Branding 101: Why It Matters and Why You Need it.

MM

10/12/2022

10 min read

So you’ve started a business. Congratulations! Now comes the hard part: making it successful.

You could spend months or years trying to figure out the right marketing strategy, the right product mix, and the right pricing strategy. But there’s one thing you can do that will help your business succeed from the start: branding. 

Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business, yet it’s often misunderstood. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what is  branding, why it matters, the importance of branding in business, how it can help your business succeed, and what role design plays in branding.

Discover the power of branding

Think about some of the most popular brands in the world. What do they have in common? They’re all recognizable, they have a loyal customer base, and they manage to stay top-of-mind, even in a competitive market. This is the power of branding. You see branding everywhere. It’s on the cereal you ate for breakfast, the shampoo you used in the shower, and the clothes you’re wearing. But what is branding? And how can it help your business?

At its simplest, branding is about creating a unique identity for your business. This includes everything from your logo and slogan to the colors and fonts you use. But branding goes beyond just superficial elements. It’s also about shaping people’s perception of your business. A strong brand can engage customers, build loyalty, and create an emotional connection. In other words, it can make people want to do business with you.

In its most basic form, branding is the use of a name, word, design, symbol, or other attribute to identify and distinguish a product or service from those of other providers. Branding has been around for centuries—the practice of branding animals to signify ownership dates back to ancient times—but it wasn’t until the late 1800s that businesses began to apply the notion of brand identification to their own products and services. 

Since then, branding has been a crucial component of practically every company’s marketing strategy. An effective brand may foster consumer loyalty, distinguish a company’s products from those of competitors, and even assist firms in obtaining greater pricing for their goods and services.

Branding : The secret weapon of business

Good branding helps your business in many ways. It makes customers more engaged, for one thing. When customers feel like they have a personal connection to your company, they’re more likely to buy from you and recommend you to others. 

Good branding also makes it easier to sell new products and services. Customers who already trust your company are more likely to give new offerings a try. If customers see your company as a luxury brand, they’ll be willing to pay a premium price. 

So how do you create a strong brand? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but one important step is to create a story that customers can identify with. You want customers to feel like they’re part of something bigger than just a transaction. Take Apple, for example. The company has built a loyal following by telling a story of innovation and individual expression. When customers buy an iPhone, they’re not just buying a phone–they’re buying into a larger idea about technology and self-expression. That’s the power of branding.

Of course, branding isn’t just about creating a strong story. It’s also about making sure that your story is consistent across all of your marketing channels. Your website, social media, packaging, and even the way your employees answer the phone should all reflect your brand. By being consistent, you create a recognizable identity that customers can trust. 

When you’re starting a business, one of the most important things you have to think about is your branding. What does your company stand for? There are a lot of different branding strategies to choose from, and it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. But what goes into a successful branding strategy, and how can you make sure your brand stands out from the competition? Check out these examples of brands that got it right.

TATA : BRAND TRUST

Branding 101 - TATA - Brandemic

Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business, and it can be a powerful tool for driving growth. For Tata trust, branding has been a key part of its success. The company has employed a number of branding strategies over the years, and these have helped to establish Tata as a leading brand in India. 

The company’s branding strategy has gone through several stages, and each has played a role in the company’s growth. The first stage was establishing Tata as a trusted brand name. This was followed by developing a strong visual identity for the company. The next stage involved making Tata an aspirational brand, and this was achieved through aggressive marketing and expansion into new markets. 

The final stage of Tata’s branding strategy is to position the company as a global leader, and this is being achieved through a combination of factors, including investment in research and development, partnerships with leading global brands, and expansion into new geographies.

Thanks to its carefully planned branding strategy, Tata Trust is now one of the most valuable brands in India and is well on its way to becoming a global powerhouse.

Apple : BRAND VALUE

Branding 101 - Apple - Brandemic

A brand is more than just a name or a logo. It’s the story that customers tell about their experiences with a company. And when done right, branding can be a powerful tool for growing a business. Just look at Apple. 

The company has built one of the most recognizable brands in the world, and it all started with a simple branding strategy. In the early days, Apple positioned itself as the rebellious alternative to Microsoft. It was the “cool” option for tech-savvy consumers. This positioning helped Apple stand out in a crowded marketplace and appeal to a new generation of customers. 

As Apple continued to grow, the company refined its branding strategy, focusing on simplicity and innovation. The company’s branding strategy has always focused on creating an emotional connection with consumers. This has been achieved through advertising that tells stories about how Apple products make people’s lives better. 

In recent years, Apple has also made use of celebrity endorsements and product placement to further strengthen its brand. As a result of its successful branding strategy, Apple is now one of the most valuable companies in the world.

Starbucks : BRAND VISION

Branding 101 - Starbucks - Brandemic

Starbucks has come a long way since it first opened its doors in 1971. What started as a simple coffee shop has now become a global brand, with more than 32,000 locations in 80 countries. 

And while Starbucks is known for its delicious coffee, it is also respected for its branding. The company’s vision is “to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time.” This mission is reflected in everything from the design of Starbucks stores to the way employees interact with customers.

