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Effectively using Social Networking to build your IT Support business. Chris Martin. GFI MAX – MSP Consultant. Richard Tubb. Independent Consultant. Introducing. Chris Martin GFI MAX – MSP Consultant. Richard Tubb Independent Consultant. Webinar Agenda.
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Effectively using Social Networking to build your IT Support business Chris Martin GFI MAX – MSP Consultant Richard Tubb Independent Consultant
Introducing Chris Martin GFI MAX – MSP Consultant Richard Tubb Independent Consultant
Webinar Agenda • The principles for using Social Networking • The ROI of Social Networking • Social Networking vs Social Media • Tips for Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook • Why Blog? • Content Loops • The Tools to use • Social Networking vs traditional Business Networking • Question and Answer
The Principles of Social Networking • Do not sell! • Use to educate • Add Value, not noise • It’s a two-way conversation • It’s about quality, not quantity
The ROI of Social Networking • Establishes you as a subject matter expert • Begins process of building trust in you • Gives you visibility • Typically used as a conversation starter • Business can be won thanks to Social Networking!
Social Networking vs. Social Media • All about conversations
Social Media • Primarily about content • There are still opportunity for conversations though!
Content Loops • Create a video on YouTube –link to your web-site • Create a blog post talking about the video • Tweet about the blog post • Create a LinkedIn status update about the blog post • Add photos to Flickr about how you made the video • Your web-site has a link to your blog • Different people consume information through different channels.Help them to find you!
The tools to use • Tweetdeck • Outlook Social Connector • SocialOomph • Google Alerts • Bit.ly – Shorten and track the links you share • Read my blog article – “The Tools I use” (link TBA)
Tips for Twitter • 140 Characters – micro-blogging! • What you say will be open for the world to see! • Share links that share your viewpoint – add your thoughts • Follow like minded individuals, start conversations • Use Groups to categorise those you follow – Business, Friends, Local, Vendors, Prospects, etc. • Getting started? Re-Tweet (RT) some articles, ask and answer questions • Use Hash-Tags (#) to discuss specific subjects
Tips for LinkedIn • Solely business focus • Offers status updates like Twitter– but use sparingly. • Use as part of your process for managingbusiness cards • Scan the Weekly LinkedIn update e-mail for opportunities to re-connect with people • Use LinkedIn Groups to engage with peers and prospects • If cross-posting to Twitter, don’t use Hash-tags (#) on LinkedIn!
Tips for Facebook • Facebook primarily for personal relationships,but is used extensively for business too • The line between personal friendshipsand business friendships is blurring • People do business with people they like– don’t be afraid to be yourself on-line! • Use Facebook Privacy settings to separate your friends and colleagues where necessary • Use @ sign to tag other people – in status updates, in photos
Why Blog? • Blogging is free – it doesn’t matter if anyone reads it! • It teaches you to effectively articulate your thoughts and points – it’ll make you a better salesmen, a better speaker, a better party guest! • Be consistent with your message and your frequency • If you’re good at it, people will read. If you’re no good at it, you’ll get good at it. • Effectively builds trust in you and your brand
Social Networking Etiquette • When in doubt, treat like “real world” networking • Don’t say anything you wouldn’t want to be quoted on • But do be yourself! • Don’t “Friend Collect” – *always* write personalised introductions within connection requests • Read my blog post – “Thanks for your Friend Request, but who are you?” http://bit.ly/tubblog-friendrequest
Social Networking vs. traditional Business Networking • Social Networking compliments traditional networking, and visa versa! • Putting all your energy into just one or the other will only get you so far • Use a balanced “linked up” approach to networking both on-line and off-line – Face-to-Face, Telephone Calls, E-Mails, Social Networking • Always try to “Be The Connector”
Any questions? • Blog – www.tubblog.co.uk • Twitter – www.twitter.com/tubblog • LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/richardtubb • E-Mail – richard@tubblog.co.uk
How the Building Blocks can help you get started • A series of discrete, pre-packaged services that the customer can easily grasp the value of • That you can sell easily • That generate recurring profits for you • Bind that customer to you • Learn about their systems • Begin changing the nature of the relationship • And migrate them to full Managed Services
What’s a Building Block? • All the information, tools and collateral needed to sell and implement a set of Managed Services • You can use to: • Attract new customers or strengthen relationships with existing customers • Easily sell a profitable service • Ease customers from break-fix to Managed Services • With NO major changes to your company • And no expensive training
Building Blocks Program – Do it your way! Lucrative but complex Lower value but simple
What’s contained in each Building Block? Example: Server Blocks – all you need to price and sell Server & Network Management 4 Real-time Server & Network Monitoring 3 Daily Server Health Check 2 Daily Server Safety Check 1
All the self-branded information and material you need Sample flyer Your Logo Here Your strap line here
Pricing calculators, sample contracts, statements of work...
GFI MAX Building Blocks summary • All the info and collateral. • To easily sell straightforward services that the customer grasps. • That bind the customer to you. • That truffle hunt and brings more incidents to the surface. • That you can make good recurring revenues and profits. • That require no changes to your business system. No training and travel and time. • That can be used to attract new customers with a straightforward service. • That start the progression to full Managed Services. GFI Max and Building Blocks are…Easy!
Thank you • You get the full system • Set up in less than 10 minutes! • No commitment • No hard sell • Or contact us for more information:gfimax@gfi.com
MSP Business Management website • Online resource to help you: • Grow your IT support company • Run your company more profitably • Deliver fast IT support and increase uptime • Minimize threats to your business www.mspbusinessmanagement.com