How do I promote computer repair?

jtiernan

Just startin a wee business repairin computers in a small town and printed out a load of flyers with the pull off my number at the bottem! 2 weeks only one call but loads of people have pulled off numbers! done a wee check!! So obviously they are takin them and forgetting them! So I thought hows about a wee promotion or somethin "if you ring before 15th July" type promotion! But what would be a good promotion? Has anyone been through this? What did they do when setting up? Hows business? Thanks a million in advance to the brainy lad who comes up with an answer!

ur-lord

where is the business based?

monkeyfudge

There's a good chance that peoples computers simply aren't broken.

In dublin these repair places seem to target a very large geographical area in order to do business. The Computer Doctor is in the same building complex as me and he seems to do a lot of business... I often get people coming into my place thinking I'm him... but I flunked out of computer medical school.

jtiernan

ur-lord wrote:

where is the business based?

Tullamore, just moved here! There is defo a market, there always is. You hear it all the time viruses, spyware etc. I strongly feel that if I promote it well I will get good business!

ur-lord

Well what I would do is put an ad in the loacal paper for a week or two. This should generate enough interest for a few customers. The key here though is word of mouth, once you have a few happy customers more should start coming. that has been my experience (www.aaronkenny.com). These things can take time though.

monkeyfudge

Tullamore is a big enough town alright...

The Computer Doctor has 2 cars with his logos on them... seeing them driving around the area gives him a lot of marketing penetration I feel.

Although his 1/4 advert in Village Magazine drives me nuts as it has lots of mistakes in it.

jtiernan

monkeyfudge wrote:

Tullamore is a big enough town alright...

The Computer Doctor has 2 cars with his logos on them... seeing them driving around the area gives him a lot of marketing penetration I feel.

Although his 1/4 advert in Village Magazine drives me nuts as it has lots of mistakes in it.

yah mistakes are a big no no!! kinda like a printing company add full of typos :eek:

paulocon

For something like that, it definitely has to be word of mouth.

Be seen to be providing a good service at a reasonable price and your name will get around. Offer advice etc. wherever you can and get to be known as the local expert. Even if you have to do a few jobs for free just to get your name out there (local school/club etc), it could be worthwhile.

As regards your flyers, if they were in a shop.. you'll find that a lot were pulled off by curious kids (I've seen mine do it).. An ad in a local paper would probably be more effective but don't think it would beat word of mouth..

fintan

Its all about branding

Ring the local newspaper about an interview / article about how people can protect themselves and what to watch out for.

Offer your pc services to the local night classes etc.

Great way of building your brand as the local tech expert.

jtiernan

fintan wrote:

Its all about branding

Ring the local newspaper about an interview / article about how people can protect themselves and what to watch out for.

Offer your pc services to the local night classes etc.

Great way of building your brand as the local tech expert.

ya that's great!!! I'll do that!!

Seohelp

Hi jtiernan,

Lots of good advice given here. Just coming in with my own two cents.

I live in Tullamore and with the ever-growing number of new estates being built a possible option could be a door drop. To print out leaflets 6 per each A4 page on coloured paper (180grms would be good to get them through the letterboxes) costs roughly 1 cent each flyer. Concentrate on new houses within the town as there is a better chance that younger people (couples) have moved into them. These could be a good target market.

The new sites around the Clara Road and Collins Lane could be easy to do as all of the houses are so close to each other (which means less leg-work).

Check out http://www.tullamorechamber.com and get yourself listed. It costs nothing to the best of my knowledge.

Also, cartridge world (on main street), Kilroys (on High Street), the computer shop in the Bridge Centre could all be options to advertise within. Ask them if you could put up a poster. The worst that's going to happen is that they'll say no.

Best of luck by the way.

okellyc

My over-riding thought is that whatever marketing/ promnotion you do, it will have to endure. Leaflet drops, print ads etc. have a very short lifespan and will win you only the customers who have an immediate need. From my experience, car/van signage is an excellent, enduring promotional tool. But spend a bit of money on it, a few vinyl letters won't do: make it memorable. The night classes suggestion as well as cartridge world etc. are great networking suggestions. Here's another: the ICA (Irish Countrywomans Association). Every chapter in Ireland is crying out for people to come and present to the ladies at their weekly meeting. Don't worry if they themselves are not the target market, just go and present on the wide world of computers and what all those terms the kids use today are all about. Believe me, the women (up to 200 at a single meeting) will be dying to go home and tell their sons and daughters all about what they've learned, and will hold onto your leaflets for years to come and in a community like Tullamore their word of mouth will spread..

jtiernan

Lads thanks!!! I cannot explain how valuable your advice is! Just headin out to print some flyers now!! Thanks a million!!!

mneylon

Marketing takes time and patience
You need to build up a name gradually over time.

If you are targetting a local area, then you should try to befriend the local media