Google Launches Partner Sales Certifications, Partner Portal

Google_Apps_Reseller_logo

Google Partner Connect seems pretty straightforward, offering information on the path to becoming a reseller for Google Apps for Business,  Google Geo, Google search appliance, or Google Chromebooks (!) for those who aren’t already in, and technical resources, marketing strategies and so forth for those who are already enrolled. There’s also a logo for Google App Engine on the landing page, but there doesn’t seem to be much information on it for those not already in the know.

As for the new Google Sales Specialist certification, it’s exactly what it says on the label. Google recommends that partners have at least six months of selling Google Apps for Business under their belt before attempting the exam, and there’s a study guide and other learning materials for the certification on Google Partner Connect. Partners who get certified claim a certificate and badge for their website.

This is all part of the commitment to helping small-business-focused partners succeed that Google Apps SMB Channel Lead Jeff Ragusa told TalkinCloud to expect in 2012. TalkinCloud will continue to track Google’s channel efforts, so stay tuned for more.