16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Offline Computer service

by Lyper
14 replies
Hello there gentlemen, I have something I think is pretty off of what people do normally on this forum.

I always kept computing as a hobby, but I think I could actually make something out of that knowledge I acquired along the years. I don't say I know everything, but I know my way around windows/linux well enough. What bothers me is where I am located, but it could also be actually a good thing. I live in a really remote town in Canada, the main town next to a couple of smaller towns has 13k persons, and I'd estimate the agglomeration of little town to have at least 9k persons.

I don't have anything to sacrifice right now, as I work as a janitor 20 hours per week at 14,20$ while I am also a student with too much time of his hands with a REALLY, REALLY light schedule. I always wanted to try this out.

So my plan is basically to find a really cheap business card printer, make some nice little business card, put them around in town, make billboard posts and put them in local groceries, in the CEGEP, in the university and other various services. I don't plan on paying any sort of ads space, as I don't think my business would scale enough to make it profitable.

The other thing I think I give as a service to make myself distinct from the "local" shop(which are not even real computer repair store, they're all like big ****ty 400% overpriced store, even worse than big retailers like best buy and company) is a fast on the spot repair, half the price on reformat and hourly wage for problems. The only thing I can think of I need beforehand is to gather a few testing parts. Also, as a BIG, BIG plus I can actually go to their house instead of them having to unhook all of their desktop or actually having to drive to bring me their laptops.

Of course, I have never done any marketing, only read a few things here and there, but I think I covered most of the problems I can come across.

Any thoughts? I'd really, REALLY enjoy feedback.
#computer #offline #service
  • Profile picture of the author 711gemstone
    Hey Lyper,I live in a small town in Oregon and sell some computer services. Even here I havesome competition that's why I hooked up with a good partnering group to marketservices on line with an offline connection. Even though there are a lot of on linemarketers, many are trying to do things solo, which is a tough proposition, but ifyou are part of a strong group it is much easier, I think.
    Signature

    Be Smart and Collaborate: Prevent "Tragedy of the Commons"
    JA enterprises

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5080922].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Lyper
      Originally Posted by 711gemstone View Post

      Hey Lyper,I live in a small town in Oregon and sell some computer services. Even here I havesome competition that's why I hooked up with a good partnering group to marketservices on line with an offline connection. Even though there are a lot of on linemarketers, many are trying to do things solo, which is a tough proposition, but ifyou are part of a strong group it is much easier, I think.
      The thing is, other than overpriced store... I don't see ANY freelancer that does what I want to do! Like... I've never seen any business card for this genre of service, any billboard post, no radio ads, nothing.

      The only ones I hear are on the regional radio for WAY bigger main towns that are 1 hour away from where I want to commercialize my market. I wish I would have some buddies or anyone of trust I can rely on, but I don't know anyone, at all, that has any computing skill.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5080950].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
        i bet more then 60% of the problems they face can be fixed with you just
        doing an online fix , repair, tutoring.

        all you need is some type of remote software, and a merchant account.

        you could prob get off the ground pretty cheap that way.

        I know from past experience, you fix some ones problem with a computer,
        you are now god, and they will want to deal with you for the rest of there lives, as they trust you.

        should be pretty easy to build your self a core of clients.

        also, as you grow you could add va's to the mix ....
        Signature

        Selling Ain't for Sissies!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5080979].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author bmsmarketing
    When starting your own thing, a good name is great, but nothing is better than building all your citations, and having as many reviews / good profiles on the net as possible.

    google, yahoo, superpages, bing, localeze (feeds to others). dont pay anyone to start. Yahoo enhanced is cheap enough , google coupons are great, maybe pay google or yahoo in the beginning. Then take some time to make some new accounts, from a coffee shop or internet cafe, and review your service. no more than 2 reviws in the first week. Then 1 a week until you have 7 or so. This should put you on front page relatively quickly, and people on the front page get the calls. That will take you 5-10 hours of time, but will make your business.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5081566].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Lyper
      Originally Posted by bmsmarketing View Post

