
How to Create a Mobile App: A Complete Development Guide
With the mobile market continuing to grow exponentially and the demand for applications exploding, the business of app creation has never been more attractive.
By 2023, the mobile application market is expected to reach $311.25 billion. More and more entrepreneurs are drawn to invest every day. But how can interested parties ensure they turn a profit?
Building a mobile app requires an abundance of patience, clever financial investments, and a relevant technical skill set — provided by qualified developers. This is your complete guide to developing a mobile app. Read on to learn more!
At Trio, we not only deliver top-tier content and insights in software development but also offer the finest South American developers for outsourcing. Explore our talented Argentinean, Chilean, and Brazilian developers to elevate your projects today.
What Is a Mobile App?
A mobile app is a software application specifically designed to run on mobile devices like a phone or tablet. Whatsapp, Facebook, and Subway Surfers are currently among the most popular mobile apps.
The original purpose of apps was to facilitate productivity. Calendar, email, and contact list apps were once the norm. Now, these come built-in in any typical smartphone.
But demand nowadays revolves around mobile game apps, GPS services, food delivery, and whatever else fills the base convenience and entertainment needs of smartphone users.
The word ‘app’ in and of itself came into use with the rise in popularity of mobile applications. It was voted word of the year in 2010 by the American Dialect Society.
3 Types of Mobile Apps
The nitty-gritty, software side of mobile apps recognizes three different modes of mobile app development – native, cross-platform, and hybrid.
Native Apps
Native app development involves the process of building mobile apps that are only compatible with one platform. Such specificity allows software engineers to develop apps that are noticeably high-performing and high-functioning.
Since developers know exactly what platform their app will be released on, they have far-reaching access to targeted features and functionality.
For developers building mobile apps for iOS code in Swift or Objective-C, XCode is an integrated development environment (IDE) for Apple operating systems where programmers can write and test their apps.
For developers building mobile apps for Android code in Java or Kotlin, Android’s respectiv, e IDE is Android Studio.
Cross-Platform Apps
Cross-platform apps are made to be compatible with multiple mobile operating systems.
React Native, Xamarin, and Flutter are common software tools for developing cross-platform apps.
While it is easier to take the cross-platform development route to release your app on a wider network, performance is not expected to be on par with native apps. Customization is also more difficult.
Hybrid Apps
Hybrid apps use traditional web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, and CSS but encapsulate the product into an application that’s optimized for mobile users. This is less demanding in regards to cost and time for developers and businesses.
There is some confusion in the industry about the difference between hybrid apps and cross-platform apps.
It’s important to note that hybrid apps rely on web development techniques but deploy in a mobile environment.
As an aside, progressive web apps (PWAs) share some similarities with hybrid apps. They are built with web technologies but run in a browser and no installation is required.
PWAs illicit the speed of mobile app, despite not having much more interactivity than a typical website would offer.
The Ionic framework is a popular developer tool for building both hybrid apps and PWAs.
Why Develop a Mobile App?
Mobile apps are, by definition, mobile. This inherent convenience and flexibility can draw a lot more consumers to your product or service than otherwise.
But in a more general sense, a mobile app can grant you flexibility in your industry market. Developing a mobile app can give you the opportunity to flex your business.
In public relations, you’ll have the chance to gain a media presence and appear on lists for recommended apps. You’ll also be able to compete in the same market as your competitors.
The competition more than likely has an app to offer its consumer base already. And if not, you can be ahead of the game.
Needless to say, you can make money off mobile apps too. You have the option of putting your app on the app store with a price tag. Or, you can look into other strategies for boosting capital from mobile apps, as you’ll read more about later on.
5 Advantages of Developing a Mobile App
Many businesses think they are doing just fine because their business has a website, and they feel like this can render the same results. But mobile apps are a whole different ball game.
1. Accessibility
Apps are faster than websites. They’re quicker to access and the performance is unparalleled as well. Not to mention, with a mobile app, users have online and offline access as some elements can be stored in cache or downloaded for offline use.
2. New Consumer Base
Mobile apps tend to garner a younger fan base. In 2017, people aged 18-24 spent two-thirds of their time on smartphone apps. While Boomers may shun them for their behavior, you can use this new form of consumption to your advantage.
3. Engagement
On a mobile app, you’ll see engagement in two ways. First, you’ll see an increase in engagement in your product due to new consumers. But you’ll also see a larger engagement in the context of consumer-to-business (C2B) interactions.
Customers are more likely to leave feedback about your product or the app itself through the app store or through a ‘Contact Us’ segment of your app.
4. Personalization
Mobile app developers can give smartphone users more personalized experiences. Instead of seeing what everyone else sees on a website, you can use features like Dashboard or Recent History tabs so the experience can be catered to the user.
5. SEO Ranking
Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a part in the app store as well. Both your in-app content and the app itself can be optimized for higher rankings. Naturally, your business will do better the higher it ranks.
5 Steps To Begin Developing
Unfortunately, many business-oriented minds become too eager about developing a mobile app and forget the basics. Before you begin to develop your mobile app, there are a few steps to account for.

1. Research
There is a huge problem with overconfidence amongst entrepreneurs in the app industry. To a beginner, making a large profit seems far easier on paper than it actually is.
Too many app creators forget the most important part of validating their apps – the research.
Researching your app’s subject matter is critical. Without understanding your market, the potential risks, and the optimal strategy for your target demographic, your chances of success are far lower you might think.
Today’s app market is extremely saturated. Most of your original ideas are not exactly original.
But competition doesn’t have to be negative. Like any other creative pursuit, you can add an interesting twist or spin to make your app unique.
This is why it is important to research the past, present, and future of your app’s market. The most successful entrepreneurs seek to understand their markets on a deep level.
A well-researched and nuanced comprehension of your subject matter will lead to better-developed ideas.
2. Seek Feedback
Once you have an understanding of your app’s market, it’s time to seek out feedback. You’ll benefit from collecting as much information as possible in the form of feedback.
Get all the opinions you can and you will have far more accurate data to assess the feasibility of your project.
Don’t look for empty compliments or a ‘yes man’. You need real, honest feedback. Give value to critical opinions and try to remain objective. Your ego does not belong in the feedback process.
The more you learn, the better. As your success grows, your confidence will too.
In effect, you will experience less emotional distress when your ideas are criticized, and your situational intelligence will rise.
3. Make a Business Plan
Get to know your potential clients. Even with a fleshed-out business plan, without customers, your business is nothing.
Human-centered design and development processes result in better product reception by the market and more engagement from the end-user.
Keep in mind that app development doesn’t stop when the code is written. It includes all the related processes from tech support to promotion, and this should be covered in your business plan as well.
