.: Computer Consulting Top Related Articles
1). IT Specialists: Finding Your Niche
Finding a niche is an important step in becoming an IT specialist. In this article, you'll learn about how to develop your niche.
A Horizontal Niche
Instead of all your ideal clients being in the same industry (a vertical niche), maybe you realize that most of your clients' main contacts are office managers. What do you do next? Take an informal survey.
Article tags: it-specialist, it specialist, computer specialist, small business computer consulting, computer consulting
2). IT Consulting for Micro Businesses: What You Need to Know
IT consulting for micro businesses is a good starting point for many IT professionals. In addition to the general hardware and software, and peer-to peer networking, you'll need to be familiar with some additional items. In this article, you'll learn what other skills you need for micro business IT consulting.
When providing IT consulting to micro small businesses, you will occasionally get requests for support of the big competitors of the basic Windows software for their competiton.
Article tags: it consulting, it consultant, computer consulting, computer consultant
3). IT Consulting: Skills for Sweet Spot Customers
For sweet spot customers, you need hardware and software skills, and you also need networking skills to provide effective IT consulting. In this article, you'll learn some networking facets you should be familiar with.
In terms of other networking software, you should be comfortable with some of the client server messaging packages, the most popular being: Microsoft Exchange Server; the Novell group wise; client server; and sequel database applications.
Article tags: it consulting, it-consulting, small business computer consulting, computer consulting
4). Computer Consulting: Take Some Action
Before you open the doors to your computer consulting business, you need to get your ducks in a row. You'll need to pick a company name and get your business cards printed. Then you'll need to consider what types of customers you want to pursue and where you can meet them. In this article, you'll learn how and why you need to accomplish these steps.
Article tags: computer consulting, small business computer consulting
5). Computer Consulting: The Initial Consultation
You have to think of the sales process as more of like a pre-sales consultation and with an emphasis on consultation. You really want to convey your professionalism and stand out from the other computer consulting "professionals" out there who want to act like used car salespeople.
In this article, you'll learn that this can be done by taking a sincere.
Article tags: computer consulting, it consulting, small business computer consulting
6). 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.
Article tags: computer consulting, small business computer consulting, it consulting
7). Computer Consulting Time Constraints
Where can you find time to do it all? How can you devote time to finding long-term B2B computer consulting clients when you're already working 60, 70, 80 hours a week? There's no easy answer. In this article, you'll learn some possible options for finding long term clients in computer consulting.
Do a Time Study
Really looking at where you spend most of your time and figure out if there are some things that you're doing that you can afford to delegate (or automate or eliminate).
Article tags: computer consulting
8). Consulting Firms: Should You Be a Product Reseller?
In this article, we'll explore the two schools of thought on whether computer consulting firms should resell products.
Pure Computer Consulting Firms Defined
Some consulting firms want to be pure consulting firms. They believe that they are never going to make a penny off product margin and that there are potential conflicts when reselling products.
Article tags: consulting firms, computer consulting firms, computer consulting
9). Establishing Criteria for Clients in the Computer Consulting Business
In the computer consulting business there are several ways you can best qualify clients to ensure you get the best accounts to help grow your business.
Proximity
The first thing to make sure of when looking for clients for your computer consulting business is that they are close to you, at least within a 30 to 60 minute drive from your location. Having a pool of potential clients nearby will help you make the most impact at networking events or any other marketing-related functions.
Article tags: computer consulting, computer consulting business
10). Computer Consulting: Do Your Homework
Beware of vendors who ask you to explain what you do in your business. Instead, give a basic explaination of what your computer consulting business is all about so a client can determine if he has any product or service that’s in your picture. Rather than be reactive, go to the interview being proactive! Know what they are doing before you go in and be prepared to help them with their needs.
Article tags: computer consulting, it consulting, small business computer consulting
11). IT Support: Are You Wearing Multiple Hats?
In the early stages of developing an IT support business, the owners typically wear all the hats: the sales hats, the technical hats, and the administrative hats, until the company has established enough of a client base that it can justify delegating certain things to a salesperson or a couple of different technical people. In this article, you'll learn why you need to wear so many hats in the beginning and when to start handing the hats to someone else.
Article tags: it support, computer consulting, tech support
12). IT Specialists: Are Non-Profits a Viable Market?
Yes, non-profits are viable. But there are certainly more financially rewarding sectors for IT specialists. Let's first take a look at the pros of non-profits.
o It's easy to reach non-profits because they belong to trade groups and you can get your hands on the publicly available directories.
o You can get a lot of tremendous emotional satisfaction and gratification knowing you're helping a particular cause.
Article tags: it-specialist, it specialist, computer consulting, it specialists, it-specialists
13). IT Certifications: What Types of Support Do Your Clients Need?
Sweet spot small businesses have distinct support needs-strong desktop support skills and light LAN skills. In this article, you'll learn what skills and certifications are most important to your sweet spot business clients.
What Specific Tasks Will Your Clients Need Help With?
These sweet spot clients are looking for help with popular desktop applications like Microsoft Office, Intuit QuickBooks, and Interact ACT! and help doing hardware upgrades.
Article tags: it certifications, it support, computer support, computer consultant, computer consulting
14). IT Certifications: Are They Important?
Most of your sweet spot small business clients are just starting to gain awareness of the value of certifications. But most sweet spot clients don't know enough about IT to appreciate and pay for the differences in different levels of certification. In this article, you'll learn what your clients are looking for with your IT certifications.
What Do.
Article tags: it certifications, computer consulting
15). 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.
Article tags: computer consulting, small business computer consulting, it consulting