SMB Research has intended for some time to provide some ideas around how to use a technology analyst firm. This is a difficult task because the analyst firm industry has many flavors, business and revenue models, services, and deliverables. Analysts are often lumped in with consultants and consulting, and, for many, even the lines between analysts, consultants and resellers, VARS and MSPs (managed service providers) are blurry. There are many streams of discussions on the internet and elsewhere about the different analyst firm models, business and revenue models, and the issues around bias and transparency, among other things. We will not make even a pretense of trying to sort all of this out for you here. (You can give us a call, if you like.) What we can do for you as a start is offer some insights on what a technology analyst firm is, and how to use a technology analyst firm like SMB Research.
Sustainability Strategies for the SMB / SME
Mango Networks‘ Lisa Lillelund provided a timely and engaging presentation at the North Shore Technology Council‘s (NSTC) 
first Wednesday of the month Sustainability Forum at the Cleantech InnoVenture Center in Lynn. Mango Networks describes itself as “a Sustainability, Clean Energy, and Environmental Communications Company..[who] advises companies, universities, schools, clean tech start-ups, and resorts…[and advocates] for environmentally friendlier business and living practices through our consulting projects, articles, 
presentations, and educational events.’ Ms. Lillelund’s message to the assembled audience reflected Mango’s mission to educate on what sustainability is, and what we can all be doing about sustainability in our businesses and our lives.
5 Ways SMBs Can Better Influence Technology Vendors
It has been a year since SMB Research posted “SMBs: Get Influence Working with Large Vendors; 7 Guidelines to Ease the Process”. As we have been working with a number of end users in 2010 and in early 2011, we are updating and refreshing this with some new insights and recommendations.
While it is undoubtedly true that small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) cannot avail themselves of all of the price breaks and other advantages of larger enterprises who have bigger IT and capex budgets, there are steps you can take to “look” big and be treated with the respect and amount of attention that you deserve: [Read more...]
10 Best Practices For a Better Website
Have you read enough pieces yet on what makes a great website?
You have probably seen quite a few articles and posts addressing this. We here at SMB Research know we have seen a lot of material. (SMB Research includes at least one fairly good article on SMB Research’s Top 20 Favorite Reads of 2010.)
Many of these articles seem to take a cookie-cutter approach: it should go without saying at this point that a website needs to have good navigation, and that a website needs a “Call to Action”.
We think there are a number of other critical website features and best practices that get too little attention.
Great Learnings from Boston’s Small Business of the Year Awards
SMB Research was very pleased to be able to attend the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s 26th Annual Small Business of the Year Awards yesterday (Oct 14, 2010) at the Colonnade Hotel. Emceed by WBZ Radio’s co-Anchor of “WBZ Morning News” Ed Walsh, the event itself was flawlessly put together and efficiently executed, for a very enjoyable event. [Read more...]
Vendors: Are You Trying to Hide from Prospects and Industry Influencers?
In our research work at SMB Research, LLC we are continually researching, analyzing, profiling and/or reaching out to software, hardware, technology, and professional service vendors. People, you are often not making this as easy as it could be! You are putting unnecessary speed bumps in the way. [Read more...]