22
Software selling, is it viable for indie devs (lemmy.zip)
submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by Mhad1@lemmy.zip to c/programming@programming.dev
14 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Guys, need opinion!

I am an indie dev, a student (still in school), trying to think of ways to earn with just my laptop, internet, and programming skills, any ways as part of my journey I have developed several apps, now as an indie creator with practically no capital, and just reddit and facebook for marketing, should one explore this world of selling apps, your opinion and tips are highly valued so please do comment

P.S I have linked the types of apps I have that I could set up of sale, if you have any feedback on it, do tell https://muhammadj.gumroad.com/l/wifipassfinder

top 14 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] iii@mander.xyz 19 points 6 days ago

I went the route of selling B2B because they have bigger budgets. And they are, in my opinion, easier to convince to pay (my first customers had a no gain, no pay contract).

Just to let you know that that's an option, too.

[-] Mhad1@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 days ago

Any advice on how to contact them, just search for companies who could like my product and just mail them?

[-] oldfart@lemm.ee 6 points 6 days ago

I used google ads with very specific phrases and geolocation limited to rich countries. I spent a lot on it, the sales were like twice of what I spent, but I got some good contacts from it and they kept coming back for more.

But, and that's a big "but", I was employed before, noticed a niche that no commercial provider filled, and created my product. It wasn't an idea that I thought was fun or could change the world.

[-] Mhad1@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 days ago

So what you are saying is that unless you have a million dollar idea it is unlikely that indie software dev to be sustainable

[-] realitista@lemm.ee 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Read his comment again:

It wasn't an idea that I thought was fun or could change the world

[-] oldfart@lemm.ee 3 points 6 days ago

I'm just sharing how I've found b2b contacts. My product was a financial failure but opened some doors.

[-] iii@mander.xyz 4 points 6 days ago

Not gonna lie: my first customer was a place I interned at when I was a student. So I knew who to contact, and what the potential value of my product was, as it was tailor made.

After that I started with contacting other companies via linkedin. Here my "trick" is to contact managers with an engineering background, as they more than often speak my language. In other words: I look for people who (a) have a technical understanding of their production process and (b) are high up enough on the corporate ladder to have a say about spending. Weirdly enough: a rare combination.

[-] Mhad1@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Nice, uhmm I understand its quite a lot I am asking for, but would you be kind enough to tell me who I should be looking for in particular, for my product (on the post), its a new technique, and I am not even sure if the product I have currently uploaded even has the potential for a B2B

[-] iii@mander.xyz 1 points 6 days ago

Wifipassfinder? I'd guess you could sell the technique to a product like PDQ. Or even metasploit. But that's just guessing, I know very little about that market.

[-] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 12 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

All I can really offer is if there are reviewers who review your kind of thing, watch their reviews of similar products, look for what they highlight as really good or bad, and then do what you can to make sure your stuff gets a good review. Then contact the reviewers and offer them a gratis copy in return for an honest review. If you get a good review, that can generate word of mouth that can get you a little momentum.

That's what I'd do if I were starting on your journey. I don't know whether it's a good suggestion or not. Maybe others will come along and offer better.

[-] Mhad1@lemmy.zip 4 points 6 days ago

That is actually a very good suggestion, in fact I have also tried this, if any others are viewing this here are the two main drawbacks with such plans: firstly its a very good idea and companies have bots who just spam these creators so youtube has a policy where you can only view a limited number of creator emails in a day, secondly again cuz of the spam your mail might not get seen by these creators or ignored

Anyways I appreciate the suggestion, thx

[-] stinky@redlemmy.com 4 points 6 days ago

I work with recruiters who hire for big companies. Interview with the recruiter over the phone, then a technical interview, then a team meet/personality interview, then an offer. I have a steady salary now working for a huge client and I much prefer it to a sales-based income

[-] vane@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

post your software on producthunt and sites like that

[-] Mhad1@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 days ago

Yeah that is one route I meed to explore, product hint is a little competitive there are way too many new uploads each day and your product drowns in the crowd very quickly, but less popular alternatives would be a good option

this post was submitted on 31 May 2025
22 points (82.4% liked)

Programming

20643 readers
63 users here now

Welcome to the main community in programming.dev! Feel free to post anything relating to programming here!

Cross posting is strongly encouraged in the instance. If you feel your post or another person's post makes sense in another community cross post into it.

Hope you enjoy the instance!

Rules

Rules

  • Follow the programming.dev instance rules
  • Keep content related to programming in some way
  • If you're posting long videos try to add in some form of tldr for those who don't want to watch videos

Wormhole

Follow the wormhole through a path of communities !webdev@programming.dev

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
snowe@programming.dev
Ategon@programming.dev
MaungaHikoi@lemmy.nz
UlrikHD@programming.dev