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The ISV Society

The ISV Society

By Amiee Keenan

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4 Things ISVs and VARs Can Do Better to Work Together

The ISV SocietyNov 29, 2022

00:00
26:57
Our Customers Dictate Our Focus

Our Customers Dictate Our Focus

Hi everyone! It's episode 6 and I got to chat with Adam MacIntosh, Director of Emerging Technology, at WebSan Solutions. What did we chat about: Our EVOLUTION We started in the Dynamics GP space 15-20 years ago and had IP we offered for that product.  Some of that migrated to Business Central, but like most other partners, our IP offering grew organically as our Business Central practice grew.   Ultimately, our customers have helped to dictate where we focus out efforts.  They’ve wanted experiences to stay within Business Central.  They want plug-and-play experiences wherein onboarding is simple.  And many SMBs want self-serve options, which is why we post on YouTube and provide user guides for our applications.  All our resources are public.  We even hear from other partners that tell us they love our YouTube content.  SALES PROCESS With the sheer volume of apps in the marketplace.  How do you stand out?  We feel we are differentiated because we have actual users for all our apps.  We are one of the largest CSP for Business Central in the world, giving us a massive built-in user base for our apps.  When partners or third-parties find us, they know we have a reliable solution already in place.  We have support processes in place.  We have dev-ops process in place. Etc. WHAT WE BUILD Many of our customers tend to be in the distribution space and have a need for efficient and reliable supply chains.  We saw many supply chains disrupted during COVID.  Microsoft recently released “Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management”.  While that solution isn’t focused on the SMB customers that use Business Central, clearly there is a need in the market for supply chain solutions. OUR APPS We have 24 apps on the marketplace as of today.  I have two more that will be published this month.  While Business Central does a great job of capturing the basics, we are finding customers need a number of applications in order to optimize operations and minimize manual efforts.  FUTURE OUTLOOK AI is obviously on everyone’s minds.  We have an app that incorporates Microsoft AI into a demand forecast.  We are looking at adding AI to our Sales and Operations Planning application as well.  We are strong consumers of AI today and looking to provide more AI solutions in the future.  I am studying AI tools and so are my staff.  The demand from SMBs in the AI space is massive. Learn more about WebSan Solutions. Follow Adam on LinkedIn. Check them out on YouTube. Follow ⁠me⁠ on LinkedIn ⁠Download⁠ The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience.
Mar 21, 202323:01
Not just a search engine, it's an answer engine

Not just a search engine, it's an answer engine

Hello everyone! It's episode 5. I'm excited to chat with Cheryl Salazar, Partner and MVP, from The Partner Marketing Group. Today we chatted about: -Cheryl's background and role - she's been in the technology space for over 30 years throughout the US and Africa -What services they provide both partners and ISVs - it's pretty much everything you can think of from a marketing standpoint -Their infamous Technology & Marketing Benchmarks & Trends Report - What are the Top 10 MOST EFFECTIVE Lead Generation Tactics in 2022, Most ACTIVE Lead Generation Tactics, and Top 10 LEAST EFFECTIVE Lead Generation Tactics in 2022 -The NEW service they're offering for all Microsoft partners  Learn more about The Partner Marketing Group. Download the marketing report. Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. Learn more about The ISV Society. Follow me on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening! 
Mar 09, 202331:18
18 Event Best Practices for ISVs

18 Event Best Practices for ISVs

It's episode 4! I’m joined by industry expert, Liz Hallen from Dynamics User Group. This is the audio version of a webinar we just did where we shared our top tips for getting the most out of those events you sponsor! Because, events are a huge investment of both time and money whether it’s virtual or in-person.  You want them to be successful and prove the ROI. I’m right there with you. We all want to be the one that says….. yes, it was successful, let’s do it again.   That's why we put together 18 Event Best Practices for ISVs.   You'll learn about:  Strategies for standing out  Tips for engaging attendees  Maximize your spending and success  And much more, 18 in all.   Join DUG for free to receive email updates at www.dynamicsusergroup.com. Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience! Follow me on LinkedIn
Feb 21, 202332:19
The Future of Dynamics GP Report

The Future of Dynamics GP Report

Hello everyone and welcome to episode 3 of 2023. Brian Whipple, Marketing Manager from CoNetrix parent company to AccountingWare, was my guest this week.  They conducted a survey asking GP users about their future plans, migration timeline, and more. The survey resulted in 164 responses which led to several informative observations on what decisions companies are making concerning their current ERP solution.  So we chatted about: Brian's role and background  the story behind the report and why you decided to do this survey  findings from the report  where you can download it  a little about AccountingWare to wrap it up Here's the link to download the report, https://accountingware.com/future Website: https://accountingware.com ActivReporter Page: https://accountingware.com/activreporter Follow Brian on Linked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbrianwhipple/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amieekeenan/  Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience
Feb 07, 202317:26
New Initiatives in 2023

New Initiatives in 2023

It's episode #2 of 2023! This week I'm chatting with Adam Berezin, Co-Founder and CEO of MSDynamicsWorld.com (MSDW). So what did we chat about: Celebrating 15 years How has MSDW evolved over the years How they help partners and ISVs What's to come in 2023 Plus, we have an exciting NEW program launching as well.  Learn more about MSDW programs. Download The ISV Guide to Grow your Audience.
Jan 24, 202333:38
How do ISVs fit in the Acumatica ecosystem?

How do ISVs fit in the Acumatica ecosystem?

