piotr_krzyzek

It's the tone and response that annoyed me. Not that the SaaS didn't have said feature.

Yup, missed a word. Will commit lyrical seppuku as penance.

The most important thing to learn/know is the mindset of the buyer. Applies to pretty much any industry, but for freelance development it's even more important.

Business owners, project managers and the like hire experts who fit their needs and here's the part to take note of "solve their problems."

Their problem might include some Ruby, PHP, C# or whatever language work, but that's not what they are interested in. They want to know you can get the job done and solve their problem in a reasonable amount of time, within budget and without causing them extra headaches.

I have never, ever sold anyone on 'php'. Always on their needs (solving a problem).

A good chunk of my core business is web development and have been doing this for quite some time now. There are many factors that go into the buyers decision making process.

A large part of that is perception. Most buyers do not see websites as a high ticket items. Many see it as either just another business expense they have to make or they do not think it's worth investing into because it will not give them much of a return on their investment.

If your clients are shocked by the prices you give them, then there is miscommunication between your value & message and what they think their are getting. It's all about managing expectations.

When talking with the prospect about their future goals, and they mention they just need a website that (and I quote from a client here): "is very simple and just lists my name, my companies name and an address." That is NOT a client who will pay any sort of real money for a website. That type of client is best lead to the $10 website services. ... at least for me. I do not want to be dealing with such a low end client.

Though, one follow-up to such a client request that I've used to great success is:

Me: Just to make sure I'm understanding your correctly, you're looking for a ultra simple website that is essentially a business card but online right?

most of the time they will answer:

Them: Well, no not a business card. I'd want to be able to put some article on there, pictures, and there really should be a way for people to contact me through the site.

Me: Ah, so it's not something so 'simple' is it? Let's talk about what your business goals are. Where do you see your company being in 3 months? 6 months? 1 yr? Do you know to use the website at all for any sort of lead generation, information gathering and in-bound marketing?

At this point, they will usually start realizing that there is a lot of high value items to do done. Their needs and actual budget will now dictate which you and they will be able to take.

If you're unsure of what they can afford, you can always say something like:

"A project like this usually start around $15,000. Do you have a budjet allocated for a project like this? .... No? Ok, what do you believe it is worth and there are ways we can reduce this price by removing some items of value, so what value would you like to remove so that we can fit it into your budget?"

I blame this 'issue' on the op. True there are many potential paths that the Chrome/chromium developers can take with this, but they've chosen a different path from Firefox and others and as a user of Chrome that's what we have to stick with now.

If you don't like the behavior, there are ways to change it yourself:

* Install flash blocking plugin * Enable click-to-play * Install a plugin that disabled auto-play (at least for youtube, don't know about a netflix one) * Put the computer to sleep/hibernate * Turn off speakers * Turn off the computer ... * Close the netflix tab

There are many many options. If you don't like closing out chrome because you'll be missing your tabs, then use a plugin like "Session Manager" and then save your currently open tabs, and then close Chrome.

I don't think this is a bug. I think it works just fine.

Heck, I don't know which setting I have but if chrome crashes or if I restart my computer without nicely closing chrome, Chrome will re-open upon boot BUT it'll open a new blank tab with a bar at the top that says something like "Chrome didn't shut down properly. Do you want to restore your old tabs?" ... that works extremely well.

I was originally thinking something along those same lines. There must be a cost factor in there somewhere! Though I also do not mean cost just in terms of money.

Cost in terms of: time spent, energy used, will power needed to get it done, the 'need' cost, and lastly money cost.

Call me wrong on this one, but if you really are interested in the code for HN why not create your own? From what I've seen so far, HN is great n' all but the logic behind it seems pretty trivial (excluding the whole anti-spam module & related stuff).

The HTML for HN is ultra simple so, there you already have a front-send pretty much done.

This reply box is pretty simple as well: a input box and a submit button.

Add some filters/sorts and other misc features and you have your own version of HN.

Not saying it's 'easy', but it's not that difficult.

