or any other analyst report

Probably the most asked question in the analyst relations game is “How do I get onto the Gartner Magic Quadrant?" Or, at a later stage, “How do I improve my position on the Gartner MQ?”
People have lost plenty of sleep over those questions,but succeeding can help you break out. Enterprise buyers look towards major reports to help them make sense out of markets crowded with vendors, and the reports are often part of the due diligence they conduct when making a major purchase. They are the topic of many conversations between buyers and analysts, as buyers look to analysts to help them make decisions. In fact, according to a study by Hill & Knowlton, up to 75% of enterprise technology decisions are influenced by an analyst, and these reports represent that impact.
At the same time, those in tech marketing understand the challenges of the major reports–not only the Gartner MQ, but the Forrester Wave, the IDC Marketspace, and lots of other reports by lots of other firms. These reports are demanding for vendors and performing well is dependent on the quality of your business, the energy you put into it, and your smarts in the process. Understanding everything that goes into it and dedicating the effort makes a big difference.
To help you successfully position your company in analyst reports, we've distilled our decades of experience into a comprehensive ebook: "How to get on the Gartner Magic Quadrant." This step-by-step playbook breaks down the entire process, from initial preparation to post-publication activities, providing you with actionable strategies and best practices that have helped companies achieve and maintain strong positions in analyst reports.
The following is a summary of what’s covered:
Developing your strategy for the Gartner MQ and other reports
Where to start and where to focus is different for every vendor. It depends on the available reports, where your competitors are placed, and how mature you are as a company. You want to place your bets carefully. In this section you’ll understand the considerations in deciding whether to participate in reports and which ones to focus on.
Getting into the Magic Quadrant
You can’t just waltz into a report, no matter how much you want it. Consider how defined your space is, how crowded it is with vendors, and then use all your resources to convince the analyst that you are a perfect addition. This may take several cycles of the report. In this section, you’ll learn what to do if you're in a crowded market or highly niched domain.
Participating in the report
This is the central part of the ebook and contains the most ideas. This section covers 8 steps to smoothly navigate the grueling process of RFIs, briefings, demos, customer references so that you rank where you belong.
Draft Review
If the draft doesn’t meet your expectations, graciously challenge the findings, but you can only challenge factual inaccuracies. This section helps you proceed with care and confidence.
Publication of the MQ
Once the report is published there are two major activities: Enabling the salesforce, and marketing the results. This section helps you nail those and optimize the outcomes.
Next-Year Prep
This may be the most important part of ensuring your long term success. When you think of these reports as year-round activities, you prioritize the efforts that go into analyst engagement. This section guides you through maximizing those engagements to build continuous performance.
If getting on the Magic Quadrant (MQ) or any other report is on your agenda, get a copy of our ebook and take note of the steps to success. Handle this right and you will grow awareness of your business in the market, attract new opportunities, and strengthen your overall capabilities as a vendor. It’s one of the most promising activities you can engage in. Embrace it and strive for victory.
Download How to Get on the Gartner Magic Quadrant.
Need help with AR? We’re always available to chat about the possibilities for your business. Set a call at calendly.com/schafferar.
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About the author

Robin Schaffer leads Schaffer AR, an analyst relations agency supporting B2B tech vendors, especially startups and scaleups.
Robin is a prominent voice in the analyst relations community and the author of Analysts on Analyst Relations.
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