[djrmenace]

This post is not some sort of cheap attempt to get a measly few more views on my site from this community. I genuinely want your ideas on my situation.

My situation (A new beginning):

I just started an IT business a few months ago on the Gold Coast (IT Support, Web design, Computer repair, Computer sales etc). I went all out and QUIT MY JOB to make this happen. Most of my available funds and time have gone in to equipment, general setup (server, web site, some starter clients). I have a couple of referred clients (from friends and family) but not nearly enough to cover my old wage as an Network Administrator.


Dilemma (The news):

Soon after Quitting my job to start this business I found out I AM GOING TO BE A DAD! Great news.. I am ecstatic! But fearful at the same time because of my situation. My wife will soon be unable to work and I will need to support the family myself. Doing the sums, I figure that unless my business makes an extra 10k in the next 2 months (to cover some financing etc) I will have to give up on the Business and look for work. That would not be a good option as it is hard to find a good salary in IT on the Gold Coast to cover living expenses for Me, My wife, My Mother in-law (living with us) and a new born due in in a few months.

So you see, my business MUST WORK! I have no other option. About 5 - 10 new steady clients would do it, but how?


Done so far:

Here are some of the things I have done so far (Please be honest with your criticism on these, I need to know what to change):
*Registered a business name "DO IT Solutions" (Direct & Online IT Solutions)
*Purchased a 1300 number 1300 DO IT 4U / 1300 36 48 48 (cheesy I know)
*Created a dot com dot au website (I hope I am allowed to put this:) [Website address removed.]
*Created a "DOITSolutions" Facebook page with a custom welcome page using FBML [Website address removed.]
*Created a twitter account [Website address removed.]
*Linked the special offers on my web site to an RSS feed which updates Facebook and Twitter
*Offered a discount for Facebook fans (to help raise the amount of fans that will in tern receive my specials via Facebook as listed, there are 47 at the moment I think, just friends of mine)
*Added links from the front page of my web site to become a Facebook fan or follow on twitter
*Listed with online advertising on Truelocal (com au site) for $300 / month, considering cancelling it as only getting about 1 view per day and no calls :(
*Listed with many other free online advertising sites and some cheaper paid ones (Clickfind, dlook etc)

So far I just haven't managed to penetrate the market enough.


Please help me think of ideas:

Example idea:
1) Brochure, local handout:
I am thinking of creating a brochure. One side with an IT Support special and the other side with a Web design special. Maybe a cheap monthly payment plan for a new website (eg. $70 - 80 / month, maybe including domain registration and web hosting or similar) instead of reducing my upfront amount web site amount. And then delivering it to my local businesses. I would hate being one of those annoying people that drop and to give you a brochure unannounced, but I am that determined to make this work.

Please, any ideas will help. Share a story about a similar experience, or a possible idea for a plan. Any input would be much appreciated! :)

Michael A.

[Clough]

Hi, djrmenace!

I needed to remove the website addresses from your post, lest you appear to be using this site for advertising.

Two questions:

1. How much are you currently making per month off your current customer base?

2. From where are you getting most of your customers?

Thanks!

[djrmenace]

Hello Clough,

Understood, thank you for keeping the post on there anyway. All of my clients are referred from family or friends. When I say All, I mean all 3 - 4 of them. There is no set amount each month but it adds up to a low couple of thousand or so on average mainly from 2 of my clients which are most active. I need 4 or 5 more like that really.\
100% of the income is from IT Support, no income yet from web design (Hence the new brochure special for web design + hosting + domain name registration paid monthly / affordably).
I keep getting told by my friends to give up and take the safe option (go back to full time work) but that is almost certain to not be enough to support 3 adults and 1 baby on the way. I must make this business work, and I am determined to try anything legal. :) I need publicity and clients somehow, and fast. I am open to suggestion.
Thanks again, looking forward to any ideas, even if they sound crazy.

Michael A.

[Fr_Chuck]

Also what other areas of income perhaps part time job, what are you living on now ? How is a baby going to change the cost of living greatly ( OK know it does some but what about budgeting)

[sabrewolfe]

Can't you work a fulltime job in the meantime and work on this other thing on the side?

[djrmenace]

Sabrewolfe:
To be available 24/7 for IT support requires me not to be full time or part time employed between 9am - 5pm. I am considerring a night job but that is not getting very creative.
I am looking for some zany ideas for getting my business some publicity and gaining some clients rapidly (on a low budget).

[Wondergirl]

Is there a friend or relative who will do cold calls for you (and has no problem with rejection)? First, identify businesses and people that would be interested in your services (hospitals, retirement complexes, libraries, schools, area small businesses?). Develop a casual, friendly spiel. Make the calls.

Create and print out colorful, attention-getting mini posters that you can post at grocery stores, senior centers (with their permission), etc. Post one on the back seat window of your vehicle.

[Stringer]

Is there a friend or relative who will do cold calls for you (and has no problem with rejection)? First, identify businesses and people that would be interested in your services (hospitals, retirement complexes, libraries, schools, area small businesses?). Develop a casual, friendly spiel. Make the calls.

Create and print out colorful, attention-getting mini posters that you can post at grocery stores, senior centers (with their permission), etc. Post one on the back seat window of your vehicle.

Good idea WG. Get a 'bird dog' someone that will do the initial calls and set up appointments for you. For every appointment that becomes a job give them a small 'cut', an incentive to get more for you.