Alberta Business Marketing

Ulistic and Heartland Technology Solutions Forge Strengthening Relationship

Two leading content creators join forces to help MSPs and IT VARs craft their message and win new business opportunities through online business newsletters, social media and search optimization.

Ulistic, a leading MSP Internet consulting firm based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and an organization focused on delivering valuable online marketing services and education within the IT VAR and Managed Services Community, today announced their strategic partnership with Heartland Technology Solutions (HTS). HTS is a very successful IT reseller located in the Midwest that also provides marketing services through its popular e-Newsletter service for resellers throughout North America…it’s known as the e-Newsletter produced by a reseller for resellers.

This strategic partnership will offer the IT VAR and Managed Services community a robust, complete and well-rounded online marketing solution leveraging HTS’ newsletter and content library services with Ulistic’s Search Engine Optimization, Social Media and Internet Marketing and consulting programs.

Ulistic will offer in-depth social media, corporate blogging and search engine optimization services built on proven SEO best practices to HTS and their community of newsletter marketing clients. This will allow each member to leverage advanced web marketing and coaching services geared at positioning their businesses ahead of their competition in online search and provide a foundation to take their Internet Marketing to the next level.

“Marketing your MSP and IT VAR business online is no longer a fad,” states Ulistic Senior Partner and 15-year MSP veteran Stuart Crawford. “Online marketing must be a core component of your overall marketing strategy, no matter the size of your business. Our partnership with HTS will help the technology community increase their overall visibility in their communities and with their clients, aiding in their overall creditability in the marketplace.”

HTS will offer their very popular e-newsletter to Ulistic clients. This proven service produces over 170 newsletters each month for VARs across North America who want to maintain a “soft touch” with their customers. HTS e-newsletters are highly customizable with a robust content library for VARs to utilize.

“VAR customers appreciate the mix of personal news, tips and tricks, and education on technology trends that appear in our e-newsletters. We’re excited to expand our market to assist Ulistic clients as well,” says Jane Cage, COO of HTS.

About Ulistic Inc.

Ulistic (www.ulistic.com) focuses on assisting leading Information Technology organizations, technology manufacturers and their partners plus the Managed Service Provider market. Ulistic’s services help position their partners and clients to achieve success by leveraging the latest Internet Marketing trends and services. Ulistic is a progressive Internet consulting firm founded by David West and Stuart Crawford who offer a combined 30 years of IT experience. Ulistic is the definitive organization for firms wanting to lead in their markets. Ulistic has global results with companies looking to dominate search results, lead their markets and leverage social media and advanced web services. Ulistic are a team of Internet Consultants with a fresh approach to doing business online by empowering clients through education.

About HTS

Heartland Technology Solutions (HTS) has been providing business solutions to clients throughout the Midwest for over 25 years. HTS has offices across Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma with a regionally based staff of almost 80 IT professionals including 30 industry certified engineers and experienced business consultants. HTS also provides marketing services through its popular e-Newsletter service for resellers throughout North America. (www.heartlandtechnologies.com)

Tags: Business, Business Partnership, business solutions, Business/Finance, Calgary, canada, content library services, COO, David West, e-newsletter, e-newsletters, Heartland Technology Solutions, HTS, Internet Consultants, Internet Marketing, Internet Marketing trends, Iowa, Jane Cage, Kansas, managed services, Missouri, Nebraska, North America, Oklahoma, online business newsletters, online marketing services, online search, search engine, search engine optimization services, search optimization, search results, Senior Partner, Social Media Ventures Inc, stuart crawford, technology community, technology manufacturers, technology trends, Technology/Internet, Ulistic Inc., web marketing, web services
Posted in Alberta Business, Marketing, Online Marketing | | Comments Off

Calgary Search Engine Optimization Specialist hits the road for CompTIA Breakaway.

I value my time out of the office and I truly love being a road warrior.  Travel and seeing new parts of the country and combine this with an opportunity to serve small business across Canada and United States is what truly gets me up every morning.  This is what we are all about, service and making sure our clients get the right social media, search engine optimization and online marketing consulting, education and result their business craves. This is what Ulistic is all about.

Ulistic is off to one of the IT communities leading trade shows in San Antonio.

Visit us at booth 417

From coast-coast-coast-coast we cover North America helping small business (managed service providers, real estate professionals and general small business) use the right social media strategies and get real benefits from search engine marketing and optimization services, no fluff and no BS…we shoot only for results.  Our unique approach of educating and mentoring small business owners and teams throughout Canada and the United States has allowed many entrepreneurs and business owners to really make an impact in their business by blending online marketing strategies with their existing marketing solutions.

Who said the Internet would cut down on travel? I would like to meet this person.  Business in North America still requires the “human element” and this sometimes requires travel.  If it is a quick trip across town or a flight across the country, we will need to meet people and thoroughly understand their needs.

What does my portable office look like?

