Business skills that go beyond just technical know-how are critical to a strong IT consulting business.
Manage Your Money
You probably know a little bit about finance if you are starting your own IT consulting business. But you need to know how and where to raise funds when things get slow with your business. How much capital will you need? You also have to plan ahead for when you start to run low on funds.
Multi-Tasking is Crucial
IT consulting calls for the ability to work on many projects and with many clients simultaneously. Be prepared to wear many hats when starting your own business and beyond.
Be Able to Negotiate
You will have to lobby and be a sort of politician in order to keep your IT consulting business going. You will need to build consensus among clients and create peace in divided workplace settings. Some parts of the company might want a certain application, while others may not see the necessity. Be diplomatic to provide the best solution.
Be in Control of Every Part of a Project
You have to have good project management skills to run a successful IT consulting business because you will have to combine a lot of different project pieces. You will be involved in purchasing and other elements, so be prepared with good research skills focused on putting together sophisticated networks and solutions.
The Main Point About IT Consulting
Technical skills may be important for IT consulting, but your business skills are what will help keep your company around long term.
Added By: Joshua Feinberg
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Saturday, June 30, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
IT Consultants Can Save Their Clients from Creating Disaster
Professional IT consultants cannot afford to let clients buy the latest and greatest technologies unless they have an excellent reason. It consultants need to advise clients on the cost of buying cutting-edge technologies so they don’t make mistakes that can hurt their businesses.
The Newest is Not Always the Best
Sometimes buying cutting-edge technologies makes sense, but in general this type of purchasing technique can really put IT consultants’ reputation at risk. It can also eat away quickly at limited client budgets, which they will need in order to pay IT consultants their appropriate rates.
New Technology Instantly Loses Value
Buying the latest PC, regardless of whether it is a desktop, notebook or server is similar to buying a new car right at the beginning of the year. IT consultants’ clients will certainly get the fastest processor, the best storage capacity and the greatest support components, but they will pay huge premiums for being first in line to buy products. Clients of IT consultants that buy cutting-edge technologies can waste a lot of money on depreciation expenses.
As IT Consultants, You Have to Monitor New PC Purchases
PC purchases are rarely small, so as IT consultants, you have to watch your clients closely when it comes to PC purchases. Recommend bargains on last year’s model when appropriate. If clients save money, they will have more money to pay highly-skilled IT consultants to do major projects that can increase their business and efficiency more than any hardware purchase.
The Bottom Line for IT Consultants and PC Purchases
Keep on top of special promotions and PC bargains by looking at sites that offer frequent updates about the best affordable technologies. Sites like CNET Shopper, eBay and Tech Bargains can give IT consultants ideas and advice that can help their clients significantly.
Blogged by: Joshua Feinberg
The Newest is Not Always the Best
Sometimes buying cutting-edge technologies makes sense, but in general this type of purchasing technique can really put IT consultants’ reputation at risk. It can also eat away quickly at limited client budgets, which they will need in order to pay IT consultants their appropriate rates.
New Technology Instantly Loses Value
Buying the latest PC, regardless of whether it is a desktop, notebook or server is similar to buying a new car right at the beginning of the year. IT consultants’ clients will certainly get the fastest processor, the best storage capacity and the greatest support components, but they will pay huge premiums for being first in line to buy products. Clients of IT consultants that buy cutting-edge technologies can waste a lot of money on depreciation expenses.
As IT Consultants, You Have to Monitor New PC Purchases
PC purchases are rarely small, so as IT consultants, you have to watch your clients closely when it comes to PC purchases. Recommend bargains on last year’s model when appropriate. If clients save money, they will have more money to pay highly-skilled IT consultants to do major projects that can increase their business and efficiency more than any hardware purchase.
The Bottom Line for IT Consultants and PC Purchases
Keep on top of special promotions and PC bargains by looking at sites that offer frequent updates about the best affordable technologies. Sites like CNET Shopper, eBay and Tech Bargains can give IT consultants ideas and advice that can help their clients significantly.
Blogged by: Joshua Feinberg
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Find the Right Computer Consulting Clients as Part of Startup
During the startup phase of your computer consulting business – even if you just have very basic technical support skills – you need to get paying clients that fit your style and expertise.
Computer Consulting Clients to Pursue First
Start your business by working with home offices and small businesses and companies that just have simple peer-to-peer networks. This will give you a chance to get paying clients and reference accounts to grow your company.
