Finding Companies That Need Computer Help?

[Anthony Fornito]

I have been running my own computer company for about a year now. I have 3 clients which I pretty much got when I first put up my website. They are not local clients they are scattered across the country. Most of the work is local done as a 1099 contractor.

That is good enough for now but I am getting a little frustrated in that I have probably paid out almost $20,000 in the past 6 months for website optimization, fixing my website, paying contractor services to find me work, marketing, etc.

I feel that a computer repair business will run itself with word of mouth. I am considered one of the best techs by theses contracting companies I use; I know this because they are constantly increasing my territory, which make more drive time for me, which also means more money, which means I actually loose valuable work time sitting in my care for 6 hours or on a plane for 2 days. Not that I have any local clients anyway to lose that time on.

My question is how local computer companies find work locally. I have posted my resume and profile on every social media site, freelance site I can find. My information is on almost 100 different sites. Is there site I can go to, can I call someone, how do I find them? I know I can Google myself and find my company rather quickly.

Can anyone think of anything I am not doing or should I just throw in the towel? Im not looking to do just break-fix work. I have a Masters in information technology, with over 15 years of experience. I got tired of working for other people making 10 times more than me running their own businesses and I work for peanuts. I was considered their best tech as well but I fell I am more than a tech.

While at Best Buy I was hired as a Geek Squad territory manager for the Washington DC area and took that market from a $500,000 to a $2.5 million market in 2 years. I know I can run a company and do the same I just need to get the ball rolling. I feel like I have shelled out enough money that I’m sure I have sucker written across my forehead by now.

Any advice or help would greatly appreciated.

Thank You
Anthony Fornito

[Uncommon Sense]

So why have you done no advertising?
If you have all this experience and knowledge you didn't think of advertising in trade mags, radio, direct mail?

[Casey Y]

Tony, you definitely have sucker written across your forehead.

Imagine you are an average consumer and need work done on your computer, where do you turn? Obviously, you search for "computer repair" with your area/city/state/etc. Now, do you think the average consumer is going to want someone they never heard of, or will they walk into Best Buy and talk to the geek squad? Hopefully, you understand this.

Again, why would anyone come to you at all? Your company has no reputation (3 clients in other states don't really count), so why would anyone give you a shot?

I am just being completely honest from a marketing perspective. You need to get some local clients and then let your work spread by word of mouth. Offer crazy deals to get some customers in the door, but ask for testimonials (video are the best) in response for the low rates.

Good Luck.

[Richard L]

One of the downsides of being self-employed is that you have to spend a significant amount of time and energy to get the next job and the next job after that one. Also it sounds like you have overspent on some things to help obtain clients, better web positioning, etc.

You are competing with computer service companies who have huge brand name recognition and you have virtually none by comparison. So all this being said, you have to evaluate if it would be better to cut your losses and go to work for an employer. In this tough economy getting out of being self-employed is the only sensible choice...

Best wishes!

[wideanswer224]

Hi,

You sounds like you have very much experience in the field. Are you looking to join with a firm providing computer repair solutions. We would like to discus with you if you want to. Follow the below link and send us your feed back.

Thanks