unithoughts

Brand positioning and personality

2011-09-16T02:31:00.000-07:00

Brand personality is the way a brand speaks and behaves. It means assigning human personality traits/characteristics to a brand so as to achieve differentiation. These characteristics signify brand behaviour through both individuals representing the brand (i.e. it’s employees) as well as through advertising, packaging, etc. When brand image or brand identity is expressed in terms of human traits, it is called brand personality.

Allen Solley brand speaks the personality and makes the individual who wears it stand apart from the crowd.

Infosys represents uniqueness, value, and intellectualism.

Brand personality is nothing but personification of brand. A brand is expressed either as a personality who embodies these personality traits or distinct personality traits. Brand personality is the result of all the consumer’s experiences with the brand. It is unique and long lasting.

Shahrukh Khan and Airtel

John Abraham and Castrol

Brand personality represents feature:

Dove as honest, feminist and optimist

Hewlett Packard brand represents accomplishment, competency and influence

Brand personality must be differentiated from brand image, in sense that, while brand image denote the tangible (physical and functional) benefits and attributes of a brand, brand personality indicates emotional associations of the brand. If brand image is comprehensive brand according to consumers’ opinion, brand personality is that aspect of comprehensive brand which generates its emotional character and associations in consumers’ mind.

Brand personality develops brand equity. It sets the brand attitude. It is a key input into the look and feel of any communication or marketing activity by the brand. It helps in gaining thorough knowledge of customers feelings about the brand. Brand personality differentiates among brands specifically when they are alike in many attributes.
For instance -

Brand personality is used to make the brand strategy lively, i.e, to implement brand strategy. Brand personality indicates the kind of relationship a customer has with the brand. It is a means by which a customer communicates his own identity.

Brand personality and celebrity should supplement each other. Trustworthy celebrity ensures immediate awareness, acceptability and optimism towards the brand. This will influence consumers’ purchase decision and also create brand loyalty.
For instance -

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra is brand ambassador for J.Hampstead, international line of premium shirts.

Brand personality not only includes the personality features/characteristics, but also the demographic features like age, gender or class and psychographic features. Personality traits are what the brand exists for.

Brand is not a logo

Brand is not a tag line

Brand is a relationship

Find your point of view:

Who you are?

What do you do?

Why does it matter?

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Brand yourself and be known

2011-09-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

What is branding ?

A brand is a perception or emotion, maintained by a buyer prospective, describing the experience related to doing business with an organization or consuming its products and services.Therefore it makes sense to understand that branding is not about getting your target market to choose you over the competition, but it is about getting your prospects to see you as the only one that provides a solution to their problem.

The objectives that a good brand will achieve include:

Delivers the message clearly
Confirms your credibility
Connects your target prospects emotionally
Motivates the buyer
Concretes User Loyalty

Why Branding ?

A brand is a media to give the consumers memoability. With specific details like distinctive name and colors, your company will be more familiar to consumers’ ear. Thus, good ads is also put your company’s name to be more familiar. Once they give your products a try and they satisfy with the results, there is a guarantee that they will give you their loyalty.

Moreover, through the familiarity people begin to recognize your products, when your company has come into a famous brand one people will start to compare your brand with your competitors, so you should pay more attention on the quality of your products.

When one product has succeeded to be introduced to the mainstream market through your effective marketing, start the extension into related product, so there will be more varied products on your business. An original branding with distinctive logo and slogan is a treasure for you because once your brand becomes famous all over the world, it will be a good commodity. Just by hearing or reading your brand, people would know what your products presents and how these product benefits them. No need longer explanation. And for consumers, they will find themselves easier to just pick the famous brand rather than unknown one.

However, above all of the branding things above, one you should keep in mind in running the private business is your professionalism. Knowing that your consumers are the key to your business, you should treat them well. Give them solutions whenever they come to complains with valuable explanation. More importantly, it will be a smart way to keep what your company has promised them.

It may cost only 10-20 rupees in India

Now it must cost 1000- 2000 rupees

Why Brand Image ?

Brand image is the current view of the customers about a brand. It can be defined as a unique bundle of associations within the minds of target customers. It signifies what the brand presently stands for. It is a set of beliefs held about a specific brand. In short, it is nothing but the consumers’ perception about the product. It is the manner in which a specific brand is positioned in the market. Brand image conveys emotional value and not just a mental image. Brand image is nothing but an organization’s character. It is an accumulation of contact and observation by people external to an organization. It should highlight an organization’s mission and vision to all. The main elements of positive brand image are- unique logo reflecting organization’s image, slogan describing organization’s business in brief and brand identifier supporting the key values.
Brand image is the overall impression in consumers’ mind that is formed from all sources. Consumers develop various associations with the brand. Based on these associations, they form brand image. An image is formed about the brand on the basis of subjective perceptions of associations bundle that the consumers have about the brand.

