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As some of you know I'm an "IT guy" - I'm looking at breaking into doing my own thing.
See Unlimited IT Support | On-site & Remote Access for what I want to be doing.
Can you come with some name suggestions for me?
Can anybody help me with getting me on my feet with it?
Jason
Jason, it sounds like a great idea but I am having one of those noncreative days :RpS_sad: maybe later. You have my support if nothing else right now. Give it time.
Personal PC Consultants, i.e. P2C2. :)
Some tips from someone who has done a similar thing:
1. Get a separate phone number for personal use. So you can turn the work one off when you need to.
2. Don't undersell your services. Make sure you clearly outline what is and isn't covered under your 9.99 per month (sounds too cheap to me, for business support).
3. Avoid 'home users' servicing if you can, they become the biggest PIA jobs and are more likely to grizzle about the price. Unless you find a really rich one, like I did. All she cared about was that ability to buy / sell on ebay on her laptop, and paid me well to make sure it kept working!
Look into some proper remote access software, like Kaseya. A good system will cost a little bit, but well worth it. Assists you in being proactive (low disk alerts, virus protection not updating, and all that stuff), and you can roll out updates / patches remotely. Using this cut down our physical site visits considerably, and earned good monthly income.
Hosted Exchange.... I presume you are outsourcing this, not hosting yourself? We made that mistake (self hosting) and it was a constant war keeping spammers off the SMTP side of it. That was back in the days of Exchange 2000 though. In the end we told our handful of clients it was mailboxes etc only, use your ISP for outbound!
Names.... how about 'Bizcare' or something like that. It should somehow reflect that you are in the SOHO market (if that's the market you're after), so keep it professional sounding. No disrespect, but to me the IT Guy sounds like someone I would call to fix my old home '98 PC and install my Xbox.
And on that note, make the blog more business orientated. Who cares about UAC and Admin logins. The importance of Backups, Office tricks / tips, the cost of not upgrading, things like that that people will read. Then send it out in a regular e-newsletter too. Keep your name constantly in front of your clients. It helps to get someone (intelligent) from outside your office to read stuff like that too, for proofreading and making sure you aren't getting to techy-speak!
So in a nutshell, work out who you're actual target market is going to be, then make sure your image portrays the type of business that they would want to deal with.
Hope that gives you something to ponder!
Thanks for the tips!Quote:
Originally Posted by Hypanor
IT Guy isn't connected to me in any way. Just something I'm aiming for.
I'll use these tips to my advantage.
Yes Small office/Home office is what I'm after - large businesses would be too much like a full-time contract.
Jason
Hi Jason,
You need to recruit sales people before anthing else. If you want any sales staff to work on commission only they must have experience and be characteristically suited for that type of work. Start by getting a brief CV of their sales experience then give the shortlisted ones a psychometric test.
The person who has the motivation to do this sort of work is probably selling something like The Big Issue. Start by chatting to a few Big Issue sellers to learn what makes them suceed in a job like that. Don't look for computer savvy. Look for somebody who can sell in a hostile environment. Somebody could fool you or I but not psychometric tests. I told you why and when my son tried to cheat with the answers which he gave for a job in University vacations. He was furious and I laughed like a drain when he admitted he had tried to cheat the tests.
For other readers. My son wanted to cheat the tests because his mum also interpretted the system that the potential emplyoyer used. He wanted to hide the fact that he had a whizz-kid profile. He wanted the employer to think he was meek and submissive.
For old timers in the industry, Jake Amadee could be the right type, if he ever decided to "go straight".
LOL....Now there is a blast from the past.....Quote:
Originally Posted by path2prosperity
I used to follow Jake because he could sell anything. It was a fascinating modus opperandi. He even sold me the idea that he was a petty crook rather than a big timer! He sold his "tech guy" to thousands. Pity that Jason was not around to see how convincingy he sold MrsVee, the server set up expert.Quote:
Originally Posted by okosh
I wish Jason the best in his new enterprise. The best name for a new enterprise in UK is one that makes people laugh. I always giggle when I walk along Kings Road in Chelsea and see the thriving shoe repair shop RSoles. Perhaps Jason could think up a variation on that name. RSole Computer Repair? or No RSole Computer Solutions?
I have a few ideas.
WAN Care
Byte my bits
Sudo - "We get to the root of your problem" ©
This one - made me laugh! And just subtle enough that not every one would get it... but those that do, won't forget it!Quote:
Originally Posted by Poyol
We somehow got on the subject and I told a mate this name (WAN Care) this morning. After I explained it to him (its lost on non-techies), he said the company car should be a Hyundai Kia - it would be the WAN Kia. lol!
Haha!
Good idea! :D
Off the top of my head forgive the rambling....Quote:
Originally Posted by Poyol
Change "for only " to "from only" _ it allows you to reposition later -link it with a "terms and conditions" document which allows you to get out by terminating the contract at say a months notice or some say "at any time without notice". you dont want to be bound into "unlimited support" and decide to drop the guy and find out he wants his month yu still owe him. Have all the "we do not support and will report and ban clients who promote child porn, fraud , terrorism (...etc.) before the "termination of contract" clause.
Market
Have you researched the market?
Total Size?
The segment you are after - demographic, professional,
will you have key customers or mass market? a lot of 80/20rules with key customers
Finance
Have you done a breakeven analysis?
A cashflow forecast? Is there any seasonal implications for buyying patterns weather holidays (customers and staff)
Have you adequate financing and id not what can you cut/restructure or where/how can you source finance?
Venture capital/ share offer/ loans/ overdrafts.
strategy
Have you done a PESTLE or SWOT analysis?
Have you researched staffing management inventory legal and cost implications for expansion?
Have you planned for succession, windup, get out or selling the business on as a going concern or as a sleeping partner?
Legal
Have you any inventory or supply chain management issues?
Have you a health and safety policy or is one required by law?
If you take on any staff are you aware of the statutory requirement for contracts working conditions etc. ? _ much of this has come in under EU law in Ireland but may not apply in the UK.
I assume you are aware of all the data protection and privacy issues.
Oh the NAME
Actully i sent one but I will keep more to myself and PM them as anyone might rob the names