2. The power of a brand is inversely
proportional to its scope.
When you put your brand name on
everything, that name loses its power.
2
3. A brand becomes stronger when you
narrow its focus.
A powerful branding program always
starts by contracting the category, not
expanding it.
3
4. The birth of a brand is achieved with
publicity, not advertising.
The best way to generate publicity is
by being first – the first brand in a new
category.
4
5. Once born, a brand needs advertising
to stay healthy.
Brand leaders advertise their
leadership. Leadership is the single
most important motivating factor in
customer behavior.
5
6. A brand should strive to own a word in
the mind of the consumer.
FedEx = Overnight delivery
Kleenex = Tissue
Xerox = Copy
6
7. The crucial ingredient in the success
of any brand is its claim to
authenticity.
Customers are suspicious.
Coke – “It’s the real thing.”
7
8. Quality is important, but brands are
not built on quality alone.
Sometimes expressed through a
higher price and accompanying feature
that seems to justify the price.
Rolex wrist bands
Montblac “fat” pens
8
10. In the long run, a brand is nothing
more than a name.
The difference between brands is not
in the products, but in the product
names – the perception of the names.
10
11. The easiest way to destroy a brand is
to put its name on everything.
11
12. To build the category, a brand should
welcome other brands.
Healthy competition brings more
customers to the category.
12
13. One of the fastest routes to failure is
giving a brand a generic name.
(National……, General……,
Nature’s…….)
Hard to differentiate a generic-named
brand from competition.
13
16. There is a time and a place to launch a
second brand.
A&E > History Channel.
16
17. A brand’s logo should be designed to
fit the eyes – both eyes.
Horizontal shape provides maximum
impact.
17
18. A brand should use a color that is the
opposite of its major competitor’s.
18
19. There are no barriers to global
branding. A brand should know no
borders.
Crossing a border often does add
value to a brand. The perception of
where the brand comes from can add
or subtract value.
19
20. A brand is not built overnight. Success
is measured in decades, not years.
20
21. Brands can be changed, but only
infrequently and only very carefully.
21
22. No brand will live forever.
Euthanasia is often the best solution.
22
23. The most important aspect of a brand
is its single-mindedness.
A brand is a singular idea or concept
that you own inside the mind of the
prospect.
A brand is a proper noun that can be
used in place of a common word.
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