PD111 Firm Of The Future Symposium

The symposium will feature Ron Baker of the VeraSage Institute and Ed Kless, Senior Director, Partner Strategy and Development from Sage. This experience is dedicated to the possibility that a professional organization can be run more effectively when it becomes a knowledge firm rather than a service firm. Creating such an organization is hard work and not for everyone as it requires partners to think differently than they have in the past about what it is that they do.

March 21, 2012 – March 22, 2012
08:00 AM
Seats Left 27

Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel    Course Details  Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Course Fee: $1,500 (USD)

April 24, 2012 – April 25, 2012
08:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Seats Left 25

Hyatt Regency Irvine      Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Course Fee: $1,500 (USD)

May 23, 2012 – May 24, 2012
08:00 AM
Seats Left 30

River Rock Casino Resort  Richmond, BC  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Course Fee: $1,500 (USD)

July 17, 2012 – July 18, 2012
Seats Left 30

Doubletree Hotel Boston – Boston, MA – Downtown  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Course Fee: $1,500 (USD)  PDC100 – Sage Consulting Academy – Consulting Essentials

The Sage Consulting Academy Consulting Essentials is designed to give consultants, new and seasoned, a comprehensive and perhaps different look at the consulting process, a thorough understanding of the business and industry issues faced by the companies in the industries they’re consulting to, and a hands-on approach to implementing Sage  solutions in the marketplace.

NOTE: If you are enrolling in this class as part of a competency role requirement, refer to the product certification pages for enrollment instructions to receive the appropriate pricing.

January 16, 2012 – January 19, 2012
Seats Left 13

Hyatt Place Atlanta-Duluth/Gwinnett Mall  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

February 06, 2012 – February 09, 2012
Seats Left 12

The Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

March 05, 2012 – March 08, 2012
Seats Left 17

The Atrium Hotel – Irvine  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

April 16, 2012 – April 19, 2012
Seats Left 13

Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD) May 08, 2012 – May 11, 2012
Seats Left 16

The West Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

July 16, 2012 – July 19, 2012
Seats Left 25

Hilton Vancouver Airport  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

July 30, 2012 – August 02, 2012 Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Seats Left 25

Hyatt Regency Irvine    Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000.00 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500.00 (USD)

PDC100PE – Sage Consulting Academy Essentials Assessment Certification Assessment

This certification assessment is part of the Implementation Consultant Competency Role.

You can sign up for the Certification Competency role through the certification links on Sage Partner University to receive this exam as part of that enrollment. However, if you want to “Test Out” of the Competency Role by challenging the exam only, register here and pay the assessment fee.

You will have 2 attempts to test out, no materials are included, and if you don’t pass the challenge exam you must sign up for the entire competency role and attend training

IMPORTANT NOTES:

NO study materials are included with this test-out option; however, an outline of the course this assessment is based on can be found at this link: Course Outline.

Recommended Prerequisites:
Attendance in the Sage Consulting Academy

Online Assessment – ACS  Course Details  List Price: $200 (USD)
Assessment Fee: $0.00 (USD)

Purchase Credits: -300

PDM100 – Sage Marketing Academy

The Sage Marketing Academy is designed to jump start your marketing efforts.  The academy starts before you even arrive at class with key customer interviews that are required for participation in Day 1.  Through the academy, you will refine your core messaging and differentiation, and then you will use this core messaging to develop a comprehensive marketing calendar to take with you.

February 06, 2012 – February 09, 2012
Seats Left 35

The Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

March 05, 2012 – March 08, 2012
Seats Left 40

The Atrium Hotel - Irvine  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

PDS100 – Sage Sales Academy – Essentials

Sage Software Sales Academy Essentials I is a four-day course designed to provide a comprehensive education on the selling process, a thorough understanding of key industry issues and a hands-on approach to improving key skills necessary to succeed in the marketplace.

February 06, 2012 – February 09, 2012
Seats Left 38

PD111 – Firm of the Future Symposium

The Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)

The symposium will feature Ron Baker of the VeraSage Institute and Ed Kless, Senior Director, Partner Strategy and Development from Sage.This experience is dedicated to the possibility that a professional organization can be run more effectively when it becomes a knowledge firm rather than a service firm. Creating such an organization is hard work and not for everyone as it requires partners to think differently than they have in the past about what it is that they do.

