I was on the “US East Region Breadth Monthly Partner Call” today and they provided some cool resources.  Some of you may be wondering what this call is all about.  Microsoft is always been known as having a strong partner channel.  The provide a number of resources (some listed below) that are they to help partners connect with customers and provide high valued planning, deployment, and operational support to clients.  While the program isn’t always the best, they constantly strive to improve and adapt to the market demands, even in the current economic climate.

On a monthly basis, the U.S. East Region team for Microsoft focused on breadth partners have a call to provide an update on programs and incentives for partners.  Below are some of the resources they discussed on the call and I thought I’d share.

• Small Business Center: http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/hub.mspx
• Resources for small businesses.
• Local Engagement Toolkit: https://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/local/partner/default.aspx
• Resource site for Microsoft partners looking to do business directly within your local markets
• Get access to marketing materials and connection information
• Connect directly with Microsoft business development managers
• MS Local Widget: http://www.mslocalwidget.com/
• Provides small business related content that you can put on your site with the HTML code they provide.
• Microsoft will keep updating the content for you.  Now you can have even more compelling small business content on your site for FREE!
• U.S. Licensing Boot Camps: https://partner.microsoft.com/us/40059924#register
• Microsoft is providing local licensing bootcamps as well as a virtual version
• Even if you’re not a LAR, all SI’s should still now licensing.  It ensures you have a better grasp of the financial impacts of your solution for the customer and could also impact your end architecture.
• One resource that was not mentioned was the Microsoft Gear Up Site (http://www.ms-gearup.com/home.asp).  It provides tons of great information on Microsoft licensing.
• Microsoft Incentives: http://www.microsoftincentives.com/
• Central location for all Microsoft licensing “deals”
• This is a great resource when looking to maximize your customers budget.  The less they pay in software, the more than can pay with you.
• gamePlan: http://microsoftgameplan.com/uspartner/
• Marketing materials focused on selling your solutions and Microsoft products during the recession
• Microsoft VAR Partner Connect: https://partner.microsoft.com/us/salesmarketingsection/usregions/40060475
• One stop shop for all Microsoft partner related materials for training, marketing, and selling.
• Security Software Advisor Program: https://www.forefrontsecurityrewards.com/ 
• In short, this is a Rebate program!  Up to 30% of the Forefront purchase sent to you directly from Microsoft
• If you influence the customer in purchasing Forefront Security deals AND do the deployment, you’ll get the “rebate”

If this looks like a lot to learn, but you’d like to have someone on your team to help make sense of this for your business, then you should look at Agramont Services for guidance.  http://agramontservices.com/