The many types of branding (which one is right for you?)

10 Oct 2022

Anyone who has ever picked up a magazine or walked past a business knows the value of branding. Businesses that have strong branding are more likely to be remembered and trusted when they come across again in the future.
Whether you’re an existing business or a new one, sooner or later you are going to have to brand yourself. With for much emphasis put on developing effective brands today, it hasn't been easier for a business to brand itself. The challenge for any new business is how to build trust with their potential customers and create loyalty from them.
If you think about it, brands already exist everywhere: from clothing labels to street signs and train schedules, almost anything has its own brand name that helps identify it as something different from others. Therefore, it is not hard at all for any new business to develop its own branding as long as they understand the different types of branding available and how each type can suit its needs best.
How branding supports good communication and how to differentiate between the branding types.

There are many different types of branding that you can develop for your business. The 8 types of branding will help you to understand how branding supports good communication and how to differentiate between the branding types.
The first type is brand personality, which is when a company develops an image or a feeling that they want their customers to associate with them. This type of branding is like a personality trait, which means it is more about what the company does and how it makes people feel rather than what it says on packages and products. An example of this type of branding would be Apple: Apple has a particular feel or image that comes across in their advertisements and marketing materials. It’s not about what the company does but rather about the general vibe that Apple projects through its activity. A perfect example of this type of branding would be Nike: Nike is known for having a sporty, hip-hop feel to it in their marketing materials because they want people to think of them as being active and cool.
Branding vs. brand identity vs. brand story
Brand identity refers to the visual and verbal elements that create the perception of a brand. This includes logos, tag lines, website design, packaging, and any other visual or verbal cues that help consumers identify a product or company.
Brand story is how brands present themselves to their consumers. It is often the narrative about what makes a company unique, memorable, credible and valuable.

There are 8 types of branding (and how to apply them) that can be used when developing your business’s brand:
- Physical branding: This type of branding is evident on products such as clothing labels, bus stop posters and window stickers.
- Psychological branding: This type of branding is all about using various psychological tactics to engage people emotionally with the brand. These tactics include social media campaigns like competitions, giveaways, and online fan clubs.
- Social networking branding: Social networking sites are an excellent way for people to build a strong social bond with your brand in general through likes, shares and comments. Your business might want to use this type of branding in order to connect with customers more effectively or create an editorial image for your business through posts on these networks.
- Visual marketing: This type of branding makes use of visuals like logos, photos,, or videos in order to convey what your company stands for or what it offers its customers. For example, you might choose this kind of branding if you want to tell your audience what sets you apart from other businesses that are also
Where does branding happen?
The best place to start is with the different types of branding, which are as follows:
• Logos and Names
Brands have a visual representation that helps distinguish them from other brands. A company's logo is often used to create an identity for the company that can be adapted into any and all marketing efforts. The name of your brand is also very important in order to establish recognition among your target audience.
• Packaging
Brand packaging is a physical manifestation of a brand, so it is important to make sure that the packaging you use reflects what you want to portray about your brand. Businesses often choose their packaging based on how well it communicates their product or service and its main features.
• Websites & Social Media Pages
An effective website allows new customers to easily understand what your business or product offers, while providing a central location for communication between companies and customers. Social media pages are great platforms for business-to-customer communications, particularly if they include customer reviews and questions from your customers.
• Promotional Materials
When creating promotional materials for your brand, focus on content that relates to who you are and what makes you unique as a company. If you know what makes your company special without having to think about it too hard, then this will come naturally when producing promotional materials for your brand.
• Research 
It’s never too early to start researching how other businesses have been successful in branding themselves before committing yourself fully into developing your types of branding.
There are many styles in which a brand can be branded.

Here are several of the main types of branding include:
1) Traditional Branding - this is the most common type of branding, where your brand is based on your business name and your logo.
2) Historically Recognized Brands - these brands were around for decades before the company came about and it is still recognized today. These are brands that have been around for decades but also have a loyal following.
3) Word-of-Mouth Brands - these brands don't have any official logos or advertisements, but people spread the word about them and how good they are. This includes businesses that are well-known for their customer service or products like Apple and Google.
4) Celebrity Brands - famous people create their own brands to support themselves and their interests. Celebrities typically create their own merchandise with these brands in mind, as well as endorsements for other products and companies to help gain more exposure and make more money.
5) Regional Brands - regional brands identify a particular area or city by developing a symbol that helps to represent it in a positive light, such as Starbucks’ red colour scheme or New York City's Statue of Liberty image used on subway signs throughout the city.
6) Private Label Brands - private label brands are often associated with specific companies like Target or Starbucks, but it does not necessarily mean those companies own them outright. The private label brand is mostly used to help maintain consistency.

