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101. | IT Audits: How to Use Current Events Worms and viruses can actually help you market your services, and in particular your IT audits. As soon as you hear about them in the news, you can expect that many of the small businesses you work with will encounter problems with them.
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[Added: 15 Aug 2006 Hits: 210 Words: 353]
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102. | IT Sales: Beyond the Initial Call The IT sales call should be mainly about making sure your prospect is well-suited for and in need of your services. If you don't use this call for that purpose, you can waste time with a prospect that does not actually want to hire ...
[Added: 14 Aug 2006 Hits: 213 Words: 327]
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103. | Timing IT Audits IT audits should be short and sweet. Typically within about four hours, you should know exactly what is going on within the company's system, what needs to be done next, how you are going to prioritize the ...
[Added: 14 Aug 2006 Hits: 187 Words: 400]
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104. | Software Maintenance Contracts Offer Protection Computer users everywhere are looking for software maintenance contracts that can help eliminate viruses. Personal computer users at home and at the office are susceptible to viruses that can entirely destroy systems and halt daily operations. The only way to keep them ...
[Added: 14 Aug 2006 Hits: 260 Words: 329]
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105. | IT Emergencies are Ice-Breakers IT emergencies provide excellent opportunities for consultants that can lead to future business. The first thing a client will feel when an emergency crops up is the dire consequences of neglecting IT issues. Something like a deadly computer virus can ...
[Added: 14 Aug 2006 Hits: 208 Words: 430]
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106. | Computer Repair Prices: Control for the Customer Computer repair prices are ruled by both the competition and the owner's specific needs. But in reality, consumers should not have very much control over prices. If you present the customer with choices about computer ...
[Added: 14 Aug 2006 Hits: 616 Words: 381]
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107. | Pricing IT Audits Before you start offering IT audits, you may have questions about how to price them. IT audit prices should be based on your rate, but you should offer a discount just to get a foot in the door.
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[Added: 14 Aug 2006 Hits: 186 Words: 447]
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108. | IT Sales Centers on Relationships and Benefits There is no such thing as an instant or guaranteed contract in IT sales. You have to invest time and energy to seal the deal. Showing your clients the benefits your services can give them and developing a quality relationship with them will help your IT sales efforts tremendously.
...
[Added: 14 Aug 2006 Hits: 615 Words: 413]
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109. | Media Publicity - Get Reporters on Your Side Media publicity is something you want to generate. It's free and it gets you the type of exposure most people pay a lot of money for. The key with media publicity is that you can use ...
[Added: 14 Aug 2006 Hits: 222 Words: 441]
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110. | Marketing Techniques - Ideas For Value Added Resellers Marketing techniques are as plentiful as they are varied. The marketing consultants, advisers, service providers, etc... all make sure that you have many different marketing technique options to choose from. The difficulty is in choosing which ones will work the best for your business.
Here is a list ...
[Added: 12 Aug 2006 Hits: 262 Words: 368]
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111. | Network Support Contracts Can Provide Personal Help Network support contracts are most commonly provided in the workplace to help maximize the efficiency of daily operations and also help professionals best keep their technology up and running. But students and others not using laptops for business purposes also need to be assured that their networking capabilities are insured. ...
[Added: 12 Aug 2006 Hits: 753 Words: 359]
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112. | Computer Consulting: Handling the First Sales Meeting In computer consulting, the initial sales process is really a pre-sales consultation, not a final sale. Because even a successful "sale" on a first phone call or meeting is not final, you need to communicate ...
[Added: 12 Aug 2006 Hits: 555 Words: 382]
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113. | Sales Processes - Using a Two-Step Process for Direct Mail Sales processes vary depending on the type of marketing you are doing. Many computer resellers use direct mail advertising as part of their marketing strategy. The sales process that is critical in this type of campaign is the two-step sales process.
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[Added: 10 Aug 2006 Hits: 305 Words: 434]
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114. | Direct Mail Post Cards Compared To Networking Direct mail post cards are one of the most popular ways to market a computer consulting business. Networking is one of the most effective ways to market. Let's look at how the two marketing techniques compare ...
[Added: 10 Aug 2006 Hits: 208 Words: 429]
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115. | Training Seminar Tips and Tricks For Solutions Providers Part 2 Training seminars are a savvy marketing strategy. As a Solutions Provider they warrant serious consideration. Hosting a successful training seminar, however, requires a lot of work and planning. Last time we talked about some ideas for getting the ...
[Added: 10 Aug 2006 Hits: 223 Words: 469]
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116. | Credibility Boosters For IT Consultants Credibility is an important factor that will be weighed by your prospects. As an IT Consultant you should be actively thinking about ways to build your credibility. Whether it is through building your credibility at the local level or ...
[Added: 10 Aug 2006 Hits: 291 Words: 437]
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117. | Training Seminars - Benefits For Computer Services Businesses Training seminars provide many benefits to your computer services business. They are one of the best ways to increase your network. Training seminars also allow you to highlight your unique skills and abilities to a large number of people all at one time.
Sponsoring ...
