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if you can hire a software writer, who would it be

by menu item
10 replies
first off, let me introduce myself, I'm a nobody with no Internet marketing experience.

So say a guy like me had an epiphany and it involved a way to make life so much easier when it came to client/customer/list communication.

So say a guy like me had no money, and I had to find someone that I could trust to code a specific software application that might rock the way people reach their lists and clients, and get into a joint venture situation from beginning to end, who would you call.

Just thought I'd throw this out there for you guys that may have had experience asking for help and trusting that person to the moral bitter end.

Would it be a prudent measure to get a provisional patent application of this IT concept?

Or should I just trust somebody wholeheartedly, get to work and try to produce this software program and aim for branding recognition.

Like I said I'm new at this stuff, and get a little confused at times, but if this product was available today it would make life easier for beginners, seasoned vets, online and off-line businesses to reach their customers and build lists in a way that I feel could revolutionize communication on the Internet.

Thanks for your time

Tommy
#hire #software #writer
  • Profile picture of the author mmurtha
    Tommy,

    Most marketers won't give out the best programmers, especially ones that they JV with without paying for the programming work. And most good programmers won't bit to do it pro bono if you're a nobody. Sorry - it's just that way.

    I found the one I work with now through someone else, but I got several referals from this ame person. I tried out at least 5 programmers that I put on a trial bases before I found one that will do the job, and do it well, plus work with me a little. It just so happens he was looking for a way to JV with a product owner because he wanted to get into making money from other income streams besides programming. So it worked out well for the both of us.

    If you get a couple of referals in this thread, I suggest you give them a trial run first to make sure they are the real deal, and willing to do the job for you. If they aren't, go find another programmer who you can trust.

    If you share information with a programmer, make out a contract that protects you from him/her stealing your idea and running with it.

    Hope this helps ...
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    • Profile picture of the author silverbax
      Well, first off, I haven't seen any guys in the IM market hiring big time programmers. The kind of work they are getting, you can get by just hiring someone off of elance or rent-a-coder.

      If you wanted a serious enterprise software engineer/coder, you wouldn't find him (or her) in the IM market. He's working for a bank or government contractor. But don't worry about that, you don't need a gang of $100 an hour coders.

      As for secrecy, I can tell you as someone who owns a physical book publishing company that if you don't ship the entire project overseas, you are probably worried over nothing. Despite what you might think about your killer idea, coders see thousands of 'killer ideas'. They just want to get paid and move on. They really aren't just running out trolling job boards for ideas to steal.

      If I were you, I'd spend my time focusing on sitting in front of your computer, and writing REALLY concise explanations of EXACTLY what you expect out of your application/project. Because you'll spend less when hiring coders because they will have less to figure out, and because you'll know what functionality you need and expect. It will be easier to hold your coders to an agreed requirement as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author J. Barry Mandel
    If you cannot afford a PP then get an NDA and have the coder sign it. At least that might be able to afford you some extra needed protection.

    Even with the PP I'm sure you would still want to get an NDA just to be on the super safe side.

    And of course I'm not a lawyer, but I play one on TV

    Best of Luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author menu item
      good points all thanks for responding!

      I think we could use a PPA for toilet paper, but I can't understand someone could write really good code for software not wanting to read huge rewards.

      I'm sure if I knew how to write codes for software this would be simple code to write.

      The fact that strikes me about this particular software application is that it simplifies life on the computer and list communication to a degree that I can't imagine no one has thought of it yet, maybe someone has thought of it but not implemented it?pro-prosperous I say, thanks for all your input.

      I'm thinking of a sneaky way just to put this code I want road on paper and giving it to a simple programmer and let him fill in all the blanks.

      You think that could work?

      I met an acquaintance a couple weeks ago and he writes software programs for HP, he seems like a nice enough guy, but when I spoke Internet marketing to him, I could see that glazed over look in his eyes.

      This is been some very good input and I appreciate your thoughts on this subject.

      If I can pull this off one way or another, you guys will get first crack at testing this software.

      you guys have given me insight on a way of looking at this situation that I didn't even dream existed.

      Thanks for that insight.

      Tom
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      • Profile picture of the author menu item
        please excuse my spelling on the above post, I'm old and my hands are getting a little bent out of shape, so that was Dragon speak, untrained.

        Tom
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        • Profile picture of the author menu item
          hey silverbacks, I just read what you said it again, and it connected this time.

          I've actually put a little demo together on a composer website builder application and when I read it it seems very simple.

          So I think I'll take your device. I will sit in front of this computer and make a clearer point.

          Thanks again for that inspiration, I really needed to read your post again glad I did. Tom
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          • Profile picture of the author xiaophil
            Hi, Tom.

            Here's a great non-technical resource about how to build great software. I often refer people with product ideas here to help them plan their approach and crystallize their ideas into something a developer can work with. It's aimed mainly at web-based applications but most of it is applicable to any software product development effort.

            Getting Real

            Enjoy.

            Phil
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      • Profile picture of the author Mr. Enthusiastic
        Originally Posted by menu item View Post

        I'm sure if I knew how to write codes for software this would be simple code to write.
        And I'm sure if I knew how to do surgery, my new transplant idea would be a great success. How in the world do you have any kind of basis to know what is hard or easy for an expert programmer?

        Most software developers love to develop software. For them, using ingenious techniques to make computers do cool new things is the whole point of the process. Because it's not possible to B.S. or lie to a compiler in order to make a program work, developers probably have a greater than average interest in what is honest, factual, and provable.

        So here comes someone they don't know, in an industry they don't know (and that the "client" is brand new to as well), with an idea they've never heard of, and no money. Without any evidence, without any customer surveys, without any investment in a patent or an attorney's help to properly set up an industry-standard NDA.

        No specs, no prototype, no business plan, no funding, no team, no sales history in any type of software.

        No information about what type of operating systems the customers might be using. No information about how much data might get stored, how long it should be kept, how quickly it will need to be updated. No experience working with developers or participating in any way in any kind of software project. No experience with specs, with testing, with deployment, with customer support, or with software marketing. Just a dream.

        Of course, compilers are there to turn smoke and dreams into running software, right?

        Of course, it's only their own stubbornness that makes them say "No" to the golden opportunity on a silver platter... the great chance to sink anywhere from a week to a year, without seeing a penny until the great payday in the sky. How dare they be that skeptical? Must because all of that coding has made them unable to spot a great business opportunity.
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      • Profile picture of the author BIG Mike
        Banned
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        • Profile picture of the author Harvey Segal
          Tom

          Is there a way that you can split the specification
          into say two phases so that a Phase 1 programmer
          would not be able to understand the whole concept
          and the Phase 2 programmer is just needed to code
          the vital bolt-on module.

          Then you just need someone to link the two - I'll do it

          Harvey



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  • Profile picture of the author samstephens
    Despite what you might think about your killer idea, coders see thousands of 'killer ideas'. They just want to get paid and move on. They really aren't just running out trolling job boards for ideas to steal.
    I 100% agree! If you get a good programmer who is interested in running a programming business, then the last thing they want to do is steal your idea. They're more interested in the money for the job, and for any referals you may bring in.

    cheers
    Sam
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