SEO vs. AEO: The Content Optimization Shift You Can’t Ignore

Explore how SEO and AEO work together to maximize visibility in both traditional and AI-driven search results. Learn how Microsoft Partners can optimize for both to stay competitive and reach their audience effectively in 2025 and beyond.

Should Microsoft Partners be on Bluesky? Exploring the New Twitter (X) Alternative

Tired of the noise on traditional social media platforms? Discover why Bluesky is the next big thing in B2B social media marketing and how Microsoft Partners can leverage this opportunity.

7 Expert Strategies to Strengthen Your Microsoft AppSource Listings

Elevating Microsoft AppSource Listings

Enhance visibility, engagement, and lead quality for your Microsoft Partner business with 7 expert insights from Maven Collective Marketing.

Avoid Getting Your Anchor Text Penalized

There is such a thing as overoptimization and search engines will penalize you for unnecessarily loading your content with exact-match anchor text. Read on to learn how to avoid anchor text penalties.

The Top 10 B2B Marketing Trends Expected to Dominate in 2024 + How to Take Advantage of Them

The Top 10 B2B Marketing Trends Expected to Dominate in 2024 + How to Take Advantage of Them

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes 

Intended Audience: B2B Marketers, B2B Business Owners

As we step into a new year, the landscape of B2B marketing is once again on the cusp of significant transformation. A standout development in 2023 was the remarkable ascent of artificial intelligence in the marketing domain, a trend that is poised for even greater evolution and impact in 2024.

 

In this rapidly changing environment, understanding and embracing these emerging trends is not just beneficial – it’s essential for staying ahead. Let’s embark on an exploratory journey into the B2B marketing trends set to shape the industry in 2024, delving into why integrating them into your marketing strategy could be the game-changer your business needs:

Generative AI and Machine Learning

In 2024, AI and machine learning are no longer the future – they’re the present. These technologies have reshaped how we approach B2B marketing, enabling algorithms that can predict purchasing patterns, identify emerging market trends, and optimize your marketing strategies in real time. The time is now to derive actionable, predictive insights that keep you ahead of the curve.

 

Use case: You can use an AI-driven tool to analyze your existing customer data and identify the most common queries or needs. Based on this analysis, you could ask it to quickly create a targeted email campaign or a set of social media posts that address these specific queries or needs. This application of AI provides immediate insights that can inform your content strategy, making it more relevant and effective for your audience.

Customer Experience (CX)

The battleground of B2B marketing has shifted to customer experience. It’s a world where every interaction is an opportunity to impress and engage. From personalized email marketing to customized online portals, you must focus on making every interaction meaningful and tailored. In 2024, CX is the key differentiator that will set your brand apart.

 

Use case: A quick way to learn if your customers are engaging meaningfully with your brand is to implement a quick feedback loop after customer interactions. For example, after a customer service call or a product demo, send a brief survey to gather immediate feedback from users. This can help you quickly identify and address any pain points in the customer experience and make adjustments to the customer experience going forward.

Content Marketing

Content in 2024 is set to be a dynamic mix of interactive webinars, engaging video content, and personalized storytelling that resonates with each unique audience segment. We’re seeing a surge in AI-driven content that not only addresses specific customer needs but also adapts based on user interaction. This personalized approach will ensure that every piece of content you deliver is tailored to the buyer’s position in the funnel to effectively drive conversions.

 

Use case: Something quick and easy you can do to ensure you are creating content that resonates with your audience is create a short, interactive quiz related to your industry and share it on your social media channels. This can engage your audience quickly and give you insights into their preferences, which can be used to tailor future content, including webinars, videos, blogs, and other marketing initiatives in the new year.

Account-Based Marketing (ABM)

ABM has become a staple in the B2B marketer’s arsenal. It’s about focusing on high-value accounts with strategies tailored specifically for them. This approach allows for more efficient use of resources, leading to a higher ROI. In 2024, ensure your ABM is beyond personalized emails or targeted ads. Create a complete, customized ecosystem for each key account, ensuring that every interaction is tailored to their specific needs and preferences.

 

Use case: Something relatively simple that you can do is select a high-value client and personalize your next communication specifically for them. For example, send a custom email with insights or solutions that specifically address their business challenges. This targeted approach can yield immediate results in strengthening key account relationships and can help you get used to the idea of account-based marketing.

Smarketing

The integration of sales and marketing – ‘smarketing’ – is vital in 2024. It’s about aligning goals, strategies, and communications between these two critical departments. Build a constructive collaboration strategy between your departments to ensure a cohesive customer journey from initial contact to final sale, enhancing both customer experience and conversion rates. The result is a more streamlined, efficient, and effective process that leverages the strengths of both sales and marketing.

