BIG MONEY FROM YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER - part 1

INTRODUCTION

Whatever the reason for staying true to the values of yesterday, here lies a great opportunity for those interested in computers, and the possibility of entering into business providing services based upon the capabilities of computers and word processors.

Your potential custom will come from those who see the benefit of computerisation to their businesses and lives in general, but who lack time, money, or the inclination to put their ideas into action. We may find students wishing to have their theses word processed or notes committed to disk, small shopkeepers with insufficient cash to invest, businessmen, even potential high fliers, whose work demands their physical presence to an extent that leaves little or no time for learning computer techniques, and job hunters whose needs for a professionally produced curriculum vitae or application form, do not obviously warrant the expense of purchasing a computer.

Also among your potential clients, are those who readily recognise the benefits of computerisation, both to themselves and their own organisations, but whose needs are insufficient to warrant the expense involved; again we may see the small shopkeeper or small businessman as an example of someone who might see the benefits, but lack the work load to justify such an investment. Your level of proficiency and ambition will determine what you can, or wish to, offer your potential clients, and in the many options available for starting a business with your personal computer, we will discover a whole range of possibilities. At one end of the scale you might opt for providing a simple service, collating information such as customer records, mailing lists or customers orders; the whole thing very much akin to an upmarket secretarial or typing agency.

Alternatively, you may decide to offer services requiring the talents of one highly proficient in all aspects of computers, such as one would expect from a consultant called in to single-handedly set up a computing system on the customer's premises, and subsequently to bear responsibility for training staff, and for the provision of an ongoing back-up facility. In deciding to enter this business, it is you and you alone who decide at what level you feel sufficiently comfortable, and there i no reason on earth why you should not expand your range of services at a future date. Because success depends as always upon satisfying the client, and in so doing, guaranteeing his future custom - hardly something you will accomplish if in the early days you attempt to provide facilities you find yourself unable to deliver.

Whether to provide a wide range of services both simple and highly specialised, is something only you can decide. Working exclusively for local firms, offering a wide range of services, may have distinct benefits in terms of the loyalty you may attract from your customers. You may even, at some time in the future, consider employing someone else to take over the more mundane tasks, leaving you to carry out those which require a greater level of expertise.

FORMING THE RIGHT IMPRESSION

Particularly if offering your service by direct mail, or else if asking interested parties to send for further details of your services, you may find it beneficial to have a resume produced. Your resume need consist of only one sheet, again on quality stationery, on which are outlined the details of your experience, qualifications, references and any other details which will serve to convince the reader of your competence.

It's not though, just your letters, business cards, and advertisements which must convey an image of professionalism if you are to succeed in a business which does, after all, require clients to place a fair degree of trust in you. You too will personally need to testify as to your worth, not by shouting it out loud, but by looking tidy, speaking well, being organised, punctual and, most of all, businesslike. You are, in bringing your attention to the business world, attempting to sell yourself, no less than does the grocer, butcher, or writer attempt to sell his wares. But we all need foodstuffs; we all need clothes, homes, and many of us need those items still thought of by many as luxuries - holidays, cars, dishwashers, and so on.

Computers though, for those not familiar with them, or still not enlightened to the massive benefits computerisation has to offer them and their businesses, are not thought of as an essential, not when one still has the use of pen amid paper, midnight oil, and overworked grey matter.

Potential customers may need 'educating' as to what you call offer them; you must therefore tell the of the benefits that will be forthcoming, how they will sell more, enjoy greater profits, and plan for the future, instead of working every daylight hour, hoping merely to make ends meet. You will meet many barriers in promoting your service, particularly in respect of the older generation, who not having enjoyed computer studies within their school curriculum, still, in many instances, distrust computers, word processors, and all things similarly 'high tech'. A 'softly softly' approach is best adopted in these cases, coupled with stressing to the individual concerned that not only will they save money by introducing high technology into there lives - they are likely to make more too, simply as a result of the extra time they will have to devote to their everyday tasks, as well as planning for the future.

Distrust of you, and your services, is another hurdle you may have to overcome, particularly if you operate in a locality in which you are a stranger. Are you, for instance, the type of person to whom they can divulge their trade secrets without fear that they will be spread to all and sundry over pints in the local pub?

Problems of distrust are hard to overcome, and in general they will tend to disappear of their own accord as word-of-mouth speaks for the confidentiality, reliability and security of your services. There are, of course, many things you do to help promote that image you wish to accompany your every business dealing, such as never, but never, speak to one client about the business of another.

But trust and commitment to what you propose will come as nothing if the public is unaware of your existence, and so an ongoing and effective advertising policy is essential if you are to develop and maintain an adequate level of business.

In the early days you may consider servicing only local clients, often people who already know you and your capabilities, in which case a well produced leaflet with resume popped through their letterboxes may constitute all the advertising you need.

Your services may also be promoted in the local press, either as a result of placing advertisements yourself, or by having a reporter produce one of the new business features many local papers are so keen to include. Have a leaflet professionally typeset for distribution to all enquiries from your advertisement, and include some means by which further contact can be made. Can you, for instance, call in on them, by appointment, at some future date, to inform them personally of what you can offer, and to answer any questions they may have? Try also telephoning a week or so after sending your brochure with its all - important accompanying personal letter, ostensibly to ask whether the person making the enquiry has in fact received your correspondence. Your intention, in truth however, is to jog the memory of those who might have forgotten about your advertisement, as well as to ask if you can provide more information by means of a personal visit.

PROFITS FROM YOUR COMPUTER

Introduction

Though most people can quite adequately compile such data as is required by themselves and for submission to outside agencies, not all of us relish the task - often one which requires us to devote small amounts of time each day to making minor entries into our records books. For many the whole task is one guaranteed to spell frustration. It's a job most people hate, and because of this, a high degree of inaccuracy will inevitably creep into even the most straightforward of record keeping systems. And because the exercise is not one we welcome, there is a strong tendency to delay updating our records, a sure-fire recipe for the missing of deadlines, and even loss of essential information.

So what can you offer by which to make the lives of your potential clients just a little easier and infinitely more organised?

ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE PACKAGE

For the private individual and his or her family, you may provide a more than welcome service in simply collating and analysing their income and expenditure. Alternatively, you may find yourself called on each and every April, simply to take that awesome annual missive from the Taxman off their hands.

Businesses, particularly those with very few staff, might find little time for the albeit important task of stock control, and subsequent ordering and re-ordering of appropriate items. Computers of course, can undertake the job in far less time, offering a greater degree of accuracy, whilst also availing the businessperson of that extra time with which to concentrate on selling the actual service or goods for which his or her business exists.

DATABASE PACKAGES

Not just the personnel department would find itself depleted in numbers should you also find yourself being asked to computerise the stock control system, the filing, the customer record sheets, invoices, regular accounts and reminders to those whose payments are less than punctual.

Workers, whatever their calling, can benefit from what your up-market filing system offers. For the writer, you may record on disk the notes he will one day require, providing him with a 'cutting bureau' that requires far less in the way of space than did the shabby disorganised system of stacked cardboard boxes. The salesman, insurance agent, collector, scout leader.... they all, though they don't know it, have some part of their lives which could be made that much easier, less repetitive and boring, more accurate, and less time-consuming, if only they knew of your existence.

SPREADSHEET PACKAGES