Comments on: Hosting Face-to-Face Events: Worth the Risk for MSPs? http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/06/12/hosting-face-to-face-events-worth-the-risk-for-msps/ Managed Services & Cloud Services Blog for VARs & MSPs Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:25:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mdrake http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/06/12/hosting-face-to-face-events-worth-the-risk-for-msps/comment-page-1/#comment-16343 mdrake Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:47:14 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/06/12/hosting-face-to-face-events-worth-the-risk-for-msps/#comment-16343 Joe, Here is what masterIT has done. Even though labor intenstive, it works, and the ROI is worth it. http://blogs.n-able.com/home/archive/2008/03/13/drive-revenues-amp-seed-sales-with-event-marketing.aspx http://www.master-it.com/event_archive.html Joe,

Here is what masterIT has done. Even though labor intenstive, it works, and the ROI is worth it.

http://blogs.n-able.com/home/archive/2008/03/13/drive-revenues-amp-seed-sales-with-event-marketing.aspx

http://www.master-it.com/event_archive.html

]]> By: Todd McKedrick http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/06/12/hosting-face-to-face-events-worth-the-risk-for-msps/comment-page-1/#comment-16334 Todd McKedrick Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:57:29 +0000 http://www.mspmentor.net/2008/06/12/hosting-face-to-face-events-worth-the-risk-for-msps/#comment-16334 I really like the Extreme Office Makeover idea.... In the same vain...I encourage my partners to create local networking events in which like minded businesses (Maybe a future Extreme makeover team) get together for events, lead exchange and community outreach. I realize that lead groups are nothing new but, I think I was able to identify some processes that made them more worthy of your time. Here are two suggestions. I would like to read what others have done. 1. Do a survey of your customer base to see who they work with in a variety of service areas such as; Telephone, Physical Alarm, Banking, Legal, Accounting, Payroll, Corporate movers, Water Delivery. Reach out to these vendors and let them know that you share a common customer(s) and maybe others. Look for ways to get introduced to the customers that you don't already serve. (Free Best Practice Assessment, Technology reviews seem to be the most natural toe in the door.) Most of all remeber to refer your networking partners. 2. Once you have critical mass of referral partners, create an event were each of the vendors invite 5 or 6 customers/prospects. The event should be either very focused on a subject (Mobility, eCommerce, Security, Compliance, etc...) or very general like a Summer Kick-off, Open House type of an event. I think Managed Services is still very much a face to face business. People do business with people that they like. People do business with people they trust. People do business and will pay more for services if they are working with vendors that have mutual goals within the community they serve. I really like the Extreme Office Makeover idea….

In the same vain…I encourage my partners to create local networking events in which like minded businesses (Maybe a future Extreme makeover team) get together for events, lead exchange and community outreach. I realize that lead groups are nothing new but, I think I was able to identify some processes that made them more worthy of your time. Here are two suggestions. I would like to read what others have done.

1. Do a survey of your customer base to see who they work with in a variety of service areas such as; Telephone, Physical Alarm, Banking, Legal, Accounting, Payroll, Corporate movers, Water Delivery. Reach out to these vendors and let them know that you share a common customer(s) and maybe others. Look for ways to get introduced to the customers that you don’t already serve. (Free Best Practice Assessment, Technology reviews seem to be the most natural toe in the door.) Most of all remeber to refer your networking partners.

2. Once you have critical mass of referral partners, create an event were each of the vendors invite 5 or 6 customers/prospects. The event should be either very focused on a subject (Mobility, eCommerce, Security, Compliance, etc…) or very general like a Summer Kick-off, Open House type of an event.

I think Managed Services is still very much a face to face business. People do business with people that they like. People do business with people they trust. People do business and will pay more for services if they are working with vendors that have mutual goals within the community they serve.

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