Microsoft Partner Content Marketing Blog

We’re not in the content business. We’re in the trust business.

Content is the method. Trust is the outcome. Most agencies will talk about traffic, rankings, and engagement rates. Those things matter but none of them close deals on their own. Here’s how we think about what we do, who we’re for and, just as importantly, who we’re not.

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Your partner network is only as strong as the content feeding it

Most ISVs think hard about recruiting partners. Few think about what those partners need to sell. Here’s why content is the most underleveraged part of any ISV partner network.

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An ISV founder spent three years mastering SEO. He got the product to page one. So why wasn’t anyone buying?

One ISV founder spent three years mastering SEO, built a content engine, and hit the top 10 on Google. Traffic came. Customers didn’t. Here’s what was missing.

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So many stakeholders, so little budget. Who should your ISV content target first?

Most ISVs know they need content for multiple stakeholders. Few know where to start. Here’s how to prioritise your content when budget is tight and the buying committee is anything but simple.

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Who are the real decision makers in a B2B software purchase?

Most ISV content is written for the end user. But the end user is rarely the one searching for a solution. The search is initiated by a champion or IT director tasked with finding an answer and before they can act, they have to convince a committee of people who haven’t done the research they have.

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SDC content strategy: Why your product team shouldn’t be writing the copy

The people who understand your product best are the worst possible people to explain it to buyers. Here’s why product-led ISV content is costing you trials, conversions and renewals.

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The three types of Microsoft Co-op funding spender — which one are you?

We’ve identified three types of Microsoft Co-op spender. The safe spender, the last-minute spender, and the strategic investor. Which one are you?

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Microsoft Co-op funding: why so much of it gets left on the table

Many Microsoft Partners qualify for Co-op funding but hesitate to use it due to Partner Centre complexity and perceived risk.

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Using FY26 Co-op funds for content marketing

Turn your FY26 Co-op funds into content that drives results from strategy-led blogs, SEO optimised content, to campaigns that grow awareness of your Microsoft Partner business.

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Microsoft Partner funding for marketing: How to free up budget for case studies & content

Harness Microsoft Partner funding to supercharge your marketing: discover how ECIF, MCI & co-marketing programmes can free up your budget for case studies, content & campaigns.

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How Microsoft Partners can use Co-op funding for content marketing

Co-op funding feels risky for many Microsoft Partners. In conversation with Rob Smith of Pargentic, we explore how to use it for content marketing without stress or surprises.

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At Microsoft AI Tour London, the most persuasive thing wasn’t a feature. It was a case study.

At Microsoft AI Tour London, Satya Nadella skipped the benchmarks and went straight to case studies. Here’s what that means for Microsoft Partners — and how to use your Co-Op funds to build content that actually closes deals.

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Can your content sound like yours and still be Co-op compliant with Microsoft Co-op Funding rules?

Microsoft Co-op marketing compliance doesn’t mean sounding like Microsoft. This post explains how tone of voice, generic Partner Centre content, and claims really work.

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Original Thinkers #7: Emily Mancini on communicating better inside Microsoft 365. From channel overload to clarity and where AI can genuinely help (without the hype)

Communicating well inside Microsoft 365 is rarely a tooling problem. It’s a thinking one, says Emily Mancini in our latest Original Thinkers Q&A.

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What Microsoft Co-op funds can actually be spent on: a guide for MSP marketers

Your company has earned Microsoft Co-op. Here’s what you’re actually allowed to spend it on.

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Who’s in charge of your Co-op funds? (Here’s a clue: if you’re reading this, it should be you)

MSP marketer with no budget left? There may be money you don’t know about. Here’s how to find your Microsoft Co-op funds and invest them wisely.

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Does your MSP qualify for Microsoft Co-op funding? How it’s earned and what determines the size of the pot

Most MSP marketers are told to spend the Microsoft Co-op. But do you know how it’s earned or what determines the size of the pot? Find out more in our blog.

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What Microsoft Co-op funding is actually for (and what it isn’t)

Not sure what Microsoft Co-op funding is actually for? This calm explainer breaks down its intent, common misconceptions, and why some marketing activity feels eligible but still feels risky.

