| The following suggestions have probably been | | | | to your home and charge a package fee or a per |
| considered or attempted by others. However, the | | | | hour fee. When it comes to movies I have had people |
| potential lies in your ability to capitalize on your clients | | | | give me a couple of DVD's and asked if I could get |
| not having the time to complete the tasks for | | | | them onto their iPod. All you need is some DVD ripping |
| themselves. In the case of the Digital Photo Album | | | | software and a compressor software then transfer |
| business, there are thousands of people who are very | | | | the files onto the iPod. |
| familiar with converting paper photos to digital files but | | | | Where do you get your customers in your area? |
| only a handful really have the time to engage the | | | | Advertise in the local online newspaper, post a flyer at |
| process. Hence, potential clients! Next, be sure to seek | | | | Starbucks, tell a friend, who'll tell a friend. Trust me, |
| business guidance! This can be hard at times | | | | word will spread. |
| considering the amount of books and tapes sold on | | | | Once again, its not that people don't have the |
| the subject. Just remember to look for information | | | | technology to do these things, they just usually don't |
| from people who have a similar business model as | | | | want to take the time to get them done. |
| yours. | | | | 4.) Start a business creating forms for businesses. I |
| (1.) Start a business converting family paper photo | | | | know a guy who delivered a product to a client |
| Albums to digital photo albums. If you have a computer | | | | without an invoice detailing the exact amount of items |
| and a scanner you're ready to start. If you use a mac, | | | | to be delivered. An argument followed between the |
| get iPhoto from I start with this application because | | | | two regarding the amount. The person delivering the |
| iPhoto has the most complete process I've seen with | | | | product wanted to keep the client so they just |
| a very low learning curve. Plus after you have finished | | | | conceeded and brought the client more product at a |
| scanning in all the photos and cleaning them up, for an | | | | loss to himself. A friend of mine let him know that all he |
| extra charge to your client if you decide to do so, you | | | | needed was an invoice with his business logo and |
| can layout a hard cover photo book in iPhoto, and | | | | information on it with a carbon copy sheet attached. |
| send it directly to Apple to be printed and mailed to | | | | He had no idea as to how to do the above so he |
| you or the client for very little expense. If you're on a | | | | asked my friend to create the documents and get |
| PC consider Picasa 2 by Google, online at for FREE. | | | | copies. My friend did so at a cost. There are a great |
| Did I say it was for FREE? I give a tutorial overview of | | | | many people who need all types of forms which can |
| Picasa on my site at in the free tutorials section. It | | | | be downloaded from the internet and customized to fit |
| works similar to iPhoto but without the service of going | | | | the clients needs. What's required? For this you don't |
| directly to a book format. Still, the learning curve is low | | | | even need your own computer, use theirs! Google the |
| and the software is free. Both of the above require | | | | type of form, download it, copy the text from it, bring it |
| minimal computer system configurations ($500 | | | | into MS Word and adjust! Or, depending on how |
| e-machine or $1,200 iMac ) and scanner/printers run | | | | complex it is, download a free trial version of |
| about $80.00 | | | | photoshop and alter it there. Don't know how to use |
| 2.) Start a business trouble-shooting and upgrading | | | | photoshop, I have a great tutorial on my site that'll get |
| computer systems. Now this may seem high tech but | | | | you up and running in no time. |
| it's really not. When on service calls I only have my | | | | 5.) Create a Cell Phone Media business. On a flight to |
| knowledge of the PC and the Mac, an external hard | | | | Atlanta I had a lady sitting next to me who decided to |
| drive to backup the clients documents, (even if they | | | | pitch me on a multilevel marketing product. I wasn't |
| said they have done so), some software to run some | | | | interested in the product, but I was impressed that she |
| tests and a screw driver. Clients are literally 2 doors to | | | | had the promo video on her Treo cell phone. I asked |
| your left or right, if they have a computer. In fact the | | | | her if everyone in the company had the same setup, |
| easiest clients in the world to get are computer clients. | | | | she said no, her son had compressed the video to go |
| People ALWAYS need help with their computers. | | | | on the phone. Now imagine your company that can |
| Trust me, once you announce just to your family and | | | | take a corporate promo video and format it for the |
| friends that you now fix and upgrade computers, you'll | | | | top PDA smartphones available on the market today! |
| be busy from that moment on. Don't know how to | | | | Most major corporations only use 1 type of phone but |
| charge? Just look at the price list the "Geek Squad" | | | | there are smaller companies with sales people that |
| has. They charge $200 to setup a home network, | | | | have the Treo, the Blackberry, the iPhone and other |
| excluding equipment! It really only takes 30 minutes, if | | | | smartphones. Most phones can run either an Mpeg 4 |
| that, to setup a home network, so under bid them. I | | | | (.mp4) video clip or a 3G compressed video clip. |
| would charge a $100 and be on my way to my next | | | | Download a free or very inexpensive video |
| stop in 20 minutes. | | | | compressor like Movavi, ( and you're ready to go. |
| 3.) Setup a business configuring and loading iPods with | | | | In part 2 to this article I'll give you 5 more businesses |
| music and video. It never ceases to amaze me the | | | | and I give you some more marketing ideas as to the |
| amount of people with iPods that don't use them or | | | | promotion of your businesses using digital technology. In |
| haven't added music to them since their friend first put | | | | the meantime I sugggest you stop by and familiarize |
| a few tracks on there for them. People WILL pay you | | | | yourself with some other technologies that are |
| to setup their iPod. What tools do you need? The | | | | available and how to implement them to accomplish |
| know how and transportation to the client. Or, you can | | | | everyday tasks in life. |
| have them drop off their music, movies and their iPod | | | | |