HELP! Computer Repair Business Needs Customers

18 replies
Hi Guys,

My best friend and new client owns a computer repair business and he is looking for ways to advertise his new business offline and online to get customers in the door.

I was wondering what ideas anyone here might have that would help?

Thanks,

Martin
#business #computer #customers #repair
  • Profile picture of the author Steve Solem
    Martin,

    I've often found businesses like this to be a challenge because there's no way of knowing ahead of time just who in town might have pc problems at any given time.

    While I'm not usually a fan of traditional "branding", with something like this I think you really need to do different things to get your name out and around town so that when people do have issues, they think to call you first.

    Personally, if it were me, I'd see if you could find a local newspaper willing to print a tech/pc column written by your client. This would help him get established as the "go to" guy for tech issues in town, and I'm sure you could easily find PLR content that could be re-purposed for this. He could also offer free training classes or classes on "how to buy a new computer without getting ripped off" - or offer up a free report on some computer related topics that could be advertised in the local paper.

    HTH some,

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author redcell1
    Easy, is his shop in a large metro area or out in the suburbs ?

    If so target keywords such as

    laptop repair city name
    computer repair city name
    it support city name
    virus removal cityname

    I have a few more but it just really depends on how his locations and goals.
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  • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
    Originally Posted by MartinBuckley View Post

    Hi Guys,

    My best friend and new client owns a computer repair business and he is looking for ways to advertise his new business offline and online to get customers in the door.

    I was wondering what ideas anyone here might have that would help?

    Thanks,

    Martin

    back in the day, i advertised for computer repair in the club houses,
    such as elks lodge , moose lodge , and one other, that i cant remember the name ... might have been the eagles

    those people are a little bit older ... have computers and screw em up all the time. need pretty consistent help.

    they all have monthly news letters ( real world hard copy )

    if i remember properly it was only about 25$ for a decent ad.

    also. if you advertised in the newsletter you were then allowed to put flyers up on the peg boards...

    those people were always willing to pay top dollar for some one on one training as well...

    hope that helps some.
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    • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
      Include him on your bulletin board flyer. There are laundry mats. Fitness centers might have a board too. Make up a flyer with a serious call to action and print at least 1000. Distribute in residential neigbhorhoods, preferable by knocking on the door and introduce yourself. Don't forget the bulletin boards at the better mobile home parks.

      Best of luck, Eva
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      • Profile picture of the author PCskies
        Along with the other suggestions, I would recommend joining the local chamber of commerce. In smaller towns the annual member fee tends to be very reasonable. Again, if his business is in fact in a smaller community I would look at the local newspaper for advertising.

        If he has an actual storefront then his business will tend to grow faster due to the visual exposure that a store allows. If it is a home based business then I would absolutely use every avenue of advertising possible starting with what the others have suggested here along with a well optimized website and Google Places listing.
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  • Profile picture of the author oogyboogawa
    You could always create a virus that constantly gives them popups telling them to download an antivirus software he created...


    Kidding aside, I agree that that some basic local SEO for online and then more traditional stuff for offline marketing might be the best route.

    Is he wanting to focus more on business clients or individuals? Especially if he is doing it for businesses, think of places that business owners tend to gather.

    He could also proactively put together a maintenance plan w/ monthly fee and give a discount if they go ahead and sign up even if they don't currently have any problems with their computer.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Business networking events around town are gold. And they're usually free. The first time he goes, nobody will know him and it will be a bit uncomfortable, I won't lie to ya. But the fourth time, he'll recognize and be recognized by ten people in the room. Trust me, that feels a lot more fun. And by then he'll have one or two of them as clients. The key here is consistently showing up, just like in most of life...pop in twice a year to these things and nobody will ever know who you are. Attend intensely, however, and you can give the impression within a short time that you've been doing this for a long time.

    Simply go up and talk to someone: anyone. Exchange business cards. Call or email them the next day to remind them that you met.

    The nice thing about being a computer repair person is that it's an unobtrusive role. You aren't trying to force yourself into people's lives, unlike insurance or financial planning or (lol) sales training--maybe I should start thinking more like a computer repair person. So when he goes up to chitchat at one of these events, people are going to be glad to meet him.

    Unless he wants to commit to getting business for other people as well as himself, I recommend that he stay away from BNI for right now. Maybe in 3 or 4 months he can look at that. There are lots of business networking events around town typically; I know in Wilmington NC (click for an example, so that you know what to look for in your town--this one is consistently packed, no matter where it's held--awesome for the hosting restaurant!) there are several that rotate through various restaurants and other venues around the town. You can usually meet new people even after you've been going for awhile, because there's always someone who just decided to go today.

    But after a few months, you should probably have an effective referral system in place so these folks that now know you can drive hot leads your way.

    Lastly, I have also seen signs at busy corners on weekends bring in work for IT shop and landscaper clients.
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    • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
      Attending a networking event, as mentioned, sure is a way to build your business. As an experiment, really just listen to what people there has to say. You will most likely find that they love to talk about themselves and their business and as a side note, ask what you are doing.

