The hottest Branding Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

How to shift your brand's power from your products to your community

Bold & Open • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Align your organization's brand with your community by focusing on your tribe's identity, goals, and values, instead of trying to fit them into your preconceived brand image.
  2. Create meaningful brand touchpoints that reflect your overall brand essence. Keep these touchpoints simple and few to provide consistent and impactful experiences for your community.
  3. Measure your brand's success through the Brand Commitment Scale, assessing levels of customer satisfaction, delight, engagement, and empowerment. Prioritize building long-term relationships with members over short-term revenues.

Why (and how to) create attractive open source design

Bold & Open • 0 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🪑 Design Branding
  1. Attractive branding is increasingly important for open source projects to reach and engage more people.
  2. Imitating successful brands and remixing their elements can help in creating appealing and trustworthy designs without the need for expensive graphic designers.
  3. To create your own attractive design, find inspiration from successful examples, break them down into key components, inject your twist, and then either create it yourself or hire someone to help implement it.

Creator News Roundup: 01/15/2024

Cosmos • 0 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Venture capital funds are directly supporting creators to launch products for their communities, with investments ranging from $500,000 to $2 million.
  2. Influencers are facing stricter regulations and consequences for misleading promotions, as seen in a case involving a Christmas cake campaign.
  3. Platforms like Twitter are shifting to prioritize video content, with video appearing in 8 out of 10 user sessions, and investing in original video series with personalities.

Gustav Heinsen: KidZania; Branding a Society

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Branding
  1. KidZania is a global theme park company that brands itself as a society, with its own government, currency, and brand loyalty through edutainment.
  2. The company blurs the lines between work and play, offering children the experience of working in corporate-sponsored jobs and earning money for products while promoting brand loyalty.
  3. KidZania constructs a community with shared consciousness through a detailed brand identity that promotes a Westernized idea of society, equating citizenship, life, and success with work within a corporate structure.

people can't get you out of their head 🫠

Business & Marketing with Nika • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jul 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. To stay on people's minds, you need to be visible everywhere. The more you show up, the more likely they will remember you.
  2. Being 'top of mind' means you want to be the first brand people think of when they need something. If you're not first, aim for a strong second place.
  3. Consistent and unique content can help you stand out. Use the same style and voice to build your brand and try to collaborate with others to reach more people.
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📽️ 2 things and your Instagram Reel will GO VIRAL

Business & Marketing with Nika • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jul 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. To make your Instagram Reel go viral, focus on increasing the number of views. Keep your videos short and create a sense of curiosity that makes people want to watch again.
  2. Retention time is important too. Hold your viewers' attention by building tension in your video and revealing the main point at the end.
  3. Experiment with different ideas and learn from successful Reels. Being witty and creative can help your content stand out.

Is sarcasm business-friendly? 🤷‍♀️

Business & Marketing with Nika • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jul 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Sarcasm can be tricky in business. Not everyone gets it, and it can upset people if they don't know your style.
  2. It's usually safer to avoid sarcasm in serious situations, like customer support or formal presentations.
  3. When sarcasm is used properly with familiar colleagues or in fun social media posts, it can help a brand stand out and connect.

Are you loud enough in your business? 📣

Business & Marketing with Nika • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jun 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Being authentic helps you connect with your audience. When you're true to yourself, like-minded people will notice and engage.
  2. Adding value in your communications is key. Sharing helpful tips or advice can make a positive impact on someone else's success.
  3. Finding the right balance in your posting is important. Too much content might overwhelm some people, so be intentional about how often you share.

Stop using these emojis. 🥺

Business & Marketing with Nika • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jun 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Some emojis, like the pleading face 🥺, can be very confusing and misunderstood by people. Know which emojis might not work well for your message.
  2. Different cultures can interpret emojis differently, so it's important to understand how your audience sees them. What means 'OK' in one place might be offensive in another.
  3. Misusing emojis can create uncomfortable situations and hurt your brand's image. Use them carefully to ensure your audience gets the right message.

