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For decades, brand differentiation has been regarded as the holy grail of marketing strategy. But over time, it has lost this mantle for various reasons – primarily because we’ve reached a point in which competition is fierce and successful products and services have become rather easy to duplicate. There’s also been market research in the past ten years that has refuted the importance of differentiation in a consumer’s buying decision.

A strong differentiator is still a killer benefit for any brand, especially a new one. But true differentiation is hard to come by and even harder to hold over time.

There’s often confusion around differentiation vs. distinction. So let’s define these terms before we go any further.

What is brand differentiation?

Regarded as a core marketing principle, brand differentiation is the concept of leveraging a perceived meaningful difference between your brand and existing brands. You may have heard this communicated as a “unique selling proposition” (USP). or as brand positioning – the place you want to own in your consumer’s mind… what you want them to think of your brand.

Examples of differentiation:

  • Dollar Shave Club – the first subscription-based affordable shaving solution for everyone
  • Chipotle – making fast-service Mexican food better through high-quality ingredients
  • Trader Joe’s – employees having fun selling unique—yet affordable—grocery items

What is brand distinction?

To have brand distinction is to be easily identifiable in a sea of brands either visually or audibly. You know that sneakers with a swoosh are Nike. You recognize the home improvement brand Home Depot simply by their use of the color orange.

Brand distinctiveness can be achieved through:

  • Logos – the swoosh (Nike); the golden arches (McDonald’s)
  • Colors – red (Coca-Cola); hot pink (T-Mobile)
  • Taglines – Think Different (Apple); Just do it. (Nike)
  • Symbols or Characters – Mickey Mouse ears (Disney)
  • Celebrities – Dr. Dre (Beats); Steve Jobs (Apple)
  • Jingles, Tones or Sounds –  “You’ve Got Mail” (AOL); T-Mobile

    Differentiation vs. Distinction Over Time

    We have a theory: over the course of time, a brand’s differentiation reduces while a brand’s distinctiveness increases.

    Brand Differentiation vs. Distinction

    Why does a brand’s differentiation decrease over time?

    The primary reason is competition. If a brand is successful in a market, it’s only a matter of time before other brands/competitors (or worse yet, counterfitters) race to close that gap. And once they have reached a certain threshold, consumers will no longer be able to perceive a difference. There is a compelling research study done by Byron Sharp and Andrew Ehrenberg that backs this notion that “…most buyers of a brand do not see it as different or unique.”  Now, their research was conducted with successful, established brands – they have all reached a point where their competition has closed the differentiation gap.

    Netflix, for example, was wildly differentiated in its early days. There simply was nothing like the product/service that they offered – an inexpensive online subscription model for DVD movie rentals conveniently delivered to your door via mail. But it didn’t take long (less than three years) before Redbox hit the scene with low-cost DVD movie rentals via automated kiosks. True, Netflix still had the differentiator of delivering to your home but Redbox ate their lunch on convenience and cost – no waiting for a DVD in the mail and rentals were only $1/each. And within just four years of launch, Blockbuster introduced unlimited DVD rentals at a flat fee for $20/month.

    Advancements in consumer technology allowed Netflix to pivot to online streaming but they weren’t even the first ones to do this – Amazon beat them to it and Hulu entered the mix almost immediately.

    So how did Netflix regain differentiation? They started developing their own original content – House of Cards in 2013. They rode this wave as long as they could and guess what? That gap was closed by Amazon Originals and nearly every other major player jumping into original content: HBO, Hulu, and even Apple.

    You can map a similar timeline for nearly every large brand. Differentiation plays a major role in the early days of a new brand, but over time the gap closes and investing heavily in differentiation becomes less possible and less lucrative for a brand.

    Why does brand distinction increase over time?

    The primary drivers are uniqueness and consistency. Brand distinction will only increase over time with careful planning, strategy, and most importantly, consistency. This is why it is important that you consider your elements of distinction early in your brand’s existence and carry them with consistency over time. Those “Brand Standard Guides” are a thing!

    Think about some of the most iconic, distinctive brands in the world. While they did evolve over time, think about what didn’t change. Think about their consistency of message and branding.

    Apple

    Their branding has always focused on emotion. They’ve developed a platform that makes their customers feel creative, inspired, and unique for choosing Apple products.

    Coca-Cola

    From their iconic red can and alluring script logo to their promise to “inspire moments of optimism and uplift, Coca-Cola has delivered a consistent cheery lifestyle image. “Have a Coke and a smile!” Notice how they stepped away from their consistency in 1985 and returned to it quickly in 1987.

    Start Different, But Plan to Be Distinctive

    If you are a new brand or going through a rebrand, consider the following strategy:

    If you have a true differentiator, leverage this as much as possible in your introduction to consumers.  Use differentiation to gain rapid awareness. But don’t rely solely on this differentiation as a way to stay relevant with consumers. Be distinctive with your brand design and communications. And be consistent over time. Leverage your distinction to overcome erosion of differentiation over time.

    What are some things you can do to plan consistent distinction over time?

    • Develop a Brand Brief – use your brand brief as a one page reference guide to keep your brand on track. The brand brief covers tone of voice, personality, purpose, and positioning. Bring it back out again for each major project. Here’s an example of a Brand Brief that hits on all cylinders.
    • Develop a Brand Mood Board – a mood board lets you work out the overall visual experience for your brand. Are you vintage? Contemporary? Colorful? Here’s an example of a Mood Board.
    • Lock in Your Logo Early – when you are first developing your brand, don’t skimp on your logo. It can be tempting to use a service like Fiverr, but consider how long you will live with this prominent piece of your brand (see Coca-Cola). Your logo will set the tone for your brand for years to come.
    • Choose Colors Wisely – you want to be distinctive amongst competitors, but you also want to be within a range of colors that makes sense for your offering. Dark reds are perceived as professional and luxurious, while bright reds are more exciting and energetic – but neither may be very good options for your organic dog treat brand.
    • Aim for Evolution Not Revolution – you don’t have to be locked in for eternity, but consistency is very important in building strong brand distinction. Over time, aim for design evolutions – smaller changes and updates that hold true to your Brand Brief. Only resort to a revolution if you are at the point of needing a complete rebrand.

    How Can We Help?

    With over 20 years of experience with over 100 brands, Fifty/Fifty has managed every aspect of brand development strategy.

    If you are a new brand or product, let’s get you off on the right foot. We’ll guide you through the process of developing a plan for your brand’s distinction.

    If you are an existing brand or product, we’ll review your situation and make recommendations for how to achieve more with your current brand assets.

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