UK SBSC : Marketing Tools & Resources

Order hard copies of the SBS and EBS 2008 customer brochures

UK SBSC — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:08:00 GMT

Printed versions of the Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 customer brochures, plus folder wallets, are now available to order. The brochures aim to provide customers with the key content required to make purchasing decisions. They also feature a whole page dedicated to promoting the SBSC partner channel and the value it brings to small and medium sized businesses. More information can be found here.

To order simply visit Partner Market and use your Windows Live ID to login. You can also download soft copies of the SBS PDF brochure or EBS PDF brochure.

SBS 2008 & EBS 2008 Customer Brochures: Download today

UK SBSC — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:07:39 GMT

With our humble apologies for the delay, we are delighted to advise that the Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Customer facing brochures are now available for partners to download. Despite the wait, we hope you will be pleased with the finished article and download them to use with your customers as appropriate.

Aside from these being very informative documents that give the customer the key content they can easily consume, they also each have a whole page dedicated to calling out the SBSC partner channel and the value that they offer to small and medium sized businesses:

"Many of our Small Business Specialist partners are part of a community network where they regularly meet up and share experiences as well as their own business challenges. Their ability to network and learn new ways to deliver effective IT solutions by partnering with other solution providers saves you the task of searching for more help. Moreover, it is of direct benefit to their customers who consider Microsoft Small Business Specialist partners as their IT department and therefore you’ll find that working with one of them means you’ll be investing your IT budget wisely. So, if you are a start up or a small- or medium-sized business, we recommend that you speak to a Small Business Specialist partner – look out for the blue badge."

So, here's a closer look at what each brochure contains:

Windows Essential Server Solutions - Accelerate Your Capabilities: Windows Small Business Server 2008 Brochure

This customer ready brochure can be used by partners to help their customers understand how effective the use of technology - in particular Windows Small Business Server 2008 - can be in solving everyday business problems. The brochure introduces customers to servers, explaining what a server is and when a customer would need a server. It then goes on to identify the business benefits a server can offer and highlights Microsoft Small Business Specialist partners as experts who can help customers address their IT needs.

Download from the Sales and Marketing Resource Library or directly from here.

Windows Essential Server Solutions - Accelerate Your Capabilities: Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Brochure

This customer ready brochure introduces the customer to Windows Essential Business Server (EBS) 2008 as an infrastructure solution designed and priced specifically for the needs of mid-size businesses with up to 300 PCs. The brochure goes on to discuss the editions available and ways to buy (via Microsoft licensing) as well as promoting the Microsoft solution add-ins and highlighting minimum hardware requirements needed. In addition, there is a UK specific case study example where EBS has been successfully deployed, plus the brochure introduces customers to Microsoft Small Business Specialist partners who can help customers address their IT needs.

Download from the Sales and Marketing Resource Library or directly from here.

Generate leads with our free Small Business Server Marketing Materials - download now!

UK SBSC — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:42:22 GMT

Microsoft have just finished putting final touches to a new campaign for partners that will help you target small businesses with Small Business Server (SBS). The campaign centres around manager stereotypes which align to the problems customers experience, and then match the features of SBS to those needs.

Help your customers take control, and boost your sales of Windows Small Business Server 2008, with our new easy-to-use tools. The tools are available to you now - simply visit our Partner Portal to download them! In addition, advantage of the the Windows Server Services Rebate offer to earn even more out of SBS! Read on to find out more...

Many of your small business customers will no doubt have concerns over the economy and what the future holds. Windows Small Business Server 2008 provides a range of new features that can help them cut costs and take control. To make it even easier to sell, and to help you increase revenue, we have created four easy-to-use tools. Cutting through the gloom and doom, they use comical business management caricatures to resonate with your customers and communicate how Windows Small Business Server 2008 can stop stalling, flapping, worrying and shouting.

So, what tools are available ?

