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Joshua Feinberg Profile and Articles
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1). An Information Technology Consultant Can Make Business Simple for Customers
As an information technology consultant, you can assure that you get more repeat customers by making it easy for them to do business with you. An information technology consultant that makes work seem easy for clients will also gain a good reputation within his community.
Simplicity Is Key
As an information technology consultant, you need to keep it simple for every customer in order to get through to him.
2). An IT Audits Checklist
IT audits need to be absolutely thorough. The following checklist will help you get through every area you need to check during your IT audits:
1. You need to check PHYSICAL SECURITY during your IT audits and make sure controls are in place physically that keep servers, networking and telecommunications hardware safe and prevent unauthorized access.
3). Benchmarking and Best Practice - Utilization Rates
Benchmarking and best practice is a way for you to measure your success against others who have made the leap into computer consulting before you. By measuring your own performance against industry benchmarks you get an idea of what you need to work on to be successful.
A key element in your benchmarking and best practice is to look at utilization rates.
4). Benefits of Computer Franchise Ownership
Entrepreneurs buying computer franchises can enjoy many benefits and minimize typical start-up risks, which can make ownership of these franchises an ideal situation for those looking to start their own business. Since new owners typically need help with marketing, financing and training services, will find these resources already available to them as part of computer franchise ownership.
5). Business Contacts - Find the User/Influencers
Business contacts are the people you have in your network. These people are all important to your growing business. You need to build and develop relationships with your business contacts in order to move your business forward and expand your customer base.
Business contacts fall into two separate categories. It is important for you to distinguish between the two and develop relationships with them accordingly.
6). Business Contacts - Which Ones Will Hire You?
Business contacts are the best, most effective, and most efficient way to generate business. Through networking and relationship marketing you can cultivate many business contacts. The hope is that many of these are potential sweet spot clients.
When you think about building a base of business contacts you should be on the look out for those people who have a high likelihood of needing your services.
7). Business Dress Code - What to Wear While Prospecting
Business dress codes can be tricky to navigate as a consultant. You are going into other people's businesses so your personal business dress code has to appeal to a wide range of clients. This is also true when you are prospecting for future clients.
The business dress code that you use when prospecting will depend on the event. You always want to dress to be your best but you also have to know your audience.
8). Business Expenses - Track Your Admin Expenses
Business expenses need to be budgeted for when you are starting a business. These expenses are typically categorized according to type. One of the larger categories of business expense falls under the heading Administrative Expenses. These business expenses are those related to the day-to-day operations of the company.
It is important to understand these administrative expenses.
9). Business Groups - Make the Most of Your Membership
Business groups provide excellent marketing and networking opportunities. There are many different ones to join. What you need to do is make sure you join the right business group for you and your needs, and then you need to be an active member of the business group.
There is usually more than one business group in your area. You don't want to spend all your time going to different business group meetings so you need to choose carefully.
10). Business Groups - Market For Maximum Effectiveness
Business groups like the Chamber of Commerce provide many excellent marketing opportunities. The members of these types of business groups are all business owners and many of them will fit into your sweet-spot profile. What better way to get to know the decision makers in these businesses?
Maximize Your Exposure in Business Groups
Don't simply join a business group and remain a passive bystander.
11). Business Growth - Rate Control For Maximum Success
Business growth is something we all want. During startup, however, you have to balance your business growth rate with your ability to keep on top of the business launch. You don't want to get overextended because that will cause you to cut corners and your future success may suffer.
Controlling the rate of business growth is difficult to do especially if you are moonlighting.
12). Business Image - Use Yours To Raise Your Credibility
Business images are formed with or without your express consideration. You may have the best intentions regarding your business image but if you choose the wrong marketing strategy the business image you project might be all wrong.
Your business image should be one of professionalism and credibility. This is the type of business image your sweet spot clients are looking for in IT service providers.
13). Business Journals - A Strong Business Planning Tool
Business journals, or diaries, are an excellent way to record your business growth and progress. Business journals are extremely valuable in providing you with some amazing insight. By recording what you have done you can reflect and see where your time is going, where your growth spurts have occurred, what’s working and what’s not.
Plotting your course in a business journal lets you see opportunities with ease and clarity.