Hello everyone! Welcome to the first episode of 2023. I'm excited to chat with Louisa Gooding, Senior Business Development Manager at Acumatica and acu-connect Board Member. In case you didn't know we are both on the acu-connect board so we work closely with the Acumatica community in many aspects. If you're going to Acumatica Summit please make sure you join the acu-connect session on January 29 from 3:30-4:30. Today we chatted about: ISV - drive revenue program The pivot in 2023 The Importance of Acumatica Summit We hope to you at Acumatica Summit. You can also follow Louisa on LinkedIn. Follow me as well. Email me to learn more about The ISV Society and how you can do more joint marketing initiatives. (amieek@theisvsociety.com) Download The ISV Guide to grow your audience. Please leave a comment and subscribe to keep this podcast growing. Thanks!
Jan 11, 202321:24
The Global Community

The Global Community

It's episode 38 and the last episode of 2022! Wrapping up the year with Part 2 of my discussion with my guest, Aaron Back also known as The Bearded Analyst.  He's the Chief Content Officer, Principal and Founding Analyst of the Acceleration Economy, the VP of Dynamic Communities and the Podcast Host of the Back @ IT Show. We talked about: 1. Microsoft Biz Apps 2. Specific product 3. Microsoft and other platforms The landscape has changed. There are hybrid, cloud, and multi-cloud. We need to be more flexible. It's not just about Microsoft solutions anymore. Microsoft is just one part of the technical landscape.   We need to evolve and adapt, especially ISVs. You can't be a one-trick pony anymore. You need to diversify, shift your focus, and become more agnostic. Where can you find Aaron: LinkedIn Back @ IT Show Join the Dynamics Communities  Follow me on LinkedIn Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. Leave a comment and share your feedback. Thanks for listening!
Dec 28, 202225:50
The 4 Pillars

The 4 Pillars

Welcome to episode 37 and part 1 with my guest, Aaron Back also known as The Bearded Analyst.  He's the Chief Content Officer and Principal and Founding Analyst of the Acceleration Economy, the VP of Dynamic Communities and the Podcast Host of the Back @ IT Show. Today we chatted about the 4 pillars: Considering a new Business Application New to  Migrating to another  Optimizing what they have Where can you find Aaron LinkedIn Back @ IT Show Join the Dynamics Communities  Follow me on LinkedIn Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. Leave a comment and share your feedback. Thanks for listening!
Dec 14, 202216:60
4 Things ISVs and VARs Can Do Better to Work Together

4 Things ISVs and VARs Can Do Better to Work Together

Here's episode 36! Today my guest is Carol Livingston, Founder of Dynamics Connections. It was such a great conversation. We started off with a quick discussion on trends impacting VARs and ISVs and then onto Four things that ISVs and VARs can do to better to work together: 1. Building a relationship/partnership VARS vetting partners  VAR’s getting agreements/margins/expectations set upfront ISV’s working on structuring partner programs 2. Setting Expectations – once engaged Will the partner be involved – to what extent Help with test vs. production environments Who is going to manage the project 3. Who owns the client – for billing, services, communications, etc. VARs are starting to not want to be involved after the sale VARs would like to be kept in the loop – esp if there are unexpected issues VARs whose paper is it put on ISVs want partners to take on more of the selling and services – willing to give margins ISVs need VAR’s help in implementation - logistics 4. Marketing How ISVs get messaging to partners Marketing to partners Marketing with partners – have a strategy for partner management We wrapped up with the services both Carol and I provide and how they're different and actually complement each other. Carol’s Twitter: @clivingston102 Dynamics Connections Twitter:  @DynConnection Dynamics Connections Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/24978128/admin/ Carol Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-livingston-1b50b717/ Follow me on LinkedIn. Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience.
Nov 29, 202226:57
Demystifying Data with Analytics

Demystifying Data with Analytics

Hello all! It's episode 35 and I have not one but two guests with me this week. We have Kamil Karbowiak, Managing Director and Tristan Threlkeld, Director of Sales and BD at Data Courage. We chatted about: How does your company help partners and their clients with automation? Does your app replace a person/job or is this solution help the resource/associate be more efficient? So, this will help employees with their day-to-day job duties? What kind of Support do you offer Partners and clients?  What's different about your solutions that separate them from the other similar solutions on the market today? What about pricing? Do you have a partner program?  Are you a competitor to partners in any way? How knowledgeable are you in the Microsoft Dynamics suite of ERPs? You can reach out to Data Courage to learn more at sales@datacourage.com. Feel free to follow them on LinkedIn. Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. Follow me on LinkedIn Thanks for listening!
Nov 15, 202239:02
Thought Leadership & Becoming the "Go To" Resource

Thought Leadership & Becoming the "Go To" Resource

Hello everyone! It's episode 34. I'm excited about this episode and my guest this week.  With everyone working from home and spending their days online, capturing the attention of your clients – or more importantly, your future clients – is more challenging than ever. With marketing emails staying unopened and search engine ads being ignored, how can a growing ISV make a name for itself in a crowded, noisy space? The answer is deceptively simple, yet tough to achieve: you must deliver value and insight from the very first interaction. In this episode, we catch up with Danica Weappa from Greenshades Software and learn how this 20+ year-old brand stays connected with its 3500+ customers and keeps attracting new customers to their cloud-based Payroll and HR platform. 1. How do you distinguish yourself from competitors? What types of marketing tactics do you deploy? 2. How do your marketing team and your sales team stay in synch? What best practices have you worked out to keep everyone on the same page? 3. What metrics do you monitor and how do you use that data to continually improve your marketing efforts? 4. What advice would you give to ISV marketers to keep their brand top-of-mind for clients? Follow Greenshades on LinkedIn Follow me on LinkedIn Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. Microsoft Clarity is a free user behavior analytics tool that helps you understand how users are interacting with your website with usage statistics, session replays, and heatmaps. https://clarity.microsoft.com/
Nov 01, 202221:26
My Top Takeaways From Community Summit

