UK SBSC : Microsoft Partner Programme

Increase Your Ranking on Microsoft Pinpoint to Generate More Leads

UK SBSC — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:28:00 GMT

Want to increase your ranking on Pinpoint and generate more business leads?

You can improve the relevancy of your profile in search results by getting your customers to submit honest reviews about their experiences with you. Encourage them to go to the Ratings and Reviews section of your company’s profile page and follow the instructions.

We encourage any customer who has worked with a Microsoft partner to submit a review of their experience. By providing truthful and accurate information about a product or service they purchased—and about their overall experience with a company—customers are helping others to make informed decisions and contributing to a strong and growing community of business and technology professionals.

Generate Sales Leads with Pinpoint

UK SBSC — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:25:00 GMT

You may have heard about Pinpoint's arrival and wondered how you could make sure you get the most out of our new site. Here's how…

Pinpoint is a new lead generation tool that customers can use to find the solutions you offer. Take a moment to preview Pinpoint. Pinpoint replaces Solution Finder/Partner Marketplace and offers an easy-to-use interface, customer ratings, reviews and partner spotlight features.

How can you ensure you maximise the site's effectiveness? We will automatically transfer all compatible solutions to Pinpoint, so first see if you already have a solution in Solution Finder. If you already do, then you can review your solution(s) against the Pinpoint Content Guidelines. If you need to add a solution or to edit an existing solution, you can do so using Solution Profiler. You can also get more information from the Pinpoint page on the Partner Programme site. Please keep in mind that existing solutions will be validated and may be a few weeks before initially appearing on Pinpoint.

Please also be aware that it is likely some solutions will not be validated because they do not adhere to the Pinpoint Content Guidelines. Those whose solutions are not validated will be notified at the end of the validation process (during August), so they have the opportunity to edit their solutions and have them validated right away. In the meantime, any partners can check the Content Guidelines to be sure their solutions are Pinpoint-ready. If there are some specific partners that are interested in the process, we are happy to work with you. You should ensure, though, that they have at least one solution created and that it is Pinpoint-ready.

Lastly, we would also like to acknowledge that there is a known bug where a small percentage of companies are not showing up on the map; this is an issue that is currently being worked on. If you have a specific example, we can check if that partner has a solution and if it has been validated yet.

If you would like more help with this process, please call or e-mail Ask Partner (tel: 0870 60 70 700; email: askpartner@microsoft-contact.co.uk.)

The sooner you profile (or edit) your solutions, the sooner customers can find you on Pinpoint!

Varvid talks with Birger Steen, VP of SMB & Distribution, Microsoft

UK SBSC — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:38:29 GMT

We saw this on Vijay Riyait’s blog – it’s a video from Varvid, a website that contains videos for VARs and other Microsoft partners.

This video may be interesting as it features and interview with Birger Steen at WPC09. Steen is Microsoft’s newly appointed VP of SMB & Distribution - Worldwide SMS&P. For those worried about the recent announcements of changes to the Microsoft Partner Programme, and what that means to the SBSC, listen from 3.30 minutes in in Part 1. Hopefully Steen will help alleviate any initial concerns.

Overall, per Aaron Booker’s comments, he feels that “Birger is "getting it" about the SMB/VAR Partner space in a major way”. Have a listen and see what you think!

WPC09 Announces that the Microsoft Partner Programme is evolving…

UK SBSC — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:16:53 GMT

Corporate Vice President Allison Watson kicked off the Worldwide Partner Conference 2009 on Monday, July 13, by launching the new Microsoft Partner Network!

The Microsoft Partner Network is a community borne from our continued commitment to serve the needs of our partners and help them reach their full potential. We’re evolving from the Microsoft Partner Programme to the Microsoft Partner Network to strengthen the relationships we have with our partners—and the relationships you have with other partners and your customers. All partners have a home within the Microsoft Partner Network. You can thrive by taking advantage of the new opportunities available to you through the Microsoft Partner Network.

Announced at WPC, the Microsoft Partner Network provides:

Opportunities to strengthen partner capabilities to:

Create and enter new markets with early access to the latest technologies.
Expand your sales and marketing skills.
Deepen your business and technical expertise through clear learning paths.

Expertise to help partners serve customers better and:

Attain competencies aligned to how your customers buy.
Use digital marketing and social media to extend conversations and expertise.
Create customer demand through product innovation.
Connect customers and partners through an online marketplace.

Communities that spark innovation and connection to:

Choose the relationship that best serves your business and your customers’ needs.
Connect with other partners to drive opportunities.
Share and exchange ideas in real time.

Working together, we continue to focus on creating innovative solutions that drive profitability and sustain competitive advantage.

When Is It Happening?

Here is what to expect in the upcoming months, but for more information on what’s new, how to prepare, and what you can expect, click here.

July 2009

October 2009

May 2010

After October 2010

Microsoft Partner Network is announced

New Virtualization Solutions competency and subscription membership offerings are available.

Beginning October 31, partners enrolling or re-enrolling as Gold Certified Partners must have participated in the Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Index within the previous 12 months.

New competency membership opportunities are available

New competency membership opportunities are available .

New partner logos are available for partner use.

So, how is the Small Business Specialist Community designation affected by the new Microsoft Partner Network?

The Small Business Specialist Community designation will be reassigned to a new competency called Small Business Solutions. Key enhancements include providing additional entry points to target other types of partner communities such as Web VARs. With that, the new competency will retain many of the same requirements and benefits that partners are familiar with today - and partners should continue to enrol in the Small Business Specialist Community designation to maintain program status and benefits.

the Small Business Solutions competency is for partners who focus on supplying a range of base technology solutions to small business customers. Partners should be experienced in working with customers who value a local service that can meet their specific IT needs.

When will the changes take effect?

These changes are not scheduled to take effect until May 2010 and Microsoft will aim to advise and support you through the transition process.

Will the Small Business Specialist Community Logo change?

Yes, Microsoft Corporate have taken the decision to change both the name and logo when all Microsoft Partner Network competencies are rolled out (May 2010).

You should continue to use the logos you have today. You’ll be able to use Microsoft Partner Network logos after October 2010, after you have met the requirements. Existing logos will be retired six months after the new logo system is available.

Click here for more Q&A information.

Listen to the Worldwide Partner Conference keynotes digitally now!

UK SBSC — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:17:04 GMT

Whether you are joining us in New Orleans or seeking highlights from your office in the UK, from today you can visit our WPC website for:

Tune in daily as Microsoft executives share their visions and kick off a year of product launches like no other in Microsoft history!

Visit: http://www.digitalwpc.com/

Generate sales leads with Microsoft Pinpoint

UK SBSC — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:31:07 GMT

Microsoft Pinpoint is a new lead generation tool that customers can use to find the solutions you offer. Launching in June, it will replace Solution Finder/Partner Marketplace in due course and offers an easy-to-use interface, customer ratings, reviews and partner spotlight features. We recommend you enter your solutions in Solution Profiler if you have not done so already. And if you have existing solutions profiled we recommend you revisit the Pinpoint information page on the Partner Programme site to ensure your solutions are Pinpoint-compatible. We will automatically transfer all compatible solutions to Pinpoint. The Microsoft Small Business Centre will be switching from Solution Finder to Pinpoint for lead generation later this summer, so the sooner you profile your solutions, the sooner they can be found.

Your Feedback Counts - Partner Portal Feedback

UK SBSC — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:51:54 GMT

We realise the Partner Portal is far from perfect but with your feedback we can improve it. We are running surveys on the portal to get your feedback on what is and isn’t working. A new portal feedback page consolidates results of these surveys and provides an overview of the latest issues being reported and what we are doing, or have done, to resolve them.

To participate and find our more click here.

Warning: New Office counterfeit heading to the UK

UK SBSC — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:58:45 GMT

A new type of counterfeit found in Australia is expected to reach the UK soon. It copies the OEM Office 2007 Professional Medialess Licence Kits (MLKs) that use a plastic credit card with the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached. You can tell it is fake because there is a volume licence key on the Certificate of Authenticity. View examples of these counterfeits.

For information and guidance around reporting piracy click here.

SMB Partners @ the Worldwide Partner Conference: What’s in Store for you?

UK SBSC — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:25:40 GMT

Come to Louisiana July 13-16 for the biggest Microsoft networking event of the year for Microsoft Partners – the 2009 Worldwide Partner Conference! This comprehensive partner event now offers four days of exclusive SMB content and activities for partners who deliver and focus their expertise in the small and midsize marketplace (SMB) including our very own Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community. Read on to find out what’s in store for you!

