Make more net profit from your MSP
(and take more holidays at the same time)
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My story
What my clients say
Recent media appearances + articles
Hello, I'm Paul Green. I'm an MSP marketing expert. And my mission is to help make your marketing easy
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Understand this: You’re not going to get to the end of your life, look back, and wish you’d spent more time closing tickets because your techs 'forgot' to...
Let me tell you my story. Before I started working with MSPs in 2016, I grew and then sold a successful B2B marketing company.
I started the business in 2005 after having an ‘entrepreneurial seizure’ and quitting my job in the media (I was a newspaper reporter, then a radio presenter for 13 years. Great fun).
But the story really begins at 6.15pm on Sunday 18th July 2010.
It was a hot Sunday afternoon. And with just one hour’s warning, my wife went into labour and gave birth to my child, Tilda.
She was an incredible 15 weeks’ premature. And the Special Care Baby Unit doctors warned us she might not survive the night.
I’d been a business owner for five years at that point. The business was doing OK – I was making a living – but the personal price I was paying was way too high.
I was working stupid hours, 6 days a week, to try to grow the business. I had two staff. But it seemed like nothing really happened unless I personally did it:
- I had to market the business
- Sell to clients
- Lead the delivery
- Worry about cash flow
The staff got paid before I did (sometimes I went months without pay). Work/life balance was way out of whack.
Sound familiar? It’s a position many business owners find themselves in. But in the long-term it’s not healthy.
Instead, you’ll wish you’d spent more time with your children. Or other half. Or just having more fun – hang gliding; golf; whatever your thing is.
For three months after Tilda’s birth, I focused on my family. I kept in contact with the business, but I wasn’t there – mentally or physically.
Tilda amazed the doctors with her progress, and today is a healthy 11-year-old.
Back to 2010. The day I returned to work after a 3 month break, I was dreading it.
Would there be a viable business to return to? Or would it have taken a massive step backwards?
Actually, it was the complete opposite. My two staff had stepped up to the mark, and had replaced me! They were keeping the marketing going, selling to clients and delivering. And do you know what… the business was running more efficiently than when I had been there for 12 hours a day.
I remember feeling a little hurt at first. After all, as business owners, our identity is tied up with our business, right? But I quickly realised how exciting this was.
Because now I had space. To stand back, and work ON the business, rather than IN it.
I stopped going into the office so much, and started working from McDonalds, Costa and Starbucks (anywhere I could get power and Wi-Fi became my office).
I took more time off. I went on more holidays, including a three week cruise with zero internet or phone contact (bliss). In 2012, we moved to a new home an hour away from the office. And I started only going in on Thursday mornings.
Suddenly, I had a business that was there for me. Rather than the other way around.
And the growth was impressive every year. From 2010 to 2011 the business grew its turnover by 47%. The year after it grew by 67%.
On the 24th March 2016 I sold the business to a fast growing digital marketing agency for an undisclosed sum.
So what did I actually do to grow the business to the point it could be sold as a profitable, ongoing concern?
That’s simple. I focused all my attention on systemising effective marketing, sales and delivery. That’s it.
Now I work with the owners and managers of 676 MSPs around the world.
People who want to grow turnover and net profits at the same time. And have a dramatically better work/life balance.
The MSP business model is beautiful, isn't it? Crazy good retention, and tons of Monthly Recurring Revenue.
The only downside of this is it makes many MSPs lazy with their marketing. They do little or no marketing. Perhaps your business is like that?
The thing is, there is a real opportunity in every marketplace for one or two MSPs who get really good at marketing.
And you don't have to be world class. You just need to be better than 2 or 3 of your closest competitors. You'll generate more leads, prospects and clients than they will. Which is the route to a great net profit, and ultimately a better work/life balance.
You can see what I can do to help you grow your business here
Here's what some of my MSP clients say
(from Google Reviews)
Here are some of my recent guest appearances
My showbiz N-Able interview
I was interviewed at length by Luis Giraldo of N-Able. He was in Bryan Adams' studio in Canada (yes really) and I was in a posh hotel in Windsor, UK.
The resulting interviews are now live as part of N-Able's incredible educational series called Studio.
Augmentt
First time I've covered this subject: Why your clients AREN'T terrified of cyber crime and how to wake them up.
Zomentum
The lovely Ben Spector held everything together for me, while I was suffering from buffering. I hate Openreach. Hate hate hate.
MSP Mindset
Great to appear with Damien Stevens on this live broadcast about the most effective MSP marketing.
IT Channel Oxygen
I had this article published on IT Channel Oxygen... if I say so myself, it's a good read about why your MSP needs a marketing system, and not just one off campaigns.
Vendasta Conquer Local
This is possibly the largest podcast I've appeared on. Exciting! Talking about strategies for MSPs to win clients and generate profits.
SuperOps SuperSummit 2023
A live event! This was fun! I returned for the 2nd year running, to do the closing keynote on marketing strategies to grow your MSP.
Syncro
This was a very well attended webinar focusing in on 10 ways you can use LinkedIn to generate leads.
N-Able (again)
This was a refreshingly different webinar. More of a discussion panel than an interview. I enjoyed it. Good one for you to run in the background while doing something else.
SuperOps
This was a fun webinar about what kind of marketing is working now for MSPs, hosted by the legendary Ian Luckett.
