By Carbonite Guest Blog

When talk about cloud computing first began to spread, small to midsize businesses (SMBs) had their fair share of concerns. Some were worried about security and privacy issues, some were concerned about cost. Others feared they might somehow lose control of their IT systems.

The good news is that cloud technology has matured; most, if not all, of those fears have been quelled, and cloud adoption continues to rise. In short, the outlook for cloud apps is bright. But there are some important steps IT channel companies can take to ensure cloud software sales remain a successful component the revenue stream.

With that in mind, here are three quick tips on how to increase sales of cloud solutions:

1. Bundle cloud solutions creatively.

Don’t be afraid to innovate when it comes to bundling. SMBs are looking for complete solutions, not just one-off applications. For example, cloud or hybrid backup solutions like Carbonite can be easily bundled with security software and monitoring services to create a comprehensive disaster recovery package. Or, a popular cloud solution like Microsoft Office 365 can be bundled with Carbonite Server Backup, which offers mailbox-level backup of Office 365 data. The bundling possibilities are virtually endless.  

2. Take advantage of recent hardware and software purchases.

If you have customers that are purchasing hardware or software, consider tacking on a backup solution like Carbonite. Not only will you be fulfilling your clients’ backup needs, you’ll also be ensuring a recurring revenue stream as customers renew each year.

3. Offer free trials.

Free trials are a great way to secure new business, especially when it comes to customers who are new to the cloud. Take Carbonite’s new Partner Trials program as an example. With our Partner Trials program, you can give your customers a chance to get acclimated to Carbonite before they make the final purchase.

John Durant is Director of Channel Sales at Carbonite, a provider of powerful yet simple cloud and hybrid backup solutions for small to midsize businesses. Get to know the benefits of partnering with Carbonite today. Guest blogs such as this one are published monthly and are part of Talkin’ Cloud’s annual platinum sponsorship.