Marching Orders 2014: Three Keys for SMB
As part of RCP's 2014 "Marching Orders" feature, we asked channel insiders to give advice to partners getting ready for the new year. Here are some tips for SMB partners from Cindy Bates, Microsoft's vice president of U.S. Small and Medium-Sized Businesses & Distribution.
As we move into 2014, SMB partners have a tremendous opportunity to build excitement and urgency with SMB customers around how technology can modernize and transform their businesses. Here are three things I believe can deliver great impact for SMB partners this year:
Help SMBs move to modern technology. The end of support for Windows XP and Office 2003 is only a few months away. The April 2014 deadline gives SMB partners a great opportunity to drive meaningful conversations with SMB customers about the benefits of modernizing their technology and the risks of not doing so. By helping customers move to modern devices and embracing a services mindset, partners can capitalize on the ubiquity of devices, the accessibility and transformative nature of cloud and the rise of affordable virtualization.
Take the next step in building your cloud business. Cloud is absolutely critical to growth and longevity in our industry. We've made it fundamental to many of our core SMB partner programs by merging the VAR Champions, Cloud Champions and Top VAR into one SMB Champions Club, offering even more robust and flexible benefits to members. This year, we also replaced the Big Easy and Cloud Easy Offers to create the more flexible SMB Advantage offer. Microsoft is committed to helping SMB partners take the next step toward ensuring your growth and success with cloud services. Our Cloud 1-2-3 framework helps SMB partners navigate the world of cloud resources across MPN so you can start, build and grow your cloud business regardless of whether you've just closed your 50th cloud deal or have yet to sell cloud services at all.
Develop your marketing muscle. Our most successful partners have one thing in common: They all invest in marketing. We continue to invest in bringing partners world-class readiness, enablement and marketing resources that make it easy for partners to connect with customers for maximum impact. The Ready-to-Go Marketing portal brings all available resources to one place. From the product- and solution-specific campaigns, to the local customer event programs driven by Microsoft Community Connections, or the outbound and inbound marketing services we've hand-selected for partners to help boost their business, make it your New Year's resolution to step up your marketing game in 2014.
To access all trainings, marketing resources, offers and incentives for SMB partners in one place, visit the new SMB Partner Center on the MPN Web site.
Posted on December 26, 2013