Do you know “There were 5.45 billion internet users recorded globally by July 2024, increased to 67.1% of the worldwide population? Considering the total numbers, 5.17 billion, or 63.7% of the global population, were social media users”.
With this huge demand, it will be better to grab the opportunity now and launch your social media application on Android, iOS, or both. In this process, hiring skilled social media app developers is very significant as they will help you convert your thoughts into exceptional solutions.
Hiring the right team of developers is not an easy but complicated task. In order to make an app successful, you need to ask some specific questions to developers before hiring them. To help you deal with it, we have curated some questions below.
Without any further ado, let’s check out 20+ FAQs before hiring social media developers in 2024:
20+ Questions You Must Ask Before Hiring Social Media App Developers in 2024
Launching a successful app takes a lot of effort by developers as they turn your vision into reality. Thus, if you want to have a well-performing social media app, hire the best by asking the right questions. Here they are:
1. What are their Preferred Development Processes and Methodologies for creating a Social Media App?
Asking your social media app developers about their preferred development processes and methodologies will give you an idea of how they work. They should have worked on agile methodology focusing on iterative development, flexibility, and collaboration.
This method also ensures fast prototyping, feature rollouts on time, regular updates, bug fixing, adaptability, and others, proving it ideal for creating social media apps.
2. What is the Technology Stack They Follow for Social Media App Development?
While obtaining social media app development services from any developer, you must ensure they have in-depth knowledge of the latest technology stack, including:
- Front-end: Swift (iOS), Kotlin and Java (Android)
- Back-end: Django, Node.js, Ruby on Rails
- Frameworks: Flutter, React Native
- Database: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB
- Cloud & Hosting: Google Cloud, AWS, Microsoft Azure
- APIs: GraphQL, REST
3. What is the Estimated Cost of Developing a Social Media App?
It is necessary to ask your social media app developers about the estimated development cost. On average, they predict the cost of creating a social media app will be around $30,000 to $100,000. Moreover, it will be based on additional features, functions, a number of platforms, complexity, and developers’ location.
If you are hiring the best social media app developers with rich experience in the USA, UK, etc., it will cost you more than estimated. You can hire developers from India, Ukraine, Vietnam, and more on a limited budget.
Read More: FAQs Before Hiring a Grocery App Developer
4. How long does it take for Social Media App Development?
The complete process of social media app development takes around 8 to 12 months. Ask your social media app developers if they can develop the app in this timeline. However, there are some aspects that can highly impact the estimated time; they include app complexity, list of features, and the chosen platforms.
5. What are the Required Features to Add in a Social Media Application?
The best social media app developers have knowledge about the required features to add to the app. They must comprise core features like user registration, newsfeed, social sharing, real-time notifications, in-app chat, like/comments, save option, and follow/unfollow method.
On the other hand, advanced features include posting stories, putting up music, live streaming, personalized recommendations, and other privacy controls.
6. Which Features Cost the Most While Creating an App for Social Media?
It would be better if you discussed this with your developers before acquiring social media app development services. Otherwise, it might cost you a higher amount. These costly social media app features are advanced security, media sharing, AI/ML integration, editing & filters, live streaming, etc.
7. Which Tools do they Prefer to communicate with the team?
It is the most significant question you should consider to ensure a smooth and transparent development process. You and your developers must use standard communication tools or methods to connect with each other easily. These communication methods include audio/video calls, Skype, Mail, JIRA, Discord, Slack, Zoom meetings, etc.
8. Which is More Costly: Android or iOS?
While knowing how to develop a social media app, it is also necessary to know which platform would be beneficial for your solution. Though iOS costs more than Android, it would be better to discuss it with your social media app developers. They can advise you better about which platform you should choose according to your targeted audience.
9. How many years of experience do they have in the relevant Industry?
It is necessary to find out how app developers fit into the social media industry before hiring them. Ask them about their experience with social media app development; they must have at least 4-5 years in a similar domain. Go through their portfolio and case studies.
Also, ask them if you can connect with their previous clients or firms. It will help you ensure their authenticity and professionalism.
10. What is their Approach to Easy Project Management?
Social media app developers must use a straightforward approach to project management. Find out what approach your developers prefer among agile methodology, using task management tools (Trello, Jira, and Asana), version control (GitHub or GitLab), and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment.
Also Read: Top FAQs List Before Hiring Mental Health App Developers
11. Ask them to showcase their Portfolio and Previously Developed Apps.
Whether you are hiring a social media app development company or developers, don’t go further before having a look at their portfolio or previous work samples. Their portfolio or created apps work as evidence of their expertise and capabilities.
