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April 2008

April 24, 2008

How to sell Windows Server 2008 and Client Solutions to Small Business Customers Webinar now Posted!

Our Webinar with Michael Murphy from Microsoft's Local Engagement Team and Matt Makowicz from Ambition Consulting now available for viewing! 

How to sell Windows Server 2008 and Client Solutions to Small Business Customers.

Our special guests were Michael Murphy from Microsoft's Local Engagement Team and our good friend Matt Makowicz from Ambition Consulting.

Michael Murphy and Microsoft's Local Engagement Team are committed to providing small businesses the technology solutions they need to build their business, through local Microsoft partners.  The mass marketing and other broad reach mechanisms they execute on are effective at raising awareness and building the Microsoft brand, but it's Microsoft partners who add the critical local component to the equation.  To earn the small business owner's business partners have to earn their trust and the most effective way to do so is to meet them face-to-face.  This is why live events are so important to the small business.  Whether this is a lunch-and-learn at the local office or a Chamber of Commerce event, the human interaction is critical.  Microsoft's LET Team's goal is to connect you with your local small business community through live events.

Matt Makowicz's successful Managed Services Practice created millions of dollars in recurring revenue. Matt sold managed services since before the industry had a name for it! As an MCSE and sales professional Matt will share his tips and strategies for Microsoft Windows server and client solution sales success.

CLICK HERE to register to view this Webinar.

During this webinar we will deep dive on selling Microsoft server and client solutions to small business clients, and answer the following questions:

  • Product Differentiation - What are the differences between Small Business Server and Windows Server 2008? What are Centro and Cougar?
  • Solution Selling - How can understanding Product Differentiation help your client find the RIGHT solution?
  • Offers in Market - What are the New Open Value Subscription and Big Easy offers and how can they impact your business' bottom line?
  • Licensing - What do yo uneed to know to make Microsoft Licensing work for you?
  • Overcoming Objections - Why Server 2008? Which Server version? What does Vista SP1 mean to driving deployments?

CLICK HERE to register to view this Webinar.

Erick Simpson
MSP University

April 17, 2008

Join us for our next Live Webinar Wednesday, April 23rd at 8am PST!

How to sell Windows Server 2008 and Client Solutions to Small Business Customers with Michael Murphy from Microsoft's Local Engagement Team and Matt Makowicz from Ambition Consulting.

Join us for our next live Managed Services Webinar on Wednesday, April 23rd at 8:00am PST, where our special guests will be Michael Murphy from Microsoft's Local Engagement Team and our good friend Matt Makowicz from Ambition Consulting.

Michael Murphy and Microsoft's Local Engagement Team are committed to providing small businesses the technology solutions they need to build their business, through local Microsoft partners.  The mass marketing and other broad reach mechanisms they execute on are effective at raising awareness and building the Microsoft brand, but it's Microsoft partners who add the critical local component to the equation.  To earn the small business owner's business partners have to earn their trust and the most effective way to do so is to meet them face-to-face.  This is why live events are so important to the small business.  Whether this is a lunch-and-learn at the local office or a Chamber of Commerce event, the human interaction is critical.  Microsoft's LET Team's goal is to connect you with your local small business community through live events.

Matt Makowicz's successful Managed Services Practice created millions of dollars in recurring revenue. Matt sold managed services since before the industry had a name for it! As an MCSE and sales professional Matt will share his tips and strategies for Microsoft Windows server and client solution sales success.

As a special bonus - all attendees will receive a FREE AUDIOBOOK DOWNLOAD OF OUR BEST-SELLING BOOK: The Guide to a Successful Managed Services Practice - What Every SMB IT Service Provider Should Know...a $59.99 value!

CLICK HERE to register for this Webinar on Wednesday, April 23rd at 8:00am PST

During this webinar we will deep dive on selling Microsoft server and client solutions to small business clients, and answer the following questions:

  • Product Differentiation - What are the differences between Small Business Server and Windows Server 2008? What are Centro and Cougar?
  • Solution Selling - How can understanding Product Differentiation help your client find the RIGHT solution?
  • Offers in Market - What are the New Open Value Subscription and Big Easy offers and how can they impact your business' bottom line?
  • Licensing - What do yo uneed to know to make Microsoft Licensing work for you?
  • Overcoming Objections - Why Server 2008? Which Server version? What does Vista SP1 mean to driving deployments?

