In last week’s Pronto Insider, we announced important updates about your blog content. If you haven’t done so already, we want to remind you to update your subscription preferences. This will only take a few moments of your time and ensure that you have the blog content that really works for your unique business.

Questions? Read: How to Update Your Subscription Preferences

The next super important thing you can do to ensure that the content Pronto delivers to your blog each week is right on target, is to join the discussion in the Pronto IT Services & MSP Content & Blog Discussion forums.

Pronto’s Managing Editor, Barb Levisay and I are actively involved with clients in sharing and developing ideas for new blog articles. You can shape the content on your website with your active participation in these forums.

More White Papers in 2012

In the Pronto IT Services & MSP Content & Blog Discussion forums, you’ll see: Forum White Paper & Copy Ideas & Discussion. We have a few open discussions on new white paper topics including Cloud Services, BDR and Business Continuity Planning. We’d love to have your feedback so we can deliver new white papers you can really use.

Don’t wait – update your preferences and join in the fun by visiting these forums. Let’s make 2012 the best year ever for the content on your website.

I am very happy to announce that Pronto and our newest team member, Barb Levisay, are expanding our partnership in a new and exciting direction. Barb has now taken on the responsibilities as Pronto’s Managing Editor.

Many of you may know Barb and her company Marketing for Partners, from her years of work in the channel with IT service providers, partners, ISV and other companies just like yours. Others of you probably know Barb from her weekly “Marketing Matters” column in Redmond Channel Partner magazine. Regardless, one things is clear – she has a really unique blend of industry experience with technology companies and the ability to tell their stories with effective marketing and editorial content.

In 2011, we launched our services for Microsoft Dynamics partners with Barb. Right away, Barb’s depth of professional knowledge and fantastic editorial skills were made clear to the Pronto team. All of this combined with Barb’s delightful personality made her an excellent choice to join our extended Pronto team. Given the opportunity to work together, we decided to expand our partnership with Barb and have her take on the role as Pronto’s Managing Editor for our blog and newsletter content.

Over the next month or so we are going to more than triple the number of blog articles we write, improve the overall quality of articles and give you the opportunity to both contribute ideas and tailor the content to your specific business needs.

IMPORTANT ACTIONS FOR YOU

Update Your Blog Topic Subscriptions

First, if you haven’t already, please go to your WordPress Dashboard, and update your blog article subscription preferences. You’ll see the “My Subscriptions” link in the upper left corner, right under your Dashboard menu. There you will find over 40 blog topic categories that you can select from.

Tell Us What You Want

After you’ve updated your subscription preferences head on over to the Pronto IT Services & MSP Content & Blog Discussion forums. It is super easy share some of your ideas and requirements for YOUR blog content. Barb and I are actively involved in these forums – taking client ideas and developing them into content that meets your business requirements. Of course Barb will be developing many great article ideas on her own, and she will share them in the forums as well, but this is your opportunity to make sure that Pronto is delivering the right message, on the right topics for your unique needs.

We’re sure over the coming months you’re going to be very pleased with the breadth, quality and frequency of your blog updates. Help us help you, by updating your subscriptions right away and then joining the discussion in the Pronto IT Services & MSP Content & Blog Discussion forums.

Thanks,
Derek Brown
Managing Director

For the typical managed services provider there is a fairly long sales cycle in their pursuit of new clients. This time lag also applies to many of the marketing tools that are available to computer consultants, whether you’re talking about a sales training program, IT telemarketing service or even an SEO campaign. Because there is no hard data available as to whether these techniques are working until sometime in the future, many techs decide to make course corrections with just a hunch. This leads many to switching marketing ‘horses’ in mid-stream, but is this wise?

If you think about it this way consider your marketing techniques like a grenade. When you pull the pin and throw one then it won’t explode right away but will take a few minutes. If you throw one and decided that you haven’t heard it explode so you’re going to pick it up; then it just might end up exploding in your hands. Instead you should count out the minutes and wait the proper time before deciding that the grenade hasn’t worked.

Here is the connection with the marketing techniques or vehicles you might be trying in your computer services company. If you have decided to utilize an SEO service, like Pronto Marketing, to help promote your IT services marketing then you will have to wait the proper time to make sure that it’s going to deliver the sales leads your looking for. If you don’t wait long

enough and decide that the service is not working then you might be switching horses in midstream. You could end up just going in circles and never get any of the results that you’re looking for.

If you’re a computer business owner that wants to make sure you get an ROI from all the marketing efforts you invest for IT lead generation then make sure you give them enough time to work!

John Black
MSP Telemarketing

Here are some quick answers to frequent questions we’ve received.

Q: Are you ready to sign up new non-IT or MSP clients?
A: Yes! We are already doing this today.

Q: I have a client I to refer – what do I do?
A: Send them to this page to sign up.

Q: Can someone call my client?
A: Yes. Our US-based Account Manager Libby can give them a call. They can reach Libby at (800) 270-3440 or libby@prontomarketing.com.

Q: If I refer one of my MSP peers – does that also earn a referral?
A: Yes.

Q: Where do I send people to for more information?
A: Right here.

Q: Can you give me sales collateral or make a landing page on my website?
A: Yes. We’ll have this ready soon – stay tuned!

Q: How is the referral fee paid?
A: Credit to your account for any Pronto service or payment sent direct to you. Your choice!

Q: How does Pronto know the referral came from me?
A: In the signup form there is a required field for this information. In addition, just lets us know and we’ll track this.

Q: Will this change your focus on MSPs and IT service providers?
A: No
If you have any questions please reply to this mail and we’ll respond quickly.

Thanks,
Derek