Blog
(page 7)
2019
February
The ChanTech challenge: build vs. buy
When deciding whether to build or buy your channel technology stack, evaluate factors like cost, time to market, and long-term scalability to make an informed choice.
Highlights from Essential Channel Visions eBook
Key insights from the Essential Channel Visions eBook on marketing to and through partners, best practices, and social media presence.
January
Sage's self-serve partner philosophy
Kerstin Demko from Sage discusses teaching partners to self-serve in partner portals rather than relying on concierge support.
Zift Solutions 2018 year in review
Zift's 2018 highlights including new customers, Forrester recognition, and SOC 2 compliance.
Getting more from your CMM platform
Why using your CMM platform for campaigns and analytics instead of just content storage improves partner engagement.
What high-performing partners do differently
Techniques high-performing partners use including digital transformation, multitouch marketing, and data analysis.
Vendor and MSP channel opportunities
How vendors can better engage MSPs through fast onboarding, clear messaging, and staying in their comfort zone.
Top 10 Channel Chatter posts of 2018
The most popular Channel Chatter blog posts from 2018 covering partner engagement, GDPR, and channel marketing.
2018
December
Partner portal best practices
Best practices for partner portals including personalization, mobile-first design, and creating a partner-focused experience.
Zift's 2018 holiday giving program
Zift's 2018 charitable giving campaign supporting ASPCA, Cancer Research UK, California Community Foundation, and Americares.
Qualities of effective incentive programs
Key traits of successful channel incentive programs including simplicity, consistency, granularity, and milestones.
Takeaways from Women of the Channel East
Reflections from six Zift employees on networking, leadership, and mentorship at the Women of the Channel East conference.
Refining messaging to partners and customers
Strategies for clear communication with channel partners and customers including segmentation, multi-touch approaches, and coordinated outreach.
November
Streamlining partner onboarding
Tips for faster partner onboarding including SSO, clear value propositions, 30/60/90-day checklists, and automation.
Inside Zift: Krista Fuller on product marketing
Q&A with Krista Fuller, VP of Product Marketing, on her role, product marketing philosophy, and channel industry perspectives.
Digital marketing takeaways from Internet Summit
Takeaways from Internet Summit including messaging consistency, finding insights in analytics, and showing company values.
Connecting with international partners
How to bridge communication gaps with international partners through in-language content and cultural awareness.
Veterans and career opportunities in the channel
How military veterans can transition to channel careers and organizations like TrainOurTroops that help bridge the skills gap.
Zift named a leader in both PRM and TCMA by Forrester
Zift recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave for both Partner Relationship Management and Through-Channel Marketing Automation.
Reaching peak partner engagement
Tactics for partner engagement including proactive help, feedback loops, co-presentations, and celebrating partner successes.
October
Channel program goals for 2019
Channel program tips for 2019 including partner-first approaches, ROI measurement, and portal personalization.
Introducing the people behind Zift
A look at the diverse people, skills, and creativity behind Zift Solutions.
Click-worthy trends for partner communications
Tips for partner emails including dynamic surveys, countdown timers, convenience features, embedded videos, and social feeds.
SiriusDecisions EMEA Summit takeaways
Key takeaways from SiriusDecisions Summit Europe on partner engagement, segmentation, and program awards.
Partner onboarding gaps that cost revenue
How effective partner onboarding creates positive experiences, reduces ramp time, and improves partner production.
Why Zift doesn't fit neatly into analyst categories
Zift spans TCMA, PRM, and CLM categories, reflecting the broader need for integrated enterprise channel management.
September
What partners actually want from channel programs
How much of your perception of what partners want is shaped by real feedback? The top three things partners look for in a program.
Hurricane buckets and boots on the ground
A Hurricane Florence survivor's reflection on channel support services and Zift's Center of Excellence.
Staying focused on the partner
Star2Star CMO David Portnowitz on selling 100% through the channel and treating partners like small digital agencies.
Marketing best practices for channel programs
Five marketing best practices for channel programs covering strategy, digital marketing, integrated tactics, buyer journey content, and ABM.
Zift website redesign highlights
Tour of Zift's 2018 website redesign including role-centric pages, product pages, and channel engagement resources.
August
Building purpose-built partner portals
Portal design tips: keep it simple, welcome partners with onboarding, personalize content by vertical and role.
Creating partner-friendly campaign content
How to create campaign content that positions partners as heroes to their end-users.
Zift Solutions adds connector to Datto's Autotask PSA
Access Autotask PSA data directly in ZiftONE with a new connector for prospecting and syndicated marketing campaigns.
Choosing a channel technology provider
Advice for selecting a channel technology provider including long-term commitment, customer success, and customization options.
When trucking meets B2B marketing
Mack Trucks' RoadLifeTV campaign and Configurator using Zift to deliver leads to dealers.
Three investments for happy partners
Star2Star's David Portnowitz on investing in people, incentives, and technology for partner satisfaction.
July
Maintaining marketing campaigns during a rebrand
Why continuing to launch marketing campaigns during a rebrand keeps customers engaged and maintains momentum.
Overcoming branding changes in the channel
How suppliers and partners can align on brand during acquisitions, market shifts, product changes, and creative redesigns.
What partners need to succeed
Beth Wallace of neteffect technologies shares what partners need from supplier relationships including tools, customization, and accountability.
June
GDPR and creative marketing campaigns
How brands like Domino's, Country Time, and IHOP are running creative campaigns in the post-GDPR marketing landscape.
Partner engagement and ROI
Qlik's Lisa Stifelman-Perry on measuring partner engagement and the link between engagement and revenue.
GDPR and the channel: We've updated your marketing policies
“We’ve updated our privacy policy.” How many times have you seen this message in the past month? How many times have you deleted it?
Qlik on creating partner experience
Lisa Stifelman-Perry from Qlik discusses changes to their partner program and the importance of communication with partners.
May
Marketing misalignment in manufacturing
Lessons from the MAPI Summit on why manufacturers focus marketing budgets on net-new customers despite most revenue coming from existing accounts.
Channel Visions: Building a world-class partner program
Skillsoft's Gwenn Lazar discusses strategic planning, enablement, and performance measurement for partner programs.
SiriusDecisions Summit 2018 recap
Highlights from SiriusDecisions Summit 2018 including Qlik's partner experience case study and the ChanTech Frank concept.
GDPR made simple
A plain-language explanation of GDPR including personal data definitions, compliance requirements, and the right to be forgotten.
Zift at SiriusDecisions Summit 2018
Qlik's Channel Partner of the Year case study and other Zift activities at SiriusDecisions Summit 2018.
Choosing channel technology for growth
Skillsoft's Gwenn Lazar on finding channel technology that combines PRM and demand generation capabilities.