March 21, 2012 – March 22, 2012
08:00 AM
Seats Left 27

Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Course Fee: $1,500 (USD)

April 24, 2012 – April 25, 2012
08:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Seats Left 25

Hyatt Regency Irvine  Directions  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Course Fee: $1,500 (USD)

May 23, 2012 – May 24, 2012
08:00 AM
Seats Left 30

River Rock Casino Resort - Richmond B.C.  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Course Fee: $1,500 (USD)

July 17, 2012 – July 18, 2012
Seats Left 30

Doubletree Hotel Boston – Downtown  Boston Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Course Fee: $1,500 (USD)

PDC100 – Sage Consulting Academy – Consulting Essentials

The Sage Consulting Academy Consulting Essentials is designed to give consultants, new and seasoned, a comprehensive and perhaps different look at the consulting process, a thorough understanding of the business and industry issues faced by the companies in the industries they’re consulting to, and a hands-on approach to implementing Sage solutions in the marketplace.

NOTE: If you are enrolling in this class as part of a competency role requirement, refer to the product certification pages for enrollment instructions to receive the appropriate pricing.

January 16, 2012 – January 19, 2012
Seats Left 13

Hyatt Place Atlanta-Duluth/Gwinnett Mall  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

February 06, 2012 – February 09, 2012
Seats Left 12

The Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

March 05, 2012 – March 08, 2012
Seats Left 17

The Atrium Hotel - Irvine  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

April 16, 2012 – April 19, 2012
Seats Left 13

Renaissance Vancouver Harbourside Hotel  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

May 08, 2012 – May 11, 2012
Seats Left 16

The Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

July 16, 2012 – July 19, 2012
Seats Left 25

Hilton Vancouver Airport  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

July 30, 2012 – August 02, 2012 Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Seats Left 25

Hyatt Regency Irvine     Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

PDC100PE – Sage Consulting Academy Essentials Assessment Certification Assessment

This certification assessment is part of the Implementation Consultant Competency Role.

You can sign up for the Certification Competency role through the certification links on Sage Partner University to receive this exam as part of that enrollment. However, if you want to “Test Out” of the Competency Role by challenging the exam only, register here and pay the assessment fee.

You will have 2 attempts to test out, no materials are included, and if you don’t pass the challenge exam you must sign up for the entire competency role and attend training
IMPORTANT NOTES:

NO study materials are included with this test-out option; however, an outline of the course this assessment is based on can be found at this link: Course Outline.

Recommended Prerequisites:
Attendance in the Sage Consulting Academy

Online Assessment – ACS  Course Details  List Price: $200 (USD)
Assessment Fee: $0.00 (USD)

Purchase Credits: -300

PDM100 – Sage Marketing Academy

The Sage Marketing Academy is designed to jump start your marketing efforts.  The academy starts before you even arrive at class with key customer interviews that are required for participation in Day 1.  Through the academy, you will refine your core messaging and differentiation, and then you will use this core messaging to develop a comprehensive marketing calendar to take with you.

February 06, 2012 – February 09, 2012
Seats Left 35

The Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

March 05, 2012 – March 08, 2012
Seats Left 40

The Atrium Hotel – Irvine Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

PDS100 – Sage Sales Academy – Essentials
Sage Software Sales Academy Essentials I is a four-day course designed to provide a comprehensive education on the selling process, a thorough understanding of key industry issues and a hands-on approach to improving key skills necessary to succeed in the marketplace.

February 06, 2012 – February 09, 2012
Seats Left 38

The Westin Bristol Place Toronto Airport  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

PDS100 – Sage Sales Academy – Essentials
Sage Software Sales Academy Essentials I is a four-day course designed to provide a comprehensive education on the selling process, a thorough understanding of key industry issues and a hands-on approach to improving key skills necessary to succeed in the marketplace.

March 05, 2012 – March 08, 2012
Seats Left 37

The Atrium Hotel – Irvine  Course Details   Course Fee: $2,000 (USD)
2nd Attendee Price: $1,500 (USD)

Sage Product Family

Beginning in 2012, Sage will be using a product numbering system: Sage 50, Sage 100, Sage 300, and Sage 500. Learn more about these product families.

What’s Changing?

In 2012 the names of many of our core accounting and ERP lines, including those designed for nonprofits and the construction industry, will be changing. These products will be identified with a numbering approach where higher numbers denote increasing levels of product capability or sophistication. Our product numbering sets will include Sage 50, Sage 100, Sage 300, and Sage 500.

