| Top 3 Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Server | | | | fail them. Become the solution to the more primal, |
| Consulting Profits | | | | survival instinct and you'll get plenty of opportunities to |
| Over the past 7 years, Microsoft Small Business | | | | sell Small Business Server, once you've established a |
| Server (SBS) has gained traction as a | | | | solid client/consultant relationship. |
| widely-respected Small Business Server networking | | | | (3) Microsoft doesn't value computer consultants as |
| suite. | | | | 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 goal |
| bandwagon. | | | | was for Small Business Server to completely bypass |
| However, before you go ahead and bet YOUR | | | | their reseller channel and be sold at "Sam's Club" |
| company on Microsoft Small Business Server, consider | | | | 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, don't | | | | realized that the most cost-effective way to reach |
| make the ultra-common mistake of assuming that the | | | | small businesses with Small Business Server was |
| typical non-technical small business owner even knows | | | | through their reseller channel. And since then, Small |
| what Microsoft Small Business Server is. | | | | Business Server resources have flowed toward the |
| If you want to maximize your consulting profits and | | | | channel. |
| avoid commodity price wars, you're much better off | | | | However, even today, you can often find 5-user |
| leading off with a pitch for something that's more | | | | versions of Microsoft Small Business Server in retail |
| universally recognized... such as getting rid of computer | | | | stores. |
| viruses, stopping SPAM, or preventing computer | | | | So the point: Microsoft isn't putting all its Small Business |
| security breaches. | | | | Server "eggs" in one basket, so why should you?!? |
| (2) Sell your small business prospects on YOUR | | | | Which brings us back to points one and two: Small |
| company first. | | | | business owners aren't actively shopping for a "Small |
| The real money in Small Business Server is NOT in | | | | Business Server". So instead of "selling" Small Business |
| reselling the Microsoft Small Business Server software. | | | | Server per se, you're much better off selling a small |
| The real money comes from selling the | | | | business on YOUR company, BEFORE you sell |
| RELATIONSHIP with the small business. So your | | | | Microsoft Small Business Server. |
| company essentially becomes your clients' outsourced | | | | The Bottom Line |
| IT department. | | | | In this article, we looked at three Small Business |
| Remember, no small business owner is going to wake | | | | Server business tips that every computer consultant, |
| up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat, craving | | | | systems integrator and value added reseller needs to |
| Small Business Server. However, small business | | | | be aware when selling Microsoft Small Business |
| owners DO constantly lose sleep over what will | | | | Server. |
| happen to their companies if their computer systems | | | | |