My Tech Startup - ACE Computer Services, NJ

April Showers and Web Host Issues

2009-05-09T08:17:00.002-05:00

My lack of writing lately comes from being very, very busy - which is a good thing. April turned out to be a crazy month. I have a few really interesting projects, stuff on the web development side, that are very interesting and engaging.

One of the projects uses WordPress extensively and I admit to falling in love with the software. Alice commented a while back and suggested WordPress for my own needs and now I am kicking myself that I did not go that route. To be honest I may go that route - all the way in. I am toying with the idea of transforming the ACE Computer Services page - the start (index, call it what you want) - my main homepage into a blog first and foremost. The services, rates and information would be included as well but the writing and resources would be up front. I am sure others do this already so its not some Earth-shattering idea, but it would be dramatically different from the site layout now.

I need to formulate the plan some more and have only been tossing it around in my head the last few days. It will definitely require greater commitment to writing and resource development - something I have slipped on the last month or so. That time would have to be set aside to keep content flowing to the site.

One of the other web projects I am working on may also go the WordPress route. In preparing for the testing & such I upgraded my current Web Hosting plan with 1and1. This turned out to be a nightmare. My site was actually inactive for almost an entire day also and required a call to technical support to make it visible again. I was so annoyed with the process that I am currently looking for a new Host provider. Anyone have any suggestions?

aMember Software

2009-04-16T11:44:00.003-05:00

I've been evaluating some new software - aMember (http://www.amember.com/) for a specific use on a website but potentially for additional needs. Basically aMember is membership software that can restrict access to parts of a website based on login, payment details & user privileges. I've been working with a demo copy that is fully functional. So far setup was a breeze but note that this does require some technical knowledge.

I was able to upload the software to a webhosting site and test both logins and protecting a page. Everything worked great. It has the ability to add shopping cart features (for payment) and plug-ins for WordPress and vBulletin (which relates to the specific need for the software right now) - but I have not tested those features.

If anyone has any suggestions or experience with aMember I would love to hear about it. Thanks!

Minor Updates & Changes

2009-04-15T15:21:00.002-05:00

A few minor updates today to the site (http://www.acecomputernj.com/) - the big thing is the creation of an articles page. Its not ready yet but will be soon. I will basically use the main site as the hub for everything - promoting my services but also my writing. The blog will become an additional outlet and will preview articles & writing but will always point back to the main site. I got the idea from a friend and his approach to web/brand/etc. The ultimate goal is to create more content for the site with the hope (as always) to improve the Google rankings and page views.

I also added back on to the site that I provide Web Development. I had pulled this from the site previously because demand was pretty low but I have two big projects in development now, so I figured I would begin promoting that I still do web work as well.

Taxes Done

2009-04-14T22:09:00.002-05:00

After much procrastination I finished up my personal & business taxes this weekend. No surprises - which is good. A couple of interesting items emerged from looking at last year (2008) and the year previous (2007). The good news is that costs were down in 2008 compared to 2007 and sales were up but I am still not making much, if anything.

In starting ACE Computer Services I expected a year or two to establish everything and planned to not make much during that time. But here I am starting year three and there is a certain urgency to see if this venture can be profitable. I want to remain true to my initial goals - to make my services affordable but I may need to consider rate changes and/or adjustments.

At the same time I am considering new ventures to generate cash - like selling items or affiliate items online. I dabbled in affiliate links a while ago but I admit to not knowing what I was doing the first time around. I am still looking for something that I believe in and something that matches what I do - that is the biggest hangup right now.

One good note - my Google ranking jumped back up after slipping two months ago. The attention paid to getting new links and improving the site keywords paid off.

Ouch

2009-04-01T12:39:00.002-05:00

Add Band-Aids to the list of items I recommend any IT Technician keep on hand. I have pretty big hands and I often cut myself up a bit working within a PC tower - stuff inside there is pretty sharp. Nothing ever serious before, just some nicks and scratches here and there. Well, that all changed as I totally gouged my thumb inside a system case and took a nice chunk out. It was ugly. So now I am tossing Band-Aids in to my bag for the future.