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Half of UK Microsoft Partners unaware of available Co-op funds

Half of Microsoft Partners may be overlooking Co-op funds, typically worth around $6,000 and in some cases nearing $40,000, as stricter governance requirements influence marketing and funding decisions.

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AI took centre stage at ESPC25. But humans stole the show.

AI dominated the keynotes at ESPC25 but the moments that mattered most were unmistakably human.

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3 types of content that will still matter in an AI-first world

AI is changing how people find and consume information — but the content that truly builds trust is becoming more valuable, not less. This piece explores the three formats AI can’t replace: live experiences, meaningful communities, and high-quality human text.

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Why content + PR matter more than you think

Content and PR are no longer separate disciplines. In the Microsoft Partner world, they work best together helping you reach the right people in the specialist channels that shape opinion, build trust and move markets.

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Growing your Microsoft 365 ISV product in Europe: 5 things to get right

European organisations rely heavily on Microsoft 365, but they evaluate tools through a different lens: more risk-aware, more detail-driven and more focused on trust from the start. Here are five practical shifts that help your product land confidently in the region.

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Want to break into Europe? Here’s how content can help.

Breaking into Europe? How Microsoft Partners can use content to build trust and accelerate European expansion, with practical steps for credibility, localisation, and collaboration.

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Using content to scale your ISV in North America

Expanding into North America isn’t just about exporting your product it’s about exporting your story. In our latest blog, we share five practical lessons for Microsoft Partners ready to grow across the Atlantic.

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6 silver sponsors you shouldn’t miss at ESPC25

It’s our first year as Silver Sponsors at ESPC, so we’re shining a light on six fellow Silver Sponsors doing brilliant, practical work across the Microsoft ecosystem. From workspace automation to SharePoint cleanup and hybrid-work visibility, here are the teams you shouldn’t miss.

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Reality check: your customers don’t care about you or your company

Your customers don’t care about your company, they care about their own goals. Here’s how Microsoft Partners can create content that actually matters and measure what works.

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Why work with Bright Star Content Marketing?

Every Microsoft Partner has a story worth telling. We help you tell it well with journalist-crafted content that builds trust, drives engagement, and delivers results.

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Original Thinkers #6: Meet Amy Dolzine, EY’s Microsoft 365 Copilot Activation Leader for the Americas, who says AI is going to make us all better communicators (and managers)

EY’s Amy Dolzine shares how AI and Microsoft 365 Copilot are helping people become clearer communicators and stronger leaders in the workplace.

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It’s Not AI or Us. It’s AI and Us

It’s not AI or us — it’s AI and us. Bright Star combines human insight with AI tools to craft authentic, high-impact content for Microsoft Partners.

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Why Microsoft Partners can’t afford to settle for “AI slop”

With hundreds of thousands of Microsoft Partners competing for attention, sounding the same won’t cut it. Discover why AI-generated “slop” is holding brands back and how human-led content strategy helps Partners stand out in the Microsoft Marketplace.

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How to position your solutions, apps and AI agents in the new Microsoft Marketplace

Learn how to position your app, solution or AI agent in the new Microsoft Marketplace. This guide covers SEO, discoverability and content best practices to help Microsoft Partners increase visibility and sales.

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How to turn technical content into stories people care about: Lessons from Microsoft MVP Sami Laiho

Learn how to transform complex technical Microsoft content into compelling stories people remember. Discover insights from Microsoft MVP Sami Laiho on turning features into narratives, framing positively, and inspiring action.

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Original Thinkers #5: Meet world-renowned cyber-security expert Sami Laiho who warns when it comes to prepping for an attack, “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.”

Discover how cyber-security expert Sami Laiho turns technical risks into empowering stories. Learn his 5 non-negotiables for IT teams and why ‘perfect’ mustn’t block progress in our latest Original Thinkers interview.

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Why scale-up tech companies need a new SEO playbook in the age of AI

Discover the new SEO playbook for scale-ups in the AI era to build credibility, win citations, and get chosen by AI assistants, not just ranked in search.

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Forget ‘Authentic AI’. The future of content marketing is connection, not clicks

The future of marketing is connection. Learn how to move beyond chasing clicks to build real relationships through empathy, trust, and meaningful storytelling.

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