Innovative Strategies for Success
Charles Bowen said, “Summertime is always the best of what might be.” And as the days grow longer and vacations become the norm, maintaining partner engagement can be challenging.
However, with strategic planning and creative approaches, you can keep your partners engaged and foster stronger relationships, which can be a winning season for your channel program.
Here are a few recommendations on how to make the most of the summer season:
Offer Engaging and Thematic Content
Desraie Thomas, of Ostendio, shares, “In Calgary, we have the Calgary Stampede. Most businesses will host a client event during this time. Examples: pancake breakfast, BBQ with music, and then because the city is so busy, you can think of a budget and event, and there will be an option.
Summertime is an excellent time for business development, doing things that lighten your partner’s heart. It isn’t necessarily about the close but about the relationship. Communities are amazing during the summer, with most cities hosting many local events. Who are your community partners? Where are they? Are they sponsoring any events that you can participate in?
Host a community market, giving your Partners (depending on who they are) a place to showcase what they offer. It shows you care about their business and want to support them.”
Schedule and Plan Ahead
Plan essential meetings well in advance to accommodate vacations, showing respect for your partners’ schedules. Summer often brings downtime, a perfect opportunity to encourage your partners to engage with your training and certification materials over extended periods, allowing them to interact with your content at their convenience. Utilize ZiftONE’s Channel Learning tools to provide engaging and valuable learning experiences that keep your partners’ skills sharp and ready for the busy seasons ahead.
Personal and Meaningful Communication
Heather Margolis, President and CEO of Channel Maven, recommends ” taking a more casual and personable approach to communication. Have the channel leader create videos that are not overly produced. On their smartphone, sitting outside on a hike, or at the golf course. Speak directly to the partner’s pain points and give them advice. “
Add Value with Special Offers and Events
Michelle Accardi, CEO of Liongard, offers the following suggestions: “To keep partners engaged during the summer months, it’s crucial to maintain consistent communication and provide them with valuable resources. Hosting virtual events, webinars, and training sessions can help keep them informed and motivated. Additionally, offering special incentives and exclusive promotions can drive engagement and show our appreciation for their continued partnership. By fostering a sense of community and support, we can ensure our partners remain active and enthusiastic throughout the summer.”
Be Prepared and Flexible
Prepare for emergencies by having backup contacts in place. Offer to meet your partners at their preferred locations, showing flexibility and respect for their time. This approach makes it more likely they’ll agree to meet and stay engaged.
Create Excitement with Promotions and Giveaways
Hold exclusive summer promotions and giveaways to entice engagement. Highlighting the limited-time nature of these offers can prompt action from your partners. Keep the content lighthearted and informal to match the summer vibe, saving more technical posts for other times of the year.
How ZiftONE Can Help: Enhancing Partner Experience for Better Revenue
Because better partner revenue starts with a better partner experience, your business and data silos are holding you back. Marketing leaders are drowning in vanity metrics. Channel Account Managers spend more time with spreadsheets than partners. ZiftONE makes it easy for channel leaders to collaborate internally and with partners to build pipelines and win buyers.
- ZiftONE Partner Management: Through customized, highly intuitive admin dashboards, ZiftONE makes it easy—and enjoyable—for your partners to stay engaged with your brands.
- ZiftONE Channel Sales: Give your PAMs/CAMs the data they need to focus partners on high-value activities, keep them armed with the right information, and hold them accountable for their performance.
- ZiftONE Channel Marketing: ZiftONE allows you to easily manage multi-touch digital marketing campaigns designed to generate leads and support daily pipeline growth.
- ZiftONE Channel Learning: ZiftONE gives you powerful tools for webinar management, testing and exams, partner certifications, and more.
By adopting these combined strategies and leveraging ZiftONE’s capabilities, you can turn the summer season into an opportunity for innovation, connection, and growth. Show your partners you value their time and engagement, and you’ll build stronger, more lasting relationships.