Volvo is associated with safety

Toyota is associated with reliability

The idea behind brand image is that the consumer is not purchasing just the product/service but also the image associated with that product/service. Brand images should be positive, unique and instant. Brand images can be strengthened using brand communications like advertising, packaging, word of mouth publicity, other promotional tools, etc.
Brand image develops and conveys the product’s character in a unique manner different from its competitor’s image. The brand image consists of various associations in consumers’ mind - attributes, benefits and attributes. Brand attributes are the functional and mental connections with the brand that the customers have. They can be specific or conceptual. Benefits are the rationale for the purchase decision. There are three types of benefits: Functional benefits - what do you do better (than others ),emotional benefits - how do you make me feel better (than others), and rational benefits/support - why do I believe you(more than others). Brand attributes are consumers overall assessment of a brand.
Brand image has not to be created, but is automatically formed. The brand image includes products' appeal, ease of use, functionality, fame, and overall value. Brand image is actually brand content. When the consumers purchase the product, they are also purchasing it’s image. Brand image is the objective and mental feedback of the consumers when they purchase a product. Positive brand image is exceeding the customers expectations. Positive brand image enhances the goodwill and brand value of an organization.

Thoughtful thinking

2011-08-30T04:43:00.000-07:00

Be a Creative Creator

Creative thinking is the ability to let your mind create thoughts that are often different and
unusual. Creative thinking evolves around the idea of thinking beyond the scope of the
norm. It is all about being able to think outside the box and be original in your thought
process.
Creative thinking is something you can train your mind to do. Some people are actually
born with creative thinking abilities, while others have to really work to let themselves be
a creative thinker. However, it is possible for anyone to become a great creative thinker
whether they were naturally born or they have to work at it.
You hold the key to adopting creative thinking in your life and by doing so; you could
change your life, your thoughts and your world, forever.

• Develop deep thought evoking questions that you want to find the answers.
These questions can be questions that can be answered or rhetorical questions.

They can never be universal questions to which the definitive answer could never

be defined.

• Think about great geniuses.

Imagine yourself sitting down and having a deep conversation with this genius.

Imagine what you would ask and how they would answer.

• Imagine traveling in time or to another dimension.
Imagine what it is like. How does it look? What are the people like?
Are there even people? Create every aspect of life.

• Think about God or whatever higher being you believe in.
Think about the questions you would ask and his answers.
Try to imagine being in the presence of such power.

• Experiment with astral projection.
Get a book and study up on the idea. Then try it.
Try to float out of your conscious body and into the astral plain.

• Practice visualizing things.
If you have problems with visualization, then start out small with visualizing simple
things in your head and then moving onto things that are more complex.

• Gather information on things you are interested.
This will help give you something to think about. You can think about how to build upon
what already exists and how your creative thinking can change it or make it better.

• Find a friend to brainstorm with.
Getting someone else in on your creative thinking means you can work together.
Having someone else’s perspective on things can really get the creative juices flowing.

• Try thinking as if you are someone else.
Sometimes we get stuck in our own mindset. Creative thinking is about going beyond
our comfort zone and thinking outside the box, so pretend you are someone else and
think how he or she would think.

Some Creative Thinking Examples

• Imagine yourself living on the moon.

Picture what it looks like. Take yourself through a whole day. Think of every little detail,

like where does water come from? How do you breathe? Are there other life forms?

What do you eat? How do you travel? What is your home like? Are you alone there or

are there other people? How did you get to the moon? Who owns the moon?

• Imagine yourself living a whole day as an animal.

Think how that animal must think. Think about interacting with other animals.

How do you feel? What do you eat? Do you talk with other animals in your own language

or how do you communicate? Where do you live? Do you have a family? Do you work?

What activities do you do? Is there a form of government or some type of animal that is

in control?

• Write a description of the room you are in.

Give details about every little thing, from the books on the shelf to the tiny crack running

along the left corner of the room. Make sure you are very detailed, so detailed that

someone reading it would be able to completely visualize the room. You want to give

descriptions that reach all five senses. Use colors, smells, textures along with your visual

descriptions.

You may not know where to begin with your thought experiments or using ‘what if’

techniques.

Some ‘what if’ ideas that you can use:

What if --

• I lived to be 200 years old?

• I was born a different race or gender?

• I lived somewhere else in the world?

• I had not gone to college or had gone to college?

• The world was flat?

• I did/did not have children?

• There was world peace?

