IT Nation Insights: Taking Orlando by Storm

it nation 2022 image

Even Hurricane Nicole couldn’t keep the IT Nation from meeting, eating, learning and being inspired by headliner speakers. Here’s what the BigOrange Marketing team took away from the largest gathering of MSP community members in 2022, held November 9-11 in Orlando: 

  1. Labor is on everyone’s mind. Breakout sessions that addressed where to find new recruits and how to deal with “quiet quitting” were packed with attendees. 
  2. The toolbox just keeps getting bigger. ConnectWise rolled out a wide range of new and updated tools to make MSPs’ lives easier in terms of selling, gathering customer feedback, tapping into helpful data and becoming more profitable. The software so many IT companies rely on hosted the conference and had plenty of staff on hand to explain all their new offerings. 
  3. Cyber security services are hot. If you’re an MSP that offers cyber security services, Allan Walters, of W. O’Donnell Consulting, provided some unique insights into marketing. He believes organizations looking for security expertise may search for firms that don’t look like “the IT guys down the street.” He recommended MSPs consider launching sister websites that focus solely on security services. (Shameless plug: If you’re ready to launch a spin-off site, we’d be happy to help.)  
  4. Marketing is top of mind, too. Our BigOrange session, where Margee Moore discussed marketing tactics to use in a recession, was standing-room-only, as were other sales and marketing breakouts. Oh, and we were thrilled to give away our hot-off-the-presses book at the talk, too.  
  5. Tiny little habits can help you crush big goals. Keynote speaker James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, explained how small improvements, like visual cues, can help you change your vision of yourself.  Not a veggie lover today? We learned from James about how just having veggies out in the open in your kitchen can change all that. 
  6. A true friend tells you when you have spinach in your teeth. Radical Candor author Kim Scott told the 4,700 IT Nation attendees how being completely honest and giving genuinely constructive criticism can be helpful – not an invitation to be a big jerk.  
  7. Every day starts better with a big buffet breakfast, followed by snack breaks, a tasty lunch, happy hour, a hefty dinner… and a chocolate fountain. In the IT Nation, there’s always good food around to fortify attendees and drinks to help make the networking easier. We met people from around the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Europe: Everyone was happy to be inside as the wind and rains blew the palm trees around outside.
  8. No animals were harmed in the making of the show. One exhibitor did, however, bring puppies to their booth, counting on baby canine cuteness to lure conference goers in. (It worked, of course.)

See You Next Year!

If you work in tech, but haven’t been to IT Nation, we’d recommend it.  And, if you’d like to hear more about the best marketing tactics for a recession, contact us for a link to our slide deck.

Janice Weiser

Janice Weiser

Janice Weiser, BigOrange Marketing's chief content officer, loves to tell the stories that set clients apart from the competitors. She's also written books on log cabins and met two living U.S. presidents.

Share the knowledge

Effective Inbound Marketing Strategy

10 Steps to Ensure Your Inbound Marketing Works: A Citrus-Inspired Guide

In the world of marketing, an effective inbound marketing strategy is like tending to a grove of fruitful orange trees. To help you squeeze the…

Explore this Topic
How Do You Find Leads for IT Services?

How Do You Find Leads for IT Services? And Other Burning IT Marketing Questions

When it comes to MSP marketing, one of the top questions is “how do you find leads for IT services?” To answer this and other…

Explore this Topic
MSP Industry Should Share Phishing - Here's Why

Why the MSP Industry Needs to Share Phishing Attempts

In today’s digital landscape, where cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, managed service providers (MSPs) play a critical role in safeguarding businesses against cyberattacks. Phishing…

Explore this Topic
Boost Search Engine Optimization for Manufacturers

Step Up Your Marketing Strategy: Search Engine Optimization for Manufacturers

For modern businesses, mastering search engine optimization (SEO) is no longer just a choice; it’s a necessity. Manufacturers, often immersed in the intricacies of production,…

Explore this Topic
Google Analytics Universal vs GA4 for Developers

Google Analytics Universal vs GA4: What It Means for Developers

Google Analytics has sunsetted their Universal Analytics Model and replaced it with GA4. So, what’s the difference between Google Analytics Universal vs GA4 and what…

Explore this Topic
Managed Services Providers Security

How Managed Services Providers Can Market Their SOC Services

If you’re a managed services provider you’ve probably felt the pressure or need to offer a security operations center (SOC) to your product offerings. Whether…

Explore this Topic
Digital Marketing Podcast Evolvepreneur Margee Moore

BigOrange CEO Shares Entrepreneur Story on Digital Marketing Podcast Episode

Digital marketing podcast Evolvepreneur, hosted by Mechelle McDonald, recently featured Margee Moore on an episode of After Hours to speak on the many ways that…

Explore this Topic
PCI Compliance Email from QuickBooks - What Do I Do

PCI Compliance Email from QuickBooks: What Do You Need to Do?

If you’re a business owner, you likely use QuickBooks to manage your finances and run things efficiently and effectively. Recently, a PCI compliance email from…

Explore this Topic

The 22 Best Digital Marketing Ideas to Drive Sustainable Lead Generation in 2024


Ready to grow in 2024? A good plan has to be comprehensive and filled with the best ingredients--from SEO to content, social media to paid boosting. 

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • How to target efficiently with personas
  • How to assess if your website is hurting or helping you
  • How a content marketing plan will help you rank with Google through SEO
  • The social media tactics you need and the ones you can skip