      When starting your own thing, a good name is great, but nothing is better than building all your citations, and having as many reviews / good profiles on the net as possible.

      google, yahoo, superpages, bing, localeze (feeds to others). dont pay anyone to start. Yahoo enhanced is cheap enough , google coupons are great, maybe pay google or yahoo in the beginning. Then take some time to make some new accounts, from a coffee shop or internet cafe, and review your service. no more than 2 reviws in the first week. Then 1 a week until you have 7 or so. This should put you on front page relatively quickly, and people on the front page get the calls. That will take you 5-10 hours of time, but will make your business.
      But you don't seem to understand. People that need other people to repair their computer don't know how to google, and obviously won't do it as they would just have to google to reformat a computer etc.

      Also, my target is actually 18k person, not 1M.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5083341].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author 711gemstone
        I understand that think shade tree mechanic as your business model see how that works.
        Signature

        Be Smart and Collaborate: Prevent "Tragedy of the Commons"
        JA enterprises

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5083648].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Lyper
          Originally Posted by 711gemstone View Post

          I understand that think shade tree mechanic as your business model see how that works.
          I am sorry, I know this is probably supposed to be a helpful reply but... I absolutely have NO idea what that even means.

          Could you rephrase it or something? I don't want to come out like an asshole, but I just don't quite get it.

          Again, sorry.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5083778].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author DeepThought
            May not be a Canadian phrase, so let me Google that for you - Shadetree Mechanic
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5084805].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author Lyper
              Originally Posted by DeepThought View Post

              May not be a Canadian phrase, so let me Google that for you - Shadetree Mechanic
              Okay so I have a bunch of irrelevant results. You think I didn't google this?
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5085013].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Ehsan_am
        Originally Posted by Lyper View Post

        But you don't seem to understand. People that need other people to repair their computer don't know how to google, and obviously won't do it as they would just have to google to reformat a computer etc.

        Also, my target is actually 18k person, not 1M.

        I'm sorry but I have to disagree. Offering computer services is way broader than just formatting computers. I have had houswives googling and calling me because they needed to set up a home network, hook up the printer, asking me to set up their windows live mail, etc

        Most people have several computers in their homes and the ability to Google doesn't mean they know how to deal with some sort of problem that they have never seen before.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5087063].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author PCskies
          Given the size of your target audience, I would also focus on placing an ad in the local newspaper along with the suggestions made in previous posts. The more rural the area the more they depend on offline resources to find local products and services. (Local newspapers, word of mouth, local chamber of commerce).

          You might have already done this but to see who your competition really is search for 'computer repair city name' in google maps. There you can investigate your competition more thoroughly. You can usually tell if they have an office, store or if they are home based, and if they have a website, possibly see what their rates are, etc.

          Places like Vistaprint are an excellent low cost resource for business cards. And you'll project more of a professional image. The better quality image you project will help your revenue growth.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5087769].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author danielkanuck
    You seem ambitious with your marketing efforts, but free advertising techniques you are describing will take a long while to pull in any decent results. Run some ads to see results immediately. Don't let people fool you in saying that you don't need to do advertising. Advertise, gather leads, and follow up on them with your direct mail package.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5085056].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RussellRead
    Originally Posted by Lyper View Post

    Hello there gentlemen
    What about the ladies?
    Signature

    Do Good!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5085441].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Lyper
    I hate when you type a long post and suddenly it dissapear. Anyway, thanks for all the tips, I will consider them. I didn't say this I think, but I want to stay around the ~8k profit so I don't get into the government radar and get taxed. I am already earning 20k janitoring as a student, so it could basically get taxed and I would end up with dust.

    I only want a small racket to have fun and experience what a business feels like, basically. There's 4 well established shops for a 18k pop pool anyway, it's not worth even trying.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5090441].message }}

Trending Topics