PROGRAM JOURNALISM: MARKETING COMPUTER SOFT WARE

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STARTING OUT . . .

As you can see, then, a market for freelancers does exist. But don't be blinded quite yet by dreams of huge dollar signs flashing on and off in computer-graphic color! Before you can be a success at this freelancing business, you've got to put in some learning time. First off, obviously, you must have access to a home computer, and your best bet is to go ahead and buy one if you can afford to. (See the price information at the end of this article.)

But that's only the beginning. Don't assume that you'll be able to sit down with the instruction book and "talk" to your new machine immediately. Far from it! The sort of knowledge required to operate a microcomputer is best learned through handson experience, gained under the guidance of a qualified instructor. So find a competent friend to help . . . or enroll in a course, either at the store where you purchased your hardware or at a local college. The few extra dollars that it'll cost you to learn proper and effective programming will be more than paid back (in avoided frustration, at the very least) over the long haul.

MAXIMUM MARKETING

Once you've learned to communicate with your computer, and after you've run off several practice programs, you can decide just what sort of software you want to create for sale. Current programs are generally classified according to five categories: personal and home . . . games . . . educational . . . business . . . and graphics. In the beginning, at least, it's best to select an area that you're fairly familiar with, and then research the market before you actually set to work. (After all, there's no point in creating a program that duplicates one already available.)

When choosing a subject area, though, you might want to keep in mind that thousands of video games are born every day, and—unless you're ready to buck some stiff competition—you're likely better off working up something other than games . . . a good practical home budget program, for instance. (Surprisingly enough, there's still a dearth of this type of software.)

THINK COMPUTERESE!

Since a program is simply a detailed set of instructions that tell a computer what to do, you must be extremely careful—when writing one—to document every step of the instructions . . . in a manual for the potential computerite, and in either cassette tape or floppy disk form for the "micromind" it self. Don't skip from Point A to Point C under the assumption that Point B is too obvious to mention . . . it may not be equally clear to someone else. You can be sure that many of your potential customers will be less proficient than you . . . and the simple omission of a single procedure could make your entire program inoperable in the hands of a beginner.

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