{"id":4135,"date":"2018-08-02T06:27:23","date_gmt":"2018-08-02T06:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/?p=4135"},"modified":"2025-08-11T09:10:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T09:10:17","slug":"how-to-outsource-application-development-like-a-pro-even-if-you-have-no-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/how-to-outsource-application-development-like-a-pro-even-if-you-have-no-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Outsource Application Development Like a Pro Even if You Have No Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

Go from newcomer to outsourcing pro by following a few simple guidelines<\/h2>\n

The relative inexperience of newcomers means that they can sometimes get in their own way. They might do one or more of the following: complicate communications, invest a down payment without at least getting on a call, get in negotiation arguments and wasting time and money, or delaying payment and thus delaying the project.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, pros are easy to spot. They\u2019re clear and communicative. They agree to clear terms. They might have stricter requirements, because they know exactly what they want, but that actually makes them easier to work with. Outsourcing agencies operate best with clear lines of communication and clear direction.<\/p>\n

As a newcomer, your success or failure will depend on the experience of the outsourcing agency you chose to work with. If you\u2019re new to outsourcing, for example, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll make several mistakes which are familiar to anyone who\u2019s been in the industry for a long time. Then you\u2019ll need to rely your outsourcing partner to keep the project moving along.<\/p>\n

If you get a really good outsourcing agency, you\u2019ll be in good hands. However\u2026 if you get a bad one, then your project will suffer. To avoid this uncertainty, it\u2019s best to quickly advance as quickly as possible along the path from newcomer to experienced pro.<\/p>\n

This article reveals how do so quickly, so you can outsource like a professional even if you don\u2019t have much experience.<\/p>\n

Read on.<\/p>\n

Finding the Agency<\/h2>\n
\"Finding<\/div>\n

This has been covered in many blog posts and articles before now, but that\u2019s for good reason: it\u2019s important!<\/p>\n

Pros know the benefits of getting a good outsourcing agency as soon as possible, whereas newcomers might not be convinced.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to consider:<\/p>\n

Budget<\/h3>\n

You\u2019ll have to keep budget in mind while looking for an outsourcing partner.<\/p>\n

However, we DO NOT advise going with the very cheap \u201cbudget option.\u201d While you might think you\u2019re saving on costs, going to with the cheapest possible agency will probably result in delays down the line and a costlier overall project.<\/p>\n

Remember, prices are signals. While outsourcing itself can be a good cost-saving option, some agencies operate very, very cheaply because they treat their workers poorly and deliver subpar results. So you need to make sure your chosen agency will be able to meet your needs and maintain good infrastructure and management processes so your development doesn\u2019t stall.<\/p>\n

Where to Find Them?<\/h3>\n

Put aside preconceived notions about working with agencies from certain countries.<\/p>\n

Outsourcing has quickly become an efficient and professional industry in many large cities across the world. For instance, developers in India had to work to overcome a shaky reputation at the start, but they can now hold their own with any developer from the West. It\u2019s always a pleasant surprise for our clients when they receive much better development than they expected.<\/p>\n

Keeping your outsourcing efforts to a single geographic location will limit your options. No matter where they are, good agencies have the same goal: to do excellent work for you so you return for future projects. This way, everyone becomes more profitable and everyone wins. So it\u2019s would be wise to look for developers from everywhere, not only your native country.<\/p>\n

How to Check for Quality<\/h3>\n

When you\u2019re selecting an agency, make sure to examine all of the usual points:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Testimonials<\/li>\n
  • Portfolio<\/li>\n
  • Service offerings<\/li>\n
  • A well-designed site<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    And as a further precaution, keep an eye out for inconsistencies in the content of their site. If they say one thing only to contradict it later, this could be a signal of changing management or unclear direction among the workers. In either case, it signals potential future problems down the road.<\/p>\n

    Communication and Clarity<\/h2>\n
    \"Communication<\/div>\n

    You and your outsourcing partner have different responsibilities.<\/p>\n

    The burden of communication falls on both parties, but pros know something newcomers don\u2019t. They know how to be very clear about their expectations and needs up front, so future miscommunications don\u2019t arise. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEARLY CONVEY EXPECTATIONS. You alone know the details concerning what you want and what you expect; you alone can to communicate this to your outsourcing partner.<\/p>\n

