Should you add computer training to your small business ideas?
We all know the economy isn’t doing well right now…and that’s putting it nicely. Unemployment rates are up, people are losing their jobs, and everyone is struggling to make ends meet.
There are limited jobs and far too many people to fill them. People are trying to differentiate themselves, add to their skill sets, and somehow make their expertise stand out.
In almost every job, a large component of the needed skill set is proficiency with technology.
If you can’t use Microsoft Office Word, Outlook, or Excel, the rest of your résumé doesn’t matter to the business world.
But let’s say you just want to work as a salesperson at AnnTaylor.com or Bath and Body Works.com. You still need basic knowledge of computers to quickly learn to operate point of sale software.
Does this seem too basic to you? Of course people need to know how to operate computers in this day and age. And doesn’t everyone who needs to know already know?
Young to middle-aged professionals certainly do. But many baby boomers who are older than that do not know how to use computers. Email is about as much as they can tackle.
Detailed formulae in Microsoft Office including Excel, the ins and outs in PowerPoint presentations, distribution lists in Outlook—those are more difficult for people who didn’t use progressively more advanced computer functions as they were created.
There is a little bit of a learning curve.
So there is demand. Is it already being met with sufficient supply?
Many community centers and local colleges offer introductory computer classes. There are even a few start-up companies who attempt to do that, as well.
But almost all of them require that students come to their classroom facilities. They may also revert to purely online training.
In the first scenario, the situation is often impractical. If employees have new desktop computers at work, driving to another location to learn how to use another computer doesn’t make sense.
This is even more true if multiple employees need the same training. It isn’t worth it for them to all drive to another location.
Also, many people don’t have time for that kind of obligation. Driving to a computer training lesson requires a greater time commitment.
In the second scenario, people don’t receive the hands-on, in-person training that they need.
And if your clients aren’t too great with computers, having your computer training program online or on a CD may not be helpful. How would they utilize an online program if they don’t know how to manage their internet connections?
If the existing small business ideas that offer computer training aren’t enough, what is the alternative?
Entrepreneur.com suggests that there are business opportunities for you if “you can start a mobile computer training service and train students one-on-one, or in a group format at their homes, businesses, or office.”
You could make these small business ideas successful by “capitalizing on your computer, software, and marketing experience.”
Would this idea be profitable beyond a certain point? Once you’ve trained people in basic computer operations, it seems as though they wouldn’t need your services again.
This is not the case. Technology is becoming more and more complex. Entirely new software programs are introduced all the time. Even people who are quite familiar with computers may require some training to adjust to a new program.
As Entrepreneur.com observes, “[t]he proliferation of technological advances, and the constant new stream of software applications and hardware devices means that there will always be lots of people in need of training or skills upgrading, so they can get the most benefit from their computer equipment and programs.”
To market this idea, networking is vital. Be sure to connect with businesses in your area to market your services.
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