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Learn to Earn by Attending a Technology Conference!
Financial markets swing back and forth during a trading day, reflecting investments made and disposed of often in the short-term. But long-term investments in yourself compound day-by-day, week-by-week and year-by-year. Attending professional events such as technology conferences is one such long-term investment in yourself. Why would you attend technology conferences when you can simply read a book on technology in the comfort of your own home at little expense? Or you could watch a complimentary webinar? The answer, in my humble opinion is elevation and circulation. As a professional, you typically assume more senior responsiblities as you gain more experience. That includes elevating your “A” game to attend more professional meetings such as Chamber of Commerce lunch-and-learns. SMB channel partners and consultants elevate by attending technology conferences where he/she can directly meet and chat with well-known speakers and other industry leaders. This is elevation. Let’s talk about ...<read more>

SMB PC 3rd Annual SMB technology partner Salary / Compensation Survey - please complete!
Hello there everyone. As you get older - the years fly by faster! So I was startled and surprised nonetheless EXCITED that it’s annual salary/compensation survey time again. There are many reasons that this data collection exercises, which results in amazing information valuable to all. Perhaps you are curious to see how you stack up against your peers (don’t be shy - it’s only natural!). The key point is engage you to complete this survey. The results of this completely confidential survey will be released on an aggregate basis at 1:00pPM EDT on May 1st at the SMB Nation Spring conference in the New York City area. I will also have a write-up on the survey results in the second quarter (2Q2009) issue of
SMB Partner Community Magazine (SMB PC).
<read more>>

No confusion between IBM (Lotus Foundations) and Microsoft
(Windows Server Foundation) - This is no April Fool’s Day joke in the SMB space. Today Microsoft announced Windows Server Foundation, a low-end server solution that I’ll define in a moment. It appears similar in name to IBM’s Lotus Foundations and already some analyst such as Joe Wilcox and initially repeated by big Small Business Server (SBS) blogger Susan Bradley are concluding Microsoft introduced Windows Server Foundation to compete with Lotus Foundations. Such is not the case and I will make this clear in the road map I lay out below. I have recently received private briefings from both Microsoft and IBM on their respective “foundations” and have conducted additional research to bring you a meaningful blog on this important SMB matter... <read more>>

Top Opportunities for SMB Consultants in 2009 - By Harry Brelsford - Lately, I have been spending a lot of time in the opportunity module of the ERP system we use at SMB Nation. This exercise is both therapeutic and practical. The “therapy” is that working with opportunities leads to optimism, so I feel better about myself and my company. The “practical” side is that there is always plenty of opportunities out there - in good times or bad. While researching this article, I realized that opportunity is in the eye of the beholder. Whereas one person’s saintly behavior... <read more>

First Ever Managed Services Survey Released! - SMB Nation released its first ever dedicated managed services survey to learn more about this space and offer future analysis and commentary. “We are tremendously excited to zero in on one of the hottest areas in the SMB IT channel.” Stated SMB Nation CEO Harry Brelsford. “We will conduct the survey until the end of March and we look forward to great feedback.” Respondents entering their identity (completely optional) will be entered for a prize drawing for one Nintendo DS!

Click Here to take survey

Well THANK YOU StuS and Laura DiDio for this SBS 2008 book review - This from my friends at wservernews! - Small Business Server 2008 Blueprint Book Review: Many thousands of you are running SBS, and this new book is going to save you a lot of time and headache. I asked Laura DiDio to do a review and here it is: If your organization is a small or mid-sized business (SMB) with one-to-200 employees in your organization - and 55% of you reading this newsletter fall into that category - and you’re running Windows, then the “Small Business Server 2008 Blueprint” book is written for you. It’s no secret that IT departments have been hit hard by the ongoing economic downturn. Many of you are not just running a lean, mean organization; it’s downright skeletal. There’s little or no money for new hires or budget to train and re-certify your existing staff. And yet, many of you have received mandates from upper management telling you to migrate to new platforms. The Small Business Server 2008 Blueprint, co-authored by Philip Elder and Harry Brelsford, offers... <read more>

