Any time you’re trying to legitimize your business and solidify your brand, it’s nice to have a high-profile client on your customer list. This dynamic is true even if your brand is Google … because not all your programs and products panned out in the past.
Consumer doubt can be the kiss of death to new ideas, even if those ideas already have traction, because if you can’t be a big money player in the mix, you are destined to get spread too thin chasing players that can move public opinion. Even if you’re Google.
That’s why the latest news surrounding Google’s cloud services has been receiving such buzz. Home Depot signed up and signed on to the future of cloud computing with Google as its standard bearer.
While Google already has some impressive clientele, many of those big names – like Snapchat – already have a web-based business model. For a (literal) brick and mortar store like Home Depot to jump on the bandwagon brings a load of legitimacy for businesses of all types and sizes.
This could be the tipping point for a business that already generated about $500 million in revenue last year, already good enough for a number 4 spot in the cloud computing pantheon. This major vote of confidence could have Google making even bigger waves.
Still, it will be a tough nut for even Google to crack, coming up against market leaders such as Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM. Still, the brand does have the momentum, and now they have a big ticket player they can shop to other more terrestrial minded CTOs.
As with any business sales pitch, a strong list of Other Customers is an important bargaining chip. It establishes trust and brand strength without anyone having to say anything. Just seeing the Home Depot logo on a presentation is apt to make other business leaders sit up and pay attention. The thought: well if THOSE GUYS like these guys, they must have something important to offer. I better listen a little closer.
That level of attention is not something you can buy with promises or earn with swagger. You must project it with innate value and worth, appeal to the emotional, not the rational side of the customer’s mind. Sure, they will want to believe they are making a strong decision, but if you can convince them to feel good about what you bring to the table, you may not need to do much convincing after all.