[Added: 07 Aug 2006 Hits: 231 Words: 404]
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118. | Credibility Is Key For Successful IT Integrators Credibility is an overused buzz word but it is so critical to business success that it can't be overlooked. As an IT Integrator you need to be seen as having high credibility. This is what will set you apart from your competitors.
Building ...
[Added: 07 Aug 2006 Hits: 265 Words: 365]
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119. | Strategic Marketing Plans For Weighting Marketing Activities Strategic marketing plans are a must have for your fledgling computer business. With a strategic marketing plan you define a means to accomplish your overall marketing goal.
The most successful businesses have a strategic marketing plan ...
[Added: 07 Aug 2006 Hits: 458 Words: 382]
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120. | Direct Mail Campaigns: Tips For First Time Solution Providers Direct mail campaigns are a great way to reach many prospective clients in one shot. There are many tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of your direct mail campaign. Rather than having to learn the hard way, we've assembled some of the ...
[Added: 05 Aug 2006 Hits: 221 Words: 405]
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121. | Training Seminar Tips and Tricks For Solutions Providers Part 1 Training seminars are a marketing strategy that every Solutions Provider should seriously consider. The opportunity to increase your trust and credibility factors with training seminars is one not to be ignored. The following are some tips and tricks to ...
[Added: 05 Aug 2006 Hits: 208 Words: 455]
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122. | Business Image - Use Yours To Raise Your Credibility Business images are formed with or without your express consideration. You may have the best intentions regarding your business image but if you choose the wrong marketing strategy the business image you project might be all wrong.
Your business image should ...
[Added: 05 Aug 2006 Hits: 265 Words: 360]
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123. | Networking Groups - Try To Attend Even When You're Moonlighting Networking groups often meet during the day. This poses a logistical problem for those computer and IT consultants who have regular jobs and are moonlighting as they try to start their business. Attending networking groups is critical for business success so you need to be able to balance the ...
[Added: 05 Aug 2006 Hits: 265 Words: 416]
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124. | Professional Networking Tips For IT Consultants: Part II Professional networking works. Last time we discussed five tips to improve your professional networking effectiveness. In this article you'll learn five more tips to make you a professional networking guru.
Don't let one person monopolize your time.
Try ...
[Added: 04 Aug 2006 Hits: 198 Words: 491]
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125. | Direct Mail Post Cards For Network Integrators Direct mail post cards are a popular form of marketing for network integrators. They can be expensive though, so you need to set up your direct mail post cards correctly. Good direct mail post cards have good conversion rates, poor ones don't.
You should definitely ...
[Added: 04 Aug 2006 Hits: 216 Words: 390]
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126. | Relationship Marketing - A MUST For Your Computer Business Relationship marketing is a better way to market. It benefits you and it benefits your prospects. Producing a win win situation is always advantageous so relationship marketing just makes good common sense.
What does relationship marketing mean for your consulting firm?
For starters relationship marketing creates ...
[Added: 03 Aug 2006 Hits: 211 Words: 392]
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127. | Professional Networking Tips For IT Consultants: Part I Professional networking is THE way to make business contacts, identify leads, and turn those leads into sales. As an IT Consultant you need to be involved with professional networking right from the start. Here are ...
[Added: 03 Aug 2006 Hits: 244 Words: 449]
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128. | Small Business Development: A Must For IT Consultants Small business development is a make or break activity when starting out as an IT consultant. You need to get your name out there as much as you can. Business won't drop into your lap - you need to ...
[Added: 03 Aug 2006 Hits: 255 Words: 371]
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129. | Performance Metrics - Create a PNL Statement for Analysis Performance metrics need to be tracked diligently. This is never more the case than with networking activities. Many computer consultants know they should be tracking specific performance metrics but fail to have a system to ...
[Added: 03 Aug 2006 Hits: 545 Words: 444]
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130. | Relationship Marketing - Rules For Success Part 2 Relationship marketing is extremely effective. Last time we talked about relationship marketing and introduced you to the first seven of 14 rules you need to follow to get the most out of your relationship marketing. Here are the final seven:
Look out for potentially golden ...
[Added: 03 Aug 2006 Hits: 219 Words: 487]
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131. | Relationship Marketing - Rules For Success Part 1 Relationship marketing can be a really powerful way to grow your business. And it's a really great way to meet key business owners and leaders in your community by getting active in these organizations. But you won't get to relationship marketing if you only pay your ...
[Added: 02 Aug 2006 Hits: 206 Words: 402]
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132. | Business Organizations - Finding The Best Ones To Join Business organizations are a great place to do some relationship marketing. By joining business organizations you meet key business owners and leaders in your community. By getting active in these business organizations you can use relationship marketing to its full potential.
The ...
[Added: 02 Aug 2006 Hits: 206 Words: 377]
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133. | Business Contacts - Find the User/Influencers Business contacts are the people you have in your network. These people are all important to your growing business. You need to build and develop relationships with your business contacts in order to move your business forward and expand your ...
[Added: 02 Aug 2006 Hits: 237 Words: 366]
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134. | Performance Metrics - Measure Your Networking Effectiveness Performance metrics in the area of networking are those measurements that will tell you whether your efforts are resulting in business. Networking and relationship marketing are time intensive so you want to spend that time wisely. Performance metrics are the keys to this analysis.
