As we start the New Year, I thought I’d highlight the top 10 ISV Strategy Blog articles from 2013. Here they are, organized by Alliance Management, Partner Strategy, Partnering with Microsoft, and Cloud Computing.
Alliance Management – I spend most of my time helping companies develop and get the most out of their partner alliances. These articles describe how to plan, assess, prioritize, and recruit key partners.1. Strategic Alliances Assessment2. Capacity Planning3. Go-To-Market Solution Maps4. Recruiting Technology Partners
Partner Strategy – In 2013, I built a software tool to supplement my Partner Strategy consulting work. This tool (Partner Mapping) provides a framework for valuing a company’s partner ecosystem, plan for new partner recruiting needs, and prioritize managed partners. It also triggered the 2013 Tech Company to Watch recognition by the Connecticut Technology Council.5. Announcing… Partner Mapping6. Partner Mapping Insights
Partnering with Microsoft – Having spent so many years leading Microsoft partner teams as well as managing Microsoft alliances on behalf of partners, I’ve developed a solid understanding of how to efficiently engage Microsoft sales and marketing resources. Highlights for this year included a productive visit to the Redmond campus and attending the Worldwide Partner Conference. 7. Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference Key Themes8. 10 Tips to Winning a Microsoft Partner Award
Cloud Computing – My top LinkedIn endorsement is for Cloud Computing (which is interesting since I have never held a technical cloud role). However, I have managed numerous people and projects for driving cloud partner adoption, so that expertise has bubbled to the top in a sort of Wisdom of Crowds effect. 9. Cloud Operational Cost Factors10. Cloud Platform Building Blocks
Far and away my most popular download is the Partner Strategy Framework E-Book, followed by the Partner Marketing Evidence Model, 10 Tips for Partnering with Microsoft, and 5 Steps to Implement an Effective Cloud Partner Strategy.
It has been a personally and professionally rewarding year. I hope your 2014 is as well!