Channel Sales Strategy for Google Apps

Google has moved from just a search engine to telecommunications and software manufacturing. It’s amazing to think that Google started out with just a clean webpage with a text box and two buttons. With cloud computing solutions ushering a wave of new vendors seeking opportunities to provide services long confined to traditional software that needs installation, Google is staking its claim on a slice of that delectable cloud pie with innovative channel sales strategy designed to entice large and small channel partners.


channel sales strategy

In their quick start video, the company explains why they need partners in order to sell their products. Users need a trusted and reliable reseller to explain the benefits of the application. Just because Google is a name that even your grandparents have heard of, it does not mean people are going to start using their paid apps.

As a newbie channel partner, I find that Google’s Reseller Program to be a very streamline and simple program. I don’t know how else to put it, but it definitely has that Google feel. While as a channel partner, my relationship with my clients and customers are the assets, Google’s involvement, does not mean that relationship will shift to the company. Instead, the former just-a-search-engine encourages partners to foster that relationship, recognizing the trust placed on the reseller as an expert in the software industry.

The cloud based apps include the following products: Gmail that can contain 25GB per user, calendar and email mobile applications, docs application with 10GB of storage, migration and integration tools, and increased security for the cloud.

As expected, the company comes complete with a partner portal for channel partners. A partner portal plays a very important role in channel sales strategy in every product. From the looks of it, the channel program contains marketing materials, customer databases, lead registration and more.

The Three Components that Make Channel Management Successful

Channel management services are increasingly gaining popularity in the world of business. Various industries are looking to them for better performance and increased productivity as partners are able to effectively transport goods and services down to their target consumers. But what are the components that helped cement the success of these services? I have identified three, and they are the following:

Partner Portals – Managing partners can be a taxing responsibility, especially since they can be located in various places even outside of the country. Effective partner relationship management is dependent on efficient and effective communication and collaboration, and partner portals can guarantee both. They are web-based applications that allow the parent company and the different channel members to interact with one another and share important information, training programs, and other vital resources for an exponential increase in sales performance.


channel partner strategy

Deal Registrations – These are very beneficial to all the members of a channel distribution network and its end consumers. These can help improve business relationships by widening and deepening them. Healthy partnerships results in increased partner loyalty which means more sales and profit. In addition to this, they are also very useful in dissipating channel conflicts which can have the serious potential to harm the pipeline.

Lead Management Programs – The funny thing about leads is that they are so hard to obtain even though they are extremely needed. Having programs for lead management will provide partners with the information and tools necessary to get leads easily. Once they are obtained, it is very important to execute proper management strategies to follow up on them.

I think that channel management services that provide all three of these are sure to be very reliable and successful. Having partner portals, deal registrations and lead management programs is evidence of a company’s dedication to their partners’ needs and motivation, thereby showing their impressive managerial skills in the handling of their sales network.

Why Bother with Partner Loyalty?

If you are a business owner like me, then you should understand the importance of your channel partners. Basic knowledge of channel management strategies will tell you that a channel distribution network depends on partners to transport goods and services down the pipeline from manufacturer to end consumer. In other words, they keep the flow going so that you enjoy more profits.


partner profiles

However, knowing that they’re important is not enough. You have to take the time to analyze and invest in a channel management solution and a partner portal so that partners are well-managed and taken care of. This way, you can inspire loyalty amongst your channel members. But why even bother with partner loyalty?

Believe it or not, loyalty is a big part of a channel’s success. If partners are loyal to a company’s channel, then that implies that they are committed to making the business work. That is to say, they will work hard to make more sales and become more productive for you and for themselves.

To inspire loyalty in your partners, you need a good channel management strategy and a partner portal. A portal is a web based application that grants access to those who have been provided with authorized logon credentials. Once logged on, members can enjoy the benefits of accessing important information, pricing details, channel programs, training, support, trends and other resources that are pertinent to the enhancement of their performance. They get to know about various incentives which will push them to perform better. Furthermore, they will get to know your company and your product line more which gives them increased confidence to make sales and interact with the end consumers.

The bottom line is that you should not be complacent with just knowing that partners are important. You should do your part as a parent company to provide them with the knowledge, training, and support, so that they will know that you are a credible leader who deserves their utmost effort.