What's in a name? Of Umlauts, The Alphabet and World Peace!

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 09 Sep 15
💼 Business Branding
  1. Changing names can help businesses escape negative associations, like when Philip Morris became Altria to distance itself from tobacco.
  2. Sometimes a name change reflects a shift in focus or values for a company, like when Apple dropped 'Computer' from its name as it began selling more phones and tablets.
  3. Names matter in marketing and can influence a company's value, as shown by how stock prices react to name changes, even if the business itself doesn't change much.

The Brand Name Advantage: Valuable, Sustainable and Elusive

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 01 Oct 13
💼 Business Branding
  1. Brand names can significantly boost a company's earnings by allowing them to charge higher prices than their competitors for similar products. This shows how important a strong brand can be in attracting customers.
  2. Valuing a brand name is crucial for businesses, especially when it comes to selling the brand, handling legal disputes, or determining the company's worth in accounting. Understanding a brand's value helps companies make better decisions.
  3. Having a strong brand is a key advantage in business, but it's not the only one. Companies can succeed through other means like operational efficiency or unique offerings. It's vital for businesses to recognize their true strengths to maintain their competitive edge.

Losing, sustaining and building on brand names

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 19 Apr 09
💼 Business Branding
  1. Brand names can add a lot of value to a company, but they can easily lose that value due to bad events or actions, like in the case of Domino's.
  2. Companies need to understand where their brand value comes from and actively maintain it. Mistakes, like Coca-Cola's New Coke, can harm a brand significantly.
  3. Brand names can last a long time, but if companies don't connect with younger customers and avoid overextending their brand, they risk losing their appeal.

Valuing brand names

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 10 Apr 09
💰 Finance Branding
  1. Brand names can significantly add value to a company, making it important to try estimating that value. It's interesting to think about what would happen if a company suddenly lost its brand name.
  2. Estimating the value of a brand is easier when there are no significant quality differences among products. For example, Coca Cola and generic sodas are very similar except for the brand.
  3. For companies like Sony or Apple, their higher profits might come from factors besides their brand names, like quality and design. So, valuing their brand may include a mix of different advantages.

The power of a brand name

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 02 Apr 09
💼 Business Branding
  1. A strong brand name can significantly increase the price of a product, even if the product itself is the same as a less popular one. Think of how much more you pay for Mickey Mouse merchandise compared to generic items.
  2. Companies with valuable brand names tend to have higher overall value than similar companies without strong brands. This value comes from their ability to attract customers and charge more.
  3. When valuing a business, the brand's worth should already be reflected in the financial data, such as profits and margins. Adding an extra value for the brand can lead to counting it twice, which isn't accurate.

Reversals make brands more memorable

Creative Samba • 0 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Using reversals in branding helps people remember the brand better. It creates a surprising twist that catches attention.
  2. Engaging younger audiences requires understanding their habits, like spending lots of time on social media platforms.
  3. Food brands should consider the cultural context of their audience to connect more meaningfully, like how family interactions are affected by technology.

DGAF: Why unhinged brands could be the safest marketing path

{grow} by Mark Schaefer • 0 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Unhinged brands are becoming popular because they grab attention and spark conversations. They prioritize standing out over sticking to traditional marketing rules.
  2. Brands like Liquid Death and Nutter Butter are showing that being weird or edgy can resonate well with consumers. This approach allows them to connect with those who feel disconnected from mainstream products.
  3. Indifference is a big problem for brands. By being bold and different, these brands create their own unique identities and stay relevant in a crowded market.

The Nutter Butter campaign explained. Yes, this nightmare makes sense

{grow} by Mark Schaefer • 0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. Nutter Butter's new marketing campaign is loud, weird, and grabs attention. They're using strange videos to stand out in a crowded market.
  2. The goal is to evoke strong emotions, whether good or bad, because that makes people remember and share the content. This makes their ads go viral.
  3. Gen Z loves brands that are different and a bit bizarre. Nutter Butter is taking a risk, but it's working because they had nothing to lose and needed to be noticed.

