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Tools

Channel Partner Tools Spotlight: On24

I love on24.  I don’t know how many of you are aware of it and why it’s so amazing.  I attended an all day webinar today on Mastering Lead Management – Focus Interactive Summit (@FocusSummit).  What?!?  All day webinar – most of my friends thought I was nuts to consider spending 7 hours on a... read more

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Channel Management

Customer Service and Loyalty – Is there a Link?

Is there a link between customer service and loyalty?  You bet!  What is good customer service?  I think it’s solving my problem.  What is loyalty?  Will I buy from you or use your service again based upon my experience with the company, the product or the service.  The connection seems obvious to me.  Why is... read more

Nick Vujicic

Motivation

The Most Inspirational Video I’ve Ever Seen – What do You Do When You Fall Down?

Today was a rough day – so I thought.  Two client meetings, a meeting with my real estate broker, an open house, the pets driving me crazy and a proposal due.  I was pretty stressed and then I saw this beautiful man on this video and thought to myself that I had nothing to be... read more

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Partner Program

Four Things I Learned About Partner Programs from Dogs at the Park

The other day a client called me (I was at the dog park) frustrated that their top tier partners weren’t performing up to the levels that they expected.  They had signed a set of partners read more

on top of staircase (high resolution 3D image)

Channel Strategy

Channel Strategy – Three Rules that Justify Channels if you’re in the Growth Stage

As your business moves into the growth stage of the product lifecycle, sales volumes increase, products expand, profitability increases, competition increases and your sales team starts to call on prospects in a broader set of markets.  This creates unique challenges read more

A baby bottle has tipped over and milk has been spilled.

Channel Management

Milk Explodes at Safeway, but Turns out to Be Best Customer Service Experience

I’m selling my house.   Yesterday was my first open house for Real Estate Brokers to tour the home before the first public open house this weekend.  Apparently, I’ve  learned that you should have food available for the brokers to entice them to visit your home  – this is something I didn’t know.  So, at 5:45am... read more

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Channel Marketing

Channel Marketing -The Top Five Mistakes You Might Be Making When Communicating With Partners

Effective partner communications will drive increased sales. Ineffective partner communication is a waste of time and money.  It’s that simple.  The five top mistakes that I see clients make include: read more

san francisco sunrise

Motivation

The Gifts Early Morning Brings

I awoke today and was reminded of the beauty to the rituals that start the day.  The walk with the dogs.  The silence of the early morning (5:30am).  The listening to the birds.  The first cup of coffee.  The reading of the paper.  Bathing.  Getting to work. How thankful I am for these gifts.  The... read more

Man slamming his head into a brick wall, isolated on a white background

Channel Management

Channel Management – How to Lose a Prospect Forever – and the Lessons for Channel Managers

I’m moving.  As you can imagine, I’ve got a ton of things going on to prepare to sell my current house and to buy a new one.  I have probably made over 50 inquiries for services I was very interested in – contractors, realtors, decorators, landscapers, window washers, moving services, etc.   Before I contacted them,... read more

wizard-of-oz

Channel Management

Who Rang that Bell? Communicating Effectively with Partners

My favorite quote from the Wizard of Oz, Who Rang that Bell, reminds me of bad channel managers who can’t effectively communicate or aren’t prepared: Guardian of the Emerald City Gates: Who rang that bell? Dorothy, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tin Woodsman: [all four together] We did! read more