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(1) Market research
The
reality is that the Apple App Store currently has well over one million apps,
and the number of apps is increasing every single day. In fact, many experts
argue that the app store is over saturated.
For example, apps like the calculator app are
in such abundance and diversity in the app store that Apple has banned new
uploads of this particular type of app. The phrase “there’s an app for that” has
never been truer. If you don’t believe me, visit the app store and you will
realize how many types of apps there are.
Unfortunately, for most of us, our earth
shattering app idea has probably already been created. So what does this mean
for you in your journey to create an app business? As soon as you have an idea, you must ask: (1)
Has your app already been created?; (2) What apps are similar to yours?; (3)
How does your app stand out from the competition?
Now, even
if your app idea has been taken, do not lose hope. Many developers still
compete in the crowded app market space by improving upon an already created
app idea. Nevertheless, we must ultimately ask ourselves how our app is going
to leverage a reasonable market share, attract and keep loyal customers, while
turning a profit. If you have reason to believe that your app is unique enough
to accomplish the aforementioned points, then proceed to step two.
(2) Create a flow chart
Although
app ideas can range from simple to complex, even the simplest ones require an
outline or flow chart. Think of your app like a puzzle, with many pages,
buttons, functions, and alerts organized into a systematic and logical framework
that allows your app to function. As with most things in life, there are many
ways to skin a cat, but, in the world of app development, you must find the
simplest way possible to organize the framework or skeleton of your app. Always
think of your users, otherwise known as your customers, when developing this
chart. Think of what would make this app easier and more intuitive for your
users to use and keep using.
Also, take
into consideration your future developer. Of course if you are a developer
yourself then you will not have to worry about explaining how your app
functions to a third party, but, for those that do not have the developer acumen,
you will have to hire a contractor to code the app.
As with
all communication, the message can be lost in transition. In other words, it
can be very easy for your developer to misunderstand or misconstrue your idea. If
he begins the app development process without the exact and correct framework for
how you want your app to look and function, you are asking for future headaches,
extra development cost, and loss of time because your developer will have to
fix any inconsistencies with his beta version and your original idea.
So, you
must break down your app idea into a step by step logical progression for how
the app functions via a flow chart. See the example below:
Through this process, you will realize there
are many steps, functions, alerts, push notifications, etc. that the app
requires, but were not readily apparent when you first envisioned the idea. Don’t
get ahead of yourself yet, however. At this point, we simply want to outline
the broad logical strokes of how the app works. That is, when creating your
flow chart, focus solely on how each page of the app interconnects. In the next
step we will illustrate how each page of your app is organized.
(3) Create wire frames
You now have
your flow chart in hand. Think of this flow chart as the skeleton of your app.
But, the app still needs the tendons, ligaments, muscles and veins, to give the
skeleton life and the ability to move. Although your flow chart has described
the broad logical structure of your app, it has not yet detailed how the app
will look, where the buttons will be placed, and how the user will interact with
the app. As a result, we need to illustrate each page of your app. This is the
beginning, the embryo of your user interface (UI). I must be clear that we are
not yet focused on graphic design, colors, or logos, or any of the glitz and glamour—the skin—of your app, but, rather, this preliminary illustration is what
we call wire framing. Wire framing is jargon for basic artwork or drawings that
illustrate how your app will look from screen to screen. See the example below (of course you can use online wire framing software so that your wire frames do not look so crude):
Finally,
once you have completed your market research, created a flow chart, and
illustrated the look of your app through wire frames, it is time to hire a
developer.
(4) Post an ad on Odesk.com for a developer
Odesk.com,
in my opinion, is the best place to find free-lance developers. In a perfect
world, we would all know how to code. For that matter, we would also have the
time, energy, and dedication to learn every skill that we needed to succeed in
life. Yet, not only is this ideal not practical, but it is far from necessary.
The
reality is that most of us do not know how to code and are not software
engineers. But don’t despair. Remember you are a business owner. As such, you
are the person who creates a network—a team—of professionals who can carry out
your vision. Your first hire will be your developer.
This leads
me to a slight digression. In many ways, this aspect of networking is what
makes us humans so unique from other species. Our intelligence as a collective
whole lies largely not in any one person’s ability or knowledge, but rather in
the collective knowledge that is passed not only from one to another, but from
group to group, and generation to generation. In fact, we are the only species
that has this ability to pass on shared knowledge through the generations.
Ultimately,
despite this awesome human ability, all networking humbly starts with reaching
out to the people you need, and posting an ad on odesk.com is a very simple way
to accomplish this end.
First,
create an account and log in. At the top left of the screen, you will see a tab
that states “Recruit.” In this tab, to the left of the search bar on the right
hand side, you will see a green button that is labeled “Post Job.” Click this
button, fill out the subsequent form, and push another “Post Job” button at the
bottom of the screen. It is that simple.