How DTC brand JUDY made prepping cool with PR, podcasts, and joyful branding

the case for brand 💼 • 0 implied HN points • 16 Nov 24
💼 Business Branding
  1. JUDY, a go-bag brand, makes emergency planning fun and accessible. They focus on turning disaster prep into smart and positive emergency plans.
  2. The brand uses celebrity endorsements to gain popularity. Having the Kardashians support them helps JUDY stand out in the market.
  3. JUDY emphasizes the importance of community and expert partnerships. They collaborate with organizations like the Los Angeles Fire Department to build credibility and trust in their products.

How to Monetize a Cult Following: Lessons from MrBeast and Notion

Divinations • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jan 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. A cult following is about belief, not size. Fans are deeply engaged and support the brand like it's part of their identity.
  2. To monetize your following, create products that involve fans and allow them to participate in your community. It's about building relationships rather than just selling stuff.
  3. Keep your core product strong and control it closely, while letting the surrounding community and ecosystem thrive. This helps maintain loyalty and manage growth.

Template: Exercise to balance Fuel & Engine

MKT1 Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Finding the right mix of 'Fuel' and 'Engine' is key for startup growth. If these two are not balanced, it can hinder progress.
  2. Evaluating your startup's Fuel and Engine helps you identify what's holding you back. This can accelerate your brand development.
  3. You can access resources and templates that provide tools to help balance your startup's Fuel and Engine effectively.

The brains behind Ali Abdaal's IP. Charlotte Crowther chats with Ellen: All things signature IP

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 0 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Getting outside help is crucial when you're too close to your own ideas. It helps you see things more clearly and package your skills better.
  2. Visuals play a key role in understanding and sharing your expertise. They help you define what your work is all about.
  3. Everyone has something valuable to share, even if they feel like they don't. Your unique perspective and experiences make your insights special.

The realities of building a scalable programme (and how you can join mine: Authority Club)

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Authority Club is a six-month, small-group program that helps coaches and consultants become known as the go-to authority by teaching them a One Big Idea, a long-form Body of Work, and how to grow client connections.
  2. The programme gives practical support — an Authority Manifesto, live trainings and AMAs, monthly content clinics, and peer ideation — so members turn ideas into client-attracting writing and signature offers.
  3. The method is outcome-focused and sustainable: it helps members charge premium rates, scale beyond trading time for money, and includes coaching to handle the personal doubts of claiming authority.

The Eight Steps to Authority Status

The Ask Newsletter — by Ellen Donnelly • 0 implied HN points • 03 Dec 25
💼 Business Branding
  1. Authority is built by sharing original thinking and codifying your frameworks and long-form ideas, which makes you remembered and trusted.
  2. Turning that authority into leverage — through IP, group programs and clear processes — lets you scale, charge for outcomes, and stop trading time for money.
  3. Becoming an authority is a staged journey that requires identity shifts, clear positioning and structured support, so you can’t shortcut the steps without getting stuck.

Oxygen Monopolies

Digital Native • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 26
💼 Business Branding
  1. Make your company synonymous with a clear category early so you become the go-to name in that space. Great product is the foundation, but strong marketing and positioning amplify how far you can go.
  2. Tell your own narrative and be proactive — if you don’t define your story someone else will take the spotlight. As categories get crowded, your message must get more specific.
  3. Hire a growth or brand marketer earlier than you think so distribution, messaging, and creative execution aren’t an afterthought. Put growth and brand skills on your early team to stay top-of-mind both online and offline.

QR Codes on Stickers

Pizza Party • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
💼 Business Branding
  1. Putting a QR code on the paper backing of a sticker is a smart, practical way to share links or contact info.
  2. It's a cheap and easy marketing tactic that doubles as a fun, portable business card.
  3. Stickers already have paper backing, so using that space for a back-printed QR code makes efficient use of materials and makes connecting more convenient.