The Australian Newsagency Blog picks up the news that Sensis might be selling the Trading Post.
This isn't before time. When Sensis purchased it, I was baffled as to how a classified listing service like the Trading Post would fit with the monopoly Yellow Pages business. It's difficult to think of a sector more different than Sensis' core business.
As it turns out, it looks like Trading Post hasn't delivered, or rather Sensis hasn't found those synergies. With the rise of free listing services like Craigslist and auction sites like Ebay, the Trading Post was always going to struggle anyway.
I say it's difficult to think of a business more alien to Sensis, but they did find one. They decided to become a competitor of ours by buying Invizage.
To say the Home and small business IT support industry is alien to Sensis is an understatement. The industry is fragmented and even players like Invizage wouldn't have 5% of the market. This on it's own would be alien to Sensis' management.
Selling and providing IT services is even more different to Sensis' Yellow Pages business. I actually feel sorry for the Sensis managers who found themselves having to get their heads around the cultural differences.
If the Trading Post is up for sale, then Invizage can't be far behind. Hopefully Sensis will stick to it's knitting of the Yellow Pages and find ways of leveraging the massive market power they currently have in this sector.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Smashing Keyboards
I smashed a really good keyboard on Friday thanks to a customer.
Last week, I visited a home where their wireless network was down. I did good job. Before leaving, I explained that wireless networks were unreliable and it might be that we have to look at alternatives.
The following morning she rings and gives me an earful. I was "out of my depth", "incompetent" and didn't follow her instructions.
I smashed the keyboard after she hung up.
The sad thing is I walked out of that job thinking I did well.
This episode made me think about why this industry is so difficult. Out of a hundred customers, you'll get twenty call backs about other problems. Of that twenty, five will be angry and rude like the lady on Friday.
You'd be lucky to get one in a hundred thank you for a good job.
I'd suggest the biggest cause of burn out in the IT industry is this constant battering on a tech's self esteem. Getting shot down like on Friday really hurts.
Last week, I visited a home where their wireless network was down. I did good job. Before leaving, I explained that wireless networks were unreliable and it might be that we have to look at alternatives.
The following morning she rings and gives me an earful. I was "out of my depth", "incompetent" and didn't follow her instructions.
I smashed the keyboard after she hung up.
The sad thing is I walked out of that job thinking I did well.
This episode made me think about why this industry is so difficult. Out of a hundred customers, you'll get twenty call backs about other problems. Of that twenty, five will be angry and rude like the lady on Friday.
You'd be lucky to get one in a hundred thank you for a good job.
I'd suggest the biggest cause of burn out in the IT industry is this constant battering on a tech's self esteem. Getting shot down like on Friday really hurts.
Multiple listing in the Yellow Pages
Smarthouse News has a grumble about Audio Visual retailers having to list in two Yellow Pages categories. They should be so lucky as IT support businesses have the luxury of listing in seven different categories.
Computer equipment-hardware
Computer equipment-home &/or small business
Computer equipment- Installation & networking
Computer Equipment - Repairs, service & upgrades
Computer Equipment - Supplies
Computer systems consultants
Computers-Technical support
Now that's a nice little earner for Yellow Pages. Given a Yellow Pages listing is probably the single most expensive marketing expense for a small business asking to list in SEVEN categories is prohibitive and probably impossible.
Computer equipment-hardware
Computer equipment-home &/or small business
Computer equipment- Installation & networking
Computer Equipment - Repairs, service & upgrades
Computer Equipment - Supplies
Computer systems consultants
Computers-Technical support
Now that's a nice little earner for Yellow Pages. Given a Yellow Pages listing is probably the single most expensive marketing expense for a small business asking to list in SEVEN categories is prohibitive and probably impossible.
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