I’m such a geek. As i use the mobile version of google reader i’m constantly checking my feeds. I picked up Susanne’s post (Why the SBSC Programme needs to step it up a gear) pretty much as soon as she posted it. I’ve re-read it about five or six times since then as i try to take it all in as it’s a great post with lots to think about
There was a specific line that reminded me of something i’d been thinking about a while back,
“I want the SBSC Partner Directory fixed and at the front of the small business website (not only embedded with the Mr. Busy campaign”
The one thing thati believe is lacking is the visibility of the programme to the “end-user” / the small business owner / the decision makers.
I remember when i was putting some content together for our website and i was really pleased to be putting our shiny new SBSC logo up. I decided to add a link that said “what is a small business specialist?”
The problem i had was that i couldn’t find anything on the Microsoft UK pages to link to as a reference. Eventually i found something on the US site but i wasn’t quite what i was looking for
So this afternoon i tried a little experiment and put myself in the shoes of a small business owner who was looking for some help on Microsoft products for their company
I went to the Microsoft Small Business website (which recently replaced the BCentral site). The SBSC logo is nowhere to be seen on this “landing” page.
From this page there are are few places to click if i were the small business owner i’m talking about
“Starting Up” and “Growing my business” are pretty self explanatory
At the bottom there are some campaign links (at the moment Mr busy and ‘WOW’)
As i click through the first two of these links we finally get to see the SBSC logo on the “Find an IT expert” section of the pages.
When you click either of the campaign links the logo is nowhere to be seen until you dig down into the “find a partner” sections
The problem i have is that at no point is there anything that explains what a Small Business Specialist is and why you should pick them as opposed anyone else. Even up to the point where i put in my post code and do the search it just tells me i’m looking for small business specialists.
There are lots of links asking if you’d like to become a small business specialist thought but shouldn’t this be on the partner page?
I know there are some campaigns in the works for more exposure but surely it wouldn’t hurt to start simple?
I put a great big “Microsoft Small Business Specialist” sticker on my laptop so that customer (existing and potential) ask me about it and i one thing i’m finding is it’s usually the first time they have heard the phrase “Small Business Specialist”
Is this just a UK / Europe thing or is the situation similar in the US?
We’ve been asked many times recently for feedback on the program so i hope i’m not alone with this view.
Am i right or way off the mark? I’d love to hear your views
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Hi Andy – great post. You’re definitely not alone in your views. Your point about a lack of explanation of what exactly a Small Business Specialist is, is spot on. Each time I refer to SBSC in blog posts or e-mails, I link to a 15 month old Microsoft US Press Release URL describing the SBSC scheme. It’d be nice to link directly the UK Partner Finder, knowing the explanation could be found there. Well done for highlighting this issue.
I think you’re right about the explanation of what a Small Business Specialist is, that should be on there somewhere? I just had a play with Solution Finder and it’s miles better although still needs some tweaking.
The links to become a SBSC Partner were purposely put there becuase Partners also use the site, so it was to hightlight the Programme to those that might not be on it.
Definitely keep the feedback coming.
Here’s how to become one: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/smallbusiness/solution-finder/becoming-a-microsoft-small-business-specialist.mspx
You are right Andy, not enough detail as to why SBSCers are who they say they are and why on: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/smallbusiness/how-to-buy/solution-finder/find-a-partner.mspx
It’s bloomin’ obvious when you think about it – that goes for all levels of certification within Microsoft.