The world is rapidly evolving, with more people relying on online services for their daily activities. This shift has made it important for companies to have individuals who can handle basic coding activities.
As a solution, no-code tools have become a viable option. They are useful for creating apps, workflows, and websites. Plus, they don’t force you to rely on powerful, expensive custom software.
As you read on, you’ll learn about no-code development and the benefits of hiring no-code developers. You’ll also find some tips and mistakes to avoid while hiring.
What is no-code development?
No-code development is a process that allows individuals with no prior coding experience to build workflows, apps, or automate processes. These can be done without writing any code.
The option for anyone to create apps and workflows is a great approach for organizations. They chose this option to improve the productivity of non-technical members.
To engage in no-code development, there are specific platforms available. These include sites like Bubble, Webflow, Glide, Airtable, Adalo, FlutterFlow, and Framer. Each of these platforms has a primary focus, such as building websites or developing mobile apps.
In addition to no-code development, low-code development also exists. With low-code developers, you’re getting individuals with basic coding skills, which can often allow your team to use better features.
While no-code is the way forward, you should understand that each platform runs custom code that creates the apps and websites you design behind the scenes. Unlike regular software, you cannot edit these codes, making it difficult to have unique customer portals or other working app designs that you can get from specialized developers.
What makes a great no-code developer?
Although anyone can work as a no-code developer, the best candidates usually have a set of skills that set them apart, such as:
Business knowledge
For the best outcome, any no-code developer should have a basic understanding of how the business works and various processes. This makes it easier for them to automate workflows, improving productivity.
- Problem-solving capabilities:
The reason you need a no-code developer is to solve problems, and you can’t be the one providing all the solutions. A great no-code developer should be able to recommend new ways to handle tasks and resolve persistent issues around the organization.
- Communication skills:
Even with the best technical skills, a no-code developer will be useless if they cannot communicate effectively with other members of the company. Finding ways to collaborate and communicate with other teams will help them find issues they need to fix.
- Debugging skills:
Sometimes a web app, website, or workflow may not work properly due to a bug. When this happens, a great no-code developer should be able to replicate the process flow in order to find and fix the bug.
- User-first mindset:
Everything a no-code developer builds is for users. So, having a user-focused design approach matters a lot. They must take into account how a user will interact with the app, ease of use, and other factors.
Reasons you should consider hiring a no-code developer
Hiring no-code developers has its benefits, many of which are important to a company. Among these benefits, the top ones are:
To speed up the development process
Hiring no-code developers allows you to complete projects faster. In general, no-code development is much faster than traditional development. However, since you’re hiring an expert who is already proficient in the no-code platforms and tools, you get an even faster timeline, since they require little to no training before initiating the development process.
It lowers the cost of development
When taking the traditional software development route, development costs add up quickly. With no-code developers, you can reduce this cost since you’re making use of no-code platforms. Compared to other specialized software development platforms, no-code platforms offer a more cost-effective option for development.
No need for extensive training
One advantage of no-code development is that anyone can use no-code platforms to create websites and applications. So, when you hire a no-code developer, you don’t need to spend too much time and money training them to get specialized coding skills. Depending on the platform you choose, a no-code developer can be work-ready within days, with the option to keep learning as they work on projects. If you’re hiring a freelance no-code developer, then training isn’t a problem.
Reduces pressure on the IT team
Hiring no-code developers and using no-code platforms allows anyone in the organization to create workflows and develop apps that they require for their day-to-day activities. So, instead of relying on the IT team to develop simple solutions to business problems, no-code developers can devise ways to address them. Plus, no-code apps often come with enterprise-grade security, so they are safe.
Automation
One of the top uses of no-code development in companies is to automate various tasks and processes. The focus is usually on the repetitive processes individuals perform in a company, which makes the overall operation faster.
No code tools are easy to use
No code platforms offer an easy option for app building, allowing users to simply drag and drop themes, templates, functions, and formulas to create the ideal result. What’s even better, a low-code tool lets you see what you’re designing in real time, so you get a visual view as you add components and build apps.
