How I started my first programming business
The demand for software development is expected to experience double-digit growth until at least 2024. It's no surprise either when you think about it. Programming is increasing in demand every day. More and more companies are looking for qualified people to help them build the future of tomorrow. If you are wondering how to start your own business in this field, it might seem confusing at first. But it doesn't have to be. Aimed at the right strategies, you can see rapid success in development. So here's how I started my first programming business:
Market Research
A business is only as strong as its market. If there's no demand, then there's no point in setting up shop. Luckily, as a programmer, tons of people are wanting my skills. However, I knew I needed to choose the most lucrative opportunities to make the most out of my time. So I went to work looking for them.
I quickly found out that healthcare, enterprise business, small business, and government are the major sectors to target based on demand for programmers.
The Choice
I chose to go into development for sales CRM. These are software suites that help businesses keep their sales staff organized. I liked this option for a number of reasons. First, it is directly tied to the company's revenue. They understand that by investing in it, their sales team can be effective more often. The other thing is I like working on this kind of software, so it was an easy choice.
Skill Up
The first thing I knew I needed to do when starting my business was to skill up. So I took a three-pronged approach to this.
First, I went back to the basics. I wanted to get a grasp of core fundamentals like scoping, project management, and delivery on it and other channels. By doing this, I was able to find out what I needed to improve.
Secondly, I attended a few workshops, classes, and a Salesforce development bootcamp. I enjoyed most of these. By educating myself on new ways to use these technologies, I was able to communicate more value to clients. And that's what clients want to see: that I can add something to their team and operations that they don't already have. Otherwise, why would they pay my business so much money on our contract we have with them?
Selling to Clients
Finally, I read a few books and watched some videos on effective sales techniques to land clients more often. I found out a number of key things here. First, questions are hugely important when connecting with clients and finding out their needs. Don't assume you can read their minds. By asking them directly what they want, you'll give yourself a head start on delivering exactly what will make them a loyal client.
Also, you have to ask for the business more than once sometimes. Just because a prospect doesn't purchase your services on the first conference call, doesn't mean they're not interested. They might just need more time to process things or they could feel like there's a better fit out there. Don't pressure them, just be patient and the business will come to you eventually.
We live in a world where programmers earn an average of over $77k a year. Therefore, it's no wonder why so many people want to start a programming business. Not only can it be extremely lucrative, it is also really fun. Plus, it has great long-term potential because there are no signs of this demand slowing down. So hopefully my story can help you and inspire you to start a business of your own and enjoy massive success.