A balance of your business goals and customer needs should be reflected in your business plan when you are forecasting profits and setting the breakeven point.
It’s best to have at least three forecasts – one realistic, one negative, and one positive – to have an accurate demonstration of potential business risks.
Support your financial plan with a marketing and sales strategy that will illustrate who your customers are, how they can be reached, and how you can keep them engaged with your app for longer periods. This will secure a steady return on investment (ROI).
Take your business plan seriously and be prepared to show it to investors, partners, and other stakeholders.
4. Build an MVP
A minimum viable product (MVP) is a version of your software that contains only the key features of your app.
The MVP gives developers an opportunity to present their ideas early on so they can start collecting feedback.
It is imperative in learning how your customers will interact with the app. More importantly, developing an MVP will help you determine whether your app will be gainful in the first place. Ultimately, your MVP will mitigate any risk-taking.
Given that the launch of your MVP is successful, you can start looking into companies that might be interested in developing your application.
Be selective in your decision-making. Once you choose your developers, be clear about your requirements and firm about your budget. Ask all the questions you need.
5. Build Your Brand
It’s never too early to start building your brand. And once your app is released, this should become an even bigger priority.
Your image and your brand need to capture the essence of your app’s purpose.
Effective visual identity and design go a long way towards promoting interest and awareness in your app.
If your app isn’t attractive and easy to use, people won’t give it the attention it needs to grow. So keep aesthetics in mind; they can make or break your app.
Stages of Mobile App Development
Now that you’re finally ready to start building your app, you’re probably wondering what actually goes on in the development process.
There are several stages of development that must take place in order for you to build your mobile app successfully.
The stages of the mobile app development process cannot be separated from one another and are tightly connected.
Each stage of development takes a different amount of time, but with experienced developers, your whole project should take between three and six months.
The success of your project depends on how well the foundation for development is laid, including how clear you were about your app’s requirements. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.

Specifications
Specifications, or specs for short, take about 10% of the whole application development process.
At this step, you’ll be focusing on the app’s functionality, navigation, features, and other technical details.
This means vague ideas about the final product must be further developed and/or replaced with as many specific details as possible.
UI/UX
User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) play a crucial role in the project’s success.
They address the visual appearance of the application as well as how the end-users will interact with your product.
This stage of mobile app development typically accounts for 20% of the total development time.
Back-End Development
Back-end development takes care of all the internal structures that you will need to support your application like application programming interfaces (APIs), data diagrams, servers, data integration, and push notification services.
However, for relatively simple apps, you may want to use a backend as a service (BaaS) platform.
BaaS providers service all the necessary technology to structure your app. In essence, these providers allow you to outsource this part of development entirely so that you can save time and resources.
Front-End Development
Front-end development is focused on the client-side of the application and deals with everything that the user sees on the screen.
You must make sure the user is provided with a seamless experience and interactions. This end of development relies heavily on the information provided by UI and UX designs.
While custom back-end development can be substituted with BaaS platforms, front-end development is where doing your due diligence really pays off.
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance (QA) is a means of verifying that your application is up to standard. This stage in particular is intertwined with back-end and front-end development.
Thus, it takes approximately 60-70% of the whole development process. Software quality assurance addresses particular criteria, that if followed, guarantee a high-quality software product.
Testing is equally important and exists as an ongoing process during development where you can detect small errors in functionality and fix them prior to the application’s release.
As expected, this will lead to more genuine feedback and prevent unexpected problems when you finally launch your product on the market.
Design Thinking in the Mobile App Development Process
Intentional design, functionality, optimization, and user-friendly features are the building blocks of a quality software product.
To guarantee that your product is well-liked by its users, you need to walk the extra mile in their shoes.
One way to do this is through design thinking. Design thinking prioritizes empathy. In other words, don’t assume what your customers want. Let them tell you. And listen.
There are various academic explanations of what design thinking is, but to put it simply, it is a creative process of human-centered problem-solving.
While it might seem like this was always the goal of software development, this is not the case.
Software is built for people, but traditional development only targets the logical side of the building where behavior is optimized.
But humans tend to be more emotional than an assortment of clicks and buttons can really convey. You need to dig deeper into their motivations and feelings to truly improve your product.
Businesses conduct research to observe how users interact with their products. They ask questions about certain features to find out what does and doesn’t work. Online forums like Reddit can also be helpful for secondary research.
When Swiss houseware company Zyliss wanted to design a new set of handy kitchen tools, a team of designers spent time with people in the kitchen. They noticed that some people licked their spoons before placing it in the sink.
None of the questionnaires took note of this behavior, yet the team saw a less obvious need and addressed it with their design: “mouth-friendly” scoops.
Design Thinking Process
The design thinking process consists of five non-linear steps. You can jump from one to the other to make adjustments:
- Empathize with the user. Software engineers can get a better understanding of how they can improve their product by listening to user feedback and recognizing pain points. Pain points are specific problems that prospective customers may experience.
- Define the problem. Engineers should identify a problem by analyzing gathered information through a human-centered lens. The goal of solving the problem will guide the next steps of the development process.
- Ideate possible solutions. This is where the team brainstorms. There are plenty of techniques from the Worst Possible Idea to Mind Mapping. The purpose of this step is to start the creative flow and find new solutions.
- Prototype selected solutions. Once you select the most practical ideas, the prototyping stage begins. You can test multiple ideas, and each prototype should give you a better idea of how to better manage the functionality and user experience of your app.
- Test the prototype with users. Users should test and give feedback based on your prototypes. Software engineers can then make changes to the product or start from scratch depending on the feedback you receive.

Design thinking might not be the solution to every complex software engineering problem, but it certainly does help if you’re looking to better satisfy your customers.
Applying design thinking to the development process can take your software from good to great.
How To Create a Viral Mobile App
There are many ways to measure the success and impact of a mobile app, a few being the number of downloads, revenue, and reviews or feedback.
All of these measures help developers to see the impact of their work, but the true measure of an app’s success in today's market is having it go viral.
What Is a Viral App?
A viral app is a mobile application that gains popularity from frequent internet shares to the point that it becomes a modern trend.
The attention garnered from this type of popularity is often more effective than paid promotion.
An app’s virality stems from both technical and marketing expertise. The two are dependent on each other.
For instance, even if you create a great app, without the proper marketing, no one would know it existed.
Technical features affirm the value of your app but an elaborate marketing strategy is what defines how the app will reach its target audience and thrive on the market.
Unfortunately, going viral is incredibly difficult and only a few apps become viral overnight. But there’s no harm in trying.
