The word brand means

A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller’s good or service from those of other sellers.^[2][3][4][5] Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create and store value as brand equity for the object identified, to the benefit of the brand’s customers, its owners and shareholders.^[6] Brand names are sometimes distinguished from generic or store brands.

The practice of branding — in the original literal sense of marking by burning — is thought to have begun with the ancient Egyptians, who are known to have engaged in livestock branding as early as 2,700 BCE.^{[7][need quotation to verify]} Branding was used to differentiate one person’s cattle from another’s by means of a distinctive symbol burned into the animal’s skin with a hot branding iron. If a person stole any of the cattle, anyone else who saw the symbol could deduce the actual owner. The term has been extended to mean a strategic personality for a product or company, so that «brand» now suggests the values and promises that a consumer may perceive and buy into. It includes the voice and the tonality of the business. Over time, the practice of branding objects extended to a broader range of packaging and goods offered for sale including oil, wine, cosmetics, and fish sauce and, in the 21st century, extends even further into services (such as legal, financial and medical), political parties and people (e.g. Lady Gaga and Katy Perry). Branding in terms of painting a cow with symbols or colors at flea markets was considered to be one of the oldest forms of the practice.

In the modern era, the concept of branding has expanded to include deployment by a manager of the marketing and communication techniques and tools that help to distinguish a company or products from competitors, aiming to create a lasting impression in the minds of customers. The key components that form a brand’s toolbox include a brand’s identity, personality, product design, brand communication (such as by logos and trademarks), brand awareness, brand loyalty, and various branding (brand management) strategies.^[8] Many companies believe that there is often little to differentiate between several types of products in the 21st century, hence branding is among a few remaining forms of product differentiation.^[9]

Brand equity is the measurable totality of a brand’s worth and is validated by observing the effectiveness of these branding components.^[10] As markets become increasingly dynamic and fluctuating, brand equity is built by the deployment of marketing techniques to increase customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, with side effects like reduced price sensitivity.^[8] A brand is, in essence, a promise to its customers of what they can expect from products and may include emotional as well as functional benefits.^[8] When a customer is familiar with a brand or favors it incomparably to its competitors, a corporation has reached a high level of brand equity.^[10] Special accounting standards have been devised to assess brand equity. In accounting, a brand, defined as an intangible asset, is often the most valuable asset on a corporation’s balance sheet. Brand owners manage their brands carefully to create shareholder value. Brand valuation is a management technique that ascribes a monetary value to a brand, and allows marketing investment to be managed (e.g.: prioritized across a portfolio of brands) to maximize shareholder value. Although only acquired brands appear on a company’s balance sheet, the notion of putting a value on a brand forces marketing leaders to be focused on long term stewardship of the brand and managing for value.

The word «brand» is often used as a metonym referring to the company that is strongly identified with a brand.^[11] Marque or make are often used to denote a brand of motor vehicle, which may be distinguished from a car model. A concept brand is a brand that is associated with an abstract concept, like breast-cancer awareness or environmentalism, rather than a specific product, service, or business. A commodity brand is a brand associated with a commodity.

Etymology[edit]

The word, brand, derives from its original and current meaning as a firebrand, a burning piece of wood. That word comes from Old English byrnan, biernan, and brinnan via Middle English as birnan and brond.^[12] Torches were used to indelibly mark items such as furniture and pottery, and to permanently burn identifying marks into the skin of livestock and even slaves. Later the firebrands were replaced with branding irons.^[13][14] The marks themselves took on the term and came to be closely associated with craftsmen’s products. Through that association, the term evolved to its current meaning.

History[edit]

Branding and labeling have an ancient history. Branding probably began with the practice of branding livestock to deter theft. Images of the branding of cattle occur in ancient Egyptian tombs dating to around 2,700 BCE.^[15] Over time, purchasers realized that the brand provided information about origin as well as about ownership, and could serve as a guide to quality. Branding was adapted by farmers, potters, and traders for use on other types of goods such as pottery and ceramics. Forms of branding or proto-branding emerged spontaneously and independently throughout Africa, Asia and Europe at different times, depending on local conditions.^[16] Seals, which acted as quasi-brands, have been found on early Chinese products of the Qin dynasty (221-206 BCE); large numbers of seals survive from the Harappan civilization of the Indus Valley (3,300–1,300 BCE) where the local community depended heavily on trade; cylinder seals came into use in Ur in Mesopotamia in around 3,000 BCE, and facilitated the labelling of goods and property; and the use of maker’s marks on pottery was commonplace in both ancient Greece and Rome.^[16] Identity marks, such as stamps on ceramics, were also used in ancient Egypt.^[17]

Diana Twede has argued that the «consumer packaging functions of protection, utility and communication have been necessary whenever packages were the object of transactions».^[18] She has shown that amphorae used in Mediterranean trade between 1,500 and 500 BCE exhibited a wide variety of shapes and markings, which consumers used to glean information about the type of goods and the quality. The systematic use of stamped labels dates from around the fourth century BCE. In largely pre-literate society, the shape of the amphora and its pictorial markings conveyed information about the contents, region of origin and even the identity of the producer, which were understood to convey information about product quality.^[19] David Wengrow has argued that branding became necessary following the urban revolution in ancient Mesopotamia in the 4th century BCE, when large-scale economies started mass-producing commodities such as alcoholic drinks, cosmetics and textiles. These ancient societies imposed strict forms of quality-control over commodities, and also needed to convey value to the consumer through branding. Producers began by attaching simple stone seals to products which, over time, gave way to clay seals bearing impressed images, often associated with the producer’s personal identity thus giving the product a personality.^{[20][need quotation to verify]} Not all historians agree that these markings are comparable with modern brands or labels, with some suggesting that the early pictorial brands or simple thumbprints used in pottery should be termed proto-brands^[21] while other historians argue that the presence of these simple markings does not imply that mature brand management practices operated.^[22]

Scholarly studies have found evidence of branding, packaging, and labeling in antiquity.^[23][24] Archaeological evidence of potters’ stamps has been found across the breadth of the Roman Empire and in ancient Greece. Stamps were used on bricks, pottery, and storage containers as well as on fine ceramics.^[25] Pottery marking had become commonplace in ancient Greece by the 6th century BCE. A vase manufactured around 490 BCE bears the inscription «Sophilos painted me», indicating that the object was both fabricated and painted by a single potter.^[26] Branding may have been necessary to support the extensive trade in such pots. For example, 3rd-century Gaulish pots bearing the names of well-known potters and the place of manufacture (such as Attianus of Lezoux, Tetturo of Lezoux and Cinnamus of Vichy) have been found as far away as Essex and Hadrian’s Wall in England.^{[27][28][29][30]} English potters based at Colchester and Chichester used stamps on their ceramic wares by the 1st century CE.^[31] The use of hallmarks, a type of brand, on precious metals dates to around the 4th century CE. A series of five marks occurs on Byzantine silver dating from this period.^[32]

Some of the earliest use of maker’s marks, dating to about 1,300 BCE, have been found in India.^[15] The oldest generic brand in continuous use, known in India since the Vedic period (c. 1100 BCE to 500 BCE), is the herbal paste known as chyawanprash, consumed for its purported health benefits and attributed to a revered rishi (or seer) named Chyawan.^[33] One well-documented early example of a highly developed brand is that of White Rabbit sewing needles, dating from China’s Song dynasty (960 to 1127 CE).^[34][35] A copper printing plate used to print posters contained a message which roughly translates as: «Jinan Liu’s Fine Needle Shop: We buy high-quality steel rods and make fine-quality needles, to be ready for use at home in no time.»^[36] The plate also includes a trademark in the form of a ‘White Rabbit», which signified good luck and was particularly relevant to women, who were the primary purchasers. Details in the image show a white rabbit crushing herbs, and text includes advice to shoppers to look for the stone white rabbit in front of the maker’s shop.^[37]

In ancient Rome, a commercial brand or inscription applied to objects offered for sale was known as a titulus pictus. The inscription typically specified information such as place of origin, destination, type of product and occasionally quality claims or the name of the manufacturer.^[38] Roman marks or inscriptions were applied to a very wide variety of goods, including, pots, ceramics, amphorae (storage/shipping containers)^[21] and on factory-produced oil-lamps.^[39] Carbonized loaves of bread, found at Herculaneum, indicate that some bakers stamped their bread with the producer’s name.^[40] Roman glassmakers branded their works, with the name of Ennion appearing most prominently.^[41]

One merchant that made good use of the titulus pictus was Umbricius Scaurus, a manufacturer of fish sauce (also known as garum) in Pompeii, circa 35 CE. Mosaic patterns in the atrium of his house feature images of amphorae bearing his personal brand and quality claims. The mosaic depicts four different amphora, one at each corner of the atrium, and bearing labels as follows:^[42]

1. G(ari) F(los) SCO[m]/ SCAURI/ EX OFFI[ci]/NA SCAU/RI (translated as: «The flower of garum, made of the mackerel, a product of Scaurus, from the shop of Scaurus»)

2. LIQU[minis]/ FLOS (translated as: «The flower of Liquamen»)

3. G[ari] F[los] SCOM[bri]/ SCAURI (translated as: «The flower of garum, made of the mackerel, a product of Scaurus»)

4. LIQUAMEN/ OPTIMUM/ EX OFFICI[n]/A SCAURI (translated as: «The best liquamen, from the shop of Scaurus»)

Scaurus’ fish sauce was known by people across the Mediterranean to be of very high quality, and its reputation traveled as far away as modern France.^[42] In both Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum, archaeological evidence also points to evidence of branding and labeling in relatively common use across a broad range of goods. Wine jars, for example, were stamped with names, such as «Lassius» and «L. Eumachius»; probably references to the name of the producer.

The use of identity marks on products declined following the fall of the Roman Empire. In the European Middle Ages, heraldry developed a language of visual symbolism which would feed into the evolution of branding,^[43]
and with the rise of the merchant guilds the use of marks resurfaced and was applied to specific types of goods. By the 13th century, the use of maker’s marks had become evident on a broad range of goods. In 1266, makers’ marks on bread became compulsory in England.^[44] The Italians used brands in the form of watermarks on paper in the 13th century.^[45] Blind stamps, hallmarks, and silver-makers’ marks—all types of brand—became widely used across Europe during this period. Hallmarks, although known from the 4th-century, especially in Byzantium,^[46] only came into general use during the Medieval period.^[47] British silversmiths introduced hallmarks for silver in 1300.^[48]

Some brands still in existence as of 2018 date from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries’ period of mass-production. Bass Brewery, the British brewery founded in 1777, became a pioneer in international brand marketing. Many years before 1855, Bass applied a red triangle to casks of its pale ale. In 1876, its red-triangle brand became the first registered trademark issued by the British government.^[49] Guinness World Records recognizes Tate & Lyle (of Lyle’s Golden Syrup) as Britain’s, and the world’s, oldest branding and packaging, with its green-and-gold packaging having remained almost unchanged since 1885.^[50] Twinings tea has used the same logo – capitalized font beneath a lion crest – since 1787, making it the world’s oldest in continuous use.^[51][52]

A characteristic feature of 19th-century mass-marketing was the widespread use of branding, originating with the advent of packaged goods.^[15] Industrialization moved the production of many household items, such as soap, from local communities to centralized factories. When shipping their items, the factories would literally brand their logo or company insignia on the barrels used, effectively using a corporate trademark as a quasi-brand.^[54]

Factories established following the Industrial Revolution introduced mass-produced goods and needed to sell their products to a wider market—that is, to customers previously familiar only with locally produced goods.^[55] It became apparent that a generic package of soap had difficulty competing with familiar, local products. Packaged-goods manufacturers needed to convince the market that the public could place just as much trust in the non-local product. Gradually, manufacturers began using personal identifiers to differentiate their goods from generic products on the market. Marketers generally began to realize that brands, to which personalities were attached, outsold rival brands.^[56] By the 1880s, large manufacturers had learned to imbue their brands’ identity with personality traits such as youthfulness, fun, sex appeal, luxury or the «cool» factor. This began the modern practice now known as branding, where the consumers buy the brand instead of the product and rely on the brand name instead of a retailer’s recommendation.