Use case: You could arrange a quick brainstorming session between a sales representative and a marketing team member to discuss a specific lead. This collaborative approach can immediately improve communication and alignment on how best to convert this lead. To take it one step further, establish regular cross-departmental meetings between sales and marketing teams to ensure alignment on goals and strategies, using shared dashboards to track progress and KPIs, facilitating transparency.

2024 b2b marketing trends chatbots and automation
Leveraging Chatbots and Automation

Chatbots and Automation

Chatbots have become sophisticated allies in customer engagement and support. In 2024, they will do more than just answer queries. They will provide personalized recommendations, assist in the sales process, and gather valuable customer insights. Automation in marketing has also advanced, allowing for more personalized, timely, and effective communication at scale. Leverage a combination of chatbots and automation to transform how you interact with and understand your customers.

 

Use case: Consider implementing a basic chatbot on your website that can answer frequently asked questions and provide personalized recommendations based on user queries. This can immediately improve customer engagement. You can also automate routine tasks like email follow-ups or social media posts to free up your time for more complex queries.

Voice Search and Podcasts

Voice search optimization and podcasting have emerged as critical components of B2B marketing strategies. With the rising use of voice assistants, optimizing for voice search is no longer optional. It’s about understanding the nuances of spoken queries and tailoring content accordingly. Utilize podcasts for a unique way to engage with your audience, providing valuable insights and thought leadership in a format that’s convenient and accessible. They are not just content channels, they are powerful tools for building brand authority and engagement.

 

Use case: Long-term, you can optimize your website content for voice search by including conversational keywords and FAQs. Start a podcast series featuring industry experts or case studies that showcase your company’s expertise. Short-term, you can create a short, informative audio clip about a trending topic in your industry and share it on your website and social platforms. This can be a quick way to tap into the growing trend of audio content and voice search optimization.

Sustainability

Sustainability is now a core component of brand identity. Customers in 2024 expect brands to not only be environmentally responsible but also transparent and proactive in their sustainability efforts. This trend extends beyond mere compliance to an opportunity to connect with audiences on shared values and ethics. Weave sustainability into your brand story, making it a key part of your overall marketing narrative.

 

Use case: A quick action you could take is share a post on your social media about a simple sustainable practice your company has implemented, like reducing paper usage or recycling. This immediate action showcases your commitment to sustainability. You could also develop a sustainability initiative within your company and share your journey with your audience through regular updates on your social media and blog.

Data Privacy

In 2024, respecting customer privacy is a powerful way to build lasting relationships. This is an era of heightened data sensitivity, and B2B marketers must prioritize data privacy not just to comply with regulations but to build trust with their audience. This involves clear communication about data usage, robust data protection measures, and a commitment to ethical data practices.

 

Use case: While this may not sound like a marketing trend, publishing a clear and detailed privacy policy on your website and ensuring all marketing practices are compliant with GDPR and other relevant data protection regulations can build trust with your audience. Use consent-based marketing tactics and regularly update your audience on how their data is being used and protected.

Social Media and Influencer Marketing

Social media and influencer marketing have transcended their B2C origins, becoming powerful tools in the B2B marketer’s toolkit. In 2024, these platforms are not just for networking; they’re crucial for building brand authenticity and connecting with audiences on a more personal level. Invest in influencer partnerships with industry thought leaders and niche experts to drive engagement and credibility in ways traditional marketing cannot.

 

Use case: Consider engaging in a short-term collaboration with a micro-influencer or thought leader in your industry. Have them share a post about your product or service, offering their audience an exclusive deal or insight. This can quickly extend your reach and bring in new leads.

The Exciting Road Ahead in B2B Marketing Trends

Navigating the diverse array of marketing approaches and strategies can be a daunting task. How do you determine which ones are right for your business? The Mavens are here to guide you. We specialize in tailoring a B2B digital marketing strategy that’s uniquely suited to your business’ needs and goals.


Connect with our multi-award-winning agency to help your organization develop an effective marketing strategy based on 2024 marketing trends, and set the tone for success throughout the year.

Discover Upcoming Events with the Microsoft Events Catalog for Microsoft Partners

Unlock the benefits of the Microsoft Event Catalog for Microsoft Partners. Find events tailored to your language and interests to boost your networking and learning potential.

