First ever Barcamp in Buffalo is at Pearl Street Grill on Tuesday March 3rd at 7:30pm. The idea is to create ongoing events for people involved in new technology and web related development to connect and learn from one another.

If you’re in the WNY area, RSVP for the 1st BarCamp Buffalo! If all goes well, maybe I’ll speak about something interesting at BarCamp #2

If you’ve never done an estimate of hours before, think in terms of HOW you work. For example, if you work 4 hours / night, and this will take 3 full nights to do, then it’s 12 hours. Most things are at least 1 hr; nothing is under 1/2 hour. Then double that number, and that’s what you should estimate. This will also double your time to complete the project, but never miss a deadline that you set. Spell out exactly what’s included – anything not written down is not included. Make this a bullet-list.

Then track your time and what you’re doing; again, anything beyond what you quoted is additional. When you bill, however, bill actual time, as long as it’s not over your quote. So if you quote 24 hours, but you do it in 14, bill 14. You’ll have happy clients that way.

I’d estimate this project like (everything within ()’s has been replaced with generic terms):

Research (some web 2.0 service) API – 1 hr
Research (another service) API – 1 hr
Database design – 1 hr
Import (set of data) & (other data) – 2 hr
(Data reader) – 1 hr
Cron to (do work) via (service) – 3 hr
(Output page) – 1 hr
Admin tool to manage (some data in the database) – 1.5 hr
Admin tool to manage (more data in the database) – 2 hr

This totals 13.5 hours, so my estimate would be 27 hours. When you’re asked to do something that’s above this estimate, tell the client you can do that, but its beyond the original estimate and would be an additional x hours. Even if it’s small (1/2 hr), bill them extra for it. They’ll respect you and won’t take advantage of asking for free things.

Depending on the size of the project, get 1/2 up front and 1/2 upon delivery. Some projects I do 1/3 1/3 and 1/3.

I used this method for years and always have more than enough work to do; if you’re good at what you do, and you’re fair about it, people will come back to you.

So if you’re just starting to take on freelance programming jobs, I hope this post helps you accurately quote your jobs, retain your current clients, and earn more from the referrals that’ll come in.

Don’t you know you can’t beat Google — it can only beat itself

The author was referencing some joke @ Yahoo who said his job was to beat Google. Yahoo can’t beat Google. Yahoo / Micro$oft can’t beat Google. Only Google can beat Google.

As a service, I believe Google is beating themselves by straying away from their motto, “do no evil”. As a company, the shareholders are feeling some pain now that Wall Street’s golden child is showing some signs of slowing down.

What does Google need to do, in order to keep from beating themselves up? Is it time for some new leadership? Or was Google’s ideals too Utopian, and their finances too optimistic? Is this just a natural correction?

I’ve been reading about eBay’s new seller fees and how big-time sellers are all upset over it. There’s even this video on YouTube:

Could eBay’s recent changes be the beginning of the end to eBay? Is this the opportunity the competition is looking for?

I’m joining in on the eBay strike – I will not browse, bid, buy or sell on eBay February 18th through the 25th (while I’m in Disney ).

First, getting “lots of users” is hard. Think of an auction site, like eBay. What comes first, the buyers, or the sellers? Why would a seller pay to list their items if there’s no buyers looking for them, and why would buyers look at the site, if nobody is selling anything? Steve’s last big venture had the same problem… advertisers & users. Users wouldn’t learn how to use the system if there are no advertisers, and advertisers wouldn’t pay to advertise on the system, if there were no users. It was a flop.

Steve isn’t happy with a hit, or even a homerun. He’s looking for a lead-off grand-slam (hard to do, right?). I keep telling him, “baby steps”, but he never listens.

Until now.

Steve has an idea that can be launched with only 1 user, and begin earning him revenue right away. Of course, 1 user may only earn him a few bucks per day, but the point is the system does not need 10,000 users to be successful.

