SlideShare ist ein Scribd-Unternehmen logo
1 von 4
Downloaden Sie, um offline zu lesen
How to Make Your Partner Portal
More Partner-Friendly
Automating Profitable Growth™ www.zinfi.com
The great news is that you
now have a choice of best-in-
class partner portal content
management systems that you
can deploy to migrate your
partner portal piece by piece.
Automating Profitable GrowthTM
At ZINFI, we work for major global brands and every
day help thousands of their channel partners improve
productivity. This is not as straightforward as it might
be. One of the main complaints we hear constantly
from channel partners is how hard it is to use most
vendors’ partner portals. Yes, a few are great, but
most partner portals are complex to understand. When
we ask partners what they would like to see in an ideal
partner portal, the five things we consistently hear are not
surprising, but somehow only rarely delivered:
“
“
Guaranteed to see substantial improvements in partner
engagement and satisfaction
Automating Profitable GrowthTM
4. Simplifying promotions –
Vendors with multiple product lines are constantly
running a wide variety of promotions via their
partner portal. However, if the partner doesn’t see
a logical connection to the vendor initiatives, and
furthermore if the promotions are not related to the
differing maturity stages of the partner, then you
are anesthetizing the channel with an avalanche of
information that has nothing to do with them.
5. Tracking metrics –
We are now in the age of content marketing. This
means that it is the value your partner portal brings
to the channel is dependent on your understanding
of what content is useful to specific groups of
partners, and what isn’t. Yes, you need a dynamic
partner portal content management capability,
without which you cannot serve up the right content
to the right partner. For a vendor with global reach,
this may require an incremental investment of a few
thousand dollars per month, but within a few months
you are going to reap significant benefit from your
partner base by stimulating them to self-educate,
improve their knowledge and manage better – all
because you will be able to identify how to help them
based on data, rather than on opinions or anecdotal
feedback.
The great news is that you now have a choice of best-in-
class partner portal content management systems that
you can deploy to migrate your partner portal piece by
piece. This doesn’t need to be a multi-year program, nor
does it need to be one mammoth effort. If you take a
structured approach, consecutively by functional area,
you can migrate your portal gradually. Quarter by quarter,
you can take one function of your organization, undertake
training and move all of the relevant content over. If you
do that over a period of a year you can migrate pretty
much your entire portal without undue complexity.
As you do this, you are guaranteed to see substantial
improvements in partner engagement and satisfaction
with your partner portal, which in the end will drive more
revenue at a lower cost.
1. Ease of navigation –
Far too frequently, vendors use cool marketing lingo
that is utterly confusing. Why use non-specific terms
like “engage” or “excite” about your channel process
steps when you can use simple, unmistakable words
like “welcome”, “join”, “on-board” or “train”. Calling a
spade a spade is the first step in simplifying navigation
in your partner portal. Also, categorizing your partner
portal by straightforward functional areas like sales,
marketing, technical or incentives is logical and doesn’t
require an effort to understand. Being too cool isn’t
clever. Ease of navigation starts with making things
easy to grasp.
2. Mobile access–
More than two-thirds of the partners consistently
access a partner portal while they are away from their
desk. So, while it is easy to make your portal mobile-
compatible, don’t forget to make the rest of your
portal smartphone- or tablet- You don’t have to go all
the way in building apps for your portal. Many vendors
have gone far down the app route, and it has turned
out to be a pretty wasted investment, as very few
partners click through all the apps. So, while apps can
work as a Band-Aid to push out some news streams,
events, training, etc., don’t get bogged down: focusing
on the broader issue of easy mobile access is the key.
3. Personalization –
Your partners must be able to pick and chose the
content they want to see in your partner portal. To
start with, the portal should allow partners to filter
out content that is not relevant – by region, country,
or partner tier type using content tagging, but partner
portals should also provide focused content to specific
groups of partners by function, e.g. sales, marketing,
or technical. The more streamlined the information
in your portal, the easier it will be for your partners to
use. At ZINFI we see that more than 70% of vendors
are still using a flat, or non-targeted content profile in
their partner portals, which is overwhelming for most
partners.
Contact Us
AMERICAS
sales.noram@zinfitech.com
6200 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 300
Pleasanton, CA 94588
United States of America
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
sales.emea@zinfitech.com
Davidson House
Forbury Square, Reading
RG1 3EU, United Kingdom
ASIA PACIFIC
sales.ap@zinfitech.com
3 Temasek Avenue
#21-00 Centennial Tower
Singapore 039190
© 2017 ZINFI Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Australia • China • Hong Kong • India • Indonesia • Japan • Korea • Romania • Singapore • UK • USA
www.zinfi.com

Weitere ähnliche Inhalte

Was ist angesagt?

