Brand Identity Belongs to the Consumer, and is Hard to Change

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE - OR NOT?

Your consumers own your brand identity. Even though it was you who spent years establishing a particular association in their minds, it is in their minds. They own it now. In other words, you were successful. But now what happens if events change and the identity...

Brand Proliferation Can Hurt Sales

BRAND WIDTH = BANDWIDTH

Having spent decades in the sales profession and as successful brand builders, we can tell you that there is a limit to the number of product offerings your company can sell. There is a tendency by production divisions to measure their success by how many different...

Company Logos Require Careful Strategy to Change

EVOLUTION, NOT REVOLUTION

The Datsun automobile spent five years to rebrand itself into the Nissan. First it was the Datsun, then the Datsun by Nissan, then the Datsun Nissan, then simply the Nissan. Although Nissan wants to bring back the Datsun name for economy cars in emerging markets, the...

Brand Position Starts with the Category

EVERY CATEGORY CONTAINS MANY BRAND POSITIONS

Brand position in its most general sense comes down to the simple questions: “What category are you in?” and, “How are you located and ranked in that category?” A category is the type of goods or services that the brand represents. Is it legal services or...

Good Product Positioning Examples Abound

VW, VIRGIN, WALMART, MICHELIN—JUST FOR STARTERS

Product positioning examples are all around you. Product positioning messages reach you every time you shop, drive, work, listen to the radio, or read a newspaper. Here are just a few examples of products that have done a good job of positioning themselves: 1. Volkswagen is...

The Positioning Statement is All about Messaging

PERCEPTION, PRICE, AND PERFORMANCE

A positioning statement is the message you send to all levels of the market by how you position your product. Ideally, the statement compels the buyer to make the purchase. “If you buy a dozen of these cupcakes, we’ll give you 13 for the same price”...

A Good Positioning Strategy Achieves Superior Market Position

YOU MAY HAVE TO DO SOME THINGS THAT SEEM UNLIKELY AT FIRST

A positioning strategy is the action plan that a business or product undergoes to achieve market position. With positioning strategy, first consider your goal. How do you want to position your company, brand, or product? Do you want to give a perception of quality? Do you...

Marketing Channels Do Two Things Well

MARKETING CHANNELS GET YOUR PRODUCT TO MARKET AND YOUR MESSAGE TO YOUR CUSTOMER

Marketing channels are the means of getting your product to market while also effectively communicating good reasons to buy it at every level of distribution. Marketing channels are often confused with advertising channels. Although advertising is required in one form or another, marketing channels deliver your...

Product Positioning Definition

HOW IS YOUR PRODUCT PERCEIVED?

An official product positioning definition is: a consumer’s view of a product or service compared to its competition. Here are some critical considerations to achieve product positioning beyond pricing, appearance, quality and endorsements: 1. Product perception Even though you have a great logo, name, and slogan,...