As a point
of advice, I would be as descriptive as possible in the ad without giving away
any proprietary ideas that you don’t want the world to know about just yet.
Also, many
of you are probably thinking at this point, how can I trust someone I have
never met with my precious idea, my time, and my hard earned money. Of course
we will proceed cautiously over the next several steps, but I will explain why ultimately
we have nothing to worry about. In fact, hiring online contractors is not only
a very safe and reliable method for accomplishing our app goals, but it is the
most cost effective method for doing so.
(5) Screen your applicants, schedule
your interviews, and have them sign a non-disclosure agreement
You’ve
posted your ad! Now it’s time to reap the benefits. In my experience, I had
over forty applicants in response to my job posting within two days. In full
disclosure, I was shocked at how easy it was and that so many experienced
developers were jockeying for a place in line to be hired by me—a person who
has never created an app before and who, at the time, had little knowledge of
the app development process.
But what
do you do with all of these applicants? First, you are going to have to screen
out the applicants who do not fit your criteria. There are three things you
should look for when screening your applicants: (1) You should look to hire developers
with more than one hundred Odesk hours under their belt. For the hours worked,
look at the user feedback. Were people happy with their performance? Make sure
that their ratings are above four on the one to five rating scale; (2) Hire a
developer who has a minimum of five years of experience. Through my anecdotal
polling of many developers, this seems to be the minimum requirement for making
a hire; (3) Research the developer’s portfolio, which should be listed in their
application and profile. Your hire should have developed a similar app to the
one you are trying to create.
After you
have found four to five solid applicants that you want to move forward with,
you should respond to their applications by sending them a response message. In
this message, thank them for their time and ask for a time that works best for
them to interview via Skype or Gchat.
As a note,
most of your applicants will be from overseas if you currently live in the
United States or North America. In fact, most Odesk contractors tend to be from
Eastern Europe, Asia, and India. As a result, the most cost effective method
for talking to these individuals is via Skype and Gchat, both of which are free
online services.
Also, in
this message, ask them to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Relax, you do
not need to hire a lawyer to draft an NDA for you. In fact, most developers
will have their own NDA handy. Regardless, still supply your own, along with
signing theirs. I received my free NDA through Rocketlawyer.com.
This form
should be signed prior to jumping on the Skype or Gchat call. As discussed,
although many of these developers are trust worthy, you should still take this
minimal step to protect your idea. But, also, most legitimate developers are
used to this process and will not have a problem signing your NDA. I see their
willingness to sign an NDA as a first sign that they are trust worthy and
legitimate. Of course, only the interview process can really tell you if you
can or cannot trust a given developer.
So you get
the individual to sign an NDA. But should you still be worried that they may
steal your billion dollar idea, despite the fact that they signed an NDA? You
may reason that the developer would be hard to bring to court, especially if
they are based overseas. Furthermore, even if you could bring them to court in
the case that they stole your idea, you may not have the funds to pay your
legal fees. Last, it is very hard to prove that the person stole your idea even
if an NDA is signed. So based upon all of these worries, shouldn’t we give up?
No!
Here is
why: specifically, an idea is nothing without the massive amount of work that
goes into the development process of the app. My app, for example, is scheduled
to take four months to develop. It will take hours upon hours to perfect the front
end design and to code the back end of the app. And this does not even take
into account the cost and work of marketing. In addition, most apps will fail,
regardless of how great the idea is. Last, these developers, many times,
already have their own projects in the works. Their steady source of income
comes from people like you. So, stealing your idea is equivalent to committing
Odesk suicide. This is because Odesk also has a built in layer of protection,
such as an NDA and an implied contract that states all of the deliverables
(i.e. code) is yours. In other words, this
evil developer would have a very hard time ever getting hired again if they
screwed you over. Taking all of these factors into consideration leads any
reasonable person to conclude that even the best idea is not worth stealing.
(6) Interview applicants
Once you
have scheduled an interview time, you must prepare for the interview. Create a
list of questions that you want to ask. These questions can range from getting to
know the person to the technical aspects of the app. These questions should be
thought out and should be based upon your research of the app development
industry.
In my
first interview, although I was the one doing the interviewing, I was not
prepared for the technical jargon that would be required to interact intelligently
with an app developer. For example, if you do not yet know the distinction
between front end development and back end development, then do some more
research to gain a general knowledge of how app development works before you
begin your first interview.
I have extensively used https://generalassemb.ly to gain a better
understanding of the app industry. I also highly recommend hiring developers on
Odesk for informational interviews. I hired three different developers at
around thirty dollars per hour for three hours respectively. As a result, I
gained a wealth of information that would not have been so easily accessed
through other research methods such as mere Google searches, tech forums, or
blogs.
