Whether you’re an app developer with five years of experience or a student with an itch to get started, mobile development is always in demand. The technology never seems to slow down—new features are released every month, and companies continue to push the envelope of what’s possible on mobile devices.

We know that it can be daunting to enter this industry. You might not have some of the skills you need, you might feel intimidated by some of the competition, or you might doubt your capabilities compared with others.

If you’re ready to take that first step in the mobile world, follow these simple tips, and you’ll start off on the right path.

1. Study the Market

Mobile development is a massive industry—there are more than 1.6 million apps on Apple’s App Store alone! To get a leg up, look at the apps your favorite social media sites are using, as well as review what type of mobile devices your competitors’ apps run on and how many downloads they receive.

2. Assess your career development goal

Before you jump into the deep end, ask yourself what kind of career development you want. If you want to be your own boss (and revenue-generating) mobile developer, it’s best to start by learning a platform’s basics.

3. Break the Code

Many prospective app makers (whether you’re a seasoned software developer or a beginner just starting out) don’t realize how much there is to know about mobile development. As you begin your career, it helps to know what tools and languages to use.

This doesn’t mean you have to learn Objective-C and Swift at once.

Beginner Android app developers should aim to get a solid understating of Java, C++, and HTML. If you want to improve your skills, start by learning the basics of a couple of programming languages:

4. Take the Humble Approach

You should never be afraid to ask questions, especially when you’re just starting. If you can’t figure out how to do something in your code, ask a professional.

A mentor is the best tool to help guide you through this process—they can give you real-time feedback and advice, show you how to make money with your first app, and help you decide what career path makes sense for you.

5. Know your Platform

Developers have their own preferences when it comes to app development. Some developers, for example, prefer iOS because of the more powerful SDK and a larger, more engaged user base. Others prefer Android because it’s open-source and has a lot of potentials.

If you’re just starting out, keep it simple. Focus on iOS or Android first, then branch off into the other if you feel the need to do so.

6. Keep learning.

The best iOS developers in the business read up on the latest trends, study new programming languages, and try out new frameworks regularly. If you want to rise in the ranks and succeed in the mobile app industry, you should constantly strive to improve your skills.

7. Build a portfolio

A portfolio is a great way to showcase your capabilities and highlight your accomplishments. A good portfolio should be well designed and feature the apps you’ve built, so it will be easy for the people you want to hire to see what you can do.

Conclusion

Our industry is ever-changing, and the world of mobile app development is full of exciting new developments. If you decide to enter this field because you want to work in a creative and collaborative environment, don’t be discouraged by the competition or by your lack of prior programming skills.

Have questions? We’re here to help! Get in touch with us via phone or email for further information.