The hottest Branding Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Why I love marketing

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 10 Jul 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Marketing is much more than just advertising; it's everything a company does to connect with its customers. This includes building websites, social media, and promotional campaigns.
  2. Great marketing focuses on a company's values and what they mean to customers, rather than just the products. Successful ads often connect with deeper themes like community and enjoyment.
  3. Instead of viewing marketing as a hindrance, see it as a chance to communicate and engage with people. Good marketing can create lasting impressions and loyalty.

PR in the Spacetech Industry: The New Frontier

Space Ambition • 219 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Branding
  1. Old Space companies stick to traditional PR methods like blogs and partnerships. They are slowly adapting to modern techniques but often play it safe.
  2. New Space companies are more creative in their PR. They use social media and unique events to connect with people and make their launches exciting.
  3. Billionaires like Elon Musk and Richard Branson use personal branding and bold PR stunts to grab attention. They focus on big, inspirational stories that resonate with the public.

Call me Starbucks.

All Visible Objects • 118 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Branding
  1. Starbucks Coffee famously took its name from the character Starbuck in Moby-Dick, but the reason behind the choice remains somewhat mysterious and unexplained.
  2. The connection between Starbucks and Moby-Dick seems to stem more from a chain of coincidences and word associations rather than a deep literary appreciation or deliberate homage to the book.
  3. The original inspiration for the name Starbucks may have come indirectly from Ed Leimbacher, who named a film company Pequod after the ship in Moby-Dick, showing how literary influences can shape unexpected outcomes.

WILL's 2025 Year End Recap

The Carousel • 16 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. WILL capped 2025 with a bold new website and a string of creative client projects across defense, cybersecurity, healthcare, conservation, and publishing.
  2. They pushed beyond digital work into real-world events and collaborations to build relationships and cultural influence, including workshops and partnerships with groups like the Delphica Society.
  3. The agency is focused on scaling in 2026 and is actively seeking new clients, partners, and ambitious projects at any stage of development.
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A Creative's Guide on Starting a Company

The Intersection • 197 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
💼 Business Branding
  1. Starting a company requires finding a trigger like the right people, money, or a solid idea.
  2. Taking on the financial responsibilities of a company involves doing the math, saving money, and being prepared to hustle.
  3. Building your personal and company brand is crucial through authenticity and developing a distinct voice.

The Africa Smartphone Market Edition

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Branding
  1. Emerging markets have unique brand competition, different from the flashy campaigns seen in the U.S. It's often more about creativity and connecting directly with local consumers.
  2. Companies like Tecno are gaining popularity in Africa because they cater to local preferences, like multiple SIM slots, which appeal to users who need more connectivity options.
  3. Advertising in these markets tends to be more genuine and less polished, focusing on grassroots efforts rather than big budget promotions to grab attention.

My failed experiment in e-commerce

Jay's Data Stream • 23 implied HN points • 25 Nov 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Starting a startup as a joke or out of stress rarely works; impulsive or unrelated side projects get poor execution and weak customer demand.
  2. CPG e-commerce is mostly marketing — you need relentless content, influencer work, and paid ads to drive sales, because a good product alone usually won’t sell itself.
  3. Physical product failures leave you with real inventory and logistics headaches; unlike digital businesses, you can’t just shut them down with one click.

Building the next generation of media brands on Substack

Substack • 593 implied HN points • 10 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Branding
  1. Substack has introduced new themes and search options to help creators customize their publications. This means writers can make their sites look different and more engaging.
  2. Improved search features allow readers to find specific content quickly. Now, they can easily search for topics or authors across all posts.
  3. The Bulwark, a successful Substack publication, moved its entire site to Substack to take advantage of these new features and saw a significant increase in subscribers and revenue.

What Does It Mean For a Brand To Be Radical?

