What is Brand Repositioning & How to Do It? [Complete Guide]
What is Brand Repositioning & How to Do It? [Complete Guide] Table of Contents Building a brand is one thing, but being able to hold your target audience’s attention regularly is another. In today’s world of business, staying relevant comes along with creating an appeal to your target audience. This is finally the point where brand repositioning sets in. Brand repositioning is the act of changing how a brand is positioned in the mind of the customer. It is not just a logo modification or slogan change but a complete rethinking of the image in consumers’ minds. Think of brand repositioning as a makeover for your brand. Just as a personal makeover gives one confidence and appeal, brand repositioning de facto revives a brand—making it more attractive and competitive. It usually becomes necessary when a brand is to reach a new market, adapt to changing market conditions, or differentiate itself from its competitors. Let’s take you through the basics of brand repositioning: why it’s important, what some of the signs are that your brand may need repositioning, and the steps involved in the successful repositioning of a brand. Let’s understand, whether you are a business person or marketer of sorts, the things you need to learn to understand and execute well-done repositioning. What is Brand Repositioning? Brand Repositioning is the process of changing the brand’s perception in the minds of the target audience. It refreshes the image and message associated with that brand and its overall market positioning to meet new customer needs, changes in market conditions, or new goals the company may have set. This makes a brand more relevant and appealing to consumers. For example, a company may change the logo, modify the adverts, or introduce new products to change public perception and become more attractive to other different or more extensive markets. Repositioning is done to renew the brand’s identity and make it more competitive in the marketplace. The Difference Between Brand Repositioning and Rebranding Brand Repositioning refers to a change in the way people think about the brand. It retains the same brand name and logo by using such a technique that may include another marketing message, series of products offered, or targeting. You could say it is like telling a new story about the same brand to attract new customers or just keep up with the market trends. Rebranding refers to a greater degree of change. It means the creation of a new brand identity, which includes a new name, logo design, and image. In other words, it is giving your brand a completely new look to start things anew; more often than not, this is because the old brand doesn’t work that well or the company is taking a different direction. Importance of Brand Repositioning Brand repositioning may include a change in image, message, or products and services offered by a brand. This makes it important to do a brand repositioning to get a wider audience, differentiate from the competition, and stay relevant in the industry. Here is why it is important to do this over a certain period with a live example that will help you understand the need to do brand repositioning. 1) Adapting to Market Changes Markets are dynamic. Consumer tastes, technology, and competitive landscapes do change. Brand repositioning permits a company to adapt to these changes so that the firm remains relevant. Provided that a brand is not completely up-to-date, at some point in time, it risks losing its customer base through irrelevance. Example: Nokia was one of the biggest cell phone manufacturers somewhere, but it could not keep up when smartphones entered the market. Now, having teamed up with Microsoft in developing Windows phones, it is fighting back to regain the company’s lost positions. Though challenging, this repositioning was very important if one were to adjust to the changes brought in by the smartphone era. 2) Attracting a New Audience Customer demographics change with markets, and repositioning a brand can again attract another segment of customers whom it had not served before. This is very important in those situations where the existing customer base of this brand is either shrinking or getting older. Example: Cheap Mexican food, new ad campaigns cropped up for Taco Bell to make it a youth lifestyle brand. This repositioning worked miracles in targeting a new, youth customers group for Taco Bell and greatly boosted its sales. 3) Differentiation from Competitors In crowded markets, differentiation is foremost to be different from the competitors. Brand repositioning lets a brand add special features and advantages that make it much more charming compared with its competitors. This differentiation could very well be a key differentiator. Example: McDonald’s changed its position to become more health and sustainability-oriented. With the addition of salads, fruits, and low-calorie meals, and the drive toward sourcing sustainability, McDonald’s found a place in fast food and attracted a healthy client base while increasing its brand image. When Should You Consider Brand Repositioning? You should consider brand repositioning when you need to change how people see your brand without creating a completely new identity. Here are some key situations when repositioning might be necessary. Market changes: If the market evolves, and your brand does not fit, you may need to reposition to stay relevant. For example, if customers become more concerned about eco-friendly products, the brand will have to reposition itself for sustainability. Change in Target audience: If your existing audience is changing or you are interested in moving to another, then repositioning can be most helpful. For instance, if you have been building your brand on young adults but find your product more interesting to older consumers now, adapt your messaging and products to cater to them. Competition: If your competitors are doing better than you or have better products, then repositioning is the way to set your brand name apart. Emphasize that which is uniquely yours or increase your value proposition, and you will attract many customers. Negative Conception: In those cases where
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