Anybody seeing a slowdown in business?

[bytebuster]

The AT&T phone book came out at the end of February with my ad in it. So far I have gotten ONE call, and she wanted a free diagnostic, openly saying that she didn't want to pay my $29 fee for a diagnostic for a problem that was not readily identifiable. I told her that I've got bills too. Reading through TN, I see that the board is kind of slow, with few if any TN members reporting malware issues, for example. That makes me think that it isn't just me, that business is just sort of in a lull right now while the Russians plan their next malware attack. I know that some TN members had a busy January and February, but March seems to have started like a lamb. Any comments?

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I have actually had a slight increase in business with 3 system check infections over the last few days.

 

[Martyn]

This last 10 days have been my busiest(I mean most profitable) since I started. No malware calls at all but picked up a nice business job sorting a network issue out and setting up a backup solution. Malware, none though.

 

[bytebuster]

Hmmm. I know that I'm not in a great position in the phone book, with two color "leader ads" and a column ad offering $40 repairs above my ad. My general experience is that people call the cheapest guy they can find, then when Mr. Cheap screws everything up they start getting desperate and call around. My ad offers $79 repairs but the guy right next to my ad is offering a "first time customer special" for $40! Craigslist ftw. If anybody wants to see what I'm talking about, go to realpageslive.com, select the Sacramento 2012 directory, then look up page 305. I really didn't expect that $40 ad to be in front of mine.

 

[14049752]

Any comments?

My only comment would be what I've said to you time and time again: I really think you should get a job under someone else's employ. I could list numerous threads you've created that show that you're going about everything wrong...but I'm certain you already know what I'd be posting...

I know that this may seem harsh to anyone just looking at this thread and not knowing Bytebuster's history/situation...but... It's real, honest advice and I stand by it 100%.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Like over the years? sure.

I mean we are getting to the point where computers are so fast that the number of people wanting a new computer has dropped by quite a bit. If it wasn't for unreliable hard drive manufacturers and malware we would probably go broke.

 

[Rosco]

march is turning out to be a great month... febuary was real lean. January was regular. March is fitting to be the best month since i opened up. Super busy.... sorry i know this isnt what you wanted to hear but i am really excited!

 

[dgiles79]

Business has been pretty good, but like you, I haven't seen a lot of Malware lately.

 

[bytebuster]

My only comment would be what I've said to you time and time again: I really think you should get a job under someone else's employ. I could list numerous threads you've created that show that you're going about everything wrong...but I'm certain you already know what I'd be posting...

I know that this may seem harsh to anyone just looking at this thread and not knowing Bytebuster's history/situation...but... It's real, honest advice and I stand by it 100%.

Tell you what. I made this promise to my parents, if I haven't gone out on a single service call by November 1, which is 6 months from the time all of the phone books are distributed, I'll hang it up and go hat in hand to every disability resource center I can think of and beg for a job. If the ad I put in doesn't work, NOTHING will. And I should know by November, that's when AT&T will call looking for ads for 2013. How about that?

 

[14049752]

How about that?

The thing is, it does not matter to me even the slightest bit. I'm offering advice based on what I know about you, your situation, threads you posted, etc... My advice to you is what I think would benefit you most right now...and since your parents talked to you about it, they're probably thinking something similar.

I offer the advice, but you do what you want to do.

 

[compnet]

If the ad I put in doesn't work, NOTHING will.

What? If we put all our apples in the phone book basket, we'd be going out of business guaranteed.

Suddenly everything 14049752 said is making sense

 

[anglian]

Things must be slowing down
One of my competitors has added carpet cleaning as a new service to their homepage.
csbcomputing dot co dot uk

 

[PCX]

Business has been pretty good on our end . . . that being said, every market is different, which also means that advertising is going to be different. We have found that the phone book in this area sucks. Most people around here are Marines with smart phones and they find us on google places. The best thing I can tell you is to consider the average age of your market base and figure out what their level of technological competence is and advertise accordingly. Other things like if you are near a military base or college will effect the type of people in your area. DO NOT PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET! The fact that you think that if the phone book does not work then nothing will, shows that you have not considered your demographics and really researched what WILL work.

