The strongest brands stand for something bigger than the products that they sell, as we have seen in various examples of social movements. They stand in unity with the public sector, the populations united against a common enemy which is a social issue (such as child mortality, women’s equality, trachoma elimination).
To carry out a social mission at scale, brands must operate on a level higher than simply focusing on consumer behavior change linked to their products.
I’ve seen brands take on a social purpose in two ways. One is to go back to the founding of the brand and understand its reason for existing. Brands often forget their original purpose in the chase for growth. Marketers focus on functionality and new features. But that does not mean the original purpose is irrelevant.
The coronavirus crisis is a devastating and deadly social problem. But, unfortunately, it’s far from the only social problem that the world in 2020 faces. Climate change, income inequality, population growth, resource usage, automation – the list is endless. Who should solve these social problems? We typically look to governments – or perