ClikCloud, a digital marketing company launched by former Kaseya VP and GM Dan Shapero, is set to publicly launch its first offerings for managed services providers in November. MSPs from a range of background are already testing ClikCloud’s services, Shapero confirmed today.
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ClikCloud Online Marketing for MSPs Launching in November
Posted October 21st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
SMBs Increase Their Social Media Marketing Budgets; Did You?
Posted June 15th, 2011 by Dan Berthiaume
According to AMI Partners, U.S. SMBs with fewer than 100 employees are expected to spend $36 billion on marketing in 2012, up 4 percent from 2011. Now here’s the big question: Are managed services providers (MSPs) also increasing their marketing dollars? And if so, where should MSPs focus their marketing efforts? Here are some educated guesses.
MSPs: Let Your Customers Open Doors for You
Posted June 6th, 2011 by Maurice Saluan
Which endorsement of a product or service would carry the most weight with you: a paid advertisement, or a positive review from a friend or respected peer? That’s kind of a no-brainer isn’t it? Yet business owners and managers expend large sums of money and countless hours on elaborate marketing plans. This is the case, despite the fact that the best-devised advertising campaigns can be upstaged (or destroyed) in the mind of a prospective customer by little more than a casual observation from someone he or she knows. Why not put this potent force to work for your business? It’s easy to do, and relatively cost-free. In most cases, if you have a satisfied customer, it’s likely that all you’ll have to do is ask.
Building Sales Collateral that Builds Business: 4 Requirements
Posted June 3rd, 2011 by Nimsoft Guest Blog
Over the years, I’ve worked with a lot of MSPs to help them with their marketing efforts, and I can safely say that over all this time, I’ve never heard anyone complaining about excess marketing staff or budget. In fact, more often than not, it’s folks with management or sales titles that I work with, individuals who are taking time away from their “day jobs” to pitch in and support the business’ marketing objectives.
Marketing Your Managed Services: Part 2 of 2
Posted March 4th, 2011 by Dan Kolansky
In my previous entry we examined four approaches to marketing (mass marketing; social marketing; direct to prospect marketing; and upselling current customers). But you’ve got limited time and budget. So how much should you invest in each of those four categories?
Marketing Your Managed Services: Part 1 of 2
Posted January 28th, 2011 by Dan Kolansky
In the classic reseller channel, sales and marketing back in the day consisted of hanging up a sign and waiting for customers to walk through your front door. That was fun while it lasted. Today, with the world becoming smaller and the marketing noise becoming louder, managed services providers like you have to fight through a whole web of marketing and sales options to make your impact. It is overwhelming, really. But don’t panic. Marketing and sales can be broken down into four major components. Here’s how to get started.
Five Steps Solutions Providers Should Take In 2011
Posted December 22nd, 2010 by Maurice Saluan
New year, new opportunities. That is what every MSP should be thinking as 2011 approaches. By now, you should have set your business priorities for the coming year, but if you’re still working them, allow me to make some suggestions.
Kutenda Integrates MSP Marketing Platform With PSA Software
Posted December 22nd, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Kutenda, which specializes in MSP marketing services, has integrated its platform with three well-known PSA (professional services automation) platforms: Autotask, ConnectWise and Tigerpaw Software. As a result, MSPs can manage workflow, contact management, lead generation and marketing from a PSA dashboard, Kutenda says.
New Consulting Firms Help MSPs With Marketing, Sales and M&A
Posted September 21st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
The managed services gold rush has created a cottage industry of consultants and organizations that are assisting MSPs with marketing, sales, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic business tasks. Three recent examples include MSPexcellence, MSPXchange and Ulistic’s MSP Marketing initiative. Here’s a closer look at each organization and its backers, plus a broader update on the coaches and pundits assisting MSPs with their business efforts.