14). Business Merchant Account - Get One
Business merchant accounts are critical to have if you want to accept credit cards. Business merchant accounts are not limited to those computer consultants reselling products either. They are a good idea for any sale, especially when you are selling to new clients.
If you have a business merchant account you will not have to chase down outstanding debt.
15). Business Networking Referrals When You're New To Town
Business networking referrals are the life-blood of any computer consulting business. It's a who you know type of marketplace. This makes tapping into a source of referrals absolutely critical.
The problem is, what happens when you don't know your next door neighbor let alone any other business networking referral sources?
Business Networking Referrals An A New City
Many people who start a computer consulting business are going to be moving, or have moved, somewhere new.
16). Business Organizations - Finding The Best Ones To Join
Business organizations are a great place to do some relationship marketing. By joining business organizations you meet key business owners and leaders in your community. By getting active in these business organizations you can use relationship marketing to its full potential.
The most common business organization we think of joining is the Chamber of Commerce.
17). Business Plan Outlines - The 5 W's
Business plan outlines are all different. The one common thread is that all business plan outlines help the writer answer the five W questions: who, what, when, where, why.
If any of you ever worked in journalism or as reporters, what you want to do when you investigate anything is answer the 5 W's. A business plan outline is a concrete method for investigating a business idea so answering the 5 W's makes sense.
18). Business Plan Outlines - The Very Basics
Business plan outlines vary in their complexity. Depending on your situation you may just want to follow a very basic business plan outline. Regardless, the process of sitting down, creating a business plan outline, and writing a business plan is one of the most valuable exercises you will do.
Basic Business Plan Outline
List your business credentials.
19). Business Referrals: Use Your IT Consultant Network
Business referrals are a critical aspect of a successful IT Consulting business. The question is though, "How do you get set up for business referrals?" IT Consultants who are in the know, use their network to get the referrals they need.
Business Referral Sources
Some of the best business referrals come from niche technology providers. The providers who don't do virtual IT services and are limited in scope.
20). Business Relationships: Build Them When You Don't Know Anyone
Business relationships are hard to build when you are in a position where you don't know anyone yet. Perhaps you are new to town, don't know the area, or haven't joined a business organization yet. Although it seems like a chicken and an egg scenario, the only way to develop business relationships is to get out there and do it.
As a new computer solution provider you might not have been thinking pro-actively about the importance of business relationships.
21). Business Software Solutions
Business software solutions come in many shapes and sizes. Choosing the right business software solutions at the start will save you a lot of time. Time you can spend growing and developing your business. Here are a few tips.
Keep your business software solutions very simple. Many times we're tempted to think that if we had a magic piece of software, the business would run itself.
22). Business Startup Funding - Are You Ready?
Business startup funding is always a worry. Do I have enough money to start? Can I quit my job to concentrate full time? Will I be able to cover my monthly expenses?
When the time comes to actually launch your business you must have done your homework regarding your business startup funding needs. You need to be prepared so that if the opportunity to accelerate your launch presents itself, you're ready.
23). Business Structure - What Should I Be?
Business structure planning entails analyzing the different business entity options and choosing the one that is right for you. There is no magic formula for business structures. Your set of reasons for choosing one business structure over another is as unique as your company.
There is, however, one universal rule for deciding on a business structure: Consult a Professional.
24). Business Support Systems - Your Family is Key
Business support systems are critical to your business success. The most important business support system is your family. The spousal relationship is particularly key to your ability to launch and operate a successful business.
If your spouse or significant other is against your business, then you are missing a huge portion of the business support system you need to sustain yourself.
25). Business Web Page Design Tips
Business web page design is an important consideration when you are starting your business. There are many options and styles and it can be confusing. What you need to remember though is, regardless of the style you choose, your business web page design must promote your brand.
Business Web Page Design Dos and Don'ts
To be effective your business web page design does not need to be any more than a simple four-page Web site.
26). Commercial Office Space - Don't Waste Your Money
Commercial office space is unnecessary when you first start out in computer consulting. Unless you have a very compelling reason for renting commercial office space, save your money. You're much better plowing that money back into marketing and promotional expenses.
Even a tiny commercial office space is going to be $400 - $600 a month. A low traffic retail store is even more; at least a $1000-$2000 per month.
