So many partner programs today look great on paper – neatly tiered, logically structured, and beautifully branded – but are completely misaligned with how partners actually do business. Vendors create elegant, structured frameworks, while partners build flexible, adaptive models that shift daily based on customer needs. The result is that partners have evolved faster than … Continued
Last month I wrote about the 10 Commandments of Channel Management. This month I’m taking my surname-inspired biblical inspiration a step further to talk about something even more fundamental – Partner Profitability. And when I say profitability, I don’t just mean product margin. I mean the whole financial model… the profit from product sales, services, … Continued
Having spent over 30 years in this industry, I’ve seen some bad behaviour from partners. But to a large extent it’s often a reaction to bad behaviour from vendors. So with a surname like mine, it seemed kind of obvious that I take a leaf out of the Bible and lay down my 10 commandments … Continued
In my experience, the number one reason partner strategies fail isn’t anything inside the partner organisation itself – it’s something else within the vendor’s own business. Misalignment. Too often, partners aren’t embedded in the overall vision, mission, or strategy. Many vendors keep pouring money into expensive direct sales models (even when those teams underperform) yet … Continued
Ok, so you’re a vendor who’s “100% channel”. Great! But is it working for you? Because I meet a lot of vendors who say they have a “100% channel” model but still complain about lacklustre results from non-performing partners. If that’s you, my guess (based on having assisted more than 180 vendors over the last … Continued
In the competitive landscape of the IT industry, the effectiveness of a company’s channel strategy can be the difference between success or failure. Channel managers play a crucial role in driving revenue, expanding market reach, and fostering strong relationships with partners. Which is why it is so surprising to me that so many companies hire … Continued
In 2017 I wrote an article about 10 Lessons that Channel Managers could learn from Trump. Watching the Trump-Harris debate a few nights ago prompted me to think about that article, and see what we could learn from this debate. Firstly, I should say that while I’m not a Trump supporter, and believe that Harris … Continued
In the XaaS and managed services world, we don’t make money from winning customers… we make money from keeping customers. So when I see a company doing everything it can to alienate its loyal customers, I look at what lessons can be learned so that MSPs, vendors and distis don’t fall into the same trap. … Continued
As we go back to in-person meetings and events, it’s becoming apparent that one of the casualties of working from home has been face-to-face presentation skills. For the last few years, our presentations have consisted almost entirely of looking at someone’s face over Zoom or Teams. But as we start to present in person, we can no longer … Continued
Picture this: your key client’s company is thrust into a crisis, their systems are down, and the media is swarming like bees to honey. As a Managed Services Provider (MSP), ensuring business continuity in tumultuous times is not just a goal; it’s a commitment. Whether you’re addressing a local hiccup or an international debacle, the … Continued
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