• Mobile Phone – My mobile smart phone is an essential part of my portable office.  Having the correct plan is also essential.  Having freedom to work from anywhere is crucial in my business where clients can call on us at anytime with any need.  A great mobile phone with a flexible plan is essential.
• The Right Laptop – I currently use a MacBook simply because it works without a hitch and if I have an issue with it, well I can take it to any Apple Certified repair shop and get it fixed.  Having the right equipment is very important whether it is a MacBook or DELL Latitude laptop running Windows 7, you need to have something that work and works for you.
• Cloud Technologies – My company Ulistic is a firm that teaches people to leverage the Internet therefore we need to have access to technologies no matter where we are.  The right cloud solution is just as important as your mobile phone or laptop.  There are many great solutions out there, do your homework and get one that works for you.
• Mobile Internet – Last but definitely not least is the importance of  mobile Internet.  Hotels, Airports and Coffee shops offer Wi-Fi however for me I need something fast and reliable.  My TELUS Mobile Internet service gives me the reliability that this road warrior requires.  I may forget my phone or my server maybe down, but without my mobile Internet from TELUS I would be crippled.

No matter where you work you need to right tools to do your job.  For this Alberta-based road warrior without my tools…well I would be lost and lose my competitive advantage.  What would hurt the most…I wouldn’t be able to serve my clients and take care of them.

Tags: Business Success, Business/Finance, Calgary Search Engine Optimization Specialist, canada, Internet Marketing, North America, on travel, online marketing consulting, online marketing strategies, optimization services, real estate professionals, San Antonio, search engine, Search engine marketing, search engine optimization, social media, social media strategies, United States
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Welcome to the age of the Internet.  I think it is pretty safe to claim this now.  Just look around you and there is no doubt that our online world is just as important as the face-to-face relationships we have.  For some, online is more important.

Cloud Computing For Business

One of the biggest shifts has been in business.  Business is now starting to embrace “the cloud” and the power of online applications.  Need proof, next time you fly, how many printed boarding passes do you notice?  How many people are using the smart phone to store their boarding pass?  More and more everyday.  Big business and small business are leveraging the power of the Internet to run their day-to-day business applications.

Even Microsoft has started to take notice. Well, they have been for a long time, at least 4 years since the first time I heard “Software + Services”.  Businesses across North America are flocking to Microsoft’s Online Solutions.  Many of them are turning to the Microsoft BPOS solution or solutions delivered by Microsoft Partners each day.  The online solutions market is heating up and taking off at an extremely fast pace.

The reality of the market today is that many small businesses are turning to Microsoft BPOS now versus having a server sitting in the back room doing nothing but email.  The next versions of the Microsoft Small Business Server will have a version that is cloud-equipped.  My understanding is that it will do nothing but authenticate your users and store files.  Sounds like a Foundation Server.

Join us for a free webinar

Ulistic is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday to help you get answers to hosting your business applications on the Internet.

Join us on Tuesday, July 20th at Noon Eastern/9 AM Pacific for a no charge 60 minute webinar that is geared to help you get some answers on what online service you should turn to.  Is it Google?  How about Microsoft Office Web Apps? Do you need a CRM?  What sort of backup strategy should I have?

Lots of questions and our goal on Tuesday is to help you get some answers.  Real world answers and the facts about the best online solution for your business.  For the past 6 months, I have been doing my own research, testing out many different online platforms.  We have also installed many different solutions ranging from Google Apps, Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite and Hosted Exchange through one of our partners.  I have had my frustrations to say the least.

I will have these real life stories plus intelligence on what some Calgary business owners have been quoted recently and what you should expect to pay the service you choose.  The truth is this, everyone has an opinion, everyone has a favourite and everyone’s needs and tolerance for techy stuff is different.  What works for some, doesn’t work for others.

It is your decision, I can only share with you what I know.

Register for Is Your Business Ready For The Internet webinar on Tuesday.

Tags: Business IT, Business/Finance, Calgary, Cloud applications, cloud computing, Computing, day-to-day business applications, Everything as a service, Google Inc., Human Interest, Internet culture, microsoft, Microsoft Corporation, microsoft office, Microsoft Partners, North America, Office Web Apps, online applications, online platforms, online solution, Online Solutions, Online Suite, online world, smart phone, smartphone, Software plus services, Technology/Internet, web 2.0, Web applications, Web Apps, Web conferencing, Windows Server, Windows Small Business Server
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Our team at Ulistic coaches many small business folks and marketing teams across North America each day.  This is the part of the job that I truly enjoy, openly sharing concepts, tips and tricks and practical use of social media.    It is always such a delight when the light bulb goes off during a consulting session with one of our clients.  Business in my opinion are done with the fluff around social media, they want the hard facts, return on investment justifications, what are the opportunities and most importantly what do need to do.  Interested in learning more, just click here, drop me an email or phone call.

One Product that rocks my world – Hootsuite

One of the products we discuss at length during our Social Media Consulting engagements is Hootsuite.  Hootsuite is the cornerstone of our social media modules and it rightly deserves it place in the pecking order of must have social media management tools for any size of business or hobbyist.