The Essential Guide to Boosting Website Traffic for Microsoft Partners

Growing Your Website Traffic from Other Websites as a MS Partner

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes 

Intended Audience: Microsoft Partners, B2B Marketers

Driving organic traffic is a major challenge for many businesses. For Microsoft Partners, the stakes are even higher because you’re competing against 500,000+ other Partners in the expansive Microsoft community. Standing out requires a combination of quality content, strategic alliances, and effective marketing.

The secret sauce? Driving quality traffic from reputable websites in the Microsoft Partner ecosystem.

The Impact of External Referrals on Website Traffic

When a respected website in your industry links back to your content or references your site, it isn’t just a nod of appreciation—it’s a ticket to improved online visibility. This kind of reference, also known as a backlink, acts like a vote of confidence in the eyes of search engines, potentially boosting your SEO rankings.

 

And the best part? When the backlink comes from a well-regarded platform within the Microsoft community, the referral traffic is often high-quality, targeted, and holds the potential for business opportunities.

 

This is a great resource to learn more about the basics of backlinking. It is also a prime example of a backlink in action.

Crafting a Backlink Strategy to Grow Traffic from Other Websites

As you dive into the world of backlinking, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. Quality Over Quantity: Always prioritize obtaining backlinks from reputable, high-authority sites related to the Microsoft ecosystem rather than just amassing a large number of low-quality links. Low quality links refer to spam websites with low domain authority scores, and having links from too many of these sites can actually hurt your web traffic.
  2. Engage in Communities: Explore a variety of Microsoft-focused forums, blogs, and communities. The more niche the community, the higher the relevance of the traffic you’ll attract.
  3. Monitor and Analyze: Use tools to monitor your backlinks and their impact on your traffic and SEO rankings. This will help you refine your strategies over time.
  4. Collaborate: Consider partnering with other Microsoft Partners or experts for webinars, joint blog posts, or e-books. Such collaborations often lead to mutual backlinking, driving traffic from diverse sources.
  5. Give to Get: Make sure you are also consistently linking to relevant websites from your own site. The more you show ‘link love’ to other sites, the more likely they will be to return the favor. And when in doubt, it doesn’t hurt to ask. A common practice is reaching out to a site you’d like to exchange links with and simply asking.
microsoft tech community homepage
Microsoft Tech Community Homepage

Microsoft Partner Communities to Amplify Your Website Traffic

Prominent communities within the Microsoft Partner network can significantly boost your website traffic by driving their substantial audiences towards your offerings, courtesy of the trust and authority they hold. Actively participating in these communities by sharing insights, commenting on discussions, and offering value can build your brand’s reputation. Over time, this participation can translate into more website traffic from these platforms as other members recognize and trust your expertise.

 

Let’s take a closer look at the key communities and platforms within the Microsoft Partner network that can be instrumental in driving website traffic for different types of Partners:

MSDynamicsWorld

As a central hub for everything related to Microsoft Dynamics, MSDynamicsWorld stands as a key driver for website traffic for Partners involved in Dynamics solutions. A nod from MSDynamicsWorld not only enhances your visibility but also boosts your credibility within the Dynamics community. We recommend engaging by submitting guest posts, participating in webinars, or actively involving yourself in community discussions.

SharePoint Community

For businesses operating in the SharePoint realm, tapping into its extensive community can significantly elevate website traffic. Given the vast array of SharePoint forums, blogs, and user groups, a reference from these platforms ensures traffic that’s both heavy and relevant. Offer solutions, share insights, and contribute regularly to establish yourself as a thought leader. The SharePoint community is a sub-community within the wider Microsoft Tech community.

Microsoft Tech Community

A hotspot for tech professionals, the Microsoft Tech Community can play a pivotal role in enhancing your website traffic. Engaging here allows you to reach a broad spectrum of tech enthusiasts, getting your brand recognized and ensuring a steady flow of visitors to your website. The Microsoft Tech Community is a valuable medium for diving into discussions, sharing informative blog posts, and providing valuable solutions. However, keep in mind that some community blogs only allow Microsoft employees or MVPs to make new posts, and others require approval.

Let the Mavens Help You Boost Your Website Traffic

With the right strategies, website traffic growth becomes an achievable milestone rather than an insurmountable challenge. When other authoritative websites in the Microsoft Partner community vouch for your brand, it bolsters your value proposition. It not only amplifies website traffic but also reinforces your brand’s credibility in the market.

 

However, backlinking to boost your web traffic is not an easy feat. It takes a lot of time, patience, and persistence, and is only a small piece of the SEO and web traffic pie. When used in conjunction with other proven SEO strategies, backlinking is a sure-fire way to improve web traffic. Let our award-winning digital marketing team help you amplify your website traffic and elevate your brand. Get in touch with us today!

