Let's talk branding

Before I take the stage at the Tectonic conference tomorrow, I wanted to share this with you first: a sneak peek of my new keynote on the future of branding. It’s a look at how I see brands evolving in the age of generative AI, and the two very different futures we might be heading toward.I hope it gives you a few sparks of inspiration before the world sees it on stage.Would love to hear your thoughts: are we cooked? Or cooking? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit labmarcel.substack.com

Recently, I got caught in a bit of a storm. People on YouTube got angry about the use of AI footage in my recent documentary on brand mascots. “AI slop! I’m not watching this stuff!” It got me wondering (some great comments in that LinkedIn thread) about what the future for brands would be like. Enter: Joe Burns, who’s been dropping the most insightful and amazing flipbooks on LinkedIn.Joe did not disappoint, we had a fascinating conversation about the impact AI has on brands, creative teams, the agency world, content creation, and the strategy behind it. Joe brings a fresh perspective to the table, or as he likes to call them, ‘strategic cold cuts’. There is no playbook for the future, but Joe is giving us some handles to think about what’s coming, and I’m grateful for it. What do you think? Is the sloppening upon us? Let me know by replying to the email or commenting on Substack. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit labmarcel.substack.com

In this episode, Dan Salkey is back on the show to talk about their latest research paper called ‘Entertain or Die’. This is the second round and this time Dan shares some new insights on how to actually build an entertainment brand.Important links* You can find the full report here. * Find Dan on LinkedIn here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit labmarcel.substack.com

Hey everyone! Super happy to kick off a new season with more brand-building legends and insights.In this conversation, I chat with Damian Borchok, Managing Director of Koto for the Asia Pacific region. A conversation sparked by a great article on Koto ‘s newsletter, We discussed the nuances of branding, rebranding, and brand refreshes. Damian emphasizes the importance of understanding the value of a brand and the strategic decisions behind rebranding efforts. Through various case studies, including Walmart, Burger King, Bolt, Tropicana, and Jaguar, Damian explores the complexities of brand identity, market signals for change, and the execution of branding strategies. He highlights the need for brands to evolve while maintaining their core identity and the significance of research in understanding brand equity.Takeaways* A brand refresh can be a missed opportunity if not executed boldly.* Rebranding should consider both visual identity and communication strategy.* Longevity of a brand does not guarantee its equity in the market.* Brands must align their internal culture with their branding efforts.* Research is crucial in identifying valuable brand assets.* Market shifts can signal the need for a rebrand or refresh.* Effective branding requires a long-term commitment, not just a one-time campaign.* Brands should avoid generic approaches and strive for distinctiveness.* The execution of a brand rollout is as important as the design itself.* Successful rebranding can lead to significant market advantages. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit labmarcel.substack.com

In this episode, we have a good (loyal?) friend of the show back for a second round: John Lyons.Important links* John on LinkedIn* John’s new YouTube show ‘Bin Juice’ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit labmarcel.substack.com

Show notes* John on LinkedIn* John’s Substack and other linksSummary* John shares his journey from advertising to consulting, focusing on practical outcomes rather than marketing politics.* He highlights the common misconception that advertising only means paid ads and explains that any brand communication can be seen as "advertising."* John describes the industry's split between "brand" and "performance" marketing, noting that customers don’t view these distinctions.* He emphasizes the importance of measuring marketing's financial impact and explains why companies need an "always-on" approach to marketing for lasting brand recognition.* John criticizes the "trust-me" approach in marketing and suggests that marketers should communicate results clearly to executives, especially in financial terms.* He explains how changes in privacy and digital tracking have made it harder to measure digital ad performance accurately.* His recommendation for effective marketing measurement is to return to basic incrementality testing to see what actually drives growth.* John stresses the need for brand-building but advises against over-investment in specific channels too early. He supports a balanced approach, combining testing and targeted investments.* He concludes by encouraging marketers to detach emotionally from their campaigns and focus on long-term growth. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit labmarcel.substack.com

Show notes* Adam’s agency Thinkerbell* Adam’s book: Stop listening to the customerSummary* Adam Ferrier challenges the idea of being "customer-obsessed," arguing that brands lose their identity by focusing too much on consumer needs.* He believes brands should prioritize their own values and what they stand for instead of solely catering to customer demands.* Companies like Apple and IKEA are examples of successful brands that don’t always prioritize customer convenience but stick to their vision.* Ferrier suggests that modern marketing often dilutes creativity, and strong brand leadership is essential to keep a brand distinct.* He advocates for a company-wide approach to branding, where everyone, not just the marketing department, is responsible for the brand's success. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit labmarcel.substack.com

Here are the key takeaways from the podcast:* Effectiveness in marketing: It's about ensuring that marketing efforts, particularly advertising, achieve their intended goals, whether that's awareness, behavior change, or sales.* Econometrics simplified: Econometrics uses data to determine if a marketing campaign worked by analyzing both the campaign’s direct impact and other factors (e.g. a competitor campaign) that could influence the outcome.* When to use econometrics: It's most useful for businesses with multiple marketing channels and more complex budgets but might not be necessary for very small businesses with straightforward marketing efforts.* Creativity matters: In a world with fragmented attention, compelling creative content is essential. Strong branding and creative consistency across platforms amplify marketing effectiveness.* The rise of digital: While traditional media like TV is losing its dominance, the advent of digital tools allows for more targeted, cost-effective, and immediate marketing responses, making brand-building and performance marketing work hand-in-hand.Links* Grace Kite & Magic Numbers* Grace on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit labmarcel.substack.com

As a brand designer, Austin experienced a similar journey to mine, he learned about the power of brand strategy and started offering it to clients. Things were great. But on that journey towards becoming a strategist, he also noticed that some things were broken in this new ‘era’ of strategic brand designers.We explore the following topics:* Is Brand Strategy Overrated?: We dive into whether brand strategy is often overhyped, sometimes leading to boring or trendy brand identities that don't stand the test of time.* Distinctiveness is key: The key takeaway is that making your brand stand out with distinctive assets—like logos or mascots—is way more important than getting bogged down in traditional strategy stuff.* What strategy should be about: Instead of getting lost in complex strategies, we should focus on creativity and making brands that are instantly recognizable.I hope you enjoyed this conversation, please let me know in the comments how you use brand strategy (or how you avoid it 😁).I also mentioned Roel Stavorinus his book on Strategic brand design, it’s actually available in English now! Want more critical, hands-on content on brand-building? Please hit that subscribe button! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit labmarcel.substack.com

Discover the 5 key brand religions, their core beliefs, and how they can apply to your brand.Important links* Download the white paper to take a deep dive into the 5 brand religions* Kristof on LinkedIn* The episode with Jan Verlinden (Ritchie)Creative business companyOne of the biggest challenges in my own career has been trying to convince business leaders that their ‘brand’ is one of the most important assets of their company.That’s why this episode is sponsored by Creative Business Company, a strategic consultancy on a mission to make brand more accountable and effective.They take the lessons they’ve learned from over a decade of experience working with big brands like Morningstar, Formula E, and Shell, and adapt them to work with smaller, fast-growing companies to help them get more attention, convert leads, and drive sales.So if you’re trying to get the budget for ‘brand’, create messaging that converts, or lower your cost of acquisition, check out Creative Business Company for ideas, evidence and tools that will help you make an impact fast.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit labmarcel.substack.com