Tips

Seven tips for creating a marketing plan and lead generation strategy

VARs and MSPs don't always excel at marketing. Here are seven tips that can help a channel company build an effective channel marketing plan. Continue Reading
Five pitfalls in the merger and acquisition process

Channel partners working through the merger and acquisition process must deal with cultural, financial and personnel issues before the ink is dry. Continue Reading
Two ways to ramp up your cloud computing revenue

In the cloud world, single-digit profit margins don't have to be the new norm, says Jason Bystrak. Here are two ideas for accelerating cloud computing revenue. Continue Reading
Vetting cloud service providers: Five things to consider

Your investigation of potential cloud services provider partners should hinge upon more than customer preference, says Jason Bystrak of Ingram Micro Cloud. Continue Reading
How to protect your SMB customer against sophisticated cyberattacks

Service providers must up their game to protect their SMB customers from evolving security threats. Stanley Louissant offers best practices for ensuring your clients and their data remain secure. Continue Reading

How to create an IT subcontractor agreement with peers

In this tip, David Streit provides best practices for conducting business with peers, as well as a guide to a reciprocal IT subcontractor agreement. Continue Reading
Free IT subcontractor reciprocal agreement template

David Streit offers a guide to drafting a reciprocal subcontractor agreement. Download the agreement template for free. Continue Reading
MDM services: Three best practices for managed services providers

As a trusted business advisor, you should help your customers take advantage of the benefits of the mobility trend without suffering any of its pitfalls. Continue Reading
Why MSPs should offer vendor management services

While IT solutions providers tend to avoid offering vendor management to their clients, firms may be missing out on a valuable opportunity to strengthen their client relationships. Continue Reading
Help desk ticket system approach: Should users file their own tickets?

While most help desk ticketing processes require end users to file their own tickets, there are benefits to shifting the burden back to your IT support staff. Continue Reading
Helping clients with cloud assessment, decision is a critical value-add

Helping customers decide how, when and if to move workloads to the cloud is a critical value-add for partners, says David Stewart, solutions architect at 2nd Watch. Continue Reading

Modernizing the 3-2-1 backup strategy for SMB customers

The old 3-2-1 backup strategy is a good rule of thumb for protection of your SMB customers' data. We take a look at what the strategy looks like in the current state of technology. Continue Reading
How to explain managed services pricing to customers

The managed services model is better -- and more lucrative -- than the break/fix model because it represents an alignment between your goals and your customers' goals. Continue Reading
Channel PR: How to get tech media attention

Your target customers are consuming content from a variety of outlets. Get advice on getting attention from tech journalists, bloggers and analysts. Continue Reading
How not to waste your time at tech events

Get seven tips for making the most of the time you spend at educational or networking tech events. Continue Reading