Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Is Your Food Brand Dynamic?

 
Foodservice Solutions® Grocerant Guru, Steven Johnson shares 10 clues to edify your brand. The value of a product or brand at times diminishes in consumer relevance.  The vernacular of the consumer is ever evolving and the vernacular of your brand must as well.  Foodservice Solutions® understands that the consumer is dynamic not static. Here are 10 clues to keep your brand dynamic:

1. Symbolism.   Why you are there!
The most successful brands are inclusive include values greater than themselves. A lifestyle, a philosophy, an emotion a point in time.

2.  A
story. Mos
t major brands have a story. Examples: if you like Ford vehicles, you might be familiar with the story of Henry Ford or if you love your Nikes, you probably know how the Nike swoosh logo was created.

3.  A tr
ack record. When your business is first starting out, don't fool yourself into believing that your marketing efforts are 'brand building' effor
ts. They're not because to build a real brand, you have to have an extensive track record with consumers.

4.  Trust.
When you'
ve consistently delivered for your customers long enough, you'll gain the type of trust that many brands have. Case in point: a friend of mine always reminds people that he won't buy an automobile that isn't a BMW. He's had a good experience with his and trusts so much in the company that he doesn't believe there's a better-made car.

5.  Expectatio
n. When a consu
mer chooses a product or service because of brand association, he or she is buying an expectation. Perhaps it's the expectation that the branded product is of higher quality or that the service will be provided in a more efficient manner.

6.  Differentiati
on. Expectation is o
ften borne of differentiation. Many brands offer products and services that are commodities but they're successful in developing some differentiation for their products and services that consumers are sold on.

7.  Imitators. Imi
tation is the sincerest of flattery and you're probably not a 'brand' until you have co
mpetitors trying to copy you.

8.  Market leadership.
Top brands are usuall
y looked at as leaders in the markets they compete in.

9.  Adaptability. The best
brands are flex
ible and capable of reshaping and reinventing themselves and their messages over time. Coca-Cola is a good example of a brand that has never abandoned its core product but has evolved its message over time to keep up with changes in the marketplace and society at large.

10. A strong marketing presen
ce. Although it's nice to believe that you can market yourself for free on Facebook and Twitter, the reality is that brands aren't advertising on television and radio because they're dumb. Building and maintaining brand equity requires awareness and awareness requires broad marketing efforts.


Steven Johnson is Grocerant Guru at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions, with extensive experience as a multi-unit restaurant operator, consultant, brand / product positioning expert and public speaking. Facebook.com/Steven Johnson, Linkedin.com/in/grocerant or twitter.com/grocerant

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