The process of giving a brand «human» characteristics represented, at least in part, a response to consumer concerns about mass-produced goods.^[57] The Quaker Oats Company began using the image of the Quaker Man in place of a trademark from the late 1870s, with great success.^[58] Pears’ soap, Campbell’s soup, Coca-Cola, Juicy Fruit chewing gum and Aunt Jemima pancake mix were also among the first products to be «branded» in an effort to increase the consumer’s familiarity with the product’s merits. Other brands which date from that era, such as Ben’s Original rice and Kellogg’s breakfast cereal, furnish illustrations of the trend.

By the early 1900s, trade press publications, advertising agencies, and advertising experts began producing books and pamphlets exhorting manufacturers to bypass retailers and to advertise directly to consumers with strongly branded messages. Around 1900, advertising guru James Walter Thompson published a housing advertisement explaining trademark advertising. This was an early commercial explanation of what scholars now recognize as modern branding and the beginnings of brand management.^[59] This trend continued to the 1980s, and as of 2018 is quantified by marketers in concepts such as brand value and brand equity.^[60] Naomi Klein has described this development as «brand equity mania».^[61] In 1988, for example, Philip Morris Companies purchased Kraft Foods Inc. for six times what the company was worth on paper. Business analysts reported that what they really purchased was the brand name.

With the rise of mass media in the early 20th century, companies adopted techniques that allowed their messages to stand out. Slogans, mascots, and jingles began to appear on radio in the 1920s and in early television in the 1930s. Soap manufacturers sponsored many of the earliest radio drama series, and the genre became known as soap opera.^[62]

By the 1940s, manufacturers began to recognize the way in which consumers had started to develop relationships with their brands in a social/psychological/anthropological sense.^[63] Advertisers began to use motivational research and consumer research to gather insights into consumer purchasing. Strong branded campaigns for Chrysler and Exxon/Esso, using insights drawn from research into psychology and cultural anthropology, led to some of the most enduring campaigns of the 20th-century.^[64] Brand advertisers began to imbue goods and services with a personality, based on the insight that consumers searched for brands with personalities that matched their own.^[65][66]

Concepts[edit]

Effective branding, attached to strong brand values, can result in higher sales of not only one product, but of other products associated with that brand.^[67] If a customer loves Pillsbury biscuits and trusts the brand, he or she is more likely to try other products offered by the company – such as chocolate-chip cookies, for example. Brand development, often performed by a design team, takes time to produce.

Brand names and trademarks[edit]

A brand name is the part of a brand that can be spoken or written and identifies a product, service or company and sets it apart from other comparable products within a category. A brand name may include words, phrases, signs, symbols, designs, or any combination of these elements. For consumers, a brand name is a «memory heuristic»: a convenient way to remember preferred product choices. A brand name is not to be confused with a trademark which refers to the brand name or part of a brand that is legally protected.^[68] For example, Coca-Cola not only protects the brand name, Coca-Cola, but also protects the distinctive Spencerian script and the contoured shape of the bottle.

It appears that a brand name and the relationship the consumer keep with the brand as a whole has evolved. From the simple product recognition process a brand name now holds a symbolic and social identification spectrum. [fournier 1998] For example, one can buy Nike because they want to be associated with the kind of people who wear Nike and with the values and attributes of that brand. More than a product it is a statement that one should seek to purchase by proxy of the brand [Belk 1988].

Corporate brand identity[edit]

Brand identity is a collection of individual components, such as a name, a design, a set of images, a slogan, a vision, writing style, a particular font or a symbol etc. which sets the brand aside from others.^[69][70]
For a company to exude a strong sense of brand identity, it must have an in-depth understanding of its target market, competitors and the surrounding business environment.^[8] Brand identity includes both the core identity and the extended identity.^[8] The core identity reflects consistent long-term associations with the brand; whereas the extended identity involves the intricate details of the brand that help generate a constant motif.^[8]

According to Kotler et al. (2009), a brand’s identity may deliver four levels of meaning:

1. attributes
2. benefits
3. values
4. personality

A brand’s attributes are a set of labels with which the corporation wishes to be associated. For example, a brand may showcase its primary attribute as environmental friendliness. However, a brand’s attributes alone are not enough to persuade a customer into purchasing the product.^[69] These attributes must be communicated through benefits, which are more emotional translations. If a brand’s attribute is being environmentally friendly, customers will receive the benefit of feeling that they are helping the environment by associating with the brand. Aside from attributes and benefits, a brand’s identity may also involve branding to focus on representing its core set of values.^[69] If a company is seen to symbolize specific values, it will, in turn, attract customers who also believe in these values.^[65] For example, Nike’s brand represents the value of a «just do it» attitude.^[71] Thus, this form of brand identification attracts customers who also share this same value. Even more extensive than its perceived values is a brand’s personality.^[69] Quite literally, one can easily describe a successful brand identity as if it were a person.^[69] This form of brand identity has proven to be the most advantageous in maintaining long-lasting relationships with consumers, as it gives them a sense of personal interaction with the brand ^[72] Collectively, all four forms of brand identification help to deliver a powerful meaning behind what a corporation hopes to accomplish, and to explain why customers should choose one brand over its competitors.^[8]

Brand personality[edit]

Brand personality refers to «the set of human personality traits that are both applicable to and relevant for brands.»^[73] Marketers and consumer researchers often argue that brands can be imbued with human-like characteristics which resonate with potential consumers.^[74] Such personality traits can assist marketers to create unique, brands that are differentiated from rival brands. Aaker conceptualized brand personality as consisting of five broad dimensions, namely: sincerity (down-to-earth, honest, wholesome, and cheerful), excitement (daring, spirited, imaginative, and up to date), competence (reliable, intelligent, and successful), sophistication (glamorous, upper class, charming), and ruggedness (outdoorsy and tough).^[75] Subsequent research studies have suggested that Aaker’s dimensions of brand personality are relatively stable across different industries, market segments and over time. Much of the literature on branding suggests that consumers prefer brands with personalities that are congruent with their own.^[76][77]

Consumers may distinguish the psychological aspect (brand associations like thoughts, feelings, perceptions, images, experiences, beliefs, attitudes, and so on that become linked to the brand) of a brand from the experiential aspect. The experiential aspect consists of the sum of all points of contact with the brand and is termed the consumer’s brand experience. The brand is often intended to create an emotional response and recognition, leading to potential loyalty and repeat purchases. The brand experience is a brand’s action perceived by a person.^[78] The psychological aspect, sometimes referred to as the brand image, is a symbolic construct created within the minds of people, consisting of all the information and expectations associated with a product, with a service, or with the companies providing them.^[78]

Marketers or product managers that responsible for branding, seek to develop or align the expectations behind the brand experience, creating the impression that a brand associated with a product or service has certain qualities or characteristics, which make it special or unique.^[79] A brand can, therefore, become one of the most valuable elements in an advertising theme, as it demonstrates what the brand owner is able to offer in the marketplace. This means that building a strong brand helps to distinguish a product from similar ones and differentiate it from competitors.^[65] The art of creating and maintaining a brand is called brand management. The orientation of an entire organization towards its brand is called brand orientation. Brand orientation develops in response to market intelligence.^[79]

Careful brand management seeks to make products or services relevant and meaningful to a target audience. Marketers tend to treat brands as more than the difference between the actual cost of a product and its selling price; rather brands represent the sum of all valuable qualities of a product to the consumer and are often treated as the total investment in brand building activities including marketing communications.^[80]

Consumers may look on branding as an aspect of products or services,^[10] as it often serves to denote a certain attractive quality or characteristic (see also brand promise). From the perspective of brand owners, branded products or services can command higher prices. Where two products resemble each other, but one of the products has no associated branding (such as a generic, store-branded product), potential purchasers may often select the more expensive branded product on the basis of the perceived quality of the brand or on the basis of the reputation of the brand owner.

Brand Mascots[edit]

Brand Mascots are a part of a brands personality. Many times a brand mascot is the personification of a brand often integrating a part of their logo. Brands can use their mascots in a variety of ways typically having them act as the voice in digital and print advertisements. One such example of a successful brand mascot is the Duolingo Owl, Duo. Duo was created by the company at its origination and has evolved over time from just a logo to their main form of messaging.^[81] Utilizing Duo on TikTok as their spokes mascot has led many other brands to create characters out of elements of their brand iconography on the app. Other mascots that have found success on TikTok are The Empire State Building and Sour Patch Kids mascot.^[82] Mascots can go through changes throughout their lifecycle and this is important for them to stay relevant in their market. The Pringles mascot Mr. P has recently gone through a redesign that allows them to be more simplified, but allowing his expressions to change depending on the circumstance. Design week thinks that the most successful mascots are those that tell a story, and the redesign of Mr. P allows him to be utilized in more situations and be able to tell different stories.^[83]

Brand awareness[edit]

Brand awareness involves a customers’ ability to recall and/or recognize brands, logos, and branded advertising. Brands help customers to understand which brands or products belong to which product or service category. Brands assist customers to understand the constellation of benefits offered by individual brands, and how a given brand within a category is differentiated from its competing brands, and thus the brand helps customers & potential customers understand which brand satisfies their needs. Thus, the brand offers the customer a short-cut to understanding the different product or service offerings that make up a particular category.

Brand awareness is a key step in the customer’s purchase decision process, since some kind of awareness is a precondition to purchasing. That is, customers will not consider a brand if they are not aware of it.^[84] Brand awareness is a key component in understanding the effectiveness both of a brand’s identity and of its communication methods.^[85] Successful brands are those that consistently generate a high level of brand awareness, as this can be the pivotal factor in securing customer transactions.^[86] Various forms of brand awareness can be identified. Each form reflects a different stage in a customer’s cognitive ability to address the brand in a given circumstance.^[10]

Marketers typically identify two distinct types of brand awareness; namely brand recall (also known as unaided recall or occasionally spontaneous recall) and brand recognition (also known as aided brand recall).^[87] These types of awareness operate in entirely different ways with important implications for marketing strategy and advertising.

