There are many ways to organize a sales force for a software or hardware company. In my opinion, there is no one “right” way. There is only the BEST way for the unique circumstances of your current company. Like most aspects of developing a technology-based company, there are guidelines, but no exact road map to […]
Structuring Channel Discounts for Software and Technology Companies
Selling through sales and distribution channels of various types is very important to many software and hardware companies. Yet channel programs and specifically channel discount structures, are often thrown together quickly and haphazardly, without looking at any real hard data. Let’s examine some of the key items that are advisable to consider when structuring a […]
Trade Shows for Software & Technology Firms – Do They Still Make Sense?
Let’s talk about what for a lot of folks is a marketing method from a bygone era: The Trade show, or Trade Fair as they’re referred to in most places outside of the US. At one point in time, Trade Shows were a staple in most every tech company’s marketing budget–shows like Comdex, PC Expo, […]
Retail Distribution of Software Products
Selling software at retail at one point in time was the “Holy Grail” for consumer, home office and small office software suppliers. That’s where the volume was. Everything that a company did starting up was intended to build enough volume to get into a distributor, so they could then pursue shelf space at the major […]
Marketing and Selling Technology Products through the Value-Added Reseller (VAR) Channel
Selling through multiple channels is one of my preferred strategies in technology marketing. If done properly, it allows a company to fully exploit its expensive, hard-earned intellectual property to the maximum extent. One of the most popular channels (and one of my favorites) used to sell B2B software and hardware is the Value-added Reseller, or […]