27). Competitors - Learn To Exploit Their Weaknesses
Competitors are one of your largest business threats. You have to know who your competitors are and how they operate. You will use this information to decide how to position yourself, where you price yourself, and how you're perceived by your marketplace.
Competitor Analysis
When you research your competitors you should list what kinds of companies are your biggest competition.
28). Computer Consultant 101: How to Build a Stable Business
Know How To Bill and What to Charge
Without knowing how to bill and what to charge, you’re going to lose a lot of money that’s really yours. If you get your billing and pricing wrong as a computer consultant, you'll send a bad message to people that you’re trying to quote for business.
You'll be screaming that you’re a rank amateur rather than a skilled computer consultant.
29). Computer Consultant Knowledge: Do You Have to Know Everything?
Will you be expected to know anything and everything about anything that could ever go wrong with small-business IT? No.
Do You Need to Be Better at Technical or People Skills?
To be a great computer consultant, you just need to be really well organized and be a friendly person that enjoys helping other people. Yes, you need to be extremely resourceful; but you don’t need to be a technical genius to be a computer consultant.
30). Computer Consultant Skills: Can You Be Your Own Boss?
If you're just getting started, what do you need to know about the business aspects of being their own boss? It really boils down to two very straightforward things. You need to have some basic business skills and knowledge and you need the motivation to become a computer consultant.
Motivation
You have to really want to become a computer consultant badly.
31). Computer Consultant Skills: Do You Have to Have 20 Certifications?
I've had more than one person tell me, "Well, I’m a MCP or I’m a CNA and I’ve got this one cert but I’m working on like 15 more certs and as soon as I get my 19th cert, five years from now, I’ll be all set to be a computer consultant." That’s just a hunk of bologna. Know why?
Small Business Aren't Using Cutting-Edge Technology
Most small businesses don’t care how many certifications you have.
32). Computer Consultant Startup: Identify Your Business Skills
Since you're taking the time to read this article right now, it's a good sign that you have what it takes to become a computer consultant. You're in the small minority of people who have recognized that this is a business and needs to be run like one.
A Good Computer Consultant Has More Than Just Technical Skills
It's not about playing with the latest routers or wi-fi device or VPNs or firewalls.
33). Computer Consultant Startup: What's The First Step?
If you're the typical person who’s considering becoming a computer consultant, then you are probably a LAN administrator, doing some kind of PC support job for big enterprise or maybe even working for a smaller integrator. In this article, you'll learn what you need to do first to realize your goal of becoming a computer consultant.
From talking to hundreds of people in this situation right now, the number one thing is that you have to decide that you really want to and really need to do it.
34). Computer Consulting 101 Hiring Tips (Part 1 of 2)
Does your business need the services of a computer consulting firm? Before you rush out and hire the first techie or slick-salesperson that knocks on
35). Computer Consulting and Virtual IT
Do you own or manage a computer consulting company? Would you like to achieve greater small business success? If so, then get r
36). Computer Consulting Business Tools for Getting Good Customers
If you want to be financially stable and have a successful and legitimate computer consulting business you have to work on honing your intuition skills and focusing on a specialty. You also need to be good at uncovering the best small business clients.
Small Businesses
There are almost countless small businesses in the United States and globally, and you can almost be guaranteed that just in your geographical area there are thousands or even tens of thousands of small businesses.
37). Computer Consulting Business: Determining Client Criteria
So you’re looking for quality accounts as you start your computer consulting business. What are the qualifying criteria for such accounts?
Consider Proximity
First, the potential client for your computer consulting business should be close to you, generally within a 30 to 60 minute drive from where you’re located. This is going to have some impact on the networking events you attend or anything else you do from a marketing perspective.
38). Computer Consulting Business: Find the Right Clients
If you really want to make a decent living and want to have a good, successful, viable computer consulting business, sooner or later you have to narrow down your focus and develop a keen intuition. Additionally, you have to become good at spotting the best small businesses accounts.
The Small Business Myriad
There are millions of small businesses in the U.
39). Computer Consulting Business: Hardware Warranty Services
As a computer consulting business, you shouldn’t be spending precious time and your clients’ limited budgets troubleshooting a malfunctioning monitor or CD-RW drive.
