Brand equity
Brand equity refers to a value premium that a company generates from a product with a recognizable name when compared to a generic equivalent. Companies can create brand equity for their products by making them memorable, easily recognizable, and superior in quality and reliability. Mass marketing campaigns also help to create brand equity. When a company has positive brand equity, customers willingly pay a high price for its products, even though they could get the same thing from a competitor for less. Customers, in effect, pay a price premium to do business with a firm they know and admire. Because the company with brand equity does not incur a higher expense than its competitors to produce the product and bring it to market, the difference in price goes to their margin. The firm’s brand equity enables it to make a bigger profit on each sale. What Is Brand Equity? Brand equity is when a company generates a value premium from the recognition of a product or brand name. The idea is that when a product is highly recognisable and has positive associations, consumers attribute more value to the corresponding brand. This kind of exemplary branding creates value for the product because it creates an organic channel for exposure, which means the brand has a high mental recall with consumers. Benefits Of Developing Equity For A Brand It can charge higher prices-A company without strong equity for its brand may need to charge consumers the benchmark, or market average, price for its products. When a brand has strong equity, it can charge higher prices than its competitors. Consumers are more willing to pay a higher price for a product if it comes from a brand they trust. It can acquire a greater market share- A company with strong equity for its brand can acquire a greater market share than its competitors. This benefit is especially useful in oversaturated industries that have hundreds of businesses that offer the same or similar products. When a brand acquires a greater market share, it can have a more meaningful impact on its target audience. It may also invite more investing opportunities from interested parties and allow for lucrative collaboration possibilities. It can expand its product line- Once a brand has strong equity, it can consider expanding its product line. Consumers may be more willing to try a company’s latest offerings if they already have strong faith in its current offerings. By expanding its product line, a company can appeal to a more diverse audience and increase its profit margins. Types Of Metrics To Measure Equity For A Brand Consumer metrics: You can track consumers’ sentiments and purchasing behaviours through the results of social media monitoring and customer surveys. Strength metrics: You can measure the strength of a brand by monitoring the brand’s licensing potential, retention, accessibility and the customer loyalty it garners. Financial metrics: Financial metrics like customer acquisition costs, customer retaining costs, revenue and profitability can also help measure a company’s equity. How To Build Equity For A Brand 1. Create better brand awareness- One of the easiest ways you can build equity for a brand is to create better brand awareness. Ensure that the brand’s target audience is familiar with the brand and does not forget about its offerings. One way to create brand awareness is to keep a brand’s use of logos and images consistent. When audiences see the same colours, font and images for a brand, they can more easily associate the visuals with the correct company. Another way to create better brand awareness is to provide great customer service. Establish a team that has the sole responsibility of answering customers’ questions and addressing their concerns. You may also create better brand awareness by providing ongoing value, maintaining customer communication via newsletters and writing an uplifting story for the brand and sharing it accordingly. 2. Relay the brand’s meaning and purpose-Another way to build equity for a brand is to communicate the brand’s meaning and purpose. Understand what physical needs the brand is trying to meet for its customers. For example, a company that sells vacuums may want to help customers clean their carpeted floors more efficiently. You can also attempt to understand and convey the psychological and social needs that a brand is trying to fulfil. The same company might be trying to reduce stress in their customers’ busy lives and create more free time for them to spend with 3. Encourage positive feelings and judgments among customers- Customers often have feelings and judgments about the products they consume and the brands with which they interact. As you are trying to build equity for a brand, you can make efforts to encourage positive feelings and judgments. You can facilitate feelings and judgments with the marketing materials that the brand releases to the public. Positive feelings you can foster include those of security, self-respect, trust, excitement and contentment. Judgments you can attempt to facilitate include those that relate to the brand’s capability, quality, credibility and superiority in comparison to its competitors. 4. Establish loyalty with the brand’s customers- You can establish loyalty with a brand’s customers by encouraging repeat purchases. Focus on communicating the product’s quality and long-term relevance so that customers show loyalty to the brand. As a result, repeat customers may act as ambassadors for the brand, sharing its benefits with their friends and family. The brand may not need to spend as much to gain new customers, as existing ones may complete some of the advertising on its behalf. FAQs How is Brand Equity Different from Brand Value? Brand equity is about consumer perceptions and loyalty, while brand value is often a monetary estimate of the brand’s overall worth to a company, including tangible and intangible assets. What Factors Contribute to Building Brand Equity? Factors include consistent brand messaging, quality products or services, positive customer experiences, effective marketing, brand associations, and emotional connections with consumers. Why is Brand Equity Important for a Business? Brand equity can positively impact a business by enhancing customer loyalty, influencing purchasing