Turn emotions into your sales compass
Like it or not, business is emotional. Even in the MSP space, where so much of the work is technical and automated, the human side of business always leads to some level of personal involvement. We care about our work,...
MSPs are being used to breach their customers’ networks
Hackers will probe for whatever weak links they can find to breach an enterprise’s network. However, what if the weak link is you, the MSP? The scenario of an MSP as system’s victim instead of the protector is increasingly playing...
MSPs need to make some tough strategic decisions
There’s an old African proverb that notes when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. These days in the land of IT, the elephants that are doing the fighting are cloud service providers and manufacturers of traditional IT infrastructure...
Don’t believe that cold calling is harder during the summer
In MSP sales, it’s well known that cold calling is much harder during the summer months, when vacations create scheduling conflicts everywhere. However, that should not stop your MSP from making this useful strategy as effective as it can be....
Sales & Marketing
Is outsourcing your marketing a good idea?
I recently saw a website selling marketing services to MSPs that offered to “send out blurbs several times a week” via your company’s social media pages. Another offered to do “e-mail blasts” to your list. It got me thinking… is...
Think you need a funnel to generate MSP leads? Think again
I recently received an email from a new client who had signed up for our MSP marketing services. We’d had some brief discussions about the direction his marketing might be headed in, and I was eager to learn more about...
Ask an MSP Expert: What should I look for in a marketing candidate?
Q: As we continue to grow as a business, we’d like to focus on building our marketing department. What are some qualities we should look for when hiring a marketing candidate? Congrats! Adding a new face or two to your...
Security
Halt! Who goes there? Helping clients manage passwords
The idea of passwords goes back long before computers, back to when you had to prove you were a friend by giving the secret word to get by the guard. Much later, it provided a way to prove you were...
Cybersecurity threats are no longer just a big company problem
The cybersecurity landscape has changed — what was once considered “just a large company” problem now affects companies of all sizes. While many small business owners continue to operate under the belief that security breaches only impact large businesses —...
MSPs can protect self-driving cars and their passengers
Autonomous vehicles are here to stay, and MSPs have a significant opportunity to become guardians of their security. Many MSPs already have industrial accounts, and that is where the most significant advances are occurring. A survey last year showed that...
Better Business
Ask an MSP Expert: How can we maintain efficient communication within our MSP as it grows?
Q: Our MSP has been pretty successful lately, which has allowed us to grow and hire more people. With our team continuing to increase in size, what are some ways for us to maintain the proper communication to make sure...
Why you shouldn’t replace your old website
It’s mid-morning and my cell phone rings. The lady on the other end, the owner of an MSP in Dallas, explains that she needs a new website. So I ask, “Would you mind if I ask what specifically isn’t working?” She replies,...
Reflecting on MSP Day 2019
Now that it’s been awhile since MSP Day 2019, we’re allowing ourselves a sigh of relief, a pat on the back, and the chance to reflect on a successful second outing — and what an outing it was! Riding the...
Tech Insight
Tech Time Warp: The legacy of the Apollo Guidance Computer
Looking back at the Apollo 11 mission 50 years ago, it might be easy to overlook the lasting impact of man’s first steps on the moon. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins captivated not only their fellow Americans, but...
MSPs should start setting expectations for 5G wireless networking services now
The time when managed service providers (MSPs) will need to sit down with customers to have a serious conversation concerning the rollout of 5G wireless networks has arrived. While there’s already a massive amount of hype surrounding 5G networks, cities...
Early detection systems for earthquakes needs IT industry support
There’s nothing like an earthquake to provide the literal jolt often required to motivate businesses and IT leaders to think more about disaster preparedness. A recent series of powerful earthquakes in Southern California has reminded everyone just how vulnerable businesses...