How to Choose the Best Mobile App Development Company

You want to level up your business by building a mobile app. If you’re going to succeed you’ll need help from the best mobile app development company. However, the process is daunting. With so many mobile app development companies near you, it can be difficult to make the right choice.

Don’t worry, we have some tips to help you find the best mobile app company for your business. The first step is to understand the criteria that you should use to evaluate a mobile app agency for your business’ mobile app development project. By using these criteria, you can find a company that can make your dreams a reality.

Selecting the best mobile application development company will take consideration, study, and evaluation and is not a process that can be done overnight. It will take you some time to evaluate offers and companies to make sure you’ve chosen the right one for your needs. To help you better make your choice, here are some criteria you need to consider.

 

1. Company Culture

Company culture is one of the first factors you need to consider when choosing a mobile app development agency to develop your business’ mobile app. Company culture is the set of shared values, objectives, and practices that give a company its character and personality. Company culture shows you the deeply held values of the company, their goals, and how they involve their entire team in the app development process.

Company culture is an important factor to consider before you sign a contract with a company because it will clue you in on how they will work to build your app. You want to choose a company with a culture that matches your own or else your working relationship with them will be strained.

You can determine the company culture of the app development agency based on its objectives, mission, and goals. You may be wondering where you’re going to find this information for the company. You can find clues to the culture of the company from the following sources:

• Social media posts on places like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• Their app development process
• About Us page information
• Talking with their team

Disregarding the company culture of the app development agency you choose can be detrimental to your business. For your app development process to go smoothly you want to ensure that there will not be any miscommunication, unmatched goals, or unmet objectives. Evaluating company culture can help you avoid these problems.

Another reason you want to evaluate company culture when building a mobile app for your business is that if you want your app to succeed you need a continued working relationship with the app developer.

A common misconception that people have with app development is that once the project is launched, all work is finished. However, if you want your app to be a success, you’ll need to continue to improve the app as operating system updates come up or users give feedback. You don’t want to have to choose another app developer for these things.

 

2. Previous Experience

The second thing you need to look for in an application development company is their previous experience. By looking at their experience, you can get a general idea of their ability to help you develop a custom mobile application for your business.

Checking out their prior experience will help you see if they have also helped create other successful apps. Prior experience is key to finding out their work product because, even if they haven’t developed an app like yours before, previous app development experience will show you that they have successfully gone through the app development process for a company.

You don’t want to hire an app development agency with no prior experience. If they don’t have any prior experience, they might not have the team members on staff to make sure that your app is developed on time and budget.

To find out your mobile app developer’s app development experience, you should check out their company portfolio and other information written on their website. Most companies will place their project portfolio on their site as a sign of trust for those undergoing the evaluation process.

Should you choose to disregard the mobile application development company’s previous experience, you’ll be gambling with the success of your business’s mobile app. Forgetting to check out their previous apps will compromise your ability to determine if the mobile app development company will build you an effective app.

If your mobile app developer doesn’t have any projects listed on their website, ask them for links to some of their prior work. You can even download apps they have made in the past to see if they provide a quality user experience and bug-free apps.

 

3. Reviews

Looking at reviews is another way to determine the best mobile app development company for your app’s development. You can often find reviews right there on the app developer’s website. They will either be listed as “reviews” or “testimonials.” Some developers will call this section something else.

Checking the reviews is critical because they tell you how satisfied previous clients were with the results of the app development process. Reviews and testimonials help you to evaluate a company’s skills. They can tell you if the app developer has developed a useful app for their last client and if the process went smoothly

When checking reviews, don’t accept everything wholesale. There is research to suggest that companies with a large number of positive reviews may have manipulated them in one way or another. Use the reviews as just one factor in your search. Do not completely rely on reviews for selecting the app development agency as they are only one way to evaluate competence.

Looking for an app development agency review is easy. If you want to check out your app developer’s reviews try one of these sites:

• Google My Business
• Clutch.io
• UpCity
• Thumbtack
• Upwork

 

4. App Development Process

Regardless of your project’s size and scope, following the mobile app development process will make your mobile enterprise application successful. The app development process is the steps an app developer follows to create and develop an excellent app. The process is often created by the app development agency based on its years of experience working with their clients.

Every app development company follows a process but this development process will differ from company to company. Learning about the app development process of the company that you choose to work with is essential to helping you develop a successful mobile app for your business.

For you, the app development process starts when you are selecting a developer for your mobile application. However, for the app developer, the mobile app development process should start with a conversation with you to fully understand your business’ needs.