How to Develop a Mobile Viral App
First and foremost, your app should have something valuable for users to share. Naturally, the main principle of virality is sharing.
Having something worthy of sharing is key to getting users to spread the word about their experience with your apps, such as their achievement in a game like Candy Crush or a new review on TripAdvisor.
Once you have that covered, there are a couple of other tips to keep in mind.
➼ Make It Easy
It should be easy for users to invite friends to join and share their experiences. By simplifying this process, you eliminate any undue stress that will put off users from sharing your app or its content.
Going through a 10-page registration form, for example, will turn away potential users.
➼ Create Additional Value
The value of your app should increase the more dedicated your users are. Giving access to exclusive features is a great way to reward users who dedicate a lot of time to your app. Users will get the impression that your app is well worth their time.
➼ Market Your Mobile Viral App
People share things that they can connect with emotionally. It can be something valuable or funny or unusual. Emotions are used in virtually every industry to drive market growth.
There are plenty of tactics that can improve the chances of your app going viral. These are four tactics that may help to stimulate your app’s success in the market.
➼ Create Limited Access
Some form of limited access or a waiting list can create a sense of suspense and curiosity.
The ones who receive access feel special and validated. The ones who do not experience FOMO, or ‘fear of missing out’.
You can play with the emotions and expectations of your users to create interest within your target demographic.
➼ Incentivize Users
Your app should reward users for sharing, and inviting others to the app via a referral system. You should also create incentives for encouraging users to use the app more often.
Incentives don’t have to be monetary, but the reward should meet the effort. DropBox offers free space as an incentive for new users. Some other apps give limited access to their premium option.
Depending on the nature of your application, you can choose a reward that is attractive to your users based on the specifications of your particular application.
➼ Encourage Social Sharing
Consider using a hashtag or tag phrase to prompt users to share content. Apart from helping your app go viral, social sharing can benefit your brand, your marketing practices, and your customers.
With social listening, you can tune in to mentions of your brand or application. In turn, you will gain in-depth insights into your product, which can help you adjust and update the app to tailor the users' experience.
➼ Engage Your Users
Notify users about new rewards, competitions, and promotions. Give them a reason to keep returning to your app.
After a while the same routine gets boring and all the excitement goes away, so it is important to introduce new thrills or experiences through your app, whether these are new features or mere contests.
How To Monetize a Mobile App
In 2017, global consumer spending hit $86 billion. This is roughly double what the numbers were in 2015. Today, you can expect that the amount is even greater.
Not to mention, on average, users spend three hours each day on apps. With all this play, the real question is – why aren’t you getting rich?
Well, if lining your pockets is your main goal, Trio can offer some advice.
Ads
The most direct revenue stream for applications is mobile ads. These are either placed as banners on an active screen or pop-ups that appear when a certain action happens.
Imagine a gaming app where you see an obligatory 15-second ad each time you lose. App owners can use a mobile ad network to sell ad space. You’ll learn more about these networks further down.
Ad Removal
Ironically, apps sometimes let users remove ads for a small fee. Ads can be very annoying and removing them can greatly improve user experience.
Since this isn’t an expensive investment, many users will take the plunge, ultimately earning capital for your business.
In-App Purchases
Another way to generate revenue is through in-app purchases. Such purchases can take the user experience to the next level.
Paired with a freemium strategy, you can provide users with a basic version of the application for free.
After they grow to like the app there, you can give them the option to upgrade. Some ideas include extra lives for a mobile game or free delivery for a food ordering app.
Affiliate Programs
By joining an affiliate program, you can get paid every time you refer users to other businesses.
The payout depends on the payment model you choose and the action that users have to perform like making a purchase, downloading an app, or passing the first few levels of a game.
Premium Subscription
As mentioned above, some businesses choose to offer the basic version of their application for free to attract more users.
Unlike in-app purchases that can be limited to buying separate items and continuing using the rest of the application for free, premium subscription requires the purchase of access to the app on a weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.
Ideally, the features that premium subscriptions extend should be fitting to the price.
Other Devices
Apps can make money outside of the context of a mobile device. Certain apps like Netflix and Youtube have found their way into other ecosystems such as Smart TVs and video game consoles.
Mobile apps that are accessible from multiple devices will, of course, generate more revenue than otherwise. Therefore, the usefulness of your app will be the ultimate judge of success.
How Much Money Can You Really Make?
The average app maker earns $20,000 a year before taxes. This doesn’t sound very exciting.
But remember that the success of your app has a direct correlation to your own investment, not only financially but in regards to the initial research you put in, the feedback you derive, and the marketing you govern.
Thanks to monetization strategies like in-app purchases, Pokémon GO grossed $800 million in 2018. This was due to its virality and the fact that games, on average, do better than other types of apps.
Really, you have the opportunity to make quite a bit of money with your mobile app. But it takes a great deal of work.
How To Monetize a Mobile App With Mobile Ad Networks
Now your application is up and running and you’re ready to start making money. You’ve heard about mobile ad networks before but you aren’t sure where to start.
The gist of it is simple. As you start attracting users to your app, placing ads within it will lead to a consistent revenue stream.
Ad marketplaces connect advertising agencies with developers or app owners. Advertisements themselves come in different forms – video ad units, mobile app display ads, and native mobile app ads.
In-app ads can also be a viable option for the applications that have recently been released and are still working on setting up paid features or subscriptions. You can start generating revenue for your app while work is still in progress.
Take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of mobile ad networks.
Advantages:
- Most importantly, making money. Mobile ads have proven to be a highly convertible method of mobile app monetization.
- Increase in-app purchases. Users who engage with advertisements are more likely to spend money on additional items within the app.
- Improve engagement. Ads that are tailored to match with your app integrate seamlessly with the user experience and help user engagement and retainment.
Disadvantages:
- It can worsen the user experience. Mobile ads can be annoying and interfere with app usage. In the worst-case scenario, users may look for an alternative application.
- How much you earn depends on the quality of your traffic. It’s not enough to just target the people who use your app; you need to target them right.
The following will give you some insight into some mobile ad networks that are worth considering for your new app.
Chartboost
Chartboost is a specialized ad network for gaming apps, boasting direct access to 800 million gamers through cross-promotional ads.

With their playable ads, users are able to interact with a free sample of the game. Data suggests that this form of marketing increases conversion potential.
To be frank, no gaming app should go without this. And as far as mobile gaming ads go, Chartboost is a strong option.
Google AdMob
Google dominates web advertising, so it’s only natural that they’d be on the list. Combining the best-in-class ad technologies into one platform, Google provides a solid solution that scales easily and integrates well.
