MSP University Managed Services Blog

Recorded Webinar Posted - Selling the Cloud as a Managed Service

We've posted our latest State of the Industry Webinar for viewing in case you missed it live!

Topic: Selling the Cloud as a Managed Service

Location: http://www.mspu.us/en/courses/this-months-free-training.htm
 
Solution providers have always been pioneers in taking advantage of the latest technologies and translating their expertise into profits. Small and medium business' demand for computing services has not changed in over a decade: they need reliable, cost effective and full-featured products that help them execute their business strategy. What has changed is the solution portfolio that is now available to everyone on demand.

Gone are the days of expensive internal network design, centralized security and working with dozens of vendors to provide necessary technology for business. Small and medium business customers are spending their money on mobility through their laptops and smartphones, providing the ability to do business anywhere, anytime. The term "cloud computing" has come to encompass computing capability without intense local configuration and software deployments. 

Cloud services present MSPs with an opportunity to extend their business model of delivering predictable service levels at a predictable cost by providing services and solutions without large capital investments for themselves or their clients. Technologies such as Hosted Exchange, SharePoint, Offsite Backups, Web Filtering and more provide enterprise level reliability and features far beyond company firewalls.

Our special guest for this timely Webcast is Vlad Mazek, CEO of Own Web Now Corp www.ownwebnow.com, a global provider of hosted solutions to the IT industry, who will share his special insights into the growing cloud computing movement and how you can take advantage of it.
 
Watch this valuable Webinar and learn to sell the cloud as a Managed Service!

Click here to view! - if you don't already have one, you'll need to create a FREE basic MSP University account to view this and dozens of other Webinars to improve your service delivery practice...!

Erick Simpson 
MSP University
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Microsoft 5W50 Webcast on Leveraging Your Peers Next Week Featuring HTG Members

Our good friend Arlin Sorensen from HTG will be conducting an informative Webcast next week on the power of peers - see Arlin's announcement:

This Tuesday, December 2, 2009 at 9am PST, noon Eastern, you will have an opportunity to view a very action packed webcast as part of the Microsoft 5W50 series. The topic will be growing your company and how to leverage peers as part of the growth process. You will hear from HTG members Amy Kardell, Jamison West, and Dave Sobel as they join Arlin Sorensen to talk about some of the exciting things that have happened in their companies as they have leveraged their peers.

Growth is a lot of work, but it can go faster and more smoothly when you learn from those who have done it before. Peers can help you overcome the blockers that cause you to beat your head against the wall. They can prevent mistakes you would likely make if you do it alone. There is much to be gained from running and growing your company in the companionship of a group of people like yourself, and peer groups provide that opportunity. Join us as we tackle that topic.

To register for the event next Wednesday Dec 2, go here. I hope you will take an hour and learn with us about the power of peers!

I'll see you there!

Erick Simpson 
MSP University
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Subscribe to our Newsletter here 
 
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Webinar Tomorrow - How To Supercharge Lead Generation

Are you seeking a cost-effective way to supercharge lead generation?
 
Are you interested in leveraging the latest technologies to maximize your marketing results?
 
Is your website delivering its maximum marketing potential?
 
Find out how to supercharge your lead generation results tomorrow, Thursday November 19th, 2009 at 10am PST and 1pm PST:
 
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for our Web 2.0 Marketing Soluton presentation on Thursday Nov. 19th at 10am PST
 
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for our Web 2.0 Marketing Solution presentation on Thursday Nov. 19th at 1pm PST 
 
If you rely on reactive word of mouth referrals as your sole source of new business leads, your pains include being spread across many verticals, the inability to forecast new revenue month over month and an inconsistency in the quality of your leads.

Proactive, direct marketing lets you to focus on your target market and desired leads on a consistent basis, allowing you to forecast revenue more consistently and improve the quality of your leads.

Learn how to supercharge your lead generation results tomorrow! 