Once you
are ready for the interviews, it is important to note, that the interviews do
not have to be completed in one sitting. In fact, it took many conversations
with my current developer, both via Skype and via Gchat, over a two week period
for me to make my decision. If a developer rushes your decision or is not
willing to take the time to make you feel comfortable, then move on and invest
your energy, time, and money into someone else.
Ultimately,
the interview process is a personal one. In many cases, you do not have the
technical knowledge to ask questions that will get at a developers true knowledge
and ability. Consequently, you will rely on the next step—getting a tech savvy
individual, in a subsequent interview round, to ask the hard questions.
For now, in your first round interviews, you are looking at how the person communicates and interacts with you. You must ask are they competent, patient, and well spoken. I look for whether or not the person can, in laymen’s terms, explain his approach to app development. Furthermore, ask if this individual understands what you are trying to accomplish, and do they convey their ability to complete the project in a compelling way. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself are you comfortable with this person.
For now, in your first round interviews, you are looking at how the person communicates and interacts with you. You must ask are they competent, patient, and well spoken. I look for whether or not the person can, in laymen’s terms, explain his approach to app development. Furthermore, ask if this individual understands what you are trying to accomplish, and do they convey their ability to complete the project in a compelling way. Ultimately, you have to ask yourself are you comfortable with this person.
(7) Have a tech-savvy person
interview applicants
Perhaps number seven is self-explanatory. Simply put, unless
you have a software engineering degree or five years of app development
experience, then you don’t know what the hell you are talking about. Find a
friend with these credentials who can ask the tough questions. Or, if you are
feeling up to the challenge, find a developer on Odesk who you connect with,
but that may not be your perfect hire. Perhaps you can pick one of the
developers you hired for an informational interview. Use this person to interview
your prime candidates.
These tech-savvy individuals will be able to tell you
whether or not your prime candidates are in fact up to the challenge. Ask your
tech-savy interviewer to come up with a list of questions that will uncover the
applicant’s true coding knowledge.
Although it may seem
like an added step, the extra effort can save you a lot of time, money, and
energy at the end of the day. Last, be upfront with your applicants by letting
them know that you want them to talk to your friend who has more technical
knowledge than you. As with the NDA, do not proceed with the applicant if they
are not willing to have this extra conversation.
(8) Negotiate price and time-line that
includes milestones
Do your
homework. Ask a number of applicants for a quote for building your app. Also,
search the web to see what others have paid for apps similar to yours. In
addition, there are many different types of apps, ranging from games, to social
media, to ecommerce, fitness, and many more. All of these different types of
apps require different amounts of work to develop. So, prices will vary widely.
As with
any purchase, the cheapest price is not always the best price. For example, one
developer quoted me at eleven thousand for only the iOS platform and this
development cost did not include the UI design. My current developer quoted me
at fourteen thousand, but this price included iOS and Android platforms, a parallax
website, pre-launch beta testing, the full UI design, and several other
goodies. As a result, although the price was more than the first developer, I
got a lot more bang for my buck with the developer I ultimately hired.
(9) Negotiate deliverables
You must
ask exactly what you are getting for the proposed price. But this goes beyond
just asking what platforms the developer will develop your app for. Be very
specific about what you want in your app. This goes all the way back to number
two and three of this blog entry. For example you should be able to negotiate: How
many pages will your app have; whether or not your app has push notifications,
alerts, or sounds; if your app includes a complex algorithm; if the price
includes the UI design; etc. The list can go on quite a while longer. Ultimately,
brainstorm a list of functions and characteristics that your app will require
and be sure to explain this to the developer before a price agreement is
reached.
(10) Sign a contract
Finally! You
have made it to step ten. Once all of the previous steps are complete, it is
time to finalize your hire. Now, you must sign a contract. This contract is the
keystone of the large amount of work you have completed thus far. It should
outline every detail of the agreement that you and the developer have reached,
including all of the deliverables and the price. Furthermore, make sure that
the contract has clear language that gives you entire rights to the code and
full ownership of the product.
Many of
the better developers or development firms will have their own contract
template. If they do not have this
option, proceed with caution. Ultimately, if need be, you can always hire a lawyer
to draft a contract, but this can become pricey. There are various contract
templates online through sites like Legalzoom.com and Rocketlawyer.com
Conclusion:
And so you
have it. These ten steps allowed me—a once tech-illiterate app virgin— to start
my app business. In my next blog entry, I will discuss how to legally start
your business, and the next steps to getting your app noticed and funded. If
you have any questions about this blog entry please leave a comment or email me
at bendptv@gmail.com . As always, thanks for listening.
Best,
Benjamin
Reed
Bendptv@gmail.com
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