Google is fairly easy to use. They allow you to present your app in a number of different ways.
Their platform has cross-platform capability along with a number of other features, including free analytics.
Media.net
Media.net offers highly competitive cost per mille (CPM) payouts and is a very popular choice for mobile traffic monetization.
It offers one of the largest pools of mobile advertisers in the market with a wide selection of contextual, native, and display ads that are easy to implement.
The network focuses on providing simple solutions to their clients and improving their ad performance and rising ROI through data analysis.
Keeping ads relevant is key to better user experience and a large conversion rate.
How To Monetize a Mobile App With a Freemium Strategy
To insure your app’s success, your monetization strategy needs to have a balance between revenue generation and user experience, as one is worthless without the other.
Many monetization strategies, such as advertising, can be irksome for users, which may result in lower engagement and loss of interest.
For this reason, the freemium app monetization strategy remains one of the most popular and user-friendly ways to make money with an app.
What Is Freemium?
The term freemium is a portmanteau consisting of two parts: “free” and “premium”. This describes a mobile or web application that costs nothing to download and use, but often includes in-app purchases or a paid premium version with additional features.
The main advantage of the freemium revenue model is that it can be applied to most applications.
If your application is useful and provides value to the users, there shouldn’t be any lack of demand.
Freemium gives you a chance to nurture and educate your free users before they convert into paid ones.
This revenue model creates a lot of positive outcomes for your branding and ranking on the market.
When users decide to try it, the value of your app goes up, which creates buzz. Users who are excited about your app’s features will share your app on social media. If you’re lucky, the result is a viral app.
Building a good application is not synonymous with the success of your mobile app. You need to know how to position it in the market so that it gets noticed.
Freemium Models
Through the freemium strategy, you can offer users a free, simple, and yet valuable version of your application.
And while they use your app, users learn about the advantages of using the special features available in premium versions, ultimately persuading them to purchase the paid version of your app.
Depending on the product or service, you can decide on your own freemium restrictions. Here are some common options.
➼ Based on Features
Users get access only to the basic features of your app. To get additional access, they must pay for the full version or subscribe to a membership.
For example, Relax Melodies Premium is equipped with additional sounds and guided meditations as compared to its free version.
➼ Based on Time
The user gets access to the full version of the application for a limited amount of time to test out the premium features.
Once the free trial period expires, they can either pay to continue using the full version or choose to return to the basic version. Free trial periods are often between one and two weeks long.
➼ Based on the Number of Uses
In this model, the user has access to all features of the application, but they can access them only for a limited number of times, after which they will need to pay for the upgrade to continue using it.
For example, Medium allows users to read only three stories per month. After you’ve read three articles, you’ll be prompted to get a monthly subscription to get access to all of the content.
➼ Based on Customer Type
This is a rare model because it requires a certain level of user verification. Autodesk would be a good example, where students can use their services for free while everyone else needs to get a paid license.
➼ Sister App
For this model, you will have to create a separate version of your app that is premium/paid. This way, you will have two apps on the market – one completely free and one available only with payment.
Giving users a free or discounted version of the application helps them understand what your app can do for them, how useful it can be, and why they should upgrade.
Conclusion
Congratulations! By now, you should have the basic building blocks to develop your first mobile app.
To review, you’ll want to start with some in-depth research and an MVP. Then, you might want to start looking at some software companies that can help you build a team to develop your app.
Developing your app won’t be easy. That’s why it’s important to implement strategies like design thinking into your development process.
Making money is another frontier that you’ll have to cross eventually. Luckily, you have a long and wordy list of monetization methods that will get your app booming on the market.
If you need help with any of this, don’t be shy. Reach out to Trio to learn more about the first steps and how you can get started today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is design thinking?
Design thinking prioritizes empathy. In other words, don’t assume what your customers want. Let them tell you. And listen.
What is a viral app?
A viral app is a mobile application that gains popularity from frequent internet shares to the point that it becomes a trend of sorts.
What is freemium?
The term freemium is a portmanteau consisting of two parts: “free” and “premium”.

Cordenne Brewster
Cordenne Brewster is a tech enthusiast whose ardor is best expressed through the written word. With contributions ranging from software development to scaling, Cordenne provides insights to keep the curious and inquisitive informed, well-read, and on-trend.
Read Next

C is a general-purpose programming language, meaning it can be used for a wide variety of purposes from building operating systems to computer applications. The language also supports a number of features and paradigms including structured programming, lexical variable scope, and recursion.
Structured programming is a programming paradigm that favors one, singular structure per program. In this way, code executes instruction by instruction chronologically.
With structured programming, alternatively called modular programming, code is readable and there is leeway for reusable components, which most developers find helpful.
Lexical scoping refers to the semantic scope of variable names in a function or program. In other words, lexical variable scope answers the questions of whether a given variable has meaning outside of the function it is written in – and this is determined by the surrounding code.
In recursive programming, functions have the ability to call on themselves, whether directly or indirectly. The utility of this feature is to break up a problem into smaller problems. Specifically, coders can use a previously established value to compute a new one.
The C programming language uses a static type system as well. Within the context of programming languages, static type systems involve static type checking where the language checks your code before it is even compiled.
The main advantage of static typing is early error detection. This can help to reduce the time spent debugging later on.
As far as background, C was developed by Dennis Ritchie in 1972. Its initial purpose was to write operating systems. Low-level access to memory, the use of simple keywords, and a clean syntax makes C easy to use for such a task.
Overall, C is one of the optimal programming languages when it comes to systems programming.
Systems programming is programming where developers build integral software systems that other applications rely on. These systems include firmware, operating systems, and development environments.
C flourishes in this undertaking because it is a middle-level language. Low-level languages like assembly language talk to computers in the most direct format that you can imagine. The downside of this is that humans struggle to keep up with the conversation.
This is why there are high-level languages. High-level languages abstract machine code to where human developers can talk to computers on their own terms. Most coders have found this to be the most efficient way of writing programs.
However, C is a combination of both. It is a middle-level language and as such developers can use it for low-level programming like building kernels and drivers as well as high-level programming like developing software applications.
What Is a C developer?
C developers are closely familiar with the fundamentals of systems programming. They develop code that integrates into base computer systems. Embedded systems, operating systems, and kernel modules all rely on systems programmers like C developers.
C++ is nearly a superset of C. Save a few minor details, the two languages are very similar. Expert C developers may learn C++ as well to increase their effectiveness.
Other languages in the repertoire of C developers might be higher-level languages and frameworks that work well with C like Java, Node.js, and Python.
As systems programmers, C developers have strong problem-solving skills and use structural programming to write clean, reusable code.
