Comments on: Is Technology Now a Commodity? http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/ Excel(lent) Stuff Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:59:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris Garrett http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/comment-page-1/#comment-24026 Chris Garrett Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:19:20 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/#comment-24026 Glad to hear there are still clients read the profiles and look for the best rather than cheapest Michelle :) Glad to hear there are still clients read the profiles and look for the best rather than cheapest Michelle :)

]]> By: Michelle http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/comment-page-1/#comment-24006 Michelle Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:12:13 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/#comment-24006 When you start surfing through online marketplace sites, it is pretty eye-opening to compare wages across different parts of the world. I think your friend Damien has the right idea -- in this world, you have to think about how you can add value. Jack definitely has the right idea: people with "hot" skills can more easily find jobs and charge higher rates, but a huge, huge part of establishing trust with someone is experience. If you've built a pretty good portfolio over time and can easily point to some key projects, you're going to be more employable than someone from X country who just started programming. I work for a site called oDesk (www.odesk.com) and often browse through the profiles to get a sense of the current state of the job market. What you'll find is that serious clients won't just go for the cheapest rates -- they'll carefully scrutinize someone's experience, education and skill profile. When you start surfing through online marketplace sites, it is pretty eye-opening to compare wages across different parts of the world. I think your friend Damien has the right idea — in this world, you have to think about how you can add value. Jack definitely has the right idea: people with “hot” skills can more easily find jobs and charge higher rates, but a huge, huge part of establishing trust with someone is experience. If you’ve built a pretty good portfolio over time and can easily point to some key projects, you’re going to be more employable than someone from X country who just started programming.

I work for a site called oDesk (www.odesk.com) and often browse through the profiles to get a sense of the current state of the job market. What you’ll find is that serious clients won’t just go for the cheapest rates — they’ll carefully scrutinize someone’s experience, education and skill profile.

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/comment-page-1/#comment-24001 Chris Garrett Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:09:13 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/#comment-24001 Good point Jack, perhaps it is more about confidence in your abilities rather than the actual abilities? :) Good point Jack, perhaps it is more about confidence in your abilities rather than the actual abilities? :)

]]> By: Jack @ The Tech Teapot http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/comment-page-1/#comment-23969 Jack @ The Tech Teapot Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:08:41 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/#comment-23969 @Chris - the difference between the people working for peanuts and the "high flyers" is generally only that the "high" flyers" actually asks for the big money. I've not seen much in the way of technical differences between the two. @Chris – the difference between the people working for peanuts and the “high flyers” is generally only that the “high” flyers” actually asks for the big money. I’ve not seen much in the way of technical differences between the two.

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/comment-page-1/#comment-23963 Chris Garrett Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:16:52 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/#comment-23963 @Jack - Good advice, thanks. It's definitely a good idea for any freelancer to learn some basic marketing and sales tactics, even more so now :) @Mike - He was half pushed and half jumped, there were rounds of redundancies and pay cuts and the atmosphere was getting pretty grim. He was fortunate to land some work so wasn't entirely jumping in with zero idea. I am sure he would have researched more if he had the time. @SES5909 - I agree completely. He has been building up contacts, releasing WP plugins, etc. What you describe is how I worked a few years ago, helping people on the ASP lists, forums, etc. Definitely a good route. @Jack – Good advice, thanks. It’s definitely a good idea for any freelancer to learn some basic marketing and sales tactics, even more so now :)

@Mike – He was half pushed and half jumped, there were rounds of redundancies and pay cuts and the atmosphere was getting pretty grim. He was fortunate to land some work so wasn’t entirely jumping in with zero idea. I am sure he would have researched more if he had the time.

@SES5909 – I agree completely. He has been building up contacts, releasing WP plugins, etc. What you describe is how I worked a few years ago, helping people on the ASP lists, forums, etc. Definitely a good route.

]]> By: ses5909 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/comment-page-1/#comment-23958 ses5909 Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:53:18 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/#comment-23958 I started freelancing about 5 years ago..not full time. I didn't go full-time until a year ago. Your friend definitely needs to network and get his name out there. I have been going to programming and web developer forums for years and just based on the info and my willingness to help other people, I have received several clients. I have gotten clients who have come through me from my blog. Places like web dev communities and your blog are places that you can demonstrate your knowledge of a subject as well as your command of it. This could give Damian an edge over people who he is competing against. When it comes to getting work, it really is about who you know. Networking will allow him to meet people who will hopefully think of him who may need his services one day or could refer him to someone who does. Of course you need the goods to back it up though. I started freelancing about 5 years ago..not full time. I didn’t go full-time until a year ago. Your friend definitely needs to network and get his name out there. I have been going to programming and web developer forums for years and just based on the info and my willingness to help other people, I have received several clients. I have gotten clients who have come through me from my blog. Places like web dev communities and your blog are places that you can demonstrate your knowledge of a subject as well as your command of it. This could give Damian an edge over people who he is competing against.

When it comes to getting work, it really is about who you know. Networking will allow him to meet people who will hopefully think of him who may need his services one day or could refer him to someone who does. Of course you need the goods to back it up though.

]]> By: Mike http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/comment-page-1/#comment-23957 Mike Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:27:46 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/#comment-23957 Maybe your genius friend should have done some "market research" before he jumped. Not very smart to start up any business with out some idea what you are going to do, who and where the clients are, what the competition is and how to price your product. Maybe your genius friend should have done some “market research” before he jumped. Not very smart to start up any business with out some idea what you are going to do, who and where the clients are, what the competition is and how to price your product.

]]> By: Jack @ The Tech Teapot http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/comment-page-1/#comment-23948 Jack @ The Tech Teapot Thu, 18 Oct 2007 09:08:16 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/is-technology-now-a-commodity/#comment-23948 In a lot of ways technology is a commodity. One PC/server/switch is pretty much like another. But a programmer is more akin to a boutique. Programmers give a bespoke service to customers. If you are trying to compete on services like rentacoder then of course you are going to feel like an undervalued commodity. The answer, don't compete on services like rentacoder! I know a contractor around here charges £350 per day. I believe she's pretty busy. Doesn't go through rentacoder though. Get hold of customers the normal every day way...create a website for your services then do good old marketing to get yourself in front of people who have absolutely no problem paying £350. Your mate is probably going to need to skills that are sizzling hot at the moment to get to £350. The women I am refering to does rails work which is hot at the moment. I doubt that a PHP programmer would get to that kind of level. Probably more than the average job on rentacoder though. There may be a time when programming is a commodity but I don't think it is there just yet. In a lot of ways technology is a commodity. One PC/server/switch is pretty much like another.

But a programmer is more akin to a boutique. Programmers give a bespoke service to customers.

If you are trying to compete on services like rentacoder then of course you are going to feel like an undervalued commodity. The answer, don’t compete on services like rentacoder!

I know a contractor around here charges £350 per day. I believe she’s pretty busy. Doesn’t go through rentacoder though. Get hold of customers the normal every day way…create a website for your services then do good old marketing to get yourself in front of people who have absolutely no problem paying £350. Your mate is probably going to need to skills that are sizzling hot at the moment to get to £350. The women I am refering to does rails work which is hot at the moment. I doubt that a PHP programmer would get to that kind of level. Probably more than the average job on rentacoder though.

There may be a time when programming is a commodity but I don’t think it is there just yet.

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