Digital Marketing Channel Strategy
Digital Marketing Channel StrategyDigital Marketing Channel Strategy
Digital Marketing Channel Strategy
jfknet
 
Digital marketing channel strategy
Digital marketing channel strategyDigital marketing channel strategy
Digital marketing channel strategy
jfknet
 
Digital marketing channel strategy
Digital marketing channel strategyDigital marketing channel strategy
Digital marketing channel strategy
jfknet
 
Data _Whitepaper_FourFutures_DigitalLoyaltySurvey
Data _Whitepaper_FourFutures_DigitalLoyaltySurveyData _Whitepaper_FourFutures_DigitalLoyaltySurvey
Data _Whitepaper_FourFutures_DigitalLoyaltySurvey
Sokho TRINH
 
Performance in Traditional & Mobile Media
Performance in Traditional & Mobile MediaPerformance in Traditional & Mobile Media
Performance in Traditional & Mobile Media
auexpo Conference
 

Was ist angesagt? (19)

livechat
livechatlivechat
livechat
 
Marketo Global Roll out - Case Study
Marketo Global Roll out - Case Study Marketo Global Roll out - Case Study
Marketo Global Roll out - Case Study
 
Applied ways to make your webinar effective and successful
Applied ways to make your webinar effective and successfulApplied ways to make your webinar effective and successful
Applied ways to make your webinar effective and successful
 
Tactics and Trends to Drive Audience Growth
Tactics and Trends to Drive Audience Growth Tactics and Trends to Drive Audience Growth
Tactics and Trends to Drive Audience Growth
 
Aimia Consumer CPG Loyalty Myths -- BUSTED!
Aimia Consumer CPG Loyalty Myths -- BUSTED!Aimia Consumer CPG Loyalty Myths -- BUSTED!
Aimia Consumer CPG Loyalty Myths -- BUSTED!
 
Digital Marketing Channel Strategy
Digital Marketing Channel StrategyDigital Marketing Channel Strategy
Digital Marketing Channel Strategy
 
Digital marketing channel strategy
Digital marketing channel strategyDigital marketing channel strategy
Digital marketing channel strategy
 
Digital marketing channel strategy
Digital marketing channel strategyDigital marketing channel strategy
Digital marketing channel strategy
 
Clever Messenger Review
Clever Messenger Review Clever Messenger Review
Clever Messenger Review
 
Beyond Customer Acquisition Opportunities Affiliates Can Bring
Beyond Customer Acquisition Opportunities Affiliates Can BringBeyond Customer Acquisition Opportunities Affiliates Can Bring
Beyond Customer Acquisition Opportunities Affiliates Can Bring
 
Data _Whitepaper_FourFutures_DigitalLoyaltySurvey
Data _Whitepaper_FourFutures_DigitalLoyaltySurveyData _Whitepaper_FourFutures_DigitalLoyaltySurvey
Data _Whitepaper_FourFutures_DigitalLoyaltySurvey
 
17 Tips, Tricks And Growth Hacks To Sky-rocket Your Conversions Using On-site...
17 Tips, Tricks And Growth Hacks To Sky-rocket Your Conversions Using On-site...17 Tips, Tricks And Growth Hacks To Sky-rocket Your Conversions Using On-site...
17 Tips, Tricks And Growth Hacks To Sky-rocket Your Conversions Using On-site...
 
How E-Commerce Companies Can Use Marketing Automation To Improve Customer Ret...
How E-Commerce Companies Can Use Marketing Automation To Improve Customer Ret...How E-Commerce Companies Can Use Marketing Automation To Improve Customer Ret...
How E-Commerce Companies Can Use Marketing Automation To Improve Customer Ret...
 
