Manage Your Whole Business to Maximize Total Financial Performance

Bob Godgart, Autotask Corporation

I think about the future. A lot. Specifically, I think about our customers and how we can help make their businesses better. Sometimes that means focusing on new features and automation tools, sometimes it's about the 'bigger picture' – the forces and trends that will determine if our customers thrive in the months and years to come. Most recently, I've been thinking about the differences in performance across the variety of business models VARs and MSPs use, and what that means for their long-term success.

For years, the prevailing wisdom has been for IT solution providers to focus more and more exclusively on services. And why not? With product margins declining, services are more lucrative. But is there a downside to a strict focus on services? Three potentially important ones come to mind... MORE >>

Step 1 of the 7-Step Sales Process for Managed Services: Strategic Preparation

Rafael Sanguily, MSP University Before any successful sales engagement can begin, there are many important pieces of information that can be gathered before a client interaction takes place. The preparation phase is the first step in the seven step sales process and requires a client-centric mentality. Strategic preparation, when conducted properly, will allow the Sales Professional to gather the necessary information to conduct a valuable Warm Up... MORE >>

When to Give Up On a Prospect

Robin Robins, Technology Marketing Toolkit A question I frequently get is, “At what point should I give up on a potential prospect and take them off my mailing or telemarketing list?” I get this primarily from people doing direct mail or other “expensive” marketing (not e-mail). This IS a good question, but not one that is simple to answer because there are many factors that come into play... MORE >>

Why Service Level Management is Mission-Critical for IT Service Providers

Len DiCostanzo, Dean, Autotask Academy At the heart of almost every business relationship are expectations... expectations that have to be set, managed and met or exceeded. When it comes to IT Services, your clients' expectations are going to revolve around the specific services you are delivering and the promises or claims that you make related to them... MORE >>

Integrated MSP Workflow: From Alert to Resolution

If you are thinking about becoming an MSP - or currently offer managed services but want to improve your services workflow and make more money - this recorded webinar will help you get started in the right direction... MORE >>

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Data Protection: Keeping Your Information Secure, Confidential and Invaluable.

Chris A. MacKinnon, Freelance Writer for Business Solutions Magazine Data is the lifeline of any business. If that lifeline was cut, your business would literally lose its life. The push to protect the corporation these days must begin with data, because protecting that asset is the key to your company's continued success... MORE >>