Porter, Mark
MPorter at acsalaska.com
Wed Mar 31 17:12:00 CST 2004
I agree with this theme. When businesses know and trust you, they are willing to hire you for things that are outside of your core skills. > -----Original Message----- > From: Dian [mailto:nd500_lo at charter.net] > Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 1:17 PM > To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving' > Subject: RE: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as > well-connected > as JC > > > Well, I've been 'lurking' for a while because I'm technically > retired now > and haven't been an 'official' developer for several years. > The reason I'm > responding now is that Susan made a good point. I made an > excellent living > doing something close to what she has suggested > here...focusing on what > small business owners seemed to need the most. It all started > when I did a > favor for a little bookstore and the owner was so delighted, > she recommended > me to others. All I did was go into a business, analyze their business > functions, eliminate redundant operations, tie the system > together (and, > yes, for some weird reason, there was usually an Access > database at the > heart of it all) and then train the employees on how they > could do their > specific function faster, easier and more efficiently. When several > customers needed new systems, I learned how to build > computers. When their > networking needs became more sophisticated, I learned what I > needed to know > about networking. When everyone wanted an online presence, I > learned how to > create websites for them and taught them how to maintain them. In the > process, I built little modules that could be snapped > together to cover just > about anything (on a limited size basis) and I had a > wonderful time. It is > possible to do it...just a matter of discovering what I was > good at and what > I loved doing. It can be done. By the way...hi, everybody! > > -----Original Message----- > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of > Susan Harkins > Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 5:55 AM > To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving' > Subject: RE: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as > well-connected as > JC > > I have long thought that the way to make money with > Access/SQL Server or > really any program that you can manipulate vai code is to > make small modules > that make the user's life easier, not a finished package per > se. Now Rocky > may have the once in a lifetime great idea that has a large > audience, but > most of us aren't going to experience that. What we can do, is produce > drop-in modules that make the average user's life easier. > Wizards are OK, > but most of them really won't take the user very far toward > getting the word > done. > > You sell a module that does something you think is really > rather mundane, > but that the average user doesn't hve the experience to > automate. The cost > is so small anyone can purchase it, and you make money in volume. > > Will you get rich? > > Probably not, but I still think there's potential there. > > Something as simple as a generic module that lets the user > determine how > many labels to print for each record, and specify a position > to start on the > first label sheet so they can use a half-used sheet of > labels. Both are > something I've written about -- could easily be automated to > fit be dropped > into any module and users would buy it if you only charge $5 > or $10. There > are tons of ideas for such a market -- but can't tell you > where or how to > market them. Here's a few more -- a combo or list that automatically > displays all the visible reports or forms in the application (omitting > hidden and system objects I mean). These are things users > could really use > and would probably pay a few bucks for. > > Everyone's busy with custom development, and there's money to > be made I'm > sure, but there are ton more "users" than developers, but all > the products > are for developers. > > Susan H. > > > Sure. I estimate it will take to the end of the year before > I see any real > results. > > I've got another product cooking as well - analyzes sleep > disorders. Been > working on it with an expert in the field for 4-5 years (not > continuously, > of course). Might be able to launch it this year. > > Do you want to be a beta tester? > > Rocky > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kath Pelletti" <SDSSoftware at optusnet.com.au> > To: "Access Developers discussion and problem solving" > <accessd at databaseadvisors.com> > Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 8:23 PM > Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as > well-connected as > JC > > > Well I wish you the very best of luck...can you let us know > how the sales > go? > > Kath > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Rocky Smolin - Beach Access Software > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving > Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 9:42 AM > Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as > well-connected as > JC > > > Kath: > > In the 'old' days when I was flogging this package in DOS, > I thought that > some of them would be sold by word of mouth, people seeing > it, or the > reports that got passed around (which all had my company name in the > footer). So I always wanted everyone to have the latest > version. So I > didn't charge for it. It was in my self-interest to have > them use the > most > recent release. And I'm still going to keep to that policy > for this new > version. > > If I add a module, like Order Entry, everybody will get it > at no cost. > With > distribution by web, there really is no overhead cost to me > to distribute > it. And good product sells more product. > > I promote the product support as a 'free phone in > consulting service on > any > question related to the software OR manufacturing systems' > for the first > year, and $300 a year after that (about 10% of the purchase price). > > In the past I had a lot of conversations with people about > manufacturing > issues - how to structure a bill of materials, how to make up a part > numbering scheme, how to solve a particular work order > problem, etc - and > very few questions about how to actually run the software. > This added a > LOT > of value to the product and didn't really take very much time. > > The key is to make a product which is so user stupid that > anybody who can > read and count to 20 can run it. Then you don't get the > same question 20 > times a day, like 'how do I run a costed inventory report?'