I was hoping to get some good advice from you guys... I'm considering trying to start my own phone system installation business where I install Nortel CICS's and MICS's for small to medium sized businesses in my area (southeast Mississippi). I have experience with programming these babies from working at a phone company that would install and lease these systems to businesses. IMO these are the perfect systems for companies that wouldn't need the functions or complexity of a VOIP system. With that said, I think the best way to break into the market is to start small and maybe install a few systems on weekends while I still work my regular job. My question is what is the best way for me to find and attract customers? Going door to door seems a little awkward, and I don't think flyers would really be that effective either... What do you guys think? I'm a young professional who is seeking some solid wisdom.
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Question about getting started as a phone system installer 1
- Thread starter Bulldog81
- Start date
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1
- #2
phoneguy610
Programmer
well first off abandon the norstar... they are not much cheaper then the avaya ipo and even the bcm
and when you approach a potential customer with a product that was end of life around the same time people were freaking about y2k, odds are they are going to laugh.
I dont know the market in Mississippi but i know here that would be a bad decision.
Dont get me wrong we still install a norstar here and there, but only when someone specifically requests it. There is no real demand for them anymore.
ddcommllc.com
Avaya/Toshiba/Nortel
ACIS
and when you approach a potential customer with a product that was end of life around the same time people were freaking about y2k, odds are they are going to laugh.
I dont know the market in Mississippi but i know here that would be a bad decision.
Dont get me wrong we still install a norstar here and there, but only when someone specifically requests it. There is no real demand for them anymore.
ddcommllc.com
Avaya/Toshiba/Nortel
ACIS
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks that is sound advice. I still think the nortel would be a viable option for maybe a trucking company, hardware store, warehouse etc. if all the customer needed was a perfectly fine used system that could transfer calls, voicemail, music on hold, auto attendant, and other basic pbx functions. These systems are for sale everywhere on the internet despite the fact that Nortel went under in 2008 because so many of the systems were made and are still in use. But even if I also offered a newer system from someone like Avaya or NEC, how do I go about finding and securing first time customers?
phoneguy610
Programmer
build relationships, bang on doors, cold calling, lead services
all decent starts
ddcommllc.com
Avaya/Toshiba/Nortel
ACIS
all decent starts
ddcommllc.com
Avaya/Toshiba/Nortel
ACIS
curlycord
Programmer
I think Norstar is perfect for the weekend starter.
Then you can slowly migrate to the new stuff as you find the time to learn it.
Rushing into something new may not work for everyone.
Web site to me is a must.
The first thing people do these days is google city and telecom or something like that.
Make sure you have search words on your main page, my trick would be to make the search words the same color as the background so that the viewer does not see hundreds of words on the page but the search bots do!.
Flyers maybe in a wealthy area where they may have/want phone systems in their house.
Advertise in local papers, Craiglist etc always leaving web site address.
Then work of mouth starts.
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curlycord
Then you can slowly migrate to the new stuff as you find the time to learn it.
Rushing into something new may not work for everyone.
Web site to me is a must.
The first thing people do these days is google city and telecom or something like that.
Make sure you have search words on your main page, my trick would be to make the search words the same color as the background so that the viewer does not see hundreds of words on the page but the search bots do!.
Flyers maybe in a wealthy area where they may have/want phone systems in their house.
Advertise in local papers, Craiglist etc always leaving web site address.
Then work of mouth starts.
=----(((((((((()----=
curlycord
- Thread starter
- #6
Seems also that most of these contract phone installers might get their foot in the door for a phone system through other services that they offer such as security systems, pre-wiring, networking services, pc maintenance, etc. I think it would be an attractive offer to a small business who was in need of a simple phone system if I was to come to them and sell them a used 3x8 Norstar phone system with 5 phones for around $500 and then charge $500 for the install and programming. Thousand bucks for a perfectly good phone system and then I could really make my money when over time they want adds, changes, removes, and repairs if needed. What do you guys think?
curlycord
Programmer
We would all agree, often we have to sell systems at no profit just to get the MACs/Repairs/Parts order after.
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curlycord
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curlycord
phoneguy610
Programmer
Norstar is definitely a good start to learn, but you do realize that what you are pricing for 1k does not include vmail
You can install a brand new IPO with the same amount of phones for around 2500-3k depending on how much you want to make off it.
It may be a good idea to master telephony on the norstar though and start playing with another newer supported product
Honestly I find the ipo and bcm easier to program then a norstar because all the programming is right in front of you and easier to sort through
I.e. yesterday having to search Rec digits on 100 target lines to find the right DID to assign .... Headache
ddcommllc.com
Avaya/Toshiba/Nortel
ACIS
You can install a brand new IPO with the same amount of phones for around 2500-3k depending on how much you want to make off it.
It may be a good idea to master telephony on the norstar though and start playing with another newer supported product
Honestly I find the ipo and bcm easier to program then a norstar because all the programming is right in front of you and easier to sort through
I.e. yesterday having to search Rec digits on 100 target lines to find the right DID to assign .... Headache
ddcommllc.com
Avaya/Toshiba/Nortel
ACIS
- Thread starter
- #9
Yeah I left out the voicemail on purpose. Speaking of newer supported systems... I keep seeing recommendations for Avaya IPO on here and even other forums for that matter, but there seems to be a reluctance to mention Cisco's IP line of products. Any particular reason for not mentioning Cisco?
curlycord
Programmer
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