One-Shot Deals Should be Gateways
You can use one-shot deals to start your computer consulting business, but you will need to get beyond that. Your successful business will need recurring revenue and agreements with clients, along with advanced dedicated server solutions. You can take on small one-shot deal accounts, but you will need to make the goal the development of relationships with long-term computer consulting clients.
Never Stop Learning
If you think technical training is preventing you from getting the best clients, take time each week for training. Look at tutorials, resource kits and not-for-resale software. Break installations and review the setup process until you are more comfortable with the software.
Paying clients will be the key to long-term success for your computer consulting firm, so make sure you get the best ones to ensure longevity for your business.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
Computer Consulting Clients to Pursue First
Start your business by working with home offices and small businesses and companies that just have simple peer-to-peer networks. This will give you a chance to get paying clients and reference accounts to grow your company.
One-Shot Deals Should be Gateways
You can use one-shot deals to start your computer consulting business, but you will need to get beyond that. Your successful business will need recurring revenue and agreements with clients, along with advanced dedicated server solutions. You can take on small one-shot deal accounts, but you will need to make the goal the development of relationships with long-term computer consulting clients.
Never Stop Learning
If you think technical training is preventing you from getting the best clients, take time each week for training. Look at tutorials, resource kits and not-for-resale software. Break installations and review the setup process until you are more comfortable with the software.
Paying clients will be the key to long-term success for your computer consulting firm, so make sure you get the best ones to ensure longevity for your business.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
Monday, June 18, 2007
IT Specialists Need to Find Profitable Niches
An important part of becoming an IT specialist is finding the appropriate niche. So how do you develop your niche?
The Horizontal Niche
A horizontal niche is the opposite of a vertical niche in which your target clients are all in the same industry. With a horizontal niche, you might find most of your clients’ main contacts have a specific position, such as office manager. If you find this is the case, take a casual survey and ask clients about their most critical IT issues, their biggest business problems and then think about how you can be a solution as an IT specialist.
This practice of getting to the heart of your clients’ biggest concerns will help you with retention, but also will help you create a good marketing pitch that will help you find clients just like your current one. Look for mailing lists, organizations, magazines and other places where you can find office managers.
What Should IT Specialists Know?
To get the most effective marketing plan, you should ask the following questions of your targets:
1. Who are your targets?
2. What do your targets read?
3. Which trade publications and ezines exist?
4. Which newsletters to your targets read?
5. Which local, regional and other conferences do your targets attend?
6. Which trade groups have local chapters for these types of business owners?
7. Where do your targets frequent?
8. What do your targets talk about?
9. What are your targets’ biggest worries and concerns?
If you want to be like other successful IT specialists, talk to your targets, prospects and clients and get to the heart of who they are and what they need. Then you can replicate your best clients and get the most out of your business.
You probably already have personal relationships with some of your clients. Take them out to breakfast or lunch and ask them questions. Tell them you want to be an IT specialist and find out how you can help them.
The Main Idea About Being an IT Specialist
If you want to get the best clients in a horizontal niche, find out as much as you can about their jobs so you can distinguish yourself as an IT specialist.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
The Horizontal Niche
A horizontal niche is the opposite of a vertical niche in which your target clients are all in the same industry. With a horizontal niche, you might find most of your clients’ main contacts have a specific position, such as office manager. If you find this is the case, take a casual survey and ask clients about their most critical IT issues, their biggest business problems and then think about how you can be a solution as an IT specialist.
This practice of getting to the heart of your clients’ biggest concerns will help you with retention, but also will help you create a good marketing pitch that will help you find clients just like your current one. Look for mailing lists, organizations, magazines and other places where you can find office managers.
What Should IT Specialists Know?
To get the most effective marketing plan, you should ask the following questions of your targets:
1. Who are your targets?
2. What do your targets read?
3. Which trade publications and ezines exist?
4. Which newsletters to your targets read?
5. Which local, regional and other conferences do your targets attend?
6. Which trade groups have local chapters for these types of business owners?
7. Where do your targets frequent?
8. What do your targets talk about?
9. What are your targets’ biggest worries and concerns?
If you want to be like other successful IT specialists, talk to your targets, prospects and clients and get to the heart of who they are and what they need. Then you can replicate your best clients and get the most out of your business.