Role of digital marketing for startups
Role of digital marketing for startupsRole of digital marketing for startups
Role of digital marketing for startups
 
Building customer loyalty
Building customer loyaltyBuilding customer loyalty
Building customer loyalty
 
Optimizing With Your Merchant Partner
Optimizing With Your Merchant PartnerOptimizing With Your Merchant Partner
Optimizing With Your Merchant Partner
 
Aimia - Increasing the Lifetime Value for your OTC Pharmaceutical Consumers
Aimia  - Increasing the Lifetime Value for your OTC Pharmaceutical ConsumersAimia  - Increasing the Lifetime Value for your OTC Pharmaceutical Consumers
Aimia - Increasing the Lifetime Value for your OTC Pharmaceutical Consumers
 
Performance in Traditional & Mobile Media
Performance in Traditional & Mobile MediaPerformance in Traditional & Mobile Media
Performance in Traditional & Mobile Media
 
Company Presentation
Company PresentationCompany Presentation
Company Presentation
 

Ähnlich wie How Your Partner Portal Can be Made More Partner-Friendly

Ähnlich wie How Your Partner Portal Can be Made More Partner-Friendly (20)

How Your Partner Portal Can be Made More Partner-Friendly
How Your Partner Portal Can be Made More Partner-FriendlyHow Your Partner Portal Can be Made More Partner-Friendly
How Your Partner Portal Can be Made More Partner-Friendly
 
Seven Reasons Why Your Partner Portals Are Not Used
Seven Reasons Why Your Partner Portals Are Not UsedSeven Reasons Why Your Partner Portals Are Not Used
Seven Reasons Why Your Partner Portals Are Not Used
 
7 Reasons Why Your Partner Portals Are Not Used
7 Reasons Why Your Partner Portals Are Not Used7 Reasons Why Your Partner Portals Are Not Used
7 Reasons Why Your Partner Portals Are Not Used
 
How to Use Social Marketing To Increase Partner Portal Usage
How to Use Social Marketing To Increase Partner Portal UsageHow to Use Social Marketing To Increase Partner Portal Usage
How to Use Social Marketing To Increase Partner Portal Usage
 
Onboarding Affiliate Marketing Partners Using Partner Management Software
Onboarding Affiliate Marketing Partners Using Partner Management SoftwareOnboarding Affiliate Marketing Partners Using Partner Management Software
Onboarding Affiliate Marketing Partners Using Partner Management Software
 
How to Use Partner Management Software to Automate Partner Onboarding
How to Use Partner Management Software to Automate Partner OnboardingHow to Use Partner Management Software to Automate Partner Onboarding
How to Use Partner Management Software to Automate Partner Onboarding
 
5 prm portal pain points
5 prm portal pain points5 prm portal pain points
5 prm portal pain points
 
Onboarding Affiliate Marketing Partners Using Partner Management Software
Onboarding Affiliate Marketing Partners Using Partner Management SoftwareOnboarding Affiliate Marketing Partners Using Partner Management Software
Onboarding Affiliate Marketing Partners Using Partner Management Software
 
How Partner Profiling Can Increase Your Channel Sales
How Partner Profiling Can Increase Your Channel SalesHow Partner Profiling Can Increase Your Channel Sales
How Partner Profiling Can Increase Your Channel Sales
 
How to Drive Partner Collaboration Using an Affiliate Marketing Tool
How to Drive Partner Collaboration Using an Affiliate Marketing ToolHow to Drive Partner Collaboration Using an Affiliate Marketing Tool
How to Drive Partner Collaboration Using an Affiliate Marketing Tool
 
7 Critical Factors for a Successful Partner Recruitment Program
7 Critical Factors for a Successful Partner Recruitment Program7 Critical Factors for a Successful Partner Recruitment Program
7 Critical Factors for a Successful Partner Recruitment Program
 
How to Evaluate Affiliate Marketing Onboarding Software
How to Evaluate Affiliate Marketing Onboarding SoftwareHow to Evaluate Affiliate Marketing Onboarding Software
How to Evaluate Affiliate Marketing Onboarding Software
 
3 “Must Haves” for Your Partner Marketing Automation Platform
3 “Must Haves” for Your Partner Marketing Automation Platform3 “Must Haves” for Your Partner Marketing Automation Platform
3 “Must Haves” for Your Partner Marketing Automation Platform
 
What is Partner Sales Enablement?
What is Partner Sales Enablement?What is Partner Sales Enablement?
What is Partner Sales Enablement?
 