The Ruffian • 294 implied HN points • 23 Nov 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Jaguar is undergoing a major rebranding and switching to an all-electric vehicle lineup, but they won't have new cars to sell until 2026. This means they are promoting themselves as a brand without tangible products.
  2. The new branding has sparked a lot of negative reactions, suggesting that their attempt to modernize may be seen as losing their identity rather than revitalizing it.
  3. Jaguar is aiming to target wealthier consumers with fewer, more expensive vehicles, moving towards a luxury market rather than competing with mainstream car brands.

Can you conquer the world with your "faceless" brand? 🥷

Business & Marketing with Nika • 19 implied HN points • 23 Jun 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. You can succeed with a brand even if you are not famous. Many unknown brands can become popular with hard work and smart strategies.
  2. Having a product that solves a problem is very important. People value items that truly help them.
  3. Good storytelling and interesting branding can make a faceless brand more relatable. It's about connecting with people, even without a visible creator.

Bernbach to the future

Thoughts on Writing • 339 implied HN points • 06 Jan 23
💼 Business Branding
  1. The purpose vibe shift in the industry reflects a changing attitude towards corporate purpose and its impact on growth.
  2. Bill Bernbach's ethical stance on advertising, such as turning away cigaret accounts, highlights the importance of principles over profit.
  3. Purpose in business should be a human imperative, acting as a counterbalance to corporate excesses, rather than a marketing tool for profit.

How to Become Irreplaceable in Your Market

Tiny Empires • 73 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Focus on what makes you unique. It's important to find your special skills and interests that no one else can replicate.
  2. Be very specific in your niche. The more details you include about whom you serve, the harder it is for others to compete with you.
  3. Your personal story can be a big advantage. Use your background to connect with clients and show them how it makes you the right choice for their needs.

Is brand design moral? Can it be sustainable?

Green Graphic Design • 137 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23
🪑 Design Branding
  1. Sustainable design may involve difficult choices and struggles with the concept of encouraging consumption.
  2. Design and branding can involve manipulation tactics to sell products, even if with good intentions.
  3. Creating truly sustainable products is complex and challenging due to cost, labor, and greenwashing.

Barbie and corporate self-deprecation

Teniade Topics • 137 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Branding
  1. Lampshading in movies is a tactic to acknowledge implausibilities and gain audience trust.
  2. Self-deprecation in corporate branding can attract consumers looking for subversion.
  3. Corporations using humor can give consumers moral permission to support their products.

15 Marketing frameworks that work + branding on social media

The Social Juice • 70 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Having a solid brand strategy is important for standing out in a crowded market. This means knowing what makes your brand different and communicating that clearly to your audience.
  2. Marketing frameworks can be helpful but need to be used correctly. Focus on how they apply to your specific brand instead of blindly following someone else's guidelines.
  3. Building emotional connections with consumers, especially Gen Z, can significantly boost your brand's success. It's not just about the product; it's about showing why it matters to them.

What Hotelier Ari Heckman thinks about building brand worlds IRL

the case for brand 💼 • 137 implied HN points • 28 Feb 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Ari Heckman focuses on creating unique brand worlds for his hotel projects, blending art and commerce. This approach helps make each hotel feel special and connected to the local culture.
  2. He emphasizes the importance of being involved in both the creative and operational sides of business. Balancing creative ideas with sound business practices can lead to better results.
  3. The idea of evolving beyond just being a hotel brand is key for Ash. They want to be seen as a lifestyle brand, offering more than just lodging, like products and experiences that connect with their brand story.

Season 11 starts next week

Mehdeeka • 3 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
💼 Business Branding
  1. Season 11 of the email series starts next week and will run for 12 weeks before taking another break.
  2. Three resources were shared: a curation of moon-landing-era ads, a Threads trend showing narrative-driven product placement that sparks curiosity, and a new TikTok aimed at junior product marketers.
  3. A two-afternoon online pricing workshop is being offered for $600 AUD (Mehketeers get 10% off with code MEHKETEERFOREVER) for anyone needing to update pricing pages, sales decks, new product pricing, or to learn pricing fundamentals.

