Add More Income Streams to Your Computer Business

Don't be satisfied with the revenue you bring in from computer and network break/fix and setup.  The more revenue streams your business has, the less likely it will fold if one of them dries up.  In many markets, you'll find the IT consulting business extremely crowded and competitive.  Hundreds of thousands of IT professionals lost their jobs during the dot-com bust, and many gave up looking for work in favor of setting up shop on their own.  Plus, you've got Geek Squad, Geeks on Call, and the like, with their flashy TV ads and heavy name recognition.

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More versatility not only brings you more revenue, but also helps set you apart from all of your dozens or even hundreds of competitors.  See if one or more of these avenues leads to additional money for your business.

• Try Teleseminars.  Read our article on teleseminars.  Then, make a list of the most common things customers ask you, and another list of what you'd call your specialties - technologies you know most thoroughly.  Start with a subject that's on both lists, and devise a free teleseminar for your customers around it.  After you've had several free teleseminars  and have become comfortable doing them, consider having one that's not free.  

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• Offer Training.  Plenty of companies offer training on Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft This, Microsoft That.  To compete here, you'll have to go a different route than the standard small group class on Windows or a popular software application.  Design a unique class, such as "Secrets of Running a Household Using Quicken Software," or "Internet Job Searching for Professionals."  Many local newspapers have a weekly calendar of these types of training events - often free of charge.  You can also rent a mailing list and use direct mail, or put an ad in a local business magazine or newspaper.
  
  
• Offer Private Training.  People are busy, busy, busy, and some busy people can afford to hire you to teach them how to maximize their productivity as it relates to technology.  
  
  
• Offer Executive Training.  Business leaders don't want to attend the same technology classes that their employees attend.  They want someone to treat them specially.  Survey your clients and prospects to find out what high-level executives most need from their computers, and help them fulfill those needs.  Hint:  Look toward advanced training in using their e-mail clients and Internet research.
  
  

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• Offer Customized Training - See a trend yet?  This is the last "training" bullet point, I promise.  But the training "trend" outlined here is simple and goes back to the first training suggestion.  Offer something that people want and other businesses aren't already offering.  Stand out from the pack.
  
  
• Offer a Premium Club.  Call it your "Preferred Customer Club" or "Platinum Client Club," perhaps.  Collect a yearly or monthly fee (continuously renewing with automatic billing - automatic credit card billing is optimal) for priority attention to their issues and a 10% discount on regular service hourly rates.  This accomplishes a few things, not the least of which is a reliable revenue stream.  You also nearly guarantee that they will continue to call you for your services as opposed to going to your competitors, because they are already paying you for preferred service.  In addition, you could offer different levels of preferred status, such as silver and gold.  The higher level gets you a free, hour-long monthly teleseminar about a current technology topic, with half of the time dedicated to question and answer.  In this way, you don't have to charge for your teleseminars to make money off them.  You might have a top level that, in addition to priority service and teleseminars also receives a free PC tune-up once a year.
  
  
• Try a Free E-Newsletter With Paid Advertising or Affiliate Links.  With the proliferation of online affiliate programs, you won't even have to necessarily go out and sell advertising.  However, for the highly motivated who are willing to sell advertising to local businesses whose services or products complement yours, the potential amount of revenue you generate can be substantial.

Don't stop at these suggestions.  Let them jump start your creativity and get you out of the mindset that you have to stick to just one product or service.  Revenue versatility will help you ensure that your business not only stays in business but also thrives for years to come.

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