Keep Sites Fresh with Microsoft Ready-to-Go Web Syndication
Wouldn't it be great if you could keep the content on your Web site current...without having to do anything? Microsoft's Ready-to-Go (RtG) marketing site offers dynamic, customer-facing, syndicated Web site content that will keep your site fresh without constant attention.
RtG's Web syndication gives you access to banners, microsites and interactive content that is embedded in your Web site. It's simple, covers a wide variety of solutions and is free. What's not to love about this service?
Banners and Microsites
The RtG clickable banners click through to a microsite that you customize with your company and contact information. With a link back to your Web site, the viewer won't feel like they are leaving your Web site -- simply visiting an additional page. The microsite is maintained and updated by Microsoft with fresh content and videos.
Mike Brogan, marketing manager for InfinIT Consulting, has had great success with the RtG resources, earning an Aspire award from Microsoft. "I really like the Web site syndication," Brogan said. "I can copy a snippet of code, paste it onto my Web site page, and boom, I have a banner. A visitor can click it and get a lot of rich content about Office 365 or Intune."
There are dozens of topics for banners and microsites, including both product- and business value-focused messaging. From Dynamics to Office 365 to Cloud to industry-vertical messaging, every partner can find something to use. In answer to partners asking for ways to educate and promote competencies, there is a banner and microsite featuring the value of Gold and Silver competencies.
Rotating, Clickable Banners
With the banner gadget, you can give your Web site a dynamic feel with rotating banners. You set up the combination of banners that fits your business to stream live content that can include a cost calculator, live chat or a rolling RSS feed. You can choose different sizes for the banner to take up as much or as little real estate on your Web site as you want.
Click-To-Chat
Some of the banners and microsites include a click-to-chat button that allows visitors to conduct an online chat with a knowledgeable Microsoft representative. According to the RtG site, reps are trained to qualify opportunities to 20 percent using solution selling methodology.
When adding live chat banners to your site, the code generated includes your partner account information so that the operator knows the prospect came through your Web site.
"We use the click-to-chat banner on our Intune microsite," Brogan said. "When a prospect clicks on the 'chat now' button it takes them to a Microsoft chat operator. It is staffed 24/7 by Microsoft-trained resources that can either demo or direct the prospect back to us. We find live chat to be a powerful way to have the initial conversation with prospects."
Microsoft's RtG Web syndication makes it much easier for partners to keep sites fresh -- and the depth of content continues to grow. If you are not using syndication yet, check it out soon. It's well worth your time.
Are you using RtG or other forms of syndication on your Web site? Add a comment below or send me an e-mail and let's share the knowledge.
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Posted by Barb Levisay on September 13, 2012