Pengalaman Jualan Source Code di Marketplace Indo (dan kenapa kamu sebaiknya jangan)

Summary

In this personal story, the speaker shares their experiences trying to sell software online, particularly through marketplaces for source code. They discuss the challenges of marketing to an audience that doesn’t truly need the software, and the disappointing results of listing projects for sale. Despite the frustration, the speaker learns the importance of targeting the right market, emphasizing that success comes from finding an audience that truly values your work rather than wasting time on those who are only testing prices or never intend to buy.

Takeaways

• 😀 Coding is a passion and lifelong commitment, but monetizing it is a different story.
• 😀 The primary income source is Software as a Service (SaaS), which has been active since 2011.
• 😀 The value of source code has significantly decreased, with open-source software often having little to no market value.
• 😀 Many people undervalue software on marketplace platforms, often selling complex systems at low prices (e.g., $50 or $200).
• 😀 When testing software on marketplaces, some users provide feedback but never end up purchasing.
• 😀 Some buyers ask for excessive customizations, such as changing logos or backgrounds, but then disappear after the work is done.
• 😀 Programmers selling software on marketplaces are often ghosted after extensive work on customization requests.
• 😀 Selling software through marketplaces might not reach the appropriate audience, especially if it's targeted at programmers who have little use for it.
• 😀 Offering high-end products like Lamborghini to people who can't afford them is a similar situation to selling software to programmers who don't need it.
• 😀 The marketplace audience is often not the right market for selling software, and they may just be checking the market price rather than making purchases.
• 😀 It’s crucial to target the right market for software sales, as selling to the wrong audience can be a waste of time and effort.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reaction when asked about spending their life coding?

The speaker expressed a deep passion for coding, saying that even after death, if a laptop were placed in their grave, they would continue coding. They love it and don't mind dedicating their life to it.

How does the speaker feel about making money through coding?

While the speaker loves coding, they highlight that making money from it is a different story, suggesting that it’s much harder to profit from coding compared to simply enjoying it.

What is the speaker's primary source of income, and how long has it been running?

The speaker’s main income comes from Software as a Service (SaaS) since 2011, and it continues with active subscriptions from loyal customers.

Why does the speaker think source code and finished products have little value today?

The speaker believes that source code and finished products are undervalued today because many are either open source or sold for very low prices, making them almost worthless in the marketplace.

What was the speaker’s experience when trying to sell software on an online marketplace?

The speaker encountered several frustrations, including receiving inquiries from people who were not serious buyers. Some asked for demos, pointed out bugs, or requested modifications but never followed through with a purchase.

What did the speaker find out about the buyers in the online marketplace?

The speaker realized that many of the people in the marketplace were either testing the market price or already had similar products and were not genuinely interested in buying the software.

What did the speaker’s friend suggest about the market they were targeting?

The speaker's friend suggested they were targeting the wrong market, selling software to programmers who wouldn’t use it themselves, which is similar to trying to sell a Lamborghini to students who don’t need it.

How did the speaker compare selling software in a marketplace to selling a Lamborghini?

The speaker compared selling software to selling a Lamborghini to students. Even if the price is lowered, the students wouldn’t buy it because they don’t need it. Similarly, software sold in a programmer-focused marketplace is not useful to its target audience.

What realization did the speaker have about the marketplace after their experience?

After their experience, the speaker realized that marketplaces filled with programmers were not the right place to sell software because potential buyers weren’t the end users, and many were simply checking market prices or testing the waters.

What did the speaker conclude about the value of time spent in these marketplaces?

The speaker concluded that selling software in these marketplaces was not worth the time invested. Despite a few copies being sold, the time spent on inquiries, demos, and modifications was not compensated enough to make it worthwhile.