• Most companies aim for «Top-of-Mind» which occurs when a brand pops into a consumer’s mind when asked to name brands in a product category. For example, when someone is asked to name a type of facial tissue, the common answer, «Kleenex», will represent a top-of-mind brand. Top-of-mind awareness is a special case of brand recall.
• Brand recall (also known as unaided brand awareness or spontaneous awareness) refers to the brand or set of brands that a consumer can elicit from memory when prompted with a product category
• Brand recognition (also known as aided brand awareness) occurs when consumers see or read a list of brands, and express familiarity with a particular brand only after they hear or see it as a type of memory aide.
• Strategic awareness occurs when a brand is not only top-of-mind to consumers, but also has distinctive qualities which consumers perceive as making it better than other brands in the particular market. The distinction(s) that set a product apart from the competition is/are also known as the unique selling point or USP.^[88]

Brand recognition[edit]

Brand recognition is one of the initial phases of brand awareness and validates whether or not a customer remembers being pre-exposed to the brand.^[86] Brand recognition (also known as aided brand recall) refers to consumers’ ability to correctly differentiate a brand when they come into contact with it. This does not necessarily require that the consumers identify or recall the brand name. When customers experience brand recognition, they are triggered by either a visual or verbal cue.^[10] For example, when looking to satisfy a category need such as a toilet paper, the customer would firstly be presented with multiple brands to choose from. Once the customer is visually or verbally faced with a brand, he/she may remember being introduced to the brand before. When given some type of cue, consumers who are able to retrieve the particular memory node that referred to the brand, they exhibit brand recognition.^[10] Often, this form of brand awareness assists customers in choosing one brand over another when faced with a low-involvement purchasing decision.^[89]

Brand recognition is often the mode of brand awareness that operates in retail shopping environments. When presented with a product at the point-of-sale, or after viewing its visual packaging, consumers are able to recognize the brand and may be able to associate it with attributes or meanings acquired through exposure to promotion or word-of-mouth referrals.^[90] In contrast to brand recall, where few consumers are able to spontaneously recall brand names within a given category, when prompted with a brand name, a larger number of consumers are typically able to recognize it.

Brand recognition is most successful when people can elicit recognition without being explicitly exposed to the company’s name, but rather through visual signifiers like logos, slogans, and colors.^[91] For example, Disney successfully branded its particular script font (originally created for Walt Disney’s «signature» logo), which it used in the logo for go.com.

Brand recall[edit]

Unlike brand recognition, brand recall (also known as unaided brand recall or spontaneous brand recall) is the ability of the customer retrieving the brand correctly from memory.^[10] Rather than being given a choice of multiple brands to satisfy a need, consumers are faced with a need first, and then must recall a brand from their memory to satisfy that need. This level of brand awareness is stronger than brand recognition, as the brand must be firmly cemented in the consumer’s memory to enable unassisted remembrance.^[86] This gives the company huge advantage over its competitors because the customer is already willing to buy or at least know the company offering available in the market. Thus, brand recall is a confirmation that previous branding touchpoints have successfully fermented in the minds of its consumers.^[89]

Marketing-mix modeling can help marketing leaders optimize how they spend marketing budgets to maximize the impact on brand awareness or on sales. Managing brands for value creation will often involve applying marketing-mix modeling techniques in conjunction with brand valuation.^[69]

Brand elements[edit]

Brands typically comprise various elements, such as:^[92]

• name: the word or words used to identify a company, product, service, or concept
• logo: the visual trademark that identifies a brand
• tagline or catchphrase: a short phrase always used in the product’s advertising and closely associated with the brand
• graphics: the «dynamic ribbon» is a trademarked part of Coca-Cola’s brand
• shapes: the distinctive shapes of the Coca-Cola bottle and of the Volkswagen Beetle are trademarked elements of those brands
• colors: the instant recognition consumers have when they see Tiffany & Co.’s robin’s egg blue (Pantone No. 1837). Tiffany & Co.’s trademarked the color in 1998.^[93]
• sounds: a unique tune or set of notes can denote a brand. NBC’s chimes provide a famous example.
• scents: the rose-jasmine-musk scent of Chanel No. 5 is trademarked
• tastes: Kentucky Fried Chicken has trademarked its special recipe of eleven herbs and spices for fried chicken
• movements: Lamborghini has trademarked the upward motion of its car doors

Brand communication[edit]

Although brand identity is a fundamental asset to a brand’s equity, the worth of a brand’s identity would become obsolete without ongoing brand communication.^[94] Integrated marketing communications (IMC) relates to how a brand transmits a clear consistent message to its stakeholders .^[85] Five key components comprise IMC:^[69]

1. Advertising
2. Sales promotions
3. Direct marketing
4. Personal selling
5. Public relations

The effectiveness of a brand’s communication is determined by how accurately the customer perceives the brand’s intended message through its IMC. Although IMC is a broad strategic concept, the most crucial brand communication elements are pinpointed to how the brand sends a message and what touch points the brand uses to connect with its customers [Chitty 2005].^[85]

One can analyze the traditional communication model into several consecutive steps:^[69]

• Firstly, a source/sender wishes to convey a message to a receiver. This source must encode the intended message in a way that the receiver will potentially understand.^[85]
• After the encoding stage, the forming of the message is complete and is portrayed through a selected channel.^[95] In IMC, channels may include media elements such as advertising, public relations, sales promotions, etc.^[85]
• It is at this point where the message can often deter from its original purpose as the message must go through the process of being decoded, which can often lead to unintended misinterpretation.^[95]
• Finally, the receiver retrieves the message and attempts to understand what the sender was aiming to render. Often, a message may be incorrectly received due to noise in the market, which is caused by «…unplanned static or distortion during the communication process».^[69]
• The final stage of this process is when the receiver responds to the message, which is received by the original sender as feedback.^[72]

When a brand communicates a brand identity to a receiver, it runs the risk of the receiver incorrectly interpreting the message. Therefore, a brand should use appropriate communication channels to positively «…affect how the psychological and physical aspects of a brand are perceived».^[96]

In order for brands to effectively communicate to customers, marketers must «…consider all touch point|s, or sources of contact, that a customer has with the brand».^[97] Touch points represent the channel stage in the traditional communication model, where a message travels from the sender to the receiver. Any point where a customer has an interaction with the brand — whether watching a television advertisement, hearing about a brand through word of mouth or even noticing a branded license plate – defines a touchpoint. According to Dahlen et al. (2010), every touchpoint has the «…potential to add positive – or suppress negative – associations to the brand’s equity» ^[96] Thus, a brand’s IMC should cohesively deliver positive messages through appropriate touch points associated with its target market. One methodology involves using sensory stimuli touch points to activate customer emotion.^[97] For example, if a brand consistently uses a pleasant smell as a primary touchpoint, the brand has a much higher chance of creating a positive lasting effect on its customers’ senses as well as memory.^[72] Another way a brand can ensure that it is utilizing the best communication channel is by focusing on touchpoints that suit particular areas associated with customer experience.^[69] As suggested Figure 2, certain touch points link with a specific stage in customer-brand-involvement. For example, a brand may recognize that advertising touchpoints are most effective during the pre-purchase experience stage therefore they may target their advertisements to new customers rather than to existing customers. Overall, a brand has the ability to strengthen brand equity by using IMC branding communications through touchpoints.^[97]

Brand communication is important in ensuring brand success in the business world and refers to how businesses transmit their brand messages, characteristics and attributes to their consumers.^[98] One method of brand communication that companies can exploit involves electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). eWOM is a relatively new approach [Phelps et al., 2004] ^[99] identified to communicate with consumers. One popular method of eWOM involves social networking sites (SNSs) such as Twitter.^[100] A study found that consumers classed their relationship with a brand as closer if that brand was active on a specific social media site (Twitter). Research further found that the more consumers «retweeted» and communicated with a brand, the more they trusted the brand. This suggests that a company could look to employ a social-media campaign to gain consumer trust and loyalty as well as in the pursuit of communicating brand messages.

McKee (2014) also looked into brand communication and states that when communicating a brand, a company should look to simplify its message as this will lead to more value being portrayed as well as an increased chance of target consumers recalling and recognizing the brand.^[101]

In 2012 Riefler stated that if the company communicating a brand is a global organization or has future global aims, that company should look to employ a method of communication that is globally appealing to their consumers, and subsequently choose a method of communication with will be internationally understood.^[102] One way a company can do this involves choosing a product or service’s brand name, as this name will need to be suitable for the marketplace that it aims to enter.^[103]

It is important that if a company wishes to develop a global market, the company name will also need to be suitable in different cultures and not cause offense or be misunderstood.^[104] When communicating a brand, a company needs to be aware that they must not just visually communicate their brand message and should take advantage of portraying their message through multi-sensory information.^[105] One article suggests that other senses, apart from vision, need to be targeted when trying to communicate a brand with consumers.^[106] For example, a jingle or background music can have a positive effect on brand recognition, purchasing behaviour and brand recall.

Therefore, when looking to communicate a brand with chosen consumers, companies should investigate a channel of communication that is most suitable for their short-term and long-term aims and should choose a method of communication that is most likely to reach their target consumers.^[102] The match-up between the product, the consumer lifestyle, and the endorser is important for the effectiveness of brand communication.

Global brand variables[edit]

Brand name[edit]

The term «brand name» is quite often used interchangeably with «brand», although it is more correctly used to specifically denote written or spoken linguistic elements of any product. In this context, a «brand name» constitutes a type of trademark, if the brand name exclusively identifies the brand owner as the commercial source of products or services. A brand owner may seek to protect proprietary rights in relation to a brand name through trademark registration – such trademarks are called «Registered Trademarks». Advertising spokespersons have also become part of some brands, for example: Mr. Whipple of Charmin toilet tissue and Tony the Tiger of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes. Putting a value on a brand by brand valuation or using marketing mix modeling techniques is distinct to valuing a trademark.

Types of brand names[edit]

Brand names come in many styles.^[107]
A few include:

• initialism: a name made of initials, such as «UPS» or «IBM»
• descriptive: names that describe a product benefit or function, such as «Whole Foods» or «Toys R’ Us»
• alliteration and rhyme: names that are fun to say and which stick in the mind, such as «Reese’s Pieces» or «Dunkin’ Donuts»
• evocative: names that can evoke a vivid image, such as «Amazon» or «Crest»
• neologisms: completely made-up words, such as «Wii» or «Häagen-Dazs»
• foreign word: adoption of a word from another language, such as «Volvo»
• founders’ names: using the names of real people, (especially a founder’s surname), such as «Hewlett-Packard», «Dell», «Disney», «Stussy» or «Mars»
• geography: naming for regions and landmarks, such as «Cisco» or «Fuji Film»
• personification: taking names from myths, such as «Nike»; or from the minds of ad execs, such as «Betty Crocker»
• punny: some brands create their name by using a silly pun, such as «Lord of the Fries», «Wok on Water» or «Eggs Eggscetera»
• portmanteau: combining multiple words together to create one, such as «Microsoft» («microcomputer» and «software»), «Comcast» («communications» and «broadcast»), «Evernote» («forever» and «note»), «Vodafone» («voice», «data», «telephone»)

The act of associating a product or service with a brand has become part of pop culture. Most products have some kind of brand identity, from common table salt to designer jeans. A brandnomer is a brand name that has colloquially become a generic term for a product or service, such as Band-Aid, Nylon, or Kleenex—which are often used to describe any brand of adhesive bandage; any type of hosiery; or any brand of facial tissue respectively. Xerox, for example, has become synonymous with the word «copy».

