The pluses and the pitfalls

by Dale Taormino, CCI Director of Professional Services

In these days of ever-tightening budgets, companies -- and their channel partners -- are searching for ways to make the most effective use of marketing funds. Whether a company decides to go with a marketing development fund (MDF) or a co-op program -- or a combination of the two -- depends in large part on its channel marketing goals and objectives.

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MDF and co-op programs ... A call for your help ... Letting an employee go 

In today's economic climate, making the most of every marketing dollar is more important than ever before. Marketing development funds and co-op programs can certainly help in this endeavor. In this month's feature article, Dale Taormino, CCI director of professional services, discusses these programs, regulations that apply to them and expenses vs. contra-revenue.

Speaking of these marketing programs, we've included a survey in this month's issue to gauge how companies use them and what issues they may have had running them. Please take a few minutes to give us your insights.

Layoffs are in the news almost every day. But when you must choose which staff member to cut loose, what criteria should you use to make your decision? Find out what our readers have to say about it.

If you have any suggestions on how we can make our newsletter more relevant to you, please let us know. In return for your time, we'll enter your name into a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card. Congratulations to Aaron Woods, director, NARS Service Programs at Xerox Services, for being this quarter's winner!

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