1. The SMB Track: Monday and Tuesday kick-off critical SMB-focused sessions focusing on key trends for SMBs and hear from other partners about best practices for realizing the opportunities for optimal growth as a partner. You’ll learn how Microsoft can help you capture more market opportunity such as Software plus Services, as well as new SMB incubation products. Hear from other partners how you can expand your customer base to include SMB Public Sector customers to help increase your sales.

2. Partner-Led Community Day: (formerly the SMB Summit pre-day): On Wednesday, hear from your Partner peers about managed services, hosted services, and strategies for a changing economy. Also, partners will present more relevant information on what’s galvanizing the vision for SMBs - through new opportunities, the power of community, staying connected with your customers and the value of social media. A Partner-led multi-session workshop will discuss key plans for your scale to success - including company business plans, personal leadership planning, life planning, and disaster recovery / continuity planning.

3. Event: On Wednesday night, hop aboard the Creole Queen Paddle Wheeler with the Worldwide Partner Group and the Windows 7 launch team for an exciting evening filled with food, fun, and music. You’ll have the opportunity to mingle with other Microsoft partners including Distributors, LARs, Small Business Specialists and the SMB Partner Area Leads. This exclusive event will require pre-registration to obtain a wristband for entry – quantities limited. Invitation details coming soon from your local Microsoft contacts. Stay tuned!

4. Connecting with Peers: the famous Yellow Lounge open to all SMB Partners is back again this year. This is where you can connect with peers, get the latest updates on SMB stack products and technologies and take a moment to relax. More updates on Yellow Lounge activities coming soon!

Register today! Visit the MSPP WPC site to find out everything that’s happening at the 2009 Worldwide Partner Conference. And, get on the fast track for WPC updates with the rest of your peers by joining the WPC Facebook page. We look forward to seeing your there and making this the best Worldwide Partner Conference experience yet!

SBSC Partners can become Authorised Education Resellers (AERs)

UK SBSC — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:06:00 GMT

Did you know that one of the qualifying criteria for becoming an Authorised Education Reseller (AER) is to be an SBSC partner?

And with the leading public sector analyst saying that the schools ICT spend is predicted to grow by over 5% the schools market it is a great market to target.

So if you want to become an AER all you need to do now is to pass the quick online exam that can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/uk/education/buy/where/aer-search.mspx

For marketing content and collateral targeting the education space please go to www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/publicsector

The AER certification lasts for one year so if you have been an AER in the past you may need to renew now.

If you have any questions you can email ukpspart@microsoft.com.

Worldwide Partner Conference - Offers extended to 9th April

UK SBSC — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 11:04:18 GMT

Microsoft Global Awards – Deadline Extended

Each year, through the Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) Awards program, Microsoft recognises partners who have delivered exemplary solutions built on Microsoft technologies. This is a unique opportunity for your partners to showcase their solutions. Award winners and finalists can benefit from increased press coverage and market recognition that may drive new business opportunities. Partners can now submit entries for a Microsoft global award from now until April 9, 2009.

Detailed information about the program and how partners can nominate their solutions can be found on the WPC Awards Website.

Please do nominate yourself for the SBSC Award today... Currently there are only a few entries from the UK so don't miss let's increase this and show how great the UK SBSC partners are!

Click here for award programme details.

WPC Alumni Registration offer has been extended

If you attended WPC last year, you can take advantage of the $1395 special ‘alumni’ rate by registering. The timeline in which rate is open has just been extended to the 9th April 2009 so take advantage of it now. This reduced rate is available for partners that register before 11:59pm PDT on April 9, 2009 (*The rate will increase to US$1,795 after this promotional period.)

Click here for registration details.

Worldwide Partner Conference Awards: 2 April closing date

UK SBSC — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:21:01 GMT

There are only a couple of days left to submit an entry to the Worldwide Partner Conference Awards. The closing date is 2nd April 2009. Through this awards programme, Microsoft recognises partners who have delivered exemplary solutions built on Microsoft technologies. The awards provide a unique opportunity for you to showcase your solutions and gain recognition. Award winners and finalists can benefit from increased press coverage and market exposure.

As an SBSC partner, you may want to submit an entry for the SBSC partner of the Year award. Go here to learn more and submit your entry.