Have you had less than successful marketing results in the past? Is it difficult for you to devote consistent time and attention to an effective marketing process? Have you never successfully gotten marketing programs off the ground because you just didn't know where to begin?

 Click here to watch a short video showing you how we can supercharge your lead generation results!
 
There is simply no other organization with MSP University's experience and expertise that can help you supercharge your lead generation results and ncludes the development and implementation of everything you need to create and deliver a consistent, effective marketing program utilizing the latest technologies in direct and electronic marketing techniques to realize a consistent ROI month after month. We create your entire marketing campaign and integrate the latest in analytics to power your sales follow-up efforts

Why wait any longer when you can supercharge your lead generation results and drive sales!
 
Erick Simpson 
MSP University
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Subscribe to our Newsletter here 
 
Join MSP University FREE for all things Managed Services

Why Do Businesses Select Your Company?

Have you ever sat down and asked what it is about your company that makes it worth doing business with?  Have you considered setting up one of those online surveys so that you can find out? It is not a bad idea to perform this task to see if you are still on-target in providing the type and quality of service needed by your clients to sustain your business.

There needs to be some type of standard; however, by which you can compare your business against just to make sure that you are where you need to be in terms of client offerings and services.

Here are some general guidelines that can provide a set of standards:

Consolidated Services Contact

Being able to do business with a consolidated services provider keeps complexity to a minimum when it comes to products, documentation and interoperability that is necessary for a successful business. Adding value to your client relationships by continuing to include additional services over time to your available deliverables maintains your perception of a true business partner, increasing loyalty and influencing referrals.

Single Supplier

Simplification is the goal of any business and a single supplier system makes great strides in taking out much of the complexities of multiple vendors and the relationships that accompany them. As the trusted technology business advisor, it is your role to manage all technical relationships and locate and marshall all of the resources required to address your clients' needs.

Comprehensive SLAs

Imagine a Service Level Agreement that encompasses practically the entire client environment.  This one alone is worth the price of your MSP offerings.

Contracted Pricing

Knowing that a level billing and pricing structure is in place helps your clients better manage their budgets regarding their IT infrastructure.

Extensive Reporting

With active reporting models, keeping on top of problem areas is not a challenge.  Being managed proactively becomes a reality in some of your client organizations that might never have achieved that goal in the past.

Lowered TCO

Total Cost of Ownership is constantly in the cross-hairs of of bean counters.  With an MSP agreement in place, costs are lowered over time and this is welcomed by accounting departments.

24x7x365 Network and Service Monitoring

The peace of mind that accompanies a fully monitored environment is invaluable for any business.  Because the demands on today's organizations are increasingly global, monitored services should be ‘globalized’ as well.

How are you doing in the areas above?  What are your clients saying about your services?  Do you feel like you are out front and leading your clients or do you think that they are pulling you along?  Are you the change agent or are they?  An annual check-up in this area would be a good way to make sure that you are doing and providing the things necessary to keep your clients satisfied and asking for more.

Attend MSP University's next Boot Camp for FREE!

Erick Simpson 
MSP University
Subscribe to my blog here
Subscribe to our Newsletter here 
 
Join MSP University FREE for all things Managed Services

Selling the Cloud as a Managed Service

Join us for MSP University's State of the Industry Webinar
 
Please join us Thursday, November 19th @ 9am PST as I host MSP University's State of the Industry Webinar.

Topic: Selling the Cloud as a Managed Service
 
Solution providers have always been pioneers in taking advantage of the latest technologies and translating their expertise into profits. Small and medium business' demand for computing services has not changed in over a decade: they need reliable, cost effective and full-featured products that help them execute their business strategy. What has changed is the solution portfolio that is now available to everyone on demand.

Gone are the days of expensive internal network design, centralized security and working with dozens of vendors to provide necessary technology for business. Small and medium business customers are spending their money on mobility through their laptops and smartphones, providing the ability to do business anywhere, anytime. The term "cloud computing" has come to encompass computing capability without intense local configuration and software deployments. 

