Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards 2026

In case you missed it, nominations for the 2026 Microsoft partner awards are open June 1-July 7. Info here.

Over the past 16 years many of our clients have won partner of the year, so it is definitely worth the investment of time and effort to pull your nomination together. If you don’t try, you can’t win!

Here are tips to help make your application package more compelling:

• Make your application visually unique and differentiated. You have to fill out the form and follow the format, however include URL links to photos, charts, graphs, slides, videos and images to tell your story in a visually engaging way. Create a nomination video, or PowerPoint presentation with voice over. Ugly heavy text word documents require cognitive effort to read and process and big chunks of text are easy to skip/scan/ignore, and will look and feel the same as everyone else’s – undifferentiated, not memorable.
• Make it about Microsoft. We are all self-serving. Of course you are proud of YOUR results and impact. But help the Microsoft judges know why your success is not only good for your, but for Microsoft too. What’s in it for Microsoft? How does your achievement further Microsoft’s goals and agenda? Why should they care about what you have done and accomplished? In what way is your success also a win for Microsoft?
• Add a human element and leverage video as much as possible (yes saying it again). This can be a remotely directed quick 1-2 minute customer case study story, or a 1 minute overview from your CEO sharing why your story is so incredible.
• Make sure all your claims are substantiated with PROOF and EVIDENCE. This proof can be in the form of a customer case study, screen shots, chart, graphs, data. Specific data and stats are more credible and believable than generic, vague claims.
• Show indisputably WHY you should win. Communicate your “bottom line” story of results in a pictorial way. Communicate and demonstrate the “before and after” state in a visual story (Imagine your single visual slide being shown on the big screen on stage at Directions!). The brain LOVES contrast. Here an example:

  

Need help pulling together an emotional nomination or want an objective 3rd party to review? We can help, email Inge@neuralimpact.ca

Jordy@neuralimpact.ca can also help produce a quick video remotely to enhance your nomination application. 

Download and read our free video best practices guide located at the bottom of this page:

Video + Case Study Services | Neural Impact | The Neuroscience of Emotional Engagement

Good luck to you and your team!