Weighing the Pros and Cons of ChatGPT and the Human Mind

ChatGPT Taking the World by Storm

Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes 

Intended Audience: Marketing Strategists, B2B Marketers, B2B Business Owners

ChatGPT is a buzzword in the marketing world, dominating conversations on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, as well as in blogs and newspapers. The hype around ChatGPT‘s capabilities is real, but is it really the ultimate solution for businesses to achieve their marketing goals?

 

While some have jumped on the ChatGPT bandwagon, many are still skeptical about its ability to truly replace human intelligence in marketing. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of ChatGPT and the human mind, and explore why it’s important to maintain a balance between relying on AI tools and human expertise to achieve the best results for your marketing efforts.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a powerful AI tool that can provide answers to most of your questions. It has been trained on an enormous amount of information across various areas and can respond to human input in a very natural way. Equipped with knowledge from “every sentence on the internet,” ChatGPT is an impressive machine that is learning more each day and only getting better. However, it’s important to remember that ChatGPT was created by human minds, and as such, it has its strengths and weaknesses.

screenshot of chatgpt
ChatGPT Prompting Page

The Pros of ChatGPT

  • Time-Saving: ChatGPT can be an invaluable writing assistant. It can produce content within seconds to minutes that takes humans hours or days to come up with. From blog ideas to ad copies to announcements, ChatGPT can help you save time and streamline your content creation process.
  • Consistency: Initially designed for simple tasks like explaining complex concepts in basic terms or generating creative ideas, ChatGPT has evolved to tackle more difficult tasks to free up more time for humans. With the enormous data it has been fed, it can be a knowledgeable assistant to your marketing campaigns, maintaining a similar tone and voice consistently throughout.
  • Cost-Effective: With its vast knowledge and ability to produce content quickly, ChatGPT is a great assistant to business owners who want to jump start their marketing game. From ad copy to social media posts, ChatGPT can quickly provide you with ideas and directions to put into action, saving you from investing more money into your marketing efforts.

The Cons of ChatGPT

  • Lack of Long-Term Vision: Although ChatGPT may seem like a great marketing assistant, its capabilities have limitations for strategizing the long-term success of your business. As a business owner or marketer, the ability to review, conduct A/B testing, and measure results of your marketing campaigns are essential skills for achieving long-term success. While ChatGPT can provide fast responses and generate content ideas, it cannot replace the critical thinking and analysis skills that are necessary for a successful marketing strategy.
  • Ethical Concerns: The introduction of ChatGPT has sparked ethical discussions about the accuracy and potential biases in the answers it provides. As mentioned earlier, the AI model was trained on a selected set of data curated by a group of data scientists. It’s important to acknowledge that even these scientists may have their own biases that could influence ChatGPT’s responses. Therefore, it’s crucial to evaluate and analyze the accuracy and fairness of ChatGPT’s answers, and to ensure that the information it provides aligns with your values and beliefs as a business owner.
  • Quality Control: While ChatGPT can offer speedy responses, the accuracy and credibility of its answers are questionable. Mira Murati, the CTO of OpenAI, has acknowledged that ChatGPT has the potential to “make up facts” as it responds. As humans, we must keep in mind that ChatGPT is a product of human training and supervision, and we should bear in mind to exercise caution and verify its answers to ensure their validity
human on screen chatgpt
The Human Mind vs ChatGPT

What About the Human Mind?

The human mind has been responsible for countless inventions that have shaped the world we live in, and ChatGPT is just one of the many products of human ingenuity. However, as the saying goes, ‘nobody is perfect,’ and our minds are no exception. While the human mind can be creative and intuitive, it also has its limitations and biases. In the world of marketing, it is important to understand the pros and cons of relying solely on human intelligence.

The Pros of the Human Mind

  • Creativity and Quality: Humans possess an incredible tool – our minds. It is capable of generating countless ideas from a single spark or thought. One of the greatest advantages of relying on human intelligence in marketing is the ability to fact-check and avoid biases. By conducting in-depth research, we can ensure the accuracy and clarity of the information we provide, ultimately leading to better decision-making and increased success.
  • Ability to Strategize: One of the most important skills that ChatGPT lacks is the ability to create a short and long-term vision for your business. While it is important to create and promote your content to enhance your business’s visibility, the question remains: how and when should you do it? It is essential to have a strategic plan in place to ensure your content aligns with your business goals and effectively reaches your target audience. Additionally, measuring the effectiveness of your campaigns is crucial to determining what works and what does not. These are skills that require human intelligence and expertise, and cannot be fully replaced by AI tools like ChatGPT.
  • Foster Human Connection: Injecting your content with a human touch and personality is crucial in helping your audience understand your brand and who you are. It is important to avoid relying solely on AI-generated content or bots, as this can create a disconnect between you and your customers. As a business owner, you are the driving force behind your brand, not the chatbot. Your unique perspective and quirks can set you apart from the competition and help you build a loyal following. Human experience and emotions are something AI will never be able to replicate.

