During a keynote at Autotask Community Live this morning, best-selling author Jackie Freiberg delivered a familiar theme to MSPs and VARs. Her key message: Build your brand to differentiate from the competition. The ultimate goal: If you were to close your business tomorrow, customers should miss you.
MSP Branding: Why SSI Solutions Became F12 Networks Inc.
Posted March 25th, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
First, let’s state the obvious: Some managed services providers (MSPs) & VARs face branding challenges. Sometimes, corporate names don’t stand the test of time. Examples include legacy resellers that used “PC” or “Microcomputer” in their names, only to see the market shift to client-server, the Internet, and now managed cloud services. In some cases, MSPs break with the past and embrace a new corporate name. That’s the case at SSI Solutions, which is now F12 Networks Inc. Here’s what drove the branding change.
How Google Alerts Can Link MSPs to Customers
Posted February 1st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
While scanning my email inbox earlier today, I spotted a daily Google Alert focused on Virtualization. Near the top of the alert was a webcast invite. Was this yet another product pitch from VMware or the Microsoft Hyper-V folks? Hardly. This invite was from Evolve Technologies CEO Dave Sobel. Take a closer look and it’s a great example of a managed services provider (MSP) connecting the dots between thought leadership, search engine optimization (SEO), customer outreach and lead generation.
MSPs: Promote YOUR Brand Whenever Possible
Posted May 26th, 2010 by David Bellini
There are many ways to brand your business: website, business cards, brochures, social media, and more. One opportunity you may have overlooked is ON the products and services you provide. Are you driving your brand or are you allowing vendors to promote themselves to your clients?
MSP Branding 101: Laptop Wraps
Posted February 8th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Question: If you’re a managed service provider that resells laptops and other hardware to your customer base, how do you promote your company brand over the hardware maker’s brand? The answer comes from MJ Shoer, president of Jenaly Technology Group, a managed service provider in New Hampshire.
MSPs: How to Find Low-Cost Branding Advice
Posted January 21st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
I was watching CNBC over the weekend. A special business report explored how Phil Knight built the Nike empire. Ever wonder where that famous “Swoosh” logo came from? The answer involves a low-cost graphic design student from Portland State University. It’s a rather intriguing story, especially for MSPs that need to work on their branding.
Your Tagline Could Be Worth Millions
Posted June 22nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
You’re a managed service provider. You’ve got a solid company name but you don’t have a solid tagline. That could be a big mistake. In the age of search engine optimization, I believe a strong tagline could be worth millions of dollars in new sales and market capitalization. Skeptical? Here’s one simple case study where a great tagline transformed a no-name technology company into a well-known brand.
Branding Your Managed Services Business On the Web
Posted June 12th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Alpheon and Do IT Smarter, two members of the MSPmentor 100, are proving there’s more than one way to brand a company in the managed services market. Both managed service providers have revamped their web sites and customer messaging in recent weeks. And in some cases, the efforts avoid the need to mention managed services. Here’s some perspective.
How to Brand Your Managed Services Business, Part II
Posted September 11th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
In part 1, I described how you can line up vendor money to pay for your branding efforts. Here in part 2, I explore a specific case study: In late 2007, Trailhead Technologies Inc. was a managed services provider without a clear brand — and without Web site.
