Memo to Cisco: Flip Your Branding Switch
Cisco Systems has done quite a lot to promote the Flip video camera since acquiring the Flip business in March 2009. Cisco partners that attend Cisco Partner Summit in mid-2009 and Cisco Partner Velocity in November 2009 all received the Flip camera. That’s smart viral marketing. Now, it’s time for Cisco to take the next step: Add the Cisco brand to all Flip products. Here’s why.
During the Cisco Partner Velocity summit, one of the guest speakers raved about Cisco’s commitment to marketing. The same guest speaker raved about the Flip video camera’s simplicity. Then, the speaker made a stunning statement: “I had forgotten that Cisco owns the Flip.”
Hmmm. Perhaps that statement isn’t so stunning since the Flip product doesn’t display a Cisco logo.
As consumers prepare to buy a range of gadgets and gizmos this holiday season The VAR Guy wonders: Wouldn’t it be wise for Cisco to start promoting the fact that the company owns the Flip? It’s a great consumer brand. And Cisco should surely attach its name to that brand…
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Your readership knows who Cisco is but it is not a cool brand, and it doesn’t have any confidence index in CE.
Would you buy a Cisco DVD player over a Sony? How about Cisco Digital camera over a Canon?
Flip is a cool brand, that itself might be more valuable to Cisco then the actual technology.
Andrew: Agreed, Cisco isn’t a consumer brand. But much in the way Linksys products now carry the Cisco logo, The VAR Guy is suggesting Flip do the same. So, Flip remains the primary brand but Cisco’s logo is at least somewhere on the Flip device and all packaging…
The Flip commercials running now have a Cisco logo that flashes up on the screen along with the familiar “blip, blipup” sound.
Alex: The VAR Guy saw that TV commercial over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Smart move by Cisco to add their logo to the Flip TV commercial. Now, it’s time for Cisco to add its logo to the actual device. The VAR Guy suspects that move will happen pretty soon…