Types of Branding You’re Probably Ignoring (And Why It Matters)
When it comes to developing a relationship with your customers, brand is king. That is because people connect with people.
Branding is a key part of any business. Here’s why:
- Helps you stand out from the crowd
- Builds trust and credibility
- Creates an emotional connection
- Drives your marketing efforts
- Fosters a consistent tone and image
So, what are the types of branding that you can’t miss out on?
Types of Branding
1. Corporate Brand
Corporate branding presents your company as a single unit. Apple, through consistent corporate branding, has built itself as an innovator and visionary in consumer electronics. BMW has created a brand synonymous with precision engineering and sporty performance.
The key to corporate branding is making sure that across – every communication – a singular corporate brand identity is maintained.
2. Personal Brand
Whether you are an influencer, entrepreneur, or the CEO of an MNC, personal branding can be a powerful way to stand out. Today, there are a number of platforms to build your personal brand – from Instagram, LinkedIn, Medium, Substack, and more.
Steve Jobs is a perfect example of personal branding. And he did it right to the point of letting his clothes speak for his personal brand.
3. Place Brand
The cities of the world have their own brand.
- London: A city draped in history, of centuries-old cobblestones, where heritage and innovation merge.
- New York: Restless, electric, and unapologetically alive
- Mumbai: A chaotic city that never sleeps
- Las Vegas: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas
Every city has its own brand. And this is used to attract tourists and investors – helping it stand out from the crowd of cities in the world.
4. Celebrity Brand
Celebrity brand closely criss-crosses into personality brand – with the biggest difference being that the person is a celebrity. How famous and high-profile the person is based on their TV, movie or music shows plays a vital role in their celebrity status and brand.
For example, Tom Cruise is known as an action hero who does his own insane stunts. Shah Rukh Khan is known as the heartthrob of Bollywood.
5. Public Brand
Even governments have brands. The way the government communicates with its citizens and the globe – plays a powerful role in shaping national identity, building trust, and influencing how the world perceives the nation. When done well, a strong public brand can unite citizens under a shared sense of belonging, strengthen international relationships, and project confidence on the global stage.
And of course, a newly elected government may build on the past or build a vision when it comes to public branding.
6. Product Branding
Every product on the supermarket shelf has its own brand. Right from the design packaging of the product to the unboxing experience to the actual product design – there are a lot of layers to product branding. And each level gives you an opportunity to build your brand.
A very simple packaging of a Dairy Milk chocolate – right from the colour to the logo placement – builds the product brand. The packet is drenched in a purple colour that no other product replicates – helping the chocolate brand stand out on shelves.
7. Online Branding
Today every brand has a presence online. This happens through several platforms:
- Their own website
- Social media platforms
- Google and other search platforms
An online presence is akin to window-shopping – it’s a way for customers to discover your brand. The text and designs communicate your brand. Every element, from design choices to the tone of voice, works together to shape how customers perceive your brand and decide whether they want to connect with it.
8. Luxury Brand
Premium brands are also known as luxury brands. They fall under a fine line of being exclusive and expensive. These are brands that people aspire to be associated with. They are not defined simply by their price tag, but story, craftsmanship, desire and emotional value.
A Rolex watch would fall perfectly within this category. A watch brand that many aspire to have.
9. Employer Brand
This is also commonly known as internal branding. It’s how corporate brands position their brand to their employees. This runs parallel to corporate branding. This is crucial to helping people feel like they belong to the same organization.
Strong internal branding doesn’t just retain people but also inspires them to achieve the larger corporate vision. And when employees truly believe in the brand they work for, they become the most powerful advocates of the brand.
Once you tap into marketing, you’ll realise that everything has branding – even your own self. You are a brand to your family, to your work colleagues, even (dare I say it) to your children. There are an endless number of types of branding. These 9 are just the tip of the ice-berg. So, whether you are marketing a product, service, or yourself – keep the brand in mind.
