Website input

[Clockwork]

http://clockworkit.net

It has certainly been a while, and I have made some drastic changes to my business. The biggest of which is dropping repair in its entirety, and focusing on custom machines and sales.

I have seen a massive jump in profit and customers since doing this.

Above is my website, and though far from finished, it is very functional. However, I have a few things I would like to add and I'm not entirely sure where to place them.

I would like to add a section about the hardware I use in my builds, and why I used it. Not sure if I should put this under "products" or "about". Or, possibly add a new section to the menu along the lines of "resources" or "support".

I also want to add a bit to the footer. I wanted to put a slide show down there of machines I have built, but I'm still left with a lot of blank space. Maybe I can put some testimonials down there? Not sure.

Any input is certainly welcome!

Thanks guys!

[NYJimbo]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

The biggest of which is dropping repair in its entirety, and focusing on custom machines and sales.

I have seen a massive jump in profit and customers since doing this.

Not trying to change the subject about your website, but I am not sure I understand how you stop doing repair completely but manage to sell computers to people. Are you promoting yourself somewhere that brings in people ?

Do you have some kind of special way of convincing people that your custom machines are better than name brand or machines recommended by a repair tech ? I just don't understand how you get to the people unless you have a shop or some kind of advertising and makes people think you are better than what's already out there.

If your custom machines have a problem aren't you repairing them and you're right back into the repair business ? I mean you are married to that machine as you are not just a reseller.

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by NYJimbo

Not trying to change the subject about your website, but I am not sure I understand how you stop doing repair completely but manage to sell computers to people. Are you promoting yourself somewhere that brings in people ?

Do you have some kind of special way of convincing people that your custom machines are better than name brand or machines recommended by a repair tech ? I just don't understand how you get to the people unless you have a shop or some kind of advertising and makes people think you are better than what's already out there.

If your custom machines have a problem aren't you repairing them and you're right back into the repair business ? I mean you are married to that machine as you are not just a reseller.

Yes... I am marketing, haha.

And if one of my machines has a problem, I have a warranty in place and I do support those machines. However, I don't remove viruses, I don't fix user error, and I don't offer a flat "repair" service.

[NYJimbo]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

However, I don't remove viruses, I don't fix user error, and I don't offer a flat "repair" service.

Ok, but that's just kinda weird to me. I think if John Doe buys a computer from you (assuming its relatively local ?) and he gets a virus and comes to you, do you say "No, go somewhere else !" ?

A few shops here tried selling their own-labeled desktops and it just sucked the blood out of them. Anyway, if it works for you great. I was just trying to figure out the small stuff. Thanks.

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by NYJimbo

Ok, but that's just kinda weird to me. I think if John Doe buys a computer from you (assuming its relatively local ?) and he gets a virus and comes to you, do you say "No, go somewhere else !" ?

A few shops here tried selling their own-labeled desktops and it just sucked the blood out of them. Anyway, if it works for you great. I was just trying to figure out the small stuff. Thanks.

Almost 100% of my sales are over the internet. I think I have sold one machine locally, and I haven't heard from the guy since. By doing this, I have expanded my market to the entire US, instead of some small town in Missouri that nobody cares about.

This also completely eliminates all overhead, and the need for a store front. I've converted into an online entity. Everything I do is 100% profit.

And yeah, pretty much. If they call me with a virus problem I tell them "you can download program x and run it, but outside of that, you will want to contact a local IT service".

However, that has yet to happen.

[jrl2222]

First thing I noticed was in IE 9 on my computer I see the animated gif with white lines across the black tower. I took screen shots and built my own gif so you could see what I see. I checked in chrome and firefox and it seems fine there.

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by jrl2222

First thing I noticed was in IE 9 on my computer I see the animated gif with white lines across the black tower. I took screen shots and built my own gif so you could see what I see. I checked in chrome and firefox and it seems fine there.

Attachment 2385

Aha, nice catch. Thank you sir. Is it like that on the other banners?

[jrl2222]

That is the only one I saw this on. Can't image what it would be since it is a gif image and when I said your gif it doesn't seem to be there. Maybe simply resaving from the original will clear it.

[Tab Alternatives]

You have all control over your business, and where you want to head it. I am not trying to change your mind, just hoping to spark something in it.

Originally Posted by Clockwork

And if one of my machines has a problem, I have a warranty in place and I do support those machines. However, I don't remove viruses, I don't fix user error, and I don't offer a flat "repair" service.

But, looking at it at a sales point-of-view, you should try and get all the business you can out of your customers. If you sell them your product, you should sell them not only a warranty, sell them service. You sold them on a computer, since you have them on the hook why not use that advantage and sell them services to go along with the machine.

Originally Posted by Clockwork

The biggest of which is dropping repair in its entirety, and focusing on custom machines and sales.

I have seen a massive jump in profit and customers since doing this.

Obviously you are interested in profit, as we all are, so why offer one service and not another? You can generate yet more profit. Serious customers that have an expensive machine, want maintenance. Offer ongoing maintenance services. This can all be done remotely so there's no excuses not to! You have done repair in the past, and since it's relatively easy work to do offer it and make yet more profit. Keep customers, don't drive them away by denying them services!

That's just my 5c

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by Tab Alternatives

You have all control over your business, and where you want to head it. I am not trying to change your mind, just hoping to spark something in it.

But, looking at it at a sales point-of-view, you should try and get all the business you can out of your customers. If you sell them your product, you should sell them not only a warranty, sell them service. You sold them on a computer, since you have them on the hook why not use that advantage and sell them services to go along with the machine.

Obviously you are interested in profit, as we all are, so why offer one service and not another? You can generate yet more profit. Serious customers that have an expensive machine, want maintenance. Offer ongoing maintenance services. This can all be done remotely so there's no excuses not to! You have done repair in the past, and since it's relatively easy work to do offer it and make yet more profit. Keep customers, don't drive them away by denying them services!

That's just my 5c

Dealing with general repair due to user error is too time consuming. I work 8-5 as IT, and come home to work for myself.

However, the on going maintenance service is something I hadn't thought of. That is a good idea.