The Cons of the Human Mind

  • Time-Consuming: While the human mind is powerful and can juggle between tasks, it gets distracted. When trying to complete a task, your mind wanders, leading to inefficiencies and a lack of productivity. In contrast, an AI tool like ChatGPT can focus solely on the task at hand, providing quick responses without distractions.
  • Cost: Hiring marketing personnel can be a great option for you to lift the marketing weight off your shoulders. However, bringing on a new employee also means additional expenses such as salary, benefits, and training. It is important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each option and make the decision that is best for your business’s unique needs and budget.
  • Lack of Consistency: As human minds are subjective, they can also be unpredictable and prone to error. Due to subjectivity and unpredictability, errors can occur and cause inconsistencies in marketing campaigns. This can be detrimental to the success of a business, as it may confuse customers about the brand’s overall message and personality.

Use ChatGPT in Collaboration with the Human Mind: The Happy Middle Ground

Delving into these advantages and disadvantages of ChatGPT gives us a better understanding of its role in improving marketing strategies. While it may be tempting to jump on the ChatGPT trend and utilize it as a low-cost marketing partner, it’s important to consider the limitations of AI. ChatGPT is powerful, but combining it with the human mind makes it even stronger. Instead of using it as your sole marketing tool, partnering with a seasoned marketing agency with a proven track record of helping B2B businesses achieve their goals can provide more comprehensive and effective results. 

 

AI is revolutionizing marketing, but standing out in an oversaturated marketplace requires strategic human intervention and craftsmanship. The Mavens can help craft a holistic marketing strategy that incorporates the best of both worlds to elevate your brand and make you stand out from the competition. Don’t let AI-human confusion hinder your marketing efforts, let the Mavens help you achieve your goals.

Exploring the Value of Microsoft Action Pack for Microsoft Partners ​

Discover the benefits of the Microsoft Action Pack for Microsoft Partners. From software licenses and technical support to training and business development resources, this comprehensive program equips Partners with these benefits and more.

Maven Collective Marketing and MSDynamicsWorld.com Partner for Unique Full-Service Lead Generation for Microsoft Partners

Maven Collective Marketing has teamed up with MSDynamicsWorld.com as its exclusive Content Creation Services Partner. Read on to learn more about how this partnership will revolutionize Microsoft Partners’ content creation.

Harness the Power of Microsoft Clarity

Unveil the Power of Microsoft Clarity: Key Stats to Improve Your Web Performance as a Microsoft Partner

Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes 

Intended Audience: Microsoft Partners

The digital era demands that Microsoft Partners establish a robust online presence and continually optimize their website to stay ahead of the competition. As a Microsoft Partner, it’s essential to utilize the best tools available to monitor your website’s performance and user engagement. Enter Microsoft Clarity, a powerful analytics tool that enables your marketing team and business owners to make data-driven decisions for your website.

What is Microsoft Clarity?

Microsoft Clarity is a free analytics platform that provides valuable insights into your website’s performance and user engagement. It tracks user behavior across your website, presenting the data through an intuitive dashboard that highlights behavioral patterns and areas for improvement. Microsoft Clarity doesn’t compete with your Google Analytics or Google Search Console, instead it complements both.

Microsoft Clarity Key Stats to Keep an Eye On

Microsoft Clarity sheds light on different aspects of your performance that help you optimize your website and enable you to improve and maximize user experience. In this blog, we will decode key metrics such as Session Recording, Total Sessions and Time Spent, Active Time, Dead Clicks, Rage Clicks and of course, Heatmaps 

Microsoft Clarity Dashboard – Your Treasure Map

When you first log into your Microsoft Clarity, you will notice the Clarity Dashboard.
explore stats from microsoft clarity dashboard
Microsoft Clarity Dashboard

The dashboard serves as a snapshot of your website’s performance, offering a comprehensive overview of insights for decision-makers, including scrolling patterns, clicks, JavaScript errors, and more that unveil user behavior.

