Sales & Marketing

Prepare for Economic Shrinkage

• April 2, 2008

When you’re talking about the US economy, don’t use the word “recession.” Instead, stick with “shrinkage.” That seems to be the safest approach. A case in point: Fed Research Chairman Ben Bernanke said the US economy may shrink during the first half of this year, but he didn’t mention the “R” word.

But The VAR Guy has to tell ya: He’d rather suffer through a recession than shrinkage.

Cisco PR Bridges Old And New Media

• April 2, 2008

The VAR Guy is impressed. The big Cisco Partner Summit in Hawaii is still a week away, yet coverage about the event is popping up across old and new media. How did that happen? Given Cisco’s size, it’s relatively easy for the company to generate coverage. But let’s give Cisco some credit: The company understands […]

Nimsoft CEO: No Sign Of A Slowdown Yet

• April 1, 2008

Managed service providers can breathe a collective sigh of relief. The first quarter ended yesterday, and MSP platform providers generally sound upbeat about the industry’s health.

One prime example: In his personal blog, Nimsoft CEO Gary Read says his company has had another strong quarter. Plus, he throws in this important line:

“We’re not seeing any economic weakness yet…”

Seven Ways to Find the Right Customers

• April 1, 2008

Just like have the wrong employees on your team, the wrong clients can hurt your business and create a lifestyle you don’t enjoy. So, how can you attract the clients you want, avoid nightmare customers, and have a fulfilling and satisfying business life? Here are seven tips to get you started. When we launched our […]

Falling for April Fools’ Day?

• April 1, 2008

The VAR Guy is reading all press releases and news coverage extra carefully today. Quite a few of them contain April Fools’ Day pranks. Some of them are quite witty, but in the Web 2.0 world, it’s dangerous to send false or misleading messages out to your readers. Here’s why.

All it takes is one goof ball blogger or lazy journalist to reprint a hoax and present it as factual. From there, stocks can rise and fall based on false information.

MSPAlliance, N-able Promote Managed Services Certification

• April 1, 2008

There’s a new twist to certification in the managed services market. N-able Technologies and the MSPAlliance are jointly promoting certification and accreditation for managed service providers. If you’re looking to save money while getting certified, this may be an option: All N-able partners will receive a 33 percent discount on the standard fee associated with […]

Dell Sends Letter to Managed Service Providers

• March 31, 2008

Sorry for being so “Dell-centric” on our Web sites today, but a conversation I had with Dell’s Channel VP Greg Davis has triggered multiple posts. The latest: Davis and Michael Menegay, Global Director of Dell Managed Services, today sent a jointly signed letter to managed service providers. The letter provides MSPs with an update on:

Dell Prepping IdeaStorm for Partners?

• March 31, 2008

One of The VAR Guy’s favorite web sites is IdeaStorm, a Dell-run forum where readers share business and technology ideas, vote for their favorite reader concepts, and interact with Dell. IdeaStorm has been a huge hit with Dell customers and critics alike. Now, Dell may build a similar site for partners, solutions providers and managed service providers, The VAR Guy has learned.

The Pros and Cons of MSP Certification

• March 30, 2008

Many VARs get certified for vendor-specific technology (Microsoft, Cisco, etc.). But a new wave of certifications and accreditations — focused on the managed service provider and software as a service (SaaS) markets — is emerging.

Certifications can help customers to find top-notch partners, and it potentially helps to weed weaker service providers out of the market.

Memo to MSPs: Keep Traveling During Economic Slowdown

• March 29, 2008

Web seminars are fantastic for quick, educational tutorials about managed services and business management. Skype and other tools allow us all to connect for free over vast distances. But as we all consider the economy and our second quarter budgets, one thing just became super-clear to me: We can’t afford to stop traveling to highly […]

15 Tips for Choosing A Managed Services Platform

• March 27, 2008

You’re a VAR, and you’re nervous about betting your business — and the money in your wallet — on a specific managed services platform. Dan Wilson, president of Waypoint Solutions Group, has some advice for you. Already a successful managed service provider himself, Wilson has 15 tips for choosing an MSP platform. Here they are.

Wilson shared his thoughts with me during a phone call on Thursday. The following list paraphrases many of his tips on choosing an MSP platform:

Is Dell Too Obsessed with Hewlett-Packard?

• March 27, 2008

Healthy competition is good for technology companies — and good for their customers. But The VAR Guy is starting to wonder if Dell is too obsessed with Hewlett-Packard. Let him explain. When The VAR Guy opened the March edition of CIO Insight magazine, our resident blogger noticed a full-page Dell server advertisement stating: “Simpler Setup […]

Managed Services Events: How to Dominate the Spotlight

• March 27, 2008

A few hundred people will likely pack their bags and head to Atlanta, where a managed services conference kicks off March 31. Some companies “wait” to announce news at events like this. But progressive MSP participants like Waypoint Solutions Group are creating marketing buzz before attendees even arrive for the opening keynote. Here’s how.

Oracle, The Recession and You

• March 26, 2008

Five Economic Indicators VARs Should Watch

• March 26, 2008

So, we’re in a recession. At least, that’s what the media keeps telling The VAR Guy. Still, some areas of the economy remain healthier than others. In order to move forward with your own business plans, take a look at these five anecdotal pieces of info. 1. PC Sales: They look good — but not […]