When he first pitched the idea to me, it took about 35 minutes and I was very, very confused when he was done. He went back, simplified it, and told me again. This time, it took under 10 minutes, and I saw potential. The other night, he came over, we chatted for a couple hours, and broke the idea down into phases that could be launched over time. Phase 1 is very, very simple but still beneficial to the users, and Steve can make money. Phase 1 can be “sold” to potential users in under 2 minutes. Sign-up is a breeze, and users can start using the system in under 10 minutes, seeing results right away.

Is Phase 1 the whole thing? No. But why build the entire system if users don’t even embrace the Phase 1 elements? It’s still going to take quite a bit to get Phase 1 off the ground, but when he does, I think this project is going to keep him very busy and motivated for some time.

Good job on an idea I support, Steve! First one in 15 years

EchoStar says it could split its set-top box and manufacturing divisions from its DISH Network business.

As a Tivo shareholder, I’m a bit pissed. EchoStar knows they’re going to loose this one.

This is huge for me, as I feel one of the reasons UK affiliates are so successful is because the majority of them are around London, and they actually (physically) get together and share ideas and success stories. In the US, however, you have the big players in Scranton, PA, Omaha, NB, and Boston, MA (yeah, there are others – if you’re annoyed I left you out, just leave a comment!).

So to have 2 affiliates in Buffalo, along with myself, Steve, and Kyle‘s Jelly idea for the Buffalo area, it sounds like my professional-social life may pick back up! (Sorry, Scout)

The CPA networks in the affiliate industry are highly competitive. Just ask Danny over at Copeac, who’ll do just about anything for you. Danny saw the potential in me, and we’ve worked well together. However, there are others who just ignore me. I’ve been waiting for 8 days now for a phone call from another network, who said they’d call me in “like an hour”. I’m getting ready to launch another campaign, and guess who’s getting my leads?

Before I “retired” (according to my dad), we had a client that wanted to buy a secure certificate from us. That’s like what, $40? Guess what… they became the 3rd largest client we had.

The one that really ticks me off is a local home-improvement company who had given me a proposal for nearly $40,000 in work to my house. They had their ducks in a row, even aligned with a bank for financing. I was moving along, then the sales kid tell me they’re pulling the storm doors from the proposal, and I should just get them from Lowe’s. HELL NO! If I’m paying you $40,000 to work on my house, you’ll install the $600 storm doors you jerk! You’re leaving $40,000 on the table because of $600 in doors? Idiot.

The point is, unless you’re explicitly told “no”, don’t assume someone doesn’t want to do business with you. Oh, and small fish grow into big fish. Someday I’ll sink your boat.

“How do you like me now?” – Toby Keith

I first complained about various Google services exporting to Excel, which I then have to import into Google Docs. Then there was Google Reader with no search capabilities.

Today I’m wondering why, when searching Google Images, Picasa Community Photos are not included. Compare this search on Picasa vs. this one on Google Images.

Let’s get a little more technical… Google is a search engine, and part of what they do is rank sites based on authority. Wouldn’t a blog with a lot of RSS subscribers be worth more than a site with little to no subscribers? Now that Google owns Feedburner, those stats should be integrated into their algorithm.

Sorry, Google – I’m not looking for a job. But if you want to send the corporate jet to pick me up and entertain me for a weekend, I’ll consider your offer.

• Soceus – for funding the snacks. Specifically, those snacks that end in OS (Doritos, Fritos, Tostitos). Performing across channels – interactive websites & smart print – Soceus’ work builds deeper bonds with consumers, resonates with their clients and speaks for itself.
• One Stop – for BEER! One Stop Printing & Signs – getting the word out… on YOU! All sorts of promotional products & creative marketing ideas.
• WNYPoker.com – for pop. Sure it’s leftover… but it’s still good! If you’re looking for some WNY Poker games, check out WNYPoker.com. They cover Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, and the Southern Tier.
• Eric Nagel & Associates – coffee, what else??? E-Business strategy & consulting… Eric Nagel & Associates.

Looks like we’re going to have a full house… if the “maybes” show up, we’re looking at about 20 people! So bring your $20, $5 for food (if you haven’t yet paid it) and a package of diapers for the new dads Ed & Mark!