a. How do I create my business profile? Is there a limit on how many business profiles I can create?
Step-by-step instructions on how to create and update a business profile can be found in the following Referrals how-to downloadable guide as well as the Create a Business Profile article. You can create a profile for each country you would like to connect with customers in. You can add up to 5 locations for each profile.
b. Can I create a business profile in a region where I don’t have a physical address but do business?
No. You can only create a business profile in a country where you have a physical location today.
a. How can I receive referrals? How are referrals created?
As the first step to getting referrals, you need to enroll in the membership portal and create a business profile. These referrals can be generated directly by the customers on sites such as Microsoft.com or other marketing digital properties within Microsoft, or any of Microsoft’s internal sales teams like Inside Sales, CSS Presales, Retail Store, etc. Customers and Microsoft sellers can find the right partner for their needs. More information on the creation of business profile can be found in the Referrals how-to downloadable guide as well as the Create a Business Profile article.
b. Are there best practices to follow for managing profiles and growing business with referrals?
Best practices for managing profiles and growing your business with referrals can be found in the Responding to Referrals article.
c. What are various steps in managing referrals?
A complete description of the referral management stages can be found in the Responding to Referrals article.
a. How does customer search work?
Customer-entered keywords are matched with partner declared business profiles creating a shorter list of partners. Customers can use filters to narrow down their choices of partner based on location and customer size. Best Match category uses competencies and input from Microsoft individuals to surface partners. Most Responsive category uses data on partner responses in referral management experience to surface partners. Nearest to You category takes partner proximity from customer entered location into account to surface partners. The search function can be found on the Solution Provider Search page.