Results 1 to 16 of 16
  1. #1

    Free Tech Support

    Do you think it will work? I don't think money from ads will support what it costs to hire employees, unless you get em really dirt cheap. If you offer paid support, also, it might work? Don't steal my idea, please.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Kerala, India
    Posts
    264
    What kind support you are planning? forum, ticket or live chat?
    Subodh Manikoth [Netmagics.com - In Business Since 2007]
    Linux & Windows Hosting | Reseller Hosting | Master Reseller | Alpha Reseller | VPS
    99.9% Uptime SLA | 30 Days Money Back | 24x7 Live Support
    Payment Methods: PayPal/Credit Card, Indian ATM/Debit Cards/NetBanking, Bank Deposit

  3. #3
    Oh, sorry. Live chat mainly, with Livezilla software. I guess I will have support tickets, and forums too.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    3,784
    I have no idea what you are talking about?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    X.400
    Posts
    499
    Quote Originally Posted by nerdie View Post
    I have no idea what you are talking about?
    I am with you on that one . miketh2005 would you be able to clarify in greater detail what you're trying to convey? Are you referring to free tech support for a shared hosting service or a support service for IT in general? In terms of shared hosting most providers already offer support for free with their hosting packages. Some providers will even help with third party scripts and installations which is not considered the norm.

    I look forward to hearing from you.

  6. #6
    IT service in general. Sorry if I wasn't clearer before.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    342
    I'm still not very clear on exactly what you are doing. Can you tell us more about what you are or will be doing.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    505
    I think the OP is looking to start a technical support business which offers the service for free and to off-set the costs of running the business, they are looking to put adverts on the site. They will also offer a paid support package to also bring in more money.

  9. #9
    Support is not a commodity consumer oriented business that people will use and then upgrade because it's convenient. It's all B2B, usually bought in large quantity. No way this would work. Anyone who starts a business and isn't willing to invest in customer service won't make it far enough to upgrade to a paid plan.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    New Delhi
    Posts
    643
    Idea is innovative, but not worth stealing.

  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by SamBarrow View Post
    Support is not a commodity consumer oriented business that people will use and then upgrade because it's convenient. It's all B2B, usually bought in large quantity. No way this would work. Anyone who starts a business and isn't willing to invest in customer service won't make it far enough to upgrade to a paid plan.
    This would be consumer support, not business support. I might add Business support later, but not for free.

    Thanks for the thoughts, guys.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    California
    Posts
    2,786
    Quote Originally Posted by miketh2005 View Post
    This would be consumer support, not business support. I might add Business support later, but not for free.

    Thanks for the thoughts, guys.
    I think you might have a good idea. What you are basically thinking of is having a chat version of the free support services already out there ... like forums (WHT anyone?) There are dozens of them that provide free support from users.

    The challenge is to make the chat support profitable. The forums do it by crowd sourcing answers, and displaying ads on the site (or selling subscriptions). You could have ads on your site, and a tip jar for people you've helped. Or you could "crowd source" by leveraging the same crowd of people that places like Yahoo Answers uses (they give a small commission to each approved answer). Have them sign up, be ready for chat in their specialty, and have them earn .30 per answer given in chat.

    History is replete with success stories about men who did things they "couldn't do" and created things that would "never work."

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by fshagan View Post
    I think you might have a good idea. What you are basically thinking of is having a chat version of the free support services already out there ... like forums (WHT anyone?) There are dozens of them that provide free support from users.

    The challenge is to make the chat support profitable. The forums do it by crowd sourcing answers, and displaying ads on the site (or selling subscriptions). You could have ads on your site, and a tip jar for people you've helped. Or you could "crowd source" by leveraging the same crowd of people that places like Yahoo Answers uses (they give a small commission to each approved answer). Have them sign up, be ready for chat in their specialty, and have them earn .30 per answer given in chat.

    History is replete with success stories about men who did things they "couldn't do" and created things that would "never work."
    I like you. Thanks a lot. I don't really know if crowd sourcing would work. Like you said, if this is going to be live chat version of yahoo answers. It has to be live... On Yahoo Answers, it usually takes awhile for an answer to questions. Also, YA works because you can share knowledge about 1 thing, and receive knowledge about another. If this site is going to be just plain for computer support, then obviously the people who come to the site will be those who don't know about computers, not those who do.