MSPs: Six Ways to Generate Leads Without Asking for Them
Posted July 1st, 2010 by Jason Beal
When it comes to lead generation for managed services providers (MSPs), what’s really effective and what’s just hype? It’s an age-old question that has riddled the channel for years and left many to take a shotgun approach to marketing and advertising, or even worse, to rely on their vendor and distribution partners for leads. Either way you look at it, nobody is winning.
MSPs: Time to Sponsor Your First Trade Show
Posted June 29th, 2010 by David Bellini
Don’t settle for stagnation! With the economic downturn, you’d be smart to replace any lost business and pursue growth. Here in our local IT company, we’re ready for new business; we have the manpower and capacity, and there is plenty of talent we can hire if we need more staff. So here’s how we’re filling our sales funnel: a trade show.
Small Business Marketing: Even Google Still Uses Direct Mail
Posted March 24th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Small business owners and managed services providers ask me all the time: How can they leverage Google Adwords to target local customer prospects? No doubt, Adwords is an effective tool for highly targeted, cost-effective marketing promotions. And those promotions can be global, regional or local in nature. But here’s a counter-intuitive thought: Maybe MSPs should spend more time on direct mail marketing. After all — even the Mighty Google is spending big dollars on direct mail campaigns. Here’s why.
Content: Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool
Posted March 3rd, 2010 by Eric Webster
Your website is the single most important marketing tool your company has. An effective website will increase your search engine hits, capture leads, and establish you as a leading managed services provider. But the key element to building great websites is one that many technology-based companies overlook—relevant, well written content.
Marketing 101: Brag About MSP Milestones
Posted February 8th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Here’s a smart move involving Architel, a managed services provider in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Architel says more than 10,000 users now depend on the company’s outsourced IT support services. Question: When was the last time you took a moment to brag (responsibly) about customer trust and company growth?
Five-Step PR Plan for Managed Service Providers
Posted January 12th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Got news? Sure you do. Here’s a simple five-step plan to help managed services providers and VARs generate some news and trigger some buzz. Follow the steps and you could increase mind share and market share within your target markets. Here’s how.
Web Video: Nine Approaches for MSPs
Posted December 15th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
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.
MSPs and Marketing: 9 Ways to Get Started
Posted December 1st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
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.
MSPs: 10 Simple Marketing Ideas
Posted August 13th, 2009 by Paul Barnett
Marketing seems to perplex some small VARs and managed service providers (MSPs). Despite the misconceptions, there are tons of easy, low-cost, and even free ways to market your business. To help out, I have organized a list of 10 easy marketing ideas…
MSPs: Meet the Elephant in the Room
Posted August 12th, 2009 by Justin Crotty
The managed services market is growing rapidly and has strong, long-term potential for many who are pursuing it. It is changing the way IT services are consumed and delivered. It is helping many of us diversify and strengthen our value propositions and balance sheets. We are all bullish about the future and the opportunity in front of us. There is one significant hurdle, however, that nobody seems to want to acknowledge — the proverbial elephant in the room. Here’s the problem.
Small Business Marketing Myths
Posted July 13th, 2009 by Paul Barnett
Recently, a friend of mine who owns a small business told me “Paul, I tried marketing and it didn’t work.” I asked “What kind of marketing did you try?” His reply, which I’ll share in a few sentences, mortified me. And it offers some important lessons to managed service providers.
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.
Managed Services Marketing: Got Research?
Posted June 10th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Face it: People love data. They love statistics. And they embrace research. One of the fastest ways for managed service providers (MSP) to generate marketing buzz is to publish a research report that’s full of key statistics. The report can also serve as a key sales tool. Consider, for instance, a recent research effort by The Planet, a major hosting provider.
Say Less And You’ll Market More Effectively
Posted June 9th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Journalists and marketers share the same challenge: We want to write and say so much. We often use finely crafted language and lots of big words to tell our stories. But sometimes, the best way to market your company and your managed services business strategy is to bite your tongue — and get your hands off the keyboard — in mid-sentence. Let me give you an example.
