Darcy Burner's WebLog

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A tisket, a tasket, a logo in your basket?

In my current role, I'm the Microsoft business owner for the .NET Connected logo program:

Microsoft .NET Connected

Because a significant portion of my job involved providing training and information about Windows Server 2003 to ISVs, I also spend time thinking about the Certified for Windows Server 2003 program:

Certified for Microsoft Windows Server 2003

I meet regularly with the folks who own the Certified Partner program:Microsoft Certified PartnerMicrosoft Certified Partner - Gold

 

 

And there are a whole bunch of other Microsoft logo programs for ISVs, including my personal favorite graphic, which I think I'd build a product for just because it would be so cool to use the logo:

Uses Microsoft Agent Technology

 

 

My question is this: do they help?  Do ISVs currently find value in being able to affiliate their products with Microsoft and with specific Microsoft technologies?  Does it give you credibility with your customers? And if you don't think they currently help, is that because logo programs in general just don't work for you, or because we need to do more to drive customer demand around the specific logo or logos in which you're interested?

Published Thursday, January 29, 2004 1:31 AM by DarcyBurner

Comments

 

Dennis v/d Stelt said:

I really liked the "connected" logo, so I read what I should do to 'deserve' the logo on my application/website. The rules were kinda long and difficult, so I gave up! :)

I think the logos can help, but maybe some really easy and short text could help people understand when they can put a logo on their software.
January 29, 2004 1:58 AM
 

Scott Galloway said:

When applying for the connected logo, our MS contact in the UK literally laughed when we mentioned it - slightly devalued perhaps?
January 29, 2004 2:49 AM
 

Steve Bell said:

My company has at least one or more of these. We normally get them because of the freebies that come with the programs (sometimes) and never use it again. We've NEVER made money just by saying "look at our logo!".
January 29, 2004 7:30 AM
 

Avonelle Lovhaug said:

This is exactly what I've been wondering about. The responses so far show what I feared - there may not be a lot of value in them. It is too bad, because I'm interested in pursuing it for one of my upcoming products. But I am concerned about investing the time and effort if there isn't any value in it. (Hmmmm. I wonder how Microsoft could help *increase* the value in a program like this?)

I hope you continue to get other responses to this post.
January 29, 2004 8:08 AM
 

Scott Galloway said:

One problem was, that to actually get the .NET logo takes VERY LITTLE skill (we were told that essentially any web service could get it - so 2 minutes in VS.NET). All the testers seemed to be interested in was getting the cash for certification (not it's subsidised - even that stumbling block goes away). So, just about anyone can get the .NET connected logo now - and therefore get Microsoft Certified Partner status (as this entitles you to get it).
Have I mis-read this, or is it really that simple to get Certified now? If it is, what exactly is the value in MCP anymore?
January 29, 2004 9:20 AM
 

Mary McRae said:

I'd like to see MORE logos - one for Registered partners, for ISVs (who aren't yet certified partners), for applications developed to work with Office 2003. I want to be able to use them in all of my literature and on my website. If you're working in a new space, the presence of the logo adds credability. Once everyone has the logo, then it becomes meaningless.
January 29, 2004 11:59 AM
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