Conficker Tips

2009-03-31T18:50:00.001-05:00

The Conficker worm has gotten a lot of media attention in the past week. Today alone I received a bunch of calls with people trying to figure out what to do in advance of this potential virus - many of the people clearly effected by something they saw in the media.

Such notoriety is actually a good thing. If for nothing else it gives people pause and makes them aware of computer security. It also is a great time to enforce some simple tips & tricks to do at home to protect yourself from Conficker or any other nasty malware floating around the internet.

1. Update Antivirus

Take a look around your antivirus program and see if any updates are needed. These updates are in different places depending on the brand but most are easily spotted. Keeping your antivirus updated ensures you have the correct database of known threats to catch problems before they happen. Don't have an antivirus program? Definitely get one, install it and keep it updated to protect against threats. A good free program is AVG Antivirus Free Edition. Get it at: http://free.avg.com/

2. Update Windows

Microsoft regularly sends out updates, fixes and patches for its Windows Operating Systems (XP, Vista, etc.). Keeping Windows updated is just as important as antivirus on your PC. These fixes and updates plug holes and vulnerabilities in the operating system. By falling behind on Windows Updates you run the risk of a computer virus or intrusion. To see if your computer is fully updated visit: http://update.microsoft.com/.

3. Run a Malware Scan

Malware being a term for the bad stuff - ad, spy and virus code that can infect your PC. Having an antivirus program alone is just not enough these days. Thankfully the best malware program available is also free - Malwarebytes Antimalware. Download the program, install and scan your PC regularly to keep it extra clean. Malwarebytes Antimalware is available at: http://www.malwarebytes.org/.

4. Backup Your Data

Backup your data often. An easy solution is to purchase an external hard drive (here is an example at Staples) and set a regular backup using included software (most have this). There are some online, free backup services as well. Keep in mind that free usually means a restricted amount of space but it is a start. Mozy is a useful online site that offers free and paid backup options. Visit them at: http://mozy.com/.

For more information on Conficker, with additional tips & suggestions please see: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/132464

Great Resource for IT Skills

2009-03-31T09:22:00.003-05:00

I've written often about the business side of things in starting ACE Computer Services. I've also written some technical aspects as well but I don't think I have ever gotten into what IT Skills a person may need. I came across a great resource from Technibble that does just that:

http://www.technibble.com/essential-skills-for-basic-residential-computer-repair-work/

Give it a look if you were ever considering what skills it may take to succeed in IT/Computer Repair & Service.

Google Ranking Slipping (yet again)

2009-03-25T13:00:00.002-05:00

Without question the must frustrating part of running my own business is my Google Rank. For me at least. The accounting, wearing multiple hats, travel, tough customers, etc. - I will take all of that over the insanity that creates a solid page rank in Google.

I see clearly now why there are many Search Engine Optimization (SEO) companies and how those companies can prey on people/business owners who do not know how difficult this process can be. I would like to think I know what I am doing. Strong keywords? Check. Links to the site? Check. Links from local directories and organizations? Check. Blogs with links like this? Check. Yet the voodoo that goes in to determining where your page ranks in a Google search continues to confound and frustrate me.

I know my site is not perfect and I am aware I could be doing a lot more to build links like writing on other blogs and responding to forums, etc. But I am genuinely frustrated with the process. I noticed today that I have fallen off the first page output for some of the keywords I track. That stinks. That is the difference to business and no business. And business is slow right now. Referrals continue to come and word-of-mouth is great but some new customers would not hurt.

Since business is slow right now I tweaked the look of the site a bit. As always I look to simplify the site but also cram the most applicable keywords I can think of in to the text. I am hoping the new links from Twitter and the keyword changes will make a difference - I don't think they are counting toward the page rank yet.

One think I am wrestling with right now is the scope of my keywords and text on the site. By this I mean the coverage area that I service. My question is - do I go for broke and say "new Jersey" to capture a potentially larger share of people searching for service or narrow my focus to more regional/local language like "Middlesex County" or "Central Jersey" because (in my opinion) the visitors are more likely to call for service because of the local proximity. For now I have been subtly changing the text to reflect the "Central Jersey" feel more.

