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dk
10-26-2004, 12:07 PM
Hello!

I'm a single mom of 13 and 15 year old here in Albany, NY.

After my divorce I decided I should probably get a degree in IT so that I could make a livable wage. Luckily for me I graduated at the height(?) :roll: of the dot.com crash. So, the job I could have had with no degree back in '99 with no degree or experience now requires a BS and several years of experience....which I can't seem to get. OH the looks I get when I show up for Internship interviews...being so old and all ;)

So here I am! While I've considered being a professional resume writer - I'm mean I rewritten mine a gazillion times.....resume writing just doesn't do it for me - in fact it depresses me! Besides, I'm apparently not all that good at it ;). So aside from my fantasy career as a rock star - I don't have Brittney's abs so that's a no go ;) - I'm trying to research another idea I have for which there is most assuredly a need. However, there is no one in my area providing this service - which makes me kind of nervous. Why isn't anyone doing this? Or are they? There are a few PC repair people - but to me this connotates someone that deals more with hardware issues.

My idea is this - so many people have PC problems that can:

1. Be avoided entirely
2. Be fixed fairly easily with the proper knowledge and tools

So, I would offer in home backup/cleanup/repair service and more importantly - user training. Now of course this is going to involve convincing people that they REALLY DO need to use things like firewalls, up-to-date antivirus protection and spyware scanners - which really shouldn't be so hard to do once I show them all the junk they've got running and clogging up their systems ;)

I just don't know if the home/small office user is going to be the best market to target. Even though I KNOW for a fact the need is there, I just don't know that they are ready or willing to "buy" and I don't know how to find out! Perhaps I'm just being to cautious? It's just that everything I've read in terms of business & marketing planning suggests I'd better know this before hand.

So in the mean time I'm studying for my certs - something I probably should have done a long time ago but didn't really feel was necessary given the fact that I've already have one quite expensive (and useless) piece of paper! ;)

Lori
10-26-2004, 12:24 PM
Hi DK -

Great to have you here!

I'm in northeastern Ct and in our little paper I see a few different businesses advertising for the same type of service that you are considering.

I do think that with some savvy advertising - you could really make a go of it.

Also - consider bidding on work at some of the Freelance Job Boards (http://www.freelancemom.com/gigs.htm) out there. Why not? You'll likely be under paid but while you are studying for your degree, you will also be getting some experience.

Keep us updated on how you do!

Lori

Debbi
11-04-2004, 10:38 PM
Hi!

I think this is a GREAT idea. If you started in a local area, and built up a reputation amount people, they would soon be recommending you to everyone. Computers are used so much now, people cannot bury their heads in the cybersand and not use them (except my parents, but that's another story).
:roll:

I think people would really appreciate and benefit from your service.

Keep us posted on how it goes!

D

Ravish30
11-05-2004, 01:51 PM
Hi DK

Welcome to Freelance Mom message boards! I am down in PA. Is it cold up their in NY? We have had howling 35+ MPH winds since yesterday and its cold and windy out there! I am dreading winter and its only going to get worse from here LOL

Shelly

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