Software Promotion & SEOThis blog covers a range of topics concerning the SoftTester Shareware/ Software Download site. Topics include software product releases as well as SEO and software development information and tips.

A few days ago I said I wanted to code a backend/ customer management interface for my site. I’ve decided I need to do this fairly quickly as I’m getting more and more customer requests for lock codes, custom templates etc. I also need to quickly find out who’s purchased when I get a query. I get lots of similar questions that could potentially be answered by a semi-automated reply. Also, some questions would be better answered by a website than a more personal email.

The key to this is keeping a database of purchasers on the site. I did do this in the early days but it mysteriously broke after a few weeks and I simply by-passed it since someone wanted to purchase ASAP. I need to resurrect the database and redo the sales page and Paypal IPN to register attempts at purchasing as well as successful purchases. I’ll also want a protected admin area and also a user area where they can log in and ask for new codes etc.

I’ve decided I simply don’t have the time to code this myself so I’m going to put together a spec. and place a project on RAC as you’ve suggested in the past.

by ML

I haven’t been lucky enough to have a popular project which has had lots of coders bidding on it for quite a while. But I have had several such projects in my time using RentACoder.

Normally I would almost always say go for a Top Coder as they are more likely to give you good service as they don’t want to loose their Top Coder status.

Top Coders need to have met a good amount of good feedback to gain the status.

I also give favour to coders who can understand me, I always like then to type a reply with a paragraph or so of text, where I can also see that they can respond well.

I think its important to get the coder to explain what you want them to do in their own words.

RAC have a rule which says you can’t get a coder to do work for you in the bidding stage. However I always try to get some sort of demo / mock up from the coder.

At the moment I’ve got a new project for some web design, I’ve got a good few coders bidding. Theres a wide range of skills. I’ve got a Top Coder bidding, but his feedback doesn’t actually mention page design. So this is a little worrying.

As usual I’ve got some coders who have posted me a standard message, I tend to ignore these messages, I think its almost rude. I don’t think it tells you anything.

I have asked if coders have some previous work URLs.

And where they haven’t some URLs of the kind of thing they could do for me.

I’ve also got a couple of coders who only have sites with flash stuff on them, I don’t think this is a good idea for this project.

Its going to be a difficult choice.

I guess at the end of the day theres always an element of risk.

I just thought my experiences may be useful to others.

Have fun making great looking masks with our Software!

by JM