My Top Takeaways From Community Summit

Well, I'm back from Community Summit. It was such a great time and it was so great to see everyone. This conference certainly grew from last year with a few thousand attendees. Today I am going to cover my top takeaways from the conference and my overall feedback on how this one went regarding the: -Welcome reception -Expo  -Partner Solution Showcase -Summitland program It was so great to see everyone! I can't wait to see you all in NC next year. So glad it is somewhere new, warm, and still on the east coast. Learn more about The ISV Society. Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience! Follow me on LinkedIn.
Oct 18, 202211:01
It's Always About The Customer

It's Always About The Customer

Hello all! Welcome to episode 32. My guest today is Todd Bowlsby, Senior Manager at Armanino. He's passionately helping people and organizations solve their business-related challenges with technology. He and I chatted about: Being in the channel over the years   What do you focus on now  Working with ISVs  Best practices/mgmt skills Have you downloaded The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience yet? If not here's the link. Come follow me on LinkedIn. Don't forget to add this Podcast to your library and comment as well.  Thanks for listening!
Sep 28, 202226:01
Social Media Strategies with Jon Rivers

Social Media Strategies with Jon Rivers

Here's episode #31. Today I chatted with Jon Rivers, President of Marketing Monarchs and Co-Founder of Marketeery.  We all use social media to grow our business and it's always evolving and changing. Get some amazing social media strategies and tips such as: Researching what platform to use and how to use it 3 keys goals when building your social media strategy How often you should post and more Where to find Jon, https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonrivers/ and https://twitter.com/jon_rivers Learn more about his services: https://www.marketingmonarchs.com/ https://www.marketeery.com/ Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. Learn more about The ISV Society. 
Sep 13, 202227:12
Best Practices When Working with Microsoft

Best Practices When Working with Microsoft

Welcome everyone to another episode of The ISV Society podcast. My guest this week is Rob Fegan, Founder of Venvito.  Venvito's mission is to help partners demystify working with Microsoft and set themselves up like Microsoft's most successful partners. Creating messaging that engages the Microsoft field team supported by a co-sell win formula that delivers a winning partnership. www.venvito.net Here are the questions we covered: What are the main platforms that Microsoft provides ISVs to get their solutions out to the market? What programs are available to support ISVs? With the upcoming changes to the Microsoft partner program, how will that affect ISVs? How does an ISV get their solution to stand out in the Marketplace? Should applications listed in the Marketplace be transactable? Download Rob's free eBook "4 Questions to answer before Co-selling with Microsoft". Follow Rob on LinkedIn. Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. Join us on September 20 at 4:00 EDT on LinkedIn Live as Rob and I chat about all the NEW changes happening and how they can affect you. Stay tuned for more info. 
Aug 30, 202229:39
Evolving AI Technology in Accounts Payable Process Automation

Evolving AI Technology in Accounts Payable Process Automation

Hi all! It's episode#29! Today's guest is Doug Bertram, Regional Account Manager, at Metafile.  Today's topic is all about AI. I asked him: 1. How has AI evolved?  2. What role does AI play in AP Process Automation?  3. What benefits are being achieved with advancing technology?  4. What does the future of AI look like? Learn more about Metafile and its AP automation solutions. Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience
Aug 17, 202224:33
It's All About The Micro Moments

It's All About The Micro Moments

It's episode #28 and I had the opportunity to chat with Tori Barlow, VP of Marketing, at Allbound, The #1 Partner Preferred Portal. Here are the questions I asked: What are the partner program best practices? What do companies struggle with when developing or tweaking their partner program? Have you seen any trends on what works and what doesn't? How does Allbound help? Follow Tori  Follow Allbound Allbound Channel Health Quiz - What’s your channel score? The Partner Channel Podcast Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience
Aug 09, 202219:51
LinkedIn is a Powerful Tool

LinkedIn is a Powerful Tool

Welcome to episode #27. This week my guest is Candyce Edelen, the Founder of PropelGrowth. She's a LinkedIn expert and helps B2B companies find more sales opportunities. We chatted about: Why LinkedIn is a great social platform for B2B What are the do's and don'ts when using LinkedIn Tips and tricks Follow Candyce: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candyceedelen/  Save 10% on her course, PropelGrowth Prospecting Mastery, using this link,https://propelgrowth.thrivecart.com/prospecting-mastery-checkout/?coupon=ISV and the code is ISV. Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience Thanks for tuning in!
Jul 28, 202237:14
3 Ways To Get Personal With Your Audience