How CMO Sophie Bambuck of The North Face, Nike, Converse, and Everlane Builds Brands for Everyone

the case for brand 💼 • 145 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Sophie Bambuck believes in starting brand strategies by understanding your audience first. It's all about connecting with what they care about before thinking about how you'll reach them.
  2. Campaigns should have a clear goal in mind and allow for flexibility to adapt to trends or audience responses. You need both a fixed plan and room to react to what's happening in culture.
  3. A strong brand relies on consistent storytelling and values. If a brand forgets why it exists or tries to be everything to everyone, it risks losing its identity and becoming just another product.

What Food Psychology Reveals

Learning Machine • 58 implied HN points • 28 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Branding
  1. Marketing techniques influence our perception of food and beverages.
  2. Consumers are often swayed by branding and storytelling more than actual product quality.
  3. Our brains are easily tricked into believing stories, impacting how we experience things.

FontDiscovery 🖼️ 154: New Year, New Name

FontDiscovery • 58 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Branding
  1. Create a naming matrix to help generate brand names based on word structure and types of names.
  2. Ensure to consider legal issues, domain availability, scalability, and cultural sensitivity when naming your brand.
  3. Naming is an important aspect of branding that involves creating an identity and should be done carefully with input from others.

Brand Purpose Isn’t Dead, But We’ve Lost the Plot

The Social Juice • 48 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Boredom can be good for creativity in marketing. Instead of rushing for attention, brands should embrace moments of boredom to innovate and connect with audiences.
  2. Attention spans aren't decreasing; people just have more choices to focus on. Marketers should adjust their strategies to better fit the media and engage their audience instead of blaming them for being distracted.
  3. Having a brand purpose is still important. It helps connect with consumers on a deeper level, and abandoning it can lead to a lack of trust and relevance in a competitive market.

#4: Premium vs Luxury Strategies in Travel

Bureau of Adventure • 99 implied HN points • 10 Sep 23
🏝 Travel Branding
  1. Luxury is really about a unique experience rather than just being expensive. It’s more about how brands market themselves to create a special image.
  2. There are two main business strategies for travel brands: a premium strategy focuses on quality and value, while a luxury strategy emphasizes exclusivity and unique branding.
  3. For high-end travel brands, knowing whether you're premium or luxury is key. Each path has its own marketing rules and customer expectations.

Brand is Inevitable

42 Slash • 98 implied HN points • 18 Jun 23
💼 Business Branding
  1. A brand is more than just a logo or image, it encompasses values and purpose.
  2. Investing in brand development is crucial from the start, not something to be done later.
  3. Brands are about storytelling that goes beyond data and resonates culturally.

Barbie and Meganets

Auerstack • 98 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Branding
  1. Market saturation can still work in today's information-abundant world, like in Barbie's case.
  2. Barbie's success was due to unique advantages: branding a color and being a lifestyle brand.
  3. Building multi-platform brands will be more important than just focusing on the movie itself in the future.

A quick note before I mix things up a bit...

the case for brand 💼 • 43 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. There’s a difference between brands that look good and those that really work. A successful brand needs to be both effective and attractive.
  2. The author has faced issues of their work being copied without credit, underscoring the importance of original content in the brand strategy world.
  3. Changes are coming, including adjustments in access and format, and community feedback is encouraged to shape the direction of the content.

Best of Brand & Advertising this week - Wimbledon aesthetics, gen-z drinks, agencies suffer & boycotts?!?

The Social Juice • 46 implied HN points • 04 Jul 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Ad agencies are struggling right now, with employment in the US advertising sector dropping for seven months straight. This shows that the industry is facing some tough times.
  2. Gen Z is starting to drink and buy homes again as the cost of living pressures ease. This shift suggests that they may be gaining more financial stability.
  3. Several brands are focusing on celebrating their roots and community through their advertising, like Prada acknowledging its Indian design influences. This might be a trend of brands trying to connect more with diverse audiences.

Don’t follow conversation leaders

Thoughts on Writing • 359 implied HN points • 22 Mar 22
🎭️ Culture Branding
  1. Don't blindly follow conversation leaders - question their motives and the direction they steer the conversation.
  2. Brands often use conversations as a marketing tactic to boost engagement and brand awareness.
  3. Social media has distorted conversations, often for the benefit of advertisers, leading to polarized views and lack of meaningful dialogue.

