Marketing in the data centre industry comes with its unique set of hurdles, and one of the biggest challenges is navigating the strict non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that clients insist upon. With sensitive data and critical infrastructure on the line, particularly for industries like finance, healthcare, and government, confidentiality is paramount. But how do you market a product or service when you’re limited in what you can actually say or show? For marketers, this is the crux of the problem.
At Red Bear Tech, we understand this challenge all too well. Due to the nature of our work, we are often bound by NDAs that limit us from publicly showcasing the success stories or cutting-edge solutions we’ve developed for our clients. These agreements can prevent us from naming the customers we work with, sharing case studies, or even discussing performance metrics. The result is a significant roadblock when it comes to demonstrating the real-world impact of our work.
The Limits of Showcasing Success
Imagine trying to tell the world about a transformative project without being able to name the client, provide specific details, or even share photos that might reveal too much. In some cases, even images of the cables we install are subject to restrictions, requiring us to take extra care to avoid any identifying marks. This limitation makes it difficult to differentiate our services in a competitive marketplace, where results and innovation are key selling points.
For example, many of the data centres we build or manage are for high-profile clients whose operations are essential to their industries. The security measures in place often prohibit us from sharing even the smallest detail that could identify the client or their facility. As a result, we can’t always rely on flashy case studies or project showcases that other industries often use to attract new business.
How Red Bear Tech Navigates the NDA Maze
Fortunately, at Red Bear Tech, a large portion of our business comes from return clients. This gives us some breathing room, as we don’t always need to ‘sell ourselves’ as aggressively as others might. However, content creation can still pose a significant problem. NDAs can be so restrictive that even innocuous images, like photos of cables or racks, might not make the cut.
So how do we work around this? One method is through anonymized case studies. By stripping away client names and sensitive information, we can still tell the story of how our solutions solve problems. General performance statistics and third-party certifications also come in handy when it comes to establishing our credibility without breaching confidentiality agreements. However, these approaches only go so far, and the challenge of creating compelling, transparent content remains.
Vague Terms and Industry Jargon
Another common workaround is to describe technological innovations and unique service offerings in broad terms. While this keeps us in compliance with NDAs, it doesn’t do justice to the real breakthroughs and cutting-edge advancements that differentiate us from competitors. In contrast to other industries where marketers can freely promote their latest innovations, data centre marketers often find themselves walking a tightrope, trying to balance confidentiality with the need to highlight key strengths.
For example, while we might want to tell the world about a new cooling technology that drastically reduces a client’s energy costs, an NDA could prevent us from diving into the specifics of how that solution works or who it benefits.
What’s Next for Marketing at Red Bear Tech?
Despite these challenges, we’re excited about the future. The Red Bear Tech team is working on launching a new series of blog posts and interviews that will discuss these and other challenges we face in the data centre world. We’ll share insights into how we continue to innovate and grow while respecting the tight constraints of NDAs.
Our blog will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the complexities of marketing in this sector, alongside interviews with team members to bring a fresh perspective on our work. While we can’t always reveal the details of our most exciting projects, we can provide valuable insights into the processes, strategies, and innovations that make Red Bear Tech a leader in the data centre industry.
Watch this space! There’s plenty more to come as we navigate the delicate balance between confidentiality and transparency in the ever-evolving world of data centre marketing.