It's an inside joke here at LeapFILE that we're the best kept secret in town. We provide an awesome solution to businesses who are seeking enterprise class, secure file transfer but we do little to no marketing. One way or another, however, our customers find us. It's a fact that over 90% of our customer base finds us because an existing customer recommended LeapFILE; or because they were on the recipient end of a LeapFILE transfer and were astounded by how easy the transfer process was.

Well, I'd like to tell how one customer came to us because of a bagel. So that we're not such a secret anymore, we decided this year to attend trade shows for the first time. In June, we exhibited at the AICPA Tech+ Conference which was held at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. On the last day of the event, I was standing by the breakfast table provided by the event. Being getaway day, most attendees and exhibitors, including myself, were already in wind-down mode. In my mind, I was not planning on discussing LeapFILE anymore.

Ah, but the mighty bagel. I was waiting for the bagel to toast, but ended up waiting a long time. The toaster was broken, only toasted on one side. Others were waiting as well. Apparently bored or compelled by my LeapFILE aura, one gentlemen waiting with me asked what I did. I introduced LeapFILE, and he said his firm used Sharefile, a competitor. It's not my style to bash the competition, so I focussed on what LeapFILE does and how it helps firms meet with security compliance. Security was very important to him. He heard enough differences to agree to a demo when we return to our respective offices.

I followed up with him, but did not connect. Then out of the blue, he calls me to set up a demo. He came across LeapFILE when his friend, David Cieslak, a noted security expert, used LeapFILE with him. We then set up a trial account and scheduled to introduce LeapFILE to his team. Before we were able to have the  meeting, he cancelled it. Apparently, he spoke with another friend (he's a friendly guy!) who advised that California's breach notification statute did not require him  to do anything other than to "pdf it."

What followed was extensive clarification and education. I was able to do so because of my legal background and current speaking engagements concerning data privacy and security. Helping and educating customers is my passion. Luckily, it's also my company's passion. We always say that our role is simply to find out what a customer needs to do, and educate how LeapFILE can help.

When customers have a clear picture of what LeapFILE can do for them, it's our best competitive shield. It can also serve as a sword, as in this instance. After proceeding with the trial account, he converted to a regular account today and switched away from those other guys. 

And to think, he would have been stuck with his past solution if it weren't for that bagel (and a broken toaster).