Why Use C?
The first and foremost justification for using C would be if you wanted to build an operating system. After all, in the 1970s, C was the vessel in which UNIX was re-designed. But despite the goal-oriented origins of the C language, various elements of its development make it a fitting language to use for an array of needs.
Middle-level
There are only a handful of middle-level languages. And if you were to pick them out, you’d probably come up with Java and C++ in addition to C, and there’s even some dissent there.
Either way, the general consensus is that C is a middle-level language. Because of this, C is one of the best languages for building both systems and applications. Therefore its usage is by definition flexible.
Structured
As a programming paradigm, structured programming allows developers to make complex programs by compartmentalizing their codes into simpler structures via task-oriented functions. Some examples of structural programming in action are if-else statements and for-loops.
Though many languages make use of this type of programming, C may very well be the oldest structural programming language that still maintains its popularity. This is because C is reliable.
Portable
Portability describes how compatible certain computer programming languages are in diverse environments. In the case of C, the language plays a major part in Windows, UNIX, and Linux operating systems, demonstrating its portable nature.
General
C is general-purpose. In effect, no matter what you want to develop, C is there for you – for games, graphics, applications, and more.
Advantages of Using C
C is equipped with a number of supportive features to develop keeping high-level functionality in mind. As the intent of C was to develop operating systems, its features must be fully comprehensive and performant.
Case-Sensitive
C is case sensitive. Lowercase and uppercase letters are differentiated. This can make certain elements of coding far less confusing and more direct. It’s also easier to parse through case-sensitive code.
Dynamic Library
The library C offers is rich with built-in features and is furnished with dynamic memory allocation. What’s more, C has much less library functions than other languages but just as many functions, simplifying their deployment.
Keyword Simplicity
In computer programming, keywords are the smallest building blocks of programming that work as gateways to writing complex code.
Keywords like if, else, and return may be familiar to you. The C language only has 32 keywords, overall only a small number to remember and eventually master.
Embedded Usage
C is the go-to language for developing embedded systems, Embedded systems contain hardware and/or software designed for specific functions. Digital cameras and robots are good examples of embedded systems.
Developers use C for embedded systems because it is flexible. The high-level abstraction of C combined with its low-level alliances make it a great language for this sort of development.
Companies That Use C
- IBM
- Nokia
- Samsung
- VMWare
- Huawei
- Microsoft Windows
Reasons to Hire a C Developer
It’s fairly common for businesses to go the mobile app route in contemporary software development. They’ll cross out a couple of months on their calendar, get a grasp of Java or Swift – for Android or Apple respectively – and be on their way.
App development is an accomplishment no matter how you do it. But when things become commonplace and you follow the lead of your competitors, it becomes difficult for your business to stand out.
If you wish to stay competitive, your business needs to be challenged. Rather than putting an app on the app store, why not develop an entire software.
Adobe, most Google applications, and the entire Linux operating system was built with C. These are software systems that have topped the technology sector and have garnered worldwide familiarity and usage.
Most popular C programs aren’t simply apps, they’re relevant components of daily work and life for millions of users. Depending on the developers you hire, you’ll have the resources you need to do the same.
It starts with a good idea, and the right developers to manifest it. Hire a C developer.
Hire a C Developer
C is well over 30 years old. With languages being built every other fortnight, it’s hard to keep up with the competition. But somehow C has managed all the while.
Of course, old age does come with consequences. The market favors young people who favor young languages. This doesn’t make C less trustworthy or useful, but it is a little tougher to find the professionals you’ll need to program in C.
Trust the process, trust your research. Trio also has resources to help you. Take a look.
How do you hire a C developer?
For those who wish to take the high road and hire C developers on your own, we’re still here to help.
Hiring a developer on your own is a very focused and hands-on process that requires considerable knowledge about software development in general.
The last thing you want to do is trust your hiring process to someone with no technical ability. If you are a non-technical manager looking to learn a thing or two, we have a great resource here for you to learn more about the hiring process in detail.
Otherwise, we’d recommend you contact Trio for consulting and developer allocation.
What should you look for in a C developer?
C developers at a high-level should demonstrate the following skills:
- Proficiency in C and preferably in C++ as well
- Knowledge of high-level languages that are often integrated with C such as Java, Python, Go, or Node.js
- Abstract critical thinking and problem-solving aptitude
- Ability to write and implement algorithms and data structures
How much do developers cost in the U.S.?
ZipRecruiter data reports that the average yearly salary of a C developer is $117,673 On the higher end, C developers can make as much as $155,500 per year. But C developers can also make as little as $67,500 annually.

How much do developers cost in South America?
Due to economic differences between the United States and South America as a whole, the cost of offshoring software development is significantly lower than hiring full-time with U.S talent. For Senior C Developers in South America, the average salary is currently around $100,000 whereas a mid-level developer costs around $76,000.
How much do developers cost in Ukraine / Eastern Europe?
Eastern Europe shares very similar rates to South America, again due to the economic differences. When looking at salaries in Eastern Europe, data shows that a Senior C Developer costs around $100,000 on average.
Hourly Rates for Developers
Another way to look at developer costs is through hourly rates. While salaries are good to understand for hiring developers for full-time and long-term, you might just need a developer for a period of 3-6 months or 6-12 months. In these types of situations, it’s best to calculate your costs based on the hourly rates of a developer.
Below is a table that lists the various hourly rates of developers in different locations based on their job title.

Why Hire a C Developer?
Trio C developers are pre-vetted, interviewed, and then trained further to become true software professionals, capable of adapting to situations that are both within and outside of the scope of their general expertise.
At Trio, we hold our developers to a higher standard. Much like how elite special forces units recruit only the best from main branches of the military, we recruit developers who either show amazing potential or demonstrate exceptional skill. We then take their talents and sharpen them even further.
Another benefit of hiring a Trio developer is that you won’t incur the costs of hiring, which can add up to be around 30% of a developer’s salary on average, as well as overhead costs associated with full-time employment.
By working with Trio, you can enjoy a highly experienced full-time developer for a fraction of the cost, along with the added project management assistance.
To learn more, tell us about your project and we’ll get you started.
C Resources

Introduction
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of hiring a Flutter Developer? Perhaps this particular technology is not your area of expertise and are you are unsure how to structure your hiring process. Fear not, as we are here to help you navigate this process and find a skilled Software Engineer who can add value to your business.
By leveraging our expertise in hiring high-level developers, we can help you evaluate technical talent and strengthening your engineering team. With our guidance and support, you can confidently conduct a hiring process with Flutter Developers and enhance the performance of your Engineering Team.
