Are We Completely Wiping That Hard Disk?

Authors: Guest Writer

Guest Post by Micah Lahren:
"I’ll just run DBAN on it and that will be good enough."
Is that really good enough? What if the individual or business in question is required by law to complete an erasure protocol up to a certain level of security? In some countries, including the United States, laws requiring secure erasure of data are also accompanied with a punishment if the protocol is not followed, such as fines of $250,000 and 10 years imprisonment.

Is your client’s company disposing of old hardware, or do you have a client with sensitive data who desires complete and total erasure of data? Jackhammers, wrenches, and explosives may be more enjoyable methods of destruction, but what if the user would like to use the old hardware for non-sensitive data in another way, such as an external hard drive for storing personal data of a non-sensitive nature? DBAN it, right?

Why DBAN Isn’t Enough

On the official dban.org website, DBAN is heralded as a “self-contained boot disk designed for consumer use”. The key word in that statement is ‘consumer’. DBAN and similar software intended for wiping hard disks are known as software based overwrites, or ‘clear level processes’, and are vulnerable to recovery without requiring laboratory methods. For instance, if you know what the HPA is (Host Protected Area), you’ll know DBAN doesn’t wipe it. Why should we worry about the HPA?

The HPA can be used by rootkits to hide from Anti-Virus software, manifesting again upon a reinstall of an operating system. The HPA is also used by some vendors to store data relative to the installations of software. One security firm is known to use the HPA to load software that reports back to their servers when the machine is connected to the internet. An employee could use the HPA to store data which would be hidden from many wiping tools, and recover that data later after the drive had been supposedly ‘wiped’ of all data and considered free to use in other applications.

In view of the above currently known uses, including the looming recent threat of cyberwarfare, this alone could present a high security risk for many companies and government entities. Many erasure tools do not touch the HPA or other hidden areas of the drive, which are inaccessible to many wiping tools. How can we effectively eliminate all data on the hard disk without physically destroying it?

Secure Erase

Secure Erase (SE) is a feature built into all ATA drives with 15 GB or greater capacity manufactured after 2001. There is also a Secure Erase command for SCSI drives as well, but you may not find it on all drives, as it is an optional feature. Basically, executing a SE command will virtually shred all electronic data on the hard disk in question. It will completely wipe the HPA and other hidden partitions on disk drives, which means any area of the drive which is available for hiding data will be completely wiped, beyond known forensic recovery.

SE will also wipe sectors that are unused by the drive due to errors. It performs a single pass, and that one single pass is more than enough, as technical testing confirmed that multiple passes were unneeded as far as additional erasing was concerned. This single pass meets U.S. Requirements for secure erasure of data for the regulations concerned, with the exception of highly sensitive data which requires complete physical destruction of the disks. Unless you’ve got top secret government files on your hard disk, SE should fit the bill for most clients.

A Freeware Tool That Implements Secure Erase?

That’s right, it’s completely free. And while the NSA has unfortunately dropped support of this great tool, it’s still available. It also utilizes something called Enhanced Secure Erase technology, which the FAQ for this utility details: Enhanced secure erase writes predetermined data patterns (set by the manufacturer) to all user data areas, including sectors that are no longer in use due to reallocation. It’s called HDDerase, and can be found here: http://cmrr.ucsd.edu/people/Hughes/SecureErase.shtml

Due credit goes to G. Hughes of UCSD CMRR for this utility. I won’t go into the details of all the technical aspects of the utility, but there’s a data sheet referenced on the web site you can read that goes into deep detail on the methods used.

Basically, HDDerase is a DOS-based utility for ATA hard disks. You can boot it with an antique 3.5 disk, or boot it from a CD. The last time I checked, HDDerase is also available on the Ultimate Boot CD, and is probably on a few other less known boot cd’s along with other tools useful to techs. It can also be booted from a USB flash drive as well. This utility can also bypass the ‘security freeze lock’ which the BIOS sometimes executes when it detects the drive.

Make sure you use version 3.1 or later, as these versions allow you to remove the HPA as well as the DCO on the disk. While this tool cannot be guaranteed to work on absolutely every hard disk in the field, it has worked on every hard disk I’ve had thrown at me for erasure. Scan the readme file provided on the official site before running the utility, just to be sure you cover all your bases. Simply boot it up, follow the prompts, and you’ll have a forensically clean hard disk that is beyond recovery as far as data is concerned, and still have a usuable disk for other applications.

