Smb Community Podcast By Karl W. Palachuk

Brian Doyle meets up with host James Kernan to discuss customer engagement. Most MSPs have rock-solid service delivery process. But - the simple things, like checking in outside of assisting customers when not in duress, get lost. Listen in for some tips on improving your connections and how it can improve your business. Brian spent nearly 20 years in the MSP industry owning his own shop, as a partner in a Regional Managed Data Center, and as a hired gun for a Mid-Market MSP. Today Brian runs vCIOToolbox, a Strategic Client Management Platform that helps MSP's with client retention, technical alignment, and budgeting through better business reviews. -- Links: vCIOToolbox.com (SaaS) MSPBusinessSchool.com (podcast)

Karl Palachuck connects with Dortha Hise to talk about virtual assistants and what they can do for you . . . even if you're a "Type-A" business owner. Check out a few resources from Dortha to get started: VA Prep Checklist & Worksheets - if you're ready to hire a VA, this checklist and worksheets will provide you with questions to ask, a place to track your logins, make notes for budget, must-haves, etc. - https://prettysmartva.lpages.co/va-prep/ Make Delegation a Habit - a 10-day challenge designed to support you in identifying what to delegate and how to work with a team; includes downloadable worksheets with actionable guidance to implement faster - https://prettysmartva.lpages.co/delegation-challenge/ Website: http://prettysmartvaservices.com/ -- Dortha Hise is the Chief Overwhelm Eliminator at Pretty Smart Virtual Services. She and her team of amazing virtual assistants specialize in untangling tech for their overwhelmed clients. Clients from wide-sweeping industries rave about Dortha Hise, Chief Ov

Karl Palachuk connects with Corey Munson of PC Matic on a topic at the back (or forefront) of everyone's mind: What if nobody returns to the office? Corey shares some ideas and opportunities for MSPs, should this be the case. Corey Munson is Vice President of Sales at PC Matic, developers of the only endpoint security software developed and supported exclusively in the U.S. In his 15 years with PC Matic, Corey has helped lead the company's rapid growth in the consumer markets; introduction into the channel and continued B2B market expansion. Prior to joining PC Matic in 2005, Munson spent 8 years with Gateway Inc, including 4 years leading competitive intelligence operations. Additional Relevant Information PC Matic is piloting a unique lead sharing program with our MSP partners that is backed by a national TV campaign. Links https://pcmatic.com/msp @pcmatic

Karl was joined by Marwan, co-founder and CEO of Veem, to talk about the one thing on every business owner's mind: where's my money?? Doing business internationally comes with a lot of opportunity, but also potentially a lot of fees. Marwan breaks it all down and also shares how his business, Veem, may be a good platform for your business. Veem simplifies payments to vendors, international contractors, contingent workers, etc. The payor just enters the email address, the currency they want to pay in, the amount, the scheduled date, and they will be shown the exact amount that will be debited from their account in their local currency, inclusive of any fees paid and the exchange rate conversion. Marwan Forzley is the co-founder and CEO of Veem, a global payments network helping small businesses transfer money domestically and internationally. Veem is revolutionizing global business payments with innovative technologies like blockchain to help small businesses grow at home and abroad. Forzley is also the author

Karl caught up with Scott Sanders, founder of the IT Business Owners Group to dig into the details of Scott's online Facebook community. And - to hear about their upcoming member cruise in September 2021 so there's plenty of time to join The IT Business Owners Group (ITBOG) is a sponsor driven community that was created on social media to bring a common channel for IT business owners and the vendors of the products in which they sell and support. IT Business Owners Group, helps both members and vendors by sharing ideas to help each other grow. -- Links: https://itbog.org  https://facebook.com/itbog.org  https://facebook.com/groups/itbog

Karl connected with Paul Green about not only how to get started (or continue) your marketing strategy as an MSP, but also how to navigate the sales climate created by COVID. Grab some free resources at his website below and catch some actionable tips during the podcast. About Paul: Paul Green is an MSP marketing expert, based in the UK, working with 200+ MSPs all over the world. He helps MSPs improve their marketing and generate more leads with his MSP Marketing Edge program. Paul's a former journalist and radio presenter, and has been working with MSPs for 4 years now. He's also the author of Updating Servers Doesn't Grow Your Business. Links: https://www.paulgreensmspmarketing.com/  https://www.mspmarketingedge.com/ 

Karl talked with Jim Roddy this week on the topic of the Retail IT Channel. Jim Roddy is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Retail Solutions Providers Association, and he does not fall short in suggestions on how to support your clients in the restaurant, retail, and similar spaces during COVID-19. About Jim: Jim Roddy is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA). He has been active in the channel since 1998, including 11 years as the President of Business Solutions Magazine, six years as an RSPA board member, one term as RSPA Chairman of the Board, and several years as a business coach for VARs, ISVs, and MSPs. Jim is regularly requested to speak at industry conferences and he is author of Hire Like You Just Beat Cancer. Links:  www.GoRSPA.org  https://twitter.com/Jim_Roddy  https://www.linkedin.com/in/JimRoddy1/ 