Brand line[edit]

A brand line allows the introduction of various subtypes of a product under a common, ideally already established, brand name. Examples would be the individual Kinder chocolates by Ferrero SpA, the subtypes of Coca-Cola, or special editions of popular brands. See also brand extension.

Open Knowledge Foundation created in December 2013 the BSIN (Brand Standard Identification Number). BSIN is universal and is used by the Open Product Data Working Group ^[108] of the Open Knowledge Foundation to assign a brand to a product. The OKFN Brand repository is critical for the Open Data movement.

Brand identity[edit]

The expression of a brand – including its name, trademark, communications, and visual appearance – is brand identity.^[109] Because the identity is assembled by the brand owner, it reflects how the owner wants the consumer to perceive the brand – and by extension the branded company, organization, product or service. This is in contrast to the brand image, which is a customer’s mental picture of a brand.^[109] The brand owner will seek to bridge the gap between the brand image and the brand identity. Brand identity is fundamental to consumer recognition and symbolizes the brand’s differentiation from competitors. Brand identity is distinct from brand image.

Brand identity is what the owner wants to communicate to its potential consumers. However, over time, a product’s brand identity may acquire (evolve), gaining new attributes from consumer perspective but not necessarily from the marketing communications, an owner percolates to targeted consumers. Therefore, businesses research consumer’s brand associations.

The brand identity works as a guideline, as the frame in which a brand will evolve and define itself, or in the words of David Aaker, «…a unique set of brand associations that the brand strategist aspires to create or maintain.»

According to Kapferer (2007), there are six facets to a brand’s identity:^{[citation needed]}

• Physique: The physical characteristics and iconography of your brand ( such as the Nike swoosh or the orange pantone of easyJet).
• Personality: The persona, how a brand communicates with their audience, which is expressed through its tone of voice, design assets and then integrates this into communication touchpoints in a coherent way.
• Culture: The values, the principles on which a brand bases its behaviour. For example, Google flexible office hours and fun environment so the employees feel happy and creative at work.
• Reflection: The «stereotypical user» of the brand. A brand is likely to be purchased by several buyer’s profiles but they will have a go-to person that they use in their campaigns. For example, Lou Yetu and the Parisian chic profile.
• Relationship: The bond between a brand and its customers, and the customer expectations of the brand (the experience beyond the tangible product). Such as warranties or services during and after purchase help maintain a sustainable relationship and keep the consumer trust.
• Self-image: How one brand-customer portrays their ideal self – how they want to look and behave; what they aspire to – brands can target their messaging accordingly and make the brand’s aspirations reflect theirs.

Brand image[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2023)

Visual brand identity[edit]

A brand can also be used to attract customers by a company, if the brand of a company is well established and has goodwill. The recognition and perception of a brand is highly influenced by its visual presentation. A brand’s visual identity is the overall look of its communications. Effective visual brand identity is achieved by the consistent use of particular visual elements to create distinction, such as specific fonts, colors, and graphic elements. At the core of every brand identity is a brand mark, or logo. In the United States, brand identity and logo design naturally grew out of the Modernist movement in the 1950s and greatly drew on the principles of that movement – simplicity (Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s principle of «Less is more») and geometric abstraction. These principles can be observed in the work of the pioneers of the practice of visual brand identity design, such as Paul Rand and Saul Bass. As part of a company’s brand identity, a logo should complement the company’s message strategy. An effective logo is simple, memorable, and works well in any medium including both online and offline applications.

Color is a particularly important element of visual brand identity and color mapping provides an effective way of ensuring color contributes to differentiation in a visually cluttered marketplace.^[110]

Brand trust[edit]

Brand trust is the intrinsic ‘believability’ that any entity evokes. In the commercial world, the intangible aspect of brand trust impacts the behavior and performance of its business stakeholders in many intriguing ways. It creates the foundation of a strong brand connect with all stakeholders, converting simple awareness to strong commitment.^[111] This, in turn, metamorphoses normal people who have an indirect or direct stake in the organization into devoted ambassadors, leading to concomitant advantages like easier acceptability of brand extensions, the perception of premium, and acceptance of temporary quality deficiencies. Brand trust is often used as an important part of developing the portrayal of the business globally. Foreign companies will often use names that are associated with quality, in order to entrust the brand itself. An example would be a Chinese company using a German name.

The Brand Trust Report is syndicated primary research that has elaborated on this metric of brand trust. It is a result of the action, behavior, communication, and attitude of an entity, with the most trust results emerging from its action component. The action of the entity is most important in creating trust in all those audiences who directly engage with the brand, the primary experience carrying primary audiences. However, the tools of communications play a vital role in transferring the trust experience to audiences who have never experienced the brand, the all-important secondary audience.

Brand parity[edit]

Brand parity is the perception of the customers that some brands are equivalent.^[112] This means that shoppers will purchase within a group of accepted brands rather than choosing one specific brand. When brand parity operates, quality is often not a major concern because consumers believe that only minor quality differences exist. Instead, it is important to have brand equity which is «the perception that a good or service with a given brand name is different, better, and can be trusted» according to Kenneth E Clow.^[113]

Expanding role of brands[edit]

The original aim of branding was to simplify the process of identifying and differentiating products. Over time, manufacturers began to use branded messages to give the brand a unique personality. Brands came to embrace a performance or benefit promise, for the product, certainly, but eventually also for the company behind the brand.

Today, brands play a much bigger role. The power of brands to communicate a complex message quickly, with emotional impact and with the ability of brands to attract media attention, makes them ideal tools in the hands of activists.^[114] Cultural conflict over a brand’s meaning has also influences the diffusion of an innovation.^[115]

During the Covid-19 pandemic, 75% of US customers tried different stores, websites or brands, and 60% of those expect to integrate new brands or stores into their post-pandemic lives. If brands can find ways to help people feel empowered and regain a sense of control in uncertain times, they can help people reconnect and heal (and be appreciated for it).^[116]

Branding strategies[edit]

Company name[edit]

Often, especially in the industrial sector, brand engineers will promote a company’s name. Exactly how the company name relates to product and services names forms part of a brand architecture. Decisions about company names and product names and their relationship depend on more than a dozen strategic considerations.^[117]

In this case, a strong brand name (or company name) becomes the vehicle for marketing a range of products (for example, Mercedes-Benz or Black & Decker) or a range of subsidiary brands (such as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Cadbury Flake, or Cadbury Fingers in the UK).

Corporate name-changes offer particularly stark examples of branding-related decisions.^[118]
A name change may signal different ownership or new product directions.^[119]
Thus the name Unisys originated in 1986 when Burroughs bought and incorporated UNIVAC; and the newly-named International Business Machines represented a broadening of scope in 1924 from its original name, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company. A change in corporate naming may also have a role in seeking to shed an undesirable image: for example, Werner Erhard and Associates re-branded its activities as Landmark Education in 1991 at a time when publicity in a 60 Minutes investigative-report broadcast cast the est and Werner Erhard brands in a negative light,^[120]
and Union Carbide India Limited became Eveready Industries India in 1994 subsequent to the Bhopal disaster of 1984

Individual branding[edit]

Marketers associate separate products or lines with separate brand names — such as Seven-Up, Kool-Aid, or Nivea Sun (Beiersdorf — which may compete against other brands from the same company (for example, Unilever owns Persil, Omo, Surf, and Lynx).

Challenger brands[edit]

A challenger brand is a brand in an industry where it is neither the market leader nor a niche brand. Challenger brands are categorized by a mindset that sees them have business ambitions beyond conventional resources and an intent to bring change to an industry.

Multiproduct branding strategy[edit]

Multiproduct branding strategy is when a company uses one name across all its products in a product class. When the company’s trade name is used, multiproduct branding is also known as corporate branding, family branding or umbrella branding. Examples of companies that use corporate branding are Microsoft, Samsung, Apple, and Sony as the company’s brand name is identical to their trade name.
Other examples of multiproduct branding strategy include Virgin and Church & Dwight. Virgin, a multination conglomerate uses the punk-inspired, handwritten red logo with the iconic tick for all its products ranging from airlines, hot air balloons, telecommunication to healthcare. Church & Dwight, a manufacturer of household products displays the Arm & Hammer family brand name for all its products containing baking soda as the main ingredient. A multiproduct branding strategy has many advantages. It capitalizes on brand equity as consumers that have a good experience with the product will in turn pass on this positive opinion to supplementary objects in the same product class as they share the same name. Consequently, the multiproduct branding strategy makes product line extension possible.

Product line extension[edit]

A product line extension is the procedure of entering a new market segment in its product class by means of using a current brand name. An example of this is the Campbell Soup Company, primarily a producer of canned soups. They utilize a multiproduct branding strategy by way of soup line extensions. They have over 100 soup flavours putting forward varieties such as regular Campbell soup, condensed, chunky, fresh-brewed, organic, and soup on the go. This approach is seen as favourable as it can result in lower promotion costs and advertising due to the same name being used on all products, therefore increasing the level of brand awareness. Although, line extension has potential negative outcomes with one being that other items in the company’s line may be disadvantaged because of the sale of the extension. Line extensions work at their best when they deliver an increase in company revenue by enticing new buyers or by removing sales from competitors.

Subbranding[edit]

Subbranding is used by certain multiproduct branding companies. Subbranding merges a corporate, family or umbrella brand with the introduction of a new brand in order to differentiate part of a product line from others in the whole brand system.^[121] Subbranding assists to articulate and construct offerings. It can alter a brand’s identity as subbranding can modify associations of the parent brand.^[122] Examples of successful subbranding can be seen through Gatorade and Porsche. Gatorade, a manufacturer of sport-themed food and beverages effectively introduced Gatorade G2, a low-calorie line of Gatorade drinks. Likewise, Porsche, a specialized automobile manufacturer successfully markets its lower-end line, Porsche Boxster and higher-end line, Porsche Carrera.

Brand extension and brand dilution[edit]

Brand extension is the system of employing a current brand name to enter a different product class. Having a strong brand equity allows for brand extension; for example, many fashion and designer companies extended brands into fragrances, shoes and accessories, home textile, home decor, luggage, (sun-) glasses, furniture, hotels, etc. Nevertheless, brand extension has its disadvantages. There is a risk that too many uses for one brand name can oversaturate the market resulting in a blurred and weak brand for consumers. Examples of brand extension can be seen through Kimberly-Clark and Honda. Kimberly-Clark is a corporation that produces personal and health care products being able to extend the Huggies brand name across a full line of toiletries for toddlers and babies. The success of this brand extension strategy is apparent in the $500 million in annual sales generated globally. Similarly, Honda using their reputable name for automobiles has spread to other products such as motorcycles, power equipment, engines, robots, aircraft, and bikes. Mars extended its brand to ice cream, Caterpillar to shoes and watches, Michelin to a restaurant guide, Adidas and Puma to personal hygiene. Dunlop extended its brand from tires to other rubber products such as shoes, golf balls, tennis racquets, and adhesives. Frequently, the product is no different from what else is on the market, except a brand name marking. Brand is product identity.