Guest Post by Micah Lahren – Micah covers a wide spectrum of the tech industry, including PC repair, front-end development, WIMAX networking and installation, and more. He currently works with an ISP in Texas that also provides web hosting/design and computer repair, although he’s been tinkering with computers since he was 6 and eventually turned it into a career. He also enjoys traveling and doing volunteer missions in other countries.

© Technibble – A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their Computer Business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

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WiseTechnician Review

Authors: Bryce Whitty

Does up-selling to your clients make you feel like a used car salesman? Most Computer Technicians come from a technical background so sales and marketing does not come naturally. Now that you are in business, sales is really something that you cannot avoid if you want to make money. I had heard about these WiseTechnician videos mentioned a few times in my Computer Technician circles that focused on the sales side of the Computer Repair business, and I wanted to check it out not only for myself, but for all of Technibbles readers to see if they are worth purchasing. This is my WiseTechnician review.

So What Is it?

The WiseTechnician videos are a collection of videos about the business and marketing side of the computer repair business. The package includes 26 High Quality 480p videos resulting in 3.5 hours of content. There are also audio-only versions of each of the videos so you can listen to them on the go.

The package includes videos on a variety of topics such as what to ask the customer, stocking inventory and selling it, finding a wholesaler, parts and pricing, billing and accounting, working in small/depressed areas, managed services, getting business customers and more.

Under The Hood

The videos are done in an interview style over Skype with Steve Cherubino from Podnutz as the host. The videos are broken up into 26 different topics and each video ranges from 5 to 10 minutes in length making them 3.5 hours in total.

Once you pay for the product via Paypal, you will be sent an email with login details to access the members only area on the WiseTechnician website which allows you to access the videos from any computer and mobile device capable of playing .mp4 files. Having the product stored like this is handy if you lose the videos because you can just login and download them again.

 

So What Are The Videos Like?

The videos are high quality Skype video calls and both Steve Cherubino and Chris Barre having good microphones and webcams. While the total length of the videos is only 3.5 hours long, there is little fluff in these videos and they are full of “gold nuggets” of information. In fact, while I was watching these videos there were many times where I thought “That tip alone is worth the cost of these videos”.
The videos are like watching one giant Podnutz interview and Chris can quite animated. He really is a no nonsense kind of guy.

 

A lot of technicians talk about ideas that they are going to try which may or may not work. I found the videos useful because they say “Do this, it works. Here is how to say it”.

I have only two gripes with this product. First, there are a couple of points audio drops out, but only for a split second. I guess thats is the the nature of Skype.
Second, I am not a fan of the site design as it looks too infomercial-like. However, the product itself is no-fuss, solid content.

So Who is Chris Barre?

Chris (the “Wise Technician”) has been doing computer repair for the last 7 years and has been sales for 14 years in both retail and business to business.
He used to own an an applicance repair company which had a store front and as well as doing onsite applicance repair. That business is still going strong and had 5 employees when he sold it.
Chris wanted to make a product that helped Computer Technicians make some serious money and get over the “computer guy shyness”. He has been talking to Computer Technicians for the past 3 years on the Podnutz network and their issues always came down to them not charging enough, feeling bad for making “too much” profit on a product, and not being able to sell new services and products to their existing customers.

Who Is This Product Not For?

If you have been running your business for many many years (Say, 5 years plus) then you are going to get less out of it. That is not to say you wont get anything out of it as the videos are a combination of startup tips and sales tips. I myself have been in business for about 10 years and I still got sales tips out of it that would make it worth the cost. If you still dont feel comfortable with sales then you will find the product useful.

The videos are not for you if you dont plan to invest the time to actually watch/listen to the videos and impliment the tips. This is not a get-rich-quick plan.

Who Is This Product For?

If you are within the first few years of your business, you will get a lot of great tips from these videos. As mentioned above it covers both startup tips (such as how to find a supplier) as well as sales tips. I know most new computer business owners dont feel comfortable about sales since they came from a more technical background. They often feel like a sleezy car salesman when trying to sell. Chris gives you some really elegant ways to sell to your clients without feeling like a scumbag.

The product retails for $79.95 and comes with a 60 day money back guarantee. There is really is no reason not to give them a try as it is risk free.

Check out the WiseTechnician Videos Here

 

© Technibble – A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their Computer Business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

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My new approach to fighting spammers – or how to market your business in The Force Field

Last week in The Force Field Forums, we got spammed.

We get a lot of forum spammers every day. 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A lot of them are spambots, a few of them are real humans, but nearly all of them we catch before they even get approved for membership in the forums and all of them are immediately banned. Okay, that’s not news. Hardly enough to write about in a blog, right?

