[ez-toc]
Social Media Strategy And Branding
A Social Media Prism creates Brand Identity.
A brand identity is how a brand sees itself. Brand identity is critical in the new social media era because this is how a brand sets itself apart. Brand identity is critical in the New Media Era because there are many materials and products. You want consumers to buy your product, and to do this, they must be aware of your product. Therefore, branding is so critical. To pick your product, consumers must be aware of your product. Critical to creating a brand is the creation of identity and image.
Branding and Social Media
To understand the brand, it must be understood in human terms. To create a healthy personality, a person must decide who they are. This goes to the development of values and being. People must decide are they good, bad, are helpful. A person must decide and define just who they are, which is critical to developing a healthy personality. Brands are the same way; a brand must understand what it is and why it exists to be effective.
Social Media and Sports
An example of this is an iconic sneaker brand. A college track coach created this brand because he wanted a pair of running shoes developed especially for the comfort of runners. The brand identity of the sneaker has always been to help people. As time went on, this image evolved into one of “cool.” Cool people buy and wear sneakers. The sneaker’s marketing became too good—young people started killing each other for the sneakers.
This was not the brand’s identity. What happened on the street upset the leaders of the sneaker company. The company’s identity is that it exists to help people. They adjusted its marketing so that its image was consistent with its identity. They changed their identity to be “cool with respect.” Young people began killing each other for shoes. This created a crisis for the brand. The sneakers adjusted its image, and this adjustment saved the company when it faced a crisis in the marketplace.
The best way to understand identity is to think of brand identity as a 6-sided prism, and this prism consists of PHYSIQUE, PERSONALITY, CULTURE, RELATIONSHIP, REFLECTION, and SELF-IMAGE.
The brand’s PHYSIQUE consists of its functions and its physical appearance. What is this product? What does it do? Why does it exist? Simply put, why is this product here? Also, what does the product look like? One of the most iconic products in the modern marketplace created its big brand because it understood its physique. This brand is a soda. Its bottle is its physique, and it is known worldwide. In World War II, both German and American troops relished this drink. In prisoner-of-war camps, the appearance of this bottle developed positive images in a prisoner’s mind. Morale between prisoners and captors was created through the appearance of this bottle.
Brands have a PERSONALITY. This means a specific kind of person uses this product. Nike has created its brand around personality. The image of Nike is that of cool, and its shoes are cool, and the people who wear them are cool.
Brands have a CULTURE. Brands go beyond the borders of their national origin. The iconic soda conveys a culture of trust which is why this soda was always offered to captured officers in World War II. The bottle’s appearance was a tool integrator used to break down walls and get substantive information from prisoners of war. Therefore, this soda offered a franchise to Max Schmelling, the German boxing champion. This was done to create trust between the American and German people. This trust was needed to create a brand in Germany after World War II.
Brands develop RELATIONSHIPS. Brands create friendships with customers. In the Social media age, this is the only way a significant brand can be created. For a brand to be world-class, a brand and its customers must be “friends.” In 1984, the iconic soda formula was changed. This was met with a howl of protest. It is one of the biggest mistakes in modern marketing. Why was there such great protest? The brand and its customers had created a friendship. You don’t replace your friends.
A brand is a customer REFLECTION. If you see someone wearing a pair of Nike’s, using an iPhone while listening to an iPod, you immediately see that person as “cool.” A brand speaks to our SELF-IMAGE. In NFL football games, a player is drafted by the NFL and is signed. One of his first purchases is a particular car. Why? The player wants to convey to everyone, including himself, that he is successful.
Ezine Article #6333422
FAQs:
1. What is a 6-Sided Prism and how does it help in creating a unique brand identity in social media?
A 6-Sided Prism is a branding strategy that involves focusing on six key elements – brand purpose, values, personality, positioning, visual identity, and messaging. By effectively utilizing these elements, businesses can create a strong and distinctive brand identity in social media platforms.
2. Why is it important to have a unique brand identity in social media?
Having a unique brand identity in social media helps businesses stand out from their competitors and grab the attention of their target audience. It creates a positive impression, builds brand recognition, and fosters customer loyalty, ultimately leading to increased brand awareness and business growth.
3. How can a 6-Sided Prism help in defining brand values?
A 6-Sided Prism allows businesses to clearly define their core values by identifying what they stand for, their beliefs, and the principles they follow. This helps create an authentic brand identity that resonates with its target audience, resulting in stronger emotional connections and brand loyalty.
4. How does positioning play a role in creating a unique brand identity in social media?
Positioning refers to how a business wants to be perceived by its target audience relative to its competitors. By strategically positioning their brand in social media, businesses can differentiate themselves, highlight their unique selling proposition, and showcase their expertise or specialization, ultimately contributing to a strong and distinct brand identity.
5. What role does visual identity play in creating a unique brand identity in social media?
Visual identity includes elements such as logos, colors, typography, and graphic elements that visually represent a brand. Consistent and visually appealing visual identity in social media helps businesses create a strong brand presence and easily recognizable brand assets, enabling them to stand out and enhance brand recall among their audience.
6. How can messaging contribute to a unique brand identity in social media?
Messaging refers to the tone, language, and communication style used by a brand in its social media content. A well-crafted and consistent messaging strategy helps businesses convey their brand personality, values, and key messages effectively, ensuring that their brand identity is consistently communicated and understood by their target audience.