The ultimate blueprint to PRM
The ultimate blueprint to PRMThe ultimate blueprint to PRM
The ultimate blueprint to PRM
 
Making Content Syndication Work For Your Channel Partners
Making Content Syndication Work For Your Channel PartnersMaking Content Syndication Work For Your Channel Partners
Making Content Syndication Work For Your Channel Partners
 
Partner Relationship Management – Six Main Takeaways
Partner Relationship Management – Six Main TakeawaysPartner Relationship Management – Six Main Takeaways
Partner Relationship Management – Six Main Takeaways
 
How to Onboard Partners Using Your Channel Marketing Management Platform
How to Onboard Partners Using Your Channel Marketing Management PlatformHow to Onboard Partners Using Your Channel Marketing Management Platform
How to Onboard Partners Using Your Channel Marketing Management Platform
 
What is the meaning of Partner Sales Enablement?
What is the meaning of Partner Sales Enablement?What is the meaning of Partner Sales Enablement?
What is the meaning of Partner Sales Enablement?
 
How to Use Partner Management Software to Automate Onboarding
How to Use Partner Management Software to Automate OnboardingHow to Use Partner Management Software to Automate Onboarding
How to Use Partner Management Software to Automate Onboarding
 

Mehr von ZINFI Technologies, Inc.

Mehr von ZINFI Technologies, Inc. (20)

Why Web Content Syndication Isn’t Always the Answer for Channel Marketing Aut...
Why Web Content Syndication Isn’t Always the Answer for Channel Marketing Aut...Why Web Content Syndication Isn’t Always the Answer for Channel Marketing Aut...
Why Web Content Syndication Isn’t Always the Answer for Channel Marketing Aut...
 
7 Tools You Need To Be Successful in Social Selling
7 Tools You Need To Be Successful in Social Selling7 Tools You Need To Be Successful in Social Selling
7 Tools You Need To Be Successful in Social Selling
 
7 Market Development Funds Programs That Yield Results
7 Market Development Funds Programs That Yield Results7 Market Development Funds Programs That Yield Results
7 Market Development Funds Programs That Yield Results
 
3 Macro Trends That Could Put Your IT Channel Partners Out of Business
3 Macro Trends That Could Put Your IT Channel Partners Out of Business3 Macro Trends That Could Put Your IT Channel Partners Out of Business
3 Macro Trends That Could Put Your IT Channel Partners Out of Business
 
7 Key Strategies for Fraud Prevention in Affiliate Marketing Management
7 Key Strategies for Fraud Prevention in Affiliate Marketing Management7 Key Strategies for Fraud Prevention in Affiliate Marketing Management
7 Key Strategies for Fraud Prevention in Affiliate Marketing Management
 
Optimizing Partner Management with Partner Portal Software
Optimizing Partner Management with Partner Portal SoftwareOptimizing Partner Management with Partner Portal Software
Optimizing Partner Management with Partner Portal Software
 
How a Marketing Agency Can Thrive as a Channel Marketing Agency
How a Marketing Agency Can Thrive as a Channel Marketing AgencyHow a Marketing Agency Can Thrive as a Channel Marketing Agency
How a Marketing Agency Can Thrive as a Channel Marketing Agency
 
How to Excel in Channel Sales Management: A Complete Guide
How to Excel in Channel Sales Management: A Complete GuideHow to Excel in Channel Sales Management: A Complete Guide
How to Excel in Channel Sales Management: A Complete Guide
 
AI is Revolutionizing Channel Marketing Automation: Opportunities, Challenges...
AI is Revolutionizing Channel Marketing Automation: Opportunities, Challenges...AI is Revolutionizing Channel Marketing Automation: Opportunities, Challenges...
AI is Revolutionizing Channel Marketing Automation: Opportunities, Challenges...
 