Sales Guide: All the information about Windows Small Business Server 2008 at your fingertips, as well as advice and tips on how to sell.
Email template: pre-populated with insightful content about Windows Small Business Server 2008, and the many ways it can help your customers reduce costs. Personalise it with your company name and logo and send to your customer database.
Web Banners: These attention-grabbing static Web banners quickly communicate the control your customers will gain with Windows Small Business Server 2008. Available in a variety of sizes, place them on your site to provoke interest and drive sales.
Postcards: Post these eye-catching customisable postcards to your customers. They summarise the main benefits of Windows Small Business Server 2008, compelling your customers to get in touch with you for more information.

Simply click here to download any of the materials, then take advantage of the the Windows Server Services Rebate offer to earn even more out of SBS!

How partners participate in this promotion:

Sell a minimum of 2 qualified server operating systems with services between 15th January 2009 and the 30th June 2009.
Submit the product key and related services invoice for each claim by 31st July 2009 by logging into www.serveroffer.com. You will also need to submit your organisational details and the customer name.
Check the status of your rebate request using your claim number and registered email address.

Small Business Cashflow Guide

UK SBSC — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:59:12 GMT

It doesn’t matter how much your business sells. If you can’t pay the bills, you’re bust. So how do smart firms keep the cash flowing?

There is now a Small Business Cashflow Guide PDF available for download that you can share with your small business customers to guide them in this area. What's more, two SBSC partners contributed to the document - many thanks to Andy Trish of NCI Technolgies and Duncan Reid of Icelantic.

If you want to download the document to use with your customers visit our Partner Sales and Marketing Resource Library.

Power Through the Downturn- “Every Last Drop” Marketing Campaign Available Now

UK SBSC — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:37:28 GMT

Getting the most out of technology investment is the main priority for many organisations right now, especially as they’re under more pressure than ever to save money. The second phase of the Power Through the Downturn campaign, entitled "Every Last Drop" focuses on helping customers reduce costs through virtualisation and systems management, by selling Windows Server® 2008 with Hyper-VTM and Microsoft® System Center Essentials 2007 and to enable partners to secure additional revenue by offering extra services to help them optimise their technology infrastructure. All content is available on the partner portal (www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/power) and includes:

Campaign Overview
Value Prop for Managing Costs
Through Partner content using ‘every last drop’ creative: Direct Mail Letter, Email, Banners, White Paper.

What's more, to support the marketing campaign there is a 10% Open License discount promotion in place. Until 30 June 2009 you can offer up to 10% discount on selected core Microsoft products bought through Open licensing.

** Offer does not include Open Value Subscription or Open Licence for Government or Academic. Offer available from Microsoft Authorised Distributors.

See www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/power for more details.

Have you signed up to the SME News Feed?

UK SBSC — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:36:15 GMT

Add value to your website with a Small Business news feed!

Around 50 SBSC partners have already taken us up this offer to add value to their websites and promote repeat visits with a free news feed. Simple to setup, the feed allows you to offer your customers the very latest small business related news. Five new articles are available each day across a host of small business topics. View an example article here or have a look to the right... we're incorporated it into this blog!

To learn more or request the news feed component please email sbcuk@microsoft.com.

Download updated small business brochures

UK SBSC — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:45:13 GMT

A while ago we told you about small business customer facing brochure which acts as a 20 minute small business guide to IT. We have now updated this document to reference Windows Small Business Server 2008. To download the PDF document, click here.

We also have another small business focused document available for download - "Keep the Cash Flowing". This document essentially addresses how smart businesses keep the cash flowing.

Microsoft are looking for case studies on SBS 2008

UK SBSC — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:16:27 GMT

We are looking to put together some customer case studies around Small Business Server 2008. These are two page documents with information on the customer / business that adopted SBS 2008 and how SBS 2008 has helped their company. Essentially we would like to know the key benefits it has brought to that business and why the customer believes it is a worthwhile investment.

If you have any customers who would make a great case study, and you would like the advantage of some free PR for them and possibly you too, please feel free to contact Helen Sweeney at t-heswe@microsoft.com.

Business Advisor Podcasts now available

UK SBSC — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:07:35 GMT

In light of the current economic downturn, Microsoft has created the Business Advisor podcast series which discusses business issues of relevance to all partners and features guidance from Microsoft executives, independent business experts and other partners.

The first four Business Advisor podcasts provide general business advice on:

Cutting costs with reducing productivity/efficiency
Business planning
Cost-effective marketing
Creating and driving sales

To listen to the podcasts visit: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/businessadvisor.

Power Through the Downturn - Drive you way to better deals!

UK SBSC — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:56:21 GMT

We wanted to advise you all of an initiative Microsoft is driving to address head-on some of the challenges we know you are facing right now in the mid-market space. No-one is immune to the economic pressures in the market, and we are all feeling the impact of reduced customer spending in some form.

By Mid Market Microsoft means customers with between 30 and 250 PCs - a segment of particular interest to many SBSC Partners.

Microsoft has conducted research over the last few months with Mid Market customers and our channel partners to determine the key business priorities and pain points and how they relate to IT spending at this time. From that research we have developed a package of resources to help you have discussions with your customers regarding those issues and how Microsoft solutions can help them...

The key element of the initiative is a series of Value Propositions developed to address the customer business priorities that were highlighted in our research. These propositions are backed up with a great discount offer to help you close the deal:

Up to 10% discount on selected core products through Open licensing* until 27th March 2009.

We highly recommend you visit our campaign pages on the Partner Portal and download the resources to identify and highlight cost saving opportunities. Present these materials, including the facts, figures and real world examples, to your customers. The resources cover:

Unified Communication Scenario
SharePoint Scenario
Windows Server 2008 Scenario
The Value of Open Licensing
Open Licensing 10% offer
Microsoft Financing Fact Sheet
Campaign Call Guide

Microsoft remains confident there is still opportunity in the market and that Microsoft technologies are now more than ever able to deliver significant value to customers. If Mid Market is not your focus segment please do still look at the resources may also offer key customer messaging that will translate into the smaller business segment too!

Please go to www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/power for further information.

Note: * Does not include OPEN Value Subscription or Open Licence Programme for Government. Offers applicable through Microsoft Authorised Distributors only.

Subscribe to the UK SBSC Newsletter

UK SBSC — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:45:44 GMT

Our statistics show that there are a large number of SBSC partners out there who are not subscribing to the UK SBSC newsletter. Are you one of them? You have to opt in to receive it so sign up now. Simply click here to sign up.

The SBSC Newsletter provides a great overview of news that matters most to Small Business Specialists and their customers. With short snippets and links about the latest in Support, Training & Events and Offers, the SBSC Newsletter provides a holistic monthly summary of news.What's more it's free to all UK SBSC partners!

Over the past few months we have been reviewing the content and taking on board your feedback to ensure the newsletter better meets the needs of SBSC partners. As such we've restructured the format of the newsletter, amending as well as adding new sections such as Hot Topics, Licensing Update, Community Activity, Partner Resources and Promotions and Offers. Community Activity is one section that we are most pleased to see included as it's a great opportunity to highlight the SBSC user groups, with a new group "in the spotlight" each month, as well as update you on community driven SBSC activity across the UK.

Alongside all of the above, this month the newsletter has a whole new look and feel, which is all part of our efforts to ensure we are really tailoring it to meet your needs. Let us know what you think: sbscuk@microsoft.com.

SBSC 2009 Logo now available for download

UK SBSC — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:45:17 GMT

The SBSC UK Partner Qualified for 2009 logo is now available for download from the SBSC pages on the Partner Portal. Please ensure you are signed into the portal and click on the Community link in the left hand navigation. You will need to select the Resources tab to get access to the 2009 logo.

