How to Market Internet Kiosks

BACKGROUND:

I am a distributor for a company that manufactures and leases stand-alone internet kiosks. They are basically computers with internet access on a stand. They have bill collectors so people can pay cash for internet time on a computer.

I have over 250 printed tri-fold brochures that are ready to give to potential clients or send out.

OBJECTIVE:

I'd like to lease as many of these kiosks as possible to as many businesses as possible. Not only that, but since I'm paid a percentage of the income as a lease payment (I own the machines), I will make more money when they are used more often. Also, I will need a spot where there is an on-site staff to maintain the unit.

TARGET MARKET:

Lower income areas and places where people would like to kill time. A prime example would be a laundromat.

HOW TO APPROACH?:

Should I begin by sending out the 250 brochures? How could I compile a list of business owners to send them to? Should I hire a commissioned sales person to go directly to these businesses?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

ive only seen these in places like airports, shopping malls etc.

try contact local coffee shops and see if you can do a deal there.

or play areas, where people take there kids and will need to kill time for themselves.

Great idea about the Coffee Shops Gold Hat! I hadn't thought of that.

Ideally I could get these in places like airports and the DMV... but they won't allow them.

Do your kiosks do surveys? I am working my way into a major franchise but I am currently using an ipad to demo to the business owner. He wants to create interaction with his in store customers.

I have seen many that can do this. But they seemed a bit pricey.

Gold Hat said:

try contact local coffee shops and see if you can do a deal there.

Click to expand...

I agree with this idea. There are plenty of coffee shops that offer wifi, but not many of them (I've been to only one) actually offer computers where people can sit down for 30-60 minutes with their coffee and do what they need to do. At this particular shop, the computer room was a big attraction and it's what set the shop apart from others. It brought more people into the shop, and it helped people who perhaps didn't have a computer or Internet access at home. Of course, you could only use the computer if you purchased something (fair enough), but it was still a good deal. The owner also charged a small fee for printing, so that's another revenue source for the shop owner.

This is 2011. People can do that shit on their phones for gods sake. The only places I can see this type of business being successful nowdays is Airports, Hospitals and places that you either can't get reception or aren't allowed to use your own devices. Coffee shops? No, they don't want people sitting there spanking the internet and not buying anything for an hour. A lot of Coffee shops have even started turning off their free wifi (which every major coffee shop invested in a few years ago) because they realized that wasn't a good way to actually sell Coffee. Those that do still provide internet, i.e. the internet cafes, don't need a third party vendor to supply them with the basics.

interested in selling in italy?

Commission business to business sales people and setup in front of wallmart's look at clear wireless.

I have seen many of those in Hostels. But all of them are taken as far as i know, so you are a little bit late for that. Coffee shops is not a good idea because most people go there with their own laptops and the internet is free. Some are saying that coffee shops are cancelling their wi fi subscriptions but i doubt it, at least here in the states. Most of the starbucks provide free wi fi and now mc donald's started as well. I've seen many locations providing free wi fi access now a days.

As for the hotels, they already have their own wi fi internet service and most of them do not charge to their guests. I have only seen Sheraton charging $10 per stay for the internet so far. Your best bet is to get in touch with small motels that don't have free internet service. On the other hand, if a hotel or motel does not provide internet, people just hook up their phones to their laptops and do tethering instead.

By the way, if you are planning direct mailing, you will realize that 250 is a really low volume. You should at least start with 10,000 instead.

I think the lower income areas, especially laundrymats, are the best targets. You may also want to add in barber shops, beaty shops in those types or areas and any of those mom/pop shops that do faxing and copying services.

Other than that I would also just hit up all small businesses where people will have moments of sitting and waiting. Doctors and dentist offices for example and also any spot that hold vendor events like a jewelry bead show....people get dragged to these events and want something to do or need to check emails or something.

I know someone said most can pull internet from their phone and such but it's many many homes still that don't have internet or don't pay for data on their phones so I think it sounds like something where you should be able to make money with them.

Good luck.