7 Steps to Becoming a Freelance App Developer
Mobile apps are everywhere, from our smartphones to the smart fridges that are about to hit the market. The demand for app developers has skyrocketed over the past few years and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. If you’re in the business of making apps and want to make some serious money, there’s no better time than now to go freelance and reap the rewards! But how can you break into the freelance app development industry? Here are seven steps that will help you get started…
1) Understand The Tech
There are several pieces of technology that you’ll need in order to create an app. You’ll need some knowledge of computer coding and how apps are built, as well as familiarity with relevant programming languages like Objective-C or Swift (for Apple users), Java (for Android users) and HTML5/CSS3. Once you have these skills, it’s time to test your mettle by entering contests and completing freelance projects with challenging deadlines. The more experience you gain, the better prepared you’ll be for a full-time job at a tech company or developing your own app. It might take months before you get hired—or even longer if you don’t have any experience—but being able to show off past work is key when applying for jobs as a freelance developer.
2) Familiarize Yourself With Common Tools and Services
If you want to be a freelance app developer, you’ll need to know some tools and services that will help you easily build and publish apps. For example, you can use Adobe’s Flash Platform or PhoneGap if you’re not an Objective-C expert. Once your app is built, you can submit it to Apple’s App Store or Google Play. You’ll also need an appropriate contract with your client so they know what their rights are once your deliverable is complete. There are plenty of free resources available online for app developers; just do a quick search for app development and see what comes up. As long as you’re not trying to reinvent any wheels, following these instructions should get you started in no time.
3) Build A Portfolio
Before you start your freelance app development business, be sure to have a portfolio of apps you’ve developed. Ideally, these should include at least five apps that are relevant to your target market. These apps can be from your previous freelance app development business or from an internship. If you don’t have any work that is relevant, contact local small businesses in your area and offer them free help with an app if they give you permission to include it in your portfolio.
4) Start Building Connections
The sooner you start building your developer network, the better. Reach out to fellow developers, developers at companies you like, and other app development firms; have coffee or lunch with them; offer to take them out for drinks or food. The goal is simply to meet as many people as possible in order to learn more about their business and experiences, so don’t worry about being salesy—and if you reach out over email, be sure your message doesn’t read like spam. You should also keep an eye on social media channels, like Twitter and Facebook groups, where you can connect with other app developers. For example, check out these resources Most cities have meetups hosted by local chapters of organizations like Meetup and TechMeetup, which are great ways to get started. Just do a quick search for [your city] mobile app development or [your city] web design/development/startup and see what comes up. It might seem intimidating at first, but remember: Developers are typically friendly folks who enjoy helping others succeed!
5) Learn How To Pitch Clients
When you’re new to freelance development, getting started can be difficult. One of your first challenges will be finding clients and figuring out how best to pitch them on your services. You don’t want to come off as pushy or desperate—and it helps if you have an idea of what kind of work you want to do—but it also doesn’t hurt to let potential clients know that you are available for hire. The best way to find clients is through networking with other developers in person, but there are plenty of online options as well. If you’re serious about working in app development, consider investing in a subscription service like Clutch or Elance-oDesk to help you get more exposure. Once you start building up your portfolio and gaining experience, word-of-mouth referrals from happy customers should become a major source of business for you too.
6) Get Paid For Your Work
Make sure you’re getting paid fairly for your work, and make sure you can live off of what you’re earning. If you’re not charging enough, clients will feel like they don’t have to respect your time and expertise. If you charge too much, people might be turned off by your costliness. It takes some trial and error with pricing to find where your sweet spot is, but it will be worth it in the end. You want to charge enough that you can pay your bills without stress or worry. You also want to be compensated well for all of your hard work. When someone hires you to do something, they should know up front how much it costs so there are no surprises. When you’re just starting out, start low and ask for feedback from clients on whether or not they felt like their money was well spent. This way, if you undercharge someone, they won’t hesitate to tell you—and next time around, you can adjust accordingly.
7) Focus On Learning
Although you might assume that as an aspiring developer, your job is simply to learn, it’s important to realize that there are many skills you can learn on your own. The fact is, in order to be a successful freelance app developer (or any kind of developer for that matter), you need more than just technical skills—you also need marketing and financial management skills. While these aren’t necessarily difficult to acquire, they do take time and effort. And if you don’t already have them, focusing on learning them now will pay off later when you begin taking on clients. In addition to general business-related knowledge, here are some of our favorite resources: How To Market Yourself As A Software Developer & How To Start A Business.