20 Things You Can Do Right Now To Improve Your Computer Business
Over the three plus years that I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve experimented with many strategies for growing my fledgling computer consulting business. Some have worked well while others have fallen flat and turned out to be nothing but hype.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know that I only present topics about things that I have personally tried and experienced as I start and grow my computer repair business. Yet, for new readers, it may be hard to find the best information among the hundreds of blogs posts on this site.
6 Great Gifts for Computer Consultants
It’s that time of year again, where we take the time to try to find the perfect gift for the one’s we love! Well, if you have a computer tech on your list, or you’re a tech looking for things to put on your own list, here are some ideas for great geeky gifts.
First, be sure to check out my list from a couple of years ago, most of the items are still available and would still make great gifts: 10 Affordable Gifts for the Computer Tech on Your List (2008).
My list this year runs the gamete from practical to downright insane. Therefore, you should be able to find the perfect gift for the needs and personality of the recipient.
ASUS Transformer
The ultimate cool gadget for this season is the ASUS Transformer. It’s the first tablet/laptop hybrid that got it right, in my opinion. You can carry the tablet around by itself. It runs the latest tablet-friendly version of Android and has specs that match or exceed the iPad on the hardware side.
Check out what’s under the hood:
- Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor
- Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich (ships with Honeycomb, first tablet to get upgraded)
- Super IPS+ display (1280×800) with Corning Gorilla Glass
- 8MP rear camera (F2.4 aperture), 1.2MP front camera
- 1 GB memory; 32/64 GB storage; microSD slot; microHDMI port
- 12 hour battery life
- Dimensions: 263 x 180.8 x 8.3 mm; 586 g (10.35 x 7.11 x 0.32 inches; 1.29 lbs.)
But where this baby really shines is in it’s detachable keyboard. Snap it on and you have a very functional android-based laptop. The keyboard dock adds functionality like USB ports and a track pad.
This is a wonderfully versatile gadget that will come in handy for any computer consultant out in the field.
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Computer Business Location: Work from Home or Have a Storefront?
In a previous post I’ve talked about on-site versus in-shop repairs and how to choose the best business model for your computer repair business. Now I’d like to take that a step further and explore the age-old question: Should I continue to run my business from home or is it time to open up a physical store?
As always, I like to explore the pros and cons of both situations. This helps me understand which approach would be best for my business based on my goals. Here are some points to consider when weighing the possibility of opening up a storefront.
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Computer Guy’s Toolbox: Techibble’s Computer Business Kit Version 2
In the “Computer Guy’s Toolbox” series, I highlight a product or service that I think will benefit the independent computer tech.
A couple years ago I reviewed Technibble’s Computer Business Kit here on the blog. I gave it a modest review, noting how it provided some good document templates most appropriate for new computer business owners. I felt, however, that it lacked in certain areas and it felt a bit incomplete.
Well, Bryce Whitty over at Technibble.com, has released the next version of the kit and let me tell you, it is a HUGE improvement over the original. I’ve had a chance to really dig deeply into this version of the kit, so without further ado, here is my review.
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Finding a Niche: PC Gamers
Advertising your computer repair business can be a bit overwhelming. 68.7% of American homes have internet access, and the number rises sharply in more densely populated areas. That means you have over half of your community, town, city, or county as possible customers.
You could take a generalist approach and randomly advertise to as many people as possible and hope you appeal to some of those people. That works for well-established companies with large advertising budgets. But there is a much cheaper and more effective method of advertising that involves targeting a small niche of your potential customer base.
In the Finding a Niche series of blog posts I will profile different possible customer niches that you can target for your computer consulting business.
Today we will focus on the hardcore fans of PC games. These guys like their tech to be the latest and greatest, but often don’t have all the skills necessary to build or troubleshoot their powerful systems.
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What It Takes To Be A Computer Consultant
I was thinking the other day about how it takes an equal blend of different skills in order to be a good, effective computer consultant. I drafted a simple Venn Diagram to really visualize for myself, and others, how those different skills work together to create the different facets of a computer consultant.
If you are weak in any of these three skills, then being a computer consultant might not be the right job for you. Lets take a deeper look at each of the facets mentioned in the picture.
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A Computer Consultant’s Guide to Facebook Pt.3: How to Attract New Paying Customers
In Part 1 of my series on Facebook for Computer Consultants I talked about why I believe it’s necessary that your computer business have a presence on Facebook. In Part 2 I showed you exactly how to set-up an eye catching page to help your business stick out from the rest. Today I’ll be going over some strategies you can use to attract new paying customers through your Facebook Page.
The Goal
So now you have a gorgeous, professional, well put together Facebook Page. That’s great! But it won’t do you much good without people. You need to get people to your page.
But it’s not enough just to get random people liking your page. You want highly targeted people, folks who are looking for computer help or will need your services in the future.
Finally, once you have those targeted people, you want to always remind them that you are there by providing valuable content, exclusive deals, and info about your company.
The following are strategies I’ve used to get people liking my page and using my services.
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A Computer Consultant’s Guide to Facebook pt.2: How to Set Up an Eye Catching Business Page
In Part 1 of my series on Facebook for Computer Consultants I talked about why I believe it’s necessary that your computer business have a presence on Facebook. This week I’ll be getting down into the nitty-gritty of setting up the page to look good and maximize user engagement.
Here’s what my Facebook Bussines Page looks like when a new user first visits:
Starting a Computer Repair Business: First Steps
I received the following email from a YFNCG reader. I’ll call her Sally. Sally wants to earn some extra money for college (she’s an Information Systems major) by repairing computers. She goes on to say:
I have been cleaning my friends and families computers for years now and just haven’t charged. I am emailing to get some tips about how I should go about this and how to present it to people. I am not yet A+ certified (because of cost) but have taken a detailed class on it. I just want to tell people that I am not certified but can do those basic things. Also what are your ideas about advertising and prices for repair and cleaning. I am going to continue this when I get to school as well so basically any help that you can give me for home and for school would be great.