Karl and Mike get together to talk about some simple steps to lower your risks and preserve your lifestyle as a smart managed services provider. Mike Semel is a noted thought leader, speaker, blogger, and best-selling author. He is the President of Semel Consulting, focused on compliance regulations; cyber security; and Business Continuity planning. Mike has also developed Semel Systems, a series of cybersecurity and compliance training and go-to-market systems for MSPs. Links: www.mikesemel.com 

Karl caught up with his good friend Rayanne this week to talk about your IT Business' Finances, updates to the PPP Loans, and your chart of accounts. Rayanne is the owner of ABC Solutions, LLC in Clearwater, Florida providing complete accounting, business, and tax consulting services to IT Professionals in the United States and abroad. Pick up some tips about tracking sales tax vs use tax and more, plus where you can get Rayanne's processes for these and more. Rayanne's 5-Week class started on July 7 - you've only missed one week and it's recorded! Her classes are always updated with the latest information and packed full of handouts and excellent information. Sign up here: https://www.greatlittleseminar.com/course/financial-processes-for-the-i-t-services-firm/ More About Rayanne:  Rayanne is the owner of ABC Solutions, LLC in Clearwater, Florida providing complete accounting, business, and tax consulting services to IT Professionals in the United States and abroad. She is a Certified QuickBooks Professional

James Kernan met with Eric Beller about building residual income. Eric Beller is a seasoned sales leader with executive experience in managing business development and support operations for decentralized sales teams and distributors. He is senior vice president of sales for Sandler Partners, America’s Fastest Growing Distributor of Connectivity & Cloud Services. In this role, Beller oversees recruitment and management of the company’s network of sales partners, including agents, VARs and MSPs, which are selling voice, data, mobility, colo, cloud, security and continuity services to businesses nationwide. Looking to Partner with MSPs so we can add residual + upfront income for the clients they service today. Partner up with Sandler Partners to sell cable, fiber, wireless, VoIP, and various cloud solutions and earn residual income. Its free and easy to sign up. See why thousands of MSP's use Sandler Partners today. Links: https://www.sandlerpartners.com/ebeller

Co-hosts Karl Palachuk and Amy Babinchak got together to discuss the use of Retainers in the MSP space. Amy shares exactly how they are applied in her business, the freedom they allow, and how she deals with the question of "roll-over hours." And more - there's always more when these two get together. - Amy Babinchak is the owner of three IT related businesses: Harbor Computer Services, Third Tier and Sell My MSP and has been working in small and medium business IT field for more than 20 years. She's a technical person with advanced skills in networking design, management and implementation. She values technology for what it does for people and the success it brings to business. Amy is also a Microsoft MVP for 14 years, has received numerous leadership awards and is a valued member of various boards. Amy is a new member of the executive council of the Managed Services community at CompTia. Check out Amy's Facebook group below – This is her ransomware and security group. Private and on-topic always. Subscribe

Karl sat down with Chris Timm of Sondela Consulting and Autotask PSA consultant. Listen in as they dive into the roll of PSAs in your Managed Services business, setting up Autotask for success, and the importance of tracking time.   Chris started Sondela Consulting to focus on his passion for working with MSPs to help them become more successful and more efficient by understanding and utilising their tools more effectively. Sondela is a Zulu word for “Advance” which is a nod to Chris’s Southern African roots and is an apt name with his number one goal being to help MSPs gain a deeper understanding of their investment and realise profitability much quicker. The 14 years of experience Chris gained through previously running an MSP business combined with working at Autotask has given him greater insight and understanding into both sides of the industry and how a PSA tool can provide efficiencies and profitability when implemented properly. Chris can take you from zero to hero with your PSA tool, using it to its

James Kernan meets up with Matt Solomon and Natasha Boyko discuss the evolution of ID Agent and how serious they are about supporting their vendors. ID Agent provides Dark Web Monitoring + Phishing Simulation & Security Awareness Training, identity & Access Management Matt Solomon is an experienced sales professional with over 15 years in B2B, B2C and B2G environments. Past sales experience includes copyright, licensing, research and government consulting and advisory services. Matt joined Kaseya via ID Agent, with a wealth of experience working with managed service providers, large law firms, government contractors, non-profits and Fortune 500 organizations. He was the first employee of ID Agent and helped grow the business to 2,600+ MSP partners worldwide. He currently leads Kaseya’s business development team, working with managed services providers, channel partners and strategic partners. He has continued his role on the executive team of ID Agent. Links: www.idagent.com https://www.itcomplete.com

