Getting back in the business.

[SThompson86]

Good afternoon all.

Here lately I have been dabbling with the idea of starting my side computer repair business back up. Over the last couple months I have been doing the odd side work for employee's at work, and I enjoy the work plus the extra money is nice.

I shut the business down and canceled my LLC about a year ago. I did this because I was tired of people calling me, and giving me their entire life story about the computer, and then letting me go when I would quote them a price off my repair list which was very very reasonable. Nonetheless, I believe most of these tire kickers came from me spamming out craigslist with my add. I know I will never advert on CL again..

Another reason I stopped is because I got into road bike racing ( bicycle ).... . . , but last night I had a pretty bad crash in my neighborhood going about 28mph, and went over the handle bars. ( road rash head to toe - stiches on shin.) LONGGGG story short I NEVER want to go through that again so I am giving the bike up before something worse happens.

back to the main subject - Given that new year is right on top of me I would like to revisit the idea of starting my business back up, but I want to do it differently this time. I learned a lot the first go around, and I honestly think shutting it down was a good thing, for I am able to look back and realize some of the dumb and good things I did.

My biggest complaint of all was finding good customers. I am sure that finding good customers is a complaint everyone in the business has. I just got so sick and irritated of people who expected me to charge peanuts or work for free. I would say that was the factor that ruined it for me.

I did have some awesome customers, and I will probably call them back up, and let them know I am back in the game.

I will list a few things that I did last time that I will not do again.

1. Advertise on Craigslist

2. Changing/profiling my prices on the spot to get business. ( IE changing the price to suite the character of a person like a younger person who does not make a ton of money I would lower my price to an amount I felt they would take)

3. Walking around neighborhoods putting my business card on hundreds of
door's.. I probably got 2 calls out of all that.

4. Will not put decals back on my car. I did not get any calls from that experiment.

5. I had a website, and it did not pull in any business. My area is just not tech savvy enough to go online. I would say my area is more brick and mortar oriented.

I really just want to rely on word of mouth this go around. I am not hurting for money nor trying to turn this in a FTJ. I find it nice to have the extra money for easy work most of the time.


So yea.. long post - Any and anytype advice is appreciated from everyone.

Thank you.

 

[MobileTechie]

Hi mate.

You can't usually afford to choose customers in the retail arena. IMO you either accept the public for who they are (ie. very varied) or you don't bother. Otherwise you'll be miserable and find it hard. People have not changed since you decided to quit so unless you've changed your approach you're likely to find things very much the same.

I'd agree with points 1 to 3. Point 4 is arguable - it's a branding and awareness thing rather than a direct advert. 5 however is just not accurate I don't think. There are not such major differences in technical aptitude between locations that make having a website pointless. Even people who target the over 60's markets have useful websites. You work in computing you have to have a website. Maybe your website wasn't suitable?

Having said all that, if all you're doing is opening up to small amounts of 2nd-income, word-of-mouth business then I guess you can do what you like because it's not a "real" business in that it doesn't need to survive on its own.

 

[RichmondTech]

My biggest complaint of all was finding good customers. I am sure that finding good customers is a complaint everyone in the business has. I just got so sick and irritated of people who expected me to charge peanuts or work for free. I would say that was the factor that ruined it for me.

Do you provide a service that people need? - yes
Do you provide a service that people want? - yes
Do you provide a service that people need, want, and are willing to pay you for? - yes

Those that can answer all three questions "yes" are in your target market. A target market is not "anyone with a computer". I would recommend looking at the customers that you do like and figure out what they have in common. You could also ask them what networks they hang out in and join those networks, as they're more likely to surround themselves with like-minded people.

 

[SThompson86]

Hi mate.

You can't usually afford to choose customers in the retail arena. IMO you either accept the public for who they are (ie. very varied) or you don't bother. Otherwise you'll be miserable and find it hard. People have not changed since you decided to quit so unless you've changed your approach you're likely to find things very much the same.

