When you think about branding, you’re probably envisioning logos, colour schemes, and typography. However, did you know that how many types of branding are there?
What’s more, it’s important to understand the benefits of each type in order to make a wise decision when it comes to your business.
Know 10 types of branding and what they stand for with examples in this article.
1. Personal Branding
Branding for individuals is usually different from branding for a whole business. People who want to maintain a positive public image, such as entrepreneurs, celebrities, politicians, and digital marketers, can use personal branding (usually because endorsements are beneficial to their careers).
In today’s digital world, a strong personal brand is a must for anyone looking to build a successful career.
Building your personal brand using social media is fantastic, as you have the ability to reach wide audiences while maintaining a personal platform.
Both Elon Musk and Neil Patel are examples of individuals who have properly branded themselves through their online presence and have established themselves as authorities in their respective fields.
2. Corporate Branding
Corporate branding is one of the most prominent types of branding that involves cultivating a reputation for an entire organization. The name of the organization will be associated with a promise – that they stick to the services they offer and that they have a good track record.
It’s easier for customers to trust products when they recognize a brand that they know. Companies that invest in corporate branding reap the benefits of name-brand recognition, which is key to long-term survival.
3. Online branding
Branding online is also known as internet branding, and it refers to how you position yourself (or your business) online. A website, social media presence, blog – everything you do under your own name online falls under this type of branding.
Today, most businesses rely on online and internet branding in some way.
4. Offline Branding
Branding that takes place offline is what this term is all about. Offline branding, which can range from handing out business cards to hosting meals with potential leads, requires a combination of good design and outgoing representatives to leverage your brand.
5. Product Branding
Ever notice how “Pepsi’ has become a word synonymous with “soft drink”’? It’s because, at this point, the product has achieved major product branding success – the kind of branding that makes consumers choose one product over another based simply on the brand’s strength.
A logo or colour will often pop out at you on certain items, this is because you have learned to associate them with each other through effective branding!!
6. Geographical Branding
Tourism professionals should take advantage of this type of branding. Geographic branding uses the unique characteristics of a particular region or area as its selling point and as the reason for visiting it.
Often, you will see countries claim a particular type of food as their own or tout the history of their region as unique.
7. Co-branding
Partnerships and branding are coming together in this type of branding. The term co-branding refers to connecting two or more company brands through a single product.
For example, Starbucks and Spotify joined forces to create a “music ecosystem” that gives artists greater access to Starbucks customers and gives Starbucks access to Spotify’s vast catalogue.
8. Service Branding
The customer is put first in this type of branding, and you provide impeccable customer service. As much as every brand must strive not to alienate guests, service branding goes even further. It uses customer service as a selling point to add perceived value to the overall product.
Service brands often give out extras to their customers, such as free meals and cookies on international flights or instructions for how to make your own coffee art packets with every purchase.
9. Ingredient Branding
A brand is an achievement of one ingredient within a product or one branch within a company. Highlighting those innovations become the brand’s strength, rather than the concept of the business or product itself.
Intel’s “Intel Inside” campaign, which launched in 1991, is probably the most widely known Ingredient Brand. Microprocessor brand has become a key decision-driver in PC purchases over the past decade, driving almost a 12-fold increase in net income for the company.
10. Activist Branding
There may be a cause that you strongly believe in that you can channel into your brand strategy. The concept of activist branding, or “conscious branding”, aims to positively impact society through your brand so that it is associated with the cause. For example,
In recognition of LGBTQAI+ culture, Adidas introduced Pride Pack, a line of rainbow-coloured clothing and footwear celebrating diversity.
There are many different kinds of branding, and they can be equally effective.
Remember, a brand doesn’t have to be the most expensive or the flashiest; it just needs to be memorable.
The purpose of branding is to make your company memorable.
So which type of branding you’re going to do for your business.
Write it in the comments below!!