Podcast Summary
First paid projects in web development: Web development can lead to income and entrepreneurial opportunities. Sentry is a helpful tool for managing and resolving bugs in client-facing code.
The first steps into the world of web development and entrepreneurship can come with unique experiences and unexpected sources of income. Wes and Scott, the hosts of Syntax, shared stories about their early days in web development and the first paid projects they worked on. For Wes, his first paid project was building a website for a local band, The District, which earned him $300. He also designed T-shirts for the band as part of the project. Scott's first paid project came from his parents, who were opening a tea store, and he built their website, bloomingtea.com. A key tool that can help developers quickly identify and resolve bugs in client-facing code is Sentry. Sentry is a software that allows developers to see all errors and bugs in a trackable interface, making it easier to attach them to GitHub issues and assign responsibility. The hosts of Syntax highly recommend Sentry and encourage listeners to try it out by using the coupon code "tasty treat" for two months free. While the specifics of their first paid projects varied, both Wes and Scott's experiences demonstrate the potential for web development to provide income and contribute to entrepreneurial ventures. Additionally, tools like Sentry can help developers efficiently manage and resolve issues in their code, making the development process smoother and more effective.
Starting small and taking on new projects: Taking on small projects outside of comfort zone can lead to valuable learning experiences and potential business opportunities.
Starting small and taking on projects outside of one's comfort zone can lead to valuable learning experiences and potential business opportunities. The speaker shared their experience of creating websites for a tea store and a pool company, which served as their first introductions to client-facing projects. Although they lacked expertise at the time, they managed to deliver the projects and even got paid for their work. These experiences gave them confidence and a sense of possibility, leading them to explore further business opportunities. The speaker also mentioned Magento Go, an early ecommerce platform that aimed to simplify the Magento experience. Although it didn't succeed in the long run, it showcased the potential of making ecommerce more accessible to businesses. The speaker's journey highlights the importance of taking on new challenges, even with limited skills, as it can open doors to growth and learning.
Early website projects and inspirations: The speaker's early website projects included creating unique themes and encountering limitations in customizing CSS. They were also inspired by online entrepreneurs like Darius Monserf and tried various methods to make money online, such as flipping cell phones and creating blogs.
While working on early website projects, the speaker encountered limitations when it came to customizing CSS, instead having to make updates through upgrades in a text field. This was a frustrating experience, but the speaker was able to create unique themes for sites, including an ecommerce store and a logo for a building. Another key takeaway is the speaker's experience with early attempts at making money online. They were part of a forum called Young Go Getter around 15 years ago, where they were inspired by a user named Darius Monserf, who went on to create Color Lovers and Creative Market. The speaker also tried their hand at flipping cell phones, creating a blog called Craigonomics, and making their first AdSense income through similar means. These experiences show the determination and creativity of the speaker in pursuing various online opportunities, even if they didn't always result in immediate success.
Early experiences of monetization in content creation: Starting a blog or YouTube channel can lead to monetization opportunities from the very beginning, as demonstrated by the speaker's early experiences with modest blog views and YouTube ads in the late 2000s.
Starting out in content creation, whether it be blogging or YouTube, there's a chance for monetization even from the very beginning. The speaker shared his experiences of publishing a blog post about "6 sites to get your music heard" back in 2008, which received modest views but also made him some money. He also recalled his first YouTube video, which was a tutorial on importing a large SQL database using BigDump, published in 2010. At the time, YouTube didn't have minimum requirements for monetization, so he made some income from ads on his videos. The speaker also mentioned his first YouTube video tutorial that gained significant traction and views, which was a Sass tutorial published in 2012. These early experiences demonstrate the potential for monetization in content creation, even from the very start.
Starting with uncertain content can lead to opportunities: Taking the first step and creating content, even if it's unpolished, can lead to unexpected opportunities and financial rewards.
Creating content, even if it feels uncertain or unpolished at first, can lead to unexpected opportunities and successes. The speaker, who started his tutorial channel with a Sass tutorial shared by the Sass team and Chris Epstein of Compass, discovered he could make money from it and eventually branched out into Compass and Drupal tutorials. His first paid product was a Sublime Textbook, which he turned from a free YouTube course into a more professional version. Even though he didn't know what he was doing at the start, he fell into a flow and learned as he went along. The speaker also mentioned that he started with Premiere tutorials because there was already a large number of them on YouTube, and he didn't want to release poor quality content. This experience shows that taking the first step and putting yourself out there, even with imperfect content, can lead to valuable learning experiences and financial rewards.
Exploring different income streams: Persisting through challenges and exploring various income streams can lead to significant financial gains and positive impact.
Diversifying your income streams can lead to significant financial gains. The speaker shared their experiences of selling their courses on marketplaces like Tutsplus.com, creating and attempting to sell themes on ThemeForest, and even teaching in-person at Ladies Learning Code and HackerU. They found success in selling their courses as add-ons to subscriptions, but faced challenges with selling themes due to constant pivoting and not being a strong enough designer. They also mentioned earning money through teaching in-person and their first project at Ladies Learning Code and HackerU. However, they have yet to teach major in-person workshops or classes. Despite facing rejections and challenges, they emphasized the importance of persistence and continuing to explore different income streams. Their first significant income from a project came from designing a recumbent cross trainer for an ad agency, which catered to people with joint problems or disabilities. This experience not only provided them with financial gain but also allowed them to make a positive impact on people's lives. Overall, the speaker's experiences demonstrate the importance of being open to various opportunities and not giving up in the face of challenges.
Different Experiences in Early Web Development Projects: Web development projects vary greatly in their complexity and enjoyment. Finding the right fit and learning from diverse experiences can lead to success.
Starting out in web development, both speakers had vastly different experiences. The first project for one speaker was on the reality show "The Biggest Loser," working with an outdated and disorganized codebase. Another speaker's first project was with Jet Cooper, a more creative and enjoyable experience, working on a WordPress site for a pillow company. Both spoke about the contrast between their early web development projects and the challenges they faced in selling their services. One speaker shared how they stumbled upon what worked for them after trying various gigs, while the other emphasized the importance of creative and enjoyable projects. A fascinating discussion ensued about the diverse experiences in web development and the possibility of a call-in show for sharing stories and experiences. The first buck made on a course for someone else was not mentioned by either speaker.
Sharing experiences of first paid content opportunities: Creating and sharing valuable content in tech industry can lead to financial benefits, as demonstrated by Scott and Wes' experiences with paid courses and blog writing
Both Scott and Wes have had experiences getting paid for creating content, such as courses or tutorials, for various companies or publishing platforms. While some of these opportunities didn't pan out, they have received compensation for writing for well-known blogs like Smashing Mag and CSS Tricks. Scott's first paid opportunity was creating a course for Magento's packaged publishing. Although it wasn't particularly profitable, it was part of the publishing process. They encourage listeners to share their own first paid content experiences on social media, using the hashtag #firstbuck. Overall, this discussion highlights the potential financial benefits of creating and sharing valuable content in the tech industry.