. > > If a user doesn't want to pay the yearly maintenance then > they don't get > the > phone support. I could tell them they don't get the new > releases as well > but that works against me salewise. Many people didn't pay for the > support > after the first couple of years because they never called > me for anything. > > The other key, of course, it goes without saying, is to > make the product > so > solid that it doesn't generate bugs and errors. Then you > don't get any > support calls. > > BTW - I'm not a marketer or salesy type person, either. > But if you have > something you believe in it's not really selling. And I > really believe in > this product (why not, I invented it?). I just present the > product and if > they like it fine. They buy it. If not, it's like pushing > on a string. > > I always wanted people to feel like they got more than they > expected and > when you sell hard you overhype, raise expectations, and end up with > customers who expect more than you have to give. > > When people buy E-Z-MRP they feel like they just bought a > dollar for fifty > cents. That makes selling a lot easier, too. > > I suppose that's why I'm successful but not rich. :) > > HTH > > Rocky Smolin > Beach Access Software > http://www.e-z-mrp.com > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kath Pelletti" <SDSSoftware at optusnet.com.au> > To: "Access Developers discussion and problem solving" > <accessd at databaseadvisors.com> > Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 2:59 PM > Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as > well-connected as > JC > > > Rocky - out of interest - what support arrangements / fees are you > offering? > > Kath > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Rocky Smolin - Beach Access Software > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving > Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 8:48 AM > Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as > well-connected > as > JC > > > Andy: > > Don't envy me. They jury's still out. I've got a bit of > a buffer so we > won't miss any meals, but that can't go on forever. I've > had two good > products and several bad ones. At least this time I'm > starting in an > economy that's on the upswing. > > But I've always been a bootstrap kind of guy - we're > doing a mailing in > San > Diego county this month. Hopefully snag two or three > systems. Then use > that money to mail again in another county. Build it up slowly. > Instead > of > mortgaging the house. > > I'm still doing some fee-for-service as well. So that > keeps some of the > lights on. > > It's a high wire act for sure. But when it does work, > it's a thing of > beauty. > > Rocky > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf > Of Andy Lacey > > Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 1:18 PM > > To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving' > > Subject: RE: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as > well-connected > > as JC > > > > > > I envy Rocky (sort of) but won't be trying to emulate > him. Been there, > tried > > that, and failed. Problem with the product thing is > that you have to > > metamorphose from developer into marketer, and I > couldn't. Not my > thing > at > > all. Plus IME it involves sinking money into > advertising, mailing, > > brochures, websites nd so on. You have to be prepared > to risk big > outlay > > against no guarantee of return. Done that 2 or 3 times > to great cost > and > no > > great return. Won't be doing it again. > > > > -- Andy Lacey > > http://www.minstersystems.co.uk > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > > > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of > > > Steven W. Erbach > > > Sent: 30 March 2004 04:16 > > > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving > > > Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: A survey from somebody not as > > > well-connected as JC > > > > > > > > > William, > > > > > > >> ...don't take this the wrong way << > > > > > > I won't. I appreciate your point of view. I have gotten > > > caught up in the tools as if owning the right brand of socket > > > wrench will guarantee me a living. > > > > > > But I hear you on the client-centered approach. I've worked > > > on lots of things that were outside of my skill-set > comfort zone. > > > > > > I talked with a friend recently about my business and he > > > asked if there was anything I specialized in. I told him no; > > > my business is producing custom solutions to solve customer > > > problems. He recommended a product-centered approach, like > > > what Rocky is aiming for. I have a long-term care facility > > > marketing and donations program I wrote that might fill the > > > bill. We'll see. > > > > > > >> ...but I'm just me and don't have any intention of ever > > > working hard > > > >> again << > > > > > > Not really an option for me as we're having some tough times > > > financially. I can dig the varietal nature of your work, > > > though. Thanks. > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > Steve Erbach > > > Scientific Marketing > > > Neenah, WI > > > > > > "You must be an intellectual. No normal person would say a > > > thing like that." - George Orwell > > > > > > -- > > > _______________________________________________ > > > AccessD mailing list > > > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > > > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/a> ccessd > > > Website: > > > http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > > > > > > > > > -- > > _______________________________________________ > > AccessD mailing list > > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > > > > > -- > > _______________________________________________ > > AccessD mailing list > > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > > > -- > _______________________________________________ > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > -- > _______________________________________________ > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > -- > _______________________________________________ > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > -- > _______________________________________________ > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > -- > _______________________________________________ > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > -- > _______________________________________________ > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > -- > _______________________________________________ > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >