Comments on: Making Money in Open Source with Support http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/08/29/making-money-in-open-source-with-support/ One foot in the muck, the other in utopia Tue, 22 May 2012 15:13:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: CC Kit http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/08/29/making-money-in-open-source-with-support/comment-page-1/#comment-75075 CC Kit Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:42:50 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/08/29/making-money-in-open-source-with-support/#comment-75075 The meaning of “support” is certainly a term that has to be qualified and able to be expressed to prospects and clients for someone trying to run a successful business, yet it’s something that can be difficult to define for a lot of systems integrators and computer consultants at different stages of their businesses (and dealing with really any type of niche or specialty). I think being able to really figure out the type of support and services you will offer is about defining which benefits you will be offering to your clients and then putting that point forward constantly when working with customers and clients, trying to sell to new prospects, etc. I work in the small business arena and give advice to a lot of computer consultants at various stages of their businesses, and I know I run into the problem a lot of professionals presenting themselves as a commodity – focusing on price or very general skills that almost everyone has when it comes to computer consulting services – rather than specialists providing comprehensive business benefits. My biggest advice is always the same – to really concentrate on finding a way to present compelling benefits to portray a computer consulting business as definitely a provider of a professional service in the same way at an law or accounting firm would be a professional service provider. Thanks for the detailed break-down of the different types of support and what support means to you! The meaning of “support” is certainly a term that has to be qualified and able to be expressed to prospects and clients for someone trying to run a successful business, yet it’s something that can be difficult to define for a lot of systems integrators and computer consultants at different stages of their businesses (and dealing with really any type of niche or specialty). I think being able to really figure out the type of support and services you will offer is about defining which benefits you will be offering to your clients and then putting that point forward constantly when working with customers and clients, trying to sell to new prospects, etc.

I work in the small business arena and give advice to a lot of computer consultants at various stages of their businesses, and I know I run into the problem a lot of professionals presenting themselves as a commodity – focusing on price or very general skills that almost everyone has when it comes to computer consulting services – rather than specialists providing comprehensive business benefits. My biggest advice is always the same – to really concentrate on finding a way to present compelling benefits to portray a computer consulting business as definitely a provider of a professional service in the same way at an law or accounting firm would be a professional service provider. Thanks for the detailed break-down of the different types of support and what support means to you!

]]> By: Ric http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/08/29/making-money-in-open-source-with-support/comment-page-1/#comment-60511 Ric Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:34:48 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/08/29/making-money-in-open-source-with-support/#comment-60511 As a former "internal enterprise developer" I agree that we would seek support more often than perhaps an ISV developer would, but it had nothing to do with ability or inclination - rather it was a temporal luxury we could rarely afford to go and "work it out" ourselves (which didn't always stop us of course). When you have potentially dozens of contending apps to support, you couldn't do it ALL yourself AND add the value that an internal developer should (knowledge of the business processes). In short Cote' - no you weren't any better than us technically, just had more scope ;-). As a former "internal enterprise developer" I agree that we would seek support more often than perhaps an ISV developer would, but it had nothing to do with ability or inclination – rather it was a temporal luxury we could rarely afford to go and "work it out" ourselves (which didn't always stop us of course). When you have potentially dozens of contending apps to support, you couldn't do it ALL yourself AND add the value that an internal developer should (knowledge of the business processes).

In short Cote' – no you weren't any better than us technically, just had more scope ;-).

]]> By: SmoothSpan Blog http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/08/29/making-money-in-open-source-with-support/comment-page-1/#comment-60422 SmoothSpan Blog Wed, 29 Aug 2007 23:34:04 +0000 http://www.redmonk.com/cote/2007/08/29/making-money-in-open-source-with-support/#comment-60422 <strong>Is Support a Cost Center or a Product? (If you do SaaS or Open Source, It’s a Product!)...</strong> I always find the RedMonk blog interesting, and this time it has to do with his post on Making Money in Open Source on Support.  Coté says some things that got me frothing at the keyboard again.  Developers Need Support, But It Is Seldom Offered Wit... Is Support a Cost Center or a Product? (If you do SaaS or Open Source, It’s a Product!)…

I always find the RedMonk blog interesting, and this time it has to do with his post on Making Money in Open Source on Support.  Coté says some things that got me frothing at the keyboard again. 
Developers Need Support, But It Is Seldom Offered Wit…

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