Small Business Computer Consulting

On July 17th, Microsoft announced, in the year of launches of new Microsoft Small Business Server packages and others that it had reached a revenue of $60.42 billion, an 18% growth over the previous year.  

Kevin Turner, COO of Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington in the U.S. stated that the accomplishment of such an impressive revenue increase is the result of new technology solutions as well as great work done by partners and global sales and marketing teams.

2008 saw new releases of Microsoft’s major server products, including Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008.  Improvements were made on Microsoft Small Business Server and partner programs instilled that welcomed many new small business partners into the fold.

For more information on this Microsoft Small Business Server and Microsoft products and revenue story, visit the attached link.

Blogged By:  Computer Consulting Kit

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

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

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

Elevator speeches are CRITICAL to your IT marketing campaign.  Basically, these little speeches are short descriptions of your business, and you need them to get the most out of networking opportunities and events.  

As an example, you might go to a Chamber of Commerce luncheon and hear everyone else giving their 30-second spiels about their businesses.  How many people should hear your IT marketing elevator speech?  If there are two or three other computer services companies at the same event, as many as possible.  

IT Marketing:  Stress BENEFITS

With your elevator speech and any other marketing “collateral,” you need to focus on benefits you bring to small businesses.  As an example:  “My Company helps small businesses in the local area use technology more effectively.”  

You Need to Be Sincere

You have to make sure your IT marketing elevator speech is very sincere.  You need to come across as someone that can help and has a real interest in hearing more about prospects.  Let the person you’re talking to do most of the talking and use active listening to present the most sincere IT marketing message.  

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg

Leading IT resource management software company Tek-Tools recently announced its new Profile Suite, Profiler for VMWare at Storage Networking World in Orlando.  This virtual IT package is a tool for small businesses and many larger businesses as well that want to get into virtualization.  

Tek-Tools reps intend to be available to discuss results testing customers have achieved with Profiler this week and will discuss how it can help them fully use the virtual IT concept.  This tool has been helping them improve storage capabilities and make better use of space, get rid of unnecessary hardware, track performance and in the case of larger companies avoid hundreds of thousands of dollars of unnecessary technology purchases.  

Tek-Tools Software, Inc. provides resource management solutions and virtual IT tools and has offices in the U.S., the UK and India.  For more information on this story, visit the attached link.

Added By:  Computer Consulting Kit

There are two ways of thinking about being a reseller as consulting firms.

What Is a Pure Consulting Firm?

Some consulting firms choose to be pure consulting companies.  They think they will never make any money off products and that there are some major conflicts when you get into becoming a reseller.  As consultants, these companies help clients decide what to buy, what the specs should be and they show them where they can buy recommended products.

What is a Purchasing Agent?

Another type of pure consulting firm is a purchasing agent.  When you do this, your firm does the purchasing for clients and bills them a couple hours for it.  Your firm gets reviews and quotes, places and tracks orders and handles the whole purchase.  These are more pure consulting functions than reselling functions.

What Are Hybrid Consulting Firms?

When you follow a hybrid consulting model, you do white box PC reselling (reselling PC clones).  A computer reseller that does this is selling generic desktops, servers and sometimes notebooks (called white books).   

Do You Resell or Not?

When consulting firms are deciding whether or not to resell, they need to think about how they want to spend the majority of their time.  If you are facing this decision, ask yourself if you want to pick up some additional profit from product sales or if you want most of your income to come from pure consulting money.  No matter what, you don’t want to lead off with product sales when selling yourself to prospects.

Can Product Sales Get Consulting Firms in the Door?

Many new computer consulting owners ask themselves, “Should I resell inexpensive PCs, cheap software and cheap peripherals to try to get into consulting?”  The answer is typically “No.”  

All of a sudden you will have shown customers that you want to be a commodity broker.  And most will not hire this type of person for consulting.   

If you want to be a reseller, relationships have to come first.  Consulting firms looking for great longevity should focus on relationships.  

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg