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Success rate of a self starter?

by Nepherael
7 replies
Hi guys,

I've been around the forum a bit recently introducing myself. For those that haven't seen my threads, I recently started a business focused on computer and network repair, service, and support along with social media marketing services.

I decided to move to marketing for many reasons, one of the biggest ones was that I want to help struggling small business owners with my services and, maybe, create some jobs in the process.

I'm curious for those who are very experienced in this field what you think my success rate could be? Since January I've done nothing but research starting my business and social media marketing. My business officially became active about a week ago and I haven't gone business to business yet handing out cards because I'm scared I'm not ready. I have done some stuff on Facebook and I regularly post updates on my business page and I also have a website and business phone. I also have a full pricing plan and consultation outline so I'm fairly prepared when it comes to that and knowing what social sites I would recommend and telling them exactly how I would leverage them (thought I am still trying to learn the best ways to drive ACTUAL customers to like, post, and comment).

I know it's possible to be successful I just would like some input from those that already are. Maybe there's something I should be doing that I'm not, something I should know already that I don't, or something you guys think would make a positive difference in my journey. I also thought this might help others in my shoes.

Thanks for any input
#rate #starter #success
  • Profile picture of the author brutecky
    Your going to sell social media marketing services but you intend to hand out business cards to get your customers. If you cant use social media to market your own services then you have no business selling that service.

    Handing out cards normally doesnt work well by the way. Business owners will take your card, smile, put it in there desk then forget about you 10 minutes after you leave.

    Computer repair isnt that lucrative of a market anymore. Its hard to justify paying $75 per hour for repair when you can buy a new computer for $300 from WalMart.

    Networking is useless to small business, for most of them all they need is basic wifi and with everything being plug and play there is no need for a guy like you.

    Over all Id say your chances of making a living at this are slim to none. You might have a 5% chance. Now if you just want to make some side cash then Id say you have a 20% chance.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nepherael
    Well my starting point is over 30 small businesses in the immediate area that I've profiled that have zero online presence or a horrible one. Those business are very unlikely to find me by searching online because they just don't realize there's an entire market they aren't tapping. How do I leverage that client base with my social media?

    I'm just really surprised at your answer. Even with the computer repair and network services I get calls from people that would much rather pay me $40 than buy a new pc (especially with how tight money for everyone).

    Thank you for your honest answer. Maybe I really need to rethink what I'm doing. What would really help in this situation is making the jump to selling social media marketing services through social media. Can anyone offer some input as to some steps I can take to do a better job in that department? I update my business page at least once a day and share the post on my own page. I haven't leveraged any other social sites beyond Facebook because my original plan was to start locally and get comfortable. I know that accruing twitter followers and having multiple networks linked makes a difference it just comes down to being new and trying to get a client or two and make sure I take care of them correctly.

    For reference my business Facebook page is www.facebook.com/compandtech
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    • Profile picture of the author brutecky
      Originally Posted by Nepherael View Post

      I'm just really surprised at your answer.
      Why would you be surprised? I have owned (and sold) a computer repair shop. There really not that profitable anymore, now of course Im speaking of the market in my area, but still I doubt you will make a decent living at it. You have to do a lot of $40 jobs every week to make it worth while.

      Originally Posted by Nepherael View Post

      Maybe I really need to rethink what I'm doing. What would really help in this situation is making the jump to selling social media marketing services through social media. Can anyone offer some input as to some steps I can take to do a better job in that department?
      I think social media marketing is a very good business. However I think you first need to learn this before you can sell it. Just taking a look at your fan page there are some very basic mistakes. I mean you dont even have a cover photo, The majority of your posts are text (which people who know Facebook know dont spread very well) , most of the text posts are just spam ads, your not building a relationship with your followers, your not giving them a reason to share.

      Take some time and do some learning, then go with selling social media marketing once you have mastered it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stephen Root
    Here's my thoughts:

    Don't even try to start selling "social marketing". You're way too inexperienced for that and it will take anybody a long time to get really good at it.

    Instead rebrand yourself as LOCAL social marketing expert. Local is what 99% small businesses actually want anyway - and now there's even an expert (you) for their area.

    Selling local marketing is easier because you naturally have advantage of being local guy. It's also much cheaper and there's less competition.

    However you need to also understand that local marketing will never scale. Depending where you live you'll be able to run profitable business but most likely you'll hit the limit sooner or later. So start preparing early and make some plans how to expand.

    *edit* Sorry, didn't answer your original question. Here goes. There's no success rate. Anybody who tells you otherwise is somebody who you shouldn't listen. It's all up to you. I don't believe in getting lucky. I believe in trying, over and over again if necessary.
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    • Profile picture of the author Nepherael
      Originally Posted by Stephen Root View Post

      Here's my thoughts:

      Don't even try to start selling "social marketing". You're way too inexperienced for that and it will take anybody a long time to get really good at it.

      Instead rebrand yourself as LOCAL social marketing expert. Local is what 99% small businesses actually want anyway - and now there's even an expert (you) for their area.

      Selling local marketing is easier because you naturally have advantage of being local guy. It's also much cheaper and there's less competition.

      However you need to also understand that local marketing will never scale. Depending where you live you'll be able to run profitable business but most likely you'll hit the limit sooner or later. So start preparing early and make some plans how to expand.

      *edit* Sorry, didn't answer your original question. Here goes. There's no success rate. Anybody who tells you otherwise is somebody who you shouldn't listen. It's all up to you. I don't believe in getting lucky. I believe in trying, over and over again if necessary.
      Thank you. Yes my ENTIRE goal to start was to be local (which gives me an opportunity to really get good since im also leveraging a mostly local consumer base). I have profiled most major locally owned small businesses and have a pitch for over half of them. None of them are leveraging any online marketing of any kind and I started my business with an initial focus on helping local small business owners struggling in our economy.

      I won't ever stop trying

      Edit: As for the scaling, thank you for iterating it. I definitely get that and my plan is to have a much wider skill range and a testimonial spot on my website when I move to a larger client base.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nepherael
    Yeah I got ya. I understand the difference between ads and engaging people but I have to have followers to engage in the first place so I've tried to offer incentive in that department. Beyond that I've asked questions and tried to get the few people that have liked my page involved. I must be missing something rudimentary as far as getting more people involved goes.

    As for learning more do you have any resource recommendations? I have spent a long time researching but there's only so much I've been able to find that goes beyond the basic mantra of engage, incentivise, convert. That's the reason I'm here. I want to master this. I spent 6 months starting a functional working business and I'm not going to waste this opportunity
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  • Profile picture of the author SuperKC
    Get yourself a rocking CMS system, if you don't know of one I can refer you to one, then just start building local business websites.. take a print company.. rebuild their current site, buy them a domain out of your own pocket, then setup pay per click for it. Collect leads on the site and when you get them (about every $20..) call the business and hand it over.. free.. and tell them it was from their new website. Do daily posting on craigslist for the 10-20 small business sites you setup.. and guess what.. you will win there business because your bringing business in the door. I've been down the path you are thinking, I've invested litterally hundreds of thousands into it.. learn from my mistakes haha.
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