There is a difference between brand extension and line extension. A line extension is when a current brand name is used to enter a new market segment in the existing product class, with new varieties or flavors or sizes.
When Coca-Cola launched Diet Coke and Cherry Coke, they stayed within the originating product category: non-alcoholic carbonated beverages. Procter & Gamble did likewise extending its strong lines (such as Fairy Soap) into neighboring products (Fairy Liquid and Fairy Automatic) within the same category, dish washing detergents.

The risk of over-extension is brand dilution where the brand loses its brand associations with a market segment, product area, or quality, price or cachet.^[65]

Co-branding[edit]

Co-branding is a variation of brand extension. It is where a single product is created from the combining of two brand names of two manufacturers. Co-branding has its advantages as it lets firms enter new product classes and exploit a recognized brand name in that product class. An example of a co-branding success is Whitaker’s working with Lewis Road Creamery to create a co-branded beverage called Lewis Road Creamery and Whittaker’s Chocolate Milk. This product was a huge success in the New Zealand market with it going viral.

Multibranding strategy[edit]

Multibranding strategy is when a company gives each product a distinct name. Multibranding is best used as an approach when each brand in intended for a different market segment. Multibranding is used in an assortment of ways with selected companies grouping their brands based on price-quality segments. Individual brand names naturally allow greater flexibility by permitting a variety of different products, of differing quality, to be sold without confusing the consumer’s perception of what
business the company is in or diluting higher quality products. Procter & Gamble, a multinational consumer goods company that offers over 100 brands, each suited for different consumer needs. For instance, Head & Shoulders that helps consumers relieve dandruff in the form of a shampoo, Oral-B which offers inter-dental products, Vicks which offers cough and cold products, and Downy which offers dryer sheets and fabric softeners. Other examples include Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Kellogg’s, and Mars.

This approach usually results in higher promotion costs and advertising. This is due to the company being required to generate awareness among consumers and retailers for each new brand name without the benefit of any previous impressions. Multibranding strategy has many advantages. There is no risk that a product failure will affect other products in the line as each brand is unique to each market segment. Although, certain large multiband companies have come across that the cost and difficulty of implementing a multibranding strategy can overshadow the benefits. For example, Unilever, the world’s third-largest multination consumer goods company recently streamlined its brands from over 400 brands to center their attention onto 14 brands with sales of over 1 billion euros. Unilever accomplished this through product deletion and sales to other companies. Other multibrand companies introduce new product brands as a protective measure to respond to competition called fighting brands or fighter brands.

Cannibalization is a particular challenge with a multi-brand strategy approach, in which the new brand takes business away from an established one which the organization also owns. This may be acceptable (indeed to be expected) if there is a net gain overall. Alternatively, it may be the price the organization is willing to pay for shifting its position in the market; the new product being one stage in this process.

Fighting brands[edit]

The main purpose of fighting brands is to challenge competitor brands. For example, Qantas, Australia’s largest flag carrier airline, introduced Jetstar to go head-to-head against the low-cost carrier, Virgin Australia (formerly known as Virgin Blue). Jetstar is an Australian low-cost airline for budget conscious travellers, but it receives many negative reviews due to this. The launching of Jetstar allowed Qantas to rival Virgin Australia without the criticism being affiliated with Qantas because of the distinct brand name.

Private branding strategy[edit]

Private branding (also known as reseller branding, private labelling, store brands, or own brands) have increased in popularity. Private branding is when a company manufactures products but it is sold under the brand name of a wholesaler or retailer. Private branding is popular because it typically produces high profits for manufacturers and resellers. The pricing of private brand product are usually cheaper compared to competing name brands. Consumers are commonly deterred by these prices as it sets a perception of lower quality and standard but these views are shifting.^{[citation needed]}

In Australia, their leading supermarket chains, both Woolworths and Coles are saturated with store brands (or private labels). For example, in the United States, Paragon Trade Brands, Ralcorp Holdings, and Rayovac are major suppliers of diapers, grocery products, and private label alkaline batteries, correspondingly. Costco, Walmart, RadioShack, Sears and Kroger are large retailers that have their own brand names. Similarly, Macy’s, a mid-range chain of department stores offers a wide catalogue of private brands exclusive to their stores, from brands such as First Impressions which supply newborn and infant clothing, Hotel Collection which supply luxury linens and mattresses, and Tasso Elba which supply European inspired menswear. They use private branding strategy to specifically target consumer markets.

Mixed branding strategy[edit]

Mixed branding strategy is where a firm markets products under its own name(s) and that of a reseller because the segment attracted to the reseller is different from its own market.
For example, Elizabeth Arden, Inc., a major American cosmetics and fragrance company, uses mixed branding strategy. The company sells its Elizabeth Arden brand through department stores and line of skin care products at Walmart with the «skin simple» brand name. Companies such as Whirlpool, Del Monte, and Dial produce private brands of home appliances, pet foods, and soap, correspondingly. Other examples of mixed branding strategy include Michelin, Epson, Microsoft, Gillette, and Toyota. Michelin, one of the largest tire manufacturers allowed Sears, an American retail chain to place their brand name on the tires. Microsoft, a multinational technology company is seriously regarded as a corporate technology brand but it sells its versatile home entertainment hub under the brand Xbox to better align with the new and crazy identity. Gillette catered to females with Gillette for Women which has now become known as Venus. The launch of Venus was conducted in order to fulfil the feminine market of the previously dominating masculine razor industry. Similarly, Toyota, an automobile manufacturer used mixed branding. In the U.S., Toyota was regarded as a valuable car brand being economical, family orientated and known as a vehicle that rarely broke down. But Toyota sought out to fulfil a higher end, expensive market segment, thus they created Lexus, the luxury vehicle division of premium cars.

Attitude branding and iconic brands[edit]

Attitude branding is the choice to represent a larger feeling, which is not necessarily connected with the product or consumption of the product at all. Marketing labeled as attitude branding include that of Nike, Starbucks, The Body Shop, Safeway and Apple. In the 1999 book No Logo, Naomi Klein describes attitude branding as a «fetish strategy».^[61] Schaefer and Kuehlwein analyzed brands such as Apple, Ben & Jerry’s or Chanel describing them as ‘Ueber-Brands’ – brands that are able to gain and retain «meaning beyond the material.»^[123]

A great brand raises the bar – it adds a greater sense of purpose to the experience, whether it’s the challenge to do your best in sports and fitness, or the affirmation that the cup of coffee you’re drinking really matters. – Howard Schultz (President, CEO, and Chairman of Starbucks)

Iconic brands are defined as having aspects that contribute to consumer’s self-expression and personal identity. Brands whose value to consumers comes primarily from having identity value are said to be «identity brands». Some of these brands have such a strong identity that they become more or less cultural icons which makes them «iconic brands». Examples are: Apple, Nike and Harley-Davidson. Many iconic brands include almost ritual-like behaviour in purchasing or consuming the products.

There are four key elements to creating iconic brands (Holt 2004):

1. «Necessary conditions» – The performance of the product must at least be acceptable, preferably with a reputation of having good quality.
2. «Myth-making» – A meaningful storytelling fabricated by cultural insiders. These must be seen as legitimate and respected by consumers for stories to be accepted.
3. «Cultural contradictions» – Some kind of mismatch between prevailing ideology and emergent undercurrents in society. In other words, a difference with the way consumers are and how they wish they were.
4. «The cultural brand management process» – Actively engaging in the myth-making process in making sure the brand maintains its position as an icon.

Schaefer and Kuehlwein propose the following ‘Ueber-Branding’ principles. They derived them from studying successful modern Prestige brands and what elevates them above mass competitors and beyond considerations of performance and price (alone) in the minds of consumers:^[123]

1. «Mission Incomparable» – Having a differentiated and meaningful brand purpose beyond ‘making money.’^[124] Setting rules that follow this purpose – even when it violates the mass marketing mantra of «Consumer is always Boss/right».
2. «Longing versus Belonging» – Playing with the opposing desires of people for Inclusion on the one hand and Exclusivity on the other.
3. «Un-Selling» – First and foremost seeking to seduce through pride and provocation, rather than to sell through arguments.^[125]
4. «From Myth To Meaning» – Leveraging the power of myth – ‘Ueber-Stories’ that have fascinated- and guided humans forever.^[126]
5. «Behold!» – Making products and associated brand rituals reflect the essence of the brand mission and myth. Making it the center of attention, while keeping it fresh.
6. «Living the Dream» – Living the brand mission as an organization and through its actions. Thus radiating the brand myth from the inside out, consistently and through all brand manifestations. – For «Nothing is as volatile than a dream.»^[127]
7. «Growth without End» – Avoiding to be perceived as an omnipresent, diluting brand appeal. Instead ‘growing with gravitas’ by leveraging scarcity/high prices, ‘sideways expansion’ and other means.^[128]

«No-brand» branding[edit]

Recently, a number of companies have successfully pursued «no-brand» strategies by creating packaging that imitates generic brand simplicity. Examples include the Japanese company Muji, which means «No label» in English (from 無印良品 – «Mujirushi Ryohin» – literally, «No brand quality goods»), and the Florida company No-Ad Sunscreen. Although there is a distinct Muji brand, Muji products are not branded. This no-brand strategy means that little is spent on advertisement or classical marketing and Muji’s success is attributed to the word-of-mouth, simple shopping experience and the anti-brand movement.^{[129][130][131]}
«No brand» branding may be construed as a type of branding as the product is made conspicuous through the absence of a brand name.
«Tapa Amarilla» or «Yellow Cap» in Venezuela during the 1980s is another good example of no-brand strategy. It was simply recognized by the color of the cap of this cleaning products company.

Derived brands[edit]

In this case the supplier of a key component, used by a number of suppliers of the end-product, may wish to guarantee its own position by promoting that component as a brand in its own right. The most frequently quoted example is Intel, which positions itself in the PC market with the slogan (and sticker) «Intel Inside».

Social media brands[edit]

In The Better Mousetrap: Brand Invention in a Media Democracy (2012), author and brand strategist Simon Pont posits that social media brands may be the most evolved version of the brand form, because they focus not on themselves but on their users. In so doing, social media brands are arguably more charismatic, in that consumers are compelled to spend time with them, because the time spent is in the meeting of fundamental human drivers related to belonging and individualism. «We wear our physical brands like badges, to help define us – but we use our digital brands to help express who we are. They allow us to be, to hold a mirror up to ourselves, and it is clear. We like what we see.»^[132]

Private labels[edit]

Private label brands, also called own brands, or store brands have become popular. Where the retailer has a particularly strong identity (such as Marks & Spencer in the UK clothing sector) this «own brand» may be able to compete against even the strongest brand leaders, and may outperform those products that are not otherwise strongly branded.

