Uncle Marv's IT Business Podcast

Marv explains that Kaseya had been inviting him to visit their offices for several months, and he finally accepted their invitation. He clarifies that he was not acquired by Kaseya and that his MSP business and podcast will continue as usual. 

During the visit, Marv had open and honest discussions with Kaseya representatives. He expressed his experiences with their products and acknowledged both positive and negative feedback from t...

Cable Testing Tools Rant

Uncle Marv expresses his frustration with a managed service provider who used a basic continuity tester for cable runs, leading to connectivity issues. He emphasizes the need for proper cable testing and certification tools, especially for companies offering cabling services. Cutting corners and using inadequate tools reflects poorly on the industry and can lead to subpar work.

Time is a Precious Resource

Juan...

Paul identifies two major mistakes: not doing enough marketing and doing it sporadically. He explains that many MSPs start as technicians who get an "entrepreneurial seizure" and launch their own business, but eventually struggle when referrals dry up and they need to market themselves. The second mistake is running one-off campaigns that fail to generate results, leading MSPs to conclude marketing doesn't work.

Paul emphasizes the ...

Brook explains that the Director of Channel Development position at ScalePad was an opportunity she couldn't turn down, given the company's leadership, platform, and team. She is excited to work under Eric Torres, VP of Channel, and Luis, Chief Experience Officer, and learn from their expertise in the industry. Her role involves being Torres' right hand, assisting with reporting, analytics, community, and RevOps projects. 

Brook hig...

Uncle Marv and Bradley Gross begin by discussing a recent lawsuit where an MSP was sued by a law firm client for $1 million due to a breach. They note that while the initial news generated a lot of attention, the case has since gone quiet, with no further updates on the court proceedings. Gross suggests that this is likely due to the parties engaging in behind-the-scenes negotiations, as the lack of a formal response from the defen...

Taher shares that one of the biggest mistakes MSPs make is trying to skip straight to lead generation without first building a strong inbound marketing foundation. He emphasizes that having a professional, conversion-optimized website, active social media presence, and personal branding are crucial for making a great first impression on potential clients. Taher explains that MSPs often make the mistake of relying too heavily on ref...

Matt Rodela, Chief Executive Officer of Tech Marketing Engine, joins me today to discuss the common mistakes he sees MSPs making with their marketing and how to address them. The biggest mistake Matt sees is a lack of a coherent marketing plan - MSPs often try to do everything from SEO to social media without thinking about how it fits into their broader business goals. Instead, Matt recommends looking at what your competitors are ...

We start by discussing Parallels' core product, which still enables running Windows on Mac, but has expanded to support a variety of operating systems and use cases. Chris explains that Parallels is now part of the Alludo group, which also owns other well-known software brands like WinZip, MindManager, and Corel. 

The conversation then shifts to Parallels' remote application server (RAS) and desktop as a service (DaaS) offerings. RA...

The show begins with a commercial for the NetAlly EtherScope NXG, a network analyzer that supports Wi-Fi 6 and 6E. Uncle Marv then introduces the episode, mentioning that he has exclusive news to share. However, he quickly realizes that the news he had - Kaseya's announcement of their new Kaseya 365 subscription service - had already been announced the previous day at the Kaseya Connect conference in Las Vegas. 

Uncle Marv then brin...

Sean Lardo, the program manager for Pitch It, shares that this year's application process saw a record number of submissions, with a diverse group of vendors applying from various business sectors. While there were concerns about an influx of AI-focused applicants, Lardo notes that the program still attracted a healthy mix of solutions, with AI, cybersecurity, and other innovative offerings represented. 

The Pitch It program is a 16...

The conversation begins with a discussion on the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the workforce. According to a survey conducted by Parallels' parent company Alludo, 83% of the workforce is expected to continue working remotely in some capacity. This shift has presented significant challenges for companies that were previously accustomed to a fully in-office model. Many organizations struggled to provide the necessary rem...

Uncle Marv kicks off the episode by sharing a story about using his NetAlly EtherScope network tester to troubleshoot a client's fiber internet connection issue, highlighting the value of having the right tools to demonstrate technical expertise. He then introduces his guest, Dave Scott, who has over 20 years of experience helping technology businesses with their marketing and growth strategies. 

Dave and Uncle Marv discuss the comm...

Sean and Dave share the backstory behind writing "The Pumpkin Plan for MSPs." They explain how their personal experiences and mistakes in the industry inspired them to create a book that provides practical, battle-tested advice for managed service providers. The authors emphasize that their goal was not to reinvent the wheel, but to distill the essential lessons from Mike Michalowicz's original "Pumpkin Plan" and adapt them specifi...

Introducing Stack Tracker for MSPs

Colin Knox explains that StackTracker goes beyond just mapping an MSP's technology stack. It focuses on the reseller aspect of an MSP's business, providing insights into the usage, costs, and profitability of the solutions they are reselling to clients. By pulling in data directly from vendors, StackTracker can show MSPs their vendor spend, revenue, and profitability across their entire product por...

Lori Hardtke is a solo MSP owner who has been in the IT industry for many years, working in various roles such as IT manager at large companies like Mayo Clinic. Over time, Lori realized that she didn't want the responsibility of managing employees and decided to run her business as a solo operation, leveraging subcontractors when needed.  

In 2018, Lori came across the Profit First book by Michael Michalowicz and was initially hesi...

Uncle Marv's recap of the Channel Pro Live event

Uncle Marv starts by discussing his recent trip to Channel Pro Live in Orlando, Florida. He shares his overall positive impression of the event, noting that the location, accommodations, and Wi-Fi were all satisfactory. The content and speakers were also well-received, with the keynote by Manuel Palachuk and panels featuring industry experts like Rayanne Buchianico, Eric Long, and Car...

Uncle Marv and Tim Fitzpatrick dive into the challenges many MSPs face when it comes to marketing their businesses. Tim explains that the first step in developing a successful marketing strategy is to understand where the business is currently and where it wants to go. This involves identifying the target market, crafting the right messaging, and ensuring the offerings are aligned with the needs of the ideal clients. 

Tim cautions a...

Strap in for a strategic deep dive into the world of help desk management, where I reveal how transitioning to a specialized team structure can turn your service from satisfactory to exceptional. We navigate the shift from generalist to niche expert pods, ensuring that your team is not just dealing with the day-to-day but excelling in their specialized fields, from healthcare to banking. It's more than just technical know-how; it's...

Join the revolution of IT as we chat with Jeff Bishop from ConnectWise, who lifts the veil on the future of automation and AI. Our conversation takes off from a tale of a complex client relocation, seguing into Jeff’s exciting reveal of ConnectWise's latest innovations in robotic process automation. 

Jeff describes how their RPA solution goes beyond just bots, also including more comprehensive workflow automation capabilities that c...