Hello, my friends. We are currently facing a certain situation. We are in the process of launching a cloud platform in the business-to-business sector, and the project is currently at the "about to beta" stage. Our team consists of three individuals, all of whom are either friends or good acquaintances. We have known each other for quite some time, even before we started working on this project together. As of now, our roles are distributed as follows: one developer (who stubbornly refuses to take on the role of technical director), one marketer (who also acts as a content manager and salesperson), and one general (who has a legal entity and several customer channels).

I would like to clarify that the ratio of two "non-developers" to one developer may seem excessive to some, but it is necessary due to the nature of our service. The developer alone cannot handle all the responsibilities, especially since there are already competitors in the Russian market. However, these competitors are unaware of a little secret that we possess. As a general rule, we consider three people to be the minimum requirement for a project. The marketer and general understand this, but the developer does not seem to comprehend it.

Perhaps the developer's lack of understanding stems from being unaware of this little secret, which pertains exclusively to marketing. Therefore, it can only be explained to someone who has a solid understanding of marketing, positioning, branding, and has practical experience in the cloud business-to-business industry. Moreover, this person must be familiar with the specificities of the Russian "cloud" market. Unfortunately, our developer firmly stated, "I have no interest in delving into your marketing efforts; my focus is on the service itself."

Maybe I should rephrase my question as follows: "How can I best explain the intricacies of marketing to a back-end developer?"

When we earned our first revenue (through two customers, with each generating $800 in income), the general allocated this money for SEO purposes. The developer was displeased and exclaimed, "How is this fair? You're already making money while not sharing it with me! I am the one doing all the work!" It is worth noting that everyone is indeed working diligently. However, it is the developer who handles the service itself. We have a shared task book, suggested by the web developer, which solely focuses on development tasks and does not encompass any marketing-related assignments.

Perhaps my question should have been phrased differently: "How can the marketer demonstrate to the developer that their work is equally valuable?" The reality is that sometimes, after two days of work, the end result may only be a single 3000-character text. However, this text could be the key positioning concept, preceded by two days of intensive research. Therefore, it is crucial to understand that despite the seemingly low output, a significant amount of effort goes into these tasks.

As a result, the developer occasionally suggests splitting the profit, stating, "I build the service, you bring in the customers, so the profit should be divided equally."

In conclusion, any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated. If necessary, feel free to ask for further clarification, and I will gladly provide answers. Ultimately, what I hope to understand is whether this struggle is common for all developers or if it is specific to our situation.

Furthermore, if anyone has any specific solutions to offer, I am willing to give them a try. I will make a note of any successful approaches as potential solutions.

Thank you, my friends. Also, I would like to add that balancing the responsibilities and recognizing the value of each team member is crucial for the success of any project. Collaboration and understanding amongst team members can lead to more efficient and productive outcomes.

To address your first question on how to explain the intricacies of marketing to a back-end developer, it may be helpful to approach the situation from a problem-solving perspective. Highlight the importance of marketing in attracting customers and generating revenue which ultimately benefits the entire team, including the developer. You can emphasize that effective marketing efforts can lead to increased demand for the service they have built, resulting in more opportunities and potential growth for the company.

To demonstrate the value of the developer's work to the marketer, it might be helpful to foster a greater understanding and appreciation for the technical aspects involved. Encourage open communication and collaboration between the developer and marketer, where they can share their knowledge and learn from each other's expertise. This can help bridge the gap and create a sense of mutual respect and recognition for the unique contributions each team member brings to the table.

As for the issue of profit-sharing, it is essential to have open conversations about the expectations and goals of the team. Discuss the different aspects of the business and how they contribute to its success. Make sure everyone understands the impact of their respective roles on the overall results. It may also be helpful to establish clear metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with the goals of the project, allowing for fair evaluation of individual contributions.

In addition to the suggestions mentioned earlier, here are some more specific steps you can take to address the challenges you're facing:

1. Clearly define and communicate roles: Sit down with your team and have a discussion about everyone's responsibilities and expectations. Clearly outline the specific tasks and areas of expertise for each team member. This can help set realistic expectations and ensure that everyone understands the value they bring to the project.

2. Educate the developer on the importance of marketing: Take the time to explain to the developer why marketing efforts are crucial for the success of the project. Provide examples or case studies that demonstrate how effective marketing strategies have benefited similar businesses in the cloud industry. Help them understand that marketing is not just about generating revenue but also about creating awareness, building a brand, and attracting potential customers.

3. Foster a collaborative environment: Encourage regular communication and collaboration between team members. Create opportunities for the developer and marketer to share their knowledge and experiences. Consider organizing cross-functional meetings where different aspects of the project can be discussed and insights can be shared.

4. Establish shared goals and metrics: Align the team around common goals and establish measurable metrics that reflect the success of the project. This can include key performance indicators (KPIs) that track both technical and marketing-related outcomes. Having shared goals can help create a sense of unity and ensure that all team members are actively working towards the same objectives.

5. Consider profit-sharing alternatives: If the developer consistently raises concerns about profit-sharing, consider exploring alternative compensation models. This could involve setting up performance-based incentives, such as bonuses tied to specific milestones or achievements in development or marketing efforts. By linking compensation to measurable results, you can create a fair and transparent system that rewards individual contributions while still acknowledging the collective effort of the team.

To begin with, I, as the programmer, carefully read your question but couldn't fully comprehend it. If I were your programmer, I still wouldn't understand the meaning behind "a little secret that they know and I don't." This kind of wording can be a bit insulting. In a situation where I worked with you, we could resolve this issue by having a cup of tea in the evening, and you could briefly and clearly explain to me where the processes originate from.

I believe that as someone who earns a living using their intellect, you should be able to convey this information to me, at least in general terms. This discussion is not meant to be a report, but rather an exchange of information within a friendly working environment. It seems to me that the programmer might feel offended because he thinks that he lacks a complete understanding of the bigger picture. It's important to note that programmers sometimes have biases against salespeople, and changing these attitudes can be quite challenging based on experience. Their mindset revolves around creating a product that people need, which makes them feel like heroes automatically. However, this childlike perspective does not align with the fact that we still live in a world without communism; fulfilling a plan is not the ultimate goal, and finding a buyer for the product is crucial. The key to resolving this issue lies in the programmer's understanding and realization that this is necessary. The only way to achieve this is through clear and concise explanations of what needs to be done and why. If there's a friendly relationship between us, this can always be accomplished.

On another note, it's essential to emphasize that your investment is not being wasted, but rather directed towards SEO. If the programmer fails to comprehend the importance of this, it raises concerns about his qualifications.

The developer might not notice your work as he is deeply engrossed in his code. It appears that he has set up all the necessary tools for time tracking, yet you are not utilizing them. How can he determine who and how much time is being invested in the project?

If the developer still lacks understanding, then your marketing efforts are not resonating with him. Analyze his needs, behaviors, and create a profile. Love him wholeheartedly, just like you love your customers. Conduct interviews, surveys, and questionnaires. And present your secret to him in a language he can understand!

Investing money in advertising is justifiable. Keeping this information from the developer is peculiar. I would have expected you to persuade me thoroughly and request a contract and a notary to ensure equal profit sharing.

"Without a clear idea of what the company goals are, or the kind quality of the product and who they are trying to reach, marketing communicators will not be able to create and transmit a convincing message to the consumers. Therefore teamwork is very much essential to the success of any marketing campaign."