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Starting An IT Business

by elmo033057
8 replies
My son lives in NC and is starting an IT business. His services include:

Computer Issues:
Install
Repair
Troubleshooting
Backups and data recovery
Operating System
Virus / Spyware Removal
Tune Up / Software Install
Hardware Install (Hard Drive, RAM, Video Card, etc...)
Printer Issues:
Initial set up and installations
Laser Printer Troubleshooting
Ink Jet Printer Troubleshooting
Networking
Installations (wired and/or wireless)
Network troubleshooting
User Training
Basic computing
Technology consulting
Social media
Email Set up / Trouble shooting
Website Help

Does anyone have an ideas on how he should market his business and what types of businesses he should approach? Is there anyone on this forum that has started a similar business that could give us a few pointers?

Thanks so much in advance!

God Bless!

ELMO
#business #starting
  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    try this thread: http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...s-locally.html Look for the post by MRomeo
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    Success is an ACT not an idea
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Will you be charging him for your copywriting services or give him the family discount? lol.
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    • Profile picture of the author elmo033057
      Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

      Will you be charging him for your copywriting services or give him the family discount? lol.
      Ha - ha, he is already hitting me up do do that stuff.

      I guess I owe him at least that much for the time he spent in Afghanistan defending my butt.

      God Bless!

      Elmo
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      Mark "Elmo" Ellis
      "When It Comes To High Response Copy - I've Got Your Back!"
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      • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
        Originally Posted by elmo033057 View Post

        Ha - ha, he is already hitting me up do do that stuff.

        I guess I owe him at least that much for the time he spent in Afghanistan defending my butt.

        God Bless!

        Elmo
        Very true! Good luck to you guys. Definitely a good field to be in, a friend of mine has gotten into the industry and has been super busy, focusing mostly on commercial stuff.
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        • Profile picture of the author shockwave
          Looks like what he really doing is offering Desktop Support and sprinkling in some Managed IT Services.

          Yes, I'm heavily into this as it's my regular 9-5 gig (including ERP/CRM systems).

          My advice: (and I'm only speaking about selling technology products/services here - not IM stuff)

          1. Decide WHO he wants to market too. Companies with under 50 employees are not really a "small business" - they are micro-businesses. This will matter because the lower number of employees, the more focused they will be on costs.

          2. He's going to need to decide if he wants to play in the kiddie pool or wants to swim with the big boys when it comes to Services. If the kiddie pool is where he wants to play, then he better have his hourly consulting fees somewhere in the ballpark of $50-$100/hr depending on the project. Otherwise he will be too expensive for the low-baller market.

          3. Marketing: There are really only 2 ways that MOST companies/people buy technology:

          a. They start to do research online. (adwords or seo)
          b. They ask someone they trust (networking/referrals).

          I suggest he doesn't waste his time or money on any other forms.

          * On a side note, Microsoft Office365 is hot with ALL sizes of business - he should check that out and become a MS Partner.

          Good Luck.
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          • Profile picture of the author elmo033057
            Originally Posted by shockwave View Post

            Looks like what he really doing is offering Desktop Support and sprinkling in some Managed IT Services.

            Yes, I'm heavily into this as it's my regular 9-5 gig (including ERP/CRM systems).

            My advice: (and I'm only speaking about selling technology products/services here - not IM stuff)

            1. Decide WHO he wants to market too. Companies with under 50 employees are not really a "small business" - they are micro-businesses. This will matter because the lower number of employees, the more focused they will be on costs.

            2. He's going to need to decide if he wants to play in the kiddie pool or wants to swim with the big boys when it comes to Services. If the kiddie pool is where he wants to play, then he better have his hourly consulting fees somewhere in the ballpark of $50-$100/hr depending on the project. Otherwise he will be too expensive for the low-baller market.

            3. Marketing: There are really only 2 ways that MOST companies/people buy technology:

            a. They start to do research online. (adwords or seo)
            b. They ask someone they trust (networking/referrals).

            I suggest he doesn't waste his time or money on any other forms.

            * On a side note, Microsoft Office365 is hot with ALL sizes of business - he should check that out and become a MS Partner.

            Good Luck.
            Shock,

            Thanks so much for all the great info and the well wishes. I'll pass this on to my son, I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

            God Bless and thanks again!

            ELMO
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            Mark "Elmo" Ellis
            "When It Comes To High Response Copy - I've Got Your Back!"
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  • Profile picture of the author JamesW3
    Hi Mark,

    Congratulations on your sons new venture. I am the owner of a small branding firm. I can help your son build a viable business in this field. If your son is just starting out, then more than likely, he is going to be doing IT consulting. If he is going to be doing consulting in this field, then he will be involved in the professional services niche. Professional service branding is pretty much the same, at its core, regardless of the industry you are in. It consists of a combination of B2B branding and consumer based branding.

    If you need some help creating a viable brand that is viable and marketable, send me a pm. I can send you a link inside and outside the forum to my portfolio with various case studies and ceo testimonials. We can talk budget, time-frame, and expectations further through the pm.

    I hope to hear from you soon.


    James
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  • Profile picture of the author elmo033057
    James,

    Thanks so much, I'll pass this on to him.

    God Bless,

    Mark
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    Mark "Elmo" Ellis
    "When It Comes To High Response Copy - I've Got Your Back!"
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