choosing a company, don’t let price drive your decision making.
It is more important to have a good product over a cheap one, so try not to fall into the trap of choosing one company over another because it is less expensive.
While looking at pricing, keep your budget flexible. Make sure the company you choose is competitive in comparison to similar companies.
Also, gather a careful understanding of their pricing terms. You want to have a complete picture of their pricing so that nothing takes you by surprise down the road.
The Takeaways
Picking the best mobile app development company for you is definitely not an easy choice. Your project is likely very important to you and your business, so choosing a good company to work with is a priority.
If you want your project to go smoothly and be successful, you need to ensure that the custom app development company you choose is a good fit for you in every way.
Consider these final tips to help you make the right choice for your next app development project:
- Make sure you take the time to examine the company’s previous work through their portfolio. This is the best way to determine how the company approaches app development and if their work aligns with your project goals.
- Ask yourself if you and your potential development company have compatible work and communication styles. Without this compatibility, your time working together can become very difficult. However, determining your compatibility ahead of time can help avoid any issues and can lead to a very successful work relationship.
- Along with determining if your work styles are compatible, you need to create a collaborative, communicative environment. You want to be involved in the process and not left out of the loop, so emphasize the importance of communication from the get-go.
- Don’t be afraid to ask any questions you have up front! Get all the information you need about a company and don’t leave yourself with any unanswered questions. Even as you get deeper into the project, never hesitate to ask any questions you may have so that you are in the loop and content with the work being done.
- Finally, prepare for a long-term relationship with your app development company by discussing strategies for measuring progress and success. By determining success metrics up front, you can make your needs known to the app development company. This will allow them to work to meet those needs from the very beginning of the project.
Follow these tips and you’re well on your way to choosing the best app development company for you!