Great SEO benefits
One benefit of websites and web apps built with no-code platforms is improved SEO. These platforms ensure your websites have the right SSL certificates, a mobile-friendly design, proper integration with analytics tools, fast load times, and built-in SEO tools to optimize and improve the visibility of your website.
Mistakes to avoid and tips for hiring no-code developers
Finding the best talent always boils down to the quality of your hiring process. With no-code developer recruitment, there are certain mistakes that can prevent you from securing the best, and avoiding them is crucial. To avoid these mistakes, you must know what they are, so here are the errors that matter:
Zeroing in on cost savings
While hiring a no-code developer can be a cost-saving measure, this shouldn’t be the only criterion for picking a candidate. For the best outcome, you must also ensure that any no-code developer you hire has the right skills and experience to do the job.
Prioritizing technical expertise
In the earlier list of qualities that make a great no-code developer, you’ll notice that a few of them don’t focus on technical skills. In a work environment, soft skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and communication matter just as much. There are various ways to assess these skills during the hiring process, so be sure to use them.
Poor technical assessments
While this shouldn’t be the only factor to consider, you must test the technical capabilities of any no-code developer you intend to hire. The goal of this assessment is to prevent you from hiring an individual who cannot handle the role, which would require a new hiring process or additional training costs.
No training schedule
Although most no-code developers you hire will be skilled, you must provide opportunities for them to get better. With the right training structure, you can improve your no-code developers and also create a situation where hiring low-skilled no-code developers becomes a viable option.
Omitting salaries when posting the job ad
The demand for talent continues to grow, and many low-code developers have many options. So, if you want to attract top talent, you must give them a reason to apply to your job posting. The easiest way to do this is to include a competitive salary in the job ad, so they see your organization as a potential option.
Not specifying if the role is remote
Many developers look for remote opportunities, so you should include this in the job ad. Even if your company uses a hybrid work system, you should still include this in the ad. Some developers are okay with working from the office, but many will avoid applying to ads that don’t provide this information.
What options are available for hiring no-code developers?
Hiring a no-code developer isn’t difficult if you know where to look. When you need to attract the right talent, there are various platforms you can use, and all these give you access to top talent:
Social networking sites
LinkedIn is the top option when you need to connect with professionals, so this is the first place you need to post your job ad. You can also use keywords to find top developers and connect with them.
In addition to LinkedIn, social media platforms like X and Threads are also useful. Nowadays, developers try to stand out on these platforms by posting about specialized topics. You can use tags related to no-code development to find top developers, but be sure to confirm they know what they’re doing. Some accounts focus on providing theoretical knowledge without having the relevant practical expertise.
Freelance marketplaces
If you want to find lots of freelance no-code developers, then head over to any of the top freelance marketplaces. Sites like Fiverr and Upwork will give you access to a large number of individuals who can provide the service you need, at a cost.
Most freelancers work on a project basis, so you must have a clear outline of what you expect from the project. The cost of the project will vary depending on the freelancer, but if you want a high-level no-code developer, you’ll have to pay well.
No-code platforms
There are certain low-code platforms that allow you to connect with freelancers who are well-versed in their technology. For instance, if you visit FlutterFlow, you get the option to hire certified developers through a Partner Portal. This is a useful option if you already have a specific no-code development platform in mind for your project.
Online forums and communities
No-code communities and forums are places where developers gather to share ideas and network. They’re also great places to find developers for your next projects. You can find these forums by searching online or visiting any of these sites:
- Zeroqode Forum
- Makerpad
- No Code Founders
- WeAreNoCode
- r/nocode (Reddit)
Conclusion
No-code development offers many benefits. Plus, businesses benefit from the chance to access features without worrying about costs. However, there are also drawbacks to no-code development. Some of these affect the ability to customize or scale no-code websites or apps.
Nonetheless, as no-code platforms evolve rapidly, there are more opportunities for small businesses to profit from this approach.