 

[andcorptech]

We have been slow in the virus/malware area but we are very busy in new PCs . We have sold 8 in the last 2 weeks. Alot of other work we have is hardware replacement like PSU, HDD etc
Also since February we have replaced 3 LCD's and 3 notebook keyboards too.

Still busy, but in different areas than prior months

 

[bytebuster]

Business has been pretty good on our end . . . that being said, every market is different, which also means that advertising is going to be different. We have found that the phone book in this area sucks. Most people around here are Marines with smart phones and they find us on google places. The best thing I can tell you is to consider the average age of your market base and figure out what their level of technological competence is and advertise accordingly. Other things like if you are near a military base or college will effect the type of people in your area. DO NOT PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET! The fact that you think that if the phone book does not work then nothing will, shows that you have not considered your demographics and really researched what WILL work.

This is good advice. My area is the City of Sacramento, which is poorer than the suburbs. My marketing materials say that I serve all of the 916 area code, but in reality Roseville, Elk Grove, and Folsom have their local tech stores. I have considered Google Places, but there's one BIG problem: I work out of my home, and the city issued me a home based business license on the assumption that I wouldn't have business traffic in a residential neighborhood. Unless somebody more familiar than I with Google Places knows a way to note to call me first or that I'm a mobile repairman on it, I'm not sure I can use it. I'd love to, though. Other advertising options for me include: website (done), Facebook (tried it, it flopped), the local newspapers (does anybody read newspapers anymore?). There are no public bulletin boards in my area. I like the idea of advertising on smartphones, an alternate YP book in my area offered me a print/web/smartphone ad package, BUT they wanted a huge sum of money RIGHT NOW up front, and I just didn't have it. I will look into Google Places.

 

[carrcomp]

This is good advice. My area is the City of Sacramento, which is poorer than the suburbs. My marketing materials say that I serve all of the 916 area code, but in reality Roseville, Elk Grove, and Folsom have their local tech stores. I have considered Google Places, but there's one BIG problem: I work out of my home, and the city issued me a home based business license on the assumption that I wouldn't have business traffic in a residential neighborhood. Unless somebody more familiar than I with Google Places knows a way to note to call me first or that I'm a mobile repairman on it, I'm not sure I can use it. I'd love to, though. Other advertising options for me include: website (done), Facebook (tried it, it flopped), the local newspapers (does anybody read newspapers anymore?). There are no public bulletin boards in my area. I like the idea of advertising on smartphones, an alternate YP book in my area offered me a print/web/smartphone ad package, BUT they wanted a huge sum of money RIGHT NOW up front, and I just didn't have it. I will look into Google Places.

Your address has to be registered as a business for google places to even show you in there.

I'm having that problem.

 

[bytebuster]

We have been slow in the virus/malware area but we are very busy in new PCs . We have sold 8 in the last 2 weeks. Alot of other work we have is hardware replacement like PSU, HDD etc
Also since February we have replaced 3 LCD's and 3 notebook keyboards too.

Still busy, but in different areas than prior months

My main money generators in my area seem to be malware and DC jacks, at least that's what people were requesting a couple years ago. My area has 2 Frys Electronics stores, so people go there when they want a PC. It seems to me that when people in my area run into big hardware problems, they simply toss the box and buy a new one, although I didn't get many requests for data transfer, but I learned how and have the equipment.

 

[bytebuster]

Your address has to be registered as a business for google places to even show you in there.

I'm having that problem.

It is, I do have a business license from the City of Sacramento with my home address on it. My business license is 161186. The license may have the wrong phone number on it though. Off I go to the city's website to check...

 

[SprinterTech-WI]

Your address has to be registered as a business for google places to even show you in there.

I'm having that problem.

and to be honest that is the way it should be, google places is for companies who have stores/offices.... so if everybody who worked from home had a listing it really confuses customers and google places is there FOR those of us who have locations.

 

[carrcomp]

and to be honest that is the way it should be, google places is for companies who have stores/offices.... so if everybody who worked from home had a listing it really confuses customers and google places is there FOR those of us who have locations.

No I agree,

I should clarify. I'm not having a problem where I'm trying to register. I'm having the problem that I don't have a business address.