CBP007: Getting into Managed Services
In this episode we’ll be digging into the world of managed services and how, among other benefits, becoming a managed service provider (MSP) can help keep your computer business income steady and predictable.
Also I have a metric ton of emails to answer and an exciting announcement about an upcoming project of mine. All that and more on this jam packed episode of the computer business podcast!
CBP007: Getting into Managed Services
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CBP006: The Remote Support Episode
This episode is all about Remote Support. What tools are out there, how do you find remote support customers, and how can you integrate it into your computer business?
My guest today is Lisa Hendrickson, owner of Call That Girl, a computer shop based out of Rochester Minnesota. She’s also the author of some very helpful guides for computer business owners including Call That Girl’s Guide to Remote Support. She services a large majority of her customer base via remote support, so I wanted to pick her brain about how she gets clients and handles situations that may come up during remote sessions.
CBP006: The Remote Support Episode
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How to Handle A Leave of Absence from Your Computer Business
Photo Credit: Ken Hawkins
Many of you who read this blog are solo computer consultants. In other words, you are the CEO, Marketer, Technician, and Secretary rolled into one extremely busy individual.
You ARE your business, and without you, it doesn’t run.
This is great for many reasons:
- You have ultimate control over all aspects of your company.
- You don’t have to spend money on employees and all the expenses that come along with that.
- You don’t have to worry about managing anyone and making sure they meet your high standards.
However there is one glaring disadvantage. If you should be unavailable, either by choice or heaven forbid by accident, your business essentially shuts down and you don’t make money.
[Read More...]
CBP005: From Computer Consultant to WordPress Developer
CORRECTION: In the Computer Business Toolbox section of the podcast I mention the incorrect source of the WordPress training vidoes. I should have said the videos are from WPMU.org, not iThemes.
In this episode I’ll be speaking with Eric Hamm, creator of the Dynamik Website Builder for WordPress. We will discuss his journey from being an independent computer consultant to a website developer and finally a WordPress theme creator. What lessons can we learn from his story?
Also I’ll be answering some reader emails and talking about tools you can use to start developing Website with WordPress with no prior web development experience!
CBP005: From Computer Consultant to WordPress Developer
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Case Study: Marketing That’s Worth the Money
As computer business owners you know we absolutely have to ABM (always be marketing). To avoid the dreaded, but common, feast or famine roller coaster, we need to make sure we’re always getting our name out there to new customers.
Because our time to perform marketing activities is limited, it is best for us to find the tactics that will give us the most bang for the buck.
Not all advertising techniques are created equal, so one must do their due diligence to find those few marketing tactics that work best for your business.
For this reason, over the last year I’ve made an effort to try different marketing tactics and measure their results. The goal being that I want to find the few marketing tactics that get the best results so I can focus on maximizing the effectiveness of those and turning them into a repeatable processes in order to free up my time.
Right now, I would like to share my results of all the marketing tactics I’ve tried over the last year and how well they did for me. I measure success both in the number of clients I get (because they can turn into repeat customers as well as provide referrals) and by the amount of money earned from the first call with that client. At the very least I’m looking to break even. Here they are in no particular order: [Read More...]
CBP004: Grow Your Computer Business with YouTube
The topic of today’s episode of the Computer Business Podcast is how you can use YouTube as a marketing tool for your computer business. I’ll be talking with Gabe Martushev of Teknyka Tech Support in Oregon who has quickly grown his computer shop with the help of YouTube videos.
Also I’ll be answering some reader emails and talking about a great tool that you can use to produce professional looking videos for your business in minutes.
CBP004: Grow Your Computer Business with YouTube
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CBP003: Time Management for Computer Business Owners with Daniel Hand
Are you overwhelmed with the day to day tasks of running a computer business? Do you often overlook things or drop the ball because you just don’t have enough time? Are you spending enough time with your family, friends, or just relaxing? In this episode of The Computer Business Podcast I speak with Daniel Hand about his new book, Time Is Precious, which is aimed at helping computer business owners manage their time better.
I also answer some listener emails about the recent reports of declining PC sales and also how I handle purchasing hardware for customers.
Finally, in the toolbox, I reveal the two software services that have helped me take my time management to the next level. You don’t want to miss this jam packed show!
CBP003: Time Management for Computer Business Owners
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5 Things To Do During an On-Site Repair
If you’re a solo computer consultant like me, you may often find yourself face-to-face with clients in their personal office or home. It’s best not to take for granted that these folks are inviting you into their private spaces. It helps to be prepared with certain things, both tangible and intangible, that will help make the experience go more smoothly for both you and your customer.
I put together a video in which I walk through the five things that I make sure to do every time I visit someone for an on-site job. It’s easy to forget one or more of these things, but each one is a valuable piece to making your computer business a great one.
Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more video tips!
[Read More...]
CBP002: Should You Start a Computer Business?
In this episode of The Computer Business Podcast I let you know if YOU have what it takes to start a computer business.
If you’re still on the fence about starting a computer business, or are running a business part time, you’ll want to listen closely as I talk about what will be in store for you when you decide to run a full time computer business.
Is it something you really want to get into? Do you have what it takes? What kind of computer businesses are there and which kind is the best for you? These are all questions that I’ll attempt to answer in this episode.
CBP002: Should You Start a Computer Business?
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[Video] Naming Your Computer Business
In this video I answer a question from a reader about naming his computer business:
“I have a dilemma, I called my company markingle.biz, but am toying now with a better name for the company to sort of reflect the industry. The reason I chose my name was to build a brand name which is not just another PC shops name. What do you think? Should I rename or should I stick with the current name?”
And here is my response to Mark:
