The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Best-in-Class Profile

RangeMe is the online platform for growing your business and developing your retailer relationships. Your brand profile is a strategic tool that acts as your digital sell sheet– giving you the ability to stand out from the crowd and be discovered by the right retail buyers for you.

Whether you are new to RangeMe or have had your products on the platform for a while, it’s important to invest time in your profile. There may be buyers on RangeMe looking for a product just like yours, but without properly setting up your profile to be tailored towards your targeted buyer audience, you might miss out on an opportunity. 

With this guide, learn the tips and tricks on what makes a Best-in-class profile to attract relevant buyers for new retail opportunities.

Contents

When preparing to build a Best-in-class profile, your approach should consider 4 different requirements:

1. First Impressions Matter
2. Your Products
3. RangeMe Search Optimization
4. Your Brand
5. The Buyer Point of View
6. Your Story

Before You Start

Prior to setting up your RangeMe profile, you will want to have some important business information and details on hand. Once you have all your product ingredients, distributor, and insurance information, etc., you’ll be set to start filling out your brand profile.

First Impressions Matter

First impressions with Buyers are important. Your first impression with Buyers on RangeMe determines whether a buyer will continue exploring your profile and products, and ultimately start a conversation or request a sample from you.

Product Images

Buyers on RangeMe search for products that not only catch their attention but also the attention of customers browsing in their stores or on their website. That means product images are one of the first and most important items buyers will come across when searching for products on RangeMe. That’s why it is crucial to have High-quality product images when creating your RangeMe profile.

There are several elements that define a good product image. You want a product image that is clear, high-resolution, and communicates your brand and how your product will look on store shelves. 

Always showcase your products by how they would appear in stores. That means the image should feature your product in its packaging. The most effective and attractive product images on RangeMe have the following three elements:

1. The product is shown against a completely bright-white or transparent background
2. The product is a close-up and takes up most of the space within the image
3. The image is clear, high-quality, and labels are legible

Product Descriptions

When deciding on word choice for your RangeMe product descriptions, consider the types of searches your products should appear in. Include these keywords in your product descriptions. Be thoughtful! Your product descriptions should describe your product to the buyer, not just be a string of relevant keywords.

Unique Selling Propositions (USPs)

USPs are key attributes that differentiate your product from the competition. You should select attributes that set your product apart from the rest within your product category. Be specific and concise with your USPs; this will improve your search results for buyers. Such USPs could be based on product ingredients, materials, trends, or specific certifications that make your brand stand out.

Examples: Sustainably sourced, Made in America, Woman-owned Business, Certified Organic, Gluten-Free

RangeMe Search Optimization

Consumers search for products on the internet using specific keywords. So do buyers when searching for products on RangeMe. Include relevant keywords in your product descriptions, unique selling propositions, and ingredients that buyers would use to search for your products.

Your Brand's Cover Image

Whether a buyer comes across your brand when browsing, reviewing submissions, or visiting your profile, your cover image is one of the first things they will see about your brand. Make sure to choose an image that represents your brand and its mission. It is key to making a good first impression.

A cover image should be clean and easy to digest at a glance. Showcase your product lineup, your company tagline, and any social media presence or Certifications your brand may have.

Here are a few examples of great cover images used on the platform:

Your Brand Profile

Buyers on RangeMe need to easily understand your brand's look, feel, and mission when they click into your profile. Your brand profile is where all the elements of your business and brand are stored. Create a cohesive experience by displaying similar information, images, and words that are used on your website– but make sure everything is positioned to the buyer audience, not your consumers.

The Buyer Point of View

Buyers use RangeMe daily to discover new products for their customers. During a buyer’s search process on RangeMe, they will see your brand’s completed profile prior to diving into the product(s) you have to offer. With that in mind, you will want to ensure that your brand profile is well put together and conveys a clear brand identity to buyers.

While all information in your RangeMe profile is important to a buyer, buyers tend to focus on a few key pieces before reviewing the rest of your profile. Most buyers on RangeMe first read through the information on your Brand Card, social media pages, trade shows, and if a brand is RangeMe Verified.

Brand Card

Most buyers prefer to browse brands when searching in categories. A Brand Card is what a buyer will view from their dashboard before clicking into your profile for more details. Brand Cards include the following fields:

1. MSRP Range
2. Margin Range
3. Cover Product
4. Cover Image
5. Logo
6. Number of Products

RangeMe Tip: The cover product is the first product buyers will see when viewing your brand profile. When choosing a cover product to select your Best-selling item.

To preview your Brand Card as it appears to buyers select the cog in the top right hand of your brand page and click “View Brand Card as a buyer”. Make sure to review and fix any errors in your Brand Card so you don’t turn away buyers.

Social Media

A CPG brand can no longer get away with not having a social media presence in today’s internet-driven world. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and other platforms play a vital role in helping businesses market to and connect with consumers. Consumers aren't the only ones wanting to learn more about a brand through their social media. Instagram is becoming the top social media channel buyers view on RangeMe, so make sure to link your social media accounts to your profile. Including your social media channels helps buyers understand your level of brand awareness, if you are actively promoting your brand, and developing consumer demand.

RangeMe Tip: Make sure your Instagram account is a business account and not a regular account. This will provide you with valuable business insights on your Instagram performance.

Trade Shows

Include any upcoming trade shows you’re attending. It is a great way to let buyers know where they can find you to experience your product(s) first hand. Oftentimes, buyers will log in to RangeMe prior to a big trade show to scout out brands or check to see if any brands that have been on their radar will be there. Learn how to use RangeMe during trade show season here.

RangeMe Verified

Buyers look for brands that are RangeMe Verified because it indicates that your brand and products meet the criteria they require when considering a brand. When a brand is RangeMe Verified it is more likely up to get 7x more likely to get views from buyers and appear in their top search results compared to unverified brands. In order to become RangeMe Verified, you must become a Premium supplier and have these 7 fields filled out and confirmed:

1. Product Images
2. Product Barcode
3. Insurance
4. Business Type
5. Nutritional Information
6. Packaging
7. Ingredients

Buyers seek out brands with a RangeMe Verified badge because that ensures that the brand and its products are of high quality and ready for retail stores.

Your Brand Story

You should share what your brand is, what your brand is doing, and why buyers should be a part of it. Your brand story should include all the details you wish to share with buyers about your mission, history, and products. It shows a buyer that you have a complete retail-ready brand, not just products. Click here to learn how to add your brand story.

Additional Tips

Sharing

Have an existing list of buyer contacts? Share your RangeMe profile with them! Sharing your RangeMe profile with your buyer contacts is a great way to share more about your brand and product offering. By sharing your RangeMe profile with existing contacts, you can gain valuable data on how these buyers interact with your brand on RangeMe. The best part- buyers outside of RangeMe don’t need an account to view your products.

Click here for more information on how to enhance your shares for better results.

Industry Insights

Industry Insights shares relevant real-time industry data on what’s driving buyer interest on RangeMe in their specific retail sub-category. By periodically checking the Industry Insights section, you are able to understand how your product compares to others within your sub-category, can make more informed business decisions, and identify opportunities to develop to ultimately attract more buyers.

Watch this quick video to learn more about how Insights work.

To be considered a best-in-class profile and attract the most buyer attention on RangeMe, a brand profile must include all the elements above. However, every brand profile should reflect the company’s unique mission and personality. By doing so, buyers will see what makes your brand unique and reach out to be a part of your brand's journey.