My Offline Project. Starting tomorrow. Great Niche, Great Market, Any ideas??

[BeauJustin]

OK, here's my offline idea, feel free to use it, expound upon it, and take it to the next level.

I have been involved in technology in one way, shape, or form for most of my adult life. I've worked in various industries from web design to high-tech gadgetry, as well as home entertainment systems.

The one thing I keep coming across is senior citizens who don't know how to use their stuff, be it computers, HDTV's, cell phones, satellite dishes. It doesn't matter. Retirement affords them the ability to buy all types of gadgetry, but even with the new surplus of time they have, they still seem to struggle mightily with getting the technology to behave.

My idea is to provide them on-site-tech-tutoring with nearly any tech-stuff wonder they may be struggling with. It's that simple.

I remember when I was a tech for Dish Network, one of the most common trouble calls we rolled on was with older folks who had accidentally selected the wrong input on their brand spankin' new HDTV, and didn't even know what an input is, let alone how to get the right one. Consequently, I'd grab the T.V. remote, click a button or two, and have a flustered septuagenarian thanking me profusely for working my spellcraft.

Starting this week, I'm going to go around to some of the seniors organizations and hand out flyers and business cards to anyone I meet, and start building relationships. And I'm also going to go around to a few retirement communities and see if I can get on one of the concierge contact lists.

OK, so here's the downside. I've never run a business like this. I've only heard of similar business models which provide in-home help with computers, but there's nothing like that around here. And they're geared more toward computer training, not broad techno-help.

I guess on the logistical side of things I'm a little lost. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I could use some ideas on management practices and marketing if you have any suggestions.

Just a quick FYI, the fast growing segment of the population is those achieving elderly and retired status. The number of those who struggle with the technology they've been sold is staggering.

I work in tech-support for a large (the largest) provider of Internet service, and they recently did a survey of their customrs.

They found that over 65% of the people calling for tech support were 55 and older. About half of that number was over 65. But it's not just in computers, at least as far as my experience has shown. It's with new T.V.s, DVD's, stereos, DVR's, Tivo and now, Digital Television conversion.

In my opinion there's a tremendous market for anyone with the right attitude, knowledge, and the desire to help older folks. I guess it's going to take some trial and error to figure out how to make it work. I'll keep you posted on how everything is going. Any suggestions you have would be appreciated. And if you decide to do something similar let me know.

God bless!
Beau

[TimCastleman]

Have you seen if there is a market for this? Have you looked around in different cities and states to see if there is anyone else out there doing this currently?

Have you sat down with a few people of the greatest generation and asked them if they would be willing to pay for your services.

I understand what you are saying and that people NEED it but they aren't going to buy unless they WANT it.

If they WANT it they are going to use you like a plumber - in case of an emergency. So where plumbers advertise so should you (yellow pages).

You could hold free HOW TO classes at local venues for anyone who is interested in learning more about HDTV and whatever else you want to show them.

But before you do all that make sure you are filling a WANT, not just a need. Because I need to lose 20 pounds but I don't want to. Catch my drift.

Tim

[artwebster]

I'm with Tim on this because I am one of those who has trouble with modern technology.
My major gripe is that all my grand-children live thousands of miles away and new technology does not come complete with a six year old to operate it.
Many of my neighbours have gadgets that they never use because they cannot read the instruction books. Other neighbours have, for example, TVs that are fixed on one chanel because there isn't a manual change on the set and they have never come to grips with the fact that you can 'telephone for a different chanel'.
When it comes to my own technology, I enjoy a challenge and will, eventually work out what I am supposed to be doing. I would much rather be shown how to operate an item but I have felt humiliated too many times by people who have given a demonstration so fast that I don't have a clue what they did and who do not make allowances for the fact that I have only one eye and have admitted what I don't know.
Fortunately, the local council now provides loads of free training and, even though it is in Spanish, it is by people my age who actually understand the problems from their own experience.
People my age have learned not to worry about technology - we just work round it.

For what you want to offer, I would suggest that you speak to the organisations catering for the elderly, local clubs with elderly memberships and churches and ask if there is a level of requests for help with technology and arrange to speak at their meetings so that you can guage the level of potential.

[JohnMcCabe]

Beau, I've spent the last few years living in SW Florida. There is definitely a market for that kind of service around here in a branch office of "God's waiting room."

As Art alluded to, you have to have the patience to explain things until they register. If you can then leave behind an easy-to-follow cheat sheet, you'll have fans.

You'll find that you actually have three sales to make...

Is your service effective?

Is it affordable?

Is it safe?

Since you propose to help seniors in their homes, your biggest sale will be getting them to believe that it's alright to let you into their homes. Being bonded and insured can help. So can endorsements from organizations that older people trust. Sounds like you're already working on that end.

[oneempowered]

Here are a few low-cost ideas to get you started:

• Volunteer at local senior centers to teach a weekly or monthly tech/computer class. It's a great way to pick up clients and spread the word about your services.
• Let local Home Care businesses know what you have to offer.
• Submit press releases to local publications.
• Write some articles related to your service and submit them to local publications. You might even land a gig as a guest columnist.
• Advertise with Red Hat Societies (if you're not familiar with them, google it). Check out Pink Hat also.
• Volunteer to speak at local associations (Elks Lodge, Knights of Columbus, Shriners, Kiwanis, Lions, Possum Lodge, etc.)
• Let the local Chamber of Commerce and BBB know what you have to offer.

[OnlineWriter]

I was thinking of something very similar! My plan was to offer my services to help people make money online just by writing. I'd charge about $50/hour but I like to think I know what I'm doing. If they wanted affiliate marketing info, that would have to triple I think.

