Small Business Computer Consulting

Consultants that work with Microsoft Small Business Server have recently been talking about problems their clients have been having with updates from a Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server.  While this is not related to a security issue, Microsoft has still announced a security advisory because of the inability of some users to update important security features.

Microsoft employees and Microsoft Small Business Server experts state that computers running Microsoft Office 2003 might not be able to get updates from servers that are using WSUS 3.0 or WSUS 3.0 SP1.  Other affected programs and applications besides Microsoft Small Business Server include System Center Essentials and System Center Configuration Manager 2007.   

While a solution to this problem has not yet been released, Microsoft promises to tell those working with Small Business Server and other affected applications as part of Update Services 3.0 or Microsoft Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Service Pack 1.

Microsoft issued a manual workaround that can be found by clicking this Microsoft Small Business Server link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Do you think the Computer Consulting Kit tips are just for new computer consultants?  See how three computer consultants that have been in business for 15 – even 20 – years have used the Computer Consulting Kit’s tested and proven strategies to improve their marketing and sales strategies for steady revenue and higher profit margins.

Tim Shoemakers, Synectics, Melbourne, Florida, USA:  Founded 1994

"The Computer Consulting Kit ensures a steady revenue stream and gives the client the confidence of steady contact and service.  By supplying both the theory and samples for this model, it was easy to make the transition."

Adrian Jansz, Scarymon Pty, Ltd., Adelade, South Australia, Australia:  Founded 1988

"The Computer Consulting Kit showed me specifically how to get started and how to market.  An excellent overview of requirements!"

Ken Reichardt, PCX Technologies, Dalas/Fort Worth, Texas, USA:  Founded 1987

"Absolutely any amount of money that you might spend on really any of Joshua’s materials will more than pay for itself many, many times over.  I know it has for me.  

This really is a golden opportunity for you to grow your IT consulting business and do it in the right way."

To learn about how you can benefit from the PROVEN strategies delivered by the Computer Consulting Kit, no matter how many years you’ve been in business, visit the attached link!

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

A lot of computer consultants and business users have been talking about Server Core, one of the most discussed parts of the new Microsoft Small Business Server 2008.  Basically, it’s a version of Microsoft Small Business server, minus the Graphical User Interface; there is no taskbar, start menu, desktop, etc., though there are some tools that still stand.

As Microsoft instructor Glen Weadock reports, a lot of people in his classes and other industry professionals have commented about how Microsoft is not offering deals on Server Core, despite its lack of features.  It is being marketed as the same price as all other Microsoft Small Business Server packages.  While larger organizations do not seem to mind the issue, small businesses that have to pay for individual licenses have wondered why a seemingly “lesser” product would be the same price as the fully-stocked product.

Weadock offers his own opinion and invites others to comment, so for more information on this Microsoft Small Business Server story or to weigh in, visit the attached link.

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Are you still unsure about whether or not you want to use a support contract-centric business model with your computer consulting business?  If you want on-going revenue to sustain your business, the only way to go is through long-term, steady relationships with clients on a support contract.

The truth is – you can’t build your business around one-shot deal customers and panicking small business owners or you’ll find yourself over-worked and unable to make ends meet.  But, don’t take our word for it.  The following three testimonials from those that used tips from our Computer Consulting Kit to grow their businesses and incorporate the idea of the support contract should give you some insight:

“The Computer Consulting Kit assisted me in getting the contract agreement in place, then the SLA (service level agreement) in place.  This yielded me $200,000 AUD.”  

-    Rob Morgan, Proactive I.T. Consultants, Austinmer, New South Wales, Australia

“Because of the Computer Consulting Kit, we implemented client service agreements and now have better relationships with our clients and consistency in cash flow.  The Computer Consulting Kit provided the plan for establishing service agreements.”

-    Daniel Sherwood, Sherwood IT Consulting, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia

“Thanks to the Computer Consulting Kit, I increased the number of service agreement clients by 100%, by providing a contract template and structure to my rate sheet.  This earned me an extra $25,000 this year.”

-    Gregory Brewer, Vowire, Brighton, Michigan, USA

Take these Computer Consulting Kit customers’ word for it – the support contract concept can really work for your business!  To learn more about this topic, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Microsoft Small Business Server will be rolling through three Midwestern U.S. cities during the summer of 2008 in the "Microsoft Across America" program hosted by Catalyst Technology Group.  These events will bring Microsoft’s newest version of Microsoft Small Business Server (Windows Server 2008) as well as Windows Vista to Catalyst customers through product demonstrations.  Also represented in these demos will be Office 2007, SharePoint Server 2007 and Small Business Server 2003.

This travelling Microsoft Small Business Server event will be in Chicago, Illinois, Evansville, Indiana and Indianapolis, Indiana throughout July.  For information on this program and Microsoft Small Business Server, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

One of the benefits of the Computer Consulting Kit is that it provides thoroughly tried and tested tips for IT consultants to improve their businesses.  The strategies offered by the Computer Consulting Kit have been proven time and time again to get many computer consultants just like you more sustainable revenue, better clients and a better overall plan for the future of your business.

Three Success Stories from the Computer Consulting Kit

“By applying your information to my marketing program, I increased my sales to $80,000 last year and over $100,000 this year.  

Thanks to the Computer Consulting Kit, my income is back in the six figures.”

-    John Lindbloom, A+, Network+, Server+, TCC, MCP, PC Netbuilder Plus, Brookfield and Franklin, Wisconsin, USA
Founded:  2001
Specialties:  Microsoft Small Business Server

"One thing I learned from the Computer Consulting Kit was to look at each client, their revenue for the year, and decide who and what to focus on.  

This brought me $23,000."

