Leverage Vendors to Cash in on Cloud Sales

MDF Funds – Have a great sales/marketing idea that’s beyond your budget? Extend your dollars by getting your vendor to foot part of the bill. Marketing Development Funds (MDF) are one of the most valuable and under-used vendor resources. Thousands of dollars – usually in matching funds – may be available if you can show your vendor how your proposed sales/marketing campaign will result in revenue.

Rebrandable Collateral – Give your customer compelling solution briefs and case studies  without having to write a word. Many vendors will co-brand their collateral with your logo, giving you professionally produced marketing slicks that explain their solutions, with your identity front-and-center.

Expert Presenters – For your customer event or roadshow, fill out your agenda with your vendors’ most seasoned sales and marketing experts. Get them to pitch the solution and execute those face-to-face customer interactions that bring in customers.

Webinars – You provide your vendor with a list of end users you want to reach. The vendor plans an online webinar on an industry topic of interest, then sends the invites and hosts the webinar. The presentation ends with an explanation of the vendor solution and your offerings. Just about all you need to do is follow up to close the deals!

Beer Bash – Online webinars are worthwhile, but in many cases nothing beats a face-to-face meeting. What works best to drive in-person attendance? Beer. With Axcient, I’ve worked with partners in the Midwest to set up a “Backup and Beer Bash,” where a room at a favorite brewpub serves as the venue for meeting with customers. Axcient provides an expert to talk about the value of backup and business continuity, either by webinar or in person. Your customers leave happy and convinced to increase their managed services commitment.

Open Houses– We know you’re proud of your NOC, so why not bring your customers in to see it? Give your vendor a list of your break/fix customers to invite to the event and ask them to provide air cover with sales calls and emails. Once you get those break/fix customers to your office and impress them with an inside view to your operations and solutions, you might easily convert them to managed services customers.