Global Tivoli software User Community (TUC) Community Engagement Services Program

 

 

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Community overview

The Tivoli User Community (TUC) is the largest network of Tivoli professionals in the world. With more than 26,500 members in 138 countries and 160 local and special interest groups, the TUC links a global network of users, developers, business partners, and IBM sales/technical staff.

... Bottom line, if you're a Tivoli Business Partner, you need to be in the TUC!

Business partners can now take advantage of valuable go-to-market services for IBM Business Partners to improve sales opportunities.

Cost effective, go-to-market services targeting the community at both the country level and worldwide are available through Group Intelligence, the community manager. Our services drive greater awareness and generate demand for your solutions along with providing industry best practices to optimize your business.

 

Community Engagement Services Program Overview

Services are integrated with key IBM sales and marketing initiatives where possible to maximize market exposure and deliver results. The program is designed to fit your marketing needs and budget with the flexibility to add services as requirements evolve. We are launching an expanded program in North America and UK enabling you to market directly to these countries to complement our global offers. Roll-outs to other countries will continue through 2011.

All IBM Business Partners can take advantage of our free country Partner Directory to create an immediate market presence. Tiered offers provide promotional opportunities through dedicated Partner web pages, feature stories and web promotions targeting local or worldwide audiences. Sponsorship in our bi-monthly TUC newsletter with a circulation of 17,000 is another highly cost effective awareness building tactic.

Lead generation services include webcasts to the TUC membership and participation in IBM campaigns where available. Targeted campaigns across the Tivoli portfolio will begin in 2Q, and will include dynamic integration of your solutions content with IBM content. This will enable publication of your unique Tivoli-based solutions in the new TUC Solutions Showcase targeting Tivoli customers, IBM sales teams and other partners.

Program Offerings
We have created a set of offerings that provide maximum flexibility to meet BP needs, regardless of your business model. Our go-to-market service offers deliver global and/or local exposure, depending on your needs. Services targeting a global audience include webcasts, newsletter sponsorships and partner web pages with a directory on the community website. Global offers also include inclusion in global campaigns developed jointly with IBM Tivoli Marketing where partners can showcase their solutions, generate demand and take advantage of sales tools. In addition, we offer a monthly newsletter developed exclusively for Tivoli partners by a leading channel consultant that will focus on priority business issues such as business models for cloud based computing and effective marketing tactics.

Locally based offers are available at the country level for specific countries (UK and US currently) and will expand over the year. Offers include country level website sponsorship, locally searchable business partner directory, and feature articles for local webpages. Locally focused campaigns created jointly with the local IBM marketing team are available (on a country-by-country basis)

A summary of offers is provided in the table below:

All global-based offers are available currently. Local-based offers are currently limited to the US and UK.

 

Benefits of Community Engagement Services
Our partner offers allow you to reach the decision makers and influencers - locally and worldwide in your target market. Cost effective, flexible and proven offers create greater awareness and generate leads for your solutions.

Service offerings deliver a strong value proposition to Tivoli Business Partners:

• Market your solutions to a pre-qualified target audience of 26,500+, with 58% of TUC members positioned as decision makers or influencers
• Cover the entire Tivoli portfolio through the community including Asset Management (Maximo), Automation, Storage and Security
• Leverage your marketing tactics with local and global IBM campaigns; gain access to IBM resources not found anywhere else
• Connect with customers locally and globally through user group meetings, online events, web sponsorships, and newsletters
• Deepen your customer relationships, create awareness, and generate leads
• Take advantage of offers with proven effectiveness, tailored to your needs and budget
• For ISV's and resellers - Showcase your capabilities and solutions to IBM sellers to enhance your Go-to-market enablement. Gain access valuable enablement tools.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is this different from PartnerWorld?
The partner program offered through the Tivoli community and is administered independently of PartnerWorld. However, we have created linkages to PartnerWorld for specific offers, e.g. sales tools that support the quarterly sales plays communicated to Tivoli business partners through PartnerWorld.

How are IBM and Group Intelligence involved?
IBM works with Group Intelligence to provide direction and guidance on community strategy and partner programs to ensure alignment with other initiatives. Group Intelligence has managed the Tivoli community since 2003 and administers the partner programs.

Who is eligible to participate?
All IBM Business Partners at any PartnerWorld level (Member, Advanced, Premier) are eligible to participate. Group Intelligence and IBM reserve the right to prohibit non-IBM business partners and certain BPs that may be direct competitors with Tivoli. These BPs are determined on a case by case basis.

Who are the community members and are they my target audience?
Our research taken from member profiles indicates that 31% of the members are decision makers; and 27% of members influence the decisions driving the purchase of Tivoli. Most of the membership participates in the Automation portfolio area, followed by Asset Management (Maximo), Storage and Security. Members work in all industry verticals and partners of all types comprise about 30% of the membership.

How do I get started?
Contact mark.sidlauskas@groupintelligence.com to learn more about the partner program and offers. We will work with your organization directly to create an approach that complements and enhances your marketing plans.

Let Group Intelligence help you create the optimal community marketing program through the Tivoli User Community.

 

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