N-Able
A little less showbiz this one, looking at how to get your LinkedIn Newsletters set up.
Humanize IT
Another appearance with Adam Walter of Managed Services Platform. This time we took an MSP's website apart and made a series of suggestions to improve it.
Zomentum
How to get 100 leads in the next 90 days, a fun panel led by Shannon Murphy.
Rapid Fire Tools
This was a Sherlock Holmes-themed webinar about creating your MSP marketing strategy.
SMB Nation
An enjoyable interview with Harry Brelsford. Needs a better thumbnail though... we're both much more attractive in real life 😃
Zomentum
This was totally unscripted. Along with Zomentum's Shannon Murphy, I did a full critique of an MSP's marketing strategy and website.
SuperOps.ai Super Summit
Talking about the number one marketing channel for MSPs in 2022.
IT Experts
There's only one Ian Luckett. And it was great fun appearing on his podcast.
MSP Voice by MSP360
This was a vibrant one with Doug Hazelman.
IT Glue
Another webinar for my friends at IT Glue, this time about the marketing fundamentals you must get right in your MSP. Be aware that clicking the link or video thumbnail will open a new tab, and the video plays on IT Glue's website.
Karl Palachuk
When Karl asked me to contribute a video to his Cheeky Sales Coach series, I created something new. I show how winning a client is as much about what you do before and after the sales meeting, as it is during the meeting.
Unitrends
Brian Doty interviewed me about how to generate more leads using LinkedIn. There's a LOT packed into this 40 minutes...
Humanize IT
Great two-parter podcast with Adam Walter from Managed Service Platform.
MSP Growth Doctor
A very solid interview focused on marketing your MSP, with Carly and Stephen from Managed Services Platform.
Channelfied Live
This was such fun with Matt Solomon and Kevin Lancaster, talking about growing MSPs and making marketing easier - especially building your email database.
Todd Kane's Evolved Radio
This was a very enjoyable hour talking about the MSP marketing fundamentals.
Market Impact
Great interview with Dan Albaum about our world. Did you know that the MSP market is projected to reach $350 billion in the next five years?
Unitrends
This was fun - a webinar for Kaseya's Unitrends about the four marketing problems most MSPs have - and how to avoid them.
Smileback
Delighted to take part in a panel discussion about MSP marketing challenges and opportunities.
Domotz
Really enjoyed this website tear down and rebuild with Domotz.
IT Glue
I think this is one of the best webinars I've done so far this year. 45 minutes on creating more Monthly Recurring Revenue, for IT Glue. Be aware that clicking the link or video thumbnail will open a new tab, and the video plays on IT Glue's website.
Datto
This is a quick one - delivering the first ever "nearly to time" One Minute Wednesday for Datto 😃
eChannelNews
I took part in a panel discussion with Julian Lee at eChannelNews, after being confirmed as one of Datto's Office Hours experts (click the image to go to the news article - opens in a new tab).
Podnutz Pro
Marvin Bee welcomed me onto the Podnutz Pro podcast, episode 333.
N-Able
Luis Giraldo from N-Able invited me to join him in his Café Con Luis live webinar. We covered a LOT of MSP marketing stuff in just one hour.
Connecting IT
I was delighted to be invited onto this Connecting IT podcast, with Kaseya's Dan Tomaszewski.
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How MSPs should market
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What DOA really means in marketing
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And LinkedIn tips that will help you sell, including the 3 Cs
Domotz
This was my second appearance on the Domotz webinar. We did a live lead generation consultation for an MSP - with no prep. Now that's my idea of a fun evening...
MSP Growth Hacks
With Kevin Clune of MSP Growth Hacks, discussing whether you should hire someone to manage your Pay Per Click (PPC), or DIY.
Karl Palachuk
LOVED being interviewed by Karl Palachuk for his podcast. It's about the unique MSP marketing opportunities created by Covid-19.
Rocket MSP
A live MSP marketing webinar with Steve Taylor of Rocket MSP.
MSP Growth Hacks
Interviewed by the brilliant Kevin Clune of MSP Growth Hacks, about how to make cold approaches to prospects.
MSP Unplugged
This was a great interview about getting new clients, with Jeff Halash of MSP Unplugged.
Infinite Scale
Making MSP marketing easier than you think: Appearing on James Vickery's Infinite Scale podcast.
Purechannels
An MSP marketing special edition of Purechannels' Channel Drop In.
CompTIA
How to win clients who stay longer and spend more: Watch the replay of my marketing webinar for CompTIA.
Auvik
On Auvik's Frankly MSP podcast. Yes, I used to wear glasses. Prefer contacts now.
Richard Tubb
On Richard Tubb's TubbTalk.
And some articles on MSP news websites and blogs
Auvik: 3 Marketing Activities to Keep Your MSP Healthy During COVID-19
CRN: After appearing on the marketing panel, at a CRN event
Channel Pro: Sell more recurring support contracts by focusing on these 3 areas
CRN: Six fixes to make your website better at winning new clients
CRN: Update your MSP marketing mindset to the 21st century
Memberships
I'm a member of CIPR, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
This means I technically have letters after my name. Means nothing to me, but makes my mum proud.
I'm also a member of the FSB. That's the small business association, not the Russian KGB.