    I am wondering how computer support forums work, when first starting up, though? Wouldn't the above problem arise? Or are there people who just like helping people?

    If so, if I can get some volunteers who wouldn't mind not working for steady pay, and only a percentage of the ad profits, and/or a commission if a person buys a paid package, that might work, because I'd only be spending money when I receive money.

  14. #14
    Quote Originally Posted by miketh2005 View Post
    I don't really know if crowd sourcing would work. Like you said, if this is going to be live chat version of yahoo answers. It has to be live... On Yahoo Answers, it usually takes awhile for an answer to questions.
    I'm skeptical, honestly, because of sites like serverfault.com (and the other StackExchange sites). That's just one example, but typically I can ask a question there and get an expert response (or many) within 10-15 minutes. I'm not sure I really need a faster response time...in most cases, it takes me 5-10 minutes to coherently state my question and provide an example anyway.

    What it sounds like you're looking for is sort of like serverfault + IRC.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    California
    Posts
    2,786
    Quote Originally Posted by miketh2005 View Post
    I like you. Thanks a lot. I don't really know if crowd sourcing would work. Like you said, if this is going to be live chat version of yahoo answers. It has to be live... On Yahoo Answers, it usually takes awhile for an answer to questions. Also, YA works because you can share knowledge about 1 thing, and receive knowledge about another. If this site is going to be just plain for computer support, then obviously the people who come to the site will be those who don't know about computers, not those who do.

    I am wondering how computer support forums work, when first starting up, though? Wouldn't the above problem arise? Or are there people who just like helping people?

    If so, if I can get some volunteers who wouldn't mind not working for steady pay, and only a percentage of the ad profits, and/or a commission if a person buys a paid package, that might work, because I'd only be spending money when I receive money.
    My initial thought was that you have freelancers with time, and if they can quickly answer a chat question, they will jump in while working on something else, even if the payout is small. People making money with Hubpages are an example; they get paid a share of the ad revenue.

    I would see the software as a log in for experts, and a visible queue of support questions chatters have entered. The expert selects one he thinks he can answer and engages the chatter.

    The chatter - the person asking for support - sees your website and a list of the experts on-line by area of expertise ("General computer, Virus Expert, MS Office Expert, etc.) They enter their question and select a category and enter chat. Your website refreshes and displays ads using the chat question as keywords.

    Your expert responds, and provides suggestions. At the end, the chatter can click a "Thanks! Problem solved!" or a "This was no help at all" button. YOu pay the expert only if he gets the "Problem Solved" button pressed. That keeps the experts honest, and limits payouts for lousy advice. If you allow the experts to recommend sites, even their own, you might recruit more.

    The advantage is you're building the business without having to hire staff, and a website and advertising is the main fixed cost. The problem is scaling the idea into a working model.

    If Google buys you out, you owe me a beer.

  16. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by fshagan View Post
    My initial thought was that you have freelancers with time, and if they can quickly answer a chat question, they will jump in while working on something else, even if the payout is small. People making money with Hubpages are an example; they get paid a share of the ad revenue.

    I would see the software as a log in for experts, and a visible queue of support questions chatters have entered. The expert selects one he thinks he can answer and engages the chatter.

    The chatter - the person asking for support - sees your website and a list of the experts on-line by area of expertise ("General computer, Virus Expert, MS Office Expert, etc.) They enter their question and select a category and enter chat. Your website refreshes and displays ads using the chat question as keywords.

    Your expert responds, and provides suggestions. At the end, the chatter can click a "Thanks! Problem solved!" or a "This was no help at all" button. YOu pay the expert only if he gets the "Problem Solved" button pressed. That keeps the experts honest, and limits payouts for lousy advice. If you allow the experts to recommend sites, even their own, you might recruit more.

    The advantage is you're building the business without having to hire staff, and a website and advertising is the main fixed cost. The problem is scaling the idea into a working model.

    If Google buys you out, you owe me a beer.
    Haha, sure thing buddy. Good idea. Would require quite a bit of programming, though, but I guess it would work in reality.

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-18-2009, 08:52 PM
  2. Tech Support/Server Tech/cPanel&WHM tech available
    By GPearce in forum Employment / Job Requests
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 07-15-2007, 08:25 AM
  3. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-15-2007, 12:37 AM
  4. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 10-17-2005, 02:00 AM
  5. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-15-2001, 08:47 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •