BRAND
POSITIONING
INTRODUCTION
POSITIONING is a marketing strategy that aims
to make a brand occupy a distinct position,
relative to competing brands, in the mind of the
customer. Companies apply this strategy either
by emphasizing the distinguishing features of
their brand (what it is, what it does and how,
etc.) or they may try to create a suitable image
(inexpensive or premium, utilitarian or
luxurious, entry-level or high-end, etc.) through
advertising. Once a brand is positioned, it is very
difficult to reposition it without destroying its
credibility. It is also called product positioning.
Kotler and Keller
define brand positioning as an act of
designing the companys offering and image to occupy a
distinct place in the mind of the target market. The
objective of positioning is to locate the brand into the minds
of stakeholders; customers and prospect in particular. A
recognizable and trusted customer-focused value proposition
can be the result of a successful positioning without doing
something to the product itself. Its the rational and
persuasive reason to buy the brand in highly competitive
target markets.
Brand positioning is the sum of all activities that position the
brand in the mind of the customer relative to its competition.
Positioning is not about creating something new or different, but
to manipulate the mind set and to retain existing connections.
BRAND REPOSITIONING
WHAT IS BRAND REPOSITIONING?
When a company sees a decrease in sales
over time and/or major changes coming
down the line, they know it is time to
implement changes within the
[Link] repositioningis when a
company changes a brand's status in the
marketplace. This typically includes changes
to the marketing mix (product, place, price
and promotion). Repositioning is done to
keep up with consumer wants and needs.
STRATEGIES
To implement brand repositioning the company must
choose a strategy. Each strategy determines where the
main focus of the new campaign will be. The new
campaign may focus on the consumer, other
businesses or the general public.
Identity - The most important aspect of building a brand
is to give the company an identity. The brand is tied
together through the logo, slogan, color scheme,
marketing materials, employees, etc. Everything about
the company should tie together and provide a unified
identity that the consumer can understand.
Spirit of giving - The world is starting to expect
businesses to be socially responsible and embrace the
spirit of [Link] responsibilityis an organization's
obligation to better the welfare of society. To utilize this
strategy the company can include its partnership with
charities in its advertising.
BRAND REPOSITIONING
Four-phased brand repositioning approach will help guide you through the
process and allow your company and brand group to best calibrate based on
timing, budget, and resources to get the job done.
Phase I. Determining the Current Status of the Brand
The purpose of this phase is to understand the company and brand,
including exploring key issues, opportunities, and challenges. The reason is
to obtain a clear snapshot of the company and brand in present terms, which
will offer a clear insight to opportunity identification and assessment.
Understanding the brand includes reviewing the complete history of the
company and brand, including its current brand positioning, the original
positioning, how it has evolved, and most important: what the company and
brand stands for today. Key questions to ask and answer:
What differentiates our company and brand from the competition?
What are the equity drivers of the company and brand?
What are the historical ways to communicatethe company and brand equity
to consumers and customers alike?
As we dive deeper into the current status of the company and brand, we also
need to get a clear understanding of the company and brand, including a
review of the current brand customer. Key questions to ask and answer:
Who is the current target customer base?
How will we promote the brand product purchase, collection, and user
patterns?
The most important guidelines to success will be to ensure that all aspects of
where to take your brand are carefully reviewed to ensure that the core values
and essence of your brand are maintained. With this in mind, as a general
guideline, there are four key ingredients as part of the brand repositioning work.
The new Brand Positioning will be...
OwnableUnique to the brand
LeverageableImportant and relevant to the target
SustainableRelevant other categories in the future
ExtendableAppropriate for partnershipmarketing and other marketing
programs
There are two key components to the brand positioning workshopsstrategic
and creativeand they should involve two sessions.
The first session would be "Developing the brand is and what it should become
tomorrow, as well as mapping out where to take the brand in the short and long
term.
The second session would be "Stretching The Brand." Essentially, you would
take everything you have heard and learned, and review consumer insights with
the goal of taking your brand where it should go. This process should include
exercises to stretch your brand into the future.
Phase IV. Refining the Brand Positioning and Management Presentation
Now we have a great start, a new thinking, and (most important) the
beginnings of the new brand positioning for your company, business, and
brand.
As part of this final and very important phase in brand repositioning, we need
to refine the positioning. This includes finalizing the brand by incorporating
all fee agencies, as well as the brand group, to ensure achievable positioning
vs. aspirational positioning.
The ultimate final stage results in building a strong team to carry the
message to senior management and leaders within your company. This
includes developing and presenting to the brand group and senior
management the new brand positioning.
Once the entire senior management and leadership buy in and endorse the
new brand positioning, there is still much work to be done. The main focus
now shifts from research and development to solidifying marketing.
CONCLUSION
As such, we need to create a "brand identity manual" that provides a clear
direction on the new brand positioning. Most important, it describes how
the new brand positioning will deliver growth for the business. The "Brand
Identity Manual" showcases industry and competitive trends and consumer
attitudes that resulted in the new brand positioning.
Now that we have developed new brand positioning platforms, we need to
test it and validate it with consumers as well as key customers. The
ultimate purpose and goal is to refine the brand positioning platforms.
So, we go back to the focus group format in which we would again talk to
key consumers and customers with the purpose of checking back with
them to validate the new brand positioning. This essentially allows for
refinement of the new brand positioning. It will also help determine just
how far your brand can be stretched. It is also essential to develop visual
concept boards to position your brand and its products in a new light in
front of consumers and customers.
The final output of this phase includes a concise and clear understanding of
consumer views on key new brand positioning platforms as well as the final
brand positioning. This will provide and deliver an overview of consumer
attitudes toward the new brand positioning, with a focus on retaining
existing brand customers and acquiring new users.
It will also showcase the final new brand positioning statement, explaining
in detail the reasoning behind the new brand positioning.
THANK
YOU