There will be a Q&A session immediately following the presentation. CLICK HERE to register.

Erick Simpson
MSP University

April 14, 2008

New Canadian Small Business Specialists Blog

Stuart Crawford, our good friend from the Great White North has launched a new blog site for Canadian Small Business Specialists, sure to be a great resource for not only our northern brothers and sisters, but all North American SBSC’s as well. Here’s the skinny direct from Stuart:

Hi Everyone

I recently launched a new blog for IT Professionals in Canada.  This blog is focused on the Canadian Small Business Specialist market and offers great tips, news and information on what is happening in our small business market here in Canada.

I am adding information daily to this site...

You can subscribe to receive a summary daily in your email or you can use the RSS feeds at http://sbsc.itsuccessmentor.com/feed

The URL for the site is http://www.weareitpros.ca, give a bit since the domain is still new....if you can’t get to it using this URL you can use the backdoor way at http://sbsc.itsuccessmentor.com.

The first 10 people to sign up on the site using the email delivery will receive a free copy of the eBook on goal setting that I released this year.

You will notice on this page we have areas to list user groups, sbsc partners and key people in Canada.  We are open to you advertising your firm for free (if you are a SBSC), your user group and if you are an MVP or SBSC PAL please send your bio and I will get you up on the page.

Note:  Companies are first come, first served in your geographical region.

Cheers

Have an awesome day!

Stuart

April 03, 2008

Join MSPU at the Kaseya Roadmap Seminar Series!

Kaseya has asked MSPU to deliver Managed Services Training during their Roadmap Seminar Series. I will be delivering content in Dallas, TX, Chicago IL and back home in Irvine, CA next week. Dates are:

  • Dallas, TX - Monday, April 7th
  • Chicago, IL - Tuesday, April 8th
  • Irvine, CA - Friday, April 11th

Come join me for a half-day full of valuable content, and walk away with takeaways that you can implement immediately to improve your Managed Services Practice!

Here's Kaseya's announcement and registration information:

Roadmap to Success Series

Transitioning to Managed Services

Managed Services is a hot topic within the reseller, systems integrator and service provider community.  It is a lucrative business model that enhances customer satisfaction by improving IT infrastructure management while increasing service provider margins.  It is a key step to retaining clients and building a predictable revenue stream.  There are many challenges including; what services to offer, how to price them and how to migrate customers.

Learn from successful MSPs & Industry Experts the steps to success for building and evolving your managed services business. Hear how to migrate customers from a break-fix to a managed services model and close new business.  Find out how to deploy technology to enable you to support over 1,000 endpoints per technician. Gain knowledge of optional service offerings to bundle, pricing strategies and marketing techniques to effectively sell managed services.

Meet successful Managed Service Providers who have already mastered these techniques and are willing to share their secrets to success.

Click Here To Register!

April 02, 2008

SMB Summit Conference Call with Stuart Crawford and More

SMB Summit Conference Call with Stuart Crawford and More

Mark your calendars for Friday, April 4th at 9 AM Pacific / 12N Eastern / 17:00 GMT.

I will be joining Stuart, Arlin Sorensen, Brad Schow of Compudyne and Karl Palachuk to discuss the specifics of the SMBTN Summit.

With luck, our good friend Matt Makowicz will also join us!

(This could be a very expensive phone call!)

The basic topic is: SMB Summit: Why do you need to be there?

For more info, including the call-in number, see

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/smb/2008/04/04/SMB-Summit-2008-Why-you-need-to-be-there.

Stuart R. Crawford is the of
Do You Have IT? and other books. He runs IT Matters Inc. in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

I think right now Calgary has snow up to the rooftops, so Stuart is stuck in his cabin and desperately needs human contact.

Help him by joining us on Friday at 9:00 AM Pacific.

Email comments or questions to
scrawford@itmatters.ca.

See you then!

Thanks, Karl for the original post!

Erick Simpson
MSP University