Marketing

Let’s face it: Many managed service providers don’t know how to market and promote their businesses. But don’t worry. We can show you how to raise the visibility of your business using Web 2.0 technologies, e-newsletters, online video, and other low-cost efforts.  Get Started: Register to enter our Resource Center, where you’ll be able to download numerous guides to building and running your managed services business. And check back often. We post new guides in the MSPmentor Resource Center every week.

Not All MSPs Will Smile in 2010

managed services 2010A new wave of optimism is building across the managed services market. Executives from Nimsoft, N-able and other software providers are making upbeat statements about 2010. I certainly agree with the core thesis — many MSPs are going to benefit from an improving economy. But I will repeat a familiar theme around MSPmentor: The rising economic tide won’t lift all MSP boats. Here’s why.

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Transitioning from VAR to MSP: Podcast Part II

Back in a May 2009 podcast, I spoke with David Schafran and Michael Coopersmith about how a consultant can help a solutions provider transform into a managed service provider. Fast forward to December 2009, and I followed up with Schafran (president of Transformation Strategies Inc.) and Coopersmith (owner of Integrated Technology Systems of New York City) to see how the the business transformation was proceeding. Here is part two of the two-part podcast.

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [9:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Top 10 Managed Services Blog Entries, Q4 2009

By now, you’ve likely read the top managed services blog entries from Q1, Q2 and Q3 of 2009. Now, let’s look at the stories and chatter that generated the most MSPmentor readership in Q4 2009…

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Top 10 Managed Services Blog Entries, Q3 2009

We’ve already covered the most widely read managed services blog entries from Q1 and Q2. Now, let’s take a look at what MSPmentor’s visitors were busy reading in Q3 2009…

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Top 10 Managed Services Blog Entries, Q2 2009

So, what generated buzz on MSPmentor in 2009? Here’s a look at the individual blog entries that attracted the most readership for Q2 (April – June) 2009…

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Top 10 Managed Services Blog Entries, Q1 2009

So, what generated buzz on MSPmentor in 2009? Here’s a look at the individual blog entries that attracted the most readership for Q1 (January – March) 2009…

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2010: Seven Next Moves for MSPs…

Generally speaking, I avoid the temptation to write big “prediction” pieces as the New Year approaches. My crystal ball is as foggy as the next guy’s. And sometimes a list of predictions is nothing more than a lame attempt to gain more reader eyeballs. Still, I do have some strong opinions about where MSPs and technology companies should head in 2010. Here are some quick thoughts.

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Seven Managed Services Blogs We Didn’t Write: Dec. 18

I’m in D.C. awaiting my flight home to New York. It’s my final business flight of the year. But before I board, here are seven managed services blog entries MSPmentor didn’t have time to write for the week ending Dec. 18, 2009.

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CompTIA and HTG: Peer Group Trend Continues

If you still doubt the power — and influence — of peer groups then check out a recent announcement involving CompTIA and HTG Peer Groups. The relationship is the latest indication that big associations and vendors see peer groups — comprising VARs and MSPs — as fertile ground for growth. Here’s why.

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Web Video: Nine Approaches for MSPs

Video, video, video. MSPmentor keeps telling managed service providers to experiment with video as a tool to promote your company. But what tools do you need, how much is Internet video going to cost you and what types of video should you shoot? I’ve got some thoughts, and I’ve also lifted some ideas from Cisco Systems’ channel partner blog. Take a look.

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Managed Services: First Mover Advantage Is Over

Here’s another blog entry that’s been spinning around my head for several weeks. It goes something like this: There’s no longer a first-mover advantage in the managed services market. The original theme — proactive, remote monitoring for a predictable monthly fee — is old news. So what’s next?

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Managed Print Services: Finding the Money

As a former help-desk technician, I have some strong opinions about managed print services (MPS). Channel chatter about the MPS market is growing louder. More MPS conferences are planned, more research is surfacing and our third-annual MSPmentor 100 survey reveals some interesting MPS trends. So where is managed print heading next? Here are some clues.

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Ask the Managed Services Experts: Dec. 9

MSPmentor will host its final managed services webcast of the year this Wednesday, Dec. 9. Our guests are former MSP Gary Pica and ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini. Our format: Six business tips in one hour — plus non-stop questions from our attendees. Here’s how to join the webcast.

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Managed Services User Groups: Joining In?

Rewind a decade or two, and it was commonplace for IT administrators to join user groups — especially since we were all trying to learn the ins and outs of Windows, Mac OS and even OS/2. Fast forward to the present and MSP user groups seem to be popping up across the globe. But will MSPs keep sharing information as competition heats up?

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MSPs: How to Host a Lunch and Learn in 2010…

Our blog team attended a Dec. 2 lunch-and-learn session hosted by DynTek (an $85 million solutions provider). During the gathering, DynTek educated more than 60 existing and target customers about Windows 7 and virtual desktop infrastructure. It got me wondering: How many managed service providers are planning similar lunch and learns for 2010? And if you’ve never hosted a lunch and learn how can you get started?

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Managed Services Webcast: Ask the Experts

MSPmentor will host its final managed services webcast on Dec. 9. Our guests are former MSP Gary Pica and ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini. Our format: Six business tips in one hour — plus non-stop questions from our attendees. Here’s how to join the webcast.

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MSPs and Marketing: 9 Ways to Get Started

A quick question for managed service providers: Does your 2010 company budget include a line item for marketing, PR and company promotions? Do you even have a basic marketing strategy in place? If not here are nine quick ideas to get started.

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HEIT Still Banking on Managed Services

dan_holt_heit_managed_servicesImagine focusing your business on the financial services vertical during the global economic crisis. Somehow, HEIT — an MSPmentor 100 company — did exactly. And the results have been impressive. HEIT’s latest move includes a close relationship with Plumas Bank of California. Here’s a look at the strategy, including thoughts from CEO Dan Holt (pictured).

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Back to Basics: How MSPs Use Remote Monitoring and Management Tools

Even as MSPmentor looks at emerging market opportunities, it sometimes makes sense to go back to basics. A case in point: For VARs that are still trying to figure out the managed services market, here are the top reasons many MSPs leverage remote monitoring and management software. Plus a look at one of the biggest challenges facing MSPs…

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MSPs: Three Simple Steps to Social Media Success

This blog entry has been floating around my head for several weeks. During the SMB Nation conference back in October, I listened to dozens of VARs and managed service providers try to prioritize their social media efforts across Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn and other networks. The more I heard the more I realized MSPs and VARs were focusing on the wrong web problem. Here’s why.

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MSPtweet: The Loudest Tweets In Managed Services

msptweetAs you may have noticed, MSPmentor has a new sister site: MSPtweet. But what exactly is MSPtweet and how does it serve managed services providers (MSPs) and the global managed services ecosystem? Here are some preliminary answers.

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Got Twitter Policies In Place?

twitter_policiesAs managed service providers (MSPs) continue to develop social media strategies be sure to ask yourself this question: Does your company have written policies for how employees use Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media services? Not sure you need such policies? I beg to differ. Here’s why.

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Viral Video Marketing Tips for MSPs

masterIT, an MSPmentor 100 company, continues to develop some pretty impressive viral marketing messages to generate new business. The latest effort involves email marketing coupled with a quick video clip. Take a look, and here are some quick tips to help you master video marketing as well.

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