The Channel Buzz

Amiee Keenan
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Business

The Channel Buzz is a podcast exploring the people, partnerships, and ideas shaping modern software ecosystems. Hosted by Amiee Keenan, each episode connects the dots across partnerships, ecosystem visibility, marketing, AI, ERP, CRM, SaaS, and community-driven growth. From ecosystem leaders and software founders to partner teams, marketers, and industry experts, these conversations focus on how companies build recognition, create momentum, and grow through collaboration inside connected ecosystems. Because the future of software growth isn’t happening in silos.

  1. 4d ago

    Why Visibility Matters More Than Marketing Campaigns

    Marketing campaigns come and go. Visibility stays with you. Every ERP software company wants more leads, referrals, and partnerships, but many focus on launching campaigns instead of building long-term visibility. In this episode, Amiee explains why the companies that consistently show up are the ones that people remember, recommend, and trust. In this solo episode, Amiee shares one of the biggest lessons she's learned after years of hosting Demo Days, interviewing ERP leaders, and speaking with ISVs across the ecosystem. The companies everyone recognizes didn't become well-known overnight. They earned recognition through hundreds of small moments—podcasts, webinars, customer stories, LinkedIn conversations, events, and consistent education. Chapters: 00:00 – Why Visibility Matters More Than Marketing Campaigns 00:53 – Why Most Companies Wait Too Long to Build Visibility 02:35 – The Myth of Overnight Success 04:20 – Why Visibility Compounds Like a Garden 06:50 – Creating Buzz Without a Big Marketing Budget 09:20 – Your Visibility Challenge Takeaways: Visibility is a long-term game, not a quick fix.Consistent participation and helpful content build recognition.Creating buzz is about giving opportunities to discover you.Small efforts compound over time to build momentum.Engagement on social media and content sharing are key. If you're wondering why some companies seem to attract opportunities effortlessly, this episode explains why consistency creates momentum—and momentum creates opportunity. 🔗 Connect with Amiee on ⁠LinkedIn⁠  🎧 Listen & follow to get future episodes on marketing, partnerships, and channel growth. Learn more about ⁠The ISV Society⁠

  2. Jul 14

    The Partner Problem You Can’t Recruit Your Way Out Of

    Partner growth often starts with the same response: recruit more partners. But what happens after those partners sign? In this episode, Amiee Keenan talks with partner enablement leader Alissa Amundson about why recruitment alone rarely creates sustainable channel growth. They explore what meaningful enablement looks like beyond training, how to help partners recognize and position opportunities, and why services enablement may be one of the biggest missed revenue opportunities in the ecosystem. Alissa also shares practical ways to measure enablement, build partner confidence, improve implementation quality, and keep your solution top of mind—even when partners represent competing vendors. You will also hear why a jeweler protected his Rolodex more carefully than his inventory, how a branded mug can become an enablement tool, and why partners should never be surprised during a QBR. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Partner Enablement and Its Impact 01:01 Alyssa's Background and Passion for Education 03:39 Common Misconceptions About Enablement 05:23 The Role of Structured Enablement Programs 07:14 Top of Mind Messaging and Visual Cues 09:30 The Value of Swag and Visual Reminders 11:13 Partner Relationship as a Critical Asset 14:17 Metrics to Prove Enablement Impact 18:24 Tracking and Communication in Enablement 22:06 The Biggest Revenue Opportunities Missed by Partners 26:40 The Entire Lifecycle of Partner Enablement 🔗 Connect with Amiee on ⁠LinkedIn⁠  🎧 Listen & follow to get future episodes on marketing, partnerships, and channel growth. Learn more about ⁠The ISV Society⁠

  3. Jul 7

    Stop Measuring Events Like It's 2015

    Why booth scans aren't the metric that matters anymore. One thing I've noticed is that most companies still judge event success by one number: Booth scans. But the best events create something much bigger than leads. They create conversations. Relationships. Visibility. Momentum. In this episode, event marketing strategist Megan Martin shares why it's time to rethink how we measure conferences, trade shows, and community events and what ERP ISVs should focus on instead. If you're sponsoring events this year, this conversation may change how you define success. Chapters: 00:00 Rethinking Event Success Metrics 04:46 Understanding Buyer Intent at Events 09:31 Post-Event Follow-Up Strategies 14:22 Creative Event Participation Ideas 19:28 Maximizing Event ROI Before, During, and After Check out Megan's podcast: Event About It 🔗 Connect with Amiee on ⁠LinkedIn⁠  🎧 Listen & follow to get future episodes on marketing, partnerships, and channel growth Download The CVCC Checklist today! Learn more about ⁠The ISV Society⁠

