January 2020 E-Newsletter
www.GMScentral.com
2020 IoT Solutions to Increase Recurring Revenue
Envision Additional Recurring Revenue for 2020 and Beyond
Recurring Revenue, no matter how you phrase it, RMR “Recurring Monthly Revenue” or MRR “Monthly Recurring Revenue” is a key metric of your success. Intrusion, Fire, Life Safety, Surveillance, and Access Control have always been the main focus of our industry. By adding Smart IoT (Internet of Things) solutions to your portfolio, you can greatly increase the Recurring Revenue from your existing customer base. GMS’ robust Central Station Automation can now monitor any Smart IoT device, allowing our 24-hour staff to notify the property manager, maintenance company or owner about any problem or deviation from normal conditions.
Marketing and Public Relations are not the same thing! You need both and here’s why. 

Don’t Forget About Public Relations
You have great products and services and customers rave about your Company. You advertise and yet you are not seeing the growth you’d like. What could be the problem? The answer could be a lack of public relations. 

Public relations and advertising are not the same, though many people confuse the concepts. Though they do have some endpoint similarities, you really need both to see business growth.

What is Public Relations
According to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), public relations is “a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.”

Whereas marketing is more about influencing, public relations is about engaging to shape the public’s perception about your business. Marketing tells them you are a leader in your Industry, public relations provides a way for them to decide you are a leader.

Tips for Building Your Public Relations

  • Give lunch and learn type talks relevant to the products and services you offer within the community
  • Put out press releases
  • Create community safety awareness events
  • Give speeches as an invited expert subject matter speaker
  • Offer your expertise to local media
  • Provide product reviews to magazines
  • Attend trade shows
  • Build your online presence
  • Provide great website content

Remember, public relations is an ongoing process. It is earned trust and recognition. When you put time and effort into the public relations process, your name and brand becomes cemented in the community mindset. If there is a question or need, you become the first person people approach to meet those needs.
New this year, ISC West has expanded its content, exhibitors, brands, and product & technology offering to reflect the evolution of the entire converged security ecosystem. The 2020 Show Floor has been re-organized to further highlight featured areas; making it easier to navigate the Show and find the right products and solutions for your organizations' business & security needs.
Including: AI, Analytics, Cloud Services, IoT/Cyber & Physical Security, Storage
Including: Drones, Autonomous Technology, Counter Drone Solutions, Ground Robotics
Including: Start-up companies that are 5 years old or less
Including: Asset Tracking/Monitoring, Retail Theft Protection and Investigation Software
Including: Barriers/Bollards, Active Shooter, First Responder Communication, Detection
Including: Alarms - for the channel, Connectivity Devices, Home Security
As a reminder, ISC West will be taking place one month earlier in March (SIA Education@ISC: March 17-19 | Exhibit Hall: March 18-20) at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas. Register today for ISC and have the chance to network with over 30,000 security and public safety professionals from over 1,000 leading exhibitors & brands .
JANUARY IS NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH
Someone needs blood every few seconds in the United States. And more than 4.5 million Americans would die every year without lifesaving blood transfusions. National Blood Donor Month helps us remember these vital statistics. This month, consider giving the gift of life and donate blood.

Visit National Day Calendar for more information
Visit Red Cross for more information
Tip of the Month: Boost Your Networking Skills
Whether you love it or hate it, networking is essential to the continued success of your business. Usually, when things are going well, we see no need to network. Which is, of course, a perfectly natural, if shortsighted, view. Why? Because the most effective business relationships are long-term and continuously nurtured. Try these tips to help boost your relationships. 

  • Join and contribute to local charitable organizations
  • Join local industry associations
  • Attend trade shows
  • Attend civic organizations and events
  • Help others 
  • Say “thank you” when others help you
  • Keep in regular touch with contacts without needing their assistance or without selling them.
  • Ask for contacts and provide them to others
  • Recommend others frequently
Industry News and Tips Links


Kirk MacDowell chosen to lead SIAC
FRISCO, Texas—Kirk MacDowell, an executive with a 39-year career as a leader in virtually every aspect of the electronic security industry, has been selected as the new Chairman of the Board for the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) .... Read more

Silicon labs and Z-Wave Alliance expand smart home ecosystem
AUSTIN, Texas—Silicon Labs and the Z-Wave Alliance announced plans to open the Z-Wave Specification as a ratified, multi-source wireless standard, available to all silicon and stack vendors for development ... Read more


Security Industry Market Worth $350 Billion: Study
The U.S. security industry is a $350 billion market, according to a new benchmark study from ASIS International and the Institute of Finance and Management . .. Read more

Annual Innovations, Technology and Services Report
Looking for technology? This is the report for you – Discover the top security technology trends in this annual report, which includes industry experts’ predictions for upcoming products and services, the best new products of the year, and how these advancements can serve your enterprise security program ... Read more


Business & Legal Topics the Security Industry Must Watch in 2020
Legal expert Ken Kirschenbaum shares topics to keep an eye on in 2020, including recurring monthly revenue, the exculpatory clause, insurance coverage ... Read more

The Future of Fire Detection and Alarms
Smoke detectors and alarms are migrating from just the detection of smoke, to combination detectors and multi-criteria detectors ... Read more
Referral Program
Current and Active Dealer Partners will receive up to $1,000.00 in the form of a credit towards your monitoring invoicing for referring a new dealer to GMS for Monitoring Service Solutions that is not currently a GMS dealer.