3 Ways To Get Personal With Your Audience

How many emails do you receive, either personally or professionally, that are personalized? When creating content it’s so important to not only speak to your audience but personalize it in some way as well. One thing that drives me crazy are all the emails that I get that are so generic. I get ones that are talking to partners, ones that are talking to customers, and ones that are speaking to everyone. So what do I do? Delete them. If you aren’t taking the time to personalize your content then your audience isn’t going to take the time to read it. How can you personalize your content and what should you personalize? Here are 3 ways: 1. List segmentation When I get a list from any event, conference, or marketing initiative I am segmenting it out. I segment by: Relationship type (end-user, partner, ISV) ERP You can also segment by product, industry, role, and more.  This will result in them connecting to your email, engaging with it, and hopefully, completing the action you want them to take. If you take the time, they will take the time. 2. Subject Lines & Preheader Text Let’s start with the email subject line and preheader or preview text. The preview text is the sentence under the subject line that’s available in some email clients. Many of the automation tools out there make it simple and easy to add a person’s first name in the subject line or preview text. By adding personalization you’re also boosting your open rate by 50%. The body of the email If you’re writing your emails correctly, meaning speaking to your audience, then incorporating their name in the body of the email should be easy too. It helps marketers give subscribers more relevant, individualized content. Plus, many of the email marketing tools make it easy to do this as well. Personalization sends a message that you understand, you have been in their shoes, you know how it feels, and you can help them. You don’t always have to personalize the beginning of an email. You should also think about including it in the body of the email as well, if it makes sense. The purpose of personalizing emails is to make your subscribers feel like VIPs, they’re not just an email address in your database. 3. Demos Take your demos a step further and actually personalize them to your prospect. Imagine providing a demo that actually speaks to them and what they do. First, do the research by visiting their website and have them fill out a questionnaire or requirements document so you can better understand their business and unique requirements. Demos that speak to them do require work but they’re more effective. Sure this requires more time and effort on your part but I guarantee they’ll be impressed and it will not only make the demo go smoother but they may even buy the product sooner as well. Personalization can go a long way so really take the time, do your homework, and create great content that speaks to your audience. Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience This episode is also available as a blog post: https://theisvsociety.com/2022/03/02/want-better-engagement-take-the-time-to-personalize/
Jul 12, 202210:34
It's All About Differentiation

It's All About Differentiation

Welcome everyone to Episode 25! Today I'm chatting with Sam Gupta, Host@WBSRocks | Independent ERP and Enterprise Technology Selection Expert | Supply Chain Transformation and IT Procurement Adviser | Digital and E-commerce Strategist | Fractional CIO. We talked about things such as: ElevateIQ - mission and what he does How he helps customers  How ISVs help him Links to Subscribe: 👉 https://podcast.wbs.rocks/ 👉 https://www.youtube.com/c/ElevatIQ 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@elevatiq Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. Email me to learn more about The ISV Society. amieek@theisvsociety.com
Jul 05, 202226:27
Play Well With Others

Play Well With Others

Welcome everyone to Episode 24 of The ISV Society Podcast. I had a chance to chat with Rob Jolliffe, President of Sabre Limited. Rob is a Supply Chain and Information Technology Expert | Helping Industrial Businesses With Their IT Systems. Sabre Limited is an ERP reseller in Cambridge Ontario, wholly dedicated to the Microsoft product line. We chatted about: Drinking the Kool-Aid  Fixed Fee versus hourly Being a VAR and now and ISV  Follow Rob on LinkedIn Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. Email me to learn more about The ISV Society. amieek@theisvsociety.com
Jun 28, 202232:40
Celebrating 1 Year

Celebrating 1 Year

It's Episode 23 and it's the 1 Year Anniversary of The ISV Society! So it seems fitting to start at the beginning. I’ve worked for some amazing ISVs over the years and if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be where I am today. They all deserve a huge shout-out. Right out of college First up, Blue Moon Industries. What started out as an internship in 1999 turned into a full-time career. Not only was I the first intern, but I also paved the way for more interns. I started out with marketing initiatives for the VAR side which soon turned into marketing initiatives for the ISV side as well. Getting my head in the clouds Next up, Myappsanwhere. This is where I learned all about the cloud, data center security, and hosting. Now I am selling Dynamics in the cloud, not only the ERPs but CRM and Exchange as well. I was responsible for building out the partner program, educating partners on the cloud offerings, and helping partners sell Dynamics in the cloud. Time to drink the orange Kool-aid Avalara is up next. I have to say it was one of my dreams to work for such an amazing company. It started out by going to Seattle and Bainbridge Island in January for 2 weeks. First for sales kick-off and second for a week of learning about all things sales tax. I know way more about sales tax than I ever thought I would. It is crazy to think one side of the street can pay a different tax than the other side of the street just because they are in different jurisdictions. And some candy bars are charged sales tax and others are not just based on the ingredients. I could go on and on but I will spare you that. Let’s Rock Last but not least, Rockton Software. I was back in the Dynamics space which I missed so much and also the Acumatica space. It was great to work with so many familiar faces again. My role here was a little different in that much of my focus was on lead generation, filling the sales funnel, and content creation. I loved that I could focus on creativity and trying new things especially when everything went virtual. I was able to step up my game with content creation, bring the GP Optimizer to life, and build new relationships. The ISV Society is Born I am so grateful for all of these opportunities with all of these companies. They all shaped my career in different ways and gave me a tremendous amount of experience. It paved the way to launch my membership and community just for ISVs. The ISV Society is a labor of love. I am able to use all of my marketing, ERP, and channel experience and scale it to help the masses. I learned that there really needs to be something just for ISVs that is ERP agnostic. We all struggle with lead generation, reaching the masses, having time to launch new marketing initiatives, and doing joint initiatives. So, why not have a membership that does just that. Download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. Email me to learn more about The ISV Society. amieek@theisvsociety.com
Jun 21, 202217:09
We're All Superheros

We're All Superheros

Hello everyone! Welcome to Episode 22. I am so excited to chat with extraordinary ladies. They're the superheros of DUG, Liz Hallen the VP of DUG and Molly Fuchsel, the President of DUG. We chatted about: Why the superhero theme, who picked it? Virtual or in-person events - which do you like better and what do the users like better? What are the plans/goals for the rest of the year? How do you work with ISVs? Connect with Liz and Molly. https://dynamicsusergroup.com/ ISVs and partners can Team-up Everyone can Meetup Here's the link to download The ISV Guide to Growing Your Audience.
Jun 14, 202227:19
The Long Term Relationship

The Long Term Relationship

Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of The ISV Society Podcast. I am excited to chat with Ed Kless, Senior Director, Partner Development and Strategy at Sage and Host of the Sage Thought Leadership Podcast. (Check it out) We talked about: Sage over the years Sage rebranding  The subscription model - even for services What ISVs can do in this space We go way back to when there was a time knowing your TCPIP address was important. Follow Ed, @edkless Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to leave a comment or subscribe. If you want to be a guest let me know. (amieek@theisvsociety.com) Also, if you didn't already download The ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience. 
Jun 07, 202227:46
4 Opportunities To Reach More Partners

4 Opportunities To Reach More Partners

Welcome to another episode of The ISV Society podcast. Today we are talking about the 4 Opportunities to Reach More Partners Because what struggles do ISVs have? Reaching out to more partners, growing their partner channel, and having a successful partner program. I’m here to tell you there’s no magic pill or quick fix to make this struggle go away. Sure you’ll have the few VARs that consistently work with you and sell your solutions. But ISVs want to grow. What are 4 ways you can do that: 1. Integrating with other ERPs 2. Targeting a pain point or niche 3. Creating a channel program that sticks 4. Collaborating with more ISVs Listen to this episode as I dive into each of these a little more. Share your topic ideas or be a guest, reach out to me at amieek@theisvsociety.com. Download The Guide To Grow Your Audience This episode is also available as a blog post: https://theisvsociety.com/2022/01/04/4-opportunities-to-reach-more-partners/
May 31, 202213:59
Marketing Never Sleeps

Marketing Never Sleeps

Hello everyone! Welcome to another episode of The ISV Society podcast. I am so excited to chat with my guest this week, Tania Konczynski is the Marketing Director of North America for Bam Boom Cloud. We chatted about: marketing over the years adaptive marketing planning is the key to success Thanks for listening in. As always please feel free to like, share, or comment. I would love to get your feedback. Want to be a guest? Email me at amieek@theisvsociety.com Check out my other episodes as well.
May 24, 202221:24
The Power of the Network

The Power of the Network

Hi everyone it's episode #18 of The ISV Society Podcast. I'm here chatting with fellow entrepreneur Autum Grimm. She is also the Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder of PartnerTap. She shared some great insight on: What ISVs struggle with Relationship building Being transparent, truthful, and reliable  We really get into the nitty-gritty on these topics so get ready to hear it all.  Follow Autum on LinkedIn. Learn more about Partnertap. Follow me! Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe and share any topics you would like to hear on future episodes. Also, I am all about leveraging social media to promote educational and informational content especially when it's free. Learn how to use LinkedIn Live like a pro with this video tutorial. 
May 17, 202219:58
How well do you know LinkedIn?

How well do you know LinkedIn?

Hi everyone! Welcome to episode #17!  I'm so excited to chat with my guest today but first a little backstory. I was listening to the Social Media Marketing Podcast while traveling and it was all about LinkedIn. I just loved the content that this guest shared, so what did I do? Reached out to her on LinkedIn and asked if she would be a guest on my Podcast as well. So here she is, Judi Fox!  Judi Fox is listed as a Top 10 LinkedIn Coach for 2021 in Yahoo Finance.  She is featured in Inc Magazine, CEO Magazine, Vidsummit, Social Media Marketing World, Video Marketing World, People of Video, and on several Top 100 Marketing Podcasts. With over 18 years experience in business development and sales, Judi Fox developed the LinkedIn Business Accelerator Method. Clients are implementing this LinkedIn method to achieve more business and over 1 million content views in 90 days. We talked about: -LinkedIn Newsletters -LinkedIn embed options - did you know you can embed your Podcast episodes so they can watch them on LinkedIn? -The NEW LinkedIn Audio - coming soon! -LinkedIn tips-n-tricks Grab your pen and paper. There's a ton of information to share and some great actionable items. One thing is true, it is not always about the content you post but about the conversations you have. Follow Judi for more tips. Website - https://www.judifox.com/ Social Media Handles: LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/judiwfox Instagram - http://instagram.com/judifoxrocks Clubhouse - https://www.joinclubhouse.com/@judifoxrocks Twitter - https://twitter.com/Judi_Fox Get more 🦊 ➡️ FOLLOW #FoxRocks ➡️ Follow www.instagram.com/judifoxrocks 🦊 #FoxRocks ❤ climbed Mt. Rainier, private pilot, hiking, visit all the US (4 states left), organization, & creativity Resources we discussed: - 20 LinkedIn Post Prompts - https://www.judifox.com/sme - Subscribe to LinkedIn Audio Events Calendar - https://www.judifox.com/linkedinaudioevent - Calendar to Apply for 1:1 coaching LinkedIn Business Accelerator - https://calendly.com/judifox/linkedin-business-accelerator-with-judi-fox Also, I'm all about leveraging social media to promote educational and informational content especially when it's free. Learn how to use LinkedIn Live like a pro with this video tutorial. 
May 10, 202230:38
The Perspective of a Partner - Part 2

The Perspective of a Partner - Part 2

Hello all! Welcome to another episode of The ISV Society podcast. And again, I have not 1 but 3 guests this week. This is Part 2 of The Perspective of a Partner with LBMC.  My guests are: Margaret Bolding, Dynamics GP Practice Manager Elizabeth Spector, Billing Specialist Sarah Novak, Marketing Manager It was so great to hear their perspective on things like: how they engage with ISVs how they help their clients find the right solution ISV best practices I'm so excited for you to hear this episode. And as always if you would like to learn more about The ISV Society, feel free to email me at amieek@theisvsociety.com I would love for you to comment, leave a review, subscribe, and share any topics you would like to hear as well. Thanks for listening! Also, I'm all about leveraging social media to promote educational and informational content especially when it's free. Learn how to use LinkedIn Live like a pro with this video tutorial. 
Apr 27, 202229:02
The Perspective of a Partner - Part 1

