8 Effective Branding Tips

 8 Effective Branding Tips

 

Branding is equally important for both small and large businesses. Many business owners perceive branding as just a logo and therefore believe it is not an essential component for their marketing success.

Little do they realise that many successful brands have effective branding, as it provides businesses with numerous benefits such as having a strong identity, personality and a point of difference, which are crucial factors to help you stand out from the crowd.

Here are eight effective branding tips on how to build a strong brand for your business.

1. Think analytically

Branding is not as simple as having a catch phrase or a logo. A brand that stands out from the crowd is one which is associated with the product's competitive advantage.

2. Maintain your brand

Repeat the same message on all your marketing material, in your emails and when you are face-to-face with your customers. For example, think of Nike, who has used "Just Do It" as a logo across all their marketing campaigns.

3. Target your market

Don’t aim to be the ‘one glove fits all’ type brand. The best results are achieved when you focus on your target market, creating a brand that is relevant and an 'image' that speaks to them. This also allows you to build strong relationships with your customers and improves your brand value.

4. Commit yourself to a brand

One rule of thumb is that when you have become tired of your logo, tagline and branding efforts, that's when they begin to sink in with customers. So, stick with it.

5. Create a unique value proposition

A unique value proposition is what makes you different from your competitors. The FAB Technique (Features, Advantages, Benefits) is the best way to start to design your value proposition so it really communicates to customers.

 

6. Speak with ‘One Voice’

Speaking with one voice simply means that your marketing communications and messages must be consistent across all mediums so your customers can identify and understand your product or service.

7. Having a dedicated marketing plan

Many companies come up with ideas to market themselves and establish a brand identity but have neither the resources nor a plan as to how they will reach their audience. You must have a well-thought out marketing plan in place before your branding strategy will work.

8. Aim to build a strong online presence

Every business of any size or industry must have a well-designed website. A website also forms a crucial component of your marketing strategy and establishes credibility of your brand. You can then start to use effective lead generation tools to build your brand awareness and drive more visitors to your site.

 

What does it mean to be a CHAMPION?

 What does it mean to be a CHAMPION? 

• Champions never give up

• Champions have courage and risk failure

• Champions have self-mastery

• Champions strive for life-balance

• Champions have vision

• Champions say, “I can, and I will"

• Champions surround themselves with great people

• Champions demonstrate courage, determination, persistence, and perseverance

• Champions embrace adversity as opportunities

“Champions will Always be Champions.” -- DRKKJOHAN

Former chief of Defence Force Mohd Ghazali passes away at 92

The BrandLaureate extends our deepest condolences to the family of Malaysia’s former chief of Defence Force Gen (R) Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ghazali Mohd Seth who died on Tuesday (Aug 24) at the Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur Hospital. He was 92.

“We share your grief at this difficult time with deep sympathy and condolences,” said DrKKJohan, the World President of The BrandLaureate Awards.

Ghazali was the 7th Chief of Defence Forces of Malaysia. He was also the recipient of The BrandLaureate Most Eminent Brand Icon Leadership Award in 2014.

Born on 4 February 1929 in Johor Bahru, Ghazali had undergone military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1952. He had served as Army chief (1977–1981) prior to his appointment as the 7th Chief of the Malaysian Defence Forces (1981–1985).

Earlier, Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang and the entire armed forces personnel also expressed their sadness and condolences to Mohd Ghazali’s family along with their prayers

He was laid to rest at the Bukit Kiara Islamic cemetery later the same day.

Read more:

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/08/24/former-chief-of-defence-force-mohd-ghazali-passes-away-at-92

Burger seller owner of 70 hotels under the Zamburger chain

 Many hotel businesses are shutting down due to the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the country early last year.

However, one person managed to profit from it.

Burger seller Norizam Tukiman, 40, is now the owner of 70 hotels under the Zamburger chain.

He expanded his hotel chain by taking over 67 three-star boutique hotel including three in Indonesia, within a span of 15 months.

Norizam said he was able to buy over the hotels at a low price, as the owners could not cover the operating costs and pay the staff salaries.