Designer Private Labels

A relatively recent innovation in retailing is the introduction of designer private labels. Designer-private labels involve a collaborative contract between a well-known fashion designer and a retailer. Both retailer and designer collaborate to design goods with popular appeal pitched at price points that fit the consumer’s budget. For retail outlets, these types of collaborations give them greater control over the design process as well as access to exclusive store brands that can potentially drive store traffic.

In Australia, for example, the department store, Myer, now offers a range of exclusive designer private labels including Jayson Brundson, Karen Walker, Leona Edmiston, Wayne Cooper, Fleur Wood and ‘L’ for Lisa Ho.^[133] Another up-market department store, David Jones, currently offers ‘Collette’ for leading Australian designer, Collette Dinnigan, and has recently announced its intention to extend the number of exclusive designer brands.^[134] Target Australia has teamed up with Dannii Minogue to produce her «Petites» range.^[135] Specsavers has joined up with Sydney designer, Alex Perry to create an exclusive range of spectacle frames while Big W stocks frame designed by Peter Morrissey.

Individual and organizational brands[edit]

With the development of the brand, Branding is no longer limited to a product or service.^[136] There are kinds of branding that treat individuals and organizations as the products to be branded. Most NGOs and non-profit organizations carry their brand as a fundraising tool. The purpose of most NGOs is to leave a social impact so their brand becomes associated with specific social life matters. Amnesty International, Habitat for Humanity, World Wildlife Fund and AIESEC are among the most recognized brands around the world.^[137] NGOs and non-profit organizations moved beyond using their brands for fundraising to express their internal identity and to clarify their social goals and long-term aims. Organizational brands have well-determined brand guidelines and logo variables.^[138]

Personal branding[edit]

Employer branding[edit]

Crowd sourced branding[edit]

These are brands that are created by «the public» for the business, which is opposite to the traditional method where the business creates a brand.

Personalized branding[edit]

Many businesses have started to use elements of personalization in their branding strategies, offering the client or consumer the ability to choose from various brand options or have direct control over the brand. Examples of this include the #ShareACoke campaign by Coca-Cola^{[citation needed]} which printed people’s names and place names on their bottles encouraging people. AirBNB has created the facility for users to create their own symbol for the software to replace the brand’s mark known as The Bélo.^[139]

Nation branding (place branding and public diplomacy)[edit]

Nation branding is a field of theory and practice which aims to measure, build and manage the reputation of countries (closely related to place branding). Some approaches applied, such as an increasing importance on the symbolic value of products, have led countries to emphasize their distinctive characteristics. The branding and image of a nation-state «and the successful transference of this image to its exports – is just as important as what they actually produce and sell.»

Destination branding[edit]

Destination branding is the work of cities, states, and other localities to promote the location to tourists and drive additional revenues into a tax base. These activities are often undertaken by governments, but can also result from the work of community associations. The Destination Marketing Association International is the industry leading organization.

Brand protection[edit]

Intellectual property infringements, in particular counterfeiting, can affect consumer trust and ultimately damage brand equity. Brand protection is the set of preventive, monitoring and reactive measures taken by brand owners to eliminate, reduce or mitigate these infringements and their effect.

Doppelgänger brand image (DBI)[edit]

A doppelgänger brand image or «DBI» is a disparaging image or story about a brand that it circulated in popular culture. DBI targets tend to be widely known and recognizable brands. The purpose of DBIs is to undermine the positive brand meanings the brand owners are trying to instill through their marketing activities.^[140]

The term stems from the combination of the German words doppel (‘double’) and gänger (‘walker’).

Doppelgänger brands are typically created by individuals or groups to express criticism of a brand and its perceived values, through a form of parody, and are typically unflattering in nature.

Due to the ability of doppelgänger brands to rapidly propagate virally through digital media channels, they can represent a real threat to the equity of the target brand. Sometimes the target organization is forced to address the root concern or to re-position the brand in a way that defuses the criticism.

Examples include:

• Joe Chemo campaign organized to criticize the marketing of tobacco products to children and their harmful effects.^[141]
• Parody of the Pepsi logo as an obese man to highlight the relationship between soft drink consumption and obesity.^[142]
• The FUH2 campaign protesting the Hummer SUV as a symbol of corporate and public irresponsibility toward public safety and the environment.^[143]

In the 2006 article «Emotional Branding and the Strategic Value of the Doppelgänger Brand Image», Thompson, Rindfleisch, and Arsel suggest that a doppelgänger brand image can be a benefit to a brand if taken as an early warning sign that the brand is losing emotional authenticity with its market.^[140]

International Standards[edit]

The ISO branding standards developed by the Committee ISO/TC 289 are:

• ‘ISO 10668:2010’ Brand valuation — Requirements for monetary brand valuation ,
• ‘ISO 20671:2019’ Brand evaluation — Principles and fundamentals .

Two other ISO standards are being developed by ISO/TC 289:

• ISO/AWI 23353 Brand evaluation — Guidelines for brands relating to geographical indications ^[144]
• ISO/AWI 24051 Brand evaluation — Guide for the annual brand evaluation.^[145]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

What Is a Brand?

The term brand refers to a business and marketing concept that helps people identify a particular company, product, or individual. Brands are intangible, which means you can’t actually touch or see them. As such, they help shape people’s perceptions of companies, their products, or individuals. Brands commonly use identifying markers to help create brand identities within the marketplace. They provide enormous value to the company or individual, giving them a competitive edge over others in the same industry. As such, many entities seek legal protection for their brands by obtaining trademarks.

Understanding Brands

As mentioned above, a brand is an intangible asset that helps people identify a specific company and its products. This is especially true when companies need to set themselves apart from others who provide similar products on the market, including generic brands. Advil is a common brand of ibuprofen, which the company uses to distinguish itself from generic forms of the drug available in drugstores. This is referred to as brand equity.

People often confuse logos, slogans, or other recognizable marks owned by companies with their brands. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they are distinct. The former are marketing tools that companies often use to promote and market their products and services. When used together, these tools create a brand identity. Successful marketing can help keep a company’s brand front and center in people’s minds. This can spell the difference between someone choosing your brand over your competitor’s.

A brand is considered to be one of the most valuable and important assets for a company. In fact, many companies are often referred to by their brand, which means they are often inseparable, becoming one and the same. Coca-Cola is a great example, where the popular soft drink became synonymous with the company itself. This means it carries a tremendous monetary value, affecting both the bottom line and, for public companies, shareholder value

This is why it’s important for companies to protect their brands from a legal standpoint. Trademarks identify exclusive ownership over a brand and/or product, along with any associated marketing tools. Registering trademarks prevent others from using your products or services without obtaining your permission.

Special Considerations

Brands aren’t just for corporate use. In fact, they are now also commonly used by individuals, especially in the age of reality television and social media. For instance, the Kardashian family developed value in its brand after gaining popularity from the reality show. The family has, collectively and as individuals, used its name to successfully launch media and modeling careers, spinoff shows, cosmetics, perfumes, and clothing lines.

History of Brands

Brands have long been used to set products apart over the course of history. The idea of branding may go as far back as 2000 B.C., where merchants used it to sell their wares in different markets. At that time, it was commonly used as a technique to denote ownership of a product or a piece of property.

Branding has been used throughout the ages. In the 13th century, Italians began putting watermarks on their paper as a form of branding. The term brand also refers to the unique marks burned into the hides of cattle to distinguish the animals of one owner from those of another.

But one of the most popular uses was in rural America. You’ve probably heard of the term branding, which was used by cattle ranchers, who used to brand their livestock as a form of identification. Brands started taking off after companies started packaging their goods in the 19th century to distinguish themselves from other companies.

Types of Brands

The type of brand used depends on the particular entity using it. The following are some of the most common forms of brands:

• Corporate Brands: Corporate branding is a way for companies to market themselves in order to give themselves an edge against their competition. They make a series of important decisions in order to accomplish this, such as pricing, mission, target market, and values.
• Personal Brands: As mentioned above, branding isn’t just for companies anymore. People use tools like social media to build their own personas, thereby boosting their brands. This includes regular social media posts, sharing images and videos, and conducting meet-and-greets.
• Product Brands: This type of branding, which is also known as merchandise branding, involves marketing one particular product. Branding a product requires market research and choosing the proper target market.
• Service Brands: This kind of branding applies to services, which often requires some creativity, as you can’t actually show services in a physical way.

Creating a Brand

When a company settles on a brand to be its public image, it must first determine its brand identity, or how it wants to be viewed. For instance, a company logo often incorporates a company’s message, slogan, or product. The goal is to make the brand memorable and appealing to the consumer.

The company usually consults a design firm, team, or logo design software to come up with ideas for the visual aspects of a brand, such as a logo or a symbol. A successful brand accurately portrays the message or feeling the company wants to get across. This results in brand awareness, or the recognition of the brand’s existence and what it offers. On the other hand, an ineffective brand often results from miscommunication.

Once a brand has created positive sentiment among its target audience, the firm is said to have built brand equity. Some firms with brand equity and very recognizable product brands include Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Ferrari, Apple, and Meta (formerly Facebook).

If done right, a brand results in an increase in sales not just for the specific product being sold, but also for other products sold by the same company. A good brand engenders trust in the consumer, and, after having a good experience with one product, the consumer is more likely to try another product related to the same brand. As noted above, this phenomenon is often referred to as brand loyalty.

Benefits of Brands

Creating a brand provides numerous benefits, whether that’s to a corporation or an individual. Successful branding leads to a lot of impressions. But what does this mean? A company that can get its message across is able to induce and evoke emotion within its customer base. These consumers develop unique relationships with these companies, allowing the latter to capitalize on their loyalty. Companies also rely on these customers to help draw in other, new consumers.

This helps companies build trust and credibility. After all, people are more apt to purchase goods and services (or brands) from companies they know and trust. This gives companies a competitive edge against their competition. Keeping brands in the minds of consumers means a bigger bottom line.

It also helps corporations introduce newer products and services. Since consumers are going to stay loyal to brands they know and trust—and with whom they already have a relationship—they’re more likely to spend when new products are released, even if they’re more expensive.

Let’s use Apple as an example. The company has built a hugely loyal customer base that is willing to overlook the price tag associated with an iMac, MacBook, iPad, or iPhone because of their loyalty to the brand. Many existing customers are completely willing to replace their existing electronics when the company releases new ones.

Brand FAQs

What Does Brand Mean in Marketing?

A brand is an intangible concept that helps people (notably consumers) recognize and identify a particular company, product, or individual.

What Are 4 Types of Brands?

There are numerous types of brands, but the four most common ones include corporate brands, personal brands, product brands, and service brands.

What Are Brand Examples?

Although brands are generally intangible, we often associate things like products and names with brands. Examples include Apple, Nike, Coca-Cola, Advil, and Tylenol.

What Is the Importance of a Brand?

