All Things MSP

In this episode of "All Things MSP," Justin Esgar and Eric Anthony dive deep into the often elusive world of productivity and work-life balance. Justin shares a personal anecdote from his school days, highlighting his early knack for software installation, while Eric emphasizes the importance of frequency in managing different life domains. They explore various productivity hacks, including calendar blocking and time allocation to tasks. The conversation touches on the challenges entrepreneurs face in maintaining work-life balance and how it's not about an equal division of time but about consistent efforts in each life domain. Justin underscores the importance of taking breaks to recharge your creative mind.

In this episode of "All Things MSP," host Justin Esgar and co-host Eric Anthony are joined by Ali Mahmoud, the VP of Product at Augmentt, to explore how MSPs can enhance their services and offerings in the world of cloud management, particularly focusing on Microsoft 365. They dive into the significance of security, risk assessment, and how to streamline MSP operations. Ali explains how Augmentt simplifies Microsoft 365 management and allows MSPs to monitor and secure multiple customers from a single platform. The conversation also delves into pricing strategies and productizing these services to create a profitable bundle for MSPs. Ali emphasizes the importance of security and discusses the challenges many MSPs face when convincing clients to adopt security measures like multi-factor authentication.

In this episode of the "All Things MSP" podcast, host Justin Esgar and co-host Eric Anthony, producer extraordinaire, sit down with special guest Tim Bowers, CEO of Halo PSA. The episode delves into the non-technical aspects of running an IT services business and focuses on how a PSA (Professional Service Automation) system can be a game-changer for MSPs.Tim Bowers introduces Halo PSA, emphasizing its role as a service delivery platform tailored for MSPs. The discussion centers on the advantages of using a PSA system, particularly for smaller MSPs, and the benefits of having a long-term strategic focus. They explore how PSA solutions like Halo are adaptable to fit the unique needs and configurations of each MSP, making it suitable for one-person shops to larger organizations.The conversation takes a deep dive into Halo PSA's capabilities, discussing its configurable nature, the importance of transparent data for making informed business decisions, and the significance of automation in streamlining processes like billing. The episode also touches on the flexibility of dashboards, where managers can work directly from operational dashboards, enhancing visibility and decision-making.Halo PSA's integrations are highlighted, while Tim Bowers explains that users can even build their own integrations through the API, providing customization and scalability. The episode concludes by discussing Halo PSA's intelligent ticket matching system, powered by ChatGPT, and how it enhances ticket categorization and prioritization.

In this episode of "All Things MSP," co-host Justin Esgar and podcast producer Eric Anthony delve into the concept of "eating your own dog food" in the world of managed service providers (MSPs). They discuss the importance of using the very products and services you sell to your clients, sharing personal anecdotes and insights into how this practice can improve efficiency, enhance support, and build trust with customers.

Justin and Eric emphasize that MSPs should familiarize themselves with the tools and solutions they offer to clients. Justin points out that this practice is crucial for offering effective support, as being well-versed in the software and services allows MSPs to troubleshoot issues more effectively and understand clients' needs better.

They also touch upon standardization in an MSP's toolset, advocating for consistent use of products across the board. Standardization not only makes management easier but also bolsters security since administrators can efficiently deploy updates and maintain configurations.

The hosts address the dilemma of using Microsoft and Google products within the MSP industry, with the conversation highlighting the challenges and advantages of managing and using both ecosystems. They explore the need for MSPs to adapt and be proficient in both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

The episode wraps up with the origins of the phrase "eating your own dog food," tracing it back to a Microsoft email from 1988. Justin finds this connection amusing, given the Microsoft-themed discussion.

In this episode of "All Things/MSP," hosts Justin Esgar and Eric Anthony dive deep into the world of protection for modern communication with their guest, Gene Reich from Traceless. They discuss the recent high-profile MGM breach and the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats that MSPs and businesses face today.The episode highlights how Traceless addresses the challenges of securing sensitive information, such as passwords and confidential data, in an increasingly vulnerable digital environment. Gene explains the importance of not storing sensitive data at rest and outlines the evolution of identity verification in the digital world.The conversation also touches on the rise of Smishing (SMS phishing) and the need for more robust authentication methods to protect against such attacks. Gene shares insights into Traceless's plans for improving identity verification and discusses the company's integration with various PSA systems like ConnectWise Manage and Autotask.Listeners gain valuable insights into the significance of prioritizing security in MSP operations, the importance of identity protection, and how Traceless is helping MSPs enhance their cybersecurity posture. The hosts emphasize the importance of taking proactive steps to safeguard sensitive information, even if it means adopting slightly more inconvenient security measures.This episode is a must-listen for MSPs and IT professionals looking to stay ahead of evolving cybersecurity threats and exploring advanced threat protection solutions.

