How can we budget more effectively? Surprise costs are killing us.

One of the biggest marketing challenges I see with managed services providers is identifying the right marketing channels and tactics. Navigating the maze of marketing tools can be a daunting task for MSPs. Here are some of my favorite tools that won’t have you digging deep into your pockets:  Interview Your Ideal Clients Have you ever thought about simply having a chat with your ideal clients? It’s a classic, cost-effective way to understand what your clients really need and want. Engaging them in interviews can unveil their preferences, needs, and challenges straight from the horse’s mouth. And it’s free. Incorporate Tools Like ChatGPT AI has been making waves in the marketing sphere, and one tool that stands out is ChatGPT. This multipurpose tool can assist with content creation, SEO optimization, email marketing support, and more. Start with a free plan, and if it meets your needs, the paid plans kick off at $20 per month. Google Analytics & Search Console For a deeper dive into your website’s performance, Google Analytics is your go-to tool. It’s a treasure trove of data, offering insights into traffic, user behavior, and the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns – all for zero cost. Alongside it, Google Search Console can be your ally in optimizing your site’s visibility on Google, also without costing a dime. Try Ubersuggest SEO is a linchpin for online visibility, and Ubersuggest is a solid, budget-friendly option for keyword research, site audits, and competitive analysis. It has a free version, but its paid plans are competitively priced starting at $29 per month or a one-time payment of $290. Shore Up on LinkedIn LinkedIn, the haven for B2B marketing, is a social media platform you shouldn’t overlook. It’s a formidable space for networking, sharing insights, and flaunting your MSP services to a professional audience. Basic usage is free, but if you fancy more features, premium plans are available at a cost. Email Marketing Despite being a veteran in the digital marketing arena, email marketing still holds its ground as a cost-effective channel. Platforms like Active Campaign, Mailerlite, Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Aweber are notable mentions. Their pricing starts at $10 to $20 monthly. Incorporating these tools can serve as a catalyst in refining your marketing operations, understanding your audience better, and fostering a stronger connection with them without burning a hole in your pocket.

Today’s customers want to see themselves reflected in the companies they support. Research has shown that a lack of diversity within teams is detrimental to business development and customer relationships, especially when your customer base is diverse.  The primary reason that diverse teams are critical to the success of client engagement is due to the unique experiences and intersectionality of the varied perspectives each team member brings to the table. This opens the door to more creativity and improved problem solving that your customers expect from you, which leads to greater customer satisfaction. Your ability to connect with customers thrives on your capacity to deliver fresh perspectives and how well you anticipate and respond to their needs. The more your team is representative of the markets they serve, the more valuable their insights become – and you can create better solutions for your client. Lack of Diversity Stifles Progress Consider the backlash experienced by big brands that create racially or culturally insensitive ads or products. Chances are no one with a varied perspective was present in strategy meetings to challenge the status quo. Perhaps you have personally experienced a client interaction where you or a peer unwittingly disregarded the position and authority of the primary decision maker based on their race, age, gender, or other misguided assumptions due to a lack of cultural competence. It happens all the time but it doesn’t have to. Diversity is less about how a person looks or where they come from; it’s more about valuing different points of view and being open to exploring new ways of thinking. It’s about integrating diversity of thought, which comes from the unique backgrounds and experiences of diverse individuals. By contrast, homogeneous teams are composed of individuals with similar backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, which often subjects them to groupthink, blinds them to new opportunities, and hinders exploration of unconventional approaches. Thus, you’ve inadvertently stifled the very progress you aim to achieve. Create Your DEI Strategy As you plan your next client interaction or strategy meeting, ask yourself these questions: How well do we understand the unique needs, preferences, and challenges of diverse customer segments and/or buyers? Which team members’ perspectives are missing? Why are they not in the room? How can we adjust our thinking to better connect with our clients and their needs? The responses to these questions position you to address the gaps, better relate to your customers and their unique challenges, and help them innovate. A diverse team is better equipped to do just that.

I see this problem all the time: You’re overworked, can’t keep up with tickets, the phone is ringing, and there is no time for anything other than fighting to keep your head above water. However, if you don’t change anything, you will never break free. Even hiring an office manager won’t help because if you haven’t taken the steps to create a business machine, they’ll end up increasing your workload rather than reducing it. So, how do you create a machine? Here are some recommendations. Focus Your Operations Start by streamlining workflows through repeatable processes, then document them as you work. The most common source of inefficiency is solving many problems for many kinds of customers. You will be spread very thin and will never catch up if you work with accountants who have issues with Thomson Reuters, QuickBooks, and Liscio; doctors who struggle with Epic; and architects who need to make Papercut and AutoCAD work. The key to mechanization is focus. Get spectacular at solving a few critical problems for very specific markets. Focus cuts work out of your process and reduces work throughout the business. Make Time to Document A lack of time is a problem for many businesses, but you don’t have time to not document. Undocumented processes take two to three times longer to complete – sometimes much more – because you figure it out each time. A lack of documentation is why hiring an office manager won’t help. One of my clients passionately resisted documentation. They were drowning in tickets, unsatisfied customers, and unfinished projects. They also suffered from a lack of sleep. Documenting the first process was hard, but now, they have 5,000 processes documented. Trailing tickets were reduced by 93%, revenue tripled, they hired a team that delivers impressive results, and they take vacations without their phones. Use Automation Tools The third piece is automation. But you cannot automate a process you haven’t defined. That creates a mess and endless work. Once you have something defined, automate it. PSAs and RMMs have self-healing scripts and scripts for common problems that can save oodles of time. Ensure you set proper thresholds so you can detect issues before they escalate. This takes out randomness. Automate ticket assignments and responses, and create canned answers for the top 50 things your techs respond to. Plus, with open APIs, compatible tools, and tools like Zapier, you can automate an almost endless list of routine office tasks: Proposal creation and delivery Follow-up processes QBR (SBR) scheduling Sending birthday cards  By incorporating these strategies, even time-strapped small companies can reduce burdensome workloads.

