It seems almost silly that we would need to write up a blog post that points out the reasons you want to take advantage of a free network consultation, but you would be surprised how many people out there refuse the offer on a daily basis.
Now that is not to say that we don’t understand the concerns that people have. They are worried about taking up time during their busy workday, interrupting their employees and the flow of their business, etc. But, having been in this business for over 20 years now, we feel obligated to point out all the reasons you really do want to take advantage of a free network audit.
1. Keep Your Business Moving Forward
Technology moves really fast these days. Keeping up with it can be a huge headache, especially for a small business owner who is juggling way too many balls in the air already. But, if you let your IT fall behind, your business will follow.
That’s not to say that you always need the newest and best in technology to keep your business up with the times. But, you do need to know when it is time to let go. For example, if you have a 6 year old server that keeps making odd noises and is turning off randomly…it’s probably time to get a new one. But, if your server is only a couple of years old, there are upgrades that can be done (such as new hard drives) that will help extend the life of the server.
Bottom line is that you have to keep up with the changing technology trends, but it doesn’t have to be a huge expense. Starting with a free audit of your network.
2. Gather Information
One of the best things about a free network consultation (besides the free part) is that you are under no obligation or responsibility to do what the company suggests. Basically, you are paying an expert to come in, look at your technology, tell you what you need to fix and how you need to fix it, and then go away. You are left with all of the information you need to make an informed decision.
Think of it as doctor’s visit, except this doctor specializes in network technology. When you receive a recommendation from your doctor, you are not obligated to do it, but you trust their opinion because they are the doctor. They are the trained expert. But sometimes, you want to get a second or third opinion. You want to gather information. You want to make sure you are as informed as possible before moving forward. A free consultation is just that- a way to gather as much information as possible from another expert source.
3. We ARE the Experts
So, you spent time researching on the Internet and found out how to rebuild a server all by yourself. Which is great, we applaud you for taking the initiative and diving in headfirst. Only problem is…it’s kind of like reading about swimming and jumping right into the deep end of the pool without any water wings. Reading about something and actually knowing about to do it are two different things. Sometimes, you need to call in the experts, the people who have spent years training for this. We see things you won’t see and we know things you won’t know because…well…we are the experts. And if you had the chance to take a free swimming lesson from Michael Phelps, wouldn’t you take it?
4. IT’S FREE!
Did we mention this part? Because this is a really important part of the point here. This is completely, 100%, no-risk, no-obligation, free. You are being offered the chance to have experts in the field of small business IT support come into your company, look over your entire network, talk to you about your goals, and then make recommendations that fit with your vision and your budget. And you don’t have to pay a single cent!
So whether you decide to take us up on our offer of a free network consultation, or choose to get a free audit from another IT company offering it, we strongly encourage just getting one in general.
Think of it as a free check-up for your network.