Branding has been a heavy marketing focus in recent years. As you shop for products, branding can influence your shopping behavior. You may recognize a familiar brand that is known for its quality. Other times, you may recognize a brand that is more environmentally conscious. Branding can help you to decide which product to buy in a competitive market. Research This week do some research on branding as well as marketing channels. Consider the relationship between these two as you reflect on the following questions. Discuss How important is branding or brand image for marketers? Marketers have many channels to consider as they decide on placement. Should channel images be consistent with brand images? Why or why not? What type of effect has online availability had on branding? Discuss each question and support your ideas with validating scholarly research