When you’re trying to determine if it’s time to upgrade your company’s website, it’s important to first understand if your website works for you. Is it driving leads? More importantly, are those leads turning into clients? If so, then you are probably good. But if you’re like most of the 400-plus MSPs’ websites I reviewed over the last two years, then you probably are not getting the results you should be getting. But before you go near a keyboard or mouse – or worse, hire someone to redo your site – the fundamental questions around proposition, direction, and target market need to be answered. Making the decision to rebuild a site is so much more than a design exercise. It’s an exercise in figuring out what your business is all about and where it’s headed. Think of your site as a storefront window. It’s where potential clients first encounter your brand, learn about your services, and, most importantly, decide whether they want to engage with your business. An outdated or ineffective website can have a significant impact on your ability to start those new conversations. So, when do you know it’s time for a new website? Here are some overall thoughts: Outdated Design  The visual appeal of your site plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining visitors. An outdated design can turn potential clients away. You only have one chance to make a first impression. If your site looks like it hasn’t seen an update in years, it’s probably time for a refresh. I’ve seen too many sites that look like they were designed when we were still sending faxes or are a barely customized template. It’s almost 2024. Don’t let that be yours. Ineffective Content, No SEO Your site’s content should be informative, engaging, and relevant to your target audience. It should be personal, too. It should tell stories about your business and how you’ve helped your clients. In addition, is your site getting traffic for local geographic search terms? Are you missing out on organic visitors? If SEO is non-existent. It’s time for a refresh. Low Conversion Rates If you’re getting visitors, but those contact forms are not coming through, then your calls to action aren’t doing their job. Make them clear and always sell your credibility on relevant landing pages. Talk to me if you’re not sure how to make that happen. Domain or Business Name You are what you are online. If your business can’t be found easily, change it. It’s that simple. Be unique. Be found. If you’ve noticed any of the signs flagged above, it likely is time to consider investing in a refresh.

As a leadership and coaching expert, my primary focus is on supporting individuals who experience burnout. Burnout is especially common in high-stress roles like engineering. However, there are several steps I recommend to make things better for your lead engineer . Foster Open Communication  It’s crucial to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where your lead engineer feels comfortable discussing their burnout and its underlying causes. By actively listening and showing empathy, you can help them feel heard and understood. Manage Expectations It’s important to review their workload and expectations. Burnout often stems from an overwhelming amount of work. Take the time to assess their responsibilities and workload, and identify areas where improvements can be made. This might involve redistributing tasks, delegating when possible, or even considering hiring additional resources to lighten the load. Work/Life Balance Encouraging work/life balance is another vital aspect. Help your lead engineer establish healthy boundaries by promoting regular breaks, time off, and the ability to disconnect from work during non-working hours. Demonstrating the importance of personal time and well-being through your own actions is key. Tools and Support Providing resources and support also is crucial. Ensure your lead engineer has the necessary tools and resources to perform their job effectively. Consider offering additional training, mentoring, or coaching to enhance their skills and boost their confidence. Employee assistance programs, counseling services, or wellness initiatives can also provide valuable support. The Culture Criteria Cultivating a positive work culture is essential in preventing burnout. Encourage collaboration, recognition, and appreciation among team members. Celebrate successes, share achievements, and foster an environment where everyone supports one another. Recognizing your lead engineer’s contributions and offering regular constructive feedback will contribute to a positive work environment. Empowerment Through Autonomy Promoting autonomy and flexibility can help combat burnout. Grant your lead engineer more control over their work whenever possible. Empowering them with decision-making authority and exploring flexible work arrangements, such as remote work or flexible hours, can improve their well-being and job satisfaction. Check In Often Regularly monitoring goals and revisiting them is crucial. Check in with your lead engineer frequently to assess their progress and adjust goals as needed. Collaboratively setting realistic and achievable targets, considering their workload and well-being, will help reduce overwhelm and increase motivation. Truly Listen to Feedback Seek feedback and be open to iteration. Ask your lead engineer for their insights, challenges, and suggestions for improvement. Involve them in finding solutions and implementing changes. Continuously assessing the effectiveness of the strategies you’ve implemented and adapting as needed is key to addressing burnout successfully. By implementing these strategies and demonstrating genuine care and support, you can create a healthier work environment that fosters well-being, productivity, and job satisfaction for your lead engineer and the entire team.