Norizam started with only three hotels, two in Senai, Johor and one in Kota Warisan, Sepang, Selangor before expanding his business empire.

When questioned how he could take over a large number of hotels within a short time, Norizam said he used three business strategies,

“First is to buy the hotel, second is to buy the hotel 'business' with the hotel still owned by the original owner, and the third is through lease,” he said.

So, how did a burger seller become a mega-property owner? Read more:

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/burger-seller-now-owner-70-hotels-under-zamburger-chain

Top 10 Growing Brands in Japan 2021

 Top 10 Growing Brands in Japan 2021

 

Interbrand Japan, Japan’s biggest branding company based in Shibuya, Tokyo has announced the Best Japan Brands 2021 -- using its unique Brand Valuation method to convert brand value into monetary value.

This is the 13th year these rankings have been announced.

Here are the Top 10 Japanese growing brands, as announced by Interbrand earlier this year:

 

1.WORKMAN

With “high function, low price workwear for professionals” as its brand DNA, WORKMAN has established a new and unique brand position for itself by expanding its target audience to those who enjoy the outdoors and athleisure fashion.

 

2.Nitori

Nitori has built brand appeal with its slogan “More than just the price” in the international market by  offering  a convenient, seamless shopping experience both online and off with its Nitori App, which analyses customer data and strengthens the points of contact with customers.

 

3.Nintendo

Nintendo ‘s new game Animal Crossing: New Horizons enables players to interact with others in a pleasant world despite the forced isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

4.Fujifilm

Fujifilm continues to transform its business structure using technologies developed in its film business, by expanding into the fields of healthcare, media recording, optical and electronic video, and imaging.

 

5.Rakuten

Rakuten has built a unique ecosystem that organically links members to over 70 services  in its  virtual network, a partnership with Shopify that brings new potential to e-commerce, the online Earth Mall With Rakuten which contributes to SDGs, and Rakuten Medical, which has commercialized the world’s first photoimmunotherapy for cancer.

 

6.BANDAI NAMCO

BANDAI NAMCO has also focused on experience-based entertainment centres, such as Gundam Cafés which opened across Japan to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Gundam franchise with the  slogan “More fun for everyone at home.”

 

7.Ajinomoto

Ajinomoto has concentrated its management resources on increasing corporate brand value, employee engagement, and market capitalization in its efforts to achieve its 2030 vision of becoming “a company solving food and health issues.”

 

 

8.Daikin

During the pandemic, Daikin has become the go-to company for ventilation and has experienced enormous business growth, and now aims to be a “global company that creates new value for the environment.”

 

9.Lion

As a leader in next-generation healthcare, Lion strives to improve mental and physical healthcare by creating new customer experiences and value in terms of health, comfort, cleanliness, and hygiene, with its mission of “redesigning habits to make them more fun, positive, and effortless.” the Japanese people.

 

10. Rinnai

In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Rinnai redesigned its logo in 2020. The company has also promoted the ideas of “Global, Generation, and Governance a brand chosen by customers

 

Ref: https://www.interbrand.com/newsroom/interbrand-best-japan-brands-2021-announcing-the-top-100-japanese-brands/

The 4 Stages of Brand Value Creation

 The 4 Stages of Brand Value Creation

WELL-managed brand systems are not just for decoration. They are value drivers that allow for companies to grow their brands even in saturated markets.

The secret of success in brand management lies in brand perception and value creation. As we live in a world of overabundance, consumers often find it difficult to properly assess the value of a  brand and what they have to offer.

A perfectly managed brand allows customers to join the dots and discover the brand value beyond just the price point, which develops into brand awareness and appreciation.

How does your brand measure up? Here are the four stages of Brand Management to gauge if you have the qualities to be a great brand.

1.      VALUE CREATION -- Building a brand starts with value creation. This is the prerequisite for effective brands and branding. Companies must offer compelling benefits to consumers beyond what the competitors have to offer – consistently and verifiably – to become a value-added brand.

2.      PERCEPTION -- Only what is perceived creates value. Such values can only have an effect if customers perceive them. Some companies are not even aware of their strengths and benefits, and therefore are not able to position their brand effectively – thus missing out on the benefits and advantages that comes with it.