If anyone has any invites left, we'd all sure appreciate it :)

peterk @ chykalophiagroup.com

Wonder if this works alright in the suburbs ...

This is eerily similar to the show H+.

Not on the same scale of course, but that's the first thing that came to mind when I saw this post.

One of the best points in the whole post, I think this point should have been front-and-center: blogging isn't for everyone. Well that, and 'why are you writing'? My wife writes and publishes content, for example, because she loves designs and sharing it with the world though it's mostly all written from her perspective. I write because I don't want to forget something; one of the best ways to learn/remember is to teach ... thus I (attempt to) teach.

I believe there is something missing from the post though, maybe I missed it though: people shouldn't expect to become instant blog millionaires by writing a few posts here and there about just anything. Consistency (in voice and sometimes in topic) plus a schedule really do make this all work. Except just like the rabbit and the turtle: this is a race best won slowly.

That aren't too many places that accept the US dollar directly outside of the America's. In most places in Europe and Asia you'll be hard pressed to pay with the US Dollar. In major tourist cities, maybe ... but outside of that (and even inside) you're best bet for paying will be to go to a currency exchange and trade.

15+ countries so far and none accept the US Dollar directly.

So I may come off as a grumpy old man, and I do sympathize with the op ... but in this day in age, it's only that much more important to keep manual backups of serial numbers, passwords, installers ...

I trust Apple, Windows and Linux enough to not ruin my life, but not enough to keep me 100% safe.

Passwords: Personal & Business kept in LastPass and a copy in KeePass (synced in dropbox to 3 devices). Client passwords stored in Keepass + manual copies on digital client folders (secured files) + notes in a locked safe.

Games + apps: Digital downloads loaded into Raid 5 array, backed up on server, backed up onto DVD. serials/usernames/download links saved in cloud mail server + keypass

Documents: Saved to external HD, saved to raid 5, rsynced to private VPS, rysynced to downstairs server.

There is absolutely no excuse for losing passwords and misplacing things like that. That part of the story I believe it all the ops fault.

Angular as in circles, rounded corners, spheres and generally not grid based designs?

Originally the idea came out of necessity. Computers cannot do circles. They can just do many-MANY-edged 'things' that appear as circles to us.

If you draw a simple circle in your favourite graphics program (not a vector image), save and it and zoom in; you'll notice pixels right? Well, those are the edges/lines that I was talking about.

Also, put three blocks in a row. They will be more space efficient for putting stuff into than three spheres/circles in that same area. That is why a circle of Diameter D can fit into a cube whose dimensions are DxDxD and still have room to spare.

Squares (which is what pixels on your monitor are anyway ... usually at least) are simply more space effiecient.

Though many designs do use circles to enhance or bring to attention a certain topic, message or idea.

You can though create a 'angular' design. But it'll be very much so on the creative side of things and won't fit most standard uses.

SEEKING WORK - Preferably in Chicago NW Suburbs or Milwaukee

Natural born computer nerd who likes python, php, online development and user experience consulting. Moonlighting as the president of a LLC-S and a C-corp (currently seeking funding for patented/copyrighted work).

I'm not much on the actual developing side anymore since there are people better than me who can handle that, though I am pretty darn good at making sure your user experience is perfect.

What most people miss the essential steps on corporate pages, sales pages and every other type of page that helps their readers/viewers move happily and properly through their sales/marketing funnels.

I'm not all too interested in which technologies are used so long as they are safe, secure, PROPERLY DEVELOPED and well maintained.

I'm looking to work with companies and people who own companies that are stable and finally need to grow or growing and need help in getting things right. I'm not interested in working with small businesses anymore. Only funded start-ups, larger small businesses ($500,000 and up in gross profit to owner(s)), medium and large businesses.

I don't have a portfolio but you can check out my personal site at:

http://piotrkrzyzek.com/blog

My consulting companies page: http://chykalophiagroup.com

The C-corp doesn't have a site yet.

I've worked with Department of Defense contractors, helped bring a complete fashion business from zero into life and profit, and have partnered with international telecom companies on side ventures for fun.