How to pick the right types of branding for your business
There are two main ways to build a brand for your business. These two methods include developing an in-house brand or integrating a current brand into your own.
The first method is to develop an in-house brand. This can be done by doing things such as creating a company logo and using it to create other related logos, which will help you spread the message of your company’s name without having to spend too much money on marketing. The second method is to integrate a current brand into your business’s branding. For example, if you have music playing at your place of business, you should use the tune that is playing as part of your branding efforts.
Regardless of which type of branding you choose, the most important thing is that you make sure that you communicate what the different types of branding mean and how they can relate to each other in order for consumers to understand exactly what type of product or service they are receiving from your company.

Need branding expertise for your business?
1. Stand out from the competitionIf you’re a new business, it is important not to be just like your competitors. Make your brand stand out by creating differentiating attributes that appeal to the target audience.
For example, if you are a dentist, your branding could be built around being more environmentally friendly than other dentists. A good strategy for finding how to differentiate your company is by understanding who your target audience is and what they want.
2. Build trust with your customersOne of the most difficult things about building a brand is getting people to trust you right away. That’s why it is important to build trust with customers as soon as possible – before they ever buy anything from you! You can do this by having a great website or blog and providing customer service when needed. When customers come across these efforts and see that you care about them and can handle their concerns well, they will trust you and eventually become loyal customers.
3. Find ways to strengthen customer loyalty.The best way to drive customer loyalty is by providing discounts, gifts or special offers if certain milestones are met within a certain time frame (e.g., after every 10 purchases). You can also give customers exclusive access to content or information (e.g., VIP member status) if they follow through on certain benefits/commitments that benefit both parties (e.g., spending $100).
4. Be consistent in how you present yourself to be successful
FAQs
What are the main objectives of branding?
At the most basic level, branding is the creation of a unified image that signifies your business and helps customers identify it as such. This unites all of your business’s marketing efforts under one consistent message—and - and with one focus—to - to create a united voice that resonates with potential and existing customers alike.
Branding can be thought of as the visual manifestation of your business’s unique personality, values, and purpose—a way of ensuring that your business is identified by customers the same way they identify you when they see you walking down the street.

The benefits of strong branding can be immense for both businesses and their customers:
1. Branding is essential for long-term success:First and foremost, branding is essential for long-term success because it helps to establish a company’s reputation and identity. Loved brands are likely to weather any short-term challenges (like bad product reviews or industry changes) better than unloved brands are likely to.
Second, strong branding makes it easier for businesses to connect with their target market—and to build genuine relationships with them—because it signals that they take their brand seriously and are committed to providing quality service.
Third, strong branding ultimately gives businesses a leg up on their competition because it allows them to more effectively target prospective customers in ways that less well-branded businesses cannot.
2. Strong branding can yield huge benefits for businesses:The primary benefit for businesses that come from strong branding is that it can help them to increase the reach and effectiveness of their marketing efforts. Brand recognition can help businesses to gain new customers more easily (through word-of-mouth promotion or through targeted advertising) and to retain existing customers more effectively (by making their brand more attractive than that of their competitors).
Another major benefit for businesses comes from strong branding’s ability to increase customer loyalty—because, ultimately, loyal customers tend to be far more valuable than occasional ones. The best brands tend not just to get their name out there but also create a following around them—and - and this type of sustained loyalty can help businesses to attract even more customers in the long run.
What are the different types of branding strategies?
There are many types of branding, ranging from small-scale to large-scale. Each strategy has specific objectives and benefits, but they all share the same goal—to help your business create a memorable and attractive identity. Here are some of the most common types of branding:
• Branding yourself: This is the most basic type of branding and involves creating a logo, brand name, and other trademarked material that will be used on all of your marketing materials.
• Brand icon design: Brand icon design is where you come up with the design for your company's official logo. A great logo design can make or break a business, so it's important to get it right.
• Branding materials:Branding materials are all the things you use to promote your brand, like print materials, social media assets, and website templates. These combine to create an overall look and feel for your company.
• Marketing campaigns: A successful marketing campaign is a series of actions that are aimed at getting your brand in front of as many people as possible. A well-designed marketing campaign can boost visibility and build trust.

Great branding is not only about marketing; it is about the entire experience your customers have with your business. It includes the name of your business, the look and feel of your website, the employees that help customers, and so much more.
The one thing that all great brands have in common is that they are all memorable. Strong brands have a personality that resonates with their customers. People know who you are and what you stand for, even before they have subconsciously decided to purchase the good or service.
Great branding will make or break your business. If you don't have a strong brand presence online and offline, then potential customers may be turned off when they first hear about your business. Your brand will only grow stronger if you consistently invest in developing it.
When it comes to branding for small businesses, there are so many ways to get started! Choosing a name for your company can be tricky at first, but there are many tools available that can help you choose a name that works for your business. A well-designed logo is another important component of branding a small business. And finally, social media can be very influential in connecting with potential customers and keeping them informed about your latest news and promotions.
Need help branding your business? Our brand designers can create the perfect look for your brand.