The Perspective of a Partner - Part 1

Hello all! Welcome to another episode of The ISV Society. I have not 1 but 3 guests this week. I am so excited to have the team from LBMC here with me to chat about working with ISVs. My guests are: Margaret Bolding, Dynamics GP Practice Manager Lise’ Cummings, Microsoft Dynamics Strategic Account Manager Ashley Kennally, Microsoft Dynamics Strategic Account Manager It was so great to hear their perspective on things like: How they engage with ISVs How do they help their clients find the right solution ISV best practices I'm so excited for you to hear this episode. Also, I'm all about leveraging social media to promote educational and informational content especially when it's free. Learn how to use LinkedIn Live like a pro with this video tutorial. 
Apr 13, 202230:39
It's not about your competitor, it's about the customer

It's not about your competitor, it's about the customer

Hi everyone! It's another episode of The ISV Society Podcast and guess what? It's just me this week. But don't worry I have a great lineup of guests in April so stay tuned. This week I wanted to chat with you about doing webinars and other joint marketing initiatives with your competitors and why it is so important. It may seem like we shouldn’t talk to them, work with them, or contact them unless we go “undercover” to try and find out their pricing or cost for services. And yes, I have done that. But remember - Comparisons are Powerful When it comes to ERP solutions we can find countless comparison charts for GP vs. Acumatica, Acumatica vs NetSuite, Acumatica vs QuickBooks. The list can go on and on. Now, I am not saying Acumatica and NetSuite should do a webinar together but certainly, ISVs should. How easy is it to find info like Vertex vs Avalara, Fraxion vs Paramount Workplace, or TrueCommerce vs SPS Commerce? I have searched on Google and there really is much info out there at all that would really help customers make an informed decision. They would have to do a lot of research, ask both ISVs many questions, maybe a demo from both, and the list goes on. Imagine, doing a webinar, explaining the key differences, the pricing, the reasons you may need one or the other. Now that is powerful. You are doing all the work for the customer. Comparisons are powerful when done right, done with a plan, and with the main focus being the customer. It's not about your competitor, it's about the customer Would you rather they: Hear it from you and your competitor together or separately? Do their own research and then call the one “they think” is the right choice? Get all this information from both of you in an informative and engaging way? So let’s start by asking yourself these questions: Who are your competitors in the Microsoft Dynamics or Acumatica space or whichever ERP you have a solution for? Do you have a relationship with any of them? Do you know anyone who works there? What do you know about their solution? Would it make sense to collaborate based on information from their website? I can do all the work for you When you are part of The ISV Society is my job to create joint webinars with ISVs. When you’re a member of the ISV Society it is a judgment-free zone, everyone is welcome, and we all work together for the good of the society and for the good of the customer. This is a place to think outside of the box, do those unconventional things that no one ever thinks of or wants to do, or have the time or resources to get it done. We are all working together on 3 common initiatives. They are: Collaborate Educate Generate When we work together we can all be successful. We can all benefit from each other. Plus, imagine being part of an exclusive group just for you, the ISV. There really is nothing like it out there in our space and I am so excited to bring it to you. Reach out to me to learn more, amieek@theisvsociety.com. This episode is also available as a blog post: http://theisvsociety.com/2021/06/22/did-you-know-its-actually-more-powerful-to-do-webinars-with-competitors/
Mar 30, 202211:01
The Future of The Community

The Future of The Community

Hi everyone! It's time for another episode of The ISV Society Podcast. I'm so excited to chat with these 2 guests today. I'm sure you all know who they are, John Siefert & Pam Misialek from Dynamic Communities. We had so much to talk about. Topics like: Collaboration Giving users value Solving users problems The future of the community And the launch of something NEW and you hear it here FIRST! You don't want to wait to listen to this episode. 
Mar 23, 202255:12
How is PCI Compliance like the DMV?

How is PCI Compliance like the DMV?

Hello everyone! Thanks for joining me for another episode of The ISV Society Podcast. I am your host Amiee Keenan, and I'm excited to chat with Fauwaz Hussain from Nodus Technologies. Being in the channel and in the payments space for 13 years we are going to chat about: Making the shift to electronic payments Secure payments are key Paying by credit card is the norm PCI Compliance is like the DMV Want to be a guest? Email me at amieek@theisvsociety.com Check out my other episodes as well. Have a great week!
Mar 09, 202226:52
30 Years & Counting

30 Years & Counting

Hello everyone! Thanks for joining me for another episode of The ISV Society Podcast. I am your host Amiee Keenan, and I'm excited to chat with Janice Phelps from Blue Moon Industries. We're chatting about: 30 years in this space Being a VAR and ISV Janice's role and how it has evolved over the years What is her favorite part of the job? Favorite Blue Moon products Why Blue Moon is part of The ISV Society Thanks for listening in. As always please feel free to like, share, or comment. I would love to get your feedback. Want to be a guest? Email me at amieek@theisvsociety.com Check out my other episodes as well. Have a great week!
Feb 22, 202224:05
How Foy is Helping ISVs

How Foy is Helping ISVs

Hello everyone! Welcome to this week's episode of The ISV Society Podcast. I am so excited to chat with Foy Mainor, ISV Business Development Manager for Acumatica. He has been in the Channel for a long time working for an ISV and now he gets to work with ISVs. Join us as we chat about: -his role over the years -the transition into this role -working with ISVs versus working with VARs -getting started with Acumatica If you are looking into getting in this space, he is the one to reach out to. As always, please share, like, or comment on this episode. Feel free to share your ideas on future topics and if you would like to be a guest let me know, amieek@theisvsociety.com.
Feb 09, 202221:29
What REALLY goes into event planning

