The Concept of a Public CTO Council March 13, 2009
Posted by raviprocompare in IT Business, SMB, SMB Trends.Tags: IT Business
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The SMB IT services market is so fragmented that there continues to be a challenge, even in today’s environment, in finding the right IT expert or consultant for a given project or set of tasks. In many cases, IT consultants at small businesses wear multiple hats – telecom, Windows server, network, etc. It’s difficult for one person to have all the answers on all these topics. As such, the advent of multiple forums on the Internet for raising questions and getting answers has helped tremendously.
The question at hand is how beneficial would the concept of a “Public CTO Council” be. In other words, the development of a specific forum/network of experts across various skill sets who would be:
– Solely focused on SMB technology (software, hardware, and IT services).
– Have expertise in specific skill sets / categories that are clearly identified from a pre-selected list of what matters for SMBs
– Be on call and available (similar to the GLC Councils’ Expert Network model), possibly on a subscription basis, to other IT consultants working in firms for specific questions / to help address specific situations
– The forum could include telephone or email consultations, in-person meetings, reports or possibly even educational presentations on certain topics
Organizations like SMBTN and others already have some experts and thus the seeds for this concept – it may be a matter of leveraging existing platforms and building up the platform to allow this to happen more easily.
Zero Downtime Migration Strategies with Karl Palachuk March 10, 2009
Posted by Jim Locke in SMB Summit.Tags: Migration, SBS2008
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Karl Palachuk has just announced that he will be hosting a 4-hour SMB Summit Pre-Day seminar on “Zero Downtime Migration Strategies”, on May 14, 2009 at 1:00pm. This informative seminar will include:
- An overview of the migration process
- A function-by-function introduction
- A deep-dive into profile migrations
- and, much more…
Stay tuned for more information on this pre-day event coming soon. In the interim, please refer to Karl’s blog for more information. Separate registration for this seminar will be required.
Sign up for Mike Iem’s Super Newsletter NOW March 9, 2009
Posted by Jim Locke in SMB News.add a comment
For years, Mike Iem has served the SMB community. Most SMBTN members will remember Mike as the conference director for two of our successful SMB Summit conferences. Please take a moment to review this post from Karl Palachuk’s blog and sign up for Mike Iem’s Super Newsletter NOW!
If you haven’t met Mike Iem, get a quick intro to him and his mission at the SMB Conference Call Archives.
Mike Iem is working for Microsoft on an initiative focused on supporting SBS partner groups in the US and sharing information with partner groups Worldwide!
He is a very-available liaison for to Microsoft. Over the last few years he has organized the SBS Partner Tours and worked with the SBS Leads Groups to provide information and resources to all Partner Groups (user groups) and individuals.
One of the hottest things Mike produces from time to time is the super-amazing Partner Group DVD. This is the one golden DVD you need to know what’s going on for partners in the SMB space. The 2009 DVD is almost ready.
In the past, the DVD has put together marketing programs, videos, demo tools, screen shots, webinars, white papers, and LOTS of other great information and updates targeted specifically for the SMB Consultant. This is literally all the content you need from Microsoft in one awesome package.
Mike reports that the DVD is “complete” and churning through the Microsoft process to distribution.
There’s a 99% chance that this will be distributed as an ISO image for download. So if you’re not a member of a user group, you’ll still have access to it.
But you don’t want to miss out, so please Join Mike’s Newsletter NOW so you won’t miss the announcement. It will probably come out in the next two weeks. So now is absolutely the best time to sign up for this email newsletter. Free, of course.
Sign up for Mike Iem’s Super Newsletter NOW: http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1102241330914
Mike has done some amazing things for the SMB Community. The whole 5w/50 webinar series was his baby. He has organized tours, kept the user group leaders informed, provided us with resources, and a lot more.
Please do yourself a favor: Join Mike’s low-volume, high-content email list today.
In addition to the DVD information (when it’s released), Mike’s newsletter always has great information on marketing and promotions that will help you make more money.
Tune-in now. You’ll be glad you did!
