Monthly Archive
for: ‘August, 2010’

Varvid and HTG Peer Groups Sign Partnership to Promote Internet-Delivered Video

Varvid, Inc. is pleased to announce it has recently entered into a strategic partnership with HTG Peer Groups.  HTG was founded by Arlin Sorensen, CEO of Heartland Technology Solutions, one of the member companies. Arlin launched the first HTG peer group in 2001 based on his desire for an opportunity to interact with peers in a non-competitive setting and observation of a lack of peer groups in the SMB partner space.

“Varvid has been an innovator in how VARs, MSPs and vendors create and use content on the web and a principal force in social media for IT-related businesses,” said Sorensen, HTG founder and CEO. “Through this new partnership, HTG Peer Group members will have an opportunity to learn about Internet video from the undisputed industry leader.”

HTG Peer Groups are composed of industry leaders led by industry insiders with years of experience, all sharing best practices in a non-competitive environment.

“HTG is a revolutionary organization with strategic and forward thinking leadership, a model for success that has been proven to help VARs, MSPs and vendors to succeed,” says Aaron Booker, founder of Varvid, Inc. “I believe this partnership will greatly benefit HTG members by providing them access to top-notch internet delivered video production, webcasting and video playback solutions.”

Booker is no stranger to the MSP/VAR world, spending more than 15 years in the IT industry and participating in the early years of HTG’s existence. “The HTG Peer Group experience was an enormous benefit to my professional development, and I’ve wanted nothing more than to be able to give back by helping HTG member companies cost-effectively maximize their use of video on websites, blogs, and social media outlets,” said Booker. “I hope this partnership will add a great deal of value to HTG members and, ultimately, enhance their ability to promote their own services.”

With more than eight years of experience in live and on-demand Internet-delivered video, Varvid is uniquely equipped to aid VARs, MSPs and their vendor partners in developing online videos for use in marketing, social media, training and client relations. As a strategic partner, Varvid will serve as a resource for HTG members that want to produce and use video content, and will develop exclusive offerings for HTG members.

In addition to providing paid video services to the IT Channel, Booker recently launched Varvid.tv, a new and free video ‘TV Channel’ covering industry events and featuring IT channel content.  Varvid.tv not only features professional content but is also looking for fresh voices from the channel partner community at large.  All contributions from the IT channel will be professionally edited, hosted and optimized at no charge.

Learn more about HTG at http://www.htgmembers.com or by calling (712) 744-3619 .  You can also check out a sampling of Varvid’s past work for HTG to get an idea of what Varvid might be able to do for you and your business!

Microsoft’s Birger Steen Making a Move to Parallels

Birger Steen, current vice president for small and midmarket business and distribution (SMB&D), will be leaving the company at the end of this month to become President at Parallels, a cloud services enablement software company.   As you no doubt know, Steen has played an instrumental role in helping SMBs find and use technology through his leadership in the past year.  Vahe Torossian, Corp VP for SMS&P at Microsoft, said that Birger felt this was an opportunity that he just couldn’t pass up. 

“Our small and mid-market business (SMB) leadership group, and specifically Birger Steen, has played an instrumental role in bridging the gap between the SMBs and technology through their leadership in the past year.  Microsoft remains committed to investing in small and mid-market businesses and our partners who serve them.   The list of products and offerings that we launched last year specifically for the SMBs is a great testament to the priority and focus we have with this customer segment.  I am even more excited with the opportunities that cloud computing can bring to SMBs now and in the near future.  We appreciate all that Birger has done and wish him well.” 

Steen spent eight years at Microsoft.  He moved to Redmond after leading Microsoft’s sales and marketing operations in Norway and Russia. A search for Steen’s replacement has begun. 

We are sorry that the Microsoft Partner community lost an advocate in this leader.  On the other hand, we are glad for Paralllels; they’re gaining his expertise and leadership.  Congratulations on your new role as President.  We are glad to see his career advancing and hope to see him  at future industry events. 

Varvid finalizes annual contract with Botanical Laboratories

Varvid is pleased to announce they have finalized an annual agreement to create, produce and distribute video content for Botanical Laboratories, based in Ferndale, Washington. Varvid has signed on to produce internet-delivered videos for Botanical Labortories, including event coverage for the 2010 Bellingham Jingle Bell Run in December and the  2011 Northwest Women’s Show in Seattle. Other projects will include a series of product pieces, corporate profiles, and multiple press release videos. Varvid has worked with BotLab’s flagship brand, Wellesse Premium Liquid Supplements, in the past to help promote their ongoing support of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure with the Puget Sound affiliate of the national organization.

Along with capturing, producing and uploading content for Botanical Labortories, this agreement includes a unique service:  an internet-delivered video distribution platform.  This offereing allows BotLab the opportunity to completely control the marketing and branding seen by visitors. Varvid will also provide a number of user training courses to educate BotLab staff on how to maximize video marketing’s full potential by understanding analytics, increasing search engine optimization and controlling channel distribution.

To put Varvid to work for your organization, drop us a line.

Aaron Booker Co-Hosts Webinar for MSPU

On August 2nd at 9am PST, Varvid’s Aaron Booker will co-host a webinar titled How To Help Your Marketing Efforts With Social Media Video alongside Rafael Sanguily from MSP University. Click here to register.

Aaron Booker talks Internet Delivered Video with Ulistic’s Stuart Crawford and Varvid at MSPU San Antonio

On Thursday (7/29) Varvid’s Aaron Booker spoke with Calgary Internet Consultant Stuart Crawford on blogtalkradio.com, discussing the power of internet delivered video. Joining the conversation was Tish Bell from bizboxtv, a Calgary firm that specializes in video for small businesses. Click here to listen to the 30 minute podcast to hear why internet delivered video is a necessity for any business and their overall marketing campaign.

Click here to open the podcast in iTunes.

Stuart Crawford and Aaron Booker

Also, Varvid will be attending MSPU’s Boot Camp from August 9th to the 12th. Tune in to Varvid.tv to see coverage of this event.