README.md

Here's your Minimum Viable Partnership

Step 1: Sign up at Microsoft Partner Network

Sign up at Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) and create your MPN ID.

That's for free. After signing up, you are a "Network Member". Now you are basically done. Minimum requirements are accomplished. You are a Microsoft Partner and if there is nothing more you like to do, you are all set and ready to go.

If you are interested in more, go to the next step...

Step 2: Create a Partner Center Account

Partner Center is Microsoft's single-point of contact to all partners. Think of it as opening up a customer account at your favorite retail store. Account details, business profile, programs, benefits, incentives, competencies, advanced specializations, marketplace profile and rewards, lead sharing, newsroom, partner support, analytics etc. Everything is stored or accessible via this account.

It's vital that you create your Partner Center account to collaborate with Microsoft. An MPN ID is required for registering your Partner Center Account.

Sources

• Complete Guide and Documentation to Partner Center
• Partner Center Developer Communication
• Watch this video to discover your Partner Center Dashboard

Step 3: Create your Business Profile

....to get sales leads. Microsoft will show your profile to customers who are searching for partners who can help them implement Microsoft products and solutions, through:

• The Find a solution provider search experience
• Referrals from Microsoft Sales & Service Employees

But how to?

Before you can create a business profile, you must have a Partner Center account (see step 2). From the Partner Center menu, select Referrals > Business profiles > select a country/region > Create a business profile. Create profiles for each region, you are authorized to do business in.

Click here to read "Tips for a vivid partner business profile"

Step 4: Select and Achieve competencies

Aligned to the needs of customers, Microsoft competencies let partners demonstrate their areas of technical capability.

Competencies showcase the partner's level of tech expertise towards a customer. Some of our large customers even prefer to work with so called "certified" partners only. Partners can attain over 20 competencies across Microsofts solution areas.

There are two levels of competence: Silver and Gold. To achieve a competency, partners must either reach a certification or performance goal. Further, after completing these requirements, a fee will be charged in Partner Center before the status is changed in the partner profile.

Here are a few tips:

• Select a competency that resemples you technical skills
• If it's hard for you to show performance, select a competency which only requires # of certified employees
• It is not a competition, you can save resources (monetary and personelle) if you start with one gold competency in the area that showcases your expertise the most
• As a service partner: get at least one Gold status in one competency; it is relevant to achieve co-sell status (see below) and many other benefits

Partners receive a number of benefits for achieving competencies. In particular, Internal Usage Rights (IURs)/licensing, markting servces, support etc. The benefits differ based on the difficulty of the competency.

FY21 Update on competencies

Click here to learn about Cloud App Dev relevant competencies.

Step 5: Publish a solution or consulting service on Microsoft's Commercial Marketplaces

Microsoft's commmercial marketplaces are an extended sales arm for partners. Publish your app or service in Azure Marketplace or Microsoft AppSource to connect with more than 3 million users monthly, reach our partner ecosystem, and access go-to-market benefits. Use Azure Marketplace and App Source to accelerate your business and strenghten your market position.

To publish offers to both marketplaces, you need to create an account in the commercial marketplace program in Partner Center. Afterwards move to the marketplace and follow the publisher guide to register your offer.

Sources:

• Marketplace Documentation for all documentation
• Marketplace Publisher Support for support issues that arise
• Microsoft Partner Community AppSource and Azure Marketplace for general questions/learnings as well as information about upcoming webinars and issues
• Webinars
• Marketplace Best Practices

See FAQ to define a solution or consulting service which you want to publish in one of Microsofts commercial marketplaces.

Step 6: Leadsharing with Microsoft

Share with and receive leads from Microsoft with the Co-Sell Program.

Co-selling stands for the joint sales of partners and Microsoft to the end customer. To reach "co-sell status" and start lead sharing the following is required:

Sources:

• Blogpost "Was ist eigentlich dieses "Co-Sell"? explains market relevance of the co-selling program.
• Co Sell Option in Partner Center provides clear guidance on offer types, required documents/materials and contacts
• Co Sell Engagement Guide for partners

Important: There are three different co-sell levels. Co-sell, co-sell prioritized (solutions/consulting services which are especially relevant for a solution area or technology), IP-Co-Sell (Intellectual Property = Standard software Solutions @ Microsoft)

Start now! Accelerate your business by partnering with Microsoft.