If your computer consulting business is large enough that you have both senior-level and technician-level staff, you’re probably already doing a great job of directing workload to the right personnel.
40). Computer Consulting Business: Know about Vendor Hard Drive Replacement
Many of your computer consulting business clients will come from non-technical, business backgrounds. As a result, many will not immediately grasp why a failed hard drive cannot "simply" be replaced by a new or refurbished hard drive.
As part of managing clients expectations, it’s important to educate your clients on the steps that go into formatting a hard drive, loading the OS, configuring device drivers, loading software applications, customizing the OS and applications and restoring data.
41). Computer Consulting Business: Nail Down the Vendor Support Options
No computer consulting business can afford to be sitting at a client site, running up a big bill, staring at a blue-screen-of-death, facing an angry mob of irate users and sitting on hold for two hours with tech support.
This scenario is your absolute worst nightmare in running a computer consulting business and can be the kiss of death to your client relationship.
42). Computer Consulting Services: Protecting and Auditing Sensitive Client Information
As a provider of computer consulting services, you will want to communicate to prospects and/or clients that anyone, even with the most rudimentary PC skills, who has physical access to a peer-to-peer server, usually has access to every file and folder on that server.
Although many people mistakenly think that the Microsoft Windows 9x/Me logon dialog box provides protection, they are wrong and that misperception can be extremely dangerous.
43). Computer Consulting Services: Protecting Client Data
As a provider of computer consulting services, you should communicate to your clients that a dedicated server generally can enforce strong user passwords. This means your clients can:
• Force users to change passwords at predetermined intervals
• Prevent recycling of previously-chosen passwords
• Eliminate the use of blank passwords
• Enforce selection.
44). Computer Consulting Services: Selling the Network as Security and Data Protection
Small business prospects and clients may view your computer consulting services as part of their insurance policy. You write up a service agreement that lists what’s covered and what’s not, as well as various parameters for coverage. Then each month, quarter, or year you collect some kind of retainer deposit, similar to an insurance premium.
Play Up the Value of your Computer Consulting Services
Part of the reason small business owners never miss a premium is because they want to make sure that your firm will be there in their time of need.
45). Computer Consulting: Handling the First Sales Meeting
In computer consulting, the initial sales process is really a pre-sales consultation, not a final sale. Because even a successful “sale” on a first phone call or meeting is not final, you need to communicate your professionalism and make an impact so you can distinguish yourself from other computer consulting firms.
Two ways to make an outstanding.
46). Computer Consulting: 3 Questions To Ask Your Clients
From a customer service perspective, you can ask your computer consulting clients three questions that will explode the growth of your company.
Question Number One:
“How Can We Improve the Level of Service That We Provide Your Company?”
Ask your computer consulting clients this question on a regular basis; at least a couple times a year. You will be amazed at the type of suggestions they give you.
47). Computer Consulting: Balancing Your Portfolio
Do you have a balanced portfolio in your computer consulting business? Target 70% of your businesses in the small business state.
Keep a small amount of your business dealing with home networks and the consumer side and then have 5-15% of your business with much larger businesses. This setup works for many computer consulting professionals but it all depends upon where you want to take your business.
48). Computer Consulting: Diversify Your Clients
Make sure that you never get to the point that any one computer consulting client has control over you. None of them should have such supreme leverage over you that you couldn’t afford to either lose them because of something that’s either out of your control or because you want to let them go.
Spread Out Your Risk Among Your Computer Consulting Clients
This is all about diversifying.
49). Computer Consulting: Do You Keep Your Micro Clients?
A big question, especially among newly established computer consulting professionals is this: “I have some smaller clients with two to five PCs. Since they’re very close and they’re willing to pay our hourly rate and understand that I can schedule them when I can, is there a problem in keeping them as clients? Until I establish myself with more larger clients, I’d hate to lose this income.
50). Computer Consulting: Don’t Market the 90’s Way
The 90’s was a time of certification for computer consulting businesses. Everyone touted what formal partnerships they had with what major corporations. “Hire us because we’re a Novell certified shop” or “Hire us because we’re an IBM business partner.”
Most consultants aren’t leading with that anymore because they don’t want to be perceived as an extension of that company sales force.
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