Brands are important because they create value for corporations and individuals. They also provide a competitive edge in the market against an entity’s competition. Successful branding augments a company’s customer base, which creates trust and credibility, leading to brand loyalty—all of which give a company a competitive edge in the market and a bigger bottom line.

What Does Brand Equity Mean?

Brand equity is a concept that refers to the value generated from a company’s product or service when it is compared to a generic equivalent that is available to consumers on the market. Think of Advil compared to its generic ibuprofen counterparts on drugstore shelves.

The Bottom Line

When we hear the word «brand,» most of us think of logos, slogans, and other identifiable marks. But that’s just one part of the definition. The term brand is actually an intangible marketing concept that helps people recognize and identify a business or person.

Brands are one of the most important and valuable assets that a company or person owns. They can make or break a company, so it’s important that firms do their research before launching a product or service, or before they open their doors for business. Successful branding can help the company attract and retain a customer base, which can lead to brand loyalty while giving it a leg up on the competition.

You’re more likely to pick the movie for which you’ve seen 32 previews over the art-house flick you’ve never heard of, and you’re probably going to choose the name brand over a generic soda, even if it’s not your favorite brand, simply because you’re more familiar with it. ❋ Michael Michalowicz (2012)

Like Mr. Branson, the Virgin brand is about being passionate, taking on challenges and living life to the fullest. ❋ Rosalind Resnick (2010)

Cervecería Mexicana’s main brand is Mexicali but it also makes the Azteca brand, as part of a contract with Anheuser Busch, which holds a 50.2% share in Grupo Modelo. ❋ Unknown (2006)

We use only top-grade oil, and for the current turbodiesel truck, we insist that the shop use a diesel-compatible oil from a name brand supplier Pennzoil, Valvoline, Castrol, and so forth. ❋ Kim Baker (1997)

Change the filter in combination with an oil change and use quality oil and a name brand filter. ❋ Kim Baker (1997)

The filter should be replaced with a name brand unit too. ❋ Kim Baker (1997)

«I wanted to see the name brand of the chair and I lifted the cushion and found all the dead presidents.» ❋ NINA MANDELL (2011)

So it’s coming from all around, it’s great to see that old product line, that Ideal instruments product line, it’s been a name brand for, gosh, I guess, 80-years-plus now, continues to grow and then take on a new face.

«If I can get the name brand at the same price or for pennies more than the generic, I have no motivation to switch,» said Richard Shiekman, 59, who has been taking Lipitor for six years and credits the drug with sharply cutting his bad cholesterol. ❋ The Huffington Post News Editors (2011)

The designation of Jinjiang Hengda Ceramics Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company, as one of China’s 500 Most Valuable Brands by the World Brand Laboratory and the naming of the Company as a preferential provider of building materials for affordable housing by the China Building Materials Circulation Association during the second quarter are further testimony to the continued prominence of our name brand in 1 Results

[Kellogs] [Corn Flakes] or [Tescos] cornflakes — they’re both flakes of corn but one will cost twice the price — guess which one ❋ Evil Weebl (2004)

[MY BRAND]! ❋ Goldenhammer1 (2013)

1. Jake: Daaamn, what’s that burn on your arm playa?
Roger: It’s a brand. It means I’m tough, yo. Or something.
2. Jake: Damn girl, how much [skrilla] did you drop on that Dolce and [Gabbana] skirt?
Julie: $500
Jake: You know, I saw that in Target for $20, you dumb bastard. There are people that can’t afford that much for rent. You stupid [fuck-face]. ❋ Puma_blues (2004)

He [branded] me so we did [the nasty]. ❋ SieheiSt (2007)

“Funny, that didn’t feel like [RB] but I can see you are a [master] from what is left of your brand [on the inside] of my shirt.” ❋ Elric21 (2012)

The [Citizens United] court ruling says we’re persons just like corporations; I am equal to [Phillip Morris]. If I have a personal «brand«, does that, Ma Sistah, make me a [Marlboro Man]? Shut up, dude, I already got Virginia Slims tats on my sleeves. Now can we watch this re-run of Branded in peace? ❋ Deloslobos (2014)

Someone: You should totally [just go] for that [lipstick]!
You: Nah, red is so [not on] brand for me. ❋ Ambroos (2016)

[Jimbo] enjoys branding his [cattle]. ❋ DirkD (2007)

Im For The Brand because I [appreciate] [kickers] and [punters]. ❋ GB Packrats (2020)

[Shovelhead]: (Showing off ink) Check out my sick ass shamrock tatt!
Loki: Don’t be getting prison tatts of shamrocks without [The Brand’s] permission! Or your ass is gonna end up on the [Hard Candy List]! ❋ ZXY&ABC (2019)

Иллюстрация: Катя Павловская для Skillbox Media

Обозреватель Skillbox Media, отраслевой журналист. Работала с TexTerra, SMMplanner, «Нетологией», «ПланФактом», Semantica. Написала больше 60 текстов для рекламных кампаний в «Дзене». Вела нишевой канал на YouTube.

Руководитель рекламного направления одного из ведущих брендов мототехники в России. Профессиональный организатор мероприятий с 2007 года. Автор научных статей по управлению потребительскими впечатлениями, спонсорству, PR-поддержке мероприятий.

Работала с брендами Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mobil 1, Michelin, Polaris, Indian, Klim.

Проверяющий куратор на курсах Skillbox «Основы контент-маркетинга», «Event-менеджер с нуля», «Спецпроекты и нативная реклама», и «Профессия Event-менеджер».

Развитие бренда помогает компаниям зарабатывать больше. Это доказывают многочисленные исследования.

Например, опрос Salsify показал, что 46% потребителей в США готовы платить больше за продукты, если те будут выпущены брендом, которому они доверяют. По данным Harvard Business Review, 64% респондентов покупают товар, если видят, что у бренда общие с ними ценности. Согласно исследованию, общие ценности — движущий фактор для шести из десяти покупок.

В этом материале Skillbox Media разберём всё, что нужно знать о брендах.

• Что такое бренд и из чего он состоит
• Что такое брендинг и брендирование и кто за них отвечает
• Какие виды брендов существуют
• Как создать свой бренд: этапы и советы
• Как работает продвижение бренда

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В переводе с английского brand — марка, клеймо, знак. Простыми словами бренд — совокупность свойств, ассоциаций и образов. Они позволяют продукту стать узнаваемым среди целевой аудитории и выделяться на фоне конкурентов.

С точки зрения компании бренд — это идентификационная система, инструмент снижения рисков и носитель добавленной ценности. Это нематериальный актив: возможность донести свои ценности до потребителя и «закрепиться» в сознании клиентов.

С точки зрения потребителя бренд — целостный образ, который возникает при упоминании компании или её продукта. А ещё это обещание качества и выгод от обладания продуктом.

Важно интерпретировать понятие «бренд» с позиции и компании, и целевой аудитории. Ведь в создании и продвижении бренда участвуют не только маркетологи, но и потребители. Создать в восприятии людей образ, заданный маркетологами, удаётся не всегда.

Некоторые считают, что бренд и торговая марка — одно и то же. Другие разделяют эти понятия. Они считают, что торговая марка — это набор внешних атрибутов: название, фирменный стиль, слоган, логотип, а бренд — это торговая марка, которая стала узнаваемой и превратилась в сознании потребителей в некую символическую ценность.

Любой бренд — торговая марка, но не любая торговая марка — бренд. Торговая марка становится брендом, когда удовлетворяет эмоциональные потребности клиентов.

Можно сказать, что в бренде четыре уровня:

• Первый — товар, удовлетворяющий базовые потребности потребителей. Он функционально полезен — так же как и остальные товары в категории.
• Второй — базовый бренд, или айдентика. Это элементы, которые отличают товар от конкурентов: название, дизайн, упаковка, качество.
• Третий — расширенный бренд. Это дополнительные выгоды, которые делают торговую марку более привлекательной для потребителей. Например, бесплатная доставка, обучение, техподдержка — или пожизненная гарантия, как у Zippo.
• Четвёртый — потенциал бренда, или дополнительные нематериальные ценности. Это положительные эмоции, которые возникают у клиентов бренда, когда они используют продукт. Например, удовлетворение потребности в самовыражении.

Функциональное качество товара — основа, без которой невозможно развитие бренда. А для того, чтобы бренд был успешным, важна ещё чёткая айдентика и глубокая проработка дополнительных ценностей.

Часто бренд путают с брендированием и брендингом. Это неправильно.

Брендирование — это разработка идентификационной системы бренда: логотипа, цветов, шрифтов, иллюстраций, графических элементов. Это один из этапов брендинга.

Ещё брендированием называют размещение айдентики бренда на рекламных носителях. Например, нанесение логотипа компании на сувенирную продукцию, одежду, стаканы для спикеров, стены зданий и так далее. Часто такое брендирование используют на мероприятиях для ненавязчивого упоминания о компании.

Брендинг — это процесс создания и развития бренда. Это непрерывный процесс, потому что рыночная среда и восприятие потребителей постоянно меняются. Чтобы поддерживать бренд в хорошей форме, компании проводят ребрендинг — обновляют бренд.

Брендинг бывает разным: например, его делят на внешний и внутренний. Внешний направлен на потребителей, а внутренний — на сотрудников. Он нужен, чтобы сотрудники разделяли ценности бренда и могли правильно доносить их до целевой аудитории.

Главная задача брендинга — разработать «правильный» образ бренда, соответствующий ценностям целевой аудитории. А если воспринимаемый образ не соответствует планируемому — выяснить и устранить причины этого разрыва.

За брендинг и брендирование могут отвечать и штатные сотрудники, и подрядчики — брендинговые агентства. Обычно для развития бренда привлекают команды, в которые могут входить:

• маркетолог-аналитик;
• продуктовый менеджер;
• менеджер по маркетингу или рекламе;
• сотрудники отдела продаж;
• сотрудники креативного отдела — дизайнеры, копирайтеры, креаторы.

Управляет процессами бренд-менеджер или директор по маркетингу — в зависимости от структуры компании. Если у компании несколько брендов, то с каждым из них может работать отдельный бренд-менеджер.

Хотите работать с брендами? Получить нужные навыки можно на курсах Skillbox

• «Профессия Бренд-менеджер» — научиться продвигать бренд и получить престижную профессию.
• «Профессия Event-менеджер» — организовывать мероприятия любого масштаба для брендов.
• «Личный бренд PRO» — развить свой бренд или продвигать экспертов, политиков, медийных лиц.

Есть много классификаций брендов. Приведём самые распространённые классификации и виды брендов с примерами.

В зависимости от объекта брендинга выделяют:

• товарные бренды — Colgate, «Простоквашино», Mercedes-Benz, «Любятово», Polaroid, Snickers, Pampers, «Алёнка», Salamander;
• сервисные бренды, или бренды услуг, — МТС, «Медиэстетик», «Росгосстрах», Сбербанк, Neste, McDonald’s, «Диво-остров»;
• корпоративные бренды, или бренды организаций, — «Ленремонт», ExxonMobil, Кондитерская фабрика имени Крупской, «Красный Октябрь», General Electric;
• персональные, или личные, бренды — Слава Зайцев, Михаэль Шумахер, Ирина Хакамада;
• событийные бренды — «Евровидение», «Алые паруса», «Нашествие», Каннский кинофестиваль;
• географические и культурные бренды — Москва, Санкт-Петербург, Куршевель, Большой драматический театр, Эрмитаж.