- Robert Rains, Gibraltar Systems Computer Consulting, Lowell, Massachusetts

Founded:  2002

"Because of the Computer Consulting Kit, I reduced credit terms and improved cash flow! Plus it helped increase my profitability and billing rate by 15%, ALL without complaint or loss of business!"

- James Harbidge, Clarendon Park Consulting (Small Biz IT), Leicester, Leicestershire, United Kingdom

Specialties:  Accredited HP Business Partner

The Bottom Line about the Computer Consulting Kit

Today we looked at three success stories from IT consultants that used the Computer Consulting Kit to jump-start their businesses.  To learn more about the Computer Consulting Kit, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Many IT consultants and other solution providers are talking about the new version of Microsoft Small Business Server.  While many were initially talking about the new pricing scheme and its “controversial” nature, Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 have many new features that will possibly make the product more interesting than its predecessor.

Microsoft Small Business Server and Essential Business Server will be marketed as part of a new group of products called “Essential Business Solutions” (which includes the recently released Windows Home Server).  

Some Features of Microsoft Small Business Server 2008

1.     A focus on primarily the small business market due to similarities between each product’s management console to create the same interface across the board that is very small business-friendly.  

2.    Bundled products, updated to the latest versions in Microsoft Small Business Server 2008.  Premium Edition purchasers will get SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition and all Small Business Server users will now be licensed to install SQL 2008 on a second server (the suite includes a second installation of Windows Server 2008 to help with the installation).  

3.    While a multi-core CPU is not necessary, users of Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 will need at least a high-end single core CPU and 4GB of RAM.   

4.    New software.  Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 will get a new administrative console that follows the tab-based UI paradigm seen in Windows Home Server with multiple tabs for many different functions.

The new Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 offers many other features that can be read about by visiting the attached link.  

Submitted By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Microsoft recently released new information about Microsoft Small Business Server – it is now offering customers and partners to evaluate pre-release versions of the software.  The software has already been in the testing phase, and many small and midsize business owners have been discussing the performance of Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008.

Three partners discussed their experiences with Microsoft Small Business Server:

Sumeeth Evans, director of IT for Collegiate Housing Services said that the new program decreased the workload for administrative tasks by about 90%, marking the largest increase in productivity that any technology and business management tool has offered.

Dave Benson, founder and CFO of Epicurean Cutting Surfaces has been using the improved Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 and said that it has helped him get rid of wasted time so his cutting board and kitchen utensil company can focus on its business goals and also increase its reach to a global market.

Erik Thorsell, president of Success Computer Consulting based in Minneapolis, Minnesota said that the two new versions of Microsoft Small Business Server are more user-friendly for both IT consultants and small business users.  They have helped his clients work more effectively while mobile or at their home bases.

The new version of Microsoft Small Business Server will be available to the public later this year.  For more information on how you can work with this new software, visit the attached link. 

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

A huge part of your computer consulting business is marketing, and seminars can be an important strategy.  How can you get the most out of these seminars?

Focus on Registration

Your computer consulting seminars should for the most part be free, but in order to make them successful, you need to require registration and advertise limited seating.  When an event is free, not everyone will show up when they say they will.

You can have a check-in at the door, do a survey in exchange for a door prize and to give you a chance to ask some questions and make the seminar more suited to their specific computer consulting needs.  Make sure you actually teach something in your seminar.  When you have an educated prospect, you will have an easier time holding interest than if you have an uneducated one.  Your registration should also capture important contact information for potential computer consulting clients.  

After the Seminar

You should offer a handout with your contact information on it and add a limited-time special offer.  You can put seminar highlights into a short article that you can hand out or mail to computer consulting prospects and customers.  If you can get it published in different places in your local area – a business journal, Chamber of Commerce newsletter or other organization newsletter – this can help you create a place for yourself in the community and also give valuable information to those with an interest in educating their members or clients on computer consulting issues.

You can also take the article you write and turn it into a free report that you can offer with your computer consulting ads.  If you run a newspaper ad, you can elicit demand by offering the free report to respondents.  Capture contact information so you can follow up with marketing efforts.

The seminar and the highlights article and free report can also go with a fixed-price audit package with a special offer discount.  The more of a deadline you provide, the more people will be compelled to respond.

A Travelling Seminar

You can take your seminar on the road and go out to Chamber of Commerce Meetings and Rotary and Kiwanis meetings.  Often these organizations look for great speakers to fill in 15-20 minutes at events.  This gives you a captive audience and eliminates the need to generate demand.  You can also showcase your computer consulting expertise.

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting Kit

Sweet spot small businesses have very specific needs when it comes to virtual IT support.  Which technical skills do you need to best provide solutions?

Which Virtual IT Tasks Will Clients Require You to Do?

Sweet spot clients will need help with the most popular desktop applications:  Microsoft Office; Intuit QuickBooks; Interact ACT!, etc.  They will also need help with hardware upgrades and setting up shared folder backup software and keeping their antivirus and firewall software working.  They will probably also need help syncing PDAs and DEFINITELY need help with networks (a BIG part of your job as an outsourced virtual IT department!).

What about Micro Small Businesses?

Micro small businesses – those with less than 10 PCs – don’t usually spend a lot of money on people with advanced technical skills.  They are working with P2P networks and will see IT certifications and advanced virtual IT skills as a negative and something that makes you overqualified.  

Real IT Managers Care More about IT Certifications

When you are dealing with real IT managers in larger small businesses (over 50 systems), you will find someone that cares about advanced virtual IT skills.  Certifications will be important, and the company will be looking typically for specialists and deeply-niched experts to fill out their technical staff.  

The Main Idea about Virtual IT and Your Certifications

Sweet spot clients present a different opportunity from other small business clients.  You want to put most of your energy into the 10-50 PC space because they will be big enough to need sophisticated solutions, but not big enough to have to hire a really highly-skilled virtual IT professional.  

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit