Microsoft Gold Certified Partner

Ashenwelt

So some weirdness.

I have a small consulting team that operates primarily in Southern California. I am looking to expand out, but one of the keys to that is to make Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status. As such, I have to expand some. There are seven of us, and between us we have about 120 years of IT experience, (I might be low here).

You know what is driving me crazy though? I am FIVE points from becoming that Gold Partner. Five. That is two people really. I think I am gonna go insane over this one… We already have three specialties (Advanced Infrastructure Solutions, Information Worker Solutions, Networking Infrastructure Solutions ). We are working on more...

Anyone else trying to get Gold Certified in their consulting business?

Just wondering:)

astorrs

What points are you counting in right now that's leaving you 5 short?

darkerosxx

FYI:

Microsoft Gold Certified Partners enrolling or re-enrolling in the program must have participated in the Customer Satisfaction Index within the previous 12 months. This new requirement will be required for Gold Certified Partners re-enrolling during the 2010 re-enrollment period.

Source: Microsoft Debuts Community-Centric Partner Network: New Microsoft Partner Network reflects focus on capability, community and customer connections.

Ashenwelt

astorrs wrote: »

What points are you counting in right now that's leaving you 5 short?

As a MS partner, there are a variety of ways to gain points. Let me give you a few examples (taken from the partner site):

Activity
Points

Second Microsoft Competency: Information Worker Solutions (30 points up to a maximum of 60 Qualifying Partner Points)

30 qualifying points


10 customer references (2 points per reference up to a maximum of 20 Qualifying Partner Points).

20 qualifying points


10 selected Microsoft Certified Professional certifications (1 to 3 points depending on certification up to a maximum of 40 Qualifying Partner Points)

20 qualifying points


Customer Satisfaction participation: 25 customer responses and net satisfaction of 170 (points awarded for participation and satisfaction levels vary up to a maximum of 40 Qualifying Partner Points)

10 qualifying points


3 attendees at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (1 point per attendee up to a maximum of 3 Qualifying Partner Points)

3 qualifying points


Estimated total:
133 Qualifying Partner Points

See people with Certs are worth a varying amount. Some examples, MCTS, MCP=1 pt, MCDST=2, MCITP, MCSE=3.

darkerosxx wrote: »

FYI:

Source: Microsoft Debuts Community-Centric Partner Network: New Microsoft Partner Network reflects focus on capability, community and customer connections.

Yep. But were not there yet. Actually, the I already have several clients expecting that one. It is a big deal though, and should have been done a long time ago.

darkerosxx

You could get 25 points with the small business specialist competency. Have someone do the sales training/quiz and another do one of the 5 exams:

https://partner.microsoft.com/40021562

Ashenwelt

darkerosxx wrote: »

You could get 25 points with the small business specialist competency. Have someone do the sales training/quiz and another do one of the 5 exams:

https://partner.microsoft.com/40021562

I have one person studying WSS 3.0 right now for that. They are hoping to pass it... in a month to two months. Also, once you have a competency it is only worth 5 points (still enough though).

It does kinda drive you nuts when you are this close though:)

dynamik

Are you guys hiring?

darkerosxx

BTW, I'm curious: what makes it worth it to be a certified partner? gold partner?

I'm currently a registered partner with small business specialist competency. I don't see any reason to upgrade, honestly.

brad-

darkerosxx wrote: »

BTW, I'm curious: what makes it worth it to be a certified partner? gold partner?

I was wondering the same thing. My only guess is that a status like that might aid in winning contract bids. It could be a selling feature of your business...just like regular certs are for us, on the resume...but i dont see that being worth the time/money.

They do look pretty nice on the wall though.

Ashenwelt

What do you gain from certified or certified gold partner status?

1. A marketing edge. When you are one person you advertise based on your personal certs. When you are a multi-person business: YOU CAN NOT DO THIS. That is staright up against the rules for using your certs. You can say you have them in the company, as an informative, but you cannot put your certs on display the same way. And some companies want assurances, since consultants sometimes have a bad name. It is the same reason my company is an IPswitch partner and a VMware partner. I am also an IBM partner, but need some IBM tests on two people to get to display it:) When you lose clients to other people with company certs… it drives you batty.
2. Software. You get just about every piece of MS software known to man for your companies use, and a lot for training and demonstrations. This is actually a big deal to me. It isn’t technet squeeze the license in weird ways to pseudo make it work, this is honest licensing. Makes it a lot easier to be able to tell the client: well I even buy my licenses.
3. Support. You get access to 5 free calls for support on an SLA, and cheap access to more. And you get access to a special forum just for certified partners… with MS people actively support.
4. Some people go to MS for direction to a local provider… and you are more likely to get a referral as a gold certified than anything else. Same goes for their online service provider directory.
I could maybe come up with some more… but these are so disjointed because I am way to beat right now. How this explains some.

darkerosxx

Yeah, #1 helps the most. Thanks.

Ashenwelt

I got it!! I got gold!

dynamik

Ashenwelt wrote: »

I got it!! I got gold!

You're like the Michael Phelps of TE

Ashenwelt

Thanks!

chmod

The problem is the gold partner status is very expensive. The Return On Investment (ROI) makes it worth the time, money and effort?

Pash

chmod wrote: »

The problem is the gold partner status is very expensive. The Return On Investment (ROI) makes it worth the time, money and effort?

A sub to experts exchange is a return on investment, a MGP is about as useful as a c**k flavoured lolipop. Ohh but the software licenses are nice, and of course the gold label you can put on several sales docs

SWM

a MGP is about as useful as a c**k flavoured lolipop

Have to disagree.. My company is a a Gold partner and its a HUGE benefit in tendering and obtaining new clients.. Great step up over back yarders and unqualified fiddlers..... It's an easy way to say we have studied MS and our clients have provided feedback indicating we know our stuff

Pash

SWM wrote: »

Have to disagree.. My company is a a Gold partner and its a HUGE benefit in tendering and obtaining new clients.. Great step up over back yarders and unqualified fiddlers..... It's an easy way to say we have studied MS and our clients have provided feedback indicating we know our stuff

I know I am being an ass. My boss spent hours sorting this out for our current covered period, maybe I just havent seen the big benefits of it yet.

Pash

SWM

yeh agree , its a pain in the ass sorting out all the paper work and requirements......Ours expires end of December, so busy trying to ensure all ok to continue.. MS dont make it easy.

darkerosxx

I can agree that certain partner levels are worth attaining. We got the Small Business Specialist and we're getting $1,000 in free marketing purchases. Super nice.

veritas_libertas

dynamik wrote: »

You're like the Michael Phelps of TE

With or without the Cannabis Bong?