The most successful Web host resellers achieve a sense of
professionalism and competence through their brand identity.
In traditional marketing, "branding" campaigns are
designed to embed a company or product name into the consumer's psyche. A
brand is thus the proprietary visual, emotional, rational, and cultural
image that we associate with a company, product or service.
Excellent brands will standout, will impact the consumer
and convey quality and value-for-money perceptions. A good brand will
provide a good first impression and evoke positive associations with the
brand.
The brand identity usually consists of brand names, logos,
positioning, brand associations, and brand personality. A brand identity is
the sole public image of a product, line, or service. It is the visual
connector between firm and customer. A good brand identity stands out from
its competitors, as it demands attention and more effectively markets to its
audience. A good brand identity communicates directly and indirectly. It
consciously and subconsciously draws a consumer to a product, service and
the company.
Branding is tremendously important to the Web host
reseller because image is the most important factor to an online-based
business. Since the service that the reseller is selling is intangible, in
comparison to other products and services that take up physical space, it is
necessary to convey a sense of professionalism and competence in order to
facilitate sales and profitability.
The most successful Web host resellers achieve this sense
of professionalism and competence through their brand identity. Because the
nature of Web host reselling rarely permits face to face interaction with
customers, it is important the consumer base their relationship with your
company on solid visual stimulus. The brand identity constitutes such visual
stimulus especially if the reseller is engaged in mass marketing of their
products and services. For this reason visual identity is the core component
of the brand.
A good brand should always have an effective logo that is
unique; instantly communicates the nature of the business; appeals to the
target audience; and works in the context of all communication vehicles
which you design and use. The most important factor is that the visual
identity should be consistent, repetitive and retain a sense of longevity.
Another important component of the brand identity is a
positioning statement, or tagline. The positioning statement is usually used
in conjunction with the logo and business name in all promotional materials,
from business cards to Web sites. This, once again, ensures consistency and
continuity of both visual and verbal image the company presents to its
customers.
The positioning statement should clearly state or
reinforce what the reseller does. Other characteristics of the positioning
statement are that it should be honest, brief, memorable and as unique as
your company logo.
The notion behind branding is to immediately convey what
your reseller organization does to consumers when they examine any element
of your promotional materials and marketing collateral. Because immediacy
and interactivity defines the Web, the Internet serves as an excellent way
to extend to your brand to new audiences and markets. By marketing a product
on the Web, it is possible to closely target appropriate groups and even
individuals, and in a sense develop the brand specifically for them. This
should be objective of any competent reseller.
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