  4. Jun 30

    Education Before Revenue: Building Better Technology Partnerships

    Everyone wants partners who can generate revenue. But what if the real key to successful partnerships is slowing down first? In this episode of The Channel Buzz, Amiee Keenan sits down with Ronnie Kher, a partnership leader whose experience spans blockchain, AI, fintech, and insurance, to explore what it really takes to build partnerships in emerging technology markets. Rather than rushing to recruit partners and expecting immediate results, Ronnie shares why successful ecosystems are built through education, enablement, and alignment. Together they discuss: • Why partnership strategy should follow your sales strategy—not the other way around • The biggest mistake emerging technology companies make when onboarding partners • How education builds confidence, trust, and long-term success • Why proving success with a few strategic partners is more effective than recruiting dozens • How industry expertise and strong alliances accelerate adoption Whether you're leading partnerships, building an ecosystem, or launching new technology, this conversation offers practical lessons that apply far beyond AI and blockchain. 🔗 Connect with Amiee on ⁠LinkedIn⁠  🎧 Listen & follow to get future episodes on marketing, partnerships, and channel growth. Learn more about ⁠The ISV Society⁠ Download The CVCC Checklist.

  5. Jun 23

    Visibility Is the Growth Strategy Nobody's Talking About

    Most software companies don't have a product problem. They have a visibility problem. In this solo episode, Amiee Keenan shares a realization that has been shaping the future of The ISV Society and changing the way she thinks about growth in the technology ecosystem. After years of conversations with ISVs, ERP partners, SaaS leaders, and ecosystem builders, one theme kept showing up: "We're great at what we do. We just wish more people knew about it." Amiee explores why visibility has become one of the most important growth drivers for modern software companies and introduces The CVCC Framework—Clarity, Visibility, Community, and Collaboration. She also shares the thinking behind a new participation-focused vision for The ISV Society, why every conversation opens a new door, and how companies can create more opportunities simply by showing up consistently. If you're looking to build awareness, strengthen partnerships, and create momentum in the ecosystem, this episode is for you. 🚪 Open More Doors with the CVCC Growth Checklist Every conversation, event, introduction, and collaboration has the potential to open a new door. The CVCC Growth Checklist is designed to help you identify where your company is creating visibility, building relationships, and generating momentum across the ecosystem. Whether you're focused on awareness, partnerships, or growth, this practical guide will help you determine what's working—and where new opportunities may be waiting. Get the checklist. 🔗 Connect with Amiee on ⁠LinkedIn⁠  🎧 Listen & follow to get future episodes on marketing, partnerships, and channel growth. Learn more about ⁠The ISV Society⁠

  6. Jun 16

    Stop Blaming Partners: What’s Really Holding Your Program Back

    Many companies invest heavily in partner programs only to find themselves asking the same question months later: Why isn't this working? In this episode of The Channel Buzz Podcast, Amiee Keenan sits down with Bart Dirksen, Director of Strategic Solution Partners and founder of Partner Impact, to unpack what separates successful partner programs from those that struggle to gain traction. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across sales, consulting, leadership, and partner management, Bart explains why partnerships often fail when they're treated as an add-on rather than a core business strategy. He shares the seven-layer framework behind high-performing partner ecosystems, the importance of executive ownership, why data matters more than most companies realize, and the common mistakes organizations make when trying to "fix" underperforming programs. The conversation also explores key concepts from Bart's newly released book, The Partnership Operating System, which provides a practical framework for building partnership programs that align strategy, operations, leadership, and growth. If you're building a partner ecosystem, scaling a channel strategy, or trying to get more value from your existing partner investments, this episode offers practical lessons and a fresh perspective on what actually drives long-term partner success. Buy the book 🔗 Connect with Amiee on ⁠LinkedIn⁠  🎧 Listen & follow to get future episodes on marketing, partnerships, and channel growth. Learn more about ⁠The ISV Society⁠