    Onboarding<\/h3>\n

    A good outsourcing agency will help guide you through the onboarding process, because it\u2019s partially their responsibility as well. As we\u2019ve mentioned, your outsourcing partner WANTS to do a good job so you return to them for repeat business. However\u2026 not all outsourcing agencies are created equal. Some will simply skip over this step or perform it improperly. Until you\u2019re a pro who knows and trust their agency, you should provide as much information as possible, including:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Wireframes and other mockups<\/li>\n
    • Preferences in management systems.<\/li>\n
    • Preferences in code and design.<\/li>\n
    • How the final project will integrate with your current ecosystem<\/li>\n
    • How the project will be evaluated at completion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Project Management<\/h3>\n

      Capital Numbers has stringent information and project management systems in place to make sure nothing is missed or delayed when needed. But this is not necessarily the case for all outsourcing agencies. If you don\u2019t think their processes will work for you, don\u2019t be afraid to ask for different or additional communication channels.<\/p>\n

      You\u2019ll need to agree on a communication and payment schedule. This might mean setting up pre-agreed milestones and communication channels. Video calls are the best for this purpose \u2014 getting on a call is the next best thing to meeting face to face.<\/p>\n

      Finally, you must actually review the work at each milestone. Don\u2019t put it off till the whole thing is in place\u2014 that\u2019s a great way to extend the project by months. If something is wrong, it\u2019s better to catch it up front than at the end.<\/p>\n

      FINAL NOTE:<\/strong> Ask them to share the challenges in development as they arise. It\u2019s best to keep informed of these things before small issues become big problems. When they do inform you of setbacks and challenges, don\u2019t get upset. Every project hits snags and your communication and cooperation will save you time and money.<\/p>\n

      That brings us to the next point:<\/p>\n

      Be a Good Partner<\/h2>\n
      \"Be<\/div>\n

      So we\u2019ve spent all this time identifying what to look for in a development partner, but what can you do to make yourself easy to work with?<\/p>\n

      This is NOT simply an idle question, because a very high percentage of outsourcing issues are completely avoidable on your end. You can save yourself some money and time by acting like a pro, not a newcomer.<\/p>\n

      Take Emotion Out Of It<\/h3>\n

      The number one thing separating pros from obvious newcomers is how they react to setbacks and problems. Pros are cool, calm, and collected. They understand that all projects have issues, and these issues can be overcome from both ends. Newcomers feel anxious at the first setback and threaten to move up deadlines or shut the whole project down. Don\u2019t do this. It only works against you.<\/p>\n

      Now, it may be difficult to take some degree of emotion out of the equation. After all, you might have a significant sum tied up in the development of any given project. But think about it\u2026 when has getting upset in a professional setting ever helped move things along?<\/p>\n

      The nature of software means it can\u2019t be perfect. Pros know this \u2014 newbies might not. If you want results, it\u2019s best to immediately plan and set a course of action to correct any mistakes or setbacks. This is efficient and minimizes risk to your time and money.<\/p>\n

      Fix Small Issues Before They Become Big Problems<\/h3>\n

      Pros handle issues effectively by trusting their development partner and taking steps to correct something before it harms the entire project. Newcomers will lack the experience to know if issues are small and can be easily handled, or if the issues are large and require a significant deviation from the original project plan. That\u2019s why we need to be so stringent in the selection of our development partner.<\/p>\n

      Remember, your agency wants to do a good job and keep you coming back. They\u2019ll want to be open and clear with you about the requirements to fix issues. If you get over emotional about every problem, they may start to try to hide issues before you threaten to not pay. At this point, you\u2019ll have distrust both ways, and the project will probably suffer.<\/p>\n

      If you\u2019re concerned about something, just hire an outside consultant to look at the project and give you advice.<\/p>\n

      So, in summary, to be a good partner:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Don\u2019t be emotional in your communications<\/li>\n
      • Don\u2019t make threats<\/li>\n
      • When issues arise, communicate with your remote partner to fix them<\/li>\n
      • Learn the difference between small issues and big problems<\/li>\n
      • Fix small issues before they become big problems<\/li>\n
      • Hire an outside consultant if you must<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Conclusion<\/h2>\n

        Even if you don\u2019t have years of experience under your belt, there\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t outsource like a seasoned professional. Finding the right agency, insisting on clear communication and good project management, and being a good partner will reduce the amount of time needed to be an effective outsourcing pro.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Go from newcomer to outsourcing pro by following a few simple guidelines The relative inexperience of newcomers means that they can sometimes get in their own way. They might do one or more of the following: complicate communications, invest a down payment without at least getting on a call, get in negotiation arguments and wasting …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":4141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[731],"tags":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4135"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4135"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15913,"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4135\/revisions\/15913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.capitalnumbers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}