Brand differentiation strategies lie at the core of modern marketing. In the digital age where information overload is a constant hazard, having a brand identity that truly stands out and resonates is the key to long-term success in any field of business.
Brands are built as an identity, drawn from the guiding principles and commitments made by the company and the impressions left by the products and services to the customer. For a good product to thrive in the marketplace, its brand needs to catch the attention of its target audience.
Of the many challenges for marketers, standing out in an oversaturated Internet marketplace is among the most difficult to surmount. Attempting to differentiate your brand from the sea of same-y looking marketers is often an uphill battle. To flourish, marketers must rethink the way they approach branding and embrace what makes their brands stand out—all while being present where their customers are looking.
Spoilt for Choice
Traditional retailing aims to give customers a broad array of choices. This may seem like a good thing for the consumers—and it usually is. A large market can cater to a diverse array of consumers. However, too many choices would frequently overwhelm the customers, which can stunt their ability to choose what they want or need as they scramble to make sense of the choices offered. For marketers, getting lost in the jumble of too many similar products can be a similar predicament; trying to jostle for visibility.
Information overload and sensory overload are constant threats for marketers of all stripes. Although information overload is not a newly discovered concept, it has become more common in the digital age, where it has become easier for users to get lost in the jumble of branded content found online. The average consumer gets overwhelmed by the abundance of seemingly similar choices that offer little value. To get what they need, users would often need to narrow down their searches progressively.
More Than the Visuals
Before the digital age, logos were the primary means that brands used to stand out. They stood out as a visual shorthand for what the advertised brands represented and were often identifiable enough that they could be recognized by shape alone.
Today, however, while logos remain an important part of the brand identity, they are far from the game-breaking emblems of brand identity, they were once thought to be. Brands today must focus on distinguishing themselves from the competition not only through imagery but also through a narrative that focuses on what makes their product unique. These narratives should focus on what the company brings to the table. What sets its services apart from everyone else’s? How can the company meet its customer’s expectations and how will their satisfaction be different (if not better) for choosing their product?
Presence
Finally, the product’s marketing should be directed to cultivate brand loyalties among the target market. By not being present where their target audience is looking, a brand undercuts its ability to set itself apart from the competition and risks being lost to sensory confusion. Honing into the main market at the risk of alienating others is well worth it when it comes to creating a lasting brand identity; a business is sometimes more effective at marketing to a growing niche than going for mass appeal.
Brand marketing should be visible to the people who are already fond of the product and their advertising and promotions consistent throughout the social media platforms they operate in. Rather than casting a wide net, however, companies should aim to have a prominent presence where their customers are likely to gather.