Find the right software for your reseller marketing: System selection guide
Companies with a sales partner network are often faced with the challenge of finding marketing software that enables both central management of marketing measures and sufficient local flexibility. A decisive aspect is to ensure a uniform brand presence across all distribution partners, while at the same time offering regional partners the necessary freedom to adapt their content to local conditions and the local target group. This guide helps you identify the appropriate requirements in five simple steps and shows what is important when choosing a suitable marketing management system to successfully overcome these challenges. If you would then like to define your own requirements, we also recommend our System selection white paper.
What you should consider when choosing a marketing portal for your sales partners
Choose the right reference model
One of the most important questions you should ask yourself before purchasing a marketing management system is the type of reference model. Would you like to buy the software once, develop a solution yourself or would you prefer to purchase the system flexibly as a SaaS solution? In order to answer this question and make an appropriate decision, you should financially analyze the various models and weigh up their advantages and disadvantages.
When purchasing a solution once or even developing an internal system yourself, the company faces huge costs, especially at the beginning. As soon as the software is set up, running costs remain low, but neither the structure nor the functionality is further developed.
In comparison, SaaS models (also known as license models) offer the option of purchasing a software solution for a monthly or annual license fee. This does not involve any initial expenditure on them, the budget is easier to plan and, ideally, the software is constantly being further developed and optimized by the manufacturer. The costs here are usually based on the number of users or sales partners. As a result, such a reference model is individually scalable. The disadvantage, however, is that they incur fixed costs for the company from introduction and for the entire period of use, and an increasing number of users also entails higher costs. However, there are not only financial differences, but the need for your own server or location-independent use can also be reasons why a licensing model can be used more flexibly in many areas.
Flexible and user-friendly interface
The possibility of flexibility and individual personalization of the interface is an important aspect when it comes to finding a suitable system. When choosing, make sure that the system is ideally adaptable to the specific requirements of your brand and business model through configurable modules and functions. If you have the necessary capacities in the company, it is advisable to choose a system in which you yourself have the opportunity to set up the various areas, maintain new advertising measures and make general changes. As a result, they are not dependent on external service providers or the system manufacturer and that you can react efficiently and immediately to changes in your sales partner marketing. In order to implement this in the best possible way for you, an easy-to-understand user interface plays a key role, as it can significantly reduce training costs for you, but also for your sales partners. Sales partners can thus adapt and publish content and campaigns independently and even without extensive marketing experience. This not only increases efficiency, but also makes more local marketing possible.
Onboarding and customer service
To make it easier for you to select a suitable system, companies often offer detailed sales advice and the opportunity to test the software with test access to the demo system. It gives you a clear idea of the range of functions and ease of use. You can also try out the system in a realistic environment and adapt it to your specific requirements. Using these test phases enables you to compare the software with other solutions and helps you make informed decisions.
Before you choose a provider, however, you should also check how you will be supported during system implementation and use. A competent provider not only provides general support, but also ensures that your specific requirements are addressed individually. Ideally, you will be assigned a personal customer advisor right from the onboarding stage. This can ideally support you in implementing the software as well as in continuous development and adaptation to your needs.
Connect external tools
To ensure that your marketing management system fits optimally into your existing software environment, you should ensure that an open ecosystem is in place. Open interfaces (APIs) enable the integration of external tools and platforms that can expand your marketing process and flexibly adapt it to current requirements. Ideally, you have the option to seamlessly connect existing CRM, inventory management or DAM systems to the system and use the transferred data and content directly. This not only creates efficiency, but also makes it easier for your sales partners to always work with the latest content and data. An open ecosystem also gives you the flexibility to quickly integrate new innovations without having to make complex system changes. As a result, you remain competitive and can always offer your sales partners the best technologies and continuously develop yourself.
Ensuring data security
Last but not least, when choosing a system, you should ensure that the software does not cause you any legal problems. Security standards and correct compliance with data protection requirements such as the GDPR are used to ensure full protection of your data. One way you can check whether the provider securely processes your data and the data of your sales partners is ISO 27001 certification. ISO 27001 is a globally recognized standard for information security management systems (ISMS), which defines measures to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Encryption and detailed rights and role management therefore ensure that your data always remains secure. The system provider should also continuously ensure that possible security gaps are closed and new threats are averted; this is the only way to guarantee legally secure use.
If you would like to learn more about how marketing software such as the Local Marketing Platform can support your marketing success, feel free to take a look at our System selection checklist. It provides you with guidance to understand your requirements and find the right platform for your company.
We look forward to helping you with decision making and implementation. Please feel free to contact usto find out more about the possibilities and benefits of a system solution!