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Hiring a Mobile App Developer

Most affiliates are used to the DIY approach to web development, but that may not be an option when developing mobile apps.

Mobile apps have more “moving” parts than websites and are built on development platforms that, while widely used, are not widely known.That means hiring a developer to bring your app to life is practically a given.

Here are a few tips to help you along in your search.

Map it Out

Mobile apps are new and creative territory, so anything you can do to help communicate your ideas to your developer is a big plus. Nearly every book, blog and Tweet in the mobile world strongly recommends creating a very detailed outline/sketch of your app before ever taking it to a developer.

Your outline can be anything from hand-drawn sketches to elaborate flow charts. The key here is making certain you’ve given the developer a good idea of how various processes flow.

The more your developer knows about the project from the outset, the sooner you’ll be able to take it to market.

Designers vs. Developers
Besides being very interactive, mobile apps are heavy on the graphics and the better you make your graphics, the more attractive your app will be. As a result, you may need to hire on a freelance graphic artist to create your logos, buttons and interfaces.

Once you’ve signed off on the graphics, the designer will give you a set of files that can be used by your developer through the rest of the build process.

Where to Find App Developers

To connect with a qualified app developer you’ll want to scour freelance sites like eLance and oDesk. Be prepared to spend a lot of time looking through portfolios and reading feedback on them.

Don’t be afraid to ask for plenty of references and run like the devil if they balk at answering questions.

Despite the presence of hundreds of thousands of mobile apps, app developers are still in short supply and good ones are in high demand. Be prepared to pay top dollar for an app developer or expect to get what you paid for.

Offshore or Local?
Deciding between offshore and local app builders is a big decision in the app development process.

Working with developers in your area is usually more expensive, but comes with the advantage of being able to meet face-to-face. When trying to parse out complicated app issues, this is a real bonus.

While offshore developers in places like India and China offer great values, linguistic barriers and accountability issues can sometimes slow the process considerably. Just like working with any developer, communication is key.

The right app developer can make or break your mobile dreams, so choose wisely.

Do you have any experience hiring mobile app developers? Share your experiences in the comments section below.