В зависимости от типа продукта и сферы его применения бренды подразделяют так:

• потребительские — «Простоквашино», Pampers, «Хлебный дом», «Бархатные ручки», Nike;
• промышленные, или B2B, — Scania, «КонсультантПлюс», «Пеноплэкс»;
• высокотехнологичные — Microsoft, Intel;
• образовательные — Гарвард, ИТМО, МГУ, Skillbox.

В зависимости от территориального охвата выделяют следующие виды брендов:

• локальные — «Тойота Центр Невский», «Тойота Центр Приморский»;
• региональные — «Петербургская недвижимость»;
• федеральные — Сбербанк, «Газпром», «Почта России»;
• международные — Mercedes-Benz, Boeing, Reebok, Armani.

Самая сложная классификация брендов — в зависимости от расположения в портфеле брендов компании. Выделяют три вида:

• Головной бренд, или мастер-бренд. Компания выпускает продукты под одним брендом. Например, такова Samsung: в компании производят телевизоры, холодильники, смартфоны и другие товары.
• Зонтичный бренд. Компания производит продукты под разными брендами. Например, у Nestle есть бренды Nescafe, Nan, Gerber, Vittel, «Россия — щедрая душа», Proplan, Purina и Maggi.
• Суббренд. Это производные от головного бренда. В названии суббрендов есть название головного бренда и дополнительное слово. Например, у «Магнита» это «Магнит Косметик» и «Магнит Аптека». У «Яндекса» — «Яндекс.Еда», «Яндекс.Лавка», «Яндекс.Go» и другие.

От вида бренда зависит айдентика, выбор каналов коммуникации с целевой аудиторией, коммуникационные сообщения и показатели эффективности, по которым будут оценивать успех. Например, товарный бренд чаще продвигают в охватных рекламных кампаниях, а персональный — через участие в релевантных мероприятиях.

Вне зависимости от вида бренда выделяют восемь классических этапов его создания и развития. Это анализ, позиционирование, разработка идеи, разработка платформы, разработка бренд-стратегии, разработка айдентики, разработка стратегии коммуникации и оценка эффективности. Разберёмся по порядку.

Анализ нужен, чтобы понять, какой бренд нужно создавать. В ходе анализа исследуют рынок, конкурентов и целевую аудиторию. Например, проводят опросы потребителей: какие ценности им близки и что для них значит идеальный бренд.

Позиционирование — основа создания нового продукта и бренда для него. На этом этапе нужно ответить на вопросы:

• Что мы продаём?
• Кому мы продаём?
• Чем мы отличаемся от конкурентов?

Это поможет понять, как потребители могут воспринимать бренд — и что нужно сделать компании, чтобы создать хорошие ассоциации.

Идея бренда — главное обещание клиенту, то, ради чего существует компания. Идею можно разработать исходя из позиционирования. Например, идеей может быть самый широкий ассортимент в мире.

Ещё можно использовать в качестве идеи сверхзадачу компании — то, что изменит мир к лучшему. Например, некоторые бренды косметики продвигают идею отказа от испытаний на животных.

Платформа бренда — документ, в котором перечислены элементы бренда. Этот документ создаётся на основе идеи бренда. Единой формы для него нет — каждая компания сама решает, что в нём описывать. Вот какие могут быть элементы:

• миссия бренда — она похожа на идею. Это высокая цель, ради которой бренд существует;
• ценности — принципы, которые разделяет руководство компании и которые отражены среди прочего в продукте;
• айдентика — какими должны быть название, упаковка, сайт, реклама;
• функциональные преимущества, которые бренд даёт потребителям, — список характеристик или сервисов, которые отличают продукт от конкурентов;
• эмоциональные преимущества — с чем ассоциируется продукт, как его должен воспринимать потребитель.

Этот документ постоянно используют при работе с брендом. Данные в нём могут меняться — например, если компания проведёт ребрендинг.

Бренд-стратегия, или путь развития бренда, — пошаговый план действий по созданию, развитию бренда и его адаптации к изменениям. В идеале по ней должно быть понятно:

• какие инструменты будут использовать для продвижения бренда;
• по какой системе метрик будут оценивать эффективность;
• каков оптимальный результат — каким должен получиться бренд;
• каковы планы по дальнейшему развитию — каким бренд будет через полгода или год.

Разработка айдентики может проходить параллельно с разработкой бренд-стратегии. Обычно визуальную составляющую поручают дизайнерам: они работают над логотипом, шрифтами, цветовой гаммой.

За остальное отвечает бренд-менеджер — он сам или с помощью других специалистов выбирает коммуникационный тон, разрабатывает слоган. Иногда создаёт персонажа для бренда. Персонаж — вымышленный герой, который представляет продукт: как кот Матроскин у бренда «Простоквашино».

Стратегия коммуникации — документ, в котором определяют каналы взаимодействия с целевой аудиторией и коммуникационное сообщение для неё. Он отвечает на два вопроса:

• Что мы хотим донести до людей?
• Как мы будем это делать?

Тон сообщения зависит от целей. Например, если цель — показать экспертность, можно рассказывать аудитории о том, что компанию включили в престижный рейтинг, что она решает сложные задачи и её сотрудников приглашают на конференции.

Каналы коммуникации зависят от текущей ситуации и потребностей целевой аудитории. Обычно используют стандартные каналы продвижения, о которых мы поговорим ниже.

Оценка эффективности — измерение результатов: охвата, узнаваемости, финансовых показателей компании. Метрики зависят от целей, вида бренда, типа коммуникационной стратегии — у каждой компании свой набор показателей.

Все этапы создания и развития бренда повторяются. Если нужно поддерживать бренд, могут менять стратегию коммуникации и метрики для оценки эффективности. Если нужно кардинально изменить восприятие бренда, процесс начинают заново — с исследования рынка, конкурентов и целевой аудитории.

Вот несколько советов тем, кто хочет создать свой бренд:

Убедитесь, что он нужен. Бывают ситуации, когда можно ограничиться торговой маркой. Например, бренд не нужен небольшому бизнесу с прямым контактом с клиентами — репетиторам или поставщикам запчастей под заказ. Ещё бренд можно не развивать компаниям в нишах с недорогими одинаковыми товарами — гвоздями, дровами, овощами.

Тщательно продумайте идею бренда. Подумайте, зачем он существует. Донесите это до сотрудников — все они должны понимать идею и корректно доносить её до конечных потребителей.

Подтверждайте идею на всех этапах коммуникации. Это важно для формирования целостного образа у целевой аудитории. Если в разных рекламных кампаниях вы доносите разное позиционирование, это приведёт к диссонансу.

Следите за качеством продукта. Это фундамент, на котором строятся дополнительные эмоциональные выгоды. Без него ничего не получится.

Доверьте айдентику профессионалам. Чтобы разработать фирменный стиль, подходящий идее бренда, лучше обратиться в брендинговое агентство.

Не останавливайте работу над брендом. Управление брендом — непрерывный процесс. Даже если в какой-то период нет цели увеличить продажи или узнаваемость, всё равно нужно поддерживать уровень известности и управлять имиджем компании.

Выбор инструментов продвижения зависит от множества параметров — целевой аудитории, характера и ценностей бренда, текущих целей, стадии жизненного цикла компании и так далее. Перечислим самые распространённые каналы коммуникации с целевой аудиторией:

• Любая реклама — ролики на телевидении, реклама на радио, наружная реклама, реклама в интернете.
• Нативная реклама и спецпроекты — они не продают продукт напрямую, но вовлекают пользователей: например, дают им полезный контент.
• Контент-маркетинг — публикация контента в своём блоге и на сторонних площадках.
• PR — управление отношениями с общественностью: обычно это мероприятия, благодаря которым улучшается имидж бренда.
• Event-маркетинг — специальные мероприятия и акции, которые формируют правильное впечатление о компании.
• BTL — инструменты, ориентированные на узкую целевую аудиторию: например, участие в профильных конференциях.
• Co-branding — рекламная активность совместно с другим брендом.
• Прямой маркетинг — продвижение через прямую коммуникацию с потребителем: например, через консультации.

Бренд — образы и ассоциации, которые возникают у потребителей при упоминании компании или продукта. В его разработке участвует и компания, и целевая аудитория. Не всегда бренду удаётся создать задуманный образ — поэтому важно учитывать среди прочего мнение потребителей.

Бренд — не то же самое, что брендинг и брендирование. Брендирование — разработка айдентики, а брендинг — процесс создания и развития бренда. За брендинг отвечает целая команда, которой руководит бренд-менеджер.

Существуют разные классификации брендов: по объекту брендинга, типу продукта, территориальному охвату и распределению брендов в портфеле компании. От вида бренда зависит, как его продвигают.

Создание бренда — комплексный процесс, включающий восемь этапов — от анализа и формулирования идеи бренда до оценки эффективности. Это непрерывный процесс — компании нужно постоянно поддерживать узнаваемость и имидж в глазах целевой аудитории.

Для продвижения бренда можно использовать самые разные инструменты: наружную рекламу, PR, event-маркетинг и контент-маркетинг. Выбор зависит от миссии бренда, типа рынка, целевой аудитории. Например, на потребительском рынке можно использовать массовые охватные каналы вроде рекламы на ТВ, а для B2B-брендов — нишевые каналы вроде узкоспециализированных печатных изданий.

• Айдентика, или фирменный стиль, — базовый атрибут бренда. В этом материале разобрались, что входит в фирменный стиль, зачем он нужен и как его разрабатывают.
• Рано или поздно бренды приходят к ребрендингу — меняют позиционирование, идеологию, восприятие бренда. Это рискованный процесс, который может привести к убыткам. В Skillbox Media есть статья о ребрендинге: разобрались в ней, как правильно его проводить и как он влияет на компанию.
• Есть много способов продвижения бренда. Один из них — PR-кампания: мероприятия, улучшающие имидж. Прочитайте гайд по PR-кампаниям, чтобы понять, как они работают и кто отвечает за их организацию.
• Чтобы развивать бренд, нужно уметь анализировать аудиторию и рынок, позиционировать компанию на рынке, разрабатывать стратегии, работать с маркетингом. Всему этому учат на курсе «Профессия Бренд-менеджер» в Skillbox — он подойдёт и маркетологам, которые хотят расширить компетенции, и новичкам, которые хотят зарабатывать от 60 тысяч рублей в месяц.

Эти материалы Skillbox Media могут быть полезны

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• Что такое коллаборации и как они работают. Головокружительные примеры
• Зачем брендам комьюнити и как создать своё сообщество
• Как провести конкурентный анализ: 11 шагов на примере Sony и Nintendo

Научитесь: Профессия Бренд-менеджер
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