$6,000 + a month easy- tip for web developers.

garyk1968

14 years ago

great idea John, just wondered though why would you develop a CMS and not just use something like Joomla?

Gary

P.S. Do you sit at a computer or strap 300kg to it and bench it all day?

Thanks

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Mr. Enthusiastic

14 years ago

Way to go, Johnny!

You can include one easy little clause in your standard development contracts: "Intellectual property rights: Developer retains full rights and may re-use developer's software technologies developed for this project in developer's other business relationships. Developer must not release any of client's information without client's express written permission, unless required by court order or law enforcement."

When you talk this over with clients, most will be 100% OK with this.

There are several software businesses that have had success with this approach. Each new consulting client pays by the hour for you to build new features for them. Between clients, you revise the new features into the next edition of your standard framework. All clients get new versions of the standard framework on a subscription basis, say for a year after their project is done. Over time you become able to offer far more functionality "out of the box" than anyone else in your niche.

The next evolution might be to open-source your platform. Then other developers can add their features and bug fixes to it as well. For example, you might not have a route scheduling module. If I got a client who wanted to schedule delivery drivers, and your platform did 80% of what I needed, I could add that feature and then you could sell delivery route sites too... without any coding on your part.

Edited for one more great idea: let other offline consultants market your system. They charge the same rates as you do - looks like that's $1,500 per installation - and split the money with you 50/50. They're responsible to support their clients, you provide master support to your licensees. You get more sales with next to no expense, your affiliates get to sell a rocking system even if they couldn't code it themselves.

Chris

Thanks
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Kat Bartone

14 years ago

total content management system, completely automated, and can be managed by the website owner independently without the need of a web developer

Hi John,

Congrats on your success.

Just wondering, what CMS did you use, and how did you automate it?

Thanks,
Kat

Thanks
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John Romaine

14 years ago

Originally Posted by garyk1968

great idea John, just wondered though why would you develop a CMS and not just use something like Joomla?

Gary

P.S. Do you sit at a computer or strap 300kg to it and bench it all day?

Hilarious! No dude, but I did 400 pound squats tonight, does that count?

I chose to build a custom built site, as this is what Im good at - Im a developer (a propellor head, who lifts heavy stuff) and it just seemed right at the time. Its what I do - Its just that Ive become more of an IM'er lately

Originally Posted by Mr. Enthusiastic

Way to go, Johnny! Edited for one more great idea: let other offline consultants market your system. They charge the same rates as you do - looks like that's $1,500 per installation - and split the money with you 50/50. They're responsible to support their clients, you provide master support to your licensees. You get more sales with next to no expense, your affiliates get to sell a rocking system even if they couldn't code it themselves.

Chris

Thanks Chris - I really like the idea of this. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by Kat Bartone

Hi John,

Congrats on your success.

Just wondering, what CMS did you use, and how did you automate it?

Thanks,
Kat

Kat, its a completely custom built site. In terms of automation, well its already built, and it has great features, I just upload and install it for them. Takes about a day or two to have it all sorted out, not including change requests.

Like I said, this isnt for everyone, more so for us geeks

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Emily Meeks

14 years ago

That's awesome

How much programming was involved? I can work with HTML and graphics and all that fun stuff, but I can't program for beans >.<

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VegasGreg

14 years ago

Wouldn't it be better to sell one at $15,000 than do a lot of work for $6,000?

I kind of like the overall thought, but I think you wouldn't have to really discount your offers. You can still do similar work for other companies (at full price) just by making slight changes.

Thanks
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John Romaine

14 years ago

Originally Posted by VegasGreg

Wouldn't it be better to sell one at $15,000 than do a lot of work for $6,000?

I kind of like the overall thought, but I think you wouldn't have to really discount your offers. You can still do similar work for other companies (at full price) just by making slight changes.

Not sure, but I highly doubt anyone would be interested in paying $15,000 for a turnkey website.

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Joseph Then

14 years ago

Originally Posted by VegasGreg

Wouldn't it be better to sell one at $15,000 than do a lot of work for $6,000?

I kind of like the overall thought, but I think you wouldn't have to really discount your offers. You can still do similar work for other companies (at full price) just by making slight changes.

If I see the potential business more than the initial money received, I'd rather 'lose' my early profits for a long-term money income stream.

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rayx

14 years ago

wow that's pretty sweet... how much do you think you could charge for a theme for wordpress, joomla... if you created a custom header for that offline business and set up the site for them? (compared to an ugly html site)

Thanks

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sts2k

14 years ago

Hi,

I have thought about doing the same, however, you first have to get the business owners. What is the best way of getting those initial clients willing to pay high amount for these projects?

Thanks
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John Romaine

14 years ago

Originally Posted by sts2k

Hi,

I have thought about doing the same, however, you first have to get the business owners. What is the best way of getting those initial clients willing to pay high amount for these projects?

I just put together an email in template format, then cut and paste it to about 2,000 businesses, with a link to the online demo.