Must-Haves for Your Partner Portal – Part 2 of 2
Must-Haves for Your Partner Portal – Part 2 of 2Must-Haves for Your Partner Portal – Part 2 of 2
Must-Haves for Your Partner Portal – Part 2 of 2
 
Must-Haves for Your Partner Portal – Part 1 of 2
Must-Haves for Your Partner Portal – Part 1 of 2Must-Haves for Your Partner Portal – Part 1 of 2
Must-Haves for Your Partner Portal – Part 1 of 2
 
Making Market Development Funds Work for You
Making Market Development Funds Work for YouMaking Market Development Funds Work for You
Making Market Development Funds Work for You
 
Making Deal Registration Work For Your Channel
Making Deal Registration Work For Your ChannelMaking Deal Registration Work For Your Channel
Making Deal Registration Work For Your Channel
 
Channel Sales Management – 9 Ways to Get Promoted
Channel Sales Management – 9 Ways to Get PromotedChannel Sales Management – 9 Ways to Get Promoted
Channel Sales Management – 9 Ways to Get Promoted
 
Channel Marketing Automation – Key Risks IT Partners Must Manage To Succeed I...
Channel Marketing Automation – Key Risks IT Partners Must Manage To Succeed I...Channel Marketing Automation – Key Risks IT Partners Must Manage To Succeed I...
Channel Marketing Automation – Key Risks IT Partners Must Manage To Succeed I...
 
5 Ways to Use Channel Marketing Automation to Get Your Partners’ Attention
5 Ways to Use Channel Marketing Automation to Get Your Partners’ Attention5 Ways to Use Channel Marketing Automation to Get Your Partners’ Attention
5 Ways to Use Channel Marketing Automation to Get Your Partners’ Attention
 
The Core Capabilities of a Best-In-Class PRM Software Platform – Part 4
The Core Capabilities of a Best-In-Class PRM Software Platform – Part 4The Core Capabilities of a Best-In-Class PRM Software Platform – Part 4
The Core Capabilities of a Best-In-Class PRM Software Platform – Part 4
 
What AI means for Channel Management Software – Is it a Hype or Reality?
What AI means for Channel Management Software – Is it a Hype or Reality?What AI means for Channel Management Software – Is it a Hype or Reality?
What AI means for Channel Management Software – Is it a Hype or Reality?
 
What Can You Do to Drive Your Market Development Funds Utilization?
What Can You Do to Drive Your Market Development Funds Utilization?What Can You Do to Drive Your Market Development Funds Utilization?
What Can You Do to Drive Your Market Development Funds Utilization?
 
What Is This PRM Thing I Am Hearing About?
What Is This PRM Thing I Am Hearing About?What Is This PRM Thing I Am Hearing About?
What Is This PRM Thing I Am Hearing About?
 

Kürzlich hochgeladen

Kürzlich hochgeladen (20)

The Science of Landing Page Messaging.pdf
The Science of Landing Page Messaging.pdfThe Science of Landing Page Messaging.pdf
The Science of Landing Page Messaging.pdf
 
Moving beyond multi-touch attribution - DigiMarCon CanWest 2024
Moving beyond multi-touch attribution - DigiMarCon CanWest 2024Moving beyond multi-touch attribution - DigiMarCon CanWest 2024
Moving beyond multi-touch attribution - DigiMarCon CanWest 2024
 
BDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 150 Noida Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort Service
BDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 150 Noida Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort ServiceBDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 150 Noida Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort Service
BDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 150 Noida Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort Service
 
Major SEO Trends in 2024 - Banyanbrain Digital
Major SEO Trends in 2024 - Banyanbrain DigitalMajor SEO Trends in 2024 - Banyanbrain Digital
Major SEO Trends in 2024 - Banyanbrain Digital
 
The+State+of+Careers+In+Retention+Marketing-2.pdf
The+State+of+Careers+In+Retention+Marketing-2.pdfThe+State+of+Careers+In+Retention+Marketing-2.pdf
The+State+of+Careers+In+Retention+Marketing-2.pdf
 
BDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 128 Noida Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort Service
BDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 128 Noida Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort ServiceBDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 128 Noida Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort Service
BDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 128 Noida Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort Service
 
Five Essential Tools for International SEO - Natalia Witczyk - SearchNorwich 15
Five Essential Tools for International SEO - Natalia Witczyk - SearchNorwich 15Five Essential Tools for International SEO - Natalia Witczyk - SearchNorwich 15
Five Essential Tools for International SEO - Natalia Witczyk - SearchNorwich 15
 
How to utilize calculated properties in your HubSpot setups
How to utilize calculated properties in your HubSpot setupsHow to utilize calculated properties in your HubSpot setups
How to utilize calculated properties in your HubSpot setups
 
Enjoy Night⚡Call Girls Dlf City Phase 4 Gurgaon >༒8448380779 Escort Service
Enjoy Night⚡Call Girls Dlf City Phase 4 Gurgaon >༒8448380779 Escort ServiceEnjoy Night⚡Call Girls Dlf City Phase 4 Gurgaon >༒8448380779 Escort Service
Enjoy Night⚡Call Girls Dlf City Phase 4 Gurgaon >༒8448380779 Escort Service
 
Creator Influencer Strategy Master Class - Corinne Rose Guirgis
Creator Influencer Strategy Master Class - Corinne Rose GuirgisCreator Influencer Strategy Master Class - Corinne Rose Guirgis
Creator Influencer Strategy Master Class - Corinne Rose Guirgis
 
Brand Strategy Master Class - Juntae DeLane
Brand Strategy Master Class - Juntae DeLaneBrand Strategy Master Class - Juntae DeLane
Brand Strategy Master Class - Juntae DeLane
 
Unraveling the Mystery of the Hinterkaifeck Murders.pptx
Unraveling the Mystery of the Hinterkaifeck Murders.pptxUnraveling the Mystery of the Hinterkaifeck Murders.pptx
Unraveling the Mystery of the Hinterkaifeck Murders.pptx
 
VIP 7001035870 Find & Meet Hyderabad Call Girls Film Nagar high-profile Call ...
VIP 7001035870 Find & Meet Hyderabad Call Girls Film Nagar high-profile Call ...VIP 7001035870 Find & Meet Hyderabad Call Girls Film Nagar high-profile Call ...
VIP 7001035870 Find & Meet Hyderabad Call Girls Film Nagar high-profile Call ...
 
Unraveling the Mystery of The Circleville Letters.pptx
Unraveling the Mystery of The Circleville Letters.pptxUnraveling the Mystery of The Circleville Letters.pptx
Unraveling the Mystery of The Circleville Letters.pptx
 
Kraft Mac and Cheese campaign presentation
Kraft Mac and Cheese campaign presentationKraft Mac and Cheese campaign presentation
Kraft Mac and Cheese campaign presentation
 
Situation Analysis | Management Company.
Situation Analysis | Management Company.Situation Analysis | Management Company.
Situation Analysis | Management Company.
 
Labour Day Celebrating Workers and Their Contributions.pptx
Labour Day Celebrating Workers and Their Contributions.pptxLabour Day Celebrating Workers and Their Contributions.pptx
Labour Day Celebrating Workers and Their Contributions.pptx
 
BDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 39 Noida Escorts Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort Service
BDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 39 Noida Escorts Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort ServiceBDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 39 Noida Escorts Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort Service
BDSM⚡Call Girls in Sector 39 Noida Escorts Escorts >༒8448380779 Escort Service
 
Digital Strategy Master Class - Andrew Rupert
Digital Strategy Master Class - Andrew RupertDigital Strategy Master Class - Andrew Rupert
Digital Strategy Master Class - Andrew Rupert
 
What is Google Search Console and What is it provide?
What is Google Search Console and What is it provide?What is Google Search Console and What is it provide?
What is Google Search Console and What is it provide?
 

