Get Ready For Launch – Partner Checklist Part #4: Create customer demand

  • Article

  1. Customize your look with the Partner Logo Builder tool to create logos that promote your skill set to customers.

    1. Create and download custom logos in Partner Logo Builder to promote your partner status and the competency you’ve attained. (Remember to check your Microsoft Partner Program enrollment status, you may need to re-enroll by January 31, 2007.)

                                                                  i. https://partner.microsoft.com/US/salesmarketing/createdemand/logobuilder

     

    1. Achieve the relevant Microsoft Partner Program competency to differentiate and highlight your expertise to customers. The Microsoft Competencies are also the framework through which Microsoft engages with its partners around customer campaigns and initiatives. Remember; re-enroll in the Partner Program annually. You may need customer references or to update MCP exams to maintain your status as a Microsoft Certified or Gold Certified partner.
      1. The Information Worker (IW) Solutions competency will help you outperform the competition and better position yourself to take advantage of the US$148 billion worldwide services opportunity for Microsoft Office system solutions. A new study finds Advanced Infrastructure (AI) Solutions competency partners achieve bill rates 50 percent higher than companies delivering Linux operating system–based solutions. The new Windows Desktop Deployment Specialization will be available under the Advanced Infrastructure Solutions competency (available March 2007).

                                                                   i. https://partner.microsoft.com/US/program/competencies

                                                                 ii. https://partner.microsoft.com/US/program/competencies/iwsolutions

                                                                iii. https://partner.microsoft.com/US/program/competencies/aisolutions

                                                                iv. Check your Partner Program status: https://partner.microsoft.com/US/program/managemembership

    1.  Market your solutions using Ready-to-Go Campaigns.
      1. Find everything you need to develop best-in-class integrated marketing campaigns, tailored to your business needs. Each Ready-to-Go Campaign will include access to new, improved prospect list sources, our advice on how to best execute, and an option to have us print and mail your campaign for you. Look for the Ready-to-Go launch Campaigns on December 1, 2006.

                                                                   i. https://partner.microsoft.com/us/salesmarketing

    1. Host a “sneak peek” launch event.
      1. Give your customers a special sneak peek at Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system, including Exchange Server 2007. Your customers will see how these powerful solutions work for their business productivity. Presentations are available for partners to hold customer-facing events.

                                                                   i. www.microsoftpartnerevents.com **

    1. Invite your customers to Key City Events and Microsoft Across America Launch Events.
      1. Attend a live launch event in your area and get firsthand access to the all-new Microsoft software solutions. Look for local Key City and Microsoft Across America launch events and register your customers to attend with you.

                                                                   i. Register your customers for Microsoft Across America Launch Events or Key City Events**: www.microsoftpartnerevents.com

                                                                 ii. Or, use the general Microsoft customer registration site: www.microsoft.com/business/launch2007/signup/default.mspx

    1. Talk to your customers!
      1. When software is available for download, contact your customers to ask about evaluating the software or pitch them on deployment assistance and services.

                                                                   i. Share with customers the process for downloading Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system software.

    Be sure to check out the previous parts of the checklist: Part #1, Part #2, and Part #3.

    Thank you and have a wonderful day,

    Eric Ligman

    Microsoft US Senior Manager

    Small Business Community Engagement

    This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights