Building a Public Sector Partner Community, Part 1

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Let's review the assets that the Public Sector partner marketing team has.

  1. a newsletter that has 1300 subscribers (we're just talking raw numbers here)
  2. two portal sites (here's one and here's the other--more control over the former)
  3. A "Get Engaged" program that has some momentum
  4. Tele-Partner Account Managers (TPAM's)...currently 7 of them with a 1:50 partner capacity ratio
  5. A Partner Community Manager (yours truly)
  6. this blog (yeah, baby!)
  7. A monthly What' Important Now (WIN) call/webcast
  8. Dedicated aliases

Ok, so that's a lot of STUFF (and I am probably missing a fw).

Now, the question to figure out is: how to use those assets most effectively to build community .

First, some assumptions I bring to the table (and I'm opened to being challenged)

  1. Whenever possible, facilitate dialogue
  2. Pictures are still worth 1000 words each
  3. Most newsletters are not read, because they are boring
  4. Stories sell more than facts
  5. Honest, 3rd party "raving fans" will ALWAYS do a better job of selling than a paid professional
  6. People are social (see #1)
  7. The relationship between the partner and the Microsoft employee responsible for the communications vehicle IS important and can be PERSONAL (go ahead Friend me on Facebook or Follow me on Twitter)
  8. Oh...and partners don't like their time wasted and really appreciate it when we are TRULY partner focused.

 

Next post: some thoughts on how to make everything fit together...

In the meantime, I'm open to yours...please share.

 

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