What REALLY goes into event planning

Hello everyone! Thanks for joining me for another episode of The ISV Society Podcast. I am your host Amiee Keenan, and I'm excited to chat with Caroline Drumm. She is a Marketing Manager at Yooz and a leader in event marketing. So she is the perfect guest to talk to today about events. We're going to chat about: How many events do you plan in any given year? When do you start planning them? How do you drive traffic to the booth? What does your follow-up process look like? We will also share some tips and tricks for a successful event. Thanks for listening in. As always please feel free to like, share, or comment. I would love to get your feedback.  Want to be a guest? Email me at amieek@theisvsociety.com Check out my other episodes as well. Have a great week!
Jan 26, 202229:54
Are your webinars boring?

Are your webinars boring?

Happy New Year! And welcome to the first episode of The ISV Society podcast of 2022. I’m so excited that you’re here listening in. It is just me, Amiee Keenan, your host for today but don’t worry I will have more guests this year. It’s actually hard to believe that I launched my business only 6 months ago. So many exciting things have happened but I am looking forward to stepping it up for the next 6 months and beyond. Let’s get started. Today we’re talking about webinars. Because let’s face it, they’re a huge part of everyone’s marketing strategy and they're never going away. And what I have learned over the past year and a half or so is that we really need to step our game when it comes to presenting. We need to transform the way we do webinars and make them more of an experience. How can we do this? I am going to discuss the 3 Ps of webinars. The presentation The presenter The point At The ISV Society, we're all about joint marketing initiatives and webinars being a huge component so we are definitely focusing on all of these things. If you are interested in learning more about The ISV Society feel free to reach out to me anytime. amieek@theisvsociety.com And please also subscribe, like, comment. I always want to hear feedback and get your topics for future Podcast episodes. And if you would like to be a guest let me know. I am putting my calendar together for 2022. Thank you so much for listening. Have an awesome day!
Jan 12, 202211:22
What it takes to be a marketer

What it takes to be a marketer

Hello everyone! Thanks for joining me this week. I have a special guest with me today. Nimia Amaya is the Senior Marketing Director for the Americas at Yooz. She is an accomplished B2B SaaS digital media and marketing professional with expertise in the U.S., Mexico, and LATAM regions. She holds a BA in Radio, TV, Film from the University of North Texas and has worked with brands such as Univision Communications, Verizon, Levi’s, Cedar Fair Entertainment, and Reflect Media. She resides in Dallas, TX with her 8-year-old daughter. We talked about: What's it like to be a woman in marketing Alumni Profile How to deal with setbacks If you love personal development too, check out this list of books: No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work by Liz Fosslien Permission to Screw Up by Kristen Hadeed The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women by Valerie Young Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg Mistakes I Made at Work: 25 Influential Women Reflect on What They Got Out of Getting It Wrong by Jessica Bacal The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho What's your And? by John Garrett You can follow Nimia on LinkedIn and Twitter. Thanks for joining us this week!
Dec 08, 202141:32
How successful is your digital marketing strategy?

How successful is your digital marketing strategy?

I am so excited for my guest this week on The ISV Society Podcast. Marie Wiese is a top marketer, an author, and an entrepreneur helping tech leaders find customers and keep customers using the power of digital marketing.  Top take away from this Podcast. Go to your website and ask yourself these 4 questions on each page and see if you answer them from your buyer's perspective. 1. What is it? 2. How does it apply to me? 3. What do I have to do to buy it? 4. Can I afford it? If your content doesn't answer any of these questions then you have some work to do. Regarding the fourth question, pricing is so important to have on your website, read this blog to learn more. https://theisvsociety.com/2021/06/07/3-eye-opening-reasons-isvs-put-pricing-on-their-website/ Learn more about Marketing CoPilot, https://marketingcopilot.com/ Follow Marie on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marketingcopilot/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/mcopilot
Nov 17, 202134:34
Top Takeaways from Community Summit NA

Top Takeaways from Community Summit NA

It's another episode of The ISV Society Podcast and I have another guest speaker. I will give you 3 hints: He has been the face of the GP community for many years, has his own Podcast, and is a Tampa Bay Buccs Fan. It is the infamous, Bob McAdam. Today we are talking about our Top Takeaways From Community Summit NA. We will dive into: Location & Layout Attendance Expo time Solution Showcase sessions Thursday Chat with John Siefert Tom Brady Take a listen, share it with others, and provide feedback. Thanks for supporting The ISV Society!
Oct 29, 202130:59
Blogging Has So Many Benefits

Blogging Has So Many Benefits

I am so excited for my second guest of The ISV Society Podcast, Anya Ciecierski, ERP/CRM Software Blog Co-Founder, amazing marketer, and blogging guru. She has been in the Channel just as long as I have. She has 3 very successful group blogging sites with over 150 members, which includes both VARs and ISVs. Here are the links to check them out: Microsoft Dynamics ERP Software Comparisons, Pricing & Implementation Tips (erpsoftwareblog.com) Microsoft Dynamics 365 | Partners | Pricing & Cost | Dynamics CRM (crmsoftwareblog.com) Top ERP Cloud Software Consultants | NetSuite | Dynamics 365 | Acumatica | Intacct | SAP (erpsoftwareblog.com) Want to learn more: Group Blogs for MS Dynamics VAR ISV Partners - ERP & CRM Software Blogs (groupbloggers.com) Have any questions: anya@erpsoftwareblog.com
Oct 06, 202128:08
Is video a part of your marketing strategy?