However, these changes are more than in name alone. Each product family will offer integration to common business solutions such as CRM, Fixed Assets, HRMS, and Payroll. Sage Connected Services provide additional capabilities, including online payment processing, mobile access, and data security, while product support through Sage Business Care and Sage Advisor technology ensure you get the most from your Sage investment.

What’s Staying The Same?

Sage is still the same company at heart. We remain fully committed to advancing our products—those whose names are changing as well as those that retain their familiar names—to help make your business life easier. And we remain fully committed to delivering a superior customer experience when you call us on the phone, work with us through the web, and use our products on a daily basis.

Please explore this site for more information about the evolution of the Sage brand in 2012. You’ll find a brief preview of what’s ahead for our products and services in 2012 as we simplify our product portfolio and back it with common services and experience to help make your business life easier. Watch a brief overview video that describes the brand name evolution, then read information on how the changes affect the product you’re using today, and learn more about Sage and Sage solutions for your business.  http://linkd.in/sF7OIC

Sage makes business software with product names familiar to many: Sage Peachtree. Sage Simply Accounting. Sage ACT! But starting this summer it began an initiative to do away with all those product brands and instead trumpet Sage as the master brand—and build advertising around it.

It’s a controversial move, given the product brands’ value, but if you ask Dennis Frahmann, EVP of marketing at Sage, it makes undeniable business—and marketing—sense to do away with those and streamline the branding, making the Sage brand as recognized and well-regarded stateside as it is globally. And any resistance, he said, is coming primarily from employees—and not its customers, small and midsize businesses.

So with an internal campaign that dovetails with a national brand campaign, Sage is moving ahead with its initiative, working to position its suite of products—individually denoted with numbers, not names—as the go-to business-services software for smaller companies.

In this interview with Jennifer Rooney, CMO Network Editor at Forbes, Dennis explains the philosophy behind the strategy.

This is my favorite time of the year as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA.

Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a day for families and friends to get together for a special meal that often includes a turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and all the trimmings. Thanksgiving Day parades and busy football games are held in some cities and towns, and these festivities also mark the opening of the holiday shopping season. But most importantly, Thanksgiving is the day we set aside to express our sincere gratitude to our fellow human beings for the things we are thankful for.
We often take for granted those things that most deserve our gratitude. I want to share with you some of the things that mean the most to me that I am thankful for.

I am thankful for you, and the opportunity I have, along with my team, to serve you and deliver the things you need to be successful.
I am grateful for everyone in your organizations who represent Sage in front of our prospective and existing customers and who deliver Extraordinary Customer Experiences every day.
I am thankful for my team at Sage and how inspiring it is for me to work with them every day in our mission to serve you.
I am grateful to Sage for providing the opportunity for me and my team, and for having confidence in us, to make a difference for you.
I am grateful for every other Sage team member who works so hard on your behalf.
Finally, I am grateful for the love and support I receive from my family and friends.

Henry Clay once said, “Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart.” I encourage all Sage partners and team members to take the time to be courteous and do small kindnesses during this special season and throughout the year.
Thank you again for being a Sage partner, and have a very happy Thanksgiving (and belated Thanksgiving greetings to our Canadian partners)!

Warmest regards,

Tom Miller
Vice President, Channel Management
Sage Business Solutions

Sage Gold Development Partner, ACOM Solutions Inc., today announced the launch EZeCabinet,
a Sage-Integrated Document Management Solution for under $11,000, to their Sage Partners and End-users. The addition of EZeCabinet to ACOM’s solution line-up adds to the success of their Sage-Integrated EZCM Enterprise Document Management Suite; expanding their market reach to now include Sage ERP systems of every size. Feature-packed EZeCabinet sets a new standard of success for ACOM, building upon their strategic focus in developing affordable, Sage-integrated document management solutions to meet the needs of ERP users at any level.

For over the last two years, ACOM has maintained its success in the Sage marketplace by delivering affordable, easy-to-use, bundled EDM solutions, integrated with Sage ERP Accpac, Sage ERP MAS and Sage Fund Accounting. The launch of EZeCabinet now takes ACOM’s “affordability” model to new levels giving users the ability to capture, store, track, share, link, and manage their documents for under $11,000; with a tightly integrated and fully implemented solution.