 

Some of the key metrics you should review are:

 

  • Total Session: This metric represents the total number of individual sessions during which users engage with your site within a specified time frame.
  • Total Time Spent: Total time spent shows the cumulative amount of time users spend on your website during their sessions. It reflects the user engagement time, thus allowing you to gauge the effectiveness of your content, design, and overall user experience.
  • Active Time: This metric looks closer into your user behavior as it shows the duration in which users actively engage with your website, such as clicking, scrolling, or typing.
  • Dead Clicks: Dead Clicks refer to instances when users click on unresponsive elements of your website when they expect action, content, or links. This metric signifies a confusing design or unclear navigation.
  • Rage Clicks: Rage Clicks calculates when a user in your website clicks repeatedly on a website element within a short period of time. This often happens when the website (or a certain element) is not responding, or there are potential issues with the site functions.
  • Session Recordings: With Microsoft Clarity, session activity for each website visitor can be closely monitored, offering insights into user engagement across your site. From mouse movement to scrolling and clicking, every metric you need is documented – take the guesswork out of your website. As Microsoft Clarity employs Machine Learning in its session playbacks, you can identify user patterns such as rage clicks, dead clicks, excessive scrolling – and more.

A Closer Look into Microsoft Clarity Heatmaps

Heatmaps: There are three types of heatmaps offered in Microsoft Clarity: click heatmaps, scroll heatmaps, and area heatmaps. Using colors ranging from red to blue, these maps indicate elements of your website that website visitors engage with highly (highly engaged area is red, and blue is least engaged area).

  • Click Heatmaps: This heatmap can help you gain insights into where your users are clicking and tapping on your site. There are many different types of Clickmaps available in Microsoft Clarity. Including:
    • All clicks: show the summation of all the clicks users clicked on your page, including Dead clicks, Rage clicks, Error clicks, First clicks, and Last clicks.
    • Dead clicks: shows where users clicked on a page with no effect/response.
    • Rage clicks: shows the tiny area where users clicked on multiple times within a brief period.
    • Error clicks: shows clicks that immediately trigger a JavaScript error.
    • First clicks: shows where your users are first clicking, useful to help identify which element on your website is onboarding users.
    • Last clicks: shows final click before users exit a page.

 

  • Scroll Heatmaps: Using the same color-coding system, the scroll heatmap offers insights into where on your website got scrolled to the most, and how far your users scroll on the page. In line with fundamental marketing principles, it is crucial to position key information and content in the upper fold of your website. This data helps determine whether your users see the most important content and where to put your essential call to action.
    • % Scrolled: shows the page percentage data assessed in 5% increments.
    • No. Of Visitors: refers to the total number of users who landed on a page or pages where Clarity Heatmaps gather data.
    • % of Visitors: shows the percentage of visitors who scrolled through a corresponding percentage of the page’s height.

 

  • Area Heatmaps: Area heatmaps provide an in-depth exploration of your website’s pages, giving a unique perspective on user interactions. By showcasing the total clicks for all elements within the selected area, Clarity Area heatmaps help you visualize user engagement levels. With percentages shown on the screen, the heatmap represents the proportion of clicks in a specific area. By understanding which sections captivate your audience and which elements could benefit from optimization, you can make further changes to enhance user experience and boost engagement.
Microsoft Clarity Area Heatmaps
Microsoft Clarity Heatmaps

Microsoft Clarity Sharing Capabilities

Sharing is caring. By streamlining the sharing process, Clarity ensures that every stakeholder stays informed and engaged. You can share heatmaps and/or recordings with your team or externally via share link or share in email. Microsoft Clarity makes sharing insights with clients and your team easier than ever.

Elevate Your Website with Microsoft Clarity Experts

It’s crucial for Microsoft Partners to keep track of your website performance and ensure that you are taking all steps to optimize your traffic and conversions. While setting up Microsoft Clarity can be straightforward, interpreting the stats and making data-driven decisions requires more attention. As a trusted marketing partner to Microsoft Partners worldwide, the Maven Collective team understands that handling analytics can be a daunting task – but it doesn’t need to be!

 

The Mavens are your go-to marketing team that is ready to act as an extension of your team and support you with all your Microsoft Partner Marketing needs. With our guidance, navigating analytics tools and leveraging them to enhance your marketing strategy becomes a breeze. Reach out and discover how the Mavens can help transform your business and elevate your success.

