Do IT Smarter Targets MSP Marketing

The San Diego-based company, once a managed services provider itself, said VARs transitioning into being MSPs often find it difficult to start their own marketing programs. With that in mind, the company is offering this new component to its 115 partners as part of its "Instant MSP" program.

"Here's a turnkey approach that allows small VARs to get up to speed and going," said Todd McKendrick, vice president of sales. "VARs are actually painfully aware that marketing should be one of the most important things going on for their businesses, but it's hard to do that on top of everything else."

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The starting price of $29.95 per month offers a combination of an e-mail marketing campaign consisting of 500 e-mails and a postcard marketing campaign that includes 1,000 postcards. These mailings invite prospects to attend a seminar or Web seminar created by Do IT Smarter but branded by one of the technology vendors that are part of the Do IT Smarter MSP offering, such as SonicWall, Silverback or Xerox.

Do IT Smarter features a different technology vendor each month. VARs that do not want to participate during a particular month can opt out.

On top of the e-mail, postcards and seminars or Web seminars, VARs also have the option of paying for additional services such as more expensive direct mail or telemarketing. The full campaign costs $1,500 and includes the e-mails, postcards and telemarketing.

Most VARs are expected to spend between $29.95 and $400 per month, McKendrick said.

The program is brand-new, and so far Do IT Smarter has signed up 17 of its MSPs to participate. Although the program is untested, the company said it expects it will generate one to two new customers per quarter for each MSP.

"A new customer to them can mean a lot of different things," McKendrick said. Most importantly, he said, MSPs can spread out their infrastructure costs across more customers, improving their own bottom lines.

As part of the program, Do IT Smarter will help its MSPs generate prospect lists of 500 if a VAR does not already have such a list.