Need help My IT company/website advice

ben62670

Well I(we) have decided to raise it from the dead. When I left FT Lauderdale I said screw it. I just let it die. Well my buddy (still in FT Lauderdale)is a good tech, and a real good web guy. So both of us are in a desperate position. He wants to pursue company's for the main customers. I want to go for the home user. The problem is the front page shows what your main market is. Between the both of us we can handle nearly anything computer. I do tons of repair/networking stuff, and I am real good at it. He is more focused on big jobs. We are a good team. My strong points are customer relations, and he is a mad coder. We can take care of most any Microsoft need between just the two of us.
OK back to the only real issue we have. Companies are dropping like flies. Not only is that less customers it is also their techs needing work. Not good. OK economy is in a downward spiral. Home users are not going to be in such a hurry to run out, and buy a new computer. They are more likely to get it fixed now. Also if you get your puter fixed you don't lose files like pics, and docs.
Well here are the links to our sites.
First is the new site. He just started it, and the first page is just a rough draft.
Second is my way outdated and pretty ugly site. Most of it is working
We just stuck it up to mess with.

http://computerrepairandnetworking.com/new/index.php
http://www.computerrepairandnetworking.com/
What I need to know is how to handle the first page. I don't want to have either end user, or business user turned off.
Thanks guys
Ben

ben62670

What I really need is ideas on how to make both customer types comfortable on the very first page. Home, and business.

Fatbrando

I'm of the belief, "keep it simple stupid". Literally make another home page with the option for a HOME/OFFICE choice with some very simple IT examples for each. Or make the bottom half of the home page a split with your other stuff up top staying the same. That's my 02. cents....

Warmest Regards,

FB

Gadabout

The new page is fine Ben. I agree with Fatbrando, Let the main page serve as a portal to let folks know what you do. Then provide a link for the home users and another link for the corporate guys.

List your services for each type of user on their perspective pages. The home consumer needs more of the warm fuzzy feeling about how you can help them. The corporate user is going to be looking at it from the standpoint of can these guys handle the job, what are their prices can they meet my deadline.

Another point .02 added
Scott

Fireman32

Looks good to me Ben. I also agree with Fatbrando and Gadabout. Keep it simple ad then go more indepth off of the home page.

Serendipity

Looks great Ben!

I would also post customer reviews and feedback on the site, along with referral information, so that new customers can see your old feedback and contact your previous customers.

DollarDave

I like the new page just as it is. Don't forget that most of us use our home computers as much for our work as we do our family affairs. Most of us probably VPN to the office and work from home. If we don't, we will to save the cost of going back to the office in the evening or weekend.

I can attest to the fact that 90% of our VPN users are a pain in the a$s because they are executives and are not computer savy. My IT staff doesn't care much for going out and fixing their home wireless networks - just stay away from our VPN configurations, load the antivirus software that our company uses, and we will welcome you and refer you to the other execs.

[Edit] - Oh, and put some darn passwords in place and secure their wireless networks with at least MAC address restrictions and WPA encryption.

Serendipity

Ben,

Maybe you can set up one website for home users and another for corporate users? Then link them together somehow so they are the same company, just different names...

bruss

why dont u just become a registered pro at a site like this? https://www.onforce.com/professionals and let them send you jobs? This is how a majority of companies are doing their IT now.. They set a price they want it done for and let the techs fight over it..

ben62670

Thanks guys. I really appreciate your advice. I will talk with my buddy about incorporating two sub sites.

bruss wrote: »

why dont u just become a registered pro at a site like this? https://www.onforce.com/professionals and let them send you jobs? This is how a majority of companies are doing their IT now.. They set a price they want it done for and let the techs fight over it..

Thanks bruss, but I have been there done that. With the economy bad in both our areas I am not going to fight over jobs with guys who are starving.

appadv wrote: »

Ben,

Maybe you can set up one website for home users and another for corporate users?

Here is the thing. www.computerrepairandnetworking.com is a key name. I did a ton of advertising that I am still about 50k in the hole for, and the web site is what really makes the best profit. It is almost free. If you google computer repair Ft Lauderdale my company that has been pretty much shut down for about a year, and My website has been down for over a year. It still comes up in 5th place;) I may add a couple domain names that will redirect to www.computerrepairandnetworking.com , but I want to keep traffic to my site real high;)

Again thanks guys. This website is the most important thing for us now. After building up relations with customers WOM is what will make or break you.
Ben

bruss

ben62670 wrote: »

Thanks bruss, but I have been there done that. With the economy bad in both our areas I am not going to fight over jobs with guys who are starving.

Ben

No sweat man.. My friend picks up jobs whenever he needs some cash.. he can make a couple hundred a day by doing some HD swaps and running drops.. When i say fighting it out its more like whos is the fsastest to pick the job up and take it.. Its def worth a look in times like these

ben

ben62670

bruss wrote: »

No sweat man.. My friend picks up jobs whenever he needs some cash.. he can make a couple hundred a day by doing some HD swaps and running drops.. When i say fighting it out its more like whos is the fsastest to pick the job up and take it.. Its def worth a look in times like these

ben

The place my friend was using to get jobs it was more geared toward finding the cheapest possible guy you could find. I will check that out, and send the link to my buddy.
Thanks
Ben

John30_30

Your English grammar and fonts could use a little tweaking. Don't take offense.I'll try to PM you an alternative something to bounce around.

(and no, it won't have embedded chicken graphics)

wallstreet

Get an email from the same domain. Using a Yahoo ID is not as good as an id that matches the domain name. And use a general id not Ben, etc. Something like [email]sales@....com[/email]

ben62670

John30_30 wrote: »

Your English grammar and fonts could use a little tweaking. Don't take offense.I'll try to PM you an alternative something to bounce around.

(and no, it won't have embedded chicken graphics)

No chickens:mad: I don't even want to look at it!
JK I appreciate all the suggestions. We (he) just started on the new site and posted the old up there just to have something till Monday. Right now it is really just a blurt of thoughts. Content will be modified, and modified again:) BTW thanks John. I agree with your PM.

wallstreet wrote: »

Get an email from the same domain. Using a Yahoo ID is not as good as an id that matches the domain name. And use a general id not Ben, etc. Something like [email]sales@....com[/email]

Yeah that was just a temp thing. I will use yahoo. It is just super handy, and easy access anywhere. The mailto: will be ....@...com You will not see my name anywhere on the site;)

Right now I am just absorbing thoughts from you guys. I am trying very hard to stay outa my friends way. We had a few discussions, but if I track him non stop.... well you guys know how it is to have someone hanging over your shoulder. Especially during development.

Thanks again guys.
Ben

polrbehr

Ben, do NOT let Mike get too successful in this... I like his rates where they are!


J/K, bro, good luck with whatever you guys do!!

ben62670

Don't worry Harry both Mike, and I agree totally on keeping our customers happy:)

ben62670

http://www.computerrepairandnetworking.com/
The old site is down, and the new one is in place. It is functional now, but needs to have the content, and form fine tuned;)