3.      APPRECIATION – This a prerequisite for selling. As soon as the customers size up the brand, they must have a sense of its value vs price. What is it worth? How much am I willing to pay? And if the perceived value is higher than the asking price, then a potential sale can be made.

4.      VALUE ADD -- Finally, when the customer receive more than they spend,  a bond of relationship trust is built between buyer and seller.  This value surplus which usually goes beyond the price point, is the hallmark of well-managed brands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 10 Superstars at Tokyo Olympics 2021

With more than 11,000 athletes competing across 339 events at the Tokyo Olympics, keeping track of each and every one can be a challenge for fans. Now that the Games have started, here is a list of 10 Olympians considered to be the best of the best in their field who you simply must know about. 1.Simone Biles Showing unparalleled dominance at the 2016 Rio Olympics with four gold and one bronze medal, Simone Biles returns to the sport’s biggest stage to defend her all-around, vault, floor and team event titles. The living gymnastic legend has won a record number of 25 world championships medals, including 19 golds. 2.Zhu Ting China’s “Queen of Volleyball” will captain the national women’s team in Tokyo and hopes to replicate the success from Rio 2016, where she scooped gold and the MVP title. She is also set to become the first Chinese woman to carry the national flag at the Olympics at the opening ceremony. 3.Kevin Durant History has shown that the US basketball team are guaranteed a medal in the Olympics –Although this year’s roster is missing many big names like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Love, it features Brooklyn Nets star Durant, the two-time Olympic, NBA and MVP winner, who is considered one of the best players in NBA history. 4.Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce As one of the world’s most celebrated track athletes, Fraser-Pryce has six Olympic medals and nine world championship titles under her belt – a testament to her timelessly explosive starts and textbook form. This 34-year-old Jamaican sprinter will settle for nothing but gold ahead of her 100m and 200m events, as well as the women’s 4×100m relay. 5.Chen Aisen This Guangzhou native returns to defend his Rio Olympics gold in the individual and synchronised 10m platform events. Aisen maintained his success by capturing the world titles in 2017 and 2019 and winning a World Cup gold in Wuhan in between. This time around, the 25-year-old will only be competing in the 10m synchronised event with Cao Yuan. 6.Allyson Felix Tokyo will be the fifth Olympics for the 35-year-old US athlete who won her 12th gold medal at the 2019 IAAF World Championships, surpassing the legendary Usain Bolt‘s record for the most track-and-field world championship titles. 7.Naomi Osaka This 23-year-old Japanese tennis star makes her Olympic debut in Tokyo in women’s singles. The world No 2 started the year with a formidable win at the Australian Open in February – her fourth grand slam victory. She won her first at the 2018 US Open against her idol Serena Williams! 8. Caeleb Dressel After Michael Phelps bade farewell to his record-breaking career after the 2016 Rio Games, Dressel led the way for the US men’s swimming team. This freestyle and butterfly specialist won two golds at Rio 2016, before clocking a remarkable 49.50 to break predecessor Phelps’ 10-year 100m butterfly record – twice – at the 2019 World Championships. 9.Karsten Warholm All eyes are on Karsten Warholm for the men’s 400m hurdles after he broke the world record in July, and the 300m edition a month before. The 25-year-old Norwegian is in tip-top shape and has held the No 1 title for men’s 400m hurdles for 106 weeks and counting. 10. Katie Ledecky The 24-year-old American swimmer boasts a stellar record of five Olympic golds and 15 world championships, making her one of the most decorated women’s swimmers in history. As the youngest athlete on the US Olympic swimming team in 2012, she surprised the world by taking gold in the 800-metre freestyle. She swept four more golds and one silver medal in Rio. Ledecky will compete in four individual events including the 4×200m freestyle relay.

‘Jungle Cruise’ Navigates turning the ride into a highly enjoyable trip

DISNEY studio’s latest feature film, “Jungle Cruise,” docked with some good results at the box office this weekend. Overall, the film, which is based on the beloved Disney theme park — rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon, notched more than US$90 million thanks to theatre showings and streaming.

