So what should I do?

12 years ago

What kind of consulting do you do? Did you ever think of cross selling your existing customers with offline services like websites, mobile sites, seo etc?

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Baadier Sydow

Budget Furniture

Budget Furniture Cape Town

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SimTech

12 years ago

I get asked often what the best technology is to have. Which phone to buy, which printer, which TV, which Washing Machine, what software, etc.

Yes, I have mainly just local residential business. I fix cracked screens, and repair infected laptops the most.

For the two (TWO) business I have, I built them a server, host their website, mail, and Quickbooks on it. I built their website, working on the mobile site, and perform SEO for them.

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wagsgraphx

12 years ago

I think many people have tech anxiety and you could market yourself to fill that niche. Nobody want to invest that kind of money and make a bad decision.

People will pay to use Angie's list to find a reputable contractor or service, they will pay for knowledgeable advice. I also like the idea of onsite computer repair. My wife is dependent on her laptop for income. It needs some work, what she can't afford is to drop it off somewhere and have it fixed a few days later. She can only afford to be down for 1 day, so a reputable in home service would be appealing to her.

I know a photographer that has a mobile studio, completely outfitted vehicle with studio lighting, backgrounds etc. He goes to his clients.

You can make it work.

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Baadier Sydow

12 years ago

Originally Posted by wagsgraphx

I think many people have tech anxiety and you could market yourself to fill that niche. Nobody want to invest that kind of money and make a bad decision.

People will pay to use Angie's list to find a reputable contractor or service, they will pay for knowledgeable advice. I also like the idea of onsite computer repair. My wife is dependent on her laptop for income. It needs some work, what she can't afford is to drop it off somewhere and have it fixed a few days later. She can only afford to be down for 1 day, so a reputable in home service would be appealing to her.

I know a photographer that has a mobile studio, completely outfitted vehicle with studio lighting, backgrounds etc. He goes to his clients.

You can make it work.

I think wags has reached onto some important points here for working yourself into a niche. The key now is getting more business as you already seem to have all the tools.

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Baadier Sydow

Budget Furniture

Budget Furniture Cape Town

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Merden

12 years ago

You should start your own blog. And share your everyday experience with image and video with viewers. As you are a technician, you should also share your knowledge in you blog.

Just keep any one niche and you will boom in that field.

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SimTech

12 years ago

Thanks for the replies everyone, I like the tech anxiety idea. Any suggestions about how to go about marketing to the niche?

Yes, I need more business. I've got $1,800 in the truck so far, and I expect another $4,000 before its ready to make house calls. Problem is, im hungry, the bills aren't paid, and I don't have more than $200-$300 lined up for the next month!!

I had/have a blog, I try to keep it up to date, I really seemed to get interest in it, but none locally all just online interest. And while good, I have no idea how to turn those visitors into cash.

I haven't heard of angies list before I am about to check it out.

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Jacob Anthony

12 years ago

Have you thought about offering remote technical support via LogMeIn or something like that, as well as doing visits?

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wagsgraphx 12 years ago

Run some Craig's list ads for your mobile service, your techno phobia relief service. Old school: bulletin board flyers with tear offs or little business card holders. You can find the bulletin boards at: community centers, grocery stores, day care centers, coffee shops, bagel shops and retirement communities.

Offer to teach some basic computer classes or a Learning Facebook class or Twitter, at your local Churches and Senior Centers and retirement communities. I can pretty much guarantee that when you speak as an expert, you will get clients out of it.

Let all the Senior Citizen type agencies know about your on location services. Contact private and government agencies. Many of these people are home-bound.

Hope this helps.
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SimTech

12 years ago

I have been trying to think of a way to create remote assistance. I do it with the companies I work for, but am relatively unable to do it for residential because its somewhat complicated for most users to understand. I have been thinking if there was some software that I could install on each PC I work on, that would allow me to remote in next time, with little interaction from the user then I would be spot on. I will check out LogMeIn now.

I live in the panhandle of Florida in a small town of 5,000 - part of the problem. The nearest citys are 40 miles away, and even then the population of the entire area 75 miles any direction is only 155,000. I have been considering moving to Huston, Tx. I figure a few million more people would help business.

Wag, thanks a lot. I had been considering offering classes, just needed a location - hadn't considered churches. Or retirement homes.

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Biz Max

12 years ago

Are you doing anything now to bring in leads?

Posted from Warriorforum.com App for Android

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SimTech 12 years ago

Originally Posted by OfflineGold

Are you doing anything now to bring in leads?
Posted from Warriorforum.com App for Android

Well, I visit the restaurants in town often, as well as anywhere else I am, I am always friendly and out going, I try to initiate conversation with those who I feel will be the most beneficial to me. I tell them what I do, and if they are interested I give them a card. Other than that, nothing really besides being on Google Maps, and word of mouth referrals.

I like the idea about the car magnets! I will definitely use that, I had intended on just plastering all my stuff over it, but I think using some of the extra space will be better suited, - help pay for the 6-8mpg I am going to get with it!
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Murtag

12 years ago

Well you have a mobile truck, so have you considered getting advertisers to pay to have their advert put on the side of it?
Car magnets only cost around $10 last I checked and you could charge a monthly fee to have them advertised on your truck.
Maybe have multiple advertisers?
A bit of extra money a month for not doing much extra.
Just a thought...

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