Topic: How to add more intellectual firepower to your business
Date: Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008
Time: Noon EST
Click HERE for more information or to register

Topic: Marketing Survival Strategies for the Attention Economy
Date: Friday, December 14th, 2008
Time: 1:00 PM EST
Click HERE for more information or to register

 

Your invited to our next PartnerPoint webcast titled "Marketing Survival Strategies for the Attention Economy" presented by our guest Jeremy Epstein.

---

One of the most influential social scientists of the 20th century, Herbert Simon, remarked that “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.”

Simon succinctly wraps up the challenges facing marketers in the Internet era. Inundated by information and media from all sides, prospects and clients continue to tune out and ignore traditional marketing tactics and message.

Firms of all sizes (with clients of all sizes) struggle with the central question:

How do we effectively cut through all the noise to establish authentic dialogue and relationships and… make money?

Join Jeremy Epstein, a “Marketing Navigator for the Attention Economy,” in a lively, interactive (and remarkable!) presentation that will:

• help you understand the fundamental macro-societal shifts impacting marketers
• provide guidelines for how to thrive as a marketer in the new environment
• share the ground rules for the new marketing
• educate you on the key concepts of using Social Media as a marketing channel
• offer suggestions on the first steps on the road to a Word-of-Mouth/Social Media marketing strategy

 

We've been told about a new video library coming out soon for partners to showcase their products and services.  Even though the site isnt live yet, you can upload your videos now, and a few will get selected to be shown at the WPC later this summer.

The new services is called Digital Forum and it's a streaming video site dedicated to Microsoft partners. Partners will be able to upload their own “rough-cut” videos that explain their solutions. It's like Solution Profiler combined with Soapbox/YouTube, built all in Silverlight.

The main site will launch in July, but they are accepting uploads now. Any partner videos submitted in the next month will be on the final site when it launches, and may be shown at WPC.

Here is a link to learn more, or upload your video:

https://www.wpcvideos.com

Also, if your wondering how you might capture a demo of your application, you can use a free tool from Microsoft called Community Clips, available HERE.  This is a simple application, similar to Adobe Captivate, which simply allows you to record your voice, and your screen, and syncs them together to create a video presentation.

I hope some of you get to take advantage of this opportunity, and I also hope to meet many of you at the WPC this year.

Thanks!
Brian 

Based on requests and feedback from our FaceBook members, we have created and launched our Partner2Partner Email List and Marketplace.  This will allow our members to send messages to other members, with us moderating the process.  All members can submit a message for other members.  We will combine messages and forward to the group on a regular basis.  Also, all messages are kept on our Marketplace for exposure to visitors to our portal as well.  You can view the Marketplace and submit your message here:

http://www.partnerpoint.com/PartnerPointHome/Partner2PartnerMarketplace/tabid/731/Default.aspx 

It was a bit delayed, but we have now officially launched our new FaceBook Widget.  It gives you, our members, easy access to much of our community data from directly within your FaceBook World!  You can check it out here:

http://apps.facebook.com/microsoftpartner 

Be sure to check out our brand new Member Map.  Drill down from Country, to State, to City.  Filter by Partner Level.  Make sure your firm is properly represented so others can find you.  To add or edit any information on your map listing, simply click on your name in the upper right hand corner of the portal (after you have logged in) to modify you member profile.

http://www.partnerpoint.com/PartnerPointHome/MemberMap/tabid/438/Default.aspx 

The Microsoft Public Sector team will be presenting to our community on January 24th, 2008.  If you are eager to learn more about this group, you should attend this short but informative webcast.  Click HERE for more information or to register. 

We are proud to announce our first PartnerPoint Facebook Widget.  It is called the Microsoft ISV Showcase, and automatically pushes out our member product data in our ISV Showcase into our Facebook Group.  The objective is to help customers and partners find other qualified Microsoft partners, as well as to foster collaboration and social networking.  As of the first day in operation, 55 Facebook users have installed and are running the application!  This is exciting because it really illustrates how we can provide centralized Web 2.0 services to our members across whatever platforms you choose to spend your time in!!!!  You can get it here:

http:\\apps.facebook.com\isvshowcase

 

The Microsoft SB2 team has invited our community to participate in a brand new program designed to connect Microsoft Partners and Customers with qualified students for entry-level and internship positions.  SB2 will provide skilled worers to Microsoft Partners and establish the skill requirements to fuel innovation and enable employability of the next generation...  click HERE for more information...

PartnerPoint primary objective is to utilize online communities and Web 2.0 collaboration tools and services to help customers find Microsoft Partners, and to help Partners connect with each other and with Microsoft teams from around the world.  Check back often for more exciting opportinies and services.