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TheRichJerksNet

14 years ago

All custom scripts I built belonged to me when I developed them. I gave the client first right to purchase source code rights. This is what most developers do (at least the ones I know), they build a script and resell it. Course all my work was 100% custom and no open source code at all ...

This is how I sold scripts for $20,000 and $30,000..

James

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AndyBlackSEO

14 years ago

I was looking to do this for a large network of government offices, as they're literally hundreds of them. ie - develop a system that suites the needs and then upload, customise, and tweak for each one for a modest fee. The problem I had is that most of these shown an interest of some sort bu had to jump through hoops to get funding for such a small amount. Then they needs to go through commitee meetings and wanting me to do a presentation for each one. Then I'd probs need to offer support and training for each one. Just not worth it in the long run.

Apart from developing my own web apps etc and selling them via the IM niche I am working on a few decent sized web develoment projects for other organisations. It breaks my time up and earns some decent money so all in all it's much better so I'l see how this all goes.

There is definately a market for this sort of thing though Johhny as you have found out. Find a niche that needs to have specific features and functionality within a site and then create a system that suites.

Andy

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samstephens

14 years ago

Im a developer (a propellor head, who lifts heavy stuff)

Heh, you should put that on your resume.

It's a really good idea. Interestingly enough, it's how DLGuard was born.

I was building a bunch of Clickbank websites for clients, hand coding all of the security stuff for the download pages.

So I thought, "I know, I'll create a script that I can use to easily set up a tonne of sites with far less work." A production line.

Turns out other people were interested in buying that script, and so it went...

So that's become my development philosophy: If I need it, so will other people. Same philosophy behind your six grand week.

Nicely done!

cheers
Sam

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goliathseo

14 years ago

Very interesting Sam. Am thinking of using the same philosophy...

So that's become my development philosophy: If I need it, so will other people.

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Scott Ames

14 years ago

Good going! You might also consider trying this:

$1,500 for the site and $150 or $xxx a month for hosting, "code updates", support, monitoring, goodies.

It would bring in a consistent revenue stream. The business owner gets a $15,000 custom site for a tenth of the price, peace of mind knowing its being watched, and you get continuity income.

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John Romaine

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Scott Ames

Good going! You might also consider trying this:

$1,500 for the site and $150 or a month for hosting, "code updates", support, monitoring, goodies.

It would bring in a consistent revenue stream. The business owner gets a $15,000 custom site for a tenth of the price, peace of mind knowing its being watched, and you get continuity income.

Hey Scotty, how are you mate?

So weird you dug up this old thread because Ive had this VERY question on my mind today!

It seems Im getting emails from customers asking "how can I do this?" and "how do I do that?" or "can you help with this...?"

Your suggestion sounds like a winner

Thanks

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isha

14 years ago

Originally Posted by ramone_johnny

Okay guys, this thread is targeted more towards experienced web developers so this wont be for everyone.

This has worked VERY well for me, and its a great money spinner - so I thought Id share it. Its really nothing new, but it sure is something to think about if you're building sites for clients as a freelance designer as I have been.

About 6 months ago I was approached by a local business owner and she asked me to provide a quote on developing a site for her business. I gathered all of her requirements and came to an estimated quote of $15,000. Now this is where I decided to think a little differently.

Before submitting my proposal and quote, I got to thinking..."How many other local business owners within this marketplace, would require a website similiar, or if not identical to this one?"

My guess was, its probably VERY likely. And out of those, how many would be paying in excess of $10,000 to have their websites built?

So put simply, I decided to put forward a business proposal to this woman and said the following....

"Ill build your site, with all of your requirements in template format, and Ill deliver it to you, for just $1,500 ready to use, if you give me permission to onsell it as a package to other business owners within the same marketplace."

Her response was very positive. She said, "absolutely!, this will save me a fortune!" So I got started and built the site so that it acts as a total content management system, completely automated, and can be managed by the website owner independently without the need of a web developer.

Once the job was completed, she paid me $1,500 as agreed, and I then began sending (quite literally) hundreds of emails daily to other business owners who I thought may be interested.

Well, at first the response wasnt that great, and I figured that perhaps Id have to write it off as another loss, HOWEVER, just recently, Ive had a LOT of these business owners come back to me and ask to view the demo, then go on to ORDER!

Just this week Ive done 3 installs, which equates to $4,500, which doesnt include change requests! So far almost every client has requested a modification of some sort, if not dozens, to which I then charge $80 per hour. By the weeks end my earnings should be well in excess of $6000.

And whats best is that I can replicate replicate replicate!

So basically what started out at what *could* have been a $15,000 job, now has the potential to make a LOT of money.

Im going to continue doing my other IM stuff - but this is a great way to supplement my income while I improve my IM skills and further my education.

Just thought Id share this with those who may find it of interest

Cheers,

John

Hi john,

thats a great inspiring story! the power of consulting present offline businesses is great, especially with persistance.

Thanks

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John Romaine

14 years ago

Oh and if anyones wondering ...I did just under 10K for the month ($9,980)

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$6,000 + a month easy- tip for web developers.

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