Except for this spammer. This one was different. This one got through. And this one was representing a new, legitimate business. So the Admins trashed the post. But we didn’t ban this spammer. Nope. We’ve banned over 125,000 known forum spammers and its time to set one straight. So we’re going to give this spammer an education. But it’s more than that. It’s a learning experience for all of us trying to make it in a Web based world of business, particularly in IT. It’s a lesson in how to market our businesses to others and build a good, solid business reputation and reputable brand with etiquette, ethics and finesse.

The individual who spammed The Force Field Forums was a representative from Sevacall, a new startup that has been in beta mode for awhile and just officially opened its virtual doors June 13, 2012. Sevacall is a “lead generation” type service platform that connects clients with service providers over the telephone. Just when you thought you were done with services like Geekatoo (Geekatoo? Really? Sheesh!), along comes Sevacall. Yes, I know it’s quite innovative and all to be another lead generation platform on the web with the same old “connect Buyers and Providers for the lowest price” line, but what makes it really unique? Spamming forums to recruit service technicians? Trying to alienate their provider base right out of the gate? Well, so far they’re off to a great start.

To be fair, they have 17 interns on staff, so it is possible the culprit was some college kid who didn’t know network marketing from his rear end and not the CEO himself. So I decided to “reach out” as they say in the corporate world and give Sevacall a chance to redeem themselves. I sent an e-mail response to the spammer. The e-mail is below:

 

HeretoHelp,

I noticed you signed up for our forums recently and was approved for membership. Unfortunately your first post was flagged by a member as spam and subsequently moved to the trash folder by our Admins. The forums are a place to network with other members and self-promotion is encouraged within reason. While we do encourage our members to promote themselves and their businesses, there is a certain standard protocol for this. To avoid confusion or misunderstanding, we do request that all new members read the forum rules before they post for the first time. You can read the forum rules at http://www.theforcefield.net/forums/index.php?topic=5292.0.

You may be surprised to learn that spamming the forums certainly did not win you any friends in there. This is unfortunate, since Sevacall is a potential resource for techs in The Force Field and, had you done this properly, you could have actually won some of them over to your service. It’s all in the approach.

You likely found The Force Field Forums by Googling for sites with keywords related to Thumbtack and Geekatoo, which you may consider as your primary competitors when recruiting techs. While that may a logical procedure for recruitment, it isn’t the only one, and as you have probably discovered by now, spamming the sites that appeared in the search results is hardly effective and can actually make more enemies than friends, ultimately hurting Sevacall’s reputation.

There are other less intrusive and more effective ways to accomplish your goal. One tried and true method is by (gasp!) advertising in the right venues to your direct audience. Yes, it costs money, but if you’re going to invest in the other aspects of a legitimate business, marketing your business is very important, so you can’t skimp on that if you want to do it right.

There are also FREE ways to market your domain that are ethical and highly effective. (spamming the domains of others is NOT ethical and can actually be self-destructive). One powerful, yet cost effective way is through product or service endorsements on blogs and social media networks. Yes, it takes more effort on your part, but it can be well worth it in the long run. It can even boost your reputation in a positive way, if you do it right.

A third way is the one you encountered June 18, 2012 at 2:29:48 PM – the exact day and time you registered for The Force Field Forums. Had you bothered to explore the entire site before you made your first post, you would have discovered great potential for promoting Sevacall – most of it absolutely FREE!!

Since you probably didn’t do this (or you wouldn’t have spammed the forums) you probably don’t know who I am and you probably don’t know what The Force Field is, thus you probably have no idea what I am talking about. So I will explain it to you.

The site you stumbled upon is a business portal of news and resources for IT service providers – the very “service pros” you are trying to recruit for Sevacall. The Force Field offers a Business Resources Directory, news, reviews of products, services and companies, blogs, and, of course, The Force Field Forums. The Business Resource Directory offers FREE listings for companies who want to partner with providers and allows the providers to comment on them, recommend them and rate them. The blogs feature articles and rants about issues of the day as well as reviews and editorials on tech products, services and companies. Many techs use The Force Field Forums to network with each other and exchange ideas and recommendations from others regarding which companies to work with and which to avoid (guess which way they lean with Sevacall right now?)

Then there is the podcast. Yes, we have a podcast, an Internet radio show that is heard on-demand in over fifty countries around the world. An interview on The Force Field show is a great way to reach techs globally and recruit them for Sevacall in a positive way. Best of all it’s free publicity. You can’t beat free.

