Exceptional service and innovative solutions have become essential in the Internet Service Provider (ISP) industry as a surge in market demand is precipitated following the continuous digital transformation and evolution of consumer behaviors. ISP Advisor, formerly two separate entities, Leverage Social and WISP Broker, aims to help ISPs maximize their growth, streamline operations, and succeed sustainably in this landscape.
ISP Advisor is a specialized consulting firm that caters to the needs of ISPs, Wireless ISPs (WISPs), and Fiber ISPs (FISPs). It acts as a trusted partner that provides expert advice, hands-on management, and impactful strategies.
A profound understanding of the ISP landscape and a knack for recognizing opportunities where others see challenges serve as the foundation of ISP Advisor. Michael Kellim founded the company, initially serving as a satellite retailer for global communications companies, satellite television providers, and multichannel video programming distributors.
ISP Advisor naturally thrived through traditional door-to-door sales. However, the team soon realized the impact of digital marketing, experimenting with social media ads. This move enabled them to develop a marketing program for a major global communications company and opened doors to the broader world of ISP marketing services.
This forward-thinking company evolved with the growing internet service market. The industry (which used to be dominated by the simple “build it and they will come” model) saw more competition with new providers offering speeds and better deals. Needless to say, ISPs can’t only rely on passive customer acquisition. They need aggressive marketing strategies and skilled sales teams. ISP Advisor recognized this and expanded its offerings to include sales department building and staffing solutions.
ISP Advisor’s solutions didn’t stop at building sales teams, given that managing these teams required a more integrated approach. The company had to step into fractional executive roles for its clients. Embedding itself into its clients’ operations illustrates its commitment to delivering hands-on services focusing on strategy and execution.
A new opportunity emerged in the form of M&A as the ISP market showed more signs of competition. Smaller ISPs struggling with customer churn and market saturation started looking for exit strategies. Meanwhile, larger providers sought to expand their footprints through acquisitions. Committed to its role as a comprehensive consultation firm, ISP Advisor also guided organizations through growth, consolidation, and eventual exits.
It’s worth noting that ISP Advisor has never been one to have lofty ideals of “revolutionizing” the industry. It focuses on identifying gaps, solving real problems, and helping ISPs succeed within their market. “We’re not here to tear down the industry and build something new,” says Kellim. “We know this business inside and out. This is why our goal is to help ISPs get where they want to be.”
ISP Advisor indeed cleared the path to make this mission achievable for businesses, addressing their pain points. It enhanced its services in M&A, simplifying the complex, time-consuming, and prone-to-pitfalls process. Deals can take years to close. This means navigating legal, financial, and operational hurdles is daunting without expert guidance. ISP Advisor’s vast network of trusted acquirers, investors, and lenders ensures clients are connected with the right players. It doesn’t matter if they intend to sell their company, merge with a competitor, or secure investment for expansion.
Those considering an exit can also benefit from ISP Advisor’s tailored strategies. Exiting a company means preparing the business to be as attractive as possible. ISP Advisor helps clients trim unnecessary expenses, strengthen customer retention, and position the company as a lucrative investment.
Besides M&A and exit strategies, ISP Advisor delivers other solutions that address a spectrum of industry challenges. It offers capital-raising services, guiding clients in expanding infrastructure, entering new markets, or investing in advanced technologies.
The firm also helps businesses compete against industry giants through targeted marketing strategies that leverage data-driven insights and advanced location targeting for maximized reach and efficiency. These strategies help clients address the challenge surrounding customer churn. Small ISPs might struggle to keep up with major players, adding hundreds of thousands of customers annually. Many fall into a negative growth cycle, where new customer acquisitions are overshadowed by higher cancellation rates. ISP Advisor can solve this by implementing aggressive sales and marketing strategies that reduce churn and improve customer retention.
Other services include consulting and staffing solutions. ISP Advisor’s consulting aims to reduce costs and improve processes and customer retention by drawing on the team’s vast industry knowledge. On the other hand, its staffing solution helps connect ISPs with skilled professionals, from CSRs and sales representatives to network engineers. This offering can significantly reduce clients’ costs thanks to efficient overseas recruiting and rigorous vetting processes. Overall, these tackle issues of staffing, outdated systems, and inefficient processes that can drain profits and limit the growth of smaller providers that lack the resources of large corporations.
Providing these services is possible due to ISP Advisor’s team of over 50 industry specialists. The team brings decades of experience in capital raising, sales, and operational consulting. “Our strength is our people,” says Kellim. “Yes, we’re consultants, but we’re also industry insiders who understand the challenges of ISPs. Our team’s hands-on experience allows us to see opportunities others might miss.”
Ultimately, ISP advisor gives small and mid-sized ISPs who face an uphill battle in an industry dominated by massive corporations a fighting chance. It aims to continue providing tailored strategies, expert guidance, and the tools for successful scaling, merging, or exiting.
*Investing involves risk, and your investment may lose value. Past performance gives no indication of future results. These statements do not constitute and cannot replace professional investment or financial advice.
