Computer Support Partnerships??

One of the things I have noticed in running Data Lodge for over three years is that my best source of clients are computer support companies. I have partners that use Data Lodge as the exclusive solution for their client data protection.

By offloading the backup responsibilities you are free to focus on the core of your business. My company monitors all of our Data Lodge Pro clients on a nightly basis. If there are any problems, I am there to fix them as an extension of your company. We are not only here for our clients, we are here for you and your clients.

So, how many of you computer support people are looking for a better backup solution?

7 Bizniks have posted replies

Posted by Justin Baker, Seattle, Washington | Nov 21, 2007

Just sent you an intro to Ed Bryant from Advanced Digital Solutions here on Biznik. i think he is just the kind of computer solutions fellow you are looking for. good luck!
Posted by Alex R. , Renton, Washington | Nov 21, 2007

Many of my clients have a fear of losing their company data to hard drive failure or some other disaster.

A major concern that clients have with online backup is TRUST:

Who am I uploading to?

Will they be able to view my data?

How secure is it?

How reliable is it?

After inquiring about their backup options they usually settle for having one of their workstation or servers placed offsite with an external terabyte drive.

Some prefer to have two or three external or hot swappable drives which they either rotate offsite or lock up in a fireproof safe.

To help my clients sleep better at night I usually set up a differential backup to a local and offsite location, this way they don’t have to worry about trusting someone they have never met on the dangerous internets.
Posted by Alex R. , Renton, Washington | Nov 21, 2007

If you hire a sales guy that will make house calls to local businesses that clients feel they can trust...

Or if you can convince computer support people like myself that issues like trust, security, privacy and reliability are none issues...

This i feel will have to be on a personal one on one level with possible kick backs for the computer service company. (referrals? cash? starbucks?)
Posted by William Fulton, Seattle, Washington | Nov 21, 2007

Alex,

This is pretty much how it works with my Tech referrals. Trust is derived from the relationship I have with the other indie business owner.

They indie's who send me their clients know that their client data is safe and that I am taking care of both their interest and their client's interest. They cannot get the same level of service from one of the big companies that do Internet Backup.

In some cases they do the billing for their clients and I bill them directly. This gives them the ability to mark-up my service if they wish to.
Posted by John Allen, Bellevue, Washington | Nov 21, 2007

Hi Will,

I think this was a topic you and I talked about some time ago.....how secure is the backup, and how do you ensure that I'm the only one that can get to my data. If I know that my data is as safe as it can reasonably be, I would be more enclined to use a third-party Internet-based backup solution. I have some smaller clients that could use something like this, but haven't had the time to do the research.

Ever thought about making a video "walk through" of your security arraingements/backup facilities? I once watched an IBM video of their disaster recovery facilities...went a long way towards giving us the warm-and-fuzzies ;)

Always on the lookout for potential partners to help with my business....and Biznik is a great place to do it for the Seattle area.
Posted by William Fulton, Seattle, Washington | Nov 21, 2007

I have a blog post that covers this topic that you can find here

I spent a good amount of time last year putting together some flash presentations on this subject. As I roll out the new version of the website this weekend I will include those in it.

Thanks for the feedback!

If you want to give Data Lodge Indie Edition a try free for 30 days let me know and I will get you setup with an account.
Posted by Catherine Gronlund, Seattle, Washington | Nov 28, 2007

Do you know Frank Coker of Coreconnex? He has been an IT consultant for years and may be a good source of referrals.