Sodaware

One improvement would be an auto-complete feature on the main search box, but I think I'm in a pretty small minority that would benefit from that.

  - Why everybody should learn to code
  - Why everybody should not learn to code

Then again, marketing doesn't really work when you show the reality of the product. The Wii probably wouldn't have sold as well if the ads showed people slouched on the couch in their underwear rather than fit, active people with Big White Smiles.

Tried it years ago and absolutely hated it, then last year I saw a screenshot of someone's org-mode setup and thought I'd give it another go. Since then it's become my main editor for coding, project organization, diet tracking and more.

If you're on HN a lot you'll have read most of the articles, but I found they helped me cut down on the amount of time I spend on the site.

I think this type of thing is exactly what LD is about. Anyone who's tried to build a game knows how easy it is to get carried away with adding new features or updating things with the latest technology. Having a hard limit gives you a kick up the backside to get that kernel of fun out the door.

Charging more lets people know you're serious. Low paying customers typically ask for way more "can you just" tasks, like changing the font colour a dozen times or moving something "just a little to to right". You don't call your lawyer to change the typeface on your legal letters.

2 - I found my first client on oDesk, and they referred me to just about everyone else. I haven't used it since, and it's thoroughly depressing to look at how low pay the jobs are. Posting in the HN freelancer topic, and posting an ad on /r/forhire is another good way to get clients.

3 - Whatever you want - there are tonnes of people that need software building (and plenty that don't even realise it). Just remember that a few hours of time can quickly get eaten by emails, phone calls, "can you just check this", bathroom breaks, leg stretching, quick drinks etc. It takes a while to get in a good rhythm.

If you're looking to work freelance, there's also the Freelancer topic for September: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4463692

Good luck!

Look at what's involved:

* Guest posts / articles to become known as an expert

* Emailing a list of interested parties

* AdWords, preferably in a campaign that can scale

* Twitter and other social media

Learning to write good copy, or finding someone to do it for you, will have an impact on your business. I still get a trickle of traffic (that converts well) from an article I wrote over 6 years ago. I'd much rather spend time adding "one more feature", but a few hours spent writing quality content will have a much larger impact on the bottom line.