I ask because a good friend and I have started a computer repair service. There is only one other in a town of 30,000 people so the market is wide open.( I actually currently work at the only other one in town so its kind of ironic.)
What is the best way to advertise? We have put fliers door to door in high, middle and low class neighbor hoods with some success, but its seems like its going pretty slow. The first week open we made $450 in profit, but it seems like we could we do better.
Any suggestions?
Anybody here own a buisness?
Re: Anybody here own a buisness?
Word of mouth, Internet advertising, local newspaper, get a billboard... Hell, hire a guy to stand on a street corner and yell for a few hours.
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lordofduct
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Re: Anybody here own a buisness?
yellow pages also are very effective.
Your prime market is the middle aged and older. People who have no inkling about computers at all and will need assistance rather frequently (recurring customer == good). These people still depend on their yellow pages far more then us younger folk.
You may also want to try hitting up around to companies or city buildings for contracts. Contracts with like the library or town hall are always useful because it's consistent light work... it's good for covering all the overhead. That way any push jobs (one time customers) are all profit. Getting the contracts though really matters on the town. If it's a small town, the town hall meetings would probably be the best way to step in. If it's a big town... then it's harder. I have no idea how my brother's dad scored so many contracts here in WPB, but he did.
Also, even though it sounds kinda low class. The grocer. Most of them have bulletin boards, post up a professional looking bulletin advertising a "grand opening" of some sort... like the new guy on the street who is up with the times, young, and ambitious... we're here to fix allll your problems. Again your prime market look's these boards over a lot. It also gives a good sense of being a community business as opposed to a fat cat like the "nerd squad" or some gay crap from big box America.
Your prime market is the middle aged and older. People who have no inkling about computers at all and will need assistance rather frequently (recurring customer == good). These people still depend on their yellow pages far more then us younger folk.
You may also want to try hitting up around to companies or city buildings for contracts. Contracts with like the library or town hall are always useful because it's consistent light work... it's good for covering all the overhead. That way any push jobs (one time customers) are all profit. Getting the contracts though really matters on the town. If it's a small town, the town hall meetings would probably be the best way to step in. If it's a big town... then it's harder. I have no idea how my brother's dad scored so many contracts here in WPB, but he did.
Also, even though it sounds kinda low class. The grocer. Most of them have bulletin boards, post up a professional looking bulletin advertising a "grand opening" of some sort... like the new guy on the street who is up with the times, young, and ambitious... we're here to fix allll your problems. Again your prime market look's these boards over a lot. It also gives a good sense of being a community business as opposed to a fat cat like the "nerd squad" or some gay crap from big box America.
Re: Anybody here own a buisness?
My family has been in business for decades. Word of mouth/reputation is our biggest thing. Referal agencies help us also. Definetly want to be in the phonebook and newspaper. I've seen alot of businesses have great success with street sign wavers.
Re: Anybody here own a buisness?
according to the show frisky dingo post cards produce a good amount of yield
make it catchy and colorful and someone might talk about it on a tv or radio show
make it catchy and colorful and someone might talk about it on a tv or radio show
Re: Anybody here own a buisness?
tacofairy wrote:according to the show frisky dingo post cards produce a good amount of yield
make it catchy and colorful and someone might talk about it on a tv or radio show
Sorry, off-topic I know.Killface wrote: Why does it say "Welcome to you are 'Doom!'"? What does that even mean, and why, for God's sakes, is "Doom!" in quotes?
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Dakinggamer87
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Re: Anybody here own a buisness?
I hope to open my own online business on ebay eventually and run a store and sell various products as my full-time job.. 
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Re: Anybody here own a buisness?
Being your own boss: Isn't that everyone's dream?
Reality is far harsher.
Reality is far harsher.
If each mistake being made is a new one, then progress is being made.
Re: Anybody here own a buisness?
Not a business persey but I freecycle alot of stuff and services. I have made money from it so I guess it could be one...
My best tip for advertising, apart from what was obviously mentioned, would be libraries and any sort of social center. Your town have a fair of somesort? Buy advertising at it. It will cost you out the nose yes, but that is where your demographic is. An underhanded technique you can pull, and one I have, is to grab the prices of your competitors (in my case Best Buy) and when quoting a price to people tell them, you are saving them x over what Best Buy charges. Its really not that hard to beat their prices, they want $30 to install ram, but it can be viewed as sleazy.
My best tip for advertising, apart from what was obviously mentioned, would be libraries and any sort of social center. Your town have a fair of somesort? Buy advertising at it. It will cost you out the nose yes, but that is where your demographic is. An underhanded technique you can pull, and one I have, is to grab the prices of your competitors (in my case Best Buy) and when quoting a price to people tell them, you are saving them x over what Best Buy charges. Its really not that hard to beat their prices, they want $30 to install ram, but it can be viewed as sleazy.
Re: Anybody here own a buisness?
Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Word of mouth seems to be the thing we hear the most. We went and picked up our business cards today and I will be passing them out like mad. Newspaper ads are next on the agenda.
I like being my own boss though. Any time one of us needs to run an errand or anything, we just let the other know and do it with no questions asked. We have been good friends since early high school, so work is actually fun. We already knew what we were getting into with paying taxes and all the other book keeping, since thats what I do at the "competitions" store lol.
Word of mouth seems to be the thing we hear the most. We went and picked up our business cards today and I will be passing them out like mad. Newspaper ads are next on the agenda.
I like being my own boss though. Any time one of us needs to run an errand or anything, we just let the other know and do it with no questions asked. We have been good friends since early high school, so work is actually fun. We already knew what we were getting into with paying taxes and all the other book keeping, since thats what I do at the "competitions" store lol.