What’s New for Microsoft Partners & How to Market Effectively in Fiscal Year 2024

What’s New for Microsoft Partners & How to Market Effectively in Fiscal Year 2024

Estimated Read Time: 7 minutes 

Intended Audience: Microsoft Partners

Revised August 2023

The Microsoft Partner Network pivoted to the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program in October 2022, shifting its focus towards cloud-based solutions across six solution areas – Business Applications, Data & AI (Azure), Digital App & Innovation (Azure), Infrastructure (Azure), Modern Work, and Security. The program comprises of a portfolio of tools, resources, and offerings to help partners meet evolving customer opportunities, innovate for any cloud scenario on an extensible platform, and deliver successful solutions to industries and markets worldwide. As the Marketing Partner for Microsoft Partners, we have taken it upon ourselves to provide you with timely guidance on how to make the most of the new Partner program, keep up with updates, and strategically plan for this Fiscal Year 2023-24 (FY’24).
Microsoft Partner 6 Solution Designations
Microsoft Partner Solution Designations

Updates to the Microsoft Partner Solution Designation Requirements

Attaining the Solution Partner Designations has been an uphill climb for many Microsoft Partners. However, Microsoft is keen on iterating the path forward to better support its Partner network to succeed in their areas of expertise. From October 2022 until now, Microsoft has updated the thresholds for earning the above-listed Solution Designations. Overall, certifications identified for retirement continue to count toward your Partner Capability Score (PCS) for one year after retirement or until your individual certification expires, whichever is sooner, to give you time to adjust. In addition, there are specific changes across five of the six solutions designations that Partners must be mindful of to maintain their status. Discover these critical updates below by solution path: Solutions Partner for Security
  • You’ll now see two prerequisite certifications that must be met before you start earning points for Solutions Partner Designation for Security. Your prerequisites may now be earned by the same or different individuals.
  • For the Security solution path, starting in December 2023, the prerequisites will need to be earned by two individuals each, and Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200) will no longer count as a scoring certification, only as a prerequisite.
  • The Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate (MS-500) certificate for the Solution Partner Designation for Security will remain a prerequisite but will retire June 30, 2023. It will continue to count toward your prerequisites through June 30, 2024, or until your individual certification expires, whichever is sooner.
  • Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100) is now an eligible scoring certification for your Solution Partner Designation for Security; you can earn points for this certification once the prerequisites have been met.
Solutions Partner for Business Applications
  • The following certifications will retire June 30, 2023:
    • Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Commerce Functional Consultant Associate
    • Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Functional Consultant Associate
  • Microsoft Certified: Power Platform App Maker Associate is not retiring but will be removed from eligibility for intermediate certifications on November 1, 2023. If you have individuals holding this certification, they will not earn points toward your score as of November 1.
Solutions Partner for Digital & App Innovation (Azure) designation
  • The Microsoft Certified: Azure IoT Developer Specialty certification will retire July 31, 2023.
Solutions Partner for Infrastructure (Azure)
  • The Microsoft Certified: Azure Stack Hub Operator Associate certification will retire July 31, 2023.
Solutions Partner for Modern Work
  • Microsoft Viva is now an eligible workload for Modern Work under net customer adds, deployments, and usage growth.
  • The M365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate certification is now an eligible certification for the intermediate certification subcategory.
  • The M365 Certified: Teams Application Developer Associate certification is still available for Partners only.
  • On July 1, 2023, the names of two certifications will change:
    • M365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate certification is changing to M365 Certified: Endpoint Administrator Associate.
    • M365 Certified: Enterprise Admin Expert certification is changing to M365 Certified: Administrator Expert.
Microsoft Partner Fiscal Year
How Microsoft Partners Can Get Ahead of the Curve for Fiscal Year 2023-24

What Has Changed Within the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program

The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program consolidates all aspects of the Partner lifecycle, including onboarding, skilling, go-to-market, incentives, and co-selling. Partners can enjoy the benefits of the previous program, along with new offerings and benefits specific to AI. The best part – there’s no action required from Partners to transition to the new program.

Microsoft Solutions Co-Sell Program

Announced at Microsoft Inspire 2023, Microsoft is integrating co-sell as a core benefit within the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program and its marketplace. For partners who develop solutions, the pathway to Microsoft’s seller incentives is streamlined through the marketplace by introducing multiparty offer capabilities, fostering a stronger connection between partners who create solutions and those who integrate and sell professional services for deploying these solutions. In addition, Microsoft’s field sellers will be incentivized to deploy and transact customer engagements through your marketplace offers. You can learn more about the co-sell integration at this Microsoft Inspire session.

ISV Success Initiative & Integration

Microsoft launched the ISV success initiative in July 2023, providing ISVs with technical and sales benefits including a free cloud sandbox, software licenses, and access to developer tools. High-performing ISVs can avail expanded benefits, and all build and publish benefits are free in the first year, with discounted packages available afterward. The Microsoft 365 Benefits Program and ISV Connect have been incorporated into ISV Success, further strengthening the value proposition of MCPP.