  7. Jun 9

    Why “Checking In” Isn’t Building Relationships

    “Just checking in…” We’ve all sent the email.But according to Kelly Gindlesperger from Triumph, that’s not what builds real partnerships. In this episode of The Channel Buzz Podcast, Kelly joins Amiee Keenan for an honest conversation about why strong partner relationships are built through trust, consistency, and genuine human connection — not transactional follow-ups. Kelly shares why the best partner managers remember birthdays, kids’ names, vacations, and even dogs recovering from surgery. Because in ecosystems, people don’t remember every meeting… they remember how you made them feel. This episode covers: Why most partnership outreach feels forgettableThe difference between follow-up and relationship-buildingHow trust develops over timeWhy vendors lose momentum after conferencesThe small gestures that create long-term loyaltyWhy “doing what you say you’re going to do” matters more than everChapters: 00:00 – Welcome & Meet Kelly 01:08 – Why Partnerships Beat Sales 02:00 – What Partners Really Value 05:10 – How Vendors Actually Stand Out 07:45 – “Do What You Say You’ll Do” 10:35 – Why Trust Takes Time 15:35 – Handwritten Notes Still Matter 19:35 – What Causes Partnerships to Fade If you work in partnerships, alliances, ecosystems, channel sales, or ISV growth — this conversation is a reminder that relationships still matter more than automation. 🔗 Connect with Amiee on ⁠LinkedIn⁠  🎧 Listen & follow to get future episodes on marketing, partnerships, and channel growth. Learn more about ⁠The ISV Society⁠ 📩 Get the ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience: https://go.theisvsociety.com/theisvguide

  8. Jun 2

    AI Isn’t Replacing Partner Teams — It’s Making Them Effective

    AI is everywhere right now — but what does it actually look like inside real partnership teams? In this episode of The Channel Buzz, Amiee Keenan sits down with Justin Baryza, Director of Channel Partners at PointFive, to talk about the practical ways AI is transforming partnerships, co-sell motions, sales alignment, and partner operations across the ERP and ISV ecosystem. Justin shares the real workflows he uses every day to eliminate manual reporting, improve partner collaboration, automate follow-ups, and create highly personalized account outreach at scale. The conversation also explores why smaller ISVs may actually have an advantage in the AI race — despite larger vendors investing heavily in AI initiatives. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest Justin Baryza 01:45 Justin's background and experience with AI in partnerships 02:26 AI's impact on daily operational tasks in partnership roles 03:36 Top AI workflows for partnership teams: pipeline analysis, email follow-ups, co-sell account mapping 07:24 How AI improves alignment between sales, marketing, and partnerships 08:48 Building AI-powered workflows for tailored account outreach 10:42 Strategies for smaller ISVs to compete with larger vendors in AI adoption If you’re a partnership leader, channel marketer, ERP vendor, SaaS company, or ISV trying to understand how AI can improve efficiency without replacing human relationships, this episode is packed with actionable ideas you can start using immediately. 🔗 Connect with Justin on LinkedIn 🔗 Connect with Amiee on ⁠LinkedIn⁠  🎧 Listen & follow to get future episodes on marketing, partnerships, and channel growth. Learn more about ⁠The ISV Society⁠ 📩 ⁠Get⁠ the ISV Guide to Grow Your Audience: https://go.theisvsociety.com/theisvguide

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5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Channel Buzz is a podcast exploring the people, partnerships, and ideas shaping modern software ecosystems. Hosted by Amiee Keenan, each episode connects the dots across partnerships, ecosystem visibility, marketing, AI, ERP, CRM, SaaS, and community-driven growth. From ecosystem leaders and software founders to partner teams, marketers, and industry experts, these conversations focus on how companies build recognition, create momentum, and grow through collaboration inside connected ecosystems. Because the future of software growth isn’t happening in silos.

Information

  • Creator
    Amiee Keenan
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    152
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Amiee Keenan
  • Show Website
    The Channel Buzz