If channel-dependent companies or organizations are geared towards the achieving the ultimate goal of optimum channel productivity, then they should wise up and use channel management strategies. These strategies are growing in popularity because they prove to be an effective means in improving the overall performance of a channel distribution network. However, to me, channel management on its own is not enough to ensure success.
Managing channel partners is more challenging than you can imagine especially if there is no existing system to communicate and collaborate with them. Did you know that a partner can be located in another state or worse, in another country? This is why a lot of companies find it extremely difficult to practice proper channel partner relationship management because it is practically impossible to work efficiently with entities that are located miles and miles away from you. Thankfully, the internet now is faster and bigger than ever before. But traditional email messages and instant messaging can only do so much.
The real key to productivity is to use channel management in conjunction with a partner portal. This is a web based application that allows business partners to gain access to vital information and resources necessary for excellent performance by entering authorized logon credentials. Such information and resources include marketing techniques, sales, support, prices and customer base. Aside from all of that, a partner portal helps parent companies monitor different factors like company performance and progress, recent market updates, accurate measurement of individual channel partner skill and performance.
A portal is therefore a key to productivity because it ensures communication and collaboration amongst partners and between partners and the manufacturer. Furthermore, it also allows manufacturers to have a clear and direct view of channel operations, processes and performance which leads to better management decisions and actions. Believe me when I say that the market is more competitive than ever before and it is critical to be wiser and more open and receptive to the latest and trending strategies to achieve success.
I recently finished a short course on Travel Writing and Feature Writing. The course was taught by well-respected professional writers who want to share their knowledge to amateur writers with passion for the craft. The courses were a new venture for the freelance writers and kinks have to be ironed out, admittedly.
The travel writing course was only 10 hours divided to two sessions. It was quite an enjoyable experience so I decided to sign up for the Feature Writing course as well, even though the lessons were delivered via elearning online method. There were course materials handed out and most of the communication between lecturer and student was done by email.
Although I loved the content of the lectures and the critiquing by the professional writers, I felt like the lessons were too short. Maybe it’s because I was having so much fun doing something I was passionate about! The lecturers were in agreement that we need to do follow up sessions. Someone had the idea to use a forum as a meeting place for alumni and current students. It was a great way to keep in touch and encourage each other to keep writing.
The site we used was lefora.com. Forum administrators have the option to make the forum exclusive by invitation only. Students can drop by and chat with other students and once in a while, a lecturer would join in the discussion. It promotes a healthy, creative and supportive atmosphere, simulating a real community where students can ask question from the lecturers acting as mentors. Due to the limited course time of the elearning online sessions, a lot of topics were left out. In the forums, we can talk about the topic in depth and best of all, the service is free! Lefora is not the only free forum site on the web but it definitely fits our needs.
I would highly recommend having forums as an added feature to any elearning online curriculum and as a platform to follow-up on alumni to see how they are progressing.
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