Marketing Development Funds (MDF) provide Microsoft partners a unique opportunity to amplify visibility, drive sales, and enhance brand credibility, especially when invested in video content creation. With Microsoft's co-marketing support, partners can expand their video production budget, refine their creative vision, and achieve greater impact than they could alone. Plus, highlighting your business as a Microsoft partner can help you stand out from competitors in the saturated online video market.
Discover how investing MDF into video content creation services can help you deliver higher engagement and a bigger return on investment (ROI) than traditional tactics.
Microsoft partners can use Marketing Development Funds (MDF) to invest in various types of marketing campaigns, including video production. From TV ads to social media posts, video content remains one of the most effective ways to reach potential customers and clients at their level. This makes it one of the best areas to divert your new Microsoft-provided funds, especially when prioritizing a high return on investment (ROI).
Define your goals and audience early in the process to establish a clear marketing plan that Microsoft can easily understand. Then, consider the types of marketing videos that align with your campaign goals, such as raising sales and brand awareness. MDF can establish a budget for various content types, including product demos, customer testimonials, and explainers, so feel free to get creative when drafting your proposal.
Microsoft offers its partners marketing development funds to help promote Microsoft-related services and products, increasing business for both parties. These funds can significantly raise your marketing budget and expand the types of content you can include in your advertising strategy. For instance, you can use activity-based MDF for trade shows, webinars, new marketing software, and professional video content creation.
That said, receiving MDF from Microsoft isn't automatic. Several factors influence both eligibility and the amount of financial support you may receive, including:
Performance data: Sales performance, revenue, conversion rates, and other key metrics show Microsoft exactly how successful your previous marketing campaigns have been. Higher sales data can significantly raise your eligibility and the amount of funds you can access for general marketing operations.
Market potential: Microsoft considers how much revenue and brand awareness it could gain from your unique market and audience, weighing your current marketing reach and how broad your target audience is. Your experience and your Solution Partner designation within the Microsoft Partner Program also play a significant factor — Microsoft may be more willing to fund your campaign if you've maintained a strong professional relationship.
Proposals and activities: Microsoft Partner MDF are typically proposal and activity-based, funding specific projects, campaigns, and events. Delivering a detailed marketing proposal with clear insights can potentially raise the amount of funding you receive, especially if you specify exactly how the money will be spent and how it will contribute to a greater ROI.
Creating a video marketing campaign can elevate your broader marketing goals in many ways, depending on the types of content you use. For example, explainer videos and product demos answer immediate questions about products and services, which can directly drive sales. Meanwhile, webinars, customer testimonials, and general social media content raise your brand awareness and move potential clients further down the sales funnel, which is essential for business-to-business (B2B) marketing.
Investing more funds into your video marketing productions can expand your creative and technical possibilities, such as by letting you hire a video content creation agency. Professional video production companies offer invaluable experience, equipment, and innovative approaches to raise your video quality as high as possible.
The most significant advantages of professional video content creation include:
Higher engagement and retention: High-quality video content keeps viewers engaged enough to listen to your full message, making them more likely to take action after. Better memorability can also make customers and clients more likely to return later.
Better alignment with Microsoft brand storytelling: Microsoft's brand consistency makes its content more recognizable to viewers, immediately reestablishing trust. Aligning your video content with Microsoft's brand and storytelling standards can improve your partnership, raise your potential MDF, and establish that same trust with customers.
Stronger conversion metrics than static ads: Video content can raise conversion rates higher than basic ads because they're more engaging and easily digestible, contributing to a higher ROI.
Video content creation is a multifaceted process that includes planning, capturing, editing, and distributing your video. MDF videos are made via the same process, but typically with more focus on brand alignment and your specific campaign goals. During pre-production, ensure that your content complies with the terms of your MDF, such as by mentioning your compatibility with Microsoft.
Additionally, make sure that your campaign goals are measurable and able to be tracked by considering key performance indicators (KPIs). For instance, sales and link clicks prove that your videos are raising revenue, while social media engagement indicates that your brand is getting noticed. These metrics let you easily track your campaign's performance so you can make changes as needed and report your successes to Microsoft.
The main steps of MDF video content creation include:
Submit a proposal aligned with Microsoft's co-marketing goals: Develop a clear and detailed video-first content strategy that establishes your campaign's goals, benefits, and spending needs. Make sure your proposal meets Microsoft partners' co-marketing goals, including raising demand, sales growth, and brand visibility.
Define target audience and key message: First, research your target audience and establish character personas to understand the demographics you're marketing to. This information can help you determine which platforms, visuals, and storytelling techniques will have the greatest impact. Use this information to craft the key message and CTA you want viewers to take from your video.
Partner with agencies for strategy and production: Professional video content creation companies, such as Charter & Co, can help you plan and execute your video production. These teams know how to make cinematic videos that stand out to potential clients and customers, making it impossible for them to scroll away. A full-service agency can handle the logistics, from scriptwriting to filming and editing, so you can focus on the bigger picture.
Report performance and ROI back to Microsoft: Track your KPIs from the beginning of your campaign to share how your content creation strategy has tangibly improved sales, brand awareness, and other co-marketing goals. This data can improve your relationship with Microsoft and raise your eligibility for higher funds during your next campaign.
Microsoft partners have leveraged MDF for successful video campaigns in many different ways. Practical examples of successful MDF video content creation include:
Explainers and demos: Cloud solution partners use explainer videos and product demos to answer common questions, build trust, and share exactly how their solutions work. These videos directly encourage sales, whether you share them on social media or on the product page.
Awareness videos: Cybersecurity partners create awareness videos to get their brand noticed and build confidence with enterprise clients. These videos can include webinars, company culture videos, event coverage, and general social media content that reminds potential clients you still exist. This is especially important for B2B marketing, as your ideal clients may not be ready to invest in your solutions the first time they see your content.
Testimonials and case studies: Software partners produce customer testimonial series to establish credibility and showcase their best success stories. Some partners also invite content creators to post user-generated content (UGC), such as product reviews or tutorials, to build both trust and awareness.
Even if your video has thousands of views, it may not automatically translate into revenue. To make your MDF video campaigns truly effective, track all relevant KPIs and metrics related to your campaign performance, including increased engagement, click-through rates (CTRs), and new leads.
Tracking these metrics will help you identify which content supports your sales and visibility goals. This way, you can learn about what does and doesn't work for your unique target audience and then refine your content strategy as you go. This data will also help you report your campaign's performance to Microsoft for potentially higher MDF next time.
MDF for Microsoft Partners can elevate your marketing efforts in many ways, but the funds may have the biggest impact when used for video content creation. Microsoft partner marketing videos can drive sales, trust, and long-term brand value, depending on which content types you use.
Of course, one of the most important aspects of video content creation is knowing how to find the right video production company. Charter & Co has several years of experience producing impactful partner videos that drive sales, boost visibility, and guide viewers deeper down the sales funnel. Our expert production team will help you strategize your campaign's best videos, distribution strategies, and logistics to maximize your digital impact.
Contact Charter & Co to start developing your MDF video content creation strategy.