Had you looked over the site, checked out the show and contacted me first, things would be a lot different. I would have invited you into the forums, written Sevacall up in my blog with links to your site, and – yes, I would have offered to interview you for The Force Field show.

Yes, entering The Force Field community, getting to know it first, reaching out to me and the other members and actively engaging in meaningful discussion by networking socially takes a little longer, and is more work on your part, but the long-term rewards are worth it, as you could have built a long-lasting, trusting relationship with the techs you wanted to recruit and develop a great reputation for Sevacall.

But you didn’t do that. You didn’t even try. Unfortunately, instead of participating in The Force Field community you decided to go for the quick and easy, drive-by, one-shot spammy post. Instead of introducing yourself and your company and identifying yourself as a representative of Sevacall, you attempted to pass yourself off as a peer, a tech who uses the platform, which was disingenuous, misleading and dishonest, which does not build trust in the company at all. As someone with some experience in marketing and promotion, I can tell you that you made all the mistakes of someone who does NOT understand how to market a business to professionals in a social network on the web.

Normally, our Admins at The Force Field would simply trash your post, send you a warning e-mail (which they already did), and, if you did it again would simply ban you from the forums permanently.

However, this time I decided to do something a little different. Collectively, the anti-spam system, the other Admins and I have already banned over 125,000 spammers and I’m getting just a little tired of it all.

So, this time I’m going to make an example of Sevacall. I’m going to use you as an example of what happens when a company does all the wrong things to market their business and alienates the audience they are attempting to reach instead of endearing them to your company. But I’m not going to be mean about it. I will admonish you for your uncouth behaviour, yet reach out to Sevacall and give you folks a chance to do it right.

Now, if you really want to do this right, start with the introduction. Please identify yourself and your position with the company. Who is HeretoHelp? Are you Gurpreet Singh, the CEO? Are you the president and COO Manpreet Singh? Are you one of the other members of “The Team” (as you call yourselves) at Sevacall? Or are you one of the 17 interns listed on your site? (Don’t tell me the company is entrusting its online reputation with an intern).

Second, don’t misrepresent yourself. If you work for Sevacall (which, according to your e-mail and IP address you do – yes, I checked, it’s Sevacall’s IP) then just come right out and say so. Don’t pretend to be a tech who uses the service and likes it better than the others. It’s called a lie, and businesses that do it don’t earn anyone’s respect or trust in this community or the marketplace in general.

And third, you owe the members of The Force Field Forums an apology. You need to apologize for intruding on their discussion without a proper introduction, for lying to them about who you are, and for interrupting a serious discussion to promote your service. Yes, other people do it, and some other companies do it, but they are usually less than reputable and I don’t think you really want your business to have that reputation, do you?

Now, some of the damage has already been done. For starters, you don’t get an interview on The Force Field podcast at this time. Also, Sevacall reminds me too much of Service Magic with telephones, and I was already burned by them a few years back. Service Magic was prone to what I call lead fraud, much of it perpetrated from within the company itself. Sevacall is about phone leads, a technology with its own potential for abuse. So, don’t look for a personal endorsement from me, because I generally don’t trust this “lead generation” type of service platform. I hesitate to sell you any ad space in the show or on the web site, either, because although our rates are reasonable – as you can tell from our media kit – it’s reserved for products and companies I have vetted and I can personally endorse.

But I will do this. I will devote an entire post in my blog to Sevacall and give you a few links back to your site. I’ll even do it FREE, with no reciprocal link or other compensation expected from Sevacall in return. In fact, I’ve already done it. You see, what started off as an e-mail in response to your spam post in my forums turned into a blog post for the front page of The Force Field web portal. The topic? My new approach to fighting spammers – or how to market your business in The Force Field.

So, you get some promotion for Sevacall after all. It’s just probably not what you expected. And if you spam the forums again, I’ll post another one. And then I’ll ban you. Permanently. Harsh? Maybe. But after dealing with over 125,000 forum spammers, it’s time to draw the line and fight back. You just happened to be the next one in line to cross it.

Isn’t that what you wanted anyway? A quick and easy, drive-by, one-shot spammy post promoting Sevacall? Well, you got it, right in my blog for the entire world to read. And it was FREE, compliments of The Force Field.

You’re welcome.

But, hey, you earned it.

Ottawa Computer Services

Ottawa Computer Services. Taleam Systems offers desktop and laptop repair in Ottawa, Ontario at affordable rate only $30 per hour.

