StorageCraft, which specializes in backup and disaster recovery software, is adjusting its reseller partner program to reward its best-performing channel partners, the company says. Specifically, StorageCraft is shifting to a three-tiered program – siliver, gold and platinum – in an effort to better classify partners and reward those that are producing more revenue. StorageCraft is also preparing an MSP rebate program that’s set to debut in September 2011.

“The change came about because we’re becoming a more mature company,” StorageCraft Channel Marketing Manager Aaron Lee said. “We have more partners so we have to classify them, and tiers make it compelling to make more money for the business.” The top five percent revenue-generating partners will become platinum partners, the next 15 percent will be gold partners and the remaining 80 percent will start out in the silver tier. Lee didn’t give specifics on the benefits of each tier, but in a tiered program, higher-rated partners usually receive discounted rates and special incentives on company solutions.

StorageCraft‘s goal was to create an incentive program without alienating smaller partners that greatly influence SMB buying decisions on storage. StorageCraft therefore created two ways for partners to move up tiers:

StorageCraft Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Curt James explained the thought process behind the new tiered structure: “We don’t want to lose our ability to work with partners easily. So we kept it simple while also creating ways to move up tiers. We want to reward and give more attention to partners who are producing more, but we want to continue to support all of our partners throughout our tiers.”

Coming Up

Next up, StorageCraft on September 1 will launch an MSP rebate program to give partners added incentive to work with StorageCraft, according to James. “The MSP space is one of our fastest growing segments,” he said. The rebate program is targeted at partners who are thinking of transitioning to an MSP model but haven’t yet. Those partners will receive a StorageCraft license at a discounted rate for six months. Partners buy licenses on a cumulative volume discount rate. For each license they purchase, the cost per license will go down.

The two announcements are among several ways StorageCraft is striving to stand out in the crowded backup and disaster recovery (BDR) software market for MSPs.