The film stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff, and Emily Blunt as intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton on an adventure of a lifetime on Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” downriver the Amazon on La Quila—his ramshackle-but-charming boat.

Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s services to guide Lily to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities—possessing the power to change the future of medicine.

Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, the film opened which opened on July 28, 2021 in France, garnered an estimated US$61.8 million at the worldwide box office, which includes a better than expected US$34.2 million at domestic theatres.

The film was also released simultaneously on streaming via Disney+’s Premier Access for an additional charge of US$29.99 — which brought in an additional US$30 million globally on the digital platform.

In a pre-Covid world, a US$61 million global theatrical opening for a film with a hefty production budget of US$200 million, which would have been nothing to write home about.

But we aren’t living in a pre-Covid world. Movie theatres are still trying to reach normalcy, box office numbers have been hit and miss — and “Jungle Cruise” is in the middle of growing concerns regarding the spreading Delta variant.

Adding streaming numbers to the mix complicates things even further in terms of the film’s success.

One can conclude that those watching on Disney+ ate into the film’s theatre ticket sales. You could also laud Disney for being able to bring in US$30 million more, thanks to the video streaming channel — and both would be correct.

All in, bringing in more US$30 million on streaming is a welcome boost. Now, Disney and theatres will wait to see how the film does in the weeks to come.

 

All 10 Fast & Furious Movies Ranked

VROOM! Bwoosh! Flex! At long last, Fast and Furious 9 (formerly known as F9) is out now.

As of July 31, 2021, it has grossed $167.7 million in the United States and Canada, and $458.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $626.2 million.

From bursting out the nose of an exploding plane, to skipping skyscraper to skyscraper, to gently guiding a bank safe across public roads and additional civil engineering, the Fast & Furious franchise has made its mission delivering more outrageous action than the previous movies could ever muster.

And as the stunts got crazier for Dom (Vin Diesel), Brian (Paul Walker), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and the whole F&F-in’ family, critics were just as willing to go along for the ride.

Since the 5th Furious film that earned the franchise’s first Fresh, it has since been on a skyward trajectory, like a souped-up Karmann Ghia ramping off an Arrakis sandworm and barrel rolling between a fleet of nuclear dirigibles.

Furious 7 reached a high emotional crescendo in the wake of Walker’s death, while follow-up F8 saw a dip, though stayed in the Fresh lane.

The latest include spin-off Hobbs & Shaw and the long-delayed F9. Now that the whole family’s here, see all Fast & Furious movies ranked

 

#10. Fast & Furious (2009)

While Fast and Furious features the requisite action and stunts, the filmmakers have failed to provide a competent story or compelling characters.

Synopsis: Vin Diesel and Paul Walker return to the film franchise that helped to launch each of their respective careers.

 

#9. 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

Beautiful people and beautiful cars in a movie that won't tax the brain cells.

Synopsis: Vin Diesel opted to not appear in the sequel to the film the shot him to stardom in the first.

This sequel focuses on ex-police officer Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), who relocates from Los Angeles to Miami to start over. Becoming involved in the street-racing scene in his new city, Brian befriends car-savvy Tej (Chris "Ludacris" Bridges) and Suki (Devon Aoki), but his competitive streak ends when federal agents apprehend him and he must enter into a deal with the FBI. Working with new partner Roman Pearce (Tyrese), Brian begins a dangerous mission to take down a powerful drug dealer.

 

#8. The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift

Eye-popping driving sequences coupled with a limp story and flat performances make this Drift a disappointing follow-up to previous Fast and Furious installments.

Synopsis: Better Luck Tomorrow director Justin Lin picks up where John Singleton left off to offer a high-octane look at the franchise.

Sean Boswell (Lucas Black) always feels like an outsider, but he defines himself through his victories as a street racer.

His hobby makes him unpopular with the authorities, so he goes to live with his father in Japan.

Once there and even more alienated, he learns about an exciting, but dangerous, new style of the sport. The stakes are high when Sean takes on the local champion and falls for the man's girlfriend.

