Defining the target audience's mindset, identifying key problems, and creating a unique brand idea are crucial in building a brand from scratch.
Aligning brand missions with social issues and integrating them deeply into brand identities is essential for authentic cause-related campaigns.
Incorporating contradictions in branding strategies can create intrigue, surprise, and a deeper connection with consumers, standing out in crowded markets.
Deep dives
Building Brands for Startups
Emily Heywood, co-founder of Red Antler, a leading branding company for startups, discusses the process of building a brand from scratch. She emphasizes the importance of defining the target audience's mindset, identifying key problems for that audience, and creating a unique brand idea. Using examples like Keeps and Casper, she shows how understanding the audience's mindset can inform brand positioning and messaging. Heywood also highlights the significance of weaving contradictions and surprise into brand narratives and the need for authenticity in cause-related campaigns.
The Power of Inclusive Branding
Heywood emphasizes the importance of inclusive branding and the need for brands to be authentic in their commitment to social causes. She discusses the value of aligning brand missions with social issues and warns against surface-level involvement in cause-related campaigns. Heywood shares examples of successful brands like TOMS and Thinx that deeply integrate their social missions into their brand identities, demonstrating how a brand's commitment to a cause should be fundamental, not an add-on.
The Role of Contradictions in Branding
Heywood explores the value of incorporating contradictions into branding strategies. Contradictions, she argues, create intrigue, surprise, and a deeper connection with consumers. Heywood highlights brands like Casper and Allbirds that skillfully embrace contradictions in their narratives to disrupt industry norms and engage their target audiences in unique ways. She emphasizes the importance of bravery and going beyond consistency in brand messaging and visuals to stand out in crowded markets.
Importance of Identifying the Problem You're Solving
Many entrepreneurs fail to accurately identify the problem they are solving for people when developing their business ideas. They often mistake the solution as the problem itself. To ensure a deep understanding of the problem, a 'why test' is suggested where entrepreneurs keep asking 'why' until they reach the core issue. This test ensures that the business idea is addressing a fundamental human need that resonates with people.
Creating a Compelling Brand and Connecting with Consumers
Successful brands like Allbirds, Everlane, and Bombas connect with their consumers by going beyond their products and highlighting their core values. By offering a distinct brand experience and portraying a unique mission, they create a sense of belonging and purpose among their customers. These brands disrupt traditional industry practices, embrace transparency, and address the functional and emotional needs of their target audience. The key is to deliver on the brand promise consistently and authentically.
Who Is Emily? "Most Important Entrepreneur of The Decade" - Inc Magazine
Emily is a true branding expert. She's helped to build brands like Allbirds, Casper & Boxed from the ground up & paved a new path for entrepreneurs building in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) space.
The approach Emily and her team use to create brands that people love from day one.
Real-world examples from brands like: Apple, Nike, Warby Parker, TOMS, Allbirds, SoulCycle, Everlane, Thinx, and more. You’ll learn:
3 pillars of brand strategy: mindset, key problem, brand idea
what you can learn about brand storytelling from stand up comedy
getting to the consumer need & “the why test”
knowing when you’ve got to the “core brand idea”
the difference between functional vs emotional brand storytelling
the best way to get customer feedback
how consumer expectations are being redefined
why brand consistency is no longer the only approach to take in 2020
how subtle language can make a huge difference in the tone of your brand communication
Time Stamps:
00:00 intro 1:24 who is emily? 2:00 equity vs agency fee 3:09 branding book 4:15 what is the importance of brand? 5:05 defining brand 9:08 3 parts to brand strategy 14:40 customer interviews 20:33 beyond functional benefits 22:51 casper + core brand idea 25:30 airbnb + the why test 29:50 evaluating brand idea 30:30 boxed + comparing to competition 32:30 allbirds examples 37:40 nike + laddering up value 38:10 apple + green text 41:35 soulcycle brand juxtaposition 42:50 breaking the rule of consistency 44:30 thinx 47:40 non-profits + cause 50:50 toms shoe 53:10 warby parker 53:37 bombas 54:55 everlane 59:40 cancel culture + consumer expectations
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