MSP marketing (or “managed services marketing”) is a niche that focuses on helping managed IT service providers boost visibility and generate sales. It involves inbound and outbound marketing efforts, such as search engine optimization, email marketing, and paid advertising.

The three most popular MSP marketing strategies are:

- Outreach – Cold calling, attending industry events, email marketing to reach potential customers

- Digital marketing – Ranking your MSP website on search engines (usually, Google), running lead generation campaigns

- Paid advertising – Advertising on Google, social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn, and running retargeting ads

Speak to an MSP marketing agency to prepare a marketing plan that will offer the best return for your business.

Managed IT services are a highly competitive and highly localized industry in North America. You may be competing for marketing room with dozens of MSP businesses in your city (or even in your borough). To market effectively, you need to:

- Invest in an SEO-optimized, conversion-focused website, and content marketing

- Tap into all digital marketing opportunities (GMBs, directories, blog posts, social media)

- Advertise strategically and with target-specific offers

It’s impossible to suggest a “right amount” for MSP digital marketing without knowing the core focus areas you want to promote, the competition you face, and your current digital presence.

That said, one of the biggest mistakes MSPs make in marketing is not spending enough. Unless you have an established digital presence, there will be additional start-up costs in the first 2 to 3 months as your MSP marketing agency ramps up your properties.

A managed services marketing strategy isn’t all that different from a digital marketing strategy for other businesses. It should include:

- Clearly defined buyer personas and sales funnels

- A plan leveraging owned, paid, and earned media

- Long-term lead generation targets, and criteria for qualifying leads

For an effective MSP digital marketing strategy, be clear in your goals with your marketing team: do you want to grow your business, retain existing customers, or explore a new market?