I may post some little ads in supermarkets just to see if anyone calls.

[BeauJustin]

Wow, I knew posting this here was a good idea. There's practically marketing plan spread out over the body of these threads. Thanks for the observations guys. That definitely gives me more ideas for places to start.

I made a few contacts today, and so far the response seems pretty positive.

I'll keep you posted on how it's going, what works, and what doesn't.

God bless!
Beau

[AndrewCavanagh]

You certainly can make a living doing this.

Unfortunately it's going to be really hard to make any kind of substantial living because you're often dealing with people who don't have much money to spend and the service doesn't have that high a dollar value to them.

On the reverse side I'm guessing this will be emotionally rewarding for you so I'm reluctant to put you off doing it.

I have a friend who spent years making a living doing workshops for people on how to use their computers.

Most of his training was VERY basic stuff...how to use a mouse, what a URL is, how to send an email, how to turn your computer off etc etc.

Most of the people who came to his classes were over 50.

But again the price he could charge for these workshops was modest so you have to work hard to make a very modest living.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh

[BeauJustin]

Andrew,
Yeah, I've thought about that. This alone isn't going to make me wealthy. Even if there's no shortage of people who need help, there's only so many hours in a day, and I'm only one guy. You're also right about the emotionally rewarding part, and it may just give me some of those non-Earth treasures I should be seeking.

Still this will be a very bloggable/tweetable business so I may be able to find other ways to monetize it.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[JohnMcCabe]

Originally Posted by AndrewCavanagh

Unfortunately it's going to be really hard to make any kind of substantial living because you're often dealing with people who don't have much money to spend and the service doesn't have that high a dollar value to them.

Andrew, I rarely disagree with you, but this time I have to. At least in part, anyway.

I don't know the situation on your end of the globe but, if you watch the news in the USA, you would think that all seniors are eating cat food and struggling to survive on Social Security.

And the ads would have you think that the only concern for seniors is how to get free scooters from Medicare...

That's not entirely true. There are an awful lot in the 50+ group with money to spend. Whether it's by a lifetime of accumulation or inheritance, there's a concentration of wealth in that age group. Beau just needs to find those folks in his community.

Beau, if you focus your marketing on the social service agencies, you quite likely will find the folks without money to spend. Working with the service clubs and other community organizations will put you in touch with more affluent people.

Here's another suggestion...

Can you partner with stores that sell to middle-class and affluent 50+ers? Let them offer your services as a kind of techie concierge service.

[Kelly Verge]

I've done IT consulting for several years, and this is my take on targeting individuals (homes vs businesses):

With rare exception, individuals have a much lower lifetime customer value than businesses do. Many will use you only one time.

What that will mean for you is that you will be spending a portion of your time/effort/money finding new clients on an ongoing basis. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's something you should think about.

[Marcus Paul]

Andrew is dead on.

This market is a struggle because of finances. They want help, but they generally do not want to pay much for it. In their opinion (which I find hard to quibble with) it should be much easier than it is to understand how to use this stuff they have. They perceive it as a "racket" of sorts.

To test this market, offer a class at the library or local bookstore. Hand out a free booklet to give them some helpful info, including your contact info. See who bites and what they are willing to pay. Build your model around that.

Good luck.

[Andrew Leatherland]

My take on this is that it has potential. In one of my previous jobs I went to a meeting where there was a firm that did some research for a firm who wanted to make VCR's. In a swamped market they were looking for an edge. They found a niche among old people. These people wanted a VCR like those of us who were around at the start knew them. Cassette goes in, big Play Button, big Stop Button, big Record button. End of story. Older people were biting their arms off because every other firm was breaking their necks adding this, that and the other which you would have needed a Phd to understand and benefit from it.

Technology is prgressing faster than most of us can really keep up with and older people in the main want it simple. The industry (especially the computer industry) loves to use words like fatal exception and terminal which basically scares anyone who isn't 100% confident.

I think much of what they want will be quite simple to solve.

Trust may will be an issue at the start because but I reckon you can overcome that in a couple of ways. You could produce an idiots guide that helps them avoid getting ripped off through phishing scams, fake websites, nigerian scams. Teach them the signs and how to avoid it. Give talks on how to buy a PC - what they need and don't need. How to avoid having a salesman rip you off, questions they can ask which will make the salesman back off.

One thing that might help you get over the possibility that some of this might be low ball for the time involved is to leverage the people you could reach. What I've got in mind is to produce some simple guides to installing TV's, simple computer repairs etc, buying TV's etc. Then target sales of these guides in an area. This could be leveraged by getting older people who can easily grasp these points to run their own side business. Where you could make your money is billing the customer and paying your 'affiliate' their cut for carrying out the repair. You can act as your affiliates helpdesk function if the problem becomes more complex, which means your time is better targeted.

[JonathanBoettcher]

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

Beau, if you focus your marketing on the social service agencies, you quite likely will find the folks without money to spend. Working with the service clubs and other community organizations will put you in touch with more affluent people.

Here's another suggestion...

Can you partner with stores that sell to middle-class and affluent 50+ers? Let them offer your services as a kind of techie concierge service.

I'm with John on this one - careful as to how you define your market.

It always strikes me as funny that you sometimes see high end car dealerships advertising on bus stop benches - to people that don't even have cars!

As a side note - I've seen a car going around town where I live that is covered in advertising for his service. Basically if you buy something from IKEA, he'll come over and set it up for you - something that many people have troubles with, or simply dread.

Seems to me your service is simliar, and I'm sure you could do well with it.