Dead Season

2009-03-15T16:29:00.002-05:00

Earlier this week I found myself wondering what was wrong with my business. January was busy and February started off busy as well and then dropped off. Then March hit and its been dead. Call volume has dropped off and traffic to my site has tailed off after being significantly up since the beginning of the year.

Thankfully I started keeping some more statistics last year. Its a simple spreadhseet really - calls in, calls missed, emails, solicitors, web hits and business. I took a look back to this time last year and noticed the same trend. Perhaps its this time of year - tax season, spring break, holidays like Easter - who knows. But it was refreshing to have that data and see that this trend will hopefully pass.

I'm doing very little advertising right now but keeping this data will help in the future if I decide to pick & choose when to advertise to draw in more business. Just a thought for the next year.

Very Cool

2009-03-11T12:21:00.002-05:00

I was out running some errands at lunchtime today and got a call from a writer for the Associated Press (the AP!!). He is doing a story on small business, starting your own business, etc. We had a pleasant conversation for about 10 minutes and it brought back a lot of good memories (to me) about starting ACE Computer Services. My responses may get tossed - who knows - but it was a big thrill to speak to the press today.

New Blog, New Twitter

2009-03-06T21:46:00.002-05:00

I am just about moved in to the new blog location at: http://aceblog.acecomputernj.com/. I've touched up the layout and logo and moved some of my favorite posts from the old blog. It does look a whole lot better than the old site and the continuity between my main page (http://www.acecomputernj.com/) and this new blog is much, much more consistent. I should have the links updated on my site this evening as well.

The new Twitter site for ACE Computer is up as well - http://twitter.com/acecomputer. It is funny how different I treat the three Twitter sites I maintain. I have firmly established my original page as a personal site. I follow both tech & fitness people and newsfeeds - and I really use it as just that - a source for news. Sort of like a Google Reader but confined to the 140 character limits for all my news. The site I created for my fulltime job is very professional and I post news and events for that organization. The ACE Computer site is somewhat in between. I plan to provide news, tips and tricks but I also have been hunting down fellow tech people to establish more connections and get ideas from them as well.

In moving my blog posts today I came across a classic from September 2007 where I completely dismissed Twitter. How wrong I was!

Wow

2009-03-04T19:40:00.003-05:00

I just caught a look at my blog archive to the right and was embarrassed to see that I managed all of 12 posts in 2008. Yikes. Talk about a lack of energy to share what was happening behind the scenes. This will mark the 15th post of 2009....already ahead of last year's total. My goodness I need to stay more consistent in sharing my thoughts and ideas here.

Update/Roundup

2009-03-04T19:20:00.002-05:00

Busy, busy week so far and some of my plans to roll out new web enhancements and add-ons are on hold. I've begun the process of starting the new ACE Blog but I would like to bring a few older posts over to the new location and I have some customization to do as well (logos, title bar, layout, etc.). For now it is in Beta release to borrow a popular tech testing term. The new location is: http://aceblog2.blogspot.com/. I am sticking with Blogger because my other blogs are there as well (this one and a fitness blog I write). Eventually the address aceblog.acecomputernj.com will point there as well but you can add that to the list of deferred work this week.

My social experiment with Facebook & Twitter at my full time job was a smashing success. My expectations for each were low and the reaction to both exceeded those expectations. I set up a Facebook page for an organization and a Twitter feed for the same. After doing so I sent an email out to the organization with some information - about seven items in all - and included there was the Facebook and Twitter information and links. The Facebook site now has 67 "fans" including myself. Twitter has 25 "followers", although some of those 25 were not people targeted by the email but rather news sources that I felt would help get me content to re-tweet. All in all a great reaction to the email. Almost all of those additions came Monday when I sent the email. This was nice in that it told me people not only read the email I send - they are willing to act on items included.