I have personally tried a number of social media services out there (Tweetdeck is one).  Hootsuite is really the only true social media dashboard product out there that is easy to use and does almost anything you can imagine.  One the biggest stress factors with social media is managing the time to engage properly online and make important connections, Hootsuite solves this.  With Hootsuite, you can manage multiple Twitter accounts, LinkedIn profiles, Facebook pages, Foursquare accounts and so much more.  You can even invite members of your team and share certain online social media accounts.

It is a must have for any serious social media professional out there and it is also Canadian.

Hootsuite is based in Vancouver, BC.

Hootsuite runs online, it is a true cloud solution.  Leveraging the power of HTML5, Hootsuite requires no software to install and no widgets or browser add-ons, simply point your browser to http://www.hootsuite.com, create your account and you are off to the races.

Karim at Techvibes shared some recent news on Hootsuite the other day.  Hootsuite is cranking it up another step.  I love the fact that I can segment my Twitter account into lists, searches and much more but now I can filter these columns on keywords or Klout.  My Klout score sits at 29, it has taken a hit over the past little while since I haven’t been that active in the Twitter Universe lately.

Go and check out Hootsuite, it is awesome web-based solution that rocks!

Tags: awesome web-based solution, british columbia, cloud solution, Facebook Inc, foursquare, Hootsuite, LinkedIn Ltd, media accounts, media dashboard product, media management tools, media modules, media services, North America, Online social networking, Real-time web, social media, social media consulting, Technology/Internet, Tweetdeck Inc., Twitter, Twitter Inc, Vancouver, web 2.0, World Wide Web
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Social Media and Search Engines are turning the sales world on its head. Is your business attractive bait in the online ocean or is your business just a small fish in a big pond. Businesses today are looking for what you have to offer but how are they finding you?

One of the questions I get asked throughout the course of my day, as a Canadian Social Media Consultant is how small businesses across Canada can actively prospect for new business in our online world. The Internet has opened the kimono when it comes to marketing opportunities.

Is your business leveraging what the Internet has to offer?

I continue to enjoy a strong passion for sales and marketing. This passion was born in my early days as a computer tech and IT Professional in the Calgary market. As a young computer support technician I had a knack for helping those get the right IT solutions for their business and with the right mindset. These core principles I practiced 12 years ago are now very relevant today.

It started with putting service first and the need to provide the client the right solution that allowed them to achieve their crucial business goals. I loved being involved in the sales process and eventually helping build IT Matters through a strong client-first marketing focus.

Like many of you, I had a number of so-called “sales experts” try to educate me on how to sell to my customers. Some strategies worked and some flopped. That was part of the education process. The important component of any experience is that we learn from it.

In a traditional sales environment, we have always taught our sales teams to go out and prospect. Chase down potential opportunity after opportunity and shake things out. Many of us are still taught to “go out and hunt for opportunities”. We do cold calling, warm calling, selling to people in our networking groups and the list goes on from there.

The question is, does it really work in today’s world?

The market is much smarter than just a few years ago. Google, BING and the Internet have helped educate our clients on exactly what they want or need. Social Media and online communities are breeding grounds for those looking for answers. However, many of us continue to turn a blind eye to the power of social media and continue with websites that don’t perform.

Today’s consumer plays the prospector role. Educated consumers lurk amongst us and the Internet allows these knowledgeable consumers to continuous search the information and answers they want. Many will never stop until they get the answer they want. These same consumers once relied on our expertise. Today, that expertise is available with a simple Google search.

I often think in order to fill this need and to be successful in our businesses we need to flip the prospecting model on its head. The roles have to be reversed. Our sales teams and marketing professionals must become the prospect and our future clients…the prospector. I think this is how the model has to look. It is the only way it can work in today’s world where answers are at everyone’s fingertips.

What can we do online and offline that facilitates others to prospect for our services and products? How do sales professionals and business owners become attractive bait for those in need of what we have to offer? I often think about what Jeffrey Gitomer says, “customers love to buy but they hate to be sold”.

How can we become that facilitator who allows people to do what they love…BUY. Can our social media activities play an active role? I think it has to. The reality of today’s world is never before has the opportunity for many of us to become great bait and allow the prospectors out there to find us. After all, isn’t that we all love to buy? The debt crises in North America can attest to that.

The Internet allows us to be searchable. Social media and search engines are the prospector’s tools. The scary part is for many of us is we are nowhere to be found. We have little or no online presence and we wonder why the guy down the street gets all the business. Maybe it is because he is out there, helping and serving those who are looking for what he or she has to offer.

That is the reality, it doesn’t matter what market you are in, you have an opportunity to educate and make yourself the most attractive bait out there. You just need to take the first step and learn how to participate effectively.

Tags: Business, Business/Finance, Calgary, canada, Canadian Social Media, Consultant, continuous search, google, Google Inc., I T MATTERS, jeffrey gitomer, marketing plan, media activities, North America, online communities, online ocean, online presence, online world, sales, search engines, social media, Social Media Ventures Inc, Stuart's ramblings, Technology/Internet, young computer support technician
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