Additionally, the development process of the mobile app should not stop with its launch. Your app will continue to need development assistance as new operating system updates are released and you receive user feedback. Iterating your app to include new features, is essential to continued success. An app should grow and change to fit the needs of the user.

Should you choose to work with an app development agency with in-house developers, they will make sure to go through a thorough app development process that includes beta testing. Beta testing is an important step in the app development process because it will ensure that your app is bug-free from the start. A thorough beta test and app development process will provide you with the best chances of success.

It is important to thoroughly understand the app development company’s app development process. You want to make sure that they include every possible step in their process to ensure that your app is a success. You don’t want to skip this evaluation criterion or you can be left with a failing app.

 

5. Technical Support

Another factor that you should consider when trying to choose the best mobile app development company for your app development project is their technical support process. Technical support, also known as tech support, is the range of services that the app development company provides you with after your app is developed.

When you create a consumer software product, like a mobile app, you need to ensure that you have access to technical support should a customer or your company discover a problem with the app. Some mobile app development agencies do not assist after the app is developed which can be detrimental to your success.

Tech support from your mobile app developer will help you to fix and identify new problems with your app after users have started to download and use your app. During the app development process, especially during beta testing, everything is done to ensure that your app launches without problems. However, no beta test can find every problem. This is why post-launch support is crucial to having a successful mobile app.

You need an app development company that will provide quality technical support. Before you sign a contract with your app development company, you need to ensure that they offer post-launch technical support. This will ensure that should your app experience a technical glitch or problem with your users, it will be fixed quickly.

You will want to ensure post-launch support is included in your service contract because it will be valuable down the line. You don’t want to have to scramble to find a new app developer that is unfamiliar with your app after launch to fix a problem. This will ensure that your app doesn’t experience long lags in improvements and fixes.

There are a few ways that you can check if your app development agency provides post-launch support. You can check their reviews to see if customers mention anything about the post-launch experience with the developer. You can also ask to see what is part of the development contract.

 

6. Response Time

Another thing that you should consider when trying to find the best mobile app development agency for your company is their response time. Response time is the time between your inquiry and their response.

For example, if you ask a question about their mobile app development services, and they take days to get back to you, it might be a bad sign for when they are developing your mobile app and you have a question.

While there isn’t an industry standard for what is a good response time from a developer, we suggest that any response time that is longer than one business day is not a great sign. However, if you sent your message on the weekend, it may take longer than one sent during the week.

A fast response time to your initial request is important because it gives you an idea of what their response time will be once you’ve signed a contract with them. If you have a question about the development of your business’ mobile app, you will want the app development team to get back to you quickly.

According to Toister Performance Solutions, a superior response time is in less than 12 hours. However, anything from a day and under is good. You want to know that your concerns and questions will be addressed.

If you are wondering what the best way to check a mobile app development company’s response time, there are several. You can:

• Fill out the contact form on the app developers web page
• Send them an email
• Call them
• Message them on social media

 

7. Design Standards

If you are choosing to have the app development company design your mobile app, another factor you should check is their design standards. Design standards are important because the design of your mobile app is important to not only your business’ branding efforts but also to the end-user.

The design of your app is essential to its success. When looking to choose a mobile app developer, make sure that they have design standards that will fit not only your business needs but will ensure that your end-user is considered.

When you choose to work with an app development agency, you’re going to want to look at their previous mobile app development projects to get an idea of their design standards. However, it is important to remember that much of the design of their former projects will depend upon the aesthetic choices of the company they were contracted by.

However, keeping in mind that the design is not primarily decided by the app developer, it is still important to ask them what their design standards are. Knowing their design standards and practices can help you to find the perfect mobile application development company for your business’ needs.

A design standard that suits your business and taste helps you visualize the app’s look and make it exciting and appealing to your prospective app users when the project is done, and your app is launched.

Some important things to look for when determining the design standards of your mobile app development company are:

• Visually appealing color schemes
• Minimalistic but dynamic designs
• Easy to use navigation
• User-friendly design features
• Easy interaction

The easiest way to check for these features is to download and use one of their previous projects. Since most apps are free, there should be no upfront cost in checking for this. If there is a fee for the app, it can be money well spent to make sure that the design standards match your needs.

 

8. Testing Process

Checking the beta testing process of your mobile application development company will help you to determine if they are a good fit for your app development project. App developer companies conduct the beta testing process after a significant or minimal bug of a mobile application is fixed to ensure that it is stable to use even if it is still not a finished product.