Is video a part of your marketing strategy?

I am so excited to have my first guest on The ISV Society Podcast. Welcome, Lindy Belley! She is the Senior Marketing Manager at HSO, a Microsoft Partner. She's been in the Dynamics Channel for nearly 13 years and has worked for both an ISV and a Partner. She is the 2019 recipient of the Channel Marketing Alliance Brooke Webb Smith award. Lindy enjoys people, strategy, and pulling both into marketing technology. Thank you Lindy for sharing your insights, expertise, and tips on getting started with video.
Sep 22, 202133:13
3 Reasons ISVs Should Put Pricing On Their Website

3 Reasons ISVs Should Put Pricing On Their Website

Should you include pricing on your website? For some reason pricing has always had the stigma that it needed to be a secret, that ISVs can’t publicize because: It will chase customers away My competitors will see it I don’t want to stop them from reaching out to me Here are 3 reasons why ISVs need pricing on their website #1 – Remember, it’s all about the customer They are taking the time to do the research and visit your website. So, if you don’t give the information they need, they will leave your site and you just lost an opportunity. That’s the last thing you want to do. If you do provide pricing then they’ll know upfront what your solution cost. If it’s in their budget they will reach out and if it’s not they won’t. But just think about how much time you could save not having a discovery call or doing a demo for someone who doesn’t have the budget for it in the first place. #2 – Know, like, and trust Building a relationship with a customer happens on your website before they even reach out to you for more information. This is where they learn not only about your product or services, but your company, and your culture as well. If you’re not providing the information they need, answering all of their questions, and including pricing, then they may feel like you’re hiding something or that you truly are too expensive. #3 – Your only competitor is you Do you not put pricing on your website because your competitors will see it? I say, who cares. If they really want to, they will find it. How many times have you used your Gmail or another email account to get more information on a competitor? I know I have a few times. Your website is all about your customer, not your competitor. So, give them what they want, answer all of their questions, and show how you are going to solve a problem for them. It’s better to give more upfront, give them all the information they need, and if they reach out then you know they’re highly qualified. And there’s nothing better than getting a highly qualified lead from your website. Check out my other blogs: Afforable ways to get leads Are you GDPR compliant? Marketing trends for 2021
Sep 08, 202108:52
5 Affordable Ways to Generate Leads

5 Affordable Ways to Generate Leads

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://theisvsociety.com/2021/03/14/5waystogenerateleads/ There are 5 affordable ways you can still be successful and generate quality leads without leaving your bank account empty. #1 - Consistent Content We all know content is king (or queen for me) and creating content consistently is key. But don’t just create content to create content. While writing content is free it still requires time and research. The average blog post takes three hours and 55 minutes to write. This doesn't take into consideration image creation, formatting, SEO optimization, promotion, or other aspects of publishing content. That's the data according to the Orbit survey. https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/blogging-statistics/ Do the research on what your target market needs are, what they're searching on, and what pain points you can help them with. Take the time to write great content that will come up in searches.  #2 - Email Email marketing is an effective lead generation strategy–hence why it has an ROI of $38. It is just one of many steps in the lead generation process. This is when you start to build a relationship with your audience and when they get to know, like and trust you. This is where you showcase your style and brand. Are you fun or quirky, business professional, or elegant? Whatever your style is make sure it shows in all of your content. Let them see who you really are. Email is a great way to stay engaged with your audience and be top of mind. It is important to have a good email strategy. You don't want to email too much or too little.  Give your audience options. Do they want to receive your newsletter, event invites, or blog update? This can all be done in your email preferences tab. Existing customers need options too. Do they want to know about the latest features or customer-focused events? Give them the content they want so you don't end up in their spam folder. #3 - Lead Magnets After you have created all this great content what are you going to do to get them to take the next step? This is where your Call To Action (CTA) plays a huge role in all of your content marketing initiatives. Not only do you need great content but you need a reason why they should read it. What are they going to get from it? To build trust you have to give more than you take. #4 - Ads These can be a somewhat inexpensive way to get your lead magnet into the hands of the right people. You can use LinkedIn and Google Ads or whatever social media platform that you use for your business. Ads are only as good as the content you put in them. You should do some research first on what platform your audience uses the most, again what are they searching for, and then create a fun and engaging image to get them to want to click on it. #5 - Collaboration This is the one thing that doesn’t seem to stand out or come up in search engines. After all that has transpired over the last year, marketers had to come up with new, out-of-the-box ways to help keep the lead funnel going. This was one of my tasks and so I took it into my own hands and started collaborating with fellow ISVs and working on joint initiatives such as webinars, blogs, and virtual events. It has turned out to be a huge success which is why I started The ISV Society. I wanted to provide an affordable way to help ISVs be successful. This yearly membership is a way for me to help you create great content with joint webinars and blogs, emails, and monthly mastermind sessions. Click here to learn more! https://theisvsociety.com
Aug 25, 202107:19
Intro

Intro

Hello, hello, and welcome to the ISV Society Podcast. I am your host Amiee Keenan and I am so excited to be here and chat with you. So first off you may be asking, What is The ISV Society? Well, It's a membership just for ISVs. Where we collaborate, educate, and generate leads in an affordable way. From Webinars to blogs as well as monthly mastermind meetings. These are just some of the ways we're working together. This Podcast is just another way to bring the content to you. There will be marketing tips and tricks, ISV guests, as well as fellow marketing professionals. Just think of it as your one-stop-shop all things channel marketing. It's all about the power of collaboration. So let's get started! Amiee Keenan, The ISV Society https://theisvsociety.com 401-451-7223
Aug 13, 202100:54