| > | | | | owners DO constantly lose sleep over what will |
| | | | happen to their companies if their computer systems |
| Small Business Server Business Tips | | | | fail them. Become the solution to the more primal, |
| Top 3 Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Server | | | | survival instinct and you’ll get plenty of |
| Consulting Profits | | | | opportunities to sell Small Business Server, once |
| Over the past 7 years, Microsoft Small Business | | | | you’ve established a solid client/consultant |
| Server (SBS) has gained traction as a | | | | relationship. |
| widely-respected Small Business Server networking | | | | (3) Microsoft doesn’t value computer |
| suite. | | | | consultants as much as they sometimes say. |
| As a result, many small business computer consultants, | | | | Little known fact: the first version of Microsoft Small |
| systems integrators, and value-added resellers have | | | | Business Server, planned in 1996 and released in 1997, |
| jumped on-board the Microsoft Small Business Server | | | | was code-named "SAM"... because Microsoft’s |
| bandwagon. | | | | goal was for Small Business Server to completely |
| However, before you go ahead and bet YOUR | | | | bypass their reseller channel and be sold at |
| company on Microsoft Small Business Server, consider | | | | "Sam’s Club" warehouse clubs. |
| the following three Small Business Server Business | | | | So the product team had the mandate to make the |
| Tips... so you can maximize your Small Business | | | | Small Business Server product SO simple that a |
| Server consulting profits. | | | | non-technical small business end user could buy Small |
| (1) Most small businesses in your area have never | | | | Business Server at the warehouse club and have the |
| heard of Microsoft Small Business Server. | | | | Small Business Server suite running in their office that |
| Although there may be hundreds, if not thousands, of | | | | same day. |
| small businesses in your area that would be excellent | | | | Shortly after the first-version shipped, Microsoft |
| candidates for Microsoft Small Business Server, | | | | realized that the most cost-effective way to reach |
| don’t make the ultra-common mistake of | | | | small businesses with Small Business Server was |
| assuming that the typical non-technical small business | | | | through their reseller channel. And since then, Small |
| owner even knows what Microsoft Small Business | | | | Business Server resources have flowed toward the |
| Server is. | | | | channel. |
| If you want to maximize your consulting profits and | | | | However, even today, you can often find 5-user |
| avoid commodity price wars, you’re much | | | | versions of Microsoft Small Business Server in retail |
| better off leading off with a pitch for something | | | | stores. |
| that’s more universally recognized... such as | | | | So the point: Microsoft isn’t putting all its Small |
| getting rid of computer viruses, stopping SPAM, or | | | | Business Server "eggs" in one basket, so why should |
| preventing computer security breaches. | | | | you?!? Which brings us back to points one and two: |
| (2) Sell your small business prospects on YOUR | | | | Small business owners aren’t actively shopping |
| company first. | | | | for a Small Business Server. So instead of "selling" |
| The real money in Small Business Server is NOT in | | | | Small Business Server per se, you’re much |
| reselling the Microsoft Small Business Server software. | | | | better off selling a small business on YOUR company, |
| The real money comes from selling the | | | | BEFORE you sell Microsoft Small Business Server. |
| RELATIONSHIP with the small business. So your | | | | The Bottom Line |
| company essentially becomes your clients’ | | | | In this article, we looked at three Small Business |
| outsourced IT department. | | | | Server business tips that every computer consultant, |
| Remember, no small business owner is going to wake | | | | systems integrator and value added reseller needs to |
| up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat, craving | | | | be aware when selling Microsoft Small Business |
| Small Business Server. However, small business | | | | Server. |