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How Partner Scores Work

Every partner in the directory is evaluated across three independent scores — Trust, Expertise, and Engagement. Here is exactly what goes into each one.

Trust Score

Credibility signals from external reviews, certifications, and company history

What factors into this score

  • Review ratings across Google, G2, Capterra, Clutch, and AppSource — weighted by source credibility and recency
  • Review volume — more reviews increase confidence, with diminishing returns after approximately 50
  • Review sentiment — AI analysis of what customers actually say beyond the star rating
  • Microsoft certifications and Solutions Partner designations — verified credentials from the Microsoft Partner Center
  • Company maturity — years in operation and team size as proxies for stability

How to improve your Trust Score

  • Ask satisfied clients to leave reviews on Google, G2, Capterra, or Clutch — every verified review strengthens your score
  • Maintain and renew your Microsoft Solutions Partner designations to keep certification signals current
  • Respond professionally to all reviews — positive sentiment in responses is factored into analysis

Expertise Score

Demonstrated knowledge through published work, specialization depth, and growth signals

What factors into this score

  • Published case studies — count, detail quality, and recency of client success stories
  • Blog activity — substantive technical content, publishing frequency, and recency
  • Product and industry coverage — breadth and depth of Dynamics 365 specialization across modules and verticals
  • Hiring activity — job postings indicating growth and investment in Dynamics capability

How to improve your Expertise Score

  • Publish detailed case studies that describe the client challenge, your solution approach, and measurable outcomes
  • Maintain a consistent blog with substantive Dynamics 365 content — implementation guides, feature deep-dives, and industry commentary all count
  • Make your specializations explicit on your website — products, industries, and business process focus areas

Engagement Score

Active participation and profile quality on the Top Dynamics Partners platform

What factors into this score

  • Claimed and verified listing — partner has taken ownership of their profile
  • TDP badge displayed on partner website — signals active participation in the directory
  • Referral traffic — inbound traffic from the partner's own website to their TDP profile
  • Profile completeness and freshness — all key fields populated and recently updated
  • Responsiveness to customer reviews — partners who respond to reviews demonstrate active engagement

How to improve your Engagement Score

  • Claim your listing if you have not done so — unclaimed profiles score near zero on engagement
  • Add the TDP partner badge to your website and link it to your profile page
  • Keep your profile up to date — services, industries, certifications, and contact details should reflect your current capabilities
  • Respond to new reviews promptly to show buyers you are engaged with client feedback

How Scores Affect Directory Ranking

All three scores factor into where a partner appears in search results and category listings

The directory ranking algorithm combines Trust, Expertise, and Engagement scores to determine the default ordering of results. A partner who scores well across all three dimensions will consistently appear higher in relevant searches.

Sponsored placements always appear first, clearly labeled as such. Below sponsored slots, all ordering is determined algorithmically by score — no partner can buy an organic ranking position.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are scores updated?

Scores are recalculated daily. Review data, website signals, and profile changes all feed into the next day's score. If you make significant improvements to your profile or receive several new reviews, you should see the score reflect that within 24 hours.

Can scores decrease?

Yes. Scores are living metrics that respond to current data. A partner whose reviews trend negative, whose certifications lapse, or who stops publishing content will see their scores decline over time. This keeps rankings current and relevant.

What if a partner has limited data available?

Newer or smaller partners with fewer reviews or less published content receive a conservative score rather than a penalized one. Limited data is treated as uncertainty, not as evidence of poor performance. As a partner builds their track record, scores become more confident and accurate.

Do scores affect directory ranking?

Yes — all three scores factor into organic directory placement. Sponsored listings always appear first in their designated slot, clearly labeled. All other results are ordered by the combined score algorithm. Partners cannot pay to improve their organic score.

Ready to improve your partner profile?

Claim your listing, complete your profile, and start building the scores that buyers look at.