• Einstein was never born?

• Animals could talk?

• I could spend one day with God

Another thing you can do to help your creative thought is ponder age-old questions or

rhetorical questions. Think about things like:

• God

• Creation/Evolution

• Fate/Destiny

• Coincidence

Here are some common questions that people often ponder that you can use to get your

creative mind working:

• Is there life after death?

• Is there really a God?

• Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons?

• Which came first – the chicken or the egg?

• If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?

• Would an orange be called an orange if it was green?

• Why isn’t a banana called a yellow or an apple called a red?

What Skills Help in Creative Thinking?

• Organizational Skills -

Being organized may seem the opposite of being creative. When people think of creativity

they often thin unstructured thought and unorganized behaviors, but actually creative

thought can be quite organized. When you are organized, you are able to better sift

through your thoughts and get to the heart of the good idea.

• Reasoning Skills -

Being able to reason is very helpful in creative thinking. Reasoning skills come in handy

when you are analyzing a situation. You are able to decide right away what will work

and what will not work.

• Objectivity -

Being able to be objective allows you to consider many possibilities and not just be stuck

on the obvious. This is key to creative thinking.

• Any skill in the arts -

This includes music, writing and artwork, like painting or sculpting. Having these artistic

skills means your mind is already used to thinking outside the box. You have the ability to be creative and therefore you are predisposed to creative thinking.

Creative Thinking Techniques

Step 1: Analysis

You begin by looking over the situation. You should take in everything you can about the

situation. Get details and ask questions. You must really get to know the situation at this

point.

Analysis involves finding out the who, what, where, when and how of the situation. Once

analysis is complete, you should be able to completely explain the situation including

any obvious problems or issues.

Step 2: Brainstorming

This is the true area of creative thinking. Once you know about the situation, you can

begin to start thinking. You can brainstorm in any manner that works for you. You may

just shout out ideas or may write them down. Whatever works for you is best to do.

Brainstorming can take on many forms. You can write things down, talk things out or

even conduct experiments. Brainstorming should be free flowing and recorded so no

good ideas are lost.

Step 3: Break It Down

Now that you have a nice collection of ideas, you can start going through them and

weeding out ones that will not work. You may find that if you change an idea just a little

that it will work much better. This step is all about tweaking your ideas.

You will go over all of your ideas and weed out those that are not going to work. You

should end up wit h the ideas that seem to be the best solutions.

Step 4: Review

The final step involves getting your final idea. This will help you to come up with one or

two ideas that seem to stand out and be the best ideas.

You will go over the ideas you have left and narrow them down even more to one or two

plausible ideas. You should then be able to go into detail of how each idea will work and

how it will be implemented.

Being a creative thinker involves being able to think without a lot of structure, but these

four steps are the basics of any thinking process. They may help you to be a better

creative thinker.

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an excellent and successful TVC by Unimarc lifescapes

2011-08-20T03:35:00.000-07:00

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Logos and its kind...

2011-08-19T00:03:00.000-07:00

Logos and its Kind...

SIGN SYMBOL LOGO

Within semiotics, anything that is used for human communication is defined as a sign: gestures, facial expressions, poetry, rituals, clothes, food, music, morse code, marketing, commercials, film, etc. Signs are important because they can mean something other than themselves.

Stop means Stop, Apple means Apple, Crown means Crown.
Stop means Danger, Apple means Healthy, Crown means King

The interpretation of a sign is dependent on the context in which it is used, its relationship
to other signs, and its environment.

Stop sign in India

Stop sign in China

Tunsia, Niger and China

different caution signs

There are numerous relationships that can exist between signifier and signified. We can
have the same signifier with different signifieds and different signifiers with the same signified.

Above logo is the good example of signifers in the same signified.

Metasymbol

A symbol whose meaning transcends the tangible realm of simple one-to-one relationships.

History, culture, and tradition all play a role in creating metasymbols, such a

s the dove with an olive brach as a symbol for peace. For certain audiences,

religious and magical sugns and symbols take on these properties.

LOGO, LOGOTYPE, MARK

Logo

Logo type

Mark

Criteria for a Successful Logo

Visibility

Visibility is of the logo is the most important factor in making strong appeal among people.

Distinctiveness

You may see a different identity among the logos deals in the same domain.

Simplicity/Universality

Above logos are the best example of simplicity and Universality.

Modularity

Retention

Descriptiveness

Equity

Evolution of logos

A few conventional and trends

Shape containers logos

Unified shape logos

Big mark, little logotype

Big logotype, little mark

Mark within logotype

Mark outside of logotype

Underline/overline

Typographic logos

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2011-08-18T00:29:00.000-07:00

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