You probably already have personal relationships with some of your clients. Take them out to breakfast or lunch and ask them questions. Tell them you want to be an IT specialist and find out how you can help them.
The Main Idea About Being an IT Specialist
If you want to get the best clients in a horizontal niche, find out as much as you can about their jobs so you can distinguish yourself as an IT specialist.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
Saturday, June 16, 2007
IT Consulting: What Should You Do Before Starting Your Career?
You have to be ready to start a career in IT consulting. But what do you need in terms of certifications, business plans, etc. to begin?
The Importance of Certifications
With small business IT consulting, lack of certifications will not hold you back because the average small business owner will not know the difference between certified and not certified. When you start to sell to an IT team manager in a larger small business, however you will need to have an entry-level certification at the very least and some other specialty certifications.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
A business plan is important for any business, but you shouldn’t let a lack of one hold you back from starting your IT consulting career. Professionals often think they have to have an incredibly sophisticated and long business plan to begin a career, but in reality yours should initially be a 4-page, simple document. Explore issues of competition, growth, payback, positioning and marketing techniques. Sit down and develop a more detailed business plan over a long weekend.
Fictitious Names
A fictitious company name is simply one that does not reflect just you – your first name and last name. It’s a name you select when you decide to go with a company name like ABC Consulting Services or some other name.
When using a fictitious name, choose a name that tells what you do or your strengths. Your business name needs to be developed before you start marketing to others in IT consulting so you can be assured of being taken seriously.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit
The Importance of Certifications
With small business IT consulting, lack of certifications will not hold you back because the average small business owner will not know the difference between certified and not certified. When you start to sell to an IT team manager in a larger small business, however you will need to have an entry-level certification at the very least and some other specialty certifications.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
A business plan is important for any business, but you shouldn’t let a lack of one hold you back from starting your IT consulting career. Professionals often think they have to have an incredibly sophisticated and long business plan to begin a career, but in reality yours should initially be a 4-page, simple document. Explore issues of competition, growth, payback, positioning and marketing techniques. Sit down and develop a more detailed business plan over a long weekend.
Fictitious Names
A fictitious company name is simply one that does not reflect just you – your first name and last name. It’s a name you select when you decide to go with a company name like ABC Consulting Services or some other name.
When using a fictitious name, choose a name that tells what you do or your strengths. Your business name needs to be developed before you start marketing to others in IT consulting so you can be assured of being taken seriously.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit
Monday, June 11, 2007
Selling Your Expertise with IT Marketing
Part of successful IT marketing it making yourself stand out from the competition in your local marketplace. If you stress your special expertise when marketing to prospects and leads, you ensure your future clients are buying you and your comprehensive solutions rather than commodities.
Be More Than a Commodity
If you present yourself as a commodity with your IT marketing plan, you will attract low price hunters. Sell your expertise and problem-solving skills and the real value you will bring to a small business client.
Be More of a Presence Than Your Marketing Materials
You need to be sure your website is clear about the fact that you are the owner of your business. Don’t be secretive about the size of your business or try to make it look bigger by keeping IT marketing materials cryptic. Your website and any other materials should clearly display your expertise and background and the background of your staff. Tell people in a unique way how you help small businesses.
The Most Effective IT Marketing Techniques
Many consultants ask, “What is the best and most cost-effective way to get excellent leads?” The key lies in the problem – everyone is going after the same leads with the same old pitch from five years ago. The most effective IT marketing techniques will be unique and have a relevant message.
Differentiate Your IT Marketing Materials
If you think your IT marketing materials are unique enough, perform a simple test. Get a business card out and look at your home page. Look at some business cards and home pages of competitors in your area and see how yours are different or the same. Most people will say the basic, “We sell PC hardware and software, LANs and service.” But how do you distinguish yourself beyond this?
The Bottom Line About a Unique Marketing Message
Do you want to compete against a dozen competitors or a few hundred? If you make your IT marketing message unique, you can narrow the playing field and make your life a lot simpler as a consultant.
Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit
Be More Than a Commodity
If you present yourself as a commodity with your IT marketing plan, you will attract low price hunters. Sell your expertise and problem-solving skills and the real value you will bring to a small business client.
