WHAT ARE BRANDS?

The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines a brand as a "name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers.

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.

What makes you as a consumer decide on specific brands? Why Colgate toothpaste instead of Aqua fresh toothpaste? Why Jacobs coffee instead of Ricoffe? Brand name products have been part of our lives since we were born. Living in the 21^st century means you are faced with numerous brand options. Decisions as simple as which toothpaste to use becomes significantly more complicated because of the amount of choices we as consumers have.

Brand names can give you different emotions and feelings for example Harley Davidson motorcycles could give you a sense of freedom, Rols Royce gives you a sense of luxury and superiority, driving a Volvo could give you a sense of safety, etc. these brands allow for us as consumers to help define the type of person we want to be perceived as in the public eye through public perception.

In essence a brand is a promise the business makes to their consumers and essential helps to govern the thinking of consumers when selecting these brands. So consumers consider the brands and the promise they offer before selecting them. In my opinion when selecting which brands to use takes consideration and involves the feelings and emotions you get when engaging with the brand. Once you know this you will know which brands suit you the best. #Solomons-TheBrandingBratBlog