What is Branding/Marketing & It’s Importance?
American Marketing Association Defines Marketing as:
Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. (Approved October 2007)
American Marketing Association defines brand and branding as:
A brand is a customer experience represented by a collection of images and ideas; often, it refers to a symbol such as a name, logo, slogan, and design scheme. Brand recognition and other reactions are created by the accumulation of experiences with the specific product or service, both directly relating to its use, and through the influence of advertising, design, and media commentary.” (Added definition) “A brand often includes an explicit logo, fonts, color schemes, symbols, sound which may be developed to represent implicit values, ideas, and even personality.” Source: SEMPO and Wikipedia
To sum up both definitions marketing would be you communicating your offering or services to others and branding is creating uniqueness around yourself. Having a basic knowledge of both gives you a greater chance to increase your visibility to others. It allows your strengthening your position in the job market or to potential employees. When you think of Nike what comes to mind? The “swoosh” logo, their slogan, “Just Do It”, or just comfortable running and athletic shoes or apparel. All these items or insignia of Nike are what makes it’s brand. It creates and drives the companies culture such as you do the same with your life and how you present yourself. Using simple, unique ways to make yourself stand out of the crowd makes you more noticable and weeded out from the rest. This is critical especially at this given financial time and crisis. You’re ability to be recognized and your efforts for doing so must be carefully evaluated and considered.