Be More of a Presence Than Your Marketing Materials
You need to be sure your website is clear about the fact that you are the owner of your business. Don’t be secretive about the size of your business or try to make it look bigger by keeping IT marketing materials cryptic. Your website and any other materials should clearly display your expertise and background and the background of your staff. Tell people in a unique way how you help small businesses.
The Most Effective IT Marketing Techniques
Many consultants ask, “What is the best and most cost-effective way to get excellent leads?” The key lies in the problem – everyone is going after the same leads with the same old pitch from five years ago. The most effective IT marketing techniques will be unique and have a relevant message.
Differentiate Your IT Marketing Materials
If you think your IT marketing materials are unique enough, perform a simple test. Get a business card out and look at your home page. Look at some business cards and home pages of competitors in your area and see how yours are different or the same. Most people will say the basic, “We sell PC hardware and software, LANs and service.” But how do you distinguish yourself beyond this?
The Bottom Line About a Unique Marketing Message
Do you want to compete against a dozen competitors or a few hundred? If you make your IT marketing message unique, you can narrow the playing field and make your life a lot simpler as a consultant.
Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit
Friday, June 08, 2007
What Must IT Consultants Know?
IT consultants looking for sweet spot small businesses need to be aware of the fact that these companies will need someone that has good hardware skills. You should know about RAID and multi-port communications adapters.
Necessary Background
IT consultants working with sweet spot clients need to know about storage-attached networks, network-attached storage, mid-range data back-up systems, DAT, DL2, UPS’s, power protection products, routers, CSU’s, VSU’s, advance wi-fi hardware and support devices for roaming and management.
Know the Systems Well
Supporting small businesses as IT consultants means knowing networking software and having excellent networking skills. You also need to be very familiar with the server OS’s. Sweet spot small businesses are hiring you because they want someone to do network design, installation and on-going support and maintenance.
What Are They Using?
IT consultants need to know how to use Microsoft Windows server, Microsoft Small Business server, Novell Netware, Novell Small Business Suite and Red Hat. Small business also often use client server messaging, so you need to learn Microsoft Exchange server and Novell GroupWise.
Accounting applications will also be important for IT consultants. CRM applications, web servers like Microsoft IS and Apache will also be seen.
Tools for IT Consultants
IT consultants should also know about web authoring tools like Microsoft Front Page and Macromedia Dream Weaver. If you are serving small businesses with Windows, you should know about terminal services. Also know network faxing, performance monitoring, virtual private networking, BPM’s and RAX.
IT consultants that deal with small businesses should know about advanced virus protection and be able to work with security like intrusion detection and firewalls.
The Main Point About IT Consultants’ Knowledge
IT consultants working with small businesses need to know about 25 – 50% of the things mentioned previously in order to work with sweet spot small businesses.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit
Necessary Background
IT consultants working with sweet spot clients need to know about storage-attached networks, network-attached storage, mid-range data back-up systems, DAT, DL2, UPS’s, power protection products, routers, CSU’s, VSU’s, advance wi-fi hardware and support devices for roaming and management.
Know the Systems Well
Supporting small businesses as IT consultants means knowing networking software and having excellent networking skills. You also need to be very familiar with the server OS’s. Sweet spot small businesses are hiring you because they want someone to do network design, installation and on-going support and maintenance.
What Are They Using?
IT consultants need to know how to use Microsoft Windows server, Microsoft Small Business server, Novell Netware, Novell Small Business Suite and Red Hat. Small business also often use client server messaging, so you need to learn Microsoft Exchange server and Novell GroupWise.
Accounting applications will also be important for IT consultants. CRM applications, web servers like Microsoft IS and Apache will also be seen.
Tools for IT Consultants
IT consultants should also know about web authoring tools like Microsoft Front Page and Macromedia Dream Weaver. If you are serving small businesses with Windows, you should know about terminal services. Also know network faxing, performance monitoring, virtual private networking, BPM’s and RAX.
IT consultants that deal with small businesses should know about advanced virus protection and be able to work with security like intrusion detection and firewalls.
The Main Point About IT Consultants’ Knowledge
IT consultants working with small businesses need to know about 25 – 50% of the things mentioned previously in order to work with sweet spot small businesses.
Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Partnering Helps You Manage Clients Beyond Your Expertise
Eventually you will have to have partnering relationships with other tech providers in your area. You will need non-competing partnering opportunities to help you fulfill the needs of your clients.
Be the Virtual Solution for Clients
You might get requests from clients for work beyond your experience. This is the time partnering will come in handy. You may be a great generalist and excellent at setting up LANs; but your client might all of a sudden need a more complicated WAN infrastructure.
Partnering Helps Your Clients
Delivering a complete virtual IT solution is an essential part of being a competent tech provider. You need to have relationships with people that can fill in the gaps of your service offerings.
Dealing with Customers’ Needs
If you don’t have partnering relationships with subcontractors or other experts and you run into prospects with needs you can’t meet, you could find yourself with some questions. Do you tell prospective clients about your gaps, or do you look for partnering opportunities?
What Needs Can You Meet?
You should have a list of the typical services you will provide to small businesses and then think forward to which services clients might need that you can’t offer. Meet with prospective partners and interview subcontractors to help enhance your services. You should have three-to-five people ready to help clients as issues arise.
The Main Idea About Partnering Relationships
Be honest about your skills with clients. Partnering can help fill in service gaps and provide comprehensive virtual IT solutions for clients.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
Be the Virtual Solution for Clients
You might get requests from clients for work beyond your experience. This is the time partnering will come in handy. You may be a great generalist and excellent at setting up LANs; but your client might all of a sudden need a more complicated WAN infrastructure.
Partnering Helps Your Clients
Delivering a complete virtual IT solution is an essential part of being a competent tech provider. You need to have relationships with people that can fill in the gaps of your service offerings.
Dealing with Customers’ Needs
If you don’t have partnering relationships with subcontractors or other experts and you run into prospects with needs you can’t meet, you could find yourself with some questions. Do you tell prospective clients about your gaps, or do you look for partnering opportunities?
What Needs Can You Meet?
You should have a list of the typical services you will provide to small businesses and then think forward to which services clients might need that you can’t offer. Meet with prospective partners and interview subcontractors to help enhance your services. You should have three-to-five people ready to help clients as issues arise.
The Main Idea About Partnering Relationships
Be honest about your skills with clients. Partnering can help fill in service gaps and provide comprehensive virtual IT solutions for clients.
Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg
Friday, June 01, 2007
PC Recycling: What Are These Programs About?
In previous years, your clients would not have had issues finding those that would take used PCs for PC recycling. After about five years, they would have probably given the PCs to employees or sold them to employees for low prices. Others may have donated them to local schools, charities or non-profits.
PC Recycling Changes
The past several years have seen great changes in PC recycling programs. Sixty percent of households now have at least one PC, and schools and charities get almost too many PC donations and thus have to be selective about accepting equipment. Many areas also have strict rules about disposal of PCs in dumpsters.
Find a PC Recycling Program
The following resources can help you and clients abide by environmental rules as you dispose of hardware. (Visit the link attached to this article to see url’s and to get more information.)
1. Dell Asset Recovery Services
2. EIA Environment: Consumer Education Initiative (CEI)
3. Gateway.com: Recycle/Donate Your Old PC
4. HP Environment: Return and Recycling
5. IBM PC Recycling Service
6. International Association of Electronics Recyclers
7. National Safety Council (U.S.) EPR2 Project Electronic Equipment Recyclers
The Bottom Line About PC Recycling Programs
If you still can’t find an appropriate PC recycling program because any of the above are no longer valid when you read this article, start at the home page of the website and look for related links.
Added By: Computer Consulting Kit
PC Recycling Changes
The past several years have seen great changes in PC recycling programs. Sixty percent of households now have at least one PC, and schools and charities get almost too many PC donations and thus have to be selective about accepting equipment. Many areas also have strict rules about disposal of PCs in dumpsters.
Find a PC Recycling Program
The following resources can help you and clients abide by environmental rules as you dispose of hardware. (Visit the link attached to this article to see url’s and to get more information.)
1. Dell Asset Recovery Services
2. EIA Environment: Consumer Education Initiative (CEI)
3. Gateway.com: Recycle/Donate Your Old PC
4. HP Environment: Return and Recycling
5. IBM PC Recycling Service
6. International Association of Electronics Recyclers
7. National Safety Council (U.S.) EPR2 Project Electronic Equipment Recyclers
The Bottom Line About PC Recycling Programs
If you still can’t find an appropriate PC recycling program because any of the above are no longer valid when you read this article, start at the home page of the website and look for related links.
Added By: Computer Consulting Kit
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