The Partner Event for Microsoft Dynamics Partners and ISVs

Are you a Microsoft Dynamics Partner? Are you going to The Partner Event? If you are unfamiliar with the event, it is a mixture of the old Great Plains Stampede and BBC, and takes place from September 14-16th in Great Plains’ old stomping grounds - Fargo, North Dakota.

I’m going. In fact, I’m giving a presentation on Duct Tape Marketing and how Microsoft Dynamics Partners can apply the principles of Duct Tape Marketing to make their marketing more effective and affordable. I’d love to see some friendly faces in the audience - so for that reason alone, I recommend you go! You can register right online at The Partner Event. Here’s some detail about the presentation I’m giving.

Duct Tape Marketing Session - Adrianne Machina
9/15 at 3:00 and repeated on 9/16 at 9:00 a.m.

Would you like to attract all the clients your business can handle, work only with clients who value what you have to offer, and convert more leads to sales? Simply follow these simple small business marketing systems, strategies, and ideas. Duct Tape Marketing is the first small business marketing program that treats marketing as an integrated system. At the core of the system is a series of steps and strategies, in various stages, that any business can use to finally produce stunning returns from a consistent marketing effort.

I know that travel is expensive. Conferences are expensive. The out-of-office time is expensive. But for me, nothing replaces meeting people face-to-face. To me, events like The Partner Event are worth the investment - not just because I’ll have clients there. Long before I became a marketing consultant, I was a marketing director for a Microsoft Dynamics partner.

I am so thankful that my former employer saw the value of the Microsoft conferences. I think they also saw that I put a lot of energy into attending, networking and getting maximum value from their investment. Like anything else in life, you get out of it what you put into it! The Microsoft conferences always replenished my spirit. I found kindred spirits who were struggling with the same marketing and sales issues. I learned about Microsoft Dynamics ISV solutions that I didn’t even know existed. I learned who in the channel I could trust (and who I couldn’t.) I created new referral and co-marketing opportunities. And most important of all, I got re-enthused about my job and the opportunities to improve my marketing programs. But what’s right for me, may not be right for you.

Just like local networking, attending conferences can become a critical part of your success as a Microsoft Dynamics VAR or ISV - or they can be a complete waste of time. If you are going to spend the time and money to attend, prepare for your success:

1. Bring plenty of business cards!!!!

2. Attend at least some of the sessions. Even salty old dogs occasionally can learn a new trick.

3. Set up meetings in advance. To find people you don’t already know (most will be 2-3 degrees of separation away from you) network online though LinkedIn, Plaxo and Facebook.

4. Hang out. Be around. Mingle outside of your clique. Much of the networking value comes from after-hours and hallway meetings.

5. Have a follow up strategy. Many connections are missed just because people get back to the office and don’t do anything to follow-up with the people they met. And remember, your connection needs to have a ring of authenticity. Microsoft Dynamics VARs often feel barraged by Microsoft Dynamics ISVs. If you are an ISV, make sure that you are offering value, not just asking to be brought into the next deal.

6. HAVE FUN!!! And if you are having fun, call me because I like hanging out with fun, positive people!

Hope to see you there!

This entry was posted on Monday, August 25th, 2008 at 8:50 am and is filed under Entrepreneur Excellence. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.