We can fix your computer if you are having Windows problems, Virus issues, hardware problems, network issues or printer problems.

Taleam Systems offers support for Acer, Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Sony and Read More…

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Ottawa Computer Services

Ottawa Computer Services. Taleam Systems offers desktop and laptop repair in Ottawa, Ontario at affordable rate only $30 per hour.

We can fix your computer if you are having Windows problems, Virus issues, hardware problems, network issues or printer problems.

Taleam Systems offers support for Acer, Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Sony and Read More…

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Instant Virus Removal Support From FixSmith !!!

 

 

The possible reasons for PC problems are multiple. Viruses Infections, malware or spyware are typical problems that are experienced with computers. These infections are seen as a a lack of files unexpectedly, programs which are acting randomly, and also the computer responding slowly to commands. If Skilled technicians have found a few of the symptoms  on your PC, then repair really should not difficult. It does not take too much time.

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Instant Virus Removal Support From FixSmith !!!

 

The possible reasons for PC problems are multiple. Viruses Infections, malware or spyware are typical problems that are experienced with computers. These infections are seen as a a lack of files unexpectedly, programs which are acting randomly, and also the computer responding slowly to commands. If Skilled technicians have found a few of the symptoms  on your PC, then repair really should not difficult. It does not take too much time.

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YUMI – Install Multiple Operating Systems to a Single Bootable USB Drive

Authors: Bryce Whitty

YUMI (which stands for Your Universal Multiboot Installer) is a tool that allows you to install multiple operating systems to a single bootable flash drive. YUMI will automatically create a menu allowing you to choose which operating system you wish to boot into as the system starts. We have featured mutliboot creators in the past but I really like YUMI because it is just so easy to use.

To use YUMI, you simply choose the drive letter of the thumb drive you wish to use, select a distribution you wish to install from the list, tick the “Download the ISO” if you havent done so already, wait for the ISO to download, navigate to the download location of the ISO on your hard drive and press Create. Thats it. To add an additional ISO to the USB drive, just do the steps above again.

Even though the boot menu and the ISOs installed on the USB drive are Linux based, you can still use the same drive to carry your Windows based repair tools since it formats the thumb drive to FAT32 – which is readable by Windows. However, I suggest you don’t move any of the files YUMI placed since it may upset the software installed on it.

Another reason I like this software, especially for us Computer Technicians is the selection of ISOs you can install on it. As you would expect, the usual suspects like Linux Ubuntu, Mint and Puppy are included. However, YUMI features a lot of distributions specifically intended for computer repair such as:

  • Acronis Antimalware CD
  • AVG Rescue CD
  • AVIRA AntiVir Rescue CD
  • BitDefender Rescue Disk
  • Dr. Web Live CD
  • F-secure Rescue CD
  • Kaspersky Rescue Disk
  • Panda SafeCD
  • Blackbox (penetration testing)
  • BackTrack5 Blackbox (penetration testing)
  • Clonezilla (Backup + Clone Tool)
  • DBAN (Hard Drive Nuker)
  • Deft 7 (Forensics)
  • DRBL (Diskless Remote Boot in Linux)
  • EASEUS Disk Copy (Disk Cloning Tool)
  • GParted (Partition Tool)
  • HDT (Hardware Detection Tool)
  • Matriux (penetration testing)
  • Offline NT Password & Registry Editor
  • Ophcrack XP (Password Finder)
  • Ophcrack Vista/7 (Password Finder)
  • Parted Magic (Partition Tool)
  • PING (Partimg Is Not Ghost)
  • Partition Wizard (Partition Tool)
  • Redo Backup and Recover (Recovery Tool)
  • RIP Linux (Recovery Distro)
  • Trinity Rescue Kit
  • Hirens Boot CD
  • Kon-Boot Floppy Image
  • Windows Vista/7/8 Installer

If you happen to install multiple operating systems to your USB key, YUMI will categorize them as you can see in the screenshots.

Screenshots

YUMI - Multiboot USB Interface

YUMI - Multiboot USB Bootloader

YUMI - Multiboot USB Bootloader

 

Downloads:

Download from Official Site – 948kb

More Information

© Technibble – A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their Computer Business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

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How to Increase Your Business Clients to Improve Your Profit Margins

Authors: Guest Writer

Guest Post by Richard Muscat Azzopardi
Taking the step from being a computer technician fixing home PCs to someone running a business which thrives off planning, building, maintaining and repairing other businesses’ IT solutions is one which might seem daunting to some. However by doing so you can increase profit margins considerably and probably reduce your general stress levels in the process too.