Investments in Azure Migrate and Modernize + Azure Innovate

In July 2023 Microsoft rebranded the Azure Migration and Modernization Program (AMMP) to Azure Migrate and Modernize, reflecting its commitment to the evolving cloud adoption needs of customers. With increased investments in Azure Migrate and Modernize and the launch of Azure Innovate, a dedicated offering to help customers onboard analytics and AI, Microsoft is catering to every aspect of a customer’s end-to-end cloud journey on Azure. All Azure-specialized Partners have access to these offerings right now in the Partner Center.

Cooperative Marketing Funds Availability for FY’24

Microsoft calculates eligible incentive earnings using a percentage split (such as 60% rebate, 40% co-op). Partners receive the rebate portion at the existing payout cadence for individual programs, and Microsoft accrues the co-op portion of incentive earnings. The timeline for co-op funds is divided into two six-month periods, H1 (first half of the fiscal year, July 1 – December 31) and H2 (second half of the fiscal year, January 1 – June 30), with each period having its earning, usage, and claiming periods. If your co-op earnings are below the threshold in the co-op earning period, they are converted to a rebate at the end of the semester. In Fiscal Year 2024, Partners can expect to see a 250% higher investment in Co-op funding for both Depth and Breadth Partners, compared to FY23. With many new requirements and capabilities rolling out after Microsoft Inspire, Partners can expect to see shifts in core priorities for your designation. For more information and specific recommendations, visit the Co-op Fund Resources.

Staying Ahead of the Curve in Fiscal Year 2023-24

With frequent changes to the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, Microsoft Partners have the ability to establish themselves in the saturated market by being more proactive and out in front of the target market. Here are ways you can plan for a more successful Fiscal Year 2023-24: Microsoft Partners have the ability to establish themselves in the saturated market by being more proactive and out in front of the target market. Here are ways you can plan for a more successful Fiscal Year 2023-24:

Crafty Selection of Relevant Microsoft Partner Events

The virtual event fatigue is real, and organizations are increasingly craving personable interactions that take place face to face. With technology conferences back in person, it is now more important than ever to get out there and show up for your prospects. You can ensure that Fiscal Year 2023-24 is truly fruitful for your Microsoft Partner business as you show up for your target market.

 

As Microsoft Partners, you need to carefully select the events where your target market will engage with you. Some of the big names like Microsoft Inspire and Microsoft Ignite (November 15-16, 2023) are important for learning effective new strategies to propel business forward.

 

On top of that, you must explore regional industry events that are of interest to your clients and prospects. By being out in front, you not only build brand awareness but also earn the trust of attendees as you interact with them in person.

 

In-person events can be a great lead generation source if done right. To get the best ROI on events, Microsoft Partners must deploy marketing and sales strategies like lead ranking, assigning business development representatives for event attendee follow ups, building a drip campaign to educate and inform consistently and investing time in nurturing them to the end of the funnel.

Microsoft Partner events and conferences
Microsoft Partner Conference

Claiming Authority as a Microsoft Partner

As a Microsoft Partner, you are a thought leader in your field of expertise, but you must convey the same to your audience on a regular basis. Being a Microsoft Partner is more than earning qualifications, you must prove your mettle with your work time and again. An effective channel to build your thought leadership without burning a hole through your marketing budget is creating impactful content. Putting together content that is unique to your organization, clients, and services that only you can claim is a great way to stand out from the competition. Such content can be built in various formats – customer success story, research-based whitepaper, eBook compiled with a panel of experts, etc. Content marketing and promotion is an understated tool for Microsoft Partners. By building a narrative around your mission, vision, and proven success you can truly spotlight the relevance of your business in the oversaturated market.

Find Your Marketing Partner for Microsoft Partners

Accelerate your Fiscal Year 2023-24 marketing efforts with a marketing partner for all your Microsoft Partner Marketing needs. Maven Collective Marketing specializes in helping Microsoft Partners elevate their presence in the technology landscape. Our team of experts will help you take your B2B marketing strategy to the next level. Whether you are a Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP), Microsoft Managed Service Provider (MSP), Microsoft Value Added Reseller (VAR), Microsoft Independent Software Vendor (ISV), Microsoft Systems Integrator (SI), or a Microsoft Reseller, we’ve got you covered producing measurable results with Microsoft Partners, like you, for more than a decade. Talk to a Maven today!