Busting 5 myths of branding - Sarah Robb and Rachel Fairley
Mar 13, 2025
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Join Sarah Robb, co-founder of Rebrand Right with a rich background in brand leadership, and Rachel Fairley, also a co-founder and former chief brand officer at Hewlett Packard, as they tackle five widespread branding myths. They challenge conventional wisdom, arguing against starting with strategy and over-relying on experts. Instead, they promote a collective approach to brand development, stressing the importance of creativity over rigid guidelines. Discover how to build a confident brand that drives growth and avoids common pitfalls!
Effective brand strategy requires diagnosing internal and external factors rather than relying on conventional strategies or frameworks.
Organizations must engage employees in branding, ensuring internal values align with customer perceptions to enhance overall brand experience.
Flexibility in branding guidelines fosters creativity and adaptability, allowing for meaningful marketing while maintaining brand coherence.
Deep dives
The Value of Brand Diagnosis Over Strategy
Understanding the health of a brand requires a thorough diagnosis before any strategic decisions can be made. It's essential to identify the underlying issues affecting a brand's performance, such as internal culture, competitive threats, or strategic ambitions. By asking key questions about brand recognition, buyer intent, and distinctive assets, marketers can gauge the strength of their brand. This holistic approach ensures that branding efforts align with the organization's actual needs and business goals, rather than relying solely on assumed strategies.
The Fallacy of Relying on Experts
The prevailing notion that brand strategy should be left entirely to experts is misleading. While professionals offer valuable insights, the brand's essence should be shaped by those who intimately understand the organization and its goals. It's crucial for marketers to take control and frame brand strategy as a set of core questions rather than succumbing to complicated jargon and frameworks. This approach empowers organizations to develop a brand strategy that resonates with all stakeholders, thus enhancing overall brand value.
Prioritizing Employee and Buyer Engagement
Rather than solely focusing on customers, brands should view their audience as buyers who have options. Engaging employees in the brand's mission is paramount, as their actions significantly influence customer experiences. A disconnection between internal brand values and external messaging can undermine the overall brand strategy. By fostering strong relationships with HR and ensuring that employees adhere to brand principles, organizations can create a cohesive brand experience that resonates both internally and externally.
Understanding That a Brand Is More Than Just a Logo
The misconception that a brand is merely a logo overlooks the critical role of brand assets in shaping perceptions. These brand assets, including visual identity and associations, must be nurtured to foster familiarity and trust amongst consumers. Rather than discarding existing brand elements, organizations should evaluate their effectiveness and consider how they contribute to the overall brand strategy. By appreciating the value of both the visual identity and the underlying associations, brands can create a strong and memorable presence in the marketplace.
The Limitations of Brand Consistency
The conventional belief that consistency is paramount in branding can stifle creativity and adaptability. Rigid brand guidelines may lead to uninspired marketing efforts that fail to engage audiences meaningfully. Instead, brands should treat their guidelines as guidelines rather than strict rules, allowing for flexibility in execution. Embracing an adaptive approach helps maintain brand cohesion while encouraging innovation and creativity, ultimately leading to more impactful marketing outcomes.
There’s a lot of ‘accepted wisdom’ and jargon in branding and marketing. Myths that have somehow become the parameters we all work within. This session busts 5 of the most common ones to give you a better way forward.
Drawing on their experience of strengthening 90+ brands as brand and marketing leaders and advisors, Sarah and Rachel will share how to avoid the pitfalls. They’ll cover why you should NOT
1. Start with strategy 2. Leave it to the experts 3. Put customers first 4. Create brand guidelines 5. Focus on consistency
Come join Sarah and Rachel to focus your efforts, eliminate the jargon and build your brand with confidence so it can reach its potential and grow revenue.
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