The software, offered through ACOM’s world-wide Partner network will be available December 1, 2011. Fully implemented within a day, EZeCabinet’s ease of installation, training and operation gives ACOM the opportunity to expand their market reach even further with EZeCabinet programs available for Sage Authorized Business Partners of every size.

According to Joseph Torano, vice president of ACOM’s channels division, “We have listened intently to Sage clients who have the requirements to manage their documents and business information, but lack the organizational size and/or budget. In developing EZeCabinet, we focused upon their needs, giving them powerful tools to manage their information, Sage-integrated functionality and all at an affordable price point. And, as with ACOM’s full suite of Sage-Integrated solutions, EZeCabinet users have the capability to access EZeCabinet functionality directly from their Sage screens or via web browser. This gives EZeCabinet clients the ability to easily share documents and information with employees, partners, vendors and customers…and without requiring ERP access.”

“EZeCabinet is also designed around the technology offered in ACOM’s EZCM solutions. That means that as EZeCabinet customers grow, they will have the opportunity to upgrade their solutions to ACOM’s full suite of Sage-Integrated ERP Enterprise Document Management, Process Automation and Payment Solutions. What’s more; with Sage-Integrated EZeCabinet, customers can be fully functional within a day. Combine this with ease of training and operation, and we will be able to extend EZeCabinet to a much wider range of Sage ERP customers, with programs for Sage Authorized Business Partners at different levels. We are excited to launch EZeCabinet, as this now puts us squarely in the majority market of Sage MAS, Sage Accpac and Sage Fund Accounting clients. Now Sage clients of any size gain the advantages that document management offers, which were once only reserved for larger enterprises using more expensive systems,” Mr. Torano added.

“EZeCabinet is an exciting development,” says Sage Business Partner Andrew Nunez, COO and Executive VP of Sales for SWK Technologies. “Sage ERP users can now have the advantages of going paperless with an integrated document management solution for under $11,000. We believe that this is the type of solution that we could offer with every Sage ERP sale.”

For more information about ACOM’s Sage-integrated EZeCabinet Document Management solution:

• Visit: http://www.acom.com/ezecabinet-sagelinkedin

About ACOM Solutions, Inc.

For over 28 years, ACOM has automated the document and payment processes for more than 4,000 organizations. ACOM’s Electronic Document Management solutions are integrated into an organization’s existing Sage ERP system to extend that system’s capabilities and dramatically improve efficiency by eliminating paper (along with the associated errors and storage costs), as well as automating manual, paper-based processes. By incorporating ACOM’s solutions into their product offerings, Value-Added Resellers (VARs) can easily bring this valuable set of additional cost-saving Sage ERP enhancements to clients. For more information about ACOM’s Sage-integrated Document Management solutions, please visit: http://www.acom.com/sagepr . For more information about ACOM’s Partner Success Program, please visit: www.acom.com/channelspr .

Sage Sales Academy
Sage Marketing Academy
Sage Consulting Academy

New! Sage Sales Academy

You may be saying to yourself that the Sales Academy isn’t new. You may have even attended one over the last six years. And yet, it is new! The content, the curriculum and the presenters are brand new. We’ve been working in conjunction with sales experts, LDK Consulting on this new content for many months and we are thrilled with the new Sage Sales Academy and how it can help you to attain exponential sales results.

Building the Foundation

The NEW Sales Academy is a four-day course that starts with the key foundational concepts essential to building a successful professional sales career, continues to an in-depth understanding of the customer buying process in the 21st century, and then to building exceptional communication and sales skills. 

Core Skills

Building onto the foundation, you will hone your core selling skills.

•Effective prospecting
•Qualifying opportunities into your pipeline (or out of your pipeline)
•Delivering great solution presentations targeted directly to each opportunity
•Effectively engineering decisions and agreement.  Complex Sales Issues

From these core skills, we move to more complex issues.

•Addressing questions and obstacles to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction
•Analyzing data and developing a sales plan
•Selling to larger companies and multiple decision makers
•Developing coaches, understanding the budgeting process, reviewing and reviving sales that have stalled, and reactivating current customers.