Frank McCallister Passes Away - Frank McCallister Microsoft MVP (most valued professional), passed away in his sleep Friday at 1:50am of complications from a recent heart attack. Frank was 78 years old. Frank McCAllister was born in Toledo, Ohio 6/17/1930. He grew up in St. Petersburg FL and Atlanta GA, Graduated Georgia Institute of Technology 1952. After Pilot training Frank served in the USAF as a Fighter Pilot and retired in 1975. While in the Air Force he traveled Europe, Turkey, and Libyaand in late 60's he flew the F-100 aircraft. Frank was the first commander of a detachment of Skyraiders escorting helicopters into Laos and North VietNam rescuing our downed pilots. Frank was a moderator, friend and an MVP's MVP. Frank has been very active in these newsgroups for many years even as recently as last month, even before being awarded as an MVP. The MVP summit begins on Sunday and Frank will be sorely missed by all of us who have had the privilege to know him. Not only for what he shared technically, but for what he shared as a person. He will be missed and fondly remembered. <Harry's Blog>

Slumdog SMB Economics by Harry Brelsford - Not only did Slumdog Millionaire save Hollywood but I suggest this movie has planted the seeds of economic recovery. Here is what I mean. Several weeks ago on a Sunday, my wife and I attended a sold-out showing of Slumdog Millionaire at the old fashioned 1930’s era movie theater on Bainbridge Island. Astro, the SMB Nation mascot (English Springer Spaniel), likes living on Bainbridge Island and not as a slumdog. Seen here next to some books in-progress. We arrived early to insure we could get tickets for the showing an hour later. There was a line of people waiting to purchase tickets (a good sign). We then trotted across the street the Edna’s (a country inn with outstanding seafood) menu. Edna’s was PACKED and we had to wait to be seated. In fact, we ended up in the lounge. Edna’s, having completely UNDERESTIMATED demand that evening and a staff of three employees was attempting to serve over 100 patrons. A call went out for additional staff to come in. It was a level of micro-economic activity that I had personally not witnessed in six months or more. This is a true story. <read more>

Multi-community for SMB Consultants: Degrees of Separation by Harry Brelsford - We are all connected somehow… Man cannot live on bread alone. Much like a diet, you need a careful mix of all the food groups. In this case, the “food groups” are the different and varied technology communities out there! Having attended a couple of different shows in the past couple of months, I have discovered that several SMB technology vendors cross party lines and are truly bipartisan. The very premise of this article is to identify vendors and sponsors who serve multiple technology communities.. My first tale occurred right after the start of the year. I recently had business in the San Francisco-area. Before traveling, I contacted a sponsor, EMC, to arrange a visit. They suggested I visit the EMC booth at MacWorld for our business appointment. The more I thought about it, the more I saw the brilliance in its request! Heck, I had just received an Apple IPhone for the holidays and I wanted to learn more about my new toy! I also wanted to learn more about new technology communities in 2009, so off to MacWorld I...<read more>

Microsoft to open retail stores in major cities worldwide - Microsoft said Thursday that it has hired a Wal-Mart veteran to open a chain of retail stores, which are targeted for several major cities around the world. The decision to open Microsoft-owned and branded stores is a major shift of strategy for a company that had consistently denied any plans to open its own shops, despite the success of stores run by its rival, Apple. "We're not planning to open stores, but we need to learn more about stores," said Bill Brownell, Microsoft general manager of worldwide retail services, in an interview only last month. "We need to take more of a leadership role." In recent months, Microsoft had moved to take greater control over...
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SMB VoIP Survey Results - Writers like to play on words as part of their craft. With the winter cold and flu season upon us, I have received numerous meeting cancellations on my schedule because colleagues have “lost their voice.” And that got me thinking. If their voice isn’t working, is their VoIP working in the economic winter storm? That is, how is the VoIP segment of the technology sector holding up in the Great Recession... <read more>

HP, Microsoft team on packaged solutions for the channel - By Paul Weinberg - Hewlett Packard and Microsoft have teamed up to provide a set of easy-to-implement "best practices" hardware and software configurations for channel partners. The HP BladeSystem Solution Blocks [PDF] consist of server blades, storage and networking gear bundled with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server and a data management solution -- the latter based on Microsoft SQL Server. "This lets customers receive pre-configured, integrated and right-sized solutions they can simply... <read more>

Window Small Business Server 2008 Offers a Vatiety of Pricing Options Based on Needs -
Windows Small Business Server 2008 offers a Standard Edition and a Premium Edition. Their licensing models are similar in that they consist of a server license and incremental Client Access Licenses (CALs). You purchase CALs—SBS 2008 CAL Suite or SBS 2008 CAL Suite for Premium Users or Devices—for each user or device that is accessing the SBS network. Microsoft offers several flexible licensing options to allow for complete scalability of your cost in relation to your usage, including various CAL quantities to suit your specific needs as well as the ability to purchase SBS 2008 CAL Suite for Premium Users or Devices for only those users or devices accessing the “premium” features.

