I am inundated with people asking me if I know anyone who develops iOS apps. I’m rarely willing to devote much time to these inquiries because I know that those asking don’t truly need developers yet. As a non-technical person who has tried to develop an app before, I’ve learned many ways to make progress without making out a huge check to a development firm.
- Test your underlying assumptions with technology you can use. If people REALLY wanted a social networking app where you could recommend local events to friends, wouldn’t it work as a Facebook group? It wouldn’t be perfect, but it would be a start. You could nurture your Facebook community, then, if you ever do release an app, you have a large set of initial users. Remember, you can’t build Product Hunt in a day. It started as an email list, evolved into a website and now has become much more.
- Make wireframes! There are websites where you can make clickable wireframes without any code. Search for them on Product Hunt. Show people your wireframes. See if the user interaction makes sense. Don’t just survey people. Watch them use your “app.” This will inform your eventual design decisions and make it easier for your developer.
- Do as much development work as possible before you hire a developer. If people really want your app and you’re ready to pay someone to build it, you want to minimize billable hours. The average cost of an iOS app is well into the 5 figures. You can reduce this cost by wire-framing all of the screens and mapping out where buttons will go. Your developer isn’t making $100+/ hour to make design and user experience decisions. You need to make those decisions so your developer can focus on their skills.
In short, you probably don’t need a developer yet. Use low-tech solutions (Facebook groups, email lists, craigslist) to build a community and user-base before creating your application. This will de-risk your project and increase your chances of success.
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