Worldwide Partner Conference - Registration Open

UK SBSC — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:17:28 GMT

Taking place from 13-16 July 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana, the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference provides the ideal forum to access the largest partner network in the world, make connections to spark new ideas and create partnerships to drive your business forward. Last year's conference attracted a record number of partners of which 480 were UK-based. Microsoft UK team will be staying at the Astor Crowne Plaza, so register early and select this hotel to benefit from even more networking opportunities. For more information please go here.

...And don't forget to nominate yourself for the Small Business Specialist Partner of the Year award. Through this awards programme, Microsoft recognises partners who have delivered exemplary solutions built on Microsoft technologies. The awards provide a unique opportunity for you to showcase your solutions and gain recognition. Award winners and finalists can benefit from increased press coverage and market exposure.

The SBSC Partner of the Year award honours partners who used Microsoft technology in innovative ways to deploy integrated solutions that serve customers in the small- to midsize-business market segment. This award is only for partners actively enrolled in the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community. To qualify for this award, you must demonstrate innovative excellence and proficiency in deploying an integrated solution that leverages Microsoft technology and products scaled for small and midsize businesses. To be eligible for this award, you must:

Be enrolled in the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community.
First profile your nominated solutions in Partner Solution Profiler.

The submission call can be accessed here to apply: https://microsoftpartnerawards.com/.

The last day to submit entries for the Worldwide Partner Conference Awards is 2 April 2009, so don't delay and submit your nomination now!

Small Business Specialist Partner of the Year - Could it be you?

UK SBSC — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:40:54 GMT

Each year at the Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC), Microsoft recognizes the best in partner innovation and contributions —from competency excellence to supporting nonprofit technology access. You can apply for awards that highlight your organization’s strengths for projects implemented during the 2008 calendar year. You must be active in the relevant specialization or competency to submit an application for that award.

To qualify for any WPC Partner of the Year Award, your organization must meet the appropriate requirements for the award. Many award categories are associated with Microsoft Competencies and specializations, and you must be active in the specified competencies and specializations to be eligible to apply for those awards. Note that, in many cases, you can nominate a solution for an award only if you have first submitted the solution to the Microsoft Partner Solution Profiler. You’ll also find that some awards have additional submission requirements, while others have no specific requirements.

The Small Business Specialist Partner of the Year award honours partners who used Microsoft technology in innovative ways to deploy integrated solutions that serve customers in the small- to midsize-business market segment. This award is only for partners actively enrolled in the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community. To qualify for this award, you must demonstrate innovative excellence and proficiency in deploying an integrated solution that leverages Microsoft technology and products scaled for small and midsize businesses. Key Microsoft products in the server technologies and small- to midsize-business solutions area include Windows Server 2008 and associated virtualization technologies, SQL Server 2008, Exchange Server 2007 (including Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 with Service Pack 1), Windows Small Business Server 2008, Windows Essential Business Server 2008, and Office SharePoint Server 2007. Your entry should demonstrate how your organization provides ways for small or midsize businesses to better connect with customers, other business professionals, and employees, by enhancing business processes, productivity, security, and IT infrastructure management, and by reducing costs —all showcased in your SMB end-to-end solution deployment.

To be eligible for this award, you must:

Be enrolled in the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community.
First profile your nominated solutions in Partner Solution Profiler.

The submission call can be accessed here to apply: https://microsoftpartnerawards.com/

For more information, visit the Partner Program Awards page and the Rules page before applying for an award.

Would be great to see a UK partner win so get submitting!

Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) V2 – Officially launched

UK SBSC — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:02:50 GMT

What is the MPN?

You may have already head about the Microsoft Partner Network, a networking platform designed to support Microsoft Partners in making meaningful business connections, sharing information, learning and moving their businesses forward with Microsoft. With the current economic climate our Partners are finding they increasingly need to work with other organisations in some capacity – this has never been more important. Providing these connection opportunities is the main objective of MPN, alongside given partners the opportunity to directly connect with Microsoft personnel.

We have already seen 400 Partners and Microsoft employees embracing the site in the last couple of weeks alone. We have just re-launched the platform from the previous beta version and have several impressive new features we know will be valued by UK Partners, including:

New look and feel that lets Partners and you connect with ease and clarity
Simple navigation and site structure
Ability to create restricted groups within the site
Email alerts to let you know if someone has responded to your post
RSS syndication
Media and document sharing between members
Wikis
Ability to see which other users are online and active

Why not sign up now and get connected with other partners as well as Microsoft employees! Check out the SBSC group on the site, and get connecting.

Go to www.microsoftpartnernetwork.com.