We would like to thank you for taking the time to visit us today. We hope that you will find the information provided to be both helpful and informative. Please stay with us and read on as we share some valuable tips that we believe you will find useful in your daily life.
What’s a Flutter Developer?
A Flutter developer is a software engineer who has proficiency with the Flutter framework to develop mobile, web, and desktop applications. By association, Flutter developers have fluency in writing code using the Dart programming language and are therefore Dart developers as well.
Flutter developers can be web or mobile app developers. As such, they may have prior experience and expertise in other frameworks and languages like JavaScript or Ionic. Some Flutter developers may only be familiar with Flutter.
The Flutter framework is intentionally and wholeheartedly tied to UI design. Widgets are one of its defining characteristics. They must have comparable skill in optimizing graphical interactions for the user.
The role of this type of developer is crucial in the software development industry. The responsibilities of a Flutter developer may vary depending on the project requirements, but some common tasks include:
- Developing and maintaining applications;
- Developing and implementing custom widgets and UI components;
- Integrating third-party libraries and APIs;
- Ensuring the application's performance, quality, and responsiveness;
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including designers, product managers, and other developers;
- Participating in the development process from design to deployment and maintenance.
- Working with cross-platform frameworks.
- Debug and test Flutter code, using tools such as the Flutter DevTools, unit testing, and integration testing.
- Use version control tools such as Git, SVN, or Mercurial to manage their codebase.
What you can build using Flutter
Flutter is a versatile and powerful framework for building mobile applications for Android, iOS, and other platforms. With Flutter, developers can build a wide range of applications, including but not limited to:
- Social media applications: Flutter is a versatile platform for building social media apps that can include a range of features, such as instant messaging, push notifications, and media sharing capabilities.
- Business applications: Flutter is a great option for creating business apps that require robust functionality, such as CRM, inventory management, and project management tools.
- E-commerce applications: Flutter is a great option for creating e-commerce apps that offer features such as a product catalog, shopping cart, payment gateway integration, and more.
- Educational applications: Flutter enables developers to create educational applications such as e-learning platforms, online courses, and interactive learning tools, all while providing a user-friendly experience.
- Gaming applications: Flutter is also capable of building games with 2D and 3D graphics, animations, sound effects, and other exciting features.
In general, Flutter offers developers the versatility and features to create a variety of mobile apps for various industries and purposes.
Companies that use Flutter
- The New York Times
- Square
- eBay
- BMW
- Alibaba
Which are the soft skills a Flutter Developer should have?
As you need to hire a Developer who can perfectly unfold within your team and company taking into account just technical skills would not be enough, and this is when soft skills play a big role. So now let’s dive into some basic soft skills good developers should have.
Some essential soft skills for a Flutter Developer should include:
- Communication: Being able to communicate effectively, especially in remote and asynchronous environments, is a real necessity for any professional nowadays. Communication skills are always in high demand, whether it's through describing ideas, discussing approaches, giving presentations, providing status updates, giving feedback, asking questions, or voicing concerns. The ability to communicate ideas clearly and to understand communicated ideas is of critical importance to ensure a well-aligned, agile team.
- Team Work: Individuals should demonstrate adaptability to various projects and environments. However, it is extremely important for them to value working within a team that allows for easy navigation, knowledge sharing, idea contribution, and learning from other team members. They should also be able to provide and receive feedback, pass on information, ask questions, and offer help when needed.
- Collaboration: Every project involves multiple people, and team members must be able to work with one another effectively. Collaboration is the combination of all of the above qualities in order to effect positive change and move the project and company forward.
- Adaptability: The ability to adapt to new circumstances, situations, scenarios, and environments is vital for professionals to cope with changes, challenges, fast-paced environments, uncertainty, and lack of predictability. It enables them to be more creative and resilient, providing solutions and new strategies whenever any shifts occur.
Hiring Process for a Flutter Developer
To hire technical talent who is the best fit for your company and project, you should ensure that your hiring process is aligned with your needs. This will provide you with useful and valuable information to help you make an informed decision before extending an offer letter to a developer.
We have listed below some steps that can be implemented in your hiring process to help you ace it and bring on board the right developer for your business.
Main Steps in the Hiring Process
Job Description
A great process starts with a well-written job description. It should contain important information, such as a brief description of the company and project, the main responsibilities of the professional, the seniority needed for the role, technical requirements, desired soft skills, salary, and perks.
An appealing and accurate job description can better attract targeted candidates, providing you with a more qualified list of applicants. It's important to remember that you don't want to get attention of all software engineers available in the market, but rather the ones that are aligned with your company's culture and the specific role.
Sourcing
Unlike other fields, the technical industry has its own unique challenges when it comes to attracting candidates. Simply posting job openings on job boards may not be sufficient to generate a substantial pool of qualified applicants. Therefore, it is important to proactively source candidates from a variety of channels, rather than solely relying on applicants to respond to job postings. Some of the sources that tech recruiters use to find candidates include GitHub, GitLab, LinkedIn, Telegram, Discord servers, and consultancy companies.
To use some of the aforementioned platforms, your team should know how to apply Boolean search to filter only candidates that align with your vacancy.
Screening
After gathering a sufficient number of applicants, you will begin screening candidates to determine their suitability for the position. During this part of the process, you may review resumes, portfolios, cover letters, and repositories to ensure that you only got to candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role.
Among the relevant skillset for the vacancy, recruiters and hiring managers typically look for experiences, seniority, certifications, fluency in some specific language, educational background, certain projects or business, main technologies used, location and candidates’ salary expectations.
Screening can be done manually, through a specific platform or an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Choosing the best option for your needs will depend on the company's budget. A robust ATS with integrations with other tools and the ability to filter candidates by their expertise is ideal because it saves a lot of time and resources.
Interview
This is one of the most important steps of the hiring process for developers. It’ll allow you to fully understand if the talent is really aligned to the company and project. A good interview can extract valuable information from candidates that will make it possible for you to decide whether they will continue in the process or not. For that, it’s essential to have good questions to gather answers regarding technical and soft skills.
During an interview, you can ask various types of questions, such as behavioral, situational, competency-based, fact-based, skill-based, and technical questions, among others.
It’s also important that you present the company to the candidate, letting them know more about your culture, working environment, way of working and anything else that defines your company.
Technical Validation
After making sure the developers align to the skillset the role requires, you will need to check their technical abilities to ensure it meets the project’s expectations. Knowing exactly what’s the technical level that the candidates should have can help you design the type of technical validation that best adapts to your needs.
To technically validate candidates you can use technical interviews, technical tests/assessments, pair programming, project executions, live coding, work portfolio/GitHub reviews and team interviews, among others.