Karl meets with Susanne Tedrick about her new book: Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators. Susanne also gives great advice about how young women of color can get started with a career in tech. Susanne Tedrick is a technical specialist for a leading Fortune 50 technology company. Fiercely committed to increasing participation of women and people of color in STEM educational and professional opportunities, she is a career mentor for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Initiative and a volunteer workshop technical assistant for Black Girls Code, a non-profit that empowers girls of color to develop in-demand IT skills and prepare to advance careers in tech.  Cloud Tech Specialist, IBM Author, "Women of Color in Tech" Link to purchase the book on Wiley.com: Purchase Susanne's book from Wiley My website: susannetedrick.com Book's website: webelongintech.com Nonfiction Book Awards Silver Winner From Wiley promo material:

Host Karl Palachuk meets up with Simon Severino to talk about how a strategy sprint can double your sales conversions - even during this tough sales climate. Learn what your bottleneck is with a free sales audit from Strategy Sprints - an $800 value at https://www.strategysprints.com/sales. Simon Severino is the Founder and CEO of Strategy Sprints. Host of the Strategy Show. Expert in Business Strategy, Growth Strategy and Execution. The Strategy Sprints Team does only one thing: Strategy in Sprints Strategy = Increase your monthly revenue consistently, gain market shares. Sprints = Fast Execution, Short Project Cycles, Motivated Teams.  - Links www.strategysprints.com  https://www.strategysprints.com/sales 

Karl sat down with Community Leaders Amy Babinchak and Joshua Liberman to talk about remote work. Amy runs Harbor Computer Services, which always runs a remote operation. They invite all employees in for a weekly meeting, but the rest of the time, they all work remotely. Josh has personally worked remotely for years, but runs an IT consulting company that is build around in-office work. We asked them to give their advice about hiring, culture, productivity, security, and more. In addition to their individual experiences, Amy and Josh give some great tips on trying to hire and manage remote workers. And they gives us some speculation about changes to client offices going forward. All in all, a good conversation. Contact info: Amy Babinchak is the owner of three IT related businesses: Harbor Computer Services, Third Tier, and Sell My MSP. She has been working in the small and medium business IT field for more than 20 years. Amy is a technical person with advanced skills in networking design, management, and imp

James Kernan meets with Danny Jenkins to discuss how ThreatLocker adds a new and different level of security for MSPs.  ThreatLocker CEO, Danny Jenkins is a technical guru with a deep understanding of corporate IT and cybersecurity. He has an entrepreneurial background and two decades of experience in building and securing corporate networks. Before taking the reins at ThreatLocker®, Danny held CEO and CTO positions at multiple IT companies and founded a few cybersecurity businesses of his own. Links: -Website: ThreatLocker.com -Instagram: Threatlockersecurity -Facebook: TheThreatLocker -Twitter: ThreatLocker  -YouTube: ThreatLocker

Nigel built and sold a managed service business - and survived the last big recession. In this interview he talks with Karl Palachuk about the lessons he's learned. Nigel went on to found the Tech Tribe membership community and now helps hundreds of IT consultants run great businesses. Recently, he released a new ebook: Survive & Thrive: The MSP Owners Guide to Surviving & Thriving in Uncertain Times. (Available at thetechtribe.com) Nigel talks about the current environment, the "essential" role of IT in the current situation, and being a true business adviser. This is a 100% business-focused podcast. We talk about getting your finances under control, and keeping them that way forever. Managing cash inside your company is critical - and it needs to become a permanent process. We also touched on downsizing. No one wants to do it, but you may have to do it in order for your business to survive. And, of course, you need to do it the right way to improve the culture within your remaining team. -- -- -- Th

Host Karl Palachuk meets up with Justin Esgar to talk about the ACES Conference 2020: The Prequel - a free conference for all small to medium business owners, to help them survive and thrive in a post-Covid world! Justin is the owner of Virtua Consulting Group, a NYC-based company that helps not only clients with IT, but other consultants as well. Virtua Computers helps those companies with Mac-Based inventory, Virtua XYZ provides software to help MSPs succeed, Virtua Consulting offers 1 on 1 consulting with MSP owners to help grow their business, and Virtua Conferences, owners of the popular ACES Conference - a business conference for IT professionals and MSPs. Additional Links:  https://virtuaconsultinggroup.com  https://acesconf.com 

Host Amy Babinchak talks with Janet Schijns about how to generate demand, social selling, tactics to use when times are bad and community based IT marketing - you won't want to miss this. Janet Schijns is CEO and Co-Founder of JS Group, a go to market consultancy dedicated to achieving results in the channel. Janet was the 2019 Channel Influencer of the year and is a known expert on go to market. Additional Links:  https://jsgnow.com   twitter @channelsmart    linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetschijns/