A mobile app can help take your business to new heights.
Mobile apps help businesses make stronger connections with their audiences by offering added convenience, better access and a stronger user experience. And thanks to the power of apps, we can all stay better connected with each other, than ever before.
Here at Mindsea, we’ve had the pleasure of working with clients in a variety of industries and across North America, helping them launch their apps.
When you’re building an app, you want to work with a development team that’s passionate about creating mobile experiences that improve people’s lives. And you want a team that you can lean on through the whole app building process, from validating your idea to launching it.
So grab a pen and paper and define what you want to accomplish in this project. And keep in mind, your considerations should go beyond price.
Yes, cost is important—you likely have a budget, but what I’m saying is that it’s not the only factor.
What kind of people are you trusting with your project? What do they know? What have they built in the past? How will they be to deal with? All of this, and more, should be just as important to you as the final price.
So what are some questions you should be asking when you seek outside help in building your app?
Let’s take a look…
Is the team experienced?
When it comes to building something as intricate and unique as a mobile app, experience is key.
This is more than how many years they’ve been in the business (though it’s a factor), but really it’s about how many different kinds of app building scenarios have they dealt with? What challenges have they faced? What variety of industries have they worked with? What is their track record like?
When you’re considering who’s going to develop your mobile app, you need to do your homework. Selecting the right partner for your app will be critical to the project’s success.
An experienced design and development team will take your app to the next level. They will help you understand your project’s goals so they can exceed them; they will help you navigate the entire process and do whatever it takes to be successful.
Are you looking to build for iOS and Android? Are you looking to build a hybrid app or native app? These decisions matter. An expert team will likely have experience developing them all, but your decision will ultimately come down to what you’re looking for. And if you don’t know, you will want to find someone who can help you determine which one is best suited for your needs.
When you have an experienced team, you can accomplish all your app goals.
What is their process like?
When I say process, I mean strategy.
Before your engagement starts, you want to have a strategy—a roadmap that clearly defines the path to execution.
With this strategy, you should be able to define your goals and target audience, and get some clarity around the approach and approximate timeline for all stages: design, development, launch, and post-launch.
The planning process for building a successful mobile app is often an extensive one, but by putting in the work upfront, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success. And that’s what you want, isn’t it?
An experienced team will be able to break down their process in their first bit of correspondence with you. And if they can’t, it’s a sign they may be winging it as they go.
What do they value as a company?
Another important aspect you may want to look at is how their values align with yours.
You’re likely to be working with this company for a while. You all should be on the same page in terms of how you value teamwork, respect, honesty, and integrity.
Take a look at their website and social profiles. What does their messaging say about them? What do they write about? Does anything catch your eye—in a good way or a bad way? A simple values check is often a great way to distinguish a prospective agency from its competition.
If a company isn’t transparent about what they value as a whole, that may also be a red flag.
How do they work with their clients?
This is probably the most important factor of them all, but I like to save the best for last. Finding an agency that can handle your app build involves a lot of research and background checks.
As a prospective client, you want to understand an app agency’s reputation with how they treat their clients. How do they communicate? How do they collaborate?
Don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials or look to review sites to make sure you’re getting opinions beyond what they tell you.
It’s important to know what previous clients have to say about the app agency. Resources like Clutch and G2Crowd highlight verified, user-submitted ratings and reviews, so that you can be sure you’re getting an unbiased and accurate overview of the company.
Now Over to You
Building an app is a big deal, so don’t take your decision on a collaborative partner lightly.
The entire process can be a long one, and you want to fully understand it before you get started. Seek out a team that can provide clarity, give you complete confidence, and who will follow through on being with you every step of the way.
In the end, you want an agency that has a proven track record for planning, building, and launching apps that deliver. The team at Mindsea checks all of these boxes.
If you’re interested in learning more about the app-building process or want some help building an app, reach out and talk with one of our product strategists—we’d love to help you!
