Hi Mal,

Now it's my turn to apologize for the late reply < g >.

I have it relatively easy in marketing my product. It's an interface to a specific brand of cash register, so I've simply obtained a list of dealers nationwide from the corporate office, and I now have a list of companies to contact. I have tried the mailings and faxes, but IMHO they don't work well (at they didn't for me) ... what seemed to work best was persistent phone calls.

Another tactic is to hire a marketing guy on a commission basis (if you're anything like me, you're not a marketing guy ... you like to write software, not try to sell something ... we're geeks, after all < g >) That didn't work well for me, cuz I hired an idiot (he worked for me for 9 months and got me only 3 sales ... I had to fire him), but if you hire a good guy it'll help if you don't personally have the time to devote to a million phone calls < g >.

~Bonnie

>Hi Bonnie :o)
>Sorry for the late reply, I was not able to check UT till tonight.
>Like Stephen, you're reselling something you've created.
>That's what I want to do - would like to do.
>
>In Honolulu??? Hey, that makes you competition ... no? :o)
>
>How are you getting the word out regardig you product?
>
>Regards,
>
>Mal
>
>>Hi Mal,
>>
>>Yep, all you have to do is find the right niche and vertical market software is not a bad business to be in. That's basically how I got started in this business too ... I wrote some cash register interface software back in '91, I worked for practically nothing to develop it, but now I've been selling it nationwide ever since (not a big moneymaker at the moment, but it's not bad). In fact, one of my customers is a cash register dealer there in Honolulu <g>
>>
>>~Bonnie
>>
>>>Steve:
>>>
>>>Resale, eh? Never thought of that: good idea.
>>>So, you charge less than you would hourly and reserve the right to resell the software. It that it? I Love It!!! Something for me to think about.
>>>
>>>Let me know when you're web site is up, k :o)
>>>
>>>Mal
>>>
>>>
>>>>>Bob/Steve:
>>>>>
>>>>>Though things cost a lot more in Hawaii,than in most other states. I have not heard of custom programming costing more than $95/hr. That's a fee that you can charge if you have the customers some what "cornered" ... i.e. You sell them SBT, than you say "if you need customization, the fee is $95/hr".
>>>>>
>>>>>It could be becuase I'm not in the "main stream" professional programmer business that I haven't heard of $100/hr plus rates. I'm just getting started in this an can't bring myself to charge that much - not enough confidence, I guess. Am also very happy to get a programming job - love doing it.
>>>>>
>>>>>I would love to make a living from programming. It is a very exciting career. Presently, I get jobs from "word of mouth" - could be because I'm not expensive. I seem to be getting more and more jobs, however, sometimes I sit and think that I'd make more money working at McDonald's if they let me put in all the overtime I wanted. The reason I'm looking into a Framework is becuase I'd like to finish jobs faster.
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm looking to become a professional like you guys(& gals <s>). I'm also looking forward to a day when an attorney calls me and I tell him "I charge $200/hr. but you get the first hour of consultation free" :o)
>>>>>
>>>>>I will be studing the frameworks carefully.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks for you advice(s).
>>>>>
>>>>>Mal
>>>>
>>>>As your name goes out, and the new people call you, you have to do a "advertsing survey" How did you hear about me?....
>>>>
>>>>If you are selling SBT then getting 100 / to make it fit a business is SOP around here in Memphis. Other places are trying geting it and if the going rate is 95, then so be it! I won't lose 95 over 5 that's stupid over the long run.
>>>>
>>>>When someone wants you to do a job for them and it's not off the self software then you have to figure out what it is worth. To your client as well as to his competition.
>>>>
>>>>I am doing a Repo Man app these nights, as well as a Car Title Loan app.
>>>>
>>>>Not off the self software. So I see resale in these apps? yes. So I exploit that in my initial pricing, sure. I'm going for 1500 each and I will lose my shirt on both vs the seed money. But over the next 5 years I will have more assets in the till to resell. Will I use the Web for my repo man app? Yep!
>>>>
>>>>I am a one man business, and I have to figure that R&D on some of these new verticals will pay off. I have a "Used Car" one today and I get a call a month for a new install. That nightmare started out just about 10 years ago.
>>>>
>>>>__Stephen