Before you ponder on changing your business model, however I would advise taking a long hard look at the business you’re running at the moment. Have you ever thought of whether it is really profitable? If you were paying yourself (and your better half, who’s probably putting in quite a bit of hours with you) an honest wage would you still be running a profitable business? When was the last time you ran this exercise?

As part of this check I would also recommend analyzing the different jobs you’re doing. Which of them are profitable and which of them are you doing as a “service” to your clients? For example some home clients expect you to do the installation work for free when you sell them hardware. Even if you are charging them, there is a limit to what you can charge unless you want them to run to the Internet to look for advice and try it out themselves.

Business customers are very different. First of all they see IT as an essential tool. There might have been a time when a farmer would try and fix his own truck, but nowadays they all take them to mechanics. The same goes for computers – businesses see them as something they can’t live without (because they really can’t!) and therefore tend to do whatever is needed to keep their systems running smoothly. A home computer not working for a day means you can’t check Facebook for 24 hours. A business computer not working for a day implies loss of productivity and therefore precious income.

Because IT is so important to businesses, they tend to generate a significant amount of work. A successful business must take its maintenance seriously, its upgrades with enough foresight and its backups with the precision of a Swiss watch! In addition to generating more work per computer, when you’re hooked up with a business client, you usually have more PCs to work on too. If you take a look at the turnover generated by a single (small) business client over the course of a year you can probably equate it to four to five families’ worth of work.

It is not all fun and games, because expectations on your level of commitment increase too, but this is mainly the reason you can charge higher rates. It is also harder to win the client over because there is more competition and a higher chance that they are already in some form of a relationship with another supplier/technician.

If you have decided that it is worth exploring as an idea, you now need to find ways to get the word out there and start attracting business clients. I have a few suggestions that you might want to try out.

1) Tap your existing client base

Your existing clients are probably an ideal first step in trying to get new business. Statistically, most of them work at a small business, so if you approached them there is a good chance of them either being the decision maker at office or at least knowing who is. Don’t push yourself too hard with people who are generating your bread and butter income though, because you don’t want to scare them off from giving you their custom. You can either drop a hint when you’re at their place or else insert a new email signature which says you service businesses too. It might also be worth your while to offer a small bounty to friends and long-term clients who can introduce you to a new business client.

2) Approach the local business community

Targeting local businesses with direct mail, the local yellow pages or advertising in a local paper would be a great method to start offering services. Your major investment here could be your time. Offer a free audit of their systems – that way you can give them something of value. If you do your job well enough at this stage, you’re the one they’re going to want to implement the recommendations to fix the issues that arise.

3) Mixing at business events

Scour the papers and online notice boards for business breakfasts or any other business meetings organised in your community. These are a great source of new contacts and people are expecting you to discuss business opportunities. If there are talks, then try and get a speaking gig – even if you offer your time for free. Use this time to outline the importance of having a solid IT infrastructure. Businesses love having a thought leader consulting them – it inflates their ego.

4) Buy a set of golf clubs

Or join the local chapter of the Rotary Club. Every community has its own version of a place for businessmen to hang out informally. Whereas these might seem to be a place to relax, a lot of business wheeling and dealing goes on in between holes on the local golf course. You will have to take it more easily here. People are officially there to enjoy themselves and relax so you have to observe others and respect the etiquette in place.

5) Online

Building a good presence online is a crucial part of achieving your goal. I have left it to last for one simple reason – no matter which of the methods above you decide to go with, this should have to happen in tandem. Create a personal LinkedIn profile and build it up as much as possible. Get recommendations from former colleagues and current clients and keep the account active on a daily basis. Create Google+ and Facebook pages as a local business and post items to them regularly. Ideally you shouldn’t broadcast, but also interact with people who’ve liked your pages. Offer free advice online to business customers – and make these posts public so you can show your expertise.

Whichever of these tickles your fancy, I would suggest not trying out more than one or two of them to start off. Ease yourself into the market and there is far less chance of being overwhelmed. Slow and steady wins the race.

This is a guest post written by Richard Muscat Azzopardi on behalf of IT Channel Insight, a site related to managed IT services. Richard draws on his experience from over 12 years in the publishing industry to bring you top quality content that works. He now writes blog posts, white papers and e-books for the IT industry with the same passion that drove him to create his country’s most popular publication.

© Technibble – A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their Computer Business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

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