Software Engineering Stack Exchange
Software Engineering Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [sales]

20 questions
28
votes
13 answers

Sales Manager: "Why is time-estimation so complex?"

A few days ago a sales manager asked me that question. But at this moment I didn't know a answer which he can understand. He isn't a programmer! At the moment I work on a product which is over 8 years old. Nobody thought about architecture or…
Tim
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27
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10 answers

How do I pitch ASP.NET over PHP to a potential client?

I work at a Microsoft shop doing mainly web development. We had a client who asked us to review (improve) the data model for his web app, but said that he wants to develop his app in PHP (he knows "a guy" who can do it). When I asked him why he…
roman m
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17
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8 answers

Customer buys software for function it cannot do and then complains. How to resolve?

I have come across this several times when selling a prepackaged solution. Customer buys the package, which clearly sets out that it can do XYZ, but the customer wanted it to do ABC. The customer then emails for support. I inform the customer…
psx
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12
votes
2 answers

Anyone had success with selling source code, at sites like code canyon?

Recently I came across two sites that help programmers sell source code - binpress and codecanyon. Anyone have experience/success with sites like these? Would you use them again? What was good about them? What was bad about them?
user187809
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12
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2 answers

How to sell/distribute my software?

I'm working on a personal project (Windows desktop application) and started thinking about trying to make some money from the application (not the source). I'm not expecting to make a billion dollars but who knows right? The easiest way I see is…
Daniel
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9
votes
2 answers

What problems should I be aware of when franchising my code?

I provide a web service using a site and recently I got a proposal for franchising that service to another company. The problems come when they want all my code to run in their servers. I understand their reasons, but I want to take measures that…
JMagalhaes
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7
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9 answers

Can we price a software based on its lines count, language, technology and stuff like that?

Recently a friend of mine bought an inventory application from a vendor, who used an statement like "built based on 10000 lines of codes" as a marketing slogan to increase its market share. I've also seen other software claiming to being built with…
Saeed Neamati
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6
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1 answer

How to sell your libraries?

If someone has created something like a DevExpress library, or Infragistics, Telerik, RavenDb etc., what's the easiest way to start selling it? What are the required steps? Is there some rules for licenses and stuff?
Omu
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6
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6 answers

Is there a name for when a sales team irresponsibly promises non-existent features?

It's a common issue to see a company's sales team promise new features in order to close a sale. Many times these new features are still in development or are still being designed. Sometimes features are sold before the development team even knows…
Corion
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5
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5 answers

How to get out of supporting deadend sales pitches?

As part of being a programmer, you often are asked to provide estimates/ make slideware / do technical demos for Sales teams to present to end-clients. Sometimes we go along for the 'technical' discussions or 'strategic capability planning' or some…
JoseK
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4
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3 answers

Charging for Open-Source

Is it viable to charge for an open-source product? Both legally and financially, it seems like a very strange thing to do. However, I keep hearing people say that it's possible. Are there even any real-world examples for this sort of thing?
Maxpm
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4
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3 answers

Can software licensed under GNU General Public License v3 be sold by the original author?

As I know, softwares licensed under the GNU GPL is totally free and not allowed for sale. However, today I found this program called Minitube and it is sold even though it is licensed under GPLv3. Does the original author has a permission to sell…
Sun
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4
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2 answers

What are the most over-saturated iPhone App category/markets?

I'm considering learning iPhone development and Objective C but don't want to avoid developing something for the most saturated markets and app categories. What categories should I avoid? Are there too many dating applications, or should I just…
makerofthings7
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3
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2 answers

Open Source License that prohibits verbatim resale?

I was taking a look at this question here: Open Source License that prevents re-selling And it makes some good points on how open source is defined by its ability for resale... However, I still have a bit of a concern of verbatim resale. I don't…
Anon
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2 answers

best hosting structure to sell your app on a website

I'm considering trying to sell a small desktop application (I would be considered a one-man mISV, I guess?) at a price of about $20-$30 USD. I would distribute to customers by download only. I get the sense the best and most intuitive way to do…
Chelonian
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