"Howdy, partner!" is an informal greeting often associated with the American West, particularly the cowboy culture.
"Howdy" is a colloquial contraction of "How do you do?" and means "Hello."
"Partner" is a friendly term that can mean "friend" or "companion."
Together, "Howdy, partner!" is a warm and friendly way to say hello, often evoking a sense of camaraderie and the spirit of the Old West.
A partner is someone who shares or is associated with another person in some type of relationship or activity. The term can apply in various contexts:
Business Partner: An individual or entity that shares ownership and responsibilities in a business venture.
Romantic Partner: A person with whom one shares a romantic relationship, such as a boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or significant other.
Dance Partner: Someone with whom one performs a dance routine.
Sports Partner: A teammate in a sport, often used in activities like doubles tennis.
Crime Partner: Someone who collaborates in committing a crime, often referred to as a partner in crime.
General Usage: A companion or associate in any activity or endeavor.
In the context of "Howdy, partner!" the term "partner" is used in a friendly and informal way, often implying camaraderie and equal footing. Let's focus on that one today.
THIS MONTH (June) we expect 44K+ to attend InfoComm in Las Vegas. We also expect 40K+ to attend COLLISION in Toronto. In a few days here in NYC, we expect 6,013 to attend a Verizon 5G event at Radio City Music Hall. Verizon spent the necessary money to rent RCMH on June 5th. As a Verizon 'partner' we were asked to help promote their event. Hence the Verizon 5G Event placement on page 1 / slide 1 on NYDLA.org
Gotta be a good partner, right?
A Partner Program in business is a strategic initiative where a company collaborates with other businesses, individuals, or organizations to expand its reach, enhance its offerings, and create mutual benefits. Here are some types of partner programs:
Affiliate Program: Partners promote a company's products or services and earn a commission for sales generated through their referrals.
Reseller Program: Partners purchase products or services from a company at a discount and resell them to end customers, often adding value through additional services or support.
Referral Program: Partners refer potential customers to a company and receive a reward or commission for successful conversions.
Technology Partner Program:Partners integrate their technology or services with the company's offerings to create a combined solution that enhances value for customers.
Strategic Alliance: Long-term partnerships where companies collaborate on specific projects or initiatives, sharing resources, expertise, and risks.
I have a cool little 'Partner' story..... ready?
A few years ago, Verizon approached the DLA (Distance Learning Association) to offer the BlueJeans by Verizon video conferencing service to our entire community. We said yes. Duh.
We became a partner - then Verizon made us a Tier 1 Partner - then we became a Tier 1 ELITE Partner. Until we were not...
On August 31, 2023 we were notified that Verizon decided to retire the BlueJeans by Verizon services. What made this a little crazy, is the fact that just a few weeks earlier, we launched a massive marketing campaign to contact all 174K+ DLA Schools in North America - offering (all of them) BlueJeans by Verizon.
That's One Hundred and Seventy Four Thousand zero spam, 100% opt-in emails to the decision makers of Schools, across North America. Ooops. Ah, did I say BlueJeans? Ah, we meant Zoom! We want you all to www.GetZoom.us!!!
Partner Programs are crucial for businesses seeking to grow their market presence, enhance their product or service offerings, and build strong, collaborative relationships with other entities. I have spent my entire career in 'Partner Programs' operating as a partner, an agent, a Master Agent, a reseller, a VAR, a private label reseller - you name it. Before I took over running the NYDLA.org I ran MyTeachingPartners.com
Companies like Verizon (or Zoom, or Microsoft, or Amazon, or Cisco, or...) know the value of Partner Programs. Ah, but let's face it - they really don't want PARTNERS - they want CUSTOMERS. But they (the big companies) have figured out that people do business with PEOPLE. People do business with people that they like, and with people that they trust.
When Verizon first approached us, asking us to sell BlueJeans to 'the world' they said to me during our first strategy meeting: "Well, Tom, your brand is better than our brand...."
And, I almost fell out of my chair.....
"For BlueJeans, Tom. Specifically for BlueJeans by Verizon - you - the Distance Learning Association - your 'brand' is better than the Verizon brand, for marketing purposes."
You know something? They were right. Verizon was right about branding. That was a major epiphany for me. It's not about ROI, or even ROAS (Return on Advertising Spend). It's all about ROR: Return on RELATIONSHIPS. You know, partnerships.
AND SO.....THIS month.... 44K+ will attend InfoComm. 40K+ will attend COLLISION in Toronto. 6K+ will attend Propelify on the Hudson River in Hoboken, NJ. And there will be a smattering of events in NYC, all in the month of June. 100K+ people attending LIVE events in total, to be conservative.
And, the NYDLA ( now NADLA - all of North America ) will be attending (checks notes...) all of them to say... to all 100K+ of them.....
Tip of the Hat to my friend and DLA member Marty Neumeier..... the "Wizard of Brands"
No comments:
Post a Comment