Walk into every partner call with a plan.

Tiers set what partners earn and what they must deliver. They shape almost every partner conversation you will have.

Partner tiers are levels within a partner program that give more benefits to partners who meet higher requirements. Tiers are often named with metals or words like registered, silver, gold and platinum. Requirements usually include revenue, certifications and customer satisfaction. Benefits can include bigger discounts and more support.

Registration decides who gets credit and protection on a deal. When partners stop trusting it, they stop bringing you deals.

Deal registration is a process where a partner tells the vendor about a sales opportunity it found and asks to be recognized as the owner. If the vendor approves it, the partner usually gets extra discount or protection from other partners on that deal for a set time.

MDF is the funding behind partner marketing. It produces pipeline only when it is tied to a plan and a target.

MDF, or market development funds, is money a vendor gives partners to pay for marketing and sales activity that creates demand for the vendor's products. Partners usually propose an activity, get approval, run it and then submit proof to get paid. Rules vary by program.

A signed partner earns nothing until their sellers sell. Activation is where most partner programs stall.

Partner activation is the process of getting a signed partner to its first revenue-producing activity, such as a registered deal, a joint customer meeting or a first sale. It overlaps with onboarding but is measured differently. Onboarding tracks setup tasks like portal access and training, while activation tracks real selling activity.