I am posting news and updates for the organization to both sites. Twitter is the more interesting of the two. I noticed more than 90% of the followers appeared to be new Twitter members - no posts, or just one or two recent posts here and there. So this experiment actually got them to join Twitter (as it appears). Very cool. I have elected to follow all of them as well. Hopefully they will use Twitter and post updates because I look forward to learning about them as well to help craft future posts, ideas and programs.

Using the New Toys...

2009-03-02T14:54:00.002-05:00

Big snowfall in New Jersey today and it has made for a pretty quiet day. The slow pace allowed me to dive in to some projects I had been considering - namely using Twitter and Facebook more effectively for ACE Computer Services and my main job. Twitter decided to act up and slowed my progress this morning so it only ended up being an expansion of my main job in to these social tools for now. I doubt I will have enough time today to go forward with any additional plans but I am pleased with the progress so far.

I was able to add & customize a Twitter feed for work and created a new page on Facebook along with adding links, pictures and an event. I updated my website accordingly to show the new social tools and I have an email ready to go soon. I am curious to see the usage of these two items for my job - my audience is older and I am not sure how many are really using Twitter or Facebook. I'll post again in a week or so after some of the results come through.

When time allows this week I plan the same enhancements for ACE Computer Services. I am also juggling the idea of a new work blog for my main job and I am definitely moving the main ACE Blog over to Blogger. The layout options I currently have for the ACE Blog are terrible so I need to move it to a place where I have greater creative control. I plan some beta posts this week before changing over all my links by the end of the week.

A Few More Days on Twitter

2009-02-28T13:48:00.000-05:00

My Twitter experiment continues. I am learning that I am now @awc045and how to communicate a little better in the Twitter community. There are still plenty of mistakes. And losing "followers" is not fun. It kind of dents the ego a little when you shed a few. Was I too boring? Did I not follow you back? Ooops. Special thanks to friends and fellow Twitter members who helped me get going.

So far my favorite things on Twitter:

search.twitter.com - Information overload! A fantastic resource to cull information from the site.

@beastieboys - Always cutting edge, the Beastie Boys do not disappoint on Twitter. They post song feeds throughout the day.

@espn - I love sports and following this feed is like having the ticker scroll on ESPN News.

@TerryFrancona - I am a huge Yankees fan. So why would I follow the manager of the rival Boston Red Sox? It is a facinating way to see what the other side is thinking.

@tweetcongress - This Twitter account and the website it refers back to are full of information and links about our elected officials who Tweet. I was able to locate one of my two US Senators and find the updates insightful.

@THE_REAL_SHAQ- Yes, this is the real Shaquille O'Neal and he is just fantastic to follow. Funny at times, complete bizarre other times he is never boring. And he posts lost of pictures (twitpic's).

Here are a couple more resources that have been helpful and/or interesting:

http://www.socialtoo.com/

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/26/pirillo.twitter.tips/index.html

http://www.loudtwitter.com/

http://www.tweetdeck.com/beta/

http://www.twhirl.org/

http://www.ghacks.net/2009/02/27/be-careful-what-you-write-about-online/

http://twitter.grader.com/

http://mashable.com/2009/02/27/social-media-for-business-2/

Energy Pt.2

2009-02-27T15:45:00.002-05:00

Just a follow up from the other day - I'm working on a few new uses for Twitter for business. Nothing shocking and many others use it way more effectively than I likely will but I am working out the details to start two new Twitter feeds and one new blog.

One of the reasons I started ACE Computer Services was to explore new and often creative outlets. ACE does not pay the bills. I have a great full time job that I love. I use experiences from ACE to improve my full time work and visa versa. I am careful not to cross-promote ACE & my full time work (and visa versa) so I won't go into great detail about what I do at my main job. Basically it consists of IT support and I do get in to some communications and program planning as well. I am actually looking to start Twitter feeds for both ACE and for part of my full time work. I see great value in the communication features of Twitter and I think it meshes perfectly with a program I am currently working on at the main job. More details soon.

Using Google Reader More...

