When to Hire a Mobile Growth Consultant

Not every app needs a consultant. But at certain inflection points, bringing in outside expertise can save you months of wasted effort and thousands in misallocated budget.

Here’s how to know if it’s time—and how to make the most of it if you do.

Signs You Might Need Help

1. Something Changed and You Don’t Know Why

Downloads dropped 30% and you’ve been staring at App Store Connect for a week trying to figure out what happened. You’ve checked everything obvious—no bad reviews, no competitor launches, no broken features—but the numbers aren’t recovering.

This is exactly when a fresh set of experienced eyes helps. Someone who’s seen this pattern before can often diagnose the issue in hours, not weeks.

2. You’re Spending Money But Not Sure If It’s Working

You’re running Apple Search Ads (or other paid channels) and the money is going out, but you can’t tell if you’re getting a good return. Your ROAS calculations feel fuzzy. You’re not sure if you’re bidding on the right keywords or if your campaign structure makes sense.

A consultant can audit your setup, identify waste, and restructure things so you actually know what’s working.

3. You’ve Hit a Growth Plateau

The early organic growth has leveled off. You’ve done the obvious ASO work—keywords in the title, decent screenshots—but you’re stuck at 500 downloads a day and can’t figure out how to get to 1,000.

Sometimes you need someone who’s scaled apps before to look at the full picture and find the levers you’re missing.

4. You’re About to Make a Big Investment

You’re planning a rebrand, a major feature launch, or a significant increase in marketing spend. The stakes are high and you want to make sure you’re not about to waste the investment.

Getting expert input before committing resources can save you from expensive mistakes.

5. Your Team Has Knowledge Gaps

Maybe you’re a great product person but you’ve never run ASA campaigns. Or you understand paid marketing but ASO feels like a black box. Hiring someone full-time doesn’t make sense, but you need the expertise.

A consultant can fill specific gaps, transfer knowledge to your team, and then move on.

When You Don’t Need a Consultant

You Haven’t Done the Basics Yet

If you haven’t filled out your App Store metadata, haven’t set up proper analytics, and haven’t tried any marketing at all—you probably don’t need a consultant yet. Do the basics first. Free resources can get you pretty far.

You’re Looking for a Magic Bullet

No consultant can make a product that users don’t want into a success. If your retention is terrible, your reviews are bad, and users aren’t finding value—fix the product first. Marketing can amplify success, not create it.

You Want Someone to “Just Handle It”

If you’re hoping to hand everything off and not think about growth, that rarely works. The best engagements are collaborative. You know your product and users better than anyone—a good consultant brings expertise and outside perspective, but needs your input.

What to Look for in a Consultant

Specific Experience

“I’ve worked in marketing” is not the same as “I’ve optimized 60+ apps on the App Store and managed millions in ASA spend.” Look for someone with specific experience in exactly what you need help with.

A Data-First Approach

Be wary of anyone who leads with “best practices” before looking at your data. Every app is different. A good consultant will want to dig into your numbers before making recommendations.

Clear Communication

Can they explain complex concepts simply? Do they speak in jargon or plain language? You need someone who can translate their expertise into terms you can actually use.

Honest Assessment

A consultant who tells you everything is fine and you just need to spend more on their services is not helping you. Look for someone willing to tell you hard truths—including “you don’t need a consultant for this.”

Getting the Most Value

Be Prepared

Before the engagement, get your data in order. Export your App Store Connect reports. Document what you’ve tried. Write down your specific questions. The more context you provide upfront, the faster a consultant can help.

Ask for Knowledge Transfer

Don’t just accept a deliverable and move on. Ask the consultant to explain their reasoning. A good engagement should make you smarter about your own business, not just give you a to-do list.

Set Clear Goals

“Help us grow” is too vague. “Help us understand why conversion dropped and how to fix it” or “Audit our ASA campaigns and identify where we’re wasting money” gives everyone a clear target.

Follow Through

The best analysis in the world is useless if you don’t act on it. Make sure you have the resources and commitment to implement recommendations. If you’re not going to do anything with the output, save your money.

The Discovery Call

Most good consultants offer a free discovery call. Use it to:

• Explain your situation and challenges
• Ask about their relevant experience
• Understand their approach and process
• See if there’s a good fit (both ways)

If someone tries to sell you a package without understanding your specific situation, that’s a red flag. Every engagement should be tailored to what you actually need.

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Wondering if outside expertise might help your app? Book a discovery call and let’s figure out together if it makes sense.