If you don't feel prepared to conduct technical interviews with developers because you're unsure of what questions to ask or how to evaluate their answers, you can try Genie, Trio's AI-powered interview question generator.
Hire a Flutter Developer with Trio
Trio Flutter developers are pre-vetted, interviewed, and then trained further to become true software professionals, capable of adapting to situations that are both within and outside of the scope of their general expertise.
At Trio, we hold our developers to a higher standard. Much like how elite special forces units recruit only the best from main branches of the military, we recruit developers who either show amazing potential or demonstrate exceptional skill.
We offer flexibility in terms of project requirements and team size adjusting it according to the project's needs. This allows our partners to scale up their project requirements as needed.
Moreover, we are committed to delivering high-quality apps within a reasonable time frame, with a proven track record of delivering projects on time and within budget without compromising on quality. A Trio developer is that you won’t incur the costs of hiring, which can add up to be around 30% of a developer’s salary on average, as well as overhead costs associated with full-time employment. All in all, by working with Trio, you can enjoy a highly experienced full-time developer for a fraction of the cost, along with the added project management assistance.
Last but not least, we value excellent communication and support throughout the project's life cycle. This ensures that our partners’ requirements are understood, and the project is delivered as per their expectations.
How much do flutter developers cost?
The cost of hiring a Flutter Developer can vary depending on the size of the company, their budget and also the seniority of the role. It is advisable to ask candidates about their salary expectations and compare them to your own budget. This helps to avoid putting candidates through the entire hiring process only to find out you cannot meet their expectations. It is important to be transparent throughout the hiring process.
It is also essential to consider that the cost of hiring software engineers in Latin America is significantly lower compared to American or Canadian professionals.
While hiring developers in Ukraine or Eastern Europe may also yield cost savings, the time zone difference may present challenges depending on the team's availability for collaboration. In such cases, hiring developers from Latin America proves to be a viable alternative as they can readily adapt to the Eastern or Pacific Time Zone.
At Glassdoor you can run some searches about the paid salary for Flutter Developers accordingly to their region.
We hope this guide can assist you in structuring your hiring process. However, keep in mind that you do not have to do it alone, as Trio is here to add value to your business by providing vetted and experienced talent that can easily meet your requirements and navigate across various business and project types. Additionally, Trio simplifies the hiring process by providing valuable insights into candidates' salary expectations, allowing you to make informed decisions about who to hire. Overall, if you require a senior Flutter developer, Trio is an excellent resource to consider.

Structured one-on-one meetings are like following a recipe, they provide managers with the opportunity to connect with your team members, understand their goals and challenges, provide feedback and guidance, and ensure all the necessary ingredients are in place so that everyone is aligned and working towards a common goal. In this guide, we'll explore some best practices for engineering managers hosting one-on-ones with team members.
7 benefits of one-on-one meetings
You can use one-on-one meetings for a variety of reasons, including:
Connecting with team members
Creating a supportive space for discussion can foster a team culture of open communication and feedback. One-on-ones provide managers an opportunity to get to know team members as a person and teammates.
Helping employees achieve their goals
Identifying goals and action items for your employees is an important part of supporting their growth and development. Here are some steps to help you identify goals and action items for your team members:
- Discuss aspirations: Ask about career aspirations and what your employees would like to achieve in their role. This can help identify areas where they are motivated to develop their experience.
- Identify areas for improvement: Review performance and identify areas where employees can improve their skills or knowledge. This can include technical, soft, or management skills.
- Establish accountability: Determine who will be responsible for each action item and set deadlines for completion. This can help ensure that progress is being made and that goals are being achieved.
- Set SMART goals: Work with your employee to set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals that align with their aspirations and areas for improvement. These goals should be challenging yet achievable and provide a clear direction for their development.
- Create action items: Identify specific actions individuals can take to achieve their goals. These should be practical, realistic, and aligned with the employee’s skills. Some examples include:
-
Attending a training course or workshop
-
Shadowing a senior team member on a project to gain more experience and exposure to new skills and techniques.
-
Setting up regular 1:1 meetings with a mentor or coach to receive feedback
-
Taking on a leadership role in a project
-
Collaborating with another team on a project to gain experience in cross-functional team dynamics.
-
Writing a technical blog post
-
Contributing to an open-source project
Sharing performance feedback
Providing constructive feedback to your peers as an engineering manager is an important aspect of building a strong and effective team. Here are some tips on how to provide constructive feedback to your team:
- Be specific: Provide examples to support your feedback. This will help your team members understand what they did well or what they need to improve on.
- Example: "I noticed during the last team meeting that you interrupted others while they were speaking. I love that you're excited about this topic, but try to let others finish their thoughts before sharing your own ideas."
- Be objective: Don’t making personal attacks or being overly critical. Focus on the facts and be objective in your feedback.
- Use a positive tone: Frame your feedback in a positive way, emphasizing the things your team members did well and offer suggestions for improvement.
- Example: "You did a great job presenting during the last client meeting. However, I think it would be even more effective if you could use more visual aids to support your points."
- Focus on behavior: Focus on the behavior or actions that you are providing feedback on, rather than on the person.
- Example: "During the last sprint, there were a few instances where your communication with the team could have been clearer. Let's work on improving our communication going forward to avoid any misunderstandings."
- Offer solutions: Provide specific solutions or suggestions for improvement. This can help your team members understand how they can improve and feel more motivated to make changes. If you have a solution or action plan right away, that’s OK. You both can take time to brainstorm possibilities.
- Example: "I noticed that you've been struggling with a particular coding challenge. Perhaps some training sessions or taking an online course to improve your skills in that area might help. What do you think?"
- Follow up: Check in with your team member after providing feedback to ensure that they understand the feedback and are making progress towards improvement.
- Example: "Thanks for taking my feedback on board. Let's check in next week to see how things are going and discuss any further"
Addressing concerns or issues
Giving your team a safe environment to discuss concerns or issues allows managers to identify and resolve hiccups before they escalate and become bigger problems.
Prioritizing career development
Helping employees identify areas for growth and development, as well as provide guidance on how to achieve their career goals is essential for long-term success.
Aligning team members Bringing team members together
Carving out time on a regular basis (i.e. monthly) to review team objectives, discuss progress, and identify areas for improvement is key to making sure your team is working toward the same goals.
Offering recognition and rewards
Recognizing and rewarding team members for their hard work and achievements can boost morale and motivation. Regularly acknowledging successes, offering praise, and discussing rewards creates an environment in which everyone feels trust, safety, accountability, and equity.
