Misc
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Answer your Phone!
It should be no surprise that there are two ways new customers are likely to reach out to you. This will be in the form of an email, or in the form of a telephone call. It may however be a surprise that the latter, a telephone call is still very much a popular means [...]
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To Be Honest With You…
So there’s this thing that has gone around in sales training for some time that condemns the use of the phrase “to be honest with you” and boldly accuses anyone of using that phrase as being a liar. This has been a tough notion for me to swallow given that in so many conversations, the [...]
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Are you using Technology to its Full Potential?
The answer to this question is most likely no. Looking at all of the different technology we use from notebooks, desktops, smartphones, and tablets, to software, operating systems, and so much more, we are just scratching the surface of the features and benefits built into most of the things we use. Neither software nor [...]
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Is the Customer Always Right?
One thing I have heard many times over the years is, “The customer is always right!” Now what may come as a shock to some is this just isn’t always true. The way this should really be rephrased is “The customer always has the right to a respectful and well thought out plan of [...]
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Is Franchising The Right Option for an IT Business?
Investors and entrepreneurs across the nation and in just about every country have found success in franchised business opportunities. For those not wanting to build a business from the ground up, a franchise provides the potential for distinct and guided processes, support and marketing help, brand awareness, defined tools, and provided documentation. Though retail [...]
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Are we really Trusted Advisors?
There has been a good amount of talk and training based around this notion of being a trusted advisor. It is usually taught in the IT community that an effective sales organization or owner must reach this stature in order to create loyalty and trust. Many times we are told that a trusted advisor [...]
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Top 10 Reasons to Fire a Client or Walk away in Shame!
Firing a client can be a hard decision for any business owner. No matter how much whining, complaining, or sarcasm a client can provide, they are still paying the bills. That is until they aren’t and it’s costing more to keep them than just letting go, or when something happens that keeps you from ever [...]
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Is it Time to raise your Prices?
One of the hardest things for IT business owners to do is to raise prices. Whether it is hourly rates for break fix service, or managed services, the justification to raise prices is a hard thought for many to consider. Having worked for an IT business that raised prices regularly, meaning usually yearly, one of [...]
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Reverse Reciprocation
Have you ever promoted, referred, or otherwise provided your time or efforts to a cause or company with absolutely no reciprocation? Life and especially business has no time for this type of take. It’s one thing to provide charity and by no means am I talking about charitable acts, instead I am specifically talking about [...]
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Have you lost your Mojo?
That magic touch you once had, that spring in your step, the ability to close a sale without even trying, and the excitement of a day in the trenches; is it the customer who has changed? Or is it you? The latter is more likely. Everyone needs a pick me up sometimes, but when [...]
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Gambling on New Vendors
The IT industry sees many new vendors come and go. There are great ideas and must have solutions, but taking a chance on a new industry vendor can sometimes be a gamble. If you are like me you love a good story. Company sees a need, builds a solution, fixes a problem, sees an opportunity [...]
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Are you on the List? Channel Choice Nominations End Today
Are you on the list? We have extended the nomination period for the Looks Cloudy Channel Choice Awards until Monday March 4th, time is running out to be recognized with your peers. The list so far represents a wide range of influential MSP’s, IT Solution Providers, Vendors, and Consultants. Check to see if you [...]
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Does being loyal mean you can’t look, talk, or touch?
Having a loyal customer to their brand, solution, service or company is the wholly grail achievement for any vendor. It goes without saying that there are people that will go down with any ship or stand by a product through thick and thin based on their loyalty. In a world that seems to constantly evolve [...]
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The Conference Season has commenced
This week we are headed to the first of the ASCII series of conferences. The first conference, which is being held in Dana Point, California, just outside of Los Angeles, is the kick off to the conference season and promises to be educational and fun. Conferences and paid workshops are a great way to provide [...]
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iOutage Apple’s iMessage is leaving many unable to Communicate
Apple’s iMessage, the SMS texting alternative that most iPhone users currently rely on for most of their text messages is currently experiencing a widespread outage. News was reported of the issues on several blog sites yet there has not been any official word from Apple on this. Users began noticing the issues and hit the [...]