Cloud services present MSPs with an opportunity to extend their business model of delivering predictable service levels at a predictable cost by providing services and solutions without large capital investments for themselves or their clients. Technologies such as Hosted Exchange, SharePoint, Offsite Backups, Web Filtering and more provide enterprise level reliability and features far beyond company firewalls.

Our special guest for this timely Webcast is Vlad Mazek, CEO of Own Web Now Corp www.ownwebnow.com, a global provider of hosted solutions to the IT industry, who will share his special insights into the growing cloud computing movement and how you can take advantage of it.
 
Attend this valuable Webinar and learn to sell the cloud as a Managed Service!

Click here to register! 

 

About MSP University's State of the Industry Webinar Series
 
MSP University's State of the Industry Webinar Series is meant to inform.  The more you know about your industry, the products and services available to you and your clients, and how to market and sell those products and services, the greater your opportunities to increase your value to your clients, as well as your business success. 

About Erick Simpson

Vice President and CIO of MSP University, Erick is a recognized industry expert and IT and Managed Services author, speaker and trainer, and contributor to numerous industry publications and events. Author of "The Guide to a Successful Managed Services Practice - What Every SMB IT Service Provider Should Know..." the definitive book on Managed Services, and the follow-ups in MSP University's Managed Services Series "The Best I.T. Sales & Marketing BOOK EVER!", "The Best I.T. Service Delivery BOOK EVER!" and "The Best NOC and Service Desk Operations BOOK EVER!". Erick has also co-authored the HTG Peer Groups publication "Peer Power - Powerful Ideas for Partners from Peers".
 
About Vlad Mazek
 
Vlad Mazek, MCSE, is an author, technology radio show host, Exchange MVP and CEO of Own Web Now Corp, creator of ExchangeDefender and Shockey Monkey, and which hosts thousands of SBS and Exchange Servers. Mr. Mazek is very active in the IT professional community and has over ten years of experience managing and developing secure communication networks and platforms. Through a network of thousands of partners, numerous international data centers, A popular blog site and a radio show, Mr. Mazek has a unique insight to the needs of both businesses and IT solution providers.

Join Me For HTG and ConnectWise Events This Week

This week marks the HTG All Q4 Peer Group Meeting, where all of the Heartland Technology Peer Groups will be descending in Orlando, FL to conduct group meetings, receive training and hear some major announcements  during the HTGALL lunch on Wednesday, per Arlin Sorensen, Founder and CEO of the HTG Peer Groups and Heartland Technology Solutions. I'll be speaking in the Senate Room on Wednesday, November 3rd at 1:45pm, and my session is titled 8 Areas Critical to Maximizing IT and Managed Services Practice Success. If you will be in attendance, stop by to say hello. Attendees are encouraged to Blog, Facebook and Tweet with #HTG during the event, to keep those interested that could not attend apprised vicariously of their thoughts, experiences and feedback. Click here for the Agenda.

Immediately following the HTG event, ConnectWise kicks off Partner Summit 09 and will be streaming Arnie Bellini's Keynote and all Main Stage Speaker Presentations live. Click here to watch. My session at the ConnectWise Partner Summit 09 will be delivered along with Mary McElwee from ConnectWise and Chris Chase from DTI on Thursday, November 5th at 1:45pm and is titled 4 Tips To Jumpstart Social Media For Your IT Business. We will be sharing ways that we use Social Media to improve our marketing results, brand and drive interest in our respective organizations, products and services. Click here for the Agenda. Tweet the Summit with #cwps. Stop by and say hello!

 

Pre-Order MSPU's New Book The Best NOC and Service Desk Operations BOOK EVER today!

 

 
Erick Simpson 
MSP University
Subscribe to my blog here
Subscribe to our Newsletter here 
 
Join MSP University FREE for all things Managed Services