Cisco steps up partner marketing support

Cisco (CSCO) has unveiled a new organisation designed to help the its channel partners  improve their marketing activities.

The Cisco Partner Demand Centre will provide channel partners with demand-generation services through marketing tools, as well as instant access to support from the vendor.

“Effective marketing is integral to helping our partners win business, but many have limited budgets, resources or marketing expertise,” says Thierry Drilhon, vice president, worldwide partner organisation, Cisco Europe. “By equipping partners with the tools they need to generate as many leads as possible, we are putting them on a course for sustainable but ambitious growth.”
Avant Garde partners
The Partner Demand Centre is available to all partners, with additional benefits for those signed up for Cisco's Avant Garde partners. All Avant Garde partners have access to a Cisco client manager and marketing assistance, with Avant Garde Plus partners also eligible for bespoke campaign execution and support.

In addition, channel partners enrolled in the Partner Development Funds initiative, which makes quarterly payments to qualifying partners based on their sales of Cisco Small Business products, may also choose to use the capital generated by the fund to pay for marketing campaigns through the Partner Demand Centre.
SMBs
The Centre will also provide partners that target SMBs with tools such as data modelling and high-value market intelligence to win and retain new business.

Finally, partners will have access to Partner Marketing Central, a web portal that contains a library of campaign templates and assets including event management tools, social media integration and website marketing services.