While reviewing their portfolio, consider aspects like industry relevancy, project complexities, live app links, and client testimonials.
12. How do They Approach Interactive UI/UX Design?
Undoubtedly, appealing UI UX design solutions play a huge role in the success of an app. When hiring social media app developers, ask them about the design process, including wireframing, prototyping, and final design. Also, they must balance visually attractive design with easy functionality.
13. Do They Implement Robust Security Measures For User Data and App Security?
App security should be among your top concerns, especially when you are developing a social media app. To protect user data, hire the best social media app developers and discuss robust security measures with them.
They must implement secure APIs, encryption, two-factor authentication, and user authentication (OAuth) and follow data privacy compliances such as CCPA and GDPR.
14. Do they have Experience in Cross-platform App Development?
Cross-platform app development is essential to make your social media app reach a wider audience base. Enquire properly if your social media app developers, especially from cross platform app development companies, have knowledge about it or not. Choosing a cross-platform app will enable your users to use it on different devices and operating systems, making it an ideal choice.
15. How Will They Ensure the Social Media App’s Quality and Functionality?
Only a high-performing app with better quality can succeed in the market; hence, you need to hire the best social media app developers who have knowledge about testing protocols, including integration, unit, performance, security, etc. Also, they must know how to implement strategies for app performance optimization.
16. Do they Include Post-launch Support and Maintenance in their social media app development services?
The development process doesn’t end when the app is delivered to the client. It goes further with continuous support and maintenance services, including bug fixing, ongoing updates, and feature addition.
Therefore, you need to find social media app developers you can trust entirely while clearly defining the project support packages, response time for issues, etc.
17. Who Will Own the Source Code Ownership after Completing the Development?
It is required to ask your social media app developers about the source code ownership or intellectual property (IP) of the app. Make sure to sign an NDA before starting the development process so they can hand over everything to you after completing the project. It will help you easily optimize the app in the future.
18. How will they Ensure Your Social Media App’s Scalability?
Make sure your social media app developers create a scalable solution using cloud services such as load balancing, AWS, and modular architecture. Additionally, they must improve database queries using microservices and add caching methods to easily manage heavy traffic and data.
19. Which Analytics Would They Suggest Integrating into Your Social Media App?
Users always prioritize an app that provides instant solutions to their issues. Also, how will you know if the app is performing as you intended? All this is only possible by integrating analytics into the app.
Social media app developers must integrate Google Analytics, AppsFlyer, Localytics, Flurry Analytics, etc., into their apps to track user behavior, performance, and engagement.
20. What Kind of Monetization Strategies Do They Advise for Your App?
The primary goal of an application is to make money. Therefore, your social media app developers need to know about monetization strategies, such as in-app purchases, app subscriptions, premium features, etc., to help your business earn high revenue and profit.
21. What is their Hourly Rate?
If you enquire about social media app developers from different locations, you will get a different hourly rate. Developers in European countries (USA, UK, Poland, Germany, Canada, etc.) charge higher than those in Asian countries (India, Ukraine, Vietnam, Brazil, etc.).
Further, the social media app development charges depend on the specific region’s living costs, market demand, and skill set.
22. Do they have expertise in App Store Optimization (ASO)?
It is essential to check whether the social media app developers you are going to hire have knowledge about ASO or not. After completing the development process, when it is time to launch the app on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, you’d want a skilled expert to launch your app smoothly following all the guidelines. Hence, ensure to hire the best social media app developers.
23. What was the most significant issue they have faced while developing a mobile app?
Asking your social media app developers about the most significant issue they have faced reveals their management and problem-solving skills, experience, and flexibility. Also, it will help you to evaluate how well they do under pressure, solve challenges, and rectify their mistakes. The question is necessary to ask before handling them over the project.
24. Once the App development process is completed, is there any fixed period you have for bug fixing?
However, any mobile app development company or developer only fixes bugs for a specific time. But you need to ask this question to ensure their approach to maintaining the app’s performance. Even after the robust testing, there is a chance that there is a hidden bug. Hence, you need to ask your social media app developers if they can provide you with bug fixing for a prolonged time.
In Essence
In the above article, we have discussed 20+ questions to ask before hiring social media app developers in 2024. These will help you hire capable experts and make the development process flawless. Consider all the technical and logical skills, project timeline, budget, location, etc., and decide accordingly where you want to invest your hard-earned money.
If you are looking for efficient and knowledgeable social media app developers who can check all your boxes, you can contact Octal IT Solution. We will provide flexible assistance from our experienced professionals to build the right app. Contact us today to learn more about us!