2009-02-27T13:46:00.002-05:00

With all of the reading I have been doing lately I have found myself using Google Reader again in earnest. I've started and stopped using it in the past and usually got overwhelmed because I added too many feeds. This time I have zeroed in on the sources I enjoy most. The setup and format is very simple, which is a plus. I've been selecting my favorite articles and sharing them more often as well. The link below is a list of the stuff I've enjoyed reading:

http://www.google.com/reader/shared/17877670015237851387

Two Days on Twitter

2009-02-25T17:22:00.001-05:00

After hearing so much about Twitter I finally decided to give it a go (http://twitter.com/awc045). I have been a big fan of other social sites and loved reconnecting with friends and such. But Twitter is different. I am not making any groundbreaking statements here. In fact I am sure the masses that have been using Twitter would laugh at my puny assessment.

But back to Twitter. On sites like Facebook you join up, find friends, talk about how long its been since you last saw one another, post funny picture and generally waste a lot of time. That about sums up Facebook and similar social network sites. Twitter is an entirely different beast - at least from what I can see so far.

I signed up and found a couple writers I enjoy reading online - tech & fitness people mainly. I have seen them often reference Twitter accounts in blogs and articles. I thought it would be interesting to see what they post (if it is really them) and to see them in a different light. And you really do. Seeing Twitter posts (or Tweets) is very interesting when comparing that to some of the professional work these writers and industry individuals provide in blogs, etc. Some Tweet about the process coming up with a new blog/article, some entertain questions from followers, some shamelessly promote, some break news and events, some just Tweet about life in general and some do a combination of all the above.

These are people I would not likely request to be a friend in Facebook because I really don't know them. I guess this is a big difference with Twitter - it is downright acceptable to follow (friend) people you really do not know. And that cuts both ways. Within a few minutes of setting up my page a few people were following me. Weird. And a little creepy at first. Then a few of the people I followed reciprocated and were following me. That is pretty cool.

I sent out a few messages and found myself wasting a good deal of time looking at who follows who. You actually gleam a lot about the people on Twitter by who they follow - like political affiliations (many follow Obama), entertainment interested (lots of Stephen Colbert spotted), etc. Soon I found myself looking to improve my Twitter layout and really customize the site. I also had to search a few times to learn how to do things like respond to a message and all that jazz. And I made a few mistakes along the way. Then I lost some followers - maybe because I didn't reciprocate but probably because I was boring. But I moved on and soon found myself looking for a Twitter application for my BlackBerry (Twitterberry!)

One of the big reasons I jumped in to Twitter was due to an article I read by David Pogue of the New York Times. He discussed how, at a conference, someone used Twitter to post a question and get answers from followers in real time. Amazing. I tested the same idea - posting a question about Netbooks because of a blog article I was preparing and lo and behold a response came. Very cool.

I am a bit leery about the social aspects of Twitter - I am learning more about people I follow but I have yet to engage in any real conversations. However, I do not dispute the myriad of ways a business or individual can use Twitter to promote themselves. It is downright powerful and has the potential to change the way people receive and digest information.

Why? Events occur in real time - not to crib from one of my favorite shows (24), but yes, real time. A writer you like writes a new article and posts a Tweet with a link to the article and you are right there just after its posting. No hunting it down. No weeding through an RSS feed. You follow him or her and find out from the source. News breaks on Twitter too. I learned about a great utility tool today on Twitter - not from any blog or newsfeed - but Twitter. I may not have otherwise located that information. You can pose a question and get a variety and diversity in responses you many not otherwise find online. You can communicate with experts in various fields and CEO's of major companies. And you can do this all instantly.

So far I see that some people send out constant Tweets and others very rarely. Some automate the Tweets and others seem very authentic. Whatever the case it makes for great viewing.

I also see great potential for promoting and expanding my own business interests. I will not bore you with those details today and I will not pretend to be a social network guru - but my mind is churning with ideas how to best use Twitter for my business. I will say this - traffic to my site (http://www.acecomputernj.com/), which I link to my Twitter profile, surged in the last two days since joining.