It’s no wonder that Starbucks has become one of the most successful brands in the world. Thanks to its compelling vision, the company has continued to grow and thrive, even in the face of challenging economic conditions. As a result, Starbucks has become synonymous with quality coffee and friendly service. 

The company has built a strong brand identity that customers can rely on, and this has helped them to become one of the most successful businesses in the world. So, when it comes to branding growth, Starbucks is definitely doing something right.

The power of design in branding

How important is design in branding? It is estimated that people make split-second judgments about products based on visual cues alone, so it stands to reason that the design of a product can play a significant role in its success or failure. Design can make or break a brand.

While some may see branding and design as two separate disciplines, they are actually intimately intertwined. A brand is not just a logo or marketing slogan; it is the sum total of everything associated with a product or company, from the way it looks and feels to the way it is advertised and sold. 

In other words, branding is all about creating an emotional connection with potential customers. And what better way to create an emotional connection than through design? Designers are masters at speaking to the heart as well as the head, and they understand how to use color, shape, and form to create an impact.

Good design communicates the values of a company and helps to forge an emotional connection with consumers. In short, design is essential to branding, and the two should be carefully considered together in order to create a strong, cohesive identity. In other words, when it comes to branding, design is far from being just a superficial pursuit.

Designers must take into account many different factors when creating branding materials. They must consider the company’s mission and values, the target audience, and the overall tone or feel that the brand wants to convey.

In addition, they must be aware of current trends in design and colors to ensure that the branding is modern and relevant. But perhaps most importantly, designers must be able to translate all of these complex concepts into visually appealing and effective designs.

Don't be a branding failure, learn from these companies

In the business world, reputation is everything. Your brand is what customers think of when they see your products or hear your name. Consequently, a lot of effort goes into crafting the perfect image for a company. But sometimes, despite best efforts, things can go wrong. Here are three examples of famous branding failures:

Pepsi

Branding 101 - pepsi - Brandemic

In the branding world, there are success stories, and then there are failures. The failures are the ones that everyone loves to talk about, and Pepsi’s branding failure is one of the most talked-about failures in recent history. 

In the late 1990s, Pepsi was in a bit of an identity crisis. Their flagship product, Pepsi-Cola, was losing market share to their biggest rival, Coca-Cola. In an attempt to re-brand themselves and appeal to a new generation of consumers, Pepsi made a series of branding failures that left them with an even bigger identity crisis. 

First, they changed the recipe for Pepsi-Cola, which resulted in a significant drop in sales. Next, they launched the “Pepsi Challenge,” a marketing campaign that invited consumers to taste test Pepsi and Coca-Cola side by side and see which one they preferred. The problem was that most people still preferred Coca-Cola. 

Finally, Pepsi introduced a new logo that was widely panned by the public. In the end, these branding failures only served to further damage Pepsi’s image and reputation. 

Amazon

Branding 101 - Amazon - Brandemic

If there’s one thing Amazon is good at, it’s making headlines. But not always for the right reasons. Here are just a few examples of Amazon’s branding fails:

The Fire Phone: Perhaps Amazon’s biggest branding failure was their Fire Phone. Launched in 2014, the phone was a flop, with only 3 million units sold in its first year. The phone was plagued with problems, including a high price tag, poor battery life, and low app selection. As a result, Amazon discontinued the phone in 2015, taking a $170 million loss on the project.

The Kindle Fire: Another fire-related fail for Amazon was their Kindle Fire tablet. Launched in 2011, the tablet was intended to be a budget-friendly alternative to Apple’s iPad. However, the tablet received mixed reviews, with many users complaining about its poor build quality and underwhelming performance. As a result, sales of the Kindle Fire never lived up to expectations, and the tablet was eventually discontinued.

While the company has been quick to respond to these incidents and take steps to prevent them from happening again, the repeated fire-related failures have put a dent in Amazon’s reputation as a reliable source for quality products.

GAP

Branding 101 - Gap - Brandemic

When it comes to fashion, Gap is a giant. The retailer has managed to stay relevant for decades, appeal to multiple generations, and become one of the most recognisable brands in the world. 

One of the most talked-about redesigns in recent memory was Gap’s logo change in 2010. The new logo was widely panned, with many people finding it to be an ugly and uninspired mishmash of shapes. Gap quickly reverted back to its old logo after the widespread hatred of the new design became abundantly clear.

The hatred for the new Gap redesign was so strong that people actually created websites and whole social media accounts devoted to hating it. Gap’s failed redesign is a reminder that a brand is more than just a logo; it’s a promise to customers that should be carefully cultivated and maintained.

These examples just go to show that even the biggest companies can make big mistakes when it comes to branding. So if you’re ever feeling down about your own marketing missteps, just remember that you’re not alone!

TO WRAP IT UP

Branding can be a powerful tool for any business–large or small. If you’re not sure where to start, try thinking about ways to make your customer’s experience more unique and memorable . And don’t forget to stay true to yourself–after all, authenticity is one of the most important aspects of any successful brand.

But with a little effort, you can create a brand that customers will love and trust for years to come. Branding is an important investment–one that will pay off in spades if done correctly.  So what are you waiting for? Start branding today!

 

Related Post: What Is Co-Branding?

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