Use this logo on your marketing materials, e.g. business cards, letterheads, email signatures etc. Microsoft does promote the logo to customers through our own marketing engine, so they'll be looking for it as an indication of your expertise. Also, just as you might use your Registered, Certified or Gold logo on customer facing materials, it is a great way to show that you are a specialist recognised by Microsoft in the area of Small Business.

We are also working to get this onto the Partner Logo Builder pages on the global partner portal. We are aware that the "SBSC UK Partner Qualified 2007" and the generic SBSC logo are the only ones available on the Partner Logo Builder pages. We are trying to address this so please bear with us.

Incorporate a Small Business news feed on your website

UK SBSC — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:50:01 GMT

There is now an exciting new tool available to SBSC partners that allows you to incorporate a Small Business news feed on your website. This news feed is a free and automated small business news feed, courtesy of Microsoft’s Small Business Centre.

This free feed, with RSS functionality, is available to you with very simple implementation, to install either on your homepage or across your website/newsletter, and offers your customers the very latest news relevant to small businesses. Not only will your visitors then see your site as a great place to return regularly for the latest news offering added value, but whilst there, it will encourage them to explore your site further. The feed itself delivers five new articles per day that are all archived for easy access on Microsoft’s customer-facing Small Business Centre across a host of small business topics. An example article can be viewed here.

What's more, this news feed already features on some key influencer customer facing websites. When a customer clicks to read the articles there is a section which addresses "how Microsoft can help", including a search option to find a Small Business Specialist partner in their area. This is yet another great way in which Microsoft are promoting the SBSC partner channel out to small business customers.

If you’d like to learn more and request the news feed component to plug in to your website, please email sbcuk@microsoft.com and title your email "News Feed".

Internet Marketing - Advice from an expert

UK SBSC — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:48:24 GMT

There's an interesting article posted on the True Business - real life for small businesses blog which shares some marketing advice from Phil Ledger of Ledger Bennett, a rather marketing agency in Milton Keynes. The article highlight's Ledger's advice on why you should consider reinvestigating internet marketing- whatever the size of your company. Here they are:

It’s cheap: (by the way, have you noticed how suddenly ‘cheap’ is a good word, not a bad one?) You can get started on keyword bidding for pennies rather than millions. Ideal if your budgets have been slashed.
It’s honest: you can tell exactly what response you’re getting for your money
It’s responsive: you get results and reports in near-realtime
You’ve got to be there: if you’re not online, your competitors will be
Your customers are there: nowadays we all research suppliers online

If you’re haven’t tried out internet marketing recently, perhaps it’s time to give it another go.

The article can be viewed here: Marketing advice from an expert « True Business- real life for small businesses

Top 10 Money Saving Tips

UK SBSC — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:04:36 GMT

Considering that many SBSC partners run small businesses themselves, the following article recently posted on Microsoft's Small Business customer facing blog recently highlighting ten top money saving tips might be of interest to you.

Time is money, and in the current economic climate every small business is looking to streamline costs and reduce outgoings. But at the same time you need to be competitive and present a professional ‘big company’ image. The article provides Microsoft's top ten tips to help you and your business deliver more with less. The first four items on the list are all about free resources - free websites with Office Live, free Office Accounting Express, free templates and clip art, and finally, free software trials.

I also wanted to pull out a great message that came out in the small business customer blog post relating to this. The article highlights a BBC2 TV programme called ‘All Over The Shop' in which business guru Geoff Burch visits small shops around the country and shows them how they can improve their business prospects. When visiting one gift shop it was identified that they had no website, and despite selling to trade and public, had no catalogue. And they had no record of previous purchasers so couldn't mail them to tell them about new stock or promotions... You may be surprised to know that many SBSC partners also do not have a website!

So, what are we getting at here? Well, the article clearly highlights that using free websites, software and templates, demonstrates that small businesses can achieve significant business gains without having to spend very much at all. And of course, alongside this we know you small business specialists can further help small businesses use their IT more effectively and save money in the long run!

As an SBSC partner, and possibly a small business, make sure you are taking advantage of the free resources available to you.