A 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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Not All MSPs Will Smile in 2010
Posted January 4th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Top 10 Managed Services Blog Entries, Q3 2009
Posted December 31st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
MSPmentor: Testing, Testing 1-2-3
Posted December 16th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Just a quick heads up: We’re adding some features to MSPmentor this week, plus some more capabilities in 1Q 2010. Here are some clues about where we’re heading next.
Last Call: Today’s Webcast — Recurring Revenue From Small Business Server
Posted December 16th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
A final reminder: Join MSP Services Network (MSPSN) CEO Amy Luby today on The VAR Guy webcast. The topic: How to generate recurring security revenue from Small Business Server customers. Here’s a bit more about the webcast…
MSPtweet: The Loudest Tweets In Managed Services
Posted November 23rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
As 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.
What Should I Do With My Life?: Six Steps to An Answer
Posted November 20th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
For the past two years, I’ve been heads-down working with my business partner (Amy Katz) and our team of contributors to build Nine Lives Media Inc. Our mission: Define emerging IT markets and disrupt established markets. But I haven’t always been this focused. Every few years I go through a career crisis and ask myself “what should I with my life?” I suspect many VARs and MSPs ask themselves that same question every day. Here are six ways I ultimately found the answer.
How to Get Your Managed Services Questions Answered
Posted July 10th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Just when I was ready to unplug for the night, I received an email from Nimsoft’s Ken Vanderweel. In it, he asked if MSPmentor planned to introduce an “Ask a Question” feature, where visitors could post questions, provide answers and interact with one another. Well Ken, I feel like Casey Kasem. Because I’m about to answer your long distance request.
Eating Crow, And Serving Up Facebook
Posted May 12th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
I have a love-hate relationship with Facebook: I love to hate it. Frankly, I don’t have much time for Facebook. A few weeks ago, I told MSPmentor readers that I considered Facebook my social network for friendships, and LinkedIn my social network for business. But I’m starting to change my tune — at least a little.
The SaaS Bubble Already Burst (But Don’t Panic)
Posted March 17th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Examiner.com openly wonders if software as a service (SaaS) is the next tech bubble that will burst. The piece was written March 13 — a day after I asked if the MSP bubble would pop. But I think the Examiner’s views are painfully out of date. In fact, our own SaaS 20 Stock Index shows the SaaS market bubble burst in early 2008. Now, I think the SaaS industry is on the road to recovery and doing just fine, thank you. Here’s why.
How to Structure Your Managed Services Offering
Posted March 3rd, 2009 by Paul Barnett
Our VirtualAdministrator partners often ask us how to package and price their managed services offerings. Structuring your offering correctly can be vital to the success of your business. If you charge too much, you risk scaring customers away — charge too little, and you cheat yourself. Too many plan options confuse customers, while too few limits your market. A great method to use is a tiered offering. The Silver, Gold, and Platinum approach as we call it. Here’s how to get started.
Meet MSPmentor (On the Road)
Posted March 2nd, 2009 by MSPMentor
MSPmentor Editorial Director Joe Panettieri is going back on the road, hunting for news and recording podcasts and videocasts. If you plan to attend Autotask Community Live (March 29-31, Nashville, Tenn.) or Ingram Micro VentureTech Network (VTN) Spring (April 1-4, Orlando), Joe will be scheduling numerous meetings with managed service providers and VARs. You can reach Joe via email (joe [at] NineLivesMediaInc.com).
Podcast: MSP Services Network (MSPSN) CEO Amy Luby
Posted February 26th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
In today’s episode, MSP Services Network (MSPSN) CEO Amy Luby (pictured) describes her company’s position in the Master MSP market. This MSPmentor Live: Podcast also covers the following five key topics…
Podcast: Master MSP Amy Luby, CEO of MSP Services Network (MSPSN) [9:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadChina: 16 Percent of VARs Offer Managed Security Services
Posted February 19th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The managed services wave has reached China, where 16 percent of VARs now offer managed security services to their customers, according to research from AMI Partners. But that’s not all. Several other North American IT trends are taking hold in China. Here’s a look.
First And Final Warning: Don’t Steal Our Content
Posted February 18th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
I apologize for stepping on my soapbox, but in the past 48 hours we’ve spotted two prominent organizations lifting/copying MSPmentor content and misrepresenting the information — or presenting it as their own unique work. Let me be clear: MSPmentor content is FREE. So why plagiarize it or misrepresent it? Here are the two offenders…
Virus Scares Are MSP Opportunities
Posted February 5th, 2009 by Paul Barnett
From time to time we hear about “zero-day” or other critical viruses that garner national interest, and require immediate action. The most recent example was the Conficker virus. Naturally, business owners started asking “am I protected?” As we looked at the steps necessary to resolve this issue for our own customers, we were again reminded why being a Managed Service provider is so critical.
Save the Date: February 11
Posted January 22nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Whether you’re a successful managed service provider or an aspiring MSP, circle February 11 on your calendar. We’ve got something special planned that day for the managed services industry. More details coming soon. Real soon.
Have You Got the Right Managed Services Attitude?
Posted January 16th, 2009 by Paul Barnett
Making the switch from the traditional “Break-Fix” model to a “Managed Services” way of doing business can be a frightening prospect. One of the most common questions we hear from our partners is “How do I sell this to my clients?” Most VARs feel hesitant to present an MSP way of doing business to their already existing break-fix customers, and understandably so. Here’s how to overcome that issue.
Weekly Poll: December Managed Services Revenue
Posted December 1st, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Welcome to the final month of 2008. MSPmentor is curious to know how your December business is shaping up. Please complete the following poll and we’ll blog about the results on Friday, December 5.
Managed Services: ADTRAN Partners With Level Platforms, N-able
Posted November 19th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
ADTRAN Inc., which specializes in Ethernet and VoIP hardware, has quietly partnered with Level Platforms and N-able in the managed services market. Here are some quick details.
Put Your Managed Services Business In the Spotlight
Posted October 27th, 2008 by MSPMentor
If you’re a manged service provider —of any size, in any country — you could earn free publicity. Simply fill out our MSPmentor 100 survey. If your company lands on the resulting MSPmentor 100 list, your organization could be ranked among the world’s top managed service providers.
Many of last year’s MSPmentor 100 members earned free publicity across the web and in local media. And they used their ranking as a marketing tool when meeting with prospective customers. Participating in the survey is free and only requires a few minutes of your time.
MSPmentor Lands In Australia
Posted October 27th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Hello from Melbourne, Australia. We’re touring the country — making additional stops in Sydney and Brisbane — while exploring Australia’s growing managed services market throughout this week.
Join MSPmentor for Australia Managed Services Summits
Posted October 24th, 2008 by MSPMentor
MSPmentor Editorial Director Joe Panettieri will be a guest speaker at the Managed Services International Seminar Series, which are half-day summits in Australia and New Zealand.
Vembu CEO: Sustainable Economic Growth Will Resume
Posted October 15th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Sekar Vembu (pictured), founder and CEO of Vembu Technologies, is the latest software entrepreneur to launch his own blog. But instead of hyping Vembu’s storage solutions, the executive describes why he looks forward to the return of “normal and sustainable economic growth.”
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