> Obviously I want to be profitable. But my primary motivation is to be doing
> challenging work, to enjoy what I'm doing and to build software that makes
> my clients happy. Sure, we could be like this other company and charge
> $100,000 for a project that's worth $5,000 but we won't do that. Why?
> Because it will inevitably come back to haunt us. In this business you have
> little more than your knowledge and your reputation and a tarnished
> reputation won't get you far. YMMV.
Well, I`m actually no ripper either, the $100,000 and $5000 example is
actually a little extreme as well. But what i just wanted to say is that
we shouldn`t accept the minimum, but rather add just a bit to the
sum. This is probably mainly just because I unfortunately do not do enough
planning work, but for me most of the works kind of get to go bigger than
they were ment to be. I`m not talking about new features (though these
may come too, but that`s already another story), but rather just something
that you thought will be easy to handle and then it turns out to be much
bigger problem, but then it`s already a bit bigger problem to get the
client pay more.
Yes, I admit, probably that`s mainly my problem, but usually I get
*little* jobs, which take week or a few and well, if I wanted to prepare
it real well, then it would be +day or more. And there`s usually just not
enough time, though I`m seriously considering doing it differently,
better.
Just some time ago (2 months to be exact), I was asked if I would be
ready to take a small little one week project. At the time I was just
staring to make money with php+mysql, so I trusted the web design firm
which gave me the job. But it came out that it`s really, really big
project actually. I`m still working on it and hope to get it ready in some
days.
Anyway, what am I saying here...it`s probably something to myself, start
writing project descriptions!
And as to talking about this one. Could you tell me how you usually
prepare for projects, how long do your projects take on the average?
> Again, I think we're talking about different kinds of clients.
Well, I just brought an example.
> energy or expertise to make a qualified decision. My experience is that a
> lot of these type of clients only speak to 1 to 3 firms. And these other
> firms are often not qualified - they don't understand the business world or
> don't even do programming. In fact, last week I spoke to the head of a
You`re probably right about that, got to agree with you on this one.
> > when talking about programming and php, well, you just can`t say it, can
> > you? Most of the projects can be done even over the internet, no problems.
>
> My reality is different than your reality. I don't know if I want to trade
> places or not. <grin>
Well, if you`re talking about telecommuting, then this is actually quite
good way of working, for both parties. Firms get to pay a bit lower wages,
no extra offices needed, etc and programmer, he can do it wherever he
wants to. I`m working myself this way and I must say there`s nothing wrong
with it. For firms it might be a bit frightening thought at first, but I
know some pretty successful companies who`s programmers, almost all of
them work out of office.
And about that 5000 and 100000 again, as i said, this difference is a
bit too big to talk about. And actually I was talking about it just
theoretically, I don`t charge my clients amounts that make them go broke,
not at all, just few days ago made an offer to one real estate company, I
once made them a cheap site, just in html, poor desig, etc and now, a year
they wanted to improve it, make a total redesign and make the adding of
houses, etc easier (keyword is database+php)+some more features. I made
them a offer which I wasn`t sure about whether it would be too much or
not. And they said yes withou thinking at all. Then I started
thinking...if they would have gone to some firm, instead of talking to me
(freelancer), they would have paid probably 3times more. So I`m not saying
that we should take all we can get, but rather we should take the amount
that we are ready to work for+some extra, which can be cut off, if the
client doesn`t agree with the first offer.
> Amen. If you do good work for a fair price and make the experience
> pleasurable for your clients the work will come. It's like any business.
> People want to work with people they like and if your customers like you
> they'll mention you to others.
Exactly
Siim Einfeldt
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