Top 3 Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Server Consulting Profits
Over the past 7 years, Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) has gained traction as a widely-respected Small Business Server networking suite.
As a result, many small business computer consultants, systems integrators, and value-added resellers have jumped on-board the Microsoft Small Business Server bandwagon.
However, before you go ahead and bet YOUR company on Microsoft Small Business Server, consider the following three Small Business Server Business Tips... so you can maximize your Small Business Server consulting profits.
(1) Most small businesses in your area have never heard of Microsoft Small Business Server.
Although there may be hundreds, if not thousands, of small businesses in your area that would be excellent candidates for Microsoft Small Business Server, don't make the ultra-common mistake of assuming that the typical non-technical small business owner even knows what Microsoft Small Business Server is.
If you want to maximize your consulting profits and avoid commodity price wars, you're much better off leading off with a pitch for something that's more universally recognized... such as getting rid of computer viruses, stopping SPAM, or preventing computer security breaches.
(2) Sell your small business prospects on YOUR company first.
The real money in Small Business Server is NOT in reselling the Microsoft Small Business Server software. The real money comes from selling the RELATIONSHIP with the small business. So your company essentially becomes your clients' outsourced IT department.
Remember, no small business owner is going to wake up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat, craving Small Business Server. However, small business owners DO constantly lose sleep over what will happen to their companies if their computer systems fail them. Become the solution to the more primal, survival instinct and you'll get plenty of opportunities to sell Small Business Server, once you've established a solid client/consultant relationship.
(3) Microsoft doesn't value computer consultants as much as they sometimes say.
Little known fact: the first version of Microsoft Small Business Server, planned in 1996 and released in 1997, was code-named "SAM"... because Microsoft's goal was for Small Business Server to completely bypass their reseller channel and be sold at "Sam's Club" warehouse clubs.
So the product team had the mandate to make the Small Business Server product SO simple that a non-technical small business end user could buy Small Business Server at the warehouse club and have the Small Business Server suite running in their office that same day.
Shortly after the first-version shipped, Microsoft realized that the most cost-effective way to reach small businesses with Small Business Server was through their reseller channel. And since then, Small Business Server resources have flowed toward the channel.
However, even today, you can often find 5-user versions of Microsoft Small Business Server in retail stores.
So the point: Microsoft isn't putting all its Small Business Server "eggs" in one basket, so why should you?!? Which brings us back to points one and two: Small business owners aren't actively shopping for a "Small Business Server". So instead of "selling" Small Business Server per se, you're much better off selling a small business on YOUR company, BEFORE you sell Microsoft Small Business Server.
The Bottom Line
In this article, we looked at three Small Business Server business tips that every computer consultant, systems integrator and value added reseller needs to be aware when selling Microsoft Small Business Server.
Copyright MMI-MMV, SmallBusinessServerTips.com, All Worldwide Rights Reserved.
Joshua Feinberg is a 15-year veteran computer consultant, an internationally recognized expert on small business computer consulting. He has appeared in dozens of business and IT trade publications including CRN, VARBusiness, Microsoft Direct Access, TechRepublic, American Express OPEN Platinum Ventures, Entrepreneur, Inc, SCORE, Small Business Computing, and USA Today. He is also author of Building Profitable Solutions with Microsoft Small Business Server. To learn more about Joshua's proven strategies for squeezing more consulting profits out of Microsoft Small Business Server, sign-up for his free one-hour training seminar at http://www.smallbusinessservertips.com
disinfecting cleaning services Buffalo Grove ..It has been said that the only constant is change.... Read More
Senior citizens are generally not a large marketing segment for... Read More
Today is a Red Letter Day! It's special because today... Read More
If you run a pressure washing company in a rural... Read More
Are you a small business owner who wants to expand... Read More
When do annoyances in a relationship become too much to... Read More
The easiest way to lift profits is to cut the... Read More
Your grandfather probably told you to "learn something new everyday".... Read More
Here are some of the questions that you need to... Read More
TACTIC #1 -- Never simply slash your prices, unless you're... Read More
What does buying a fat pig have to do with... Read More
Many government department heads are on the take. Oh they'll... Read More
The FTC- Mighty Federal Trade Commission has unilaterally decided to... Read More
If you are a franchisee of a large franchise system;... Read More
While I was hard at work last week, an everyday... Read More
Remember the cleaning business is all about time ratio to... Read More
Top 3 Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Server Consulting... Read More
Competition in the business world is often viewed as a... Read More
The Franchise Group at the Federal Trade Commission in all... Read More
In the heavy equipment cleaning business you can make good... Read More
Everyday, customers and business owners are bombarded with billboards, logos,... Read More
The home-based business market, sometimes called the SOHO (small-office/home-office) market,... Read More
My colleague, Jane, recently lamented to me an all too... Read More
As a practitioner and student of Small Business Marketing, I... Read More
Increase your profit potential by identifying ? and avoiding ?... Read More
spotless home service Arlington Heights ..There is significant competition in auto detailing and car washing.... Read More
A lot of business owners I've spoken with lately have... Read More
How a donation is different from a sponsorship and what... Read More
Too often in business we get trapped into reviewing our... Read More
Most doctors never distinguish the difference between customers and patients.... Read More
One of the primary concerns all small businesses have is... Read More
When we speak of branding most of the time people... Read More
Q: After years of dreaming about starting my own business,... Read More
Mobile carwashing is hard work, it is tough on the... Read More
Everyday, customers and business owners are bombarded with billboards, logos,... Read More
COLLABORATIVE NEGOTIATING:Collaborative negotiating is a win-win strategy that can focus... Read More
Hogwash!That's what I say to people who tell me that... Read More
Ok, so next to the taxman, your company payroll department... Read More
If you're looking for start-up capital for your business, but... Read More
"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't... Read More
The stock market is still on a wild roller coaster... Read More
Pardon my enthusiasm, but a large part of your small... Read More
In the first article we mentioned the main characteristics that... Read More
Where would a business be without a business plan? A... Read More
Marketing is one of the four corner-posts of a solid... Read More
How do you find groups that are in need of... Read More
If an organization lacks a mission statement, it is worthwhile... Read More
Just as you are about to say "good-bye" to your... Read More
Now that winter has passed, the annual ritual of spring... Read More
Having a successful business means also having a good working... Read More
Small Business |