      Let them talk, actually encourage them and only slightly reluctantly mention what you do. They will love you for it. Then, when the timing is right, do your thing. We were born with two ears and one mouth, use it to your advantage.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason X
    If it were my client, I would first do some local SEO for the services they offer plus city or cities that they service. I would then create a facebook page, and have a sign-up for free tips to make your computer faster ETC, as you start to build your local list on FB then you can start weekly tips etc, before you know it you will have customers contacting you wanting help on their computer, Run small specials to get people to call you, $29.00 clean up etc
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  • Profile picture of the author danielkanuck
    Have his computer certifications posted on the walls of his business. Run a coupon ad promoting a "free computer check" in the newspaper. Once people come into his business, have him check out their computer to see if it's free of adware, spyware, virus, and other threats. At the end of the free check, give each prospect a business card, and tell them to come back if they have any other problems. Plus, offer each prospect a deal that "increases computer speed". He could probably charge $50 from this alone and make a killing. The more prospects he gets into his business, the more money he'll more than likely make. Also, make sure he gathers the name and mailing address of the prospects so that he can follow up on them every month.
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  • Profile picture of the author Aussieguy
    Get him to consider / list what he can do, and then have him consider more broadly what he can do other than sit in his shop waiting. Could he advertise to buy old computers, fix them up and sell refurbed computers? Advertise those - newspaper or just a flyer. If he did his own flyer of "here are our refurbed computers" like monthly or something....he is also at the same time, building his brand (make sure the flyer makes it clear he is the fix-it guy).

    Could he go into a school or something else like a club/library/prison etc and do some work for them and get a press release in the local paper to build credibility?

    Could he give a presentation somewhere on how to take care of your computer?
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    • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
      These 2 things will help your buddy the most Martin...

      #1 Be in front of those who have an emergency.
      When they turn their work computer on in the morning it doesn't work so they
      look in the classified column in the local paper.
      Or if they have a smart phone then they'll look up on places like Craigslist.

      #2 The ad needs to tell of the speed in which it will be fixed
      because that's what this group of people want most.

      And be ready to take the calls early in the morning,
      because that's when those emergency calls come in.

      A computer repair guy I know told me what his typical customer was like,
      and I've described them here for you.

      Best,
      Ewen
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  • Profile picture of the author mijagi
    Here's an idea that you'll like:

    Get in touch with guys who install internet access into homes and offices, and find someone who is willing to give out your friend's "computer repair" business cards (make sure you have a discount code or a coupon on it for even better results) to each of the home/business owner that he/she installs the internet for.

    The day when their computer breaks down will come sooner or later, and guess who are they going to call when that happens? I bet its going to be your friend. : )
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    • Profile picture of the author sandalwood
      Martin,

      It sounds like your friend should put himself in front of as many people as possible as quickly as possible. All of the networking and seo suggestions sound great and will work. However, here is one that'll put him in front of people with money who more than likely have computers and attendant computer problems.

      Let me make a disclaimer and charge forward. I don't know if charities in your area put out newsletters.

      If they do, have your friend become a contributor to the charity in this manner. Let's say he charges $50 an hour. Have him jv w/the charity. If he gets free advertising in their NL, he will donate the equivalent ad rate cost to them out of the business he gets from his NL ad.

      So assuming they charge $20 for a classified ad and he gets 3 jobs out of the NL, he donates $60 to the charity.

      Yes that is 3X the cost of the ad but do you think they will say no, we don't want your money. And who do you think will get their (the charity's) business when their computers need attention?

      He can also offer them a deeply discounted maintenance contract for their computers. One thing you should know about these charities is they meet on a regular basis at various functions. In my area, there is actually a monthly get together.

      He doesn't go to those in person. He will be there via the attendees. You see they all have computers and they all have problems with their computers. I think you can figure out the rest of the story.


      Tom
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      • Profile picture of the author sandalwood
        Martin,

        I just thought of another location with a large number of people. They are Independent Living Facilities. They are homes for us senior citizens. We get our own space (room) and can have anything we want like tv's, radios, computers. Most have all of these and more. Our computers go kaflooey just like anyone else's. We need repair people and really don't want to scour ads, the Internet or hope we see an ad on TV about computer repair people in the local area. If we had a flyer we could pick up in the lobby or a business card on our bulletin board we would call that person.

        No, I don't live in such a facility. I did insurance seminars in several here in town. Believe me, if you do a good job for one, the whole building will know about it. You'll have more business than you can handle.

        Your point of contact in these facilities is usually the marketing director. Yep, they have to market themselves too so they have marketing/sales people. That by itself should be a big plus for your friend. He will be talking to fellow sales people.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robert Domino
    Can you give us a bit more information about his services?

    Standard computer repairs doesn't require tons of efforts because you become people's "computer repair guy" and they contact you every time they have the slightest computer issue.

    Afaik there's more money in services like networking (computer networks), ans as many recommended, you'd go the chamber of commerce route for that.
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  • Profile picture of the author maxi
    Did he do a Google Places site? Can he do remote computer repair help? (I.E. be a helpdesk with the ability to take over the customer's computer to troubleshoot and repair software). He can charge a monthly or yearly fee for that.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Beatty
    Maybe blanket some middle to upper class neighborhoods with a coupon of some type using the Every Door Direct Mail program from the USPS. It's important for him to get a client base as quick as possible and make sure you have a sales funnel set up for them with email marketing.

    Sounds simple, but there is a guy in my local market who is always posting computer repair tips and tidbits about this or that related to making your computer faster on facebook. That's obviously a quick way to build up a local presence. Utilizing Social Media Properly!
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