Beta testing is part of the app development process and typically occurs after the app is built but before launch. The beta testing process helps find design and programming flaws that are not found during the normal course of programming.

Beta testing helps you to determine your app’s performance and reliability and allows you to receive a wide range of interaction from users to determine if the app is ready to launch or needs adjustments.

Beta testing is very important. When you beta test your app it helps you to ensure a bug-free design and development, helps improve user-friendliness, and protects your brand image. When trying to choose the best mobile app development company for your business’ needs, you want to ensure that they have a comprehensive beta testing procedure.

If an app developer tells you that they don’t need to beta test because their apps are always perfect, run. No app is always perfect. You want an app developer that makes sure their code is right. If the beta testing process is not followed or rushed this can cause a severe problem that might ruin your business’ reputation.

You should choose an app development company that conducts a series of beta testing because this shows that they are dedicated to helping your business succeed. You want to choose a mobile application developer that is committed to your success, not one that just tries to rush your job out so they can take on another.

Some of the ways that you can check their mobile app beta testing policy are to:

• • • Read their reviews
    • Review their app development process
    • Check their proposal to see if beta testing is included
    • Directly contact the agency to ask questions about beta testing

9. Location

Another factor, you can consider when choosing a mobile app development agency, is location. You want to hire a mobile app development company that you can trust and sometimes location can be a factor.

Working with a local mobile app development company can be beneficial because they will likely work at the same hours as you and it will be easy to connect with them to talk about your app development project.

You can find local app development agencies near you by conducting a short search. Typical search terms are “App development agency near me” or “[Your Location] app developer.” However, local doesn’t always mean the same location as you.

If you live in the United States, you’re going to want to work with a US app development agency. This way they already understand the key regulations and requirements necessary for your business.

For example, you might be working on a healthcare app for your business. A foreign app development agency might not know all the rules and regulations related to HIPAA, but an American agency will.

With changes in the economy, many more people are working remotely so it isn’t always necessary for the mobile app development company to have a physical location. Especially in places where real estate is prohibitively expensive, like California and New York City.

Some key things to look for to determine the credibility of your mobile app development agency is to check the following:

• • • Do they have a Google My Business listing?
    • Do they have a telephone number listed?
    • Do they have a social media presence?
    • Can you contact them in multiple ways?
    • Are they listed on websites like UpCity or Clutch.io?

These are the key features you want to look at when looking at local app development companies.

Some benefits of working with a local mobile app development company are:

• • • Understanding your culture and values
    • Speed of communication
    • Ability to talk face to face
    • Can be more cost-effective

10. Team Structure

The team structure is the composition of people who are skilled to develop your app and work as a collaborative group of individuals. This even includes the owner of the company. Each team member serves a different role on the team to help bring your app to success.

While there are many ways to structure a team, you’re going to want to choose an app developer that uses an in-house development team as their organizational framework. The in-house development team structure is more precise and fit to develop an excellent mobile application.

The team structure is fundamental; it provides a specific and clear role, tasks, routines, ranks on the team members, and guides to improve the team coordination to produce an effective and efficient mobile application.

Working with an app development agency that uses in-house development can be good for your business’ app development process. When you work with an in-house developer, you get dedicated, white-glove treatment that is unmatched by other options.

However, other options for team structure are available to you. For example, some agencies use outsourcing. Outsourcing can be beneficial to your organization’s app-building process because often outsourcing can often lower the cost of your development.

If you want to find out the team structure of the app development company that you choose to work with, there are several ways that you can check:

• • • Look at their app development web page
    • Check their app development process
    • Review their blog for clues
    • Contact the app development agency directly

How to Find a Top Mobile App Development Company

When planning to build an app for your business, you will want to find a top mobile app development agency. But how do you find one? Here are four easy ways to find a mobile app developer near you.

 

1. Check Google Search Listings

The first way to find a top mobile app development company is by checking out Google search listings. Google is the most common and widely used search engine around the world. You can easily find and access information about top mobile app developers on Google with just a few taps because top mobile app developers are easily discoverable because of google search listings.

For example, if you live in Orange County, California, you should try performing a search with the keywords, “mobile app developer Orange County.” This will bring up a list of ads and organic search results for mobile app developers in your area. If you live elsewhere replace Orange County with your actual location. You can also try searching the words, “app developer near me.”

