Who am I?

I thought you might want to know. Hi, I’m Gilbert Palau, Engineer by trade, Puerto Rican by birth, based in Fort Worth, Texas. I have freelanced, owned a video game tournament company, lost it all, moved from my birthplace, started again, worked with the Department of Defense, gave it up to move halfway across the country, ended up working in the IT Industry, started again, tried harder, moved up the ladder, got the fancy job, survived three rounds of layoffs, worked harder, lost the fancy job, had to start again.

I’ve learned a lot after more than fifteen years as a computer engineer, and just about as long as an entrepreneur. It occurred to me I can help others shorten their learning curve by merging both experiences into a comprehensive service. I’ve made the mistakes, the research, the fixes, and now find myself in a place where I can share the lessons learned.

As an IT Engineer I concern myself with the practicalities of execution and usability. I’m a creative left-brainer, pragmatic right-brainer, and believe complex problems benefit from simple solutions. I use my attention to detail, empathy, and skills to help you define your brand, and engage with your target audience. As an entrepreneur, I’ve dealt with perennial low budgets. As a result, I’ve become pretty resourceful at building solutions on a dime.

What’s with the bytes + beans name?

The name is a pen name using a traditional type of food in Puerto Rico and the labor of bringing the beans to the door so the family can eat, along with one of the simplest elements in computers and information, a byte.

Just like my work is not just computer engineering, or web development, or it support, I offer a lot more experience than your average IT connoisseur. But I don’t think of myself as a master hacker; I think constant learning is the path to success.

Hence bytes+beans.

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Bytes+Beans is on:

This is why Bytes+Beans offers packaged services as shown below:

Marketing:

• Internet Marketing Makeover (coming soon)
• Internet Marketing Assessment (coming soon)

Online Presence:

• Total Online Presence(from $1,495)
• Starter Online Presence(from $750)
• S.E.O.(from $395)
• Social Media Graphics(from $395)

IT Projects & Support:

• IT Support Assessment (quote)

If you want to maximize your investment we’ll want to look at a customized solution that may include a little bit of each, and be a turn-key solution. Read through and find out more about our services and feel free to contact Bytes+Beans to discuss your particular needs.

Custom Projects & Hourly Rates:

• Hourly (quote)
• Flat Rate (quote)

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Hourly Rates

The following should give you an idea of what we’re looking at should we work together on an hourly basis:

* Retainer agreements are available at even more favorable rates for a minimum engagement of ten (10) hours per month for a three-month period. Please inquire.

How can I benefit from the Hourly Rate?

Say you need training on using your WordPress website, social media, or just want to “pick my brain”, explore how I can help; but you do not have an explicit scope of work; we can get together and:

• asses where your business is regarding branding and online marketing
• create goals, and strategize how to get there
• audit your website’s current SEO situation
• explore social media tactics and options
• discuss e-commerce strategies and tactics
• learn the inner workings of WordPress, or your social media
• We can go for as little as an hour, or work together for a week, you decide.

What if I want a better deal on a custom solution?

If that’s the case, then we’re both probably better off working on your project for a flat fee, with continued support after delivery based on the chart above.

* Computer Repair and Maintenance Services have a $45/hr rate with a minimum of $2hrs.

Flat Rates

These are some examples of ways that Bytes+Beans can help:

• You have an idea for a new business, or you’re launching a product, but the vision isn’t clear. Bytes+Beans helps you shape that idea, give it a name, and turn it into a brand.
• You have an existing business or an exciting new product, but you’re concerned it’s looking like everything else you’ve done before. Bytes+Beans brings a fresh point of view and tailors your identity to your audience.
• You have a business that’s hurting, and you think it’s mostly because things have remained the same for the last ten years. Bytes+Beans is an agent of change, breathing fresh air into your marketing.
• You need an easy-to-work-with e-commerce solution. Bytes+Beans works behind the scenes to build a branded, multi-channel, online store with cohesive branding on your website, mobile and social media outlets.
• You want to “get caught up” with the whole online marketing and social media thing. Bytes+Beans makes an assessment of your social media marketing, customizes a solution for your business, and gives you the tools to succeed online.
• You need traffic in your (online/brick and mortar) store. Bytes+Beans maximizes local search to help you dominate a geographic area and bring business to your business.

We can work on a comprehensive plan that goes from the very ideation of your business, to branding and visual design, to online marketing strategy and presence, to e-commerce infrastructure and logistics, to search engine optimization, to success.

Or we can take it easy, and work together in separate, incremental projects that would cover any of these:

• Custom Web Design and Development
• Online Marketing
• Marketing Strategy
• Mobile Search Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• Search Engine Optimization
• eCommerce

or

• Desktop Support
• Infrastructure Engineering
• Computer Repair and Maintenance

For us get to a number we’ll have to chat about your project, and agree on scope of work and deliverables. This kind of work has many variables, but a typical project will run between 20 – 120 billable hours.

Bytes+Beans Payment Plan:

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