 

#7. The Fast and the Furious (2001)

Sleek and shiny on the surface, The Fast and the Furious recalls those cheesy teenage exploitation flicks of the 1950s.

Synopsis: A magazine article about real-life car racing gangs for Vibe becomes this fast-paced automotive thriller from director Rob Cohen.

When a crime brings them back to the mean streets of Los Angeles, fugitive ex-convict Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and agent Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) reignite their high-octane feud. However, when a common enemy rears his head, Dom and Brian must learn how to work together and trust one another in order to defeat him.

 

#6. F9 (2021)

F9 sends the franchise hurtling further over the top than ever, but director Justin Lin's knack for preposterous set pieces keeps the action humming.

Synopsis: Vin Diesel's Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian, but they know that danger always lurks just over their peaceful horizon.

This time, that threat will force Dom to confront the sins of his past if he's going to save those he loves most.

His crew joins together to stop a world-shattering plot led by the most skilled assassin and the high-performance driver they've ever encountered: a man who also happens to be Dom's forsaken brother, Jakob (John Cena, the upcoming The Suicide Squad).

 

#5. Hobbs & Shaw 

This film doesn't rev as high as the franchise's best installments but gets decent mileage out of its well-matched stars and over-the-top action sequences.

Synopsis: Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), a loyal agent of America's Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Jason Statham).

Brixton Lorr is a cybernetically enhanced soldier who possesses superhuman strength, a brilliant mind, and a lethal pathogen that could wipe out half of the world's population.

It's now up to hulking lawman Luke Hobbs and lawless operative Deckard Shaw to put aside their past differences and work together to prevent the seemingly indestructible Lorr from destroying humanity.

 

#4.  The Fate of the Furious (2017)

The Fate of the Furious opens a new chapter in the franchise, fuelled by the same infectious cast chemistry and over-the-top action fans have come to expect.

Synopsis: The latest installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise welcomes Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron. With Dom and Letty married, Brian and Mia retired and the rest of the crew exonerated, the globe-trotting team has found some semblance of a normal life. They soon face an unexpected challenge when a mysterious woman named Cipher forces Dom to betray them all. Now, they must unite to bring home the man who made them a family and stop Cipher from unleashing chaos.

 

#3 Fast & Furious 6 (2013)

With high-octane humor and terrific action scenes, Fast & Furious 6 builds upon the winning blockbuster formula that made Fast 5 a critical and commercial success.

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of all-stars as the a global blockbuster franchise built on Fast Cars and steroids.

Since Dom (Vin Diesel) and Brian's (Paul Walker) heist in Rio left them and their crew very rich people, they've scattered across the globe; however, they must still live as fugitives, unable to return home to their families. Meanwhile, Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) has been tracking a gang of lethally skilled mercenary drivers whose second-in-command is someone Dom knows.

Unable to take them down himself, Hobbs asks Dom and his crew for help in exchange for full pardons for everyone.

 

#2 Fast Five (2011)

Sleek, loud, and Over The Top, Fast Five proudly embraces its brainless action thrills and injects new life into the franchise.

Synopsis: Former cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) partners with ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) on the opposite side of the law.

Ever since ex-cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) and Mia Torretto (Jordana Brewster) broke her brother Dom (Vin Diesel) out of custody, they've traveled border to border to evade authorities.

In Rio de Janeiro, they must do one final job before they can gain their freedom for good. Assembling their elite team of car racers, Brian and Dom know they must confront the corrupt businessman who wants them dead, before the federal agent (Dwayne Johnson) on their trail finds them.

 

#1  Furious 7 (2015)

Serving up a fresh round of over-the-top thrills while adding unexpected dramatic heft, Furious 7 keeps the franchise moving in more ways than one.

Synopsis: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson continue the global exploits in the unstoppable franchise built on speed.

After defeating international terrorist Owen Shaw, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), and the rest of the crew have separated to return to more normal lives.

However, Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), Owen's older brother, is thirsty for revenge. A slick government agent offers to help Dom and the company take care of Shaw in exchange for their help in rescuing a kidnapped computer hacker who has developed a powerful surveillance program.

 

Reference:

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/all-fast-and-furious-movies-ranked/