What software tools would you like to see on the market?

[CmdrStidd]

I am looking for some additional projects to work on now that I am about to release my latest work. I am curious what things you Warriors would like to see out there. There may even be a split of commissions with the person that gives me the ideas that I turn to market.

[CmdrStidd]

I am stunned. You mean to tell me that no one has any software product they want to see or some idea that might help themselves and others out?

I don't care how crazy the idea sounds, just so long as it is legal and at least somewhat doable.

ie:

Bad Idea: Program that causes $20 bills to come out of my cd rom drive.

Good Idea: A program that allows me to track all my affiliate programs from one screen.

Now, let me hear what you have to say.

[CmdrStidd]

I sent you a pm for a little clarity but you got the idea, Traffic-Bug.

Now lets keep the momentum going.

Who's next?

[Kezz]

I would like to see a program designed for freelancers that allows simple quotation and job status tracking. I thought about knocking something together myself using FileMaker Pro, because reduced complexity is the key so it would be very doable, but just haven't found the time.

I've had such a hard time finding something that works for freelancers, rather than for managing multi million dollar projects, that I've ended up using a basic organiser program. This doesn't quite cut it. I suggest this idea because there are a heck of a lot of people working freelance at the moment, even just on this forum alone, and as yet I've not been able to find a job tracking app that makes it streamlined to record and manage everything.

Here's what I have in mind:

• Two essential database areas - client information & job information
• Unique ID for each client
• Ability to store all contact info for clients in their respective accounts.
• Unique ID for each quote / job, that is associated with the relevant client. Ideally the ID would not be an excessively complex number, so it would be possible for a client to refer to it in communication. Perhaps a portion of their name could be incorporated in the ID.
• Simple radio button style status management of jobs, that would allow creation of a job record in the default status of "Quote". This can then be progressed to, "Scheduled", "Active", "Complete" and so on.
• Ideally allow entry of custom status settings. For example, I have a status in my workflow "Awaiting approval" after I send off a design. No application has this, so an app where I could add this in myself would be great.
• Ability to look at all jobs, sort by status, and hide completed jobs
• Ability to look at the job history for a specific client, and total the amount they have spent with you. This would come in handy to offer periodic discounts to loyal customers and things like that.

I'm sure there are other things that I've forgotten for the moment. I've hunted around but as yet haven't found any software that is really suitable to freelancing. Everything seems to be either over or under complicated, or just not flexible enough to be of any assistance.

Hopefully this is also an idea that would be potentially lucrative for you, given the numbers of people freelancing as designers, writers and so on.

Good luck with your projects!

[Kezz]

Ha! Jinx.

Two votes for freelancing management then

[CmdrStidd]

That is great Kezz, and you have given me plenty of detail to work with. I appreciate that. Plus, you are right that it is now 2 votes for freelance management software.

Anyone else have any ideas? I am all ears, well, not literally but you get the idea. lol

[epsilon97]

I would love a program that automates the submission of bookmarks to all of the sites on Social bookmarking services poster and community websites submitter: digg.com reddit.com netscape.com propeller.com Del.icio.us Stumbleupon.com etc. . It doesnt need to create the accounts, but it it would be great if it auto generated to the title, keywords and description. Then, it would submit the site to all of the bookmarking sites.