Themes of increasing productivity and active role play run consistently through the week. You’ll learn how to:

•Maximize your activity
•Focus on the right activity
•Shorten sales cycles and increase close rates
•Manage complex situations
•Develop real customer strategies
•Develop a solid sales plan at every step for a current, real opportunity of your choice, and you will bring your personal sales plan for that opportunity back to your market. 
 Your presenter, Dave Knorr, is a partner at LDK Consulting, Ltd., a firm specializing in developing sales and sales management productivity.

LDK Consulting combines a tenacious belief in building fundamental skills while addressing the nuances of complex opportunities and issues. LDK advises on the full array of skills, systems, processes, and tools required to achieve your organizational goals. 
 
Your presenter, Cheryl Masseth, is a consultant at LDK Consulting, Ltd. Cheryl combines 20 years of sales, marketing, and sales management with her experience as an entrepreneur to deliver results for her clients.

Cheryl launched her sales career in 1992 with Great Plains Software (GPS). During her 16 years with GPS and Microsoft, she served in a wide variety of roles including: inside sales consultant, corporate account manager, sales manager, and partner program manager.

Dave brings over 30 years of experience in sales and sales management. He has spent the last 20 years at Great Plains Software & Microsoft where he served as Regional Director and Senior Director for ISV Strategy @ Microsoft, Regional Director & VP International Sales & National Sales Manager @ GPS.

New! Sage Marketing Academy

The Sage Marketing Academy is designed to jump start your marketing efforts. The Academy starts before you even arrive at class with key customer interviews that are required for participation in Day 1.

Through the academy, you will refine every aspect of your marketing. By the time you leave, you will have defined your core messaging and differentiation, which you will use to develop a comprehensive marketing calendar to take with you.

You will leave with an understanding of what it takes to get prospects to know, like and trust you, as well as the process for getting them to try, buy and then refer you.

We will review key tactical marketing activities and the formulas for success. These tactics will include all aspects of social media, traditional direct mail and email, your Web site, PR, Search marketing through SEO and PPC, and much more.

 With more than two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and go-to-market strategies, your presenter, Dan Kraus, has developed a deep portfolio of experiences that he now uses to help small businesses profitably grow their businesses.

As the president and founder of Leading Results, Dan works as a certified Duct Tape Marketing coach helping companies to stop wasting money on marketing that doesn’t get results. Dan has personally helped over 50 companies implement the Duct Tape Marketing system. Prior to founding Leading Results, Dan held executive and leadership roles with SAP, Great Plains Software, Infinium and Macromedia.

 
Sage Consulting Academy

The Sage Consulting Academy is a four-day course designed to give consultants, new and seasoned, a comprehensive and different look at the consulting process. Get a thorough understanding of the business and industry issues faced by the companies in the industries you’re consulting to, and a hands-on approach to implementing Sage solutions in the marketplace.

You’ll benefit from:
•Fast-paced interactive educational experience
•Training framework that promotes the uniqueness of each product and industry
•Standardized consulting and project management methodology
 Your presenter, Ed Kless, senior director of partner development at Sage, is a frequent contributor to industry publications, including the Journal of Accountancy and Harvard Business Review, and has spoken at many conferences worldwide on project management, pricing, and knowledge workers. 

View full article

Article provided by our friends at Juice Marketing – A VAR Channel Marketing Company and
Sage Preferred Vendor.

By now, most of you recognize that landing pages play an important role in
your VAR marketing effort.  While there are plenty of “Do’s”, “Don’ts”, and
best practices for landing page performance that make good sense, here’s
one thing I learned recently while attending a Hubspot webcast that’s not so
obvious … the best performing landing pages are naked.

Keep it Simple

A naked landing page is simply stripped of (pun intended) menu navigation
and extraneous information that doesn’t serve the primary goal of the page
(download white paper, register for webcast, etc.).

While it’s tempting to show off all your great products, services, and other
offerings, that stuff will probably just distract your visitors from (what should
be) the primary purpose or goal of the landing page … get them to provide
contact/lead information in exchange for your great offer.  Once they submit
contact info or take action on your landing page, THEN you can redirect them
to your home page, blog, product overview, or anywhere else on your website.

So c’mon VARs … delete the navigation menu, focus on the call to action, and
let’s get naked!

“For more channel marketing insights, check out the Juice Marketing blog at www.Juice-Marketing.com/blog“

Mark Badran
Juice Marketing, LLC
mark@juice-marketing.com
(949) 340-3374  |  www.Juice-Marketing.com