Click <read more> more to load a table that provides guidance on estimated retail pricing for U.S. and Canadian editions of Windows Small Business Server 2008... <read more>

Join The Tribe and Thrive

- When you join the SMB Nation Tribe, you will become part of one of the fastest growing group of successful SMB consultants on the internet. As an SMB Nation Tribe Member, you will be invited to participate in special opportunities. These opportunities are oriented towards making you successful as SMB consultants, resellers and system integrators. When you join SMB Nation you will get:

- Industry Expert Harry Brelsford's SMB Advisory Newsletter.
- The SMB Partner Community Magazine
- Exclusive SMB Training Opportunities (in person and on-line)
- Updates on SMB Conferences, SMB Workshops and SMB Events held worldwide.
- and much more!

PLUS - You will have an opportunity to join a TCAT-based success team for peer group interaction in a non-competitive\confidential environment.
In Addition, this year we will be introducing many new and exciting features exclusively for Tribe Members.

Joining the Tribe is absolutely free, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so join today! Click on the Join the Tribe link here or in the upper right corner.

FORUMS

- Check out our new Forums Section. Topics Include:

Join Us in the Forum - Click Here

BLOG - Check out Harry Brelsford's "SMB Dude" Blog. Some of what you will find:

Free Sections from Harry Brelsford's Popular SMB Series Books
Daily Trends
Excerpts from News Letters
Thoughts on Marketing
And More! HERE

Thought or The Day - Hand out one business card per week and gather one business card per week to building your SMB technology consulting practice. This time-proven methodology allows you to build your book of business over the long-run with sustained clients. You will find that performing simple business development tasks repeatedly is more effective than a one-time “splurge” of activity. (SMB Consulting Best Practices book excerpt)

SMB Nation Goes VoIP with its New Site "Telephonation.com"

SMB Nation entered the Voice over IP (VoIP) world with a roar and the release of the first Microsoft Response Point Book "Cut the Strings." Now they have followed up with the new VoIP support site and Forum, Telephonation.com. Another peice in the SMB voice meets data convergence. Visit Telephonation.com today and see what its all about. <read more>

HOME | FORUM | VIDEO | NEWS & BLOGS

Sponsors - We Build the SMB Community! We support the SMB community by assisting the appropriate participation of sponsors and vendors in the overall SMB channel economic ecosystem, that allows everyone to THRIVE! Contact Harry Brelsford, CEO directly at harryb@smbnation.com or 1-888-SMB-NAT1 (ask forHarry Brelsford in our new Microsoft Response Point telephone system).

Sponsorship opportunities exist in the following areas:

Online
Events
Publications
Custom go-to-market (GTM) campaigns.

For More Information Contact Jenny Hall at 1-206-201-2943 or email jenniferh@smbnation.com.

Past News
SMB Nation Bank - Student Loan Program Announced for SMB Nation Events! - Payment plan allows SMB Nation Tribal members to attend educational technology conferences - BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA, February 15, 2009 – Trying to ensure every Small and medium business (SMB) technology consultant and channel partner can participate in professional education opportunities, SMB Nation has announced its “SMB Nation Bank – Student Loan Program.” Citing an attempt to thaw frozen credit markets, CEO Harry Brelsford from SMB Nation commented “Now more than ever, our tribal members need to learn more business and technology skills. Times of economic change often create the greatest opportunity and technology solutions, delivered by SMB consultants with current skills sets, are key to both renewed and on-going professional success.” The SMB Nation Bank – Student Loan Program specifics are... <read more>

Harry the Weekend Warrior Installs Microsoft Response Point SP2 - They say you can take away the technology from the boy but you can’t ever takeaway the inner GEEK! I proved this once again last weekend when I had one of my GEEK SUNDAYS. No one was in the main office of SMB Nation and I was alone there to perform IT maintenance, including implementing Microsoft Response Point Service Pack 2. I love these days as I don’t get enough geek time as a CEO driving business development and other activities in my “day job.” For those new to Microsoft Response Point... <read more>