🙂
Intoducing SMBTN VitalSigns Financial Planning Solution March 5, 2009
Posted by Jim Locke in Benefits, Finance, IT Business, Tools.add a comment
In preparation for SMB Summit in May 2009, SMBTN is offering a program that its members can utilize to improve the current financial health and future sustainability of your company. This program will provide you with the structure and the tools to work on your business – not just in it. (Sounds familiar, huh?)
Sign up for the VitalSigns Program and receive
- The Corelytics™ financial dashboard
- Analysis of your company’s financial trends
- Ongoing financial performance tracking against your goals and benchmarks
- Business performance benchmarks for your company
- SMBTN Member performance trends (from survey results)
- Feedback on your chart of accounts structure
- Periodic newsletters on program progress and key learnings
- Quarterly analysis of progress toward goals and changes in business patterns
- Summary of combined learnings for 2009 SMB Summit
Goal of Program
Provide a unique experience for SMBTN members who are committed to working on their business to implement a model for improved profitability and long-term sustainability.
What’s in it for me?
Use state-of-the-art tools to get a much clearer picture of current trends and financial patterns in your business, set appropriate financial performance goals and track performance against those goals and industry benchmarks.
How does it work?
A business advisor will guide you through the following steps to start the program
- Set up Corelytics™ financial dashboard
- Review trends and identify revenue and expense patterns
- Review company-specific benchmarking
- Set 7 key financial business goals
The program process will take place over a 12 month period for each participant from the date in initial setup of your dashboard.
Does it cost anything?
There is a one-time set up fee and a monthly subscription fee for Corelytics™. Business advisor support and feedback is free with your SMBTN Membership.
How do I sign up?
Sign up is easy and fast. Email or call your SMBTN business advisor representative Bob Taylor (direct: 425.533.0773) and let him know that you are interested in the program or the financial dashboard and he will get you the information you need to sign up.
SMBTN is offering the VitalSigns program to our Members in conjunction with our trusted partner CoreConnex.
SBS Community Search Added to SMBTN Toolbar March 3, 2009
Posted by Jim Locke in SBS, SBS2003, SBS2008, Tools.Tags: Toolbar
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Tired of searching the Internet for a solution to an SBS issue that you know you saw on a favorite blog, forum or website? If so, you may want to try out the new SBS Community Search function in the SMBTN Community Toolbar. It searches over over 20 Small Business Server blogs, forums and websites for solutions to the problems that you are facing today. Just enter your search term into the search box and select “SBS Community Search” from the dropdown list of available searches and your done. No annoying ads either.
We hope you find this feature useful as we plan to add other community search options to future releases of the toolbar. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to post a comment.
SMB Summit Welcomes MSPU and HTG Members March 3, 2009
Posted by Jim Locke in SMB Summit.add a comment
While SMB Summit is produced by the SMB TechnologyNetwork, we have always seen it as an industry event to support the SMB community at large. We have always opened our doors to any vendor, consultant, solutions provider or value-added reseller actively engaged in selling technology products and services to small to medium sized businesses.
With this in mind, we recently extended a special discount to members of Managed Services Provider University (an SMBTN partner) and the HTG Peer Networking groups who participated in the conference last year. Simply select one of these groups at sign-up and receive a $100 discount on admission to the conference.
Look for more participating membership organizations coming soon.
VarVid Joins SMB Summit as Media Sponsor March 2, 2009
Posted by Jim Locke in SMB Summit.add a comment
We are pleased to announce that the team from VarVid will be on hand to cover all aspects of the SMB Summit 2009 conference.
Look for great video interviews and insights from the conference floor, featuring VarVid host Aaron Booker.
Thanks, Aaron. Looking forward to some great video!
Reserve your spot at SMB Summit for $99 March 2, 2009
Posted by Jim Locke in SMB Summit.add a comment
Because the economy is putting a strain on all of us this year, SMB Summit has created a new option for people interested in attending our successful SMB event. Beginning March 2, 2009, attendees will be able to reserve their spot at SMB Summit for as little as $99.00 and have the balance billed to them on May 1, 2009.
Stay tuned for more upcoming announcements on SMB Summit speakers and sessions this week.
SMB Technology Network Blog 