I'm part of two local Chambers of Commerce. An active Ambassador (the guy at the chamber who meets and greets you and shows you the ropes) at one.

Working on another in-house project where we now joined the Chicago Lean Start-up Challenge. http://frespiration.com or the old site at: http://mag.frespiration.com

Writing one infoproduct: http://quantumfanpages.com ... but stopped for now due to Facebooks constant API and business changes. Little time to keep up with it. Need a ghost writer for it!

Working with an international Start-up to bring their whole company online and deliver their SaaS properly to the UK public (London area only at launch).

As a side note, I do have an insurance license that I don't use.

I'm available on LinkedIn, Twitter and preferably by e-mail.

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/piotrkrzyzek Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/piotrkrzyzek Quora: https://www.quora.com/Piotr-Krzyzek

eh, and many more online profiles.

Best way to reach me e-mail me directly at piotr @ piotrkrzyzek.com or call (GV number) at 847-929-4718

I've been working on an in-house Django project and all I've used so far is the Django Tutorial on their site and their documentation. Believe it or not it's actually rather comprehensive.

For everything else, I have searched google for "<idea name I need to program> Django". Gets me the right answer or sample code I need most of the time.

100% agree with this statement, though my followup question to that is: do we have to stick with mediocrity? Or can/should better design/quality outpace and outperform the current drivel?

Let's take the case of my soon to be car purchase. I'm picking a certain car company because of the cars looks. Since it's at a level where pretty much price, performance and features are equal throughout other companies ... I'm going with this one because to me it looks significantly better.

I've not bought items from retails with poor image online and offline. I'm very cautious around eCommerce sites that look horrid. I trust the better (looking) ones more.

In the 'real world', if I have to pick between Company A and Company B and assuming I've never been there before and both have the same levels of services/products at similar prices ... I'll check them out online. Who-ever seems more reputable wins my business. Part of that is their look/design/ect. The other part is online reviews.

I remember this one. The problem is the statement and his design is that it also changed his sales funnel. There was too much of a change to tell exactly where things fell apart or why specifically sales did not increase. Was it the initial offer? The middle? The actual offering? ect ect ...

I agree with this assessment that new/better designs don't always increase sales, though I believe (should he ever choose to pursue it more, though I don't think he will) he'll need to do a lot of split testing on the new design to optimize it like he did on his old design.

Plus, with the new design comes an increased brand image/presence which will help him in the long run.

This is the core of my question and puzzle. As a consultant, I can see the 'image' value for the company. Let's say Company X is currently making 1M in clean profit, and their overall image is low-end (business cards are cheap, website is cheap, their trucks are dirty and cheap); then I'm of the opinion that they are a cheap, low end company. I'm guessing most businesses do NOT want to be seen the low end type. My assumption is that many companies want to be see as equals or better than their competitors ... So wouldn't it stand to reason that a better brand image would equate to dollars in the bank further down the line?

"to what degree should I apply aesthetics to prevent losing potential customers." ... that is a very good question indeed to ask one-self.

I've never really understood the whole Facebook and Social 'thing'. From a business perspective, yes I see a point. I put myself and my clients up on all the major sites to give them a) backlinks and b) a presence there (and done right, some new leads!).

But other than that, I believe one person already mentioned this: "I don't get all these 'I left facebook' articles/posts". I really don't get it.

I'm a geek and a nerd through and through, though everyone I know knows that if I'm online (to chat via AIM or whatnot) then I'm free to 'chat' to. If they have something more serious to talk about, they call or SMS. And most of the time we talk about things IN PERSON. Share pictures, IN PERSON.

Sure I post to FB/TW here and there, but 10/15/20 hours of social media sites and you're not getting anything from it and you think it's 'horrible' and 'evil' and you should do it less? WTF?

I don't get people. Spend 20 hours on social media if that's your thing, god speed. Don't go whining to the rest of us when you find out your wasting your life there.

I just don't get it ... at all. I understand the 'omg I just quit FB, this is how I'm "dealing" without FB' ....

Completely biased rude opinion: I think it's pathetic.