Careers in software development are hot right now. Whether you’re looking to deliver products on a client by client basis or you’re looking to base a software-as-a-service business around a particular tool you’ve made, there’s a lot of money to be made from it. For this article, we’re going to assume that you’re an accomplished code monkey already. You should already know that being skilled alone isn’t enough to make a successful business in software. You need the professional standards to really start profiting from it.
Communication
It doesn’t matter how much you believe the market needs your set of skills or the piece of software you wanted to give it. You’re going to have to learn how to become a salesperson and how to close deals, as well. This means practicing on your communication skills. In particular, you want to make sure you’re not stuck in jargon world when you’re talking to clients. You don’t have to assume that they know nothing you’re talking about, because most clients (in the professional world, at least) will have done their research before talking to you. But don’t get caught up in specifics until you’ve ensured that they’re following you. This focus on communication has to continue all the way through the relationship after the sale, too. Get used to delivering timely reports on progress, touching base with prototypes, getting feedback after patches and new versions, and so on.
Process
If you’re an old hand at software development, you might feel like you have a handle on things and you know the way from A to B. You’re not worried about time frames, schedules, and planning. But your clients will be. Look at Forbes.com for their tips on time management to help you start making full project plans, setting goals, and understanding every aspect of your workflow. If you can’t plan out your process and make it transparent for your client, then they will feel the wait a lot harder than if they had some sort of measurable timeframe. You also have to consider that you’re going to have other developers and non-software savvy team members who will need to be clued in on your process, too.
Standards
You have to make sure that the work you deliver has measurable standards, as well. When creating for your own education or hobby, you don’t need to worry as much about maintaining a professional standard. But now you do. Bugs are going to be some of the most damning indictments against you, so visit exceptionless.com to get an idea of some of the bug tracking tools that can help you stick on top of them. Learning to thoroughly document your work, as well as providing user manuals, is going to make it a lot easier to communicate the functions and instructions of the software than hoping the design is accessible enough to explain itself.
SaaS Sales
Essentially, to profit in software development, you need to stop treating it like an interest and start treating it like a job, a passion, and a vocation. This means developing the soft skills that ensure happier clients, organization to keep your goals deliverable, and standards that ensure you’re building the right reputation.
I hope you enjoyed this article about the main differences between turning a profit or suffering a loss in the world of software development.
Interested in more articles about software development?
Read My Blog Posts:
- 4 Questions To Ask Before Becoming Cloud-Based
- How To Evaluate A Mobile App Dev Company
More Bootstrap Business Blog Below
I hope you enjoyed this article about the main differences between turning a profit or suffering a loss in the world of software development.
Interested in more articles about software development?
Read My Blog Posts:
- 4 Questions To Ask Before Becoming Cloud-Based
- How To Evaluate A Mobile App Dev Company
More Bootstrap Business Blog Below