How Your Partner Portal Can be Made More Partner-Friendly

  • 1. How to Make Your Partner Portal More Partner-Friendly Automating Profitable Growth™ www.zinfi.com
  • 2. The great news is that you now have a choice of best-in- class partner portal content management systems that you can deploy to migrate your partner portal piece by piece. Automating Profitable GrowthTM At ZINFI, we work for major global brands and every day help thousands of their channel partners improve productivity. This is not as straightforward as it might be. One of the main complaints we hear constantly from channel partners is how hard it is to use most vendors’ partner portals. Yes, a few are great, but most partner portals are complex to understand. When we ask partners what they would like to see in an ideal partner portal, the five things we consistently hear are not surprising, but somehow only rarely delivered: “ “ Guaranteed to see substantial improvements in partner engagement and satisfaction
  • 3. Automating Profitable GrowthTM 4. Simplifying promotions – Vendors with multiple product lines are constantly running a wide variety of promotions via their partner portal. However, if the partner doesn’t see a logical connection to the vendor initiatives, and furthermore if the promotions are not related to the differing maturity stages of the partner, then you are anesthetizing the channel with an avalanche of information that has nothing to do with them. 5. Tracking metrics – We are now in the age of content marketing. This means that it is the value your partner portal brings to the channel is dependent on your understanding of what content is useful to specific groups of partners, and what isn’t. Yes, you need a dynamic partner portal content management capability, without which you cannot serve up the right content to the right partner. For a vendor with global reach, this may require an incremental investment of a few thousand dollars per month, but within a few months you are going to reap significant benefit from your partner base by stimulating them to self-educate, improve their knowledge and manage better – all because you will be able to identify how to help them based on data, rather than on opinions or anecdotal feedback. The great news is that you now have a choice of best-in- class partner portal content management systems that you can deploy to migrate your partner portal piece by piece. This doesn’t need to be a multi-year program, nor does it need to be one mammoth effort. If you take a structured approach, consecutively by functional area, you can migrate your portal gradually. Quarter by quarter, you can take one function of your organization, undertake training and move all of the relevant content over. If you do that over a period of a year you can migrate pretty much your entire portal without undue complexity. As you do this, you are guaranteed to see substantial improvements in partner engagement and satisfaction with your partner portal, which in the end will drive more revenue at a lower cost. 1. Ease of navigation – Far too frequently, vendors use cool marketing lingo that is utterly confusing. Why use non-specific terms like “engage” or “excite” about your channel process steps when you can use simple, unmistakable words like “welcome”, “join”, “on-board” or “train”. Calling a spade a spade is the first step in simplifying navigation in your partner portal. Also, categorizing your partner portal by straightforward functional areas like sales, marketing, technical or incentives is logical and doesn’t require an effort to understand. Being too cool isn’t clever. Ease of navigation starts with making things easy to grasp. 2. Mobile access– More than two-thirds of the partners consistently access a partner portal while they are away from their desk. So, while it is easy to make your portal mobile- compatible, don’t forget to make the rest of your portal smartphone- or tablet- You don’t have to go all the way in building apps for your portal. Many vendors have gone far down the app route, and it has turned out to be a pretty wasted investment, as very few partners click through all the apps. So, while apps can work as a Band-Aid to push out some news streams, events, training, etc., don’t get bogged down: focusing on the broader issue of easy mobile access is the key. 3. Personalization – Your partners must be able to pick and chose the content they want to see in your partner portal. To start with, the portal should allow partners to filter out content that is not relevant – by region, country, or partner tier type using content tagging, but partner portals should also provide focused content to specific groups of partners by function, e.g. sales, marketing, or technical. The more streamlined the information in your portal, the easier it will be for your partners to use. At ZINFI we see that more than 70% of vendors are still using a flat, or non-targeted content profile in their partner portals, which is overwhelming for most partners.
  • 4. Contact Us AMERICAS sales.noram@zinfitech.com 6200 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 300 Pleasanton, CA 94588 United States of America EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA sales.emea@zinfitech.com Davidson House Forbury Square, Reading RG1 3EU, United Kingdom ASIA PACIFIC sales.ap@zinfitech.com 3 Temasek Avenue #21-00 Centennial Tower Singapore 039190 © 2017 ZINFI Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved. Australia • China • Hong Kong • India • Indonesia • Japan • Korea • Romania • Singapore • UK • USA www.zinfi.com