I'd agree with points 1 to 3. Point 4 is arguable - it's a branding and awareness thing rather than a direct advert. 5 however is just not accurate I don't think. There are not such major differences in technical aptitude between locations that make having a website pointless. Even people who target the over 60's markets have useful websites. You work in computing you have to have a website. Maybe your website wasn't suitable?

Having said all that, if all you're doing is opening up to small amounts of 2nd-income, word-of-mouth business then I guess you can do what you like because it's not a "real" business in that it doesn't need to survive on its own.

All valid points - The website was actually the simple Podnutz website kit banner page - which I still have and could easily put back out on the web.

Thank you.

 

[SThompson86]

I would recommend looking at the customers that you do like and figure out what they have in common. You could also ask them what networks they hang out in and join those networks, as they're more likely to surround themselves with like-minded people.

Thats a good idea - I have never even thought about that.

Thank you.

 

[MobileTechie]

All valid points - The website was actually the simple Podnutz website kit banner page - which I still have and could easily put back out on the web.

Thank you.

I never thought all that much of the Podnutz site package. It looks pretty basic plus it's not SEO friendly at all meaning you get little natural search and paid search costs you more than it should. You have to be at the top of google for your website to be of any use in getting new clients. Ie.only the top 3 natural positions are worth much and only the Adwords ads at the top of the page (as opposed to the side) are really worth it IMO.

 

[SThompson86]

I never thought all that much of the Podnutz site package. It looks pretty basic plus it's not SEO friendly at all meaning you get little natural search and paid search costs you more than it should. You have to be at the top of google for your website to be of any use in getting new clients. Ie.only the top 3 natural positions are worth much and only the Adwords ads at the top of the page (as opposed to the side) are really worth it IMO.

That's right I remember now how the page was all images, and as far as those Adwords go I always tell people to never click those first links in a google search which are Adwords spam.

Do you have any advice on how I could do a natural we site myself ?

Thanks

 

[abyssinian]

That's right I remember now how the page was all images, and as far as those Adwords go I always tell people to never click those first links in a google search which are Adwords spam.

Do you have any advice on how I could do a natural we site myself ?

Thanks

I am currently working on a redesign of my site as well. I have found more information than I can completely comprehend, in the "Website Development & SEO" section right here at Technibble.

 

[tminer]

Hi mate.

You can't usually afford to choose customers in the retail arena. IMO you either accept the public for who they are (ie. very varied) or you don't bother. Otherwise you'll be miserable and find it hard. People have not changed since you decided to quit so unless you've changed your approach you're likely to find things very much the same.

I'd agree with points 1 to 3. Point 4 is arguable - it's a branding and awareness thing rather than a direct advert. 5 however is just not accurate I don't think. There are not such major differences in technical aptitude between locations that make having a website pointless. Even people who target the over 60's markets have useful websites. You work in computing you have to have a website. Maybe your website wasn't suitable?

Having said all that, if all you're doing is opening up to small amounts of 2nd-income, word-of-mouth business then I guess you can do what you like because it's not a "real" business in that it doesn't need to survive on its own.

+1 couldnt have said it better myself

 

[codegreen]

Do you have any advice on how I could do a natural we site myself ?

You might looks at The Ultimate Techsite Kit by our own 16k_zx81. I just bought it yesterday, and I'm using it to put together a new site (my current site, as you can see, is not so good). I'm impressed so far, and it's much cheaper than hiring a professional designer.

You can see what other Technibblers have to say about it here.

 

[cmonova]

Glad to see you are getting back into it. Seeing that you have the Tech Site Builder package from Podnutz you might want to see what comes out first of the year when he puts out the "new" version.

 

[SThompson86]

Glad to see you are getting back into it. Seeing that you have the Tech Site Builder package from Podnutz you might want to see what comes out first of the year when he puts out the "new" version.

That sounds good - I want have to pay for the new version?

 

[bwhatley87]

Glad to hear from someone so close! Down here in South MS, I am going to start back up again too. We closed our shop back in May, had to get back into a full time income, but I really want to get back into things part time. I'm going to do things a little differently this time as well.