Announcing Symfony Experts

Back in December, we launched WP Questions, which allowed WordPress experts to earn money by answering questions about WordPress.

Today we are launching Symfony Experts. This site allows experienced Symfony programmers to earn money by answering questions about Symfony. Introducing our previous site, I wrote about my own experiences with free forums, and with sites like Experts Exchange, experiences that lead me to think about a site like this one. Darren Hoyt wrote an excellent introduction to our previous site, and most of what he said there is relevant to this site, so I paraphrase it here:

What Is This Site?

1. A Time-Sensitive, Problem-Solving Environment.
   Users who cannot find timely, accurate help on the various Symfony forums and mailing lists can post to Symfony Experts knowing that experienced coders are waiting to help.
2. Micro-Consultation.
   There are scenarios where novice developers and clients don’t wish to sign a 20-hour consulting contract with an expert. Instead they have bite-sized questions they need answered directly with minimal fuss.
3. Convenient Revenue Stream.
   Every freelance developer understands the stop-start nature of workflow. In between projects, or on work days where client feedback is slow, Symfony Experts is a great environment to make money and establish more credibility.

What Isn’t This Site?

1. Spec Work.
   Contest-based scenarios have been understandably criticized because they require hours of creative time with no guarantee of payment. Symfony Experts is not for developers to dabble or waste their valuable time — it is for Experts who can glance a question and offer a solution without spending more than 10-20 minutes.
2. A Substitute for Consultancy.
   Symfony Experts is not meant to compete or cheapen the pricing of traditional 20-30hr contract-based consultancy arrangements. Instead, it is ideal for quick, one-off problems that need solutions. Symfony Experts strives to value the time and skills of the Expert. If Experts can answer 5 questions in an hour at $20 (minimum) per question, they’ve earned $100+/hr. They are not bound to contracts or extended relationships with the Asker.
3. A Discussion Site.
   Ideally, questions should have succinct answers without extended discussion. There maybe be multiple ways to write a PHP solution, but the Asker should choose whichever solutions was offered 1) first, and 2) most efficiently. Symfony Experts does offer a prize-sharing option in scenarios where multiple Experts have contributed to the overall answer.

Our WordPress site as already earned hundreds of dollars for various WordPress experts. Check out our list of top winners. We expect Symfony Experts to also create income opportunities for various Symfony experts.