How To Make Your Intro Meeting with an App Development Company a Success

So, you’ve got a great idea for a new app, what’s next?
The development process for that app can be confusing, and if you’re just getting your feet wet in this new world then you need to be prepared. You will likely meet with app development companies who will help you navigate through this process.

It is crucial that you have a successful introduction meeting with these development companies. Not only will you be seeking out the best company for your app, but the companies will also be assessing you and your idea to determine if they want to collaborate.

For this reason, you will want to do everything in your power to guarantee a successful introduction meeting. In order to do that, here are some highly recommended tips:

Research the Company

If you are planning on doing business with a company, then you should know who you are meeting with. Do some research about the firm; visit their website, look at some of their completed projects, look for some references.

You should also examine what services they provide and make sure it aligns with what you are seeking. Some good questions to ask are:

How long has the company been in business?
What kind of projects have they completed?
Does the agency provide the service that you need for your specific app?
Who will own the product after it is developed by the company?
What kind of development method do they use?

Asking questions and doing the proper research will help you narrow down which companies to consider meeting with. It’s a buyer’s market, there are thousands of app development companies in the world, and finding the right one to work with is critical to the success of your app. So, it’s okay to be picky when researching who you want to meet with. This ensures you are meeting with a company that fits your needs and expectations.

Understand Your Idea and Make a Plan

Even if you are new to the industry, it’s recommended to have a plan for your idea. This means understanding what your idea is and having a good plan for how to create it.

You must know what needs to be done in the collaboration. Is it an end-to-end app creation? Maybe you need design and development because you have some work already completed. Or maybe you only need design or only the development. Go into the meeting with the knowledge of what you need done.

Additionally, you should already have a business plan ready to present during the introduction meeting. This will show the development company that you are serious about your idea and are ready to collaborate.

This means presenting a summary of your idea, knowing who the target customer is, understanding how it can be marketed, planning the finances, as well as many other things. Presenting the company with a strong business plan will convince them that they are working with someone who is serious and committed.

Know Your Budget

It will cost money to take your idea and turn it into a live, functioning app. Different companies charge different amounts for the services they render, but the cost will depend on what you need.

What features do you want to include?
Which platforms will it be for?
What is your timeframe for the project?

You should understand what it is that needs to be done and set a true expectation for what you can pay for this work. Remember, you could be paying for strategy, design, coding, and testing of your app. Going into the introduction meeting with the knowledge of what you need and what you can pay will ease a lot of the stress.

During the introduction meeting you should be prepared to discuss the budget you have for this project. If you have a good understanding of how much time and money are needed to develop an app, then you will be better prepared to set a realistic budget for the work that will need to be done to create your app.

Come Prepared

When you are finally in that intro meeting you are going to want to make a good impression. The best way to make a good impression is to be prepared.

Know what you want to talk about. Prepare questions you want the company to answer. Remember that you are the one bringing the idea to them. This means that they should want to work with you just as much as you with them.

You should already know a bit about who they are and what they can offer, so this meeting will be for you to learn everything else you needed to know about this company. Use this time to ask the important questions you couldn’t answer from researching the company.

Being prepared also means having all your needed materials ready. Are you planning on sharing a PowerPoint presentation? Do you have a document you will share? Make sure this is all set and ready before you go into your meeting.

Show Them You Are Ready To Work!

Are you ready to put in the time and effort needed to be successful?

Coming prepared is important, but so is showing the development company that you are serious about your idea is just as vital. The development process takes time and money, and the agency will want to collaborate with someone they feel confident will be dedicated to the process as much as they are. This means you should be prepared to work with and collaborate with the app development agency as much as they need. Efficient communication influences feedback and quick work on delivery. It also affects the quality and “feeling” of cooperation.
And you know what is happening on a regular basis.
This is, after all, your idea and your app. So be ready to work hard to achieve your goal.

Map Out the Next Steps

Imagine the great feeling you will have after holding a successful intro meeting with the development company that you want to cooperate with. So, what comes next?

Did you make any agreements with the company? Did they offer a proposal of the services they can complete? Were there any legal documents that needed to be signed (Non-Disclosure Agreement or Master Service Agreement)? When you leave that meeting you may be overwhelmed with questions or other information discussed. Can you answer these?

When will you meet again?
What materials do they need from you, and you from them?
When will the project commence?
What will the project team look like?
Who is the main point of contact and how often will you communicate?

These are all questions that should be answered before you leave your meeting. These answers will help you map out the next steps of the project. Those are the steps that you and the development company will take to realize the end goal of creating your app.

Make the Meeting Yours- Make It a Success

You can look at the introduction meeting as a two-sided interview. You are looking for the best team to take your idea and turn it into the app that you want. But those companies are also looking for partners who are prepared and serious about the work they are presenting to them.

This will take work on your side. Do your research. Know your idea and what your goals are. Come prepared to the meeting with questions. Make the company see your idea the way you do, make them believe in its potential!

If you can do that, then you will be well on your way to having a successful intro meeting. Which will then help turn that app idea, into a reality.