How to prepare for one-on-one meetings
Be consistent but flexible
To create consistent and open communication, establish a regular cadence (weekly or bi-weekly) for one-on-one meetings with each team member. However, leaving room to adjust as needed is crucial. For instance, if a team member is struggling with a particular issue or project, you may decide to increase the frequency of your one-on-one meetings to provide additional support and guidance.
Give ample time
The length of one-on-one meetings between a manager and a team member can vary depending on the needs and goals of the team member and the availability of the manager. However, a typical length for a one-on-one meeting is between 30 to 60 minutes. It's important to note that the length of the meeting should not be the primary focus, but rather the quality of the conversation and the outcomes achieved. The meeting should allow sufficient time to cover the key topics on the agenda and provide an opportunity for open and productive communication between the manager and team member. The one-on-one meeting should be focused on the team member's goals, challenges, and development. Give the team members ample time to speak and share their thoughts, ideas, and concerns.
Provide an agenda
Before your one-on-one meetings, take some time to review the team member’s recent work. This will help you identify any areas where the team member needs additional support or guidance. Use this information to create and share an agenda 24 hours prior to the meeting that outlines the topics you want to discuss. Here's a sample agenda:
Topic |
Summary |
Time |
Check-in |
Begin the meeting by asking how the team member is doing and if there are any updates or concerns they would like to discuss. |
5 mins |
Progress and accomplishments |
Review the team member's progress on current projects and discuss any accomplishments since the last one-on-one meeting |
10 mins |
Challenges and obstacles |
Discuss any challenges or obstacles the team member is facing and work together to identify potential solutions. |
10 mins |
Feedback |
Provide feedback on the team member's performance, including strengths and areas for improvement. Encourage the team member to provide feedback on your performance as well. |
10 mins |
Goals and development |
Set goals for the team member, both short-term and long-term, and identify actionable steps to achieve them. Discuss opportunities for growth and development within the team or organization. |
15 mins |
Action items and follow-up |
Recap the key takeaways from the meeting and identify any action items and next steps. Follow up on action items in the next one-on-one meeting. |
5 mins |
Wrap-up |
End the meeting by thanking the team member for their time and contributions, and reiterate your support for their success. |
2 mins |
Questions to ask yourself before your next one-on-one
Career desires |
What does each team member see as their next role? |
Does each team member have a career plan, or are they seeking guidance? |
|
What are their aspirations for their next role and how can we help them get there? |
|
Team skills |
Who are your high performing team members? |
Which key skills does each team member own? |
|
What do they enjoy doing the most? |
|
Which projects did they excel at? |
|
What is their main area for improvement? How can I help them improve? |
|
Who works in a close capacity, and which team members rarely speak with one another? |
|
Strategic team alignment |
Does everyone on the team feel on the same page? |
How is team communication? |
|
Are there frequent fire drills, and how are fire drills handled? |
|
Is anyone carrying significantly more weight? |
|
How are they feeling about their workload? |
|
What obstacles are they running into with their current work projects? |
|
What makes their job harder? |
|
Is there anything I can do to be more helpful leaders to them? |
|
Do team members know the strategy for the quarter and year? |
Questions to ask during one-on-one meetings
By asking the right questions during one-on-one meetings, you can encourage your team to share thoughts and ideas and support development and career growth.
Here are some questions to ask:
Type |
Use case |
Example |
Open-ended questions |
Use open-ended questions that encourage team members to share their thoughts and ideas in detail. |
"What's been challenging for you lately?" or "What do you think could be improved on this project? |
Clarifying questions |
Ask clarification questions to ensure you fully understand your team members’ perspective. |
Example: "Can you explain what you mean by that?" or "Can you give me an example of what you're referring to?" |
Follow-up questions |
Ask follow-up questions to explore a topic in more detail. |
"How did that make you feel?" or "What do you think we could do differently next time?" |
Goal-oriented questions |
Ask goal-oriented questions that help your team members focus on their development and career aspirations. |
"What are your career goals in the next 12 months?" or "What skills do you want to develop in your role?" |
End the one-on-one meeting on a positive note, acknowledging the team member's progress and accomplishments. Provide clear expectations for the next meeting.
How to handle difficult conversations
Listen
Actively listen to your team member's concerns and show genuine interest in their perspective. This can help build trust and encourage more open and honest communication.
Stay calm
Keep the conversation focused on the issue at hand and avoid getting emotional.
Focus on solutions
Brainstorm ideas together and come up with a plan for moving forward.
5 reasons why taking notes matters
It’s important to capture key points and action items, but also to be present and engaged in the conversation. Your notes don’t need to be a transcript, rather use a consistent format or template to recap the conversation. You can use a shared document or note-taking app, to keep your notes organized and easily accessible. Here are five reasons why meeting notes are essential to success.
- Document progress: Taking notes can help you document the progress of your team members and keep track of their goals, accomplishments, and areas for improvement.
- Prepare for future meetings: Notes can be used to prepare for future one-on-one meetings and ensure that you are following up on action items and addressing any ongoing concerns.
- Identify patterns: By taking notes on common themes or issues that arise during one-on-one meetings, you can identify patterns or trends that may require further attention.
"John expressed some concerns about workload and time management. - Provide feedback: Notes can be used to provide feedback on the team member's performance and identify areas for improvement. "Steve has been struggling to meet deadlines lately. Let's work together to identify any obstacles and come up with a plan to improve."
-
Demonstrate active listening: Taking notes can demonstrate to your team member that you are actively listening and engaged in the conversation.
4 tools to enhance your one-on-one meetings
There are many tools available for capturing one-on-one meeting notes and actions as an engineering manager. Here are some we’ve found helpful:
- Note-taking apps: Apps like Evernote, OneNote, and Google Keep are popular for taking notes during one-on-one meetings. These apps allow you to create notes, tag them for easy organization, and share them with others.
- Task management tools: Tools like Trello, Asana, and Monday.com can be used to track action items and deadlines discussed during one-on-one meetings. You can assign tasks to team members, set due dates, and track progress.
- Communication platforms: Platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Chat can be used to record notes and actions during one-on-one meetings in a dedicated channel or chat. This allows you to easily reference past discussions and keep all related information in one place.
- Dedicated software: There are many dedicated software solutions available specifically for one-on-one meeting management. Examples include Lattice, 15Five, and Reflektive.
By prioritizing regular check-ins with your team, you can improve communication, foster stronger relationships, and ultimately drive better business outcomes. If you're looking to take your staff augmentation efforts to the next level, Trio can help!
With our experienced team and comprehensive solutions, we can provide the support and expertise you need to achieve your goals.
Visit our website today to learn more.