Leaders Form Industry Consortium to Measure SMB IT Effectiveness - HOUSTON, Feb. 16, 2009 – A group of companies with a primary focus on small- and medium-sized businesses today announced the formation of the first industry coalition to measure the IT effectiveness of SMBs around the world. The Information Technology Effectiveness Index – ITEI – provides business owners and IT executives with a free online benchmarking tool that uses a methods-based framework to compare the effectiveness of their IT systems with companies in the same industries and peer groups (www.iteffectivenessindex.com). Participants who take the 12-question, 10-minute survey receive an immediate and confidential score, accompanied by a detailed report with consultative suggestions about how to improve their IT processes. In December, the ITEI Partners will publish the SMB IT Effectiveness Index Annual Report, which will be provided free-of-charge to survey participants. Sponsors of the ITEI include HostSearch (www.hostsearch.com); Kennesaw State University (www.kennesawstate.edu); Microsoft (www.microsoft.com); Nine Lives Media (www.ninelivesmediainc.com); The Planet (www.theplanet.com); SmallBizTechnology.com www.smallbiztechnology.com); Small Business Trends (www.smallbiztrends.com ); SMB Nation (www.smbnation.com ); and Yankee Group (www.yankeegroup.com ). “Technology is core to any business, and many SMBs lack the resources and market research to improve their effectiveness,” said ITEI Partner Steve Kahan, who serves as vice president of marketing and product management with The Planet. “The vast majority of research on IT best practices and security focuses on large enterprises. The ITEI, by contrast, has built benchmarks specifically for the SMB market that assess their IT processes, provide guidance on how to improve, and will monitor industry trends. Participants can leverage the aggregated data to evaluate how they compare with other companies and their industry peers.” “Many IT frameworks are designed without constraints in mind, when in reality SMBs don’t have the specialized resources or budgets to implement recommendations in-house, which puts them at a distinct disadvantage compared with large enterprises,” said ITEI Partner Herb Mattord, CISSP and CISM, who serves as assistant professor with Kennesaw State University. “The ITEI provides a tool that helps to isolate deficiencies and provides guidance on how to supplement their existing resources, improve their operations and reduce security risks.” During the year, ITEI Partners will issue periodic news as research trends emerge. To participate in the survey or learn more about the participating partners, visit the ITEI Web site at www.iteffectivenessindex.com.

HP Offers Zero Percent Financing! - HP has announced that it will be offering two zero percent financing promotions to make it simple and affordable for small businesses to continue investing in the technology that can help them increase efficiency and grow their businesses. Offered through HP Financial Services, the two promotions provide customers the choice to either lease or own products. The zero percent 12-month promotion plan allows small businesses to invest in new technology while managing cash flow. At the end of the 12-month term, the equipment can be purchased for one dollar. The zero percent 36-month lease offer provides a fair market value purchase option at the end of the lease term. "It was an opportunity for us to... <read more>

Amazon's Sales Surge, Bucking Retail Slump- Defying the brutal retail slump, Amazon.com Inc. said profit rose 9% and sales surged 18% in the fourth quarter as the Internet giant used its pricing muscle to lure shoppers. Chief Executive Jeff Bezos's goal of establishing Amazon as the Internet's biggest store, with aggressive discounting, free shipping offers and a relentless expansion into new product categories, is paying dividends just as most retailers are struggling and scaling back. The Seattle-based company reported ... <read more>

BlackBerry Force One Is Up to the Job - President Obama Not the First to Test BlackBerry's Security - By KI MAE HEUSSNER - ABC NEWS - Now that Barack Obama and his tech-savvy team have ascended to the White House, the more apt expression appears to be "Berry to the Chief." Since winning the election, Obama has argued that he should be allowed to bring his BlackBerry to the Oval Office, despite national security concerns and a tradition of e-mail-free presidents. On Thursday, he finally got to say, "I won the fight." Although Obama will only be able to communicate with senior staff and a select group of personal friends, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs confirmed that officials had negotiated a secure way for the president to hold on to his precious device. "He believes it's a way of keeping in touch with folks, a way of doing it outside of getting stuck in a bubble," Gibbs said at his first White House press briefing... <read more>

Tech spending helps cut costs - Mary Teresa Bitti, Financial Post - Tony Lourakis heads a software company that develops integrated GPS tracking and dispatch software for companies that have fleets and mobile workforces. "We enable them to track their vehicles, assets and workers to help them be more efficient, reduce costs and provide better service," says Mr. Lourakis, president and chief executive of Complete Innovations. In other words, his technology is helping companies do exactly what they should be doing to weather the current economic slump: save money. As a result, says Mr. Lourakis, Complete Innovations is "growing like crazy. Even though there is a downturn, we are having record month... <read more> <read more>

Click Here to Visit our new 3D Virtual Trade Show!

SMB Nation Goes VoIP with its New Site "Telephonation.com"

Past News