Hi guys, well I've been working at the same company for like around 2+ years and frankly have been wondering on how to climb teh corporate ladder or rather improve my standard of living. Sure the pay is ok but thats just it its ok. I'm working as a web developer in Php MySQL and have the Zend certification up my belt [Wooo Hooo] but where do I go from here guys. My boss is cooperative in the sense that he pretty much called me up for a pep talk and laid his cards straight on the table. He gave it to me right face on - and said that basically so far I've worked for them in making their system process better and its worked nice but apoart form that he said that I'm not exactly a revenue generating ting for teh company. So he gave me what he said is an oppertunity. The web application we've been working on - he now told me he wishes to launch it commercially plus launch one new portal. And he wants it to be done atleast by teh beginning of the new year. There are bugs that nee dto be sorted out in the applications but again I'm pretty new to this part of web development in the sense that I haven't launched a website before.
Right now we have two projects in hand to be launched - since I've developed them from scratch - there are a few nooks and crannies to be ironed out. But I'm kinda -perplexed here with a couple of issues.
1. How do I launch the websites and how do I generate money form them - ok the portal we have in line to be launched is a free portal cum classifieds cum contacts profile cum events calendar. How do you generate money and revenue from such a website? And I mean big money?
2. Should I consider this as an oppertunity or is my boss just hanging on to me - I haven't gotten any other offers yet though maybe cos I've been too busy to search - or should I start looking for another job?
3. I just signed up on odesk for freelance work - is this the right time for me to engage in freelance work or should I invest in something else for a career leap? Cos frankly despite the credit crunch I still wanna be able to have my own 4WD and 3 bedroom villa or apartment within a year or two plus atleast a reasonable income.
Do I follow a career path - if so then what is it considering I'm a php developer - or should I concentrate on just making more cash no matter what I do even if it means starting my own laundromat or valet parking service?
First instincts, and I don't mean to put a dampener on the whole shebang, but I would consider my opportunities elsewhere.
You've got 2 years experience in a company, which is a good solid grounding, plus whatever else you may have, and your skills in PHP and SQL are still valid and valuable.
If your boss is trying to be the cock of the land, then good for him to try and motivate his employees to work harder, but if your standard of living is only 'ok' then perhaps you can do better elsewhere, and you should consider that.
By the sounds of it, it looks like you're in a small business that has a big ideas and is willing to make its employees overwork to get there.
I wouldnt say its working harder - just more differently since there isn't much to do except for what the boss has in store. I was however wondering on the concept of launching websites - as this is something I'm kinda new to. Is there potential in it? Sorry if I sound like a noob but this is kinda unchartered waters for me...
Plus the thing is that unfortunately none of my projects are online as they are all inhouse collaboration systems for use on a company's intranet. SO even if I do choose to leave I can't actually showcase my work as its not online even though I've worked insane levels to accomplish them. Your definition of the company is quite true though - the thing is that and its a fact that my boss has also pointe dout that my growth in teh company is now dependant upon the task of launching the websites and he's promised me full support in doing so. He pretty much stands by his word and the only thing that perplexes me is how do I get on to it - or is this even worth an option to consider?
Well yeah but currently I'm a bit stuck on this that:
I have no ideaof launching a website and how do I make money form it like a simple portal how do I make a portal a money generating asset for the company? I need help and advice - whaddoIdo!!!!
Tell me if I'm wrong, but according to what you're saying, it sounds like this new opportunity will require you to have skills that you are not currently exercising in your job: SEO optimisation, marketing, etc. -- are these fields you already have some skills in? If not, would you consider getting into it?
If I were you, and only if you're prepared to invest yourself 100% in it -- i.e. only if you think this could be a good move for you -- I would try and request at least some training in any fields you don't feel comfortable with, and see from there whether they really are prepared to invest in you. This could actually broaden your array of skills and it would definitely be a guarantee that your company values your skills and input.
Also, wouldn't it be another position altogether for you? If so, you should ask them to review your job title and possibly reward package appropriately.
Lastly, in addition to what Blaise said (with which I completely agree), it seems like you really have to be careful to make this a two-way effort; from this end it somehow feels like they're throwing you into the deep end with not much support and guarantee...
quote:If I were you, and only if you're prepared to invest yourself 100% in it -- i.e. only if you think this could be a good move for you -- I would try and request at least some training in any fields you don't feel comfortable with, and see from there whether they really are prepared to invest in you. This could actually broaden your array of skills and it would definitely be a guarantee that your company values your skills and input.
Well as you said - thats exactly the kind of support I would be getting and my boss has guaranteed whether I need manpower or any basic training - he's up for it and has even poised that there would be a salary revision once things get underway plus a change in company position.
From how you put it, it seems quite delicious an offer - although the thing is I don't know where to start as Im kinda new at this. How do I launch a website and get it to generate revenue. Considering that we have on offer a website which basically has classifieds, events posting and contact details for a particular industry plus user sign up. Seems quite simple but would need to spruce it up - the usage of the portal is free completely - however where do I start or go from here by the way.
Some ways to make money would be google adsense, or finding companies related to the industry to advertise on the site. There is also the option of having the basic services free, with the option to get featured postings, etc at a fee.
In order to find people willing to pay money to advertise on the site, you are going to first have to build traffic to the site in order to show them a benefit for parting with their money. Adsense ads give you ability to start right away, as does charging for upgraded features.
Hmmm sounds good - but how do I build traffic to a website to start with and most of all maintain it? Any resources that deal with this?
Heh, well, that's the hard part, isn't it? I'm sure there are plenty of articles that deal with this on the intarwebs, but I think it boils down to a few key points:
Identify your audience
Cater to your audience
Update regularly
That is, figure out who is going to use the website, give them a good reason to use it, and give them a good reason to come back. Provide information that can't be found elsewhere (or is difficult to find elsewhere), and always keep things new and fresh. You can do a search on "search engine optimization" for ways to to move your site up in the search results, but if you don't have a useful, interesting, and fresh website to back it up, you won't be able to maintain any traffic you generate.
You know the saying, "Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door"? Well, build a good website, and the visitors will come. Anything that you can do to bring them in is ultimately secondary to what you have to offer them once they are there.
I realize that's not very specific information, but I think it fits the question.
Some ways to make money would be google adsense, or finding companies related to the industry to advertise on the site. There is also the option of having the basic services free, with the option to get featured postings, etc at a fee.In order to find people willing to pay money to advertise on the site, you are going to first have to build traffic to the site in order to show them a benefit for parting with their money. Adsense ads give you ability to start right away, as does charging for upgraded features.
...or you can get some gormless scuzzbucket with no life to spam random forums with links to your site. Someone with no education, job prospects, or perhaps of limited mental capacity - like GlobolStaff - will probably work from home (or from his cell on the child sex offenders wing) for mere pennies. It seems to be the latest thing...
OZONE Asylum
posted 11-29-2008 14:13