What’s in a Name?

The Intersection • 79 implied HN points • 02 Aug 23
💼 Business Branding
  1. Rebranding a company takes careful planning and effort. It can have both positive and negative consequences.
  2. Listening to others' opinions and considering timing are vital when making decisions like renaming a brand.
  3. Ego-driven decision-making in branding can lead to disastrous outcomes. Keeping emotions in check is crucial.

Boring Mattress Co.

The Burning Bed • 39 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Boring Mattress Co. offers a simple, comfortable mattress without all the hype and gimmicks in the market.
  2. The mattress industry is overly complex with too many brands, models, and misleading marketing tactics.
  3. Consumers need a brand like Boring Mattress Co. to provide clarity and quality in the midst of the chaotic mattress market.

Best of Brand & Advertising this week - Emmy's, Gen-Z Stare, Publicis vs Omnicom, Timothée Chalamet + Canada

The Social Juice • 34 implied HN points • 19 Jul 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Publicis Groupe improved its growth forecast to 5% due to recent business wins. This shows that successful marketing can really impact company performance.
  2. Gen Z is increasingly engaging with brands through social media and is known for its notable 'stare' at brands. Marketers need to understand this audience's behavior for effective outreach.
  3. The Emmy Awards highlighted several impressive commercial nominees. Brands are recognizing the importance of creative advertising to connect with audiences.

How 15 famous brands got their names

Jon’s Newsletter • 99 implied HN points • 21 May 23
💼 Business Branding
  1. Many brand names have personal or fun stories behind them, like Android being named after a co-founder's nickname. It's cool how these names can connect to the people or experiences involved in their creation.
  2. Some brands, like Band-Aid and Life Savers, have names that describe exactly what they do. These names help customers understand what to expect from the product.
  3. The origins of brand names can reflect cultural or geographical influences, such as Lego meaning 'play well' in Danish. It's neat to see how language and culture shape these popular names.

The Number One Reason Why You Have Been Underperforming.

Day One • 698 implied HN points • 29 Jun 20
💼 Business Branding
  1. You don't need permission from anyone to build a career on the Internet; make up your mind to learn and your teacher will appear.
  2. On social media, personal branding is important and you can follow people for education, information, and entertainment.
  3. Building a personal brand online requires locating mentors, applying their teachings, and consistently showing up to share your value without waiting for permission.

Screenshot roundup and 🤖 AI positioning in ads

Mehdeeka • 5 implied HN points • 16 Dec 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Small UX and copy choices — like using navigation to show value propositions or a blunt “what is X” line — make websites much clearer and reduce user confusion.
  2. Short, creative activations (limited digital giveaways, playful Gen Z copy, or logo-as-art) are scroll-stopping and build goodwill, though they often rely on strong existing brand recognition.
  3. Be careful with AI messaging: only call out AI when you can clearly explain what it does for users, because vague AI claims spark short-term interest but then invite skeptical questions.

How Mercury is winning startup banking with a $3.5 billion valuation through clear positioning and community led growth 🪐

the case for brand 💼 • 29 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Mercury focuses on making banking easier for startup founders. They know that founders need not just good tools, but inspiration and connection to build their businesses.
  2. Building a strong community is key for Mercury. They treat their customers like a community and create events that help founders connect and learn from each other.
  3. Mercury stands out in a low-trust industry by offering a delightful user experience. Their clear communication and useful resources make customers feel valued and respected.

The Ultimate Founder-Led LinkedIn Guide

Startup Business Tips 🚀 • 73 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. A strong LinkedIn presence can help founders build their personal brand and authority, attracting more leads and opportunities. People want to engage with real people, not just logos.
  2. Creating valuable content and sharing personal stories can make you stand out on LinkedIn. It's essential to show your expertise while being authentic.
  3. Engaging with your audience regularly and responding to comments can improve visibility and build relationships. Active participation is key for success on the platform.