Is Small Business Specialist of any value to MCP’s?

Harry Brelsford is reporting from Microsoft WWPC that there are some concerns by Microsoft Certified Partners that the new small business designation is going to dilute the value of their Microsoft Certified Partner program. Here is my response:

As a Microsoft Certified Partner, I can tell you that the ones complaining either do not understand the small business market or have not read through the benefits and qualifications they would get by obtaining this credential themselves. Even as a MCP you can get the Small Business Specialist designation for your company, I have. Here are my opinions, I’ll be glad to educate any MCP on how they can realize a lot more value than they think from the Small Business Specialist Program and, more importantly, Small Business Specialists.

Does it dilute their program value?
No, it reinforces it. How? Microsoft, for the first time, is actually providing the 1-man-shops with some legitimacy as they have shown at least some level of competency in deploying Microsoft software because they have become certified at something. This will bring a huge amount of advertising and awareness of the Microsoft Partner program and raise the stock of the Microsoft Certified Partners — Until now the difference between the “Microsoft Certified Professional” and the ‘Microsoft Certified Partner” on the business card was nearly indistinguishable.

As far as an opportunity is concerned, as a Certified Partner now I have Microsoft pointing out who I can subcontract and send my smallbiz work to and trust them not to destroy the clients network. Microsoft Certified Partners generally do not work with SOHO and being able to work with someone, even a 1 man shop, is an amazing benefit. You get a person that has put in enough initiative and self-motivation to get certified, pass the tests, subscribe to the Action Pack, and even get their logo out there. This is the kind of a partner you want — we all started small.

As for the value, by getting the Small Business Specialist you still get 25 MSPP points to use towards a higher certification level. You also get a listing in the resource directory for small business products.. so now not only can you approach smallbiz clients with the fact that you have a lot of resources, employees and experience, but you can also show them that you have the ability to understand their business and recommend an appropriate solution. If all your marketing collateral shows the big boys and Fortune 500, you can’t close on the small business. But if you show them “Hey, Microsoft recognizes me for my ability to give you what YOU need, at the price YOU can afford — Look at what Fortune 500 paid for their solution — millions, and we sold it to them… Now I can give you that same power for $599!” and watch their eyes light up.