Your networking ...
[Added: 02 Aug 2006 Hits: 244 Words: 352]
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135. | Relationship Marketing and Your Computer Consulting Business Relationship marketing is a powerful tool that you must use to grow your computer consulting business. Relationship marketing is how I turned a simple website demo into $175,000 in service revenue over a period of a few years. When you use relationship marketing you don't waste your money on risky ...
[Added: 02 Aug 2006 Hits: 222 Words: 407]
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136. | Flash Web Pages - Overkill for Computer Consulting Flash web pages might look cool but they are an ineffective way to use your website. For most start ups we find they waste a ton of time and money putting together a mega website. Computer consultants design flash web pages because they can and ...
[Added: 02 Aug 2006 Hits: 258 Words: 380]
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137. | Payment Terms For Your Computer Consultancy Payment terms are the one thing that even your best customers will abuse if you let them. When you set your payment terms you need to look out for yourself. You don't want to get into the habit of extending credit and giving discounts when they are not ...
[Added: 02 Aug 2006 Hits: 256 Words: 372]
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138. | Business Groups - Market For Maximum Effectiveness Business groups like the Chamber of Commerce provide many excellent marketing opportunities. The members of these types of business groups are all business owners and many of them will fit into your sweet-spot profile. What better way to get ...
[Added: 02 Aug 2006 Hits: 210 Words: 379]
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139. | Fixed Price Contracts For First Time Customers Fixed price contracts are the best and safest method when working with a customer for the first time. This puts the customer as ease and it reduces your risk of not being paid at all. With this first fixed price contract your main objective ...
[Added: 01 Aug 2006 Hits: 559 Words: 430]
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140. | Credit Policy - Rules For Successful Computer Consultants Credit policies need to be set to protect yourself from non-payment. If you make sure you have clear credit policies from the start you will reduce your risk of nonpayment. To do this there are a few simple rules you should follow:
Rules For Credit Policies
With every ...
[Added: 01 Aug 2006 Hits: 349 Words: 350]
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141. | Time Management Tips For The Busy Computer Consultant Time management tips are essential for busy computer consultants. Time gets eaten up by everything from administrative activities to traveling to and from clients. We have found that there are three really important time management tips that you should ...
[Added: 01 Aug 2006 Hits: 232 Words: 371]
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142. | Customer Relationships And Your Financial Health Customer relationships are what will determine the health and prosperity of your computer consulting business. It is critical to understand the different dynamics of customer relationships. By doing this you can identify places of risk in terms of non-payment.
Customer Relationships ...
[Added: 25 Jul 2006 Hits: 298 Words: 359]
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143. | Time and Billing - Three Methods, Three Results Time and billing issues can cause the single fastest way to put yourself out of business overnight or put yourself in the position of financial strain. Many people neglect to manage their time and billing ...
[Added: 25 Jul 2006 Hits: 293 Words: 527]
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144. | Time Management Techniques - 10 Great Tips Time management techniques will be what set you apart from many of your competitors. By employing smart time management techniques you will be more efficient, more effective, and more profitable. Without proper management of time, a lot of hours fall into quicksand and you never get ...
[Added: 25 Jul 2006 Hits: 281 Words: 487]
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145. | Mobile Office Kit - What to Take With You On the Road Mobile office kits are absolutely essential for computer consultants. Beyond the technical equipment you need to carry, if you work out of your vehicle you need certain supplies on hand.
Essential Items for Your Mobile Office Kit
Business cards. Don't leave home ...
[Added: 25 Jul 2006 Hits: 265 Words: 516]
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146. | Commercial Office Space - Don't Waste Your Money Commercial office space is unnecessary when you first start out in computer consulting. Unless you have a very compelling reason for renting commercial office space, save your money. You're much better plowing that money back into marketing and ...
[Added: 24 Jul 2006 Hits: 310 Words: 369]
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147. | Small Business Advice - Dos and Don'ts for Small Business Small business advice from people who have been there, done that is invaluable. Here is some small business advice we have gathered over the years:
Do not invest in fancy stationery or letterhead or envelopes. You are much better off just picking up a good box of linen bond ...
[Added: 24 Jul 2006 Hits: 282 Words: 454]
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148. | Business Merchant Account - Get One Business merchant accounts are critical to have if you want to accept credit cards. Business merchant accounts are not limited to those computer consultants reselling products either. They are a good idea for any sale, especially when you are selling ...
[Added: 24 Jul 2006 Hits: 313 Words: 404]
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149. | Business Expenses - What Should You Budget? Business expenses are a fact of life. Before you start your business you need to take some time and create a budget that lists your main business expenses and what you estimate each will cost per year.
The best way to do this is to use a ...
[Added: 22 Jul 2006 Hits: 291 Words: 553]
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150. | Overhead Costs - Keep Them To A Minimum Overhead costs are those expenses that do not vary with your production level. A term that is synonymous with overhead cost is sunk cost. The cost of the item or service is sunk regardless of whether you generate ...
[Added: 22 Jul 2006 Hits: 291 Words: 440]
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