In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the importance of content marketing for MSPs (Managed Service Providers) and provide tips on how to do it effectively. They suggest focusing on common problems that your target audience has, staying updated on industry trends, and leveraging social proof. They also recommend creating different types of content, such as text, audio, images, and video, and using tools like Buffer and Canva to streamline the process. The hosts emphasize the need for MSPs to invest time and effort into marketing and encourage listeners to reach out for help and support.

In this episode of "All Things MSP," hosts Eric Anthony and Justin Esgar celebrate six months of podcasting and express their gratitude to the audience. The focus of the podcast and the All Things MSP initiative is to support and promote IT service providers and Managed Service Providers (MSPs). They share exciting news about upcoming opportunities for the audience to contribute and support the channel, including the launch of All Things MSP merchandise and sponsorship/advertising packages for vendors.The core topic of the episode is content marketing and why it's essential for MSPs. Eric and Justin emphasize that content marketing helps MSPs educate their audience, position themselves as trusted experts, and consistently stay in front of their prospects. They stress the importance of understanding your ideal customer profile (ICP) to identify common problems in your target market, which will form the basis of your content.Justin shares his own experiences and insights, highlighting the significance of knowing your audience's reading habits, preferences, and pain points. They discuss various approaches, including using AI tools like ChatGPT for content ideation and the importance of infusing your personal voice into your content to make it more genuine and relatable.The episode ends with a teaser for the next episode, where Eric and Justin will dive deeper into content marketing tactics and strategies that MSPs can implement on a budget.

In this episode of "All Things MSP," Justin Esgar and Eric Anthony dive into the essential first step in MSP marketing: building your list. They start by emphasizing the importance of having a quality list of potential clients or leads and explain how this is the foundation of successful marketing efforts.Justin and Eric outline a practical approach for listeners who may be starting from scratch. They recommend creating a spreadsheet, where you can capture crucial information about potential clients. This includes their first name, last name, company, email address, phone number, how you found them, their LinkedIn profile, notes, and even the dates of your first and last contact with them. This list will serve as your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool for managing and nurturing leads.The hosts stress that even small MSPs or solopreneurs can benefit from building their list strategically. They explain that this step is about quality over quantity. Rather than buying a massive list, they encourage listeners to leverage their existing network and ask for referrals, a valuable source of high-quality leads.Justin and Eric also tease future episodes in which they will discuss how to ask for referrals effectively and provide more insights into the MSP marketing process.Whether you're just starting in the MSP business or looking to improve your marketing efforts, this episode lays a strong foundation for building a list of potential clients, a critical step toward growing your MSP business.

In this episode of "All Things MSP," hosts Justin Esgar and Eric Anthony dive deep into the critical topic of pricing strategies for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). They discuss the pressing question of whether MSPs should raise their prices in the coming months and why this is crucial in today's evolving market. Justin and Eric emphasize the importance of knowing your desired income goals, understanding your costs, and consistently reviewing pricing structures.The hosts explore various aspects of pricing, including the significance of regular price increases, the impact of vendor price changes, and the pitfalls of maintaining stagnant rates. They debunk the myth that pricing should remain unchanged for existing clients and assert that it's essential to factor in cost-of-living adjustments to contracts. Additionally, they touch on the Gary Vaynerchuk model of incrementally raising prices for new clients until reaching a cap.Justin and Eric provide practical advice for MSPs, whether they aim to maintain a lifestyle business or aspire to substantial growth. They stress the importance of knowing your numbers, setting clear revenue targets, and continuously evaluating your pricing strategy to ensure profitability and sustainability. The episode offers valuable insights into the financial side of running an MSP and provides actionable takeaways for MSP owners looking to thrive in a competitive market.

In this episode of "All Things MSP," hosts Eric Anthony and Justin Esgar dive into the  world of MSP marketing. They stress the importance of understanding your target market and tailoring your marketing efforts accordingly. Eric simplifies the marketing process into three key stages: Get, Do, and Keep. He further breaks down the Get phase into awareness, evaluation, and conversion.Justin shares his experiences with various marketing tactics, including postcards, LinkedIn messages, cold calls, and webinars, highlighting the importance of knowing your demographic and competition. He emphasizes that marketing isn't always a logical, straight path; it requires creativity and experimentation.The hosts discuss the significance of dedicating time and effort to marketing, even if you're not investing a significant amount of money. They encourage MSP owners to embrace marketing as a long-term effort, as it's all about gaining more eyeballs and building brand recognition over time.The episode also teases the upcoming ACEs conference, a valuable event for IT consultants looking to enhance their business acumen. ACEs conference covers a wide range of topics, including marketing, management, sales, and general business strategies.In conclusion, "Cracking the Code: Getting Started with MSP Marketing" provides insights and practical advice for MSP owners looking to improve their marketing strategies and attract the right clients.