Transcript Building Reputation on Online Software Markets

Building Reputation on Online
Software Markets - Introduction
• There are a few continuously growing online software
markets : RentACoder.COM, Elance.COM,
GetAFreeLancer.com, GetACoder.com, guru.com, etc.
• I’ve started taking projects from online markets in 2003. I
had very small projects in the beginning implemented
almost for free but since 2004 I’m in the top 10 coders
world-wide and the complexity of projects got pretty high
• Good reputation on online software markets means very
high rating and comments/feedback from your
customers. This results from high quality work, good
communication with the customer
• After so many years our average rating at
RentACoder.COM is still 10.
www.outsidesoftware.ro
How to get the first project
• RentACoder.com has registered over 60000 active
bidders (software buyers) and every day there are over
2000 open bid requests (projects to be assigned)
• Looking at the numbers seems like it’s easy to get the
first project. But it’s not, because the experienced coders
with very good reputation are preferred.
• To get the first project you have to search for a small
project (like homework for students) and implement that
project almost for free and take it seriously.
• The first project must be from the area you know the
best
www.outsidesoftware.ro
How did Outside Software Inc. Start ?
• Outside Software Inc. started based on the
reputation I’ve built on RentACoder.COM
• The increasing number of projects and the
increasing projects complexity have naturally
lead to the necessity of taking more people in
the business
• Outside Software Inc. is now a small company
with 5 software developers
• Moving now to create and promote our own
products like software tools for marketing
(surveys, newsletter) and online reservation
systems
www.outsidesoftware.ro
What skills you need when starting
a business
• Both technical and soft skills
• You need good technical skills because in
the beginning you’ll have to handle by
yourself the complex technical issues until
you find the right people to hire and solve
these problems.
• You also need to have very good soft skills
like effective communication when
negotiating projects and hiring people.
www.outsidesoftware.ro
Keeping your the Clients Satisfied
• A stable, long term relationship with a customer is the
most important resource you have acquired
• On online software markets you have a good chance to
get more projects from the same customer if the
customer was happy with your work
• After some time you’ll get private requests from more
and more customers
• A few advices about how to keep you clients (good work
quality, good communication, etc)
• Communication is not always very easy. Sometimes
you’ll never talk face to face with your customers
• I have clients who continue to offer me projects since I
have started with RentACoder.COM
www.outsidesoftware.ro