When looking through the listings in the Google search engine, remember to check the criteria we mentioned previously to see if they are the best mobile app developer for your project. Some key factors that you can check to see if the pages you see are trustworthy are:

• • • The website is listed in the top 3 pages of the search results
    • They have a Google My Business listing in the map pack
    • They have contact information on their website
    • They have reviews on their Google My Business listing
    • You can find contact information on their Google My Business listing
    • They have a blog with posts dated no later than 6 months ago
    • They have a portfolio section on their website

2. Visit Review Sites

The second way to find a top mobile app development company is by checking out review sites. Checking the top app developer review sites is a good way to determine if they are a good fit for your business’s app because they are often vetted by the review company.

Two of the best websites to check for mobile app developer reviews are Clutch.co and UpCity. These are good sites to check because they vet the app developers before they allow them to receive reviews.

For example, Clutch.co requires app developers to not only have a LinkedIn profile but to also provide basic information about their company and have previous clients submit a reference. UpCity is similar.

Some tips to sorting through the listings on review sites are:

• • • Read the reviews to determine if they are authentic
    • Click the developer’s website link to see their portfolio
    • Make sure they have contact information listed
    • See if they offer a variety of services

3. Check Social Media

If you’re trying hard to find the best mobile app development company for your business’ project, another place to look is on social networking websites. You can check a mobile app developer’s website for links to their social media accounts or you can do a search on each social media website for mobile app developer pages.

You can check out their Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram accounts to see if they are a reputable app development agency. Some agencies will even have YouTube accounts. However, when you choose an agency from social media, you need to consider some things.

Key features you need to consider when reviewing the social networking profiles of a mobile app development agency are:

• • • Are they posting about relevant topics?
    • Are their posts informative?
    • Do they post frequently?
    • Do they link back to their website?
    • Do they post their blog posts?
    • Do they have contact information listed when they can?

What you want to look for is authenticity in their social media profiles. A less than reputable company will not have quality posts. You want to be sure that the app developer you work with cares about the people that need them. An active social media presence is one way to determine that.

4. Fill Out Contact Forms

Filling out contact forms for a variety of mobile app developers is probably the best way to find one that can build your mobile app. When you fill out contact forms try to give the app developer a general idea about the app you want to develop. This can help them decide if they can meet your needs. Remember, not every app developer will develop all kinds of apps.

Once you start the conversation with the app development company, you can ask for a proposal. You should try to get proposals from more than one app development company when you are looking for someone to develop your app.

Getting multiple proposals will help you to see just how much the app development process will cost you and help you to adjust your budget as necessary. While the prices from each app developer will vary, don’t be swayed entirely by the cheapest proposal.

You want to work with someone reputable. Reputation and skillsets are priced at a premium. Make sure that you review each proposal along with the criteria we laid out to ensure that you choose the right app developer for your job.

When you are looking to get proposals from a variety of app developers, you should make sure that you include enough information to get an accurate quote. If you want to protect your intellectual property, you can also ask them to sign a non-disclosure agreement before you give them the full details of your project.

Information that you need to give the app development agency to get an accurate quote is as follows:

• • • The types of devices you want your app to work on
    • The different functions you need your app to have
    • Your proposed monetization strategy
    • Names of apps you’ll be competing with
    • When you’d like the app to launch
    • How many users you expect
    • If you’d like your app to work offline

You can include more information and the more information you give the more accurate the quote will be. Anything that you add to the website after the quote will often increase the final price of your app development project, so be sure to be as thorough in your description of the project as possible.

 

Why You Should Choose a Boutique Mobile App Development Company

Boutique custom mobile app development companies have the same skills, talent, and expertise as the larger more well-known app development agencies, with one difference. The difference is that with a boutique mobile app developer you receive much better service than you would with a larger company.

Working with a small app development agency can help you to receive unmatched service that you’d never receive elsewhere. A boutique app development company will be more invested in seeing your app succeed and because they have more freedom, they can come up with unique ideas that will help your app succeed.

 

Larger companies, the ones that often take up the top slots on review sites, will often have a set way of developing a mobile application, making it harder for your app to be unique and different from other apps on the market. And if you want your app to succeed you need new ideas to help foster the creation of the next big app on the market.

If you want to work with a company that cares about you, your product, and your success. Choose to work with a boutique app development agency. To them you aren’t just a number, you’re a person with a business that they want to see have success.

Idea Maker is a boutique mobile app development agency based in Orange County, California. If you want to build a successful mobile app, you should contact Idea Maker today. They use an in-house app development team to help give you your best shot at success.