Here are a couple resources to get you started and learn more:

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/the-twitter-experiment/#more-651

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/twittering-tips-for-beginners/

http://www.socialtoo.com/

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/24/ginx-helps-you-find-and-follow-the-experts-on-twitter/

http://blog.twitter.com/2008/05/how-replies-work-on-twitter-and-how.html

http://blog.twitter.com/

http://www.geeksugar.com/2850608

http://www.orangatame.com/products/twitterberry/

Renewed Energy

2009-02-25T10:00:00.002-05:00

Business has been good - not great - but good and steady. Lots of referrals of late and that always makes me feel good. Getting a favorable referral from a customer is a great validation for the work you did - at least that is the way I look at it.

I still question if this venture, ACE Computer Services will ever be a profitable venture. I don't lose money with it but I certainly don't make much either. Breaking even would be the best way to describe it. Raising rates is an idea but I really want to stick to my affordable roots - one of the main reasons I started this in the first place.

But that said I have discovered a new found energy of late. I've invested a ton of time in to research and reading and been more active with my ACE Blog. Because of that I have been really into the learning and business side - expanding the business through new mediums like Twitter and Facebook, learning about new and emerging technologies and expanding my own technical knowledge - things like that. So as an educational experiment ACE Computer Services continues to reward.

Testing Twitter

2009-02-23T13:48:00.000-05:00

I've been a critic of Twitter for a long time - basically I just did not get the idea. But lately Twitter seems to be everywhere. Instead of wondering what all the fuss was about I decided to dive in today and check it out. I signed up to "follow" a couple tech & fitness bloggers I read often and found a friend using my email contacts.

I'll keep you posted on what I find.

http://twitter.com/awc045

Social Web Profile...

2009-02-23T13:26:00.003-05:00

So I have been branching out lately and reading a good deal about the Social Web and Web 2.0 and similar ideas. I definitely venture into the social web myself with sites like facebook to communicate with old friends but rarely have I looked at sites like this as an extension of ACE Computer Services or to build "my brand".

But a few articles have me venturing into testing "my brand". Two good ones I came across over at Mashable:

http://mashable.com/2009/02/19/control-google-search-results/

http://mashable.com/2009/02/20/big-brands-social-media/

I'll keep you posted on how this experiment and extension goes.

Accounting Software...

2009-02-20T14:34:00.001-05:00

I am still not utilizing account software enough as I have too many things in too many places. I came across this article recently and it is very helpful for small business owners like myself when setting up accounting software:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2341313,00.asp?kc=PCRSS03129TX1K0000625

Web Updates & Surveys

2009-02-11T11:59:00.002-05:00

I made a host of web changes today to ACE Computer Services. Most were subtle - some text changes here and there to tighten up the message of the site. I moved my Better Business Bureau graphic to the top of the page to get some better coverage and association of that certification.

I'm also trying to make better use of my arrangement with RatePoint, which I use for some independent survey & feedback of customers. I've created a new survey through the site and changed & moved the logos on the ACE pages to get some more traffic to the RatePoint stuff.

Two Years in the Books

2009-02-05T18:11:00.002-05:00

Today marked the second anniversary since opening ACE Computer Services. I continue to enjoy the endeavor but I will admit I do not spend as much time doing the background work - web updates, page rankings, advertising, etc.

I'm coming off a successful year and my most successful quarter to close out 2008. 2009 has started just the opposite. Early in the month I was busy but by the end of January it turned out to be one of my worst months to date. I'm not sure if its a factor of the economy or the increase in rates. I tested a $75 per hour rate and I'm pretty sure I scarred one guy away with that so I went back to $45 per hour but adjusted the total time it takes to complete certain jobs to better reflect the actual times it takes - that sounds confusing but in reality I rarely charge people minute for minute on how long it actually takes to fix problems. That is great for the customer but it came time to make the adjustment to better protect my time and make things more worthwhile.

I'm really not sure what Year Three will bring. The sagging economy may create more opportunities as people look to fix what they have versus buying new. But that said people may freeze spending completely. We'll see.

New Fee Structure

2009-01-21T16:10:00.002-05:00

For the first time since starting ACE Computer Services in February 2007 I have raised rates. I did so with a good deal of thought and consideration and I may reverse the increase at some point in the future but for now the standard labor rate has moved to $75 per hour.