These emotional associations build brand loyalty and human connection to a brand, so that consumers begin to treat a brand as an extension of themselves, a friend that they can always rely on. For example, they say “I love Chanel,” I am Chanel. To make a Chanel tattoo on your visible part of your body – a neck or arm – becomes a “tribal” identity symbol saying to the world that he/she belongs to “Chanel tribe,” and those who don’t have Chanel tattoo can’t really be a fully recognized as a Chanel devoted fan. Google Chanel brand body tattoos, and you will find thousands of images of people tattooed their bodies of this high-end designer brand.
To create such a strong emotional connection is what defines branding. It is your gut feeling, and it is NOT your logo or website. How can you create this powerful emotional consumer drive for your brand? Building a strong brand bond for your consumers and potential prospects happens way before you start creating your logo, and website. First and foremost you begin putting a brand strategy together, that then will dictate your logo and website design, your social media campaigning and public relations connections.
Having a distinctive personality, a brand has an ability to assist consumers to express themselves in different aspects of their lives. Brand personality is defined as “the set of human characteristics associated with a brand” (Aaker 1997). You don’t say what your brand is, you say WHO your brand is.
People who have a very vibrant and distinctive personality and style become their own brand. To name a few: Michael Jordan, is an American former professional basketball player, created his own Jordan Brand with Nike, Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, a fashion designer, has become Valentino high-end fashion brand, Karl Lagerfeld, a fashion designer, has become its own brand Karl Lagerfeld.
Michael Jordan, Valentino, and Karl Lagerfeld are people with individual characteristics that are very enticing to people, so that consumers want to imitate them. Jordan Brand has personality of its founder, a leader, someone who takes charge of his life. Valentino has a sensual and feminine personality that easily translates into his designs for women described as elegant, flowing, and timeless. Karl Lagerfeld has a strong personality of a trendsetter, and has a defined and timeless look, which reflects in all his collections he designs for a high-end fashion Chanel brand.
To identify your brand personality is not an easy task. It is a process. This process implies a homework for an entrepreneur. We conduct a series of questionnaires, surveying a business owner, and his/her existing customers if applicable.
At SULÉY Group we have developed a strategic brand plan that assists entrepreneurs in finding and determining his/her brand message, and therefore a market positioning, which in turn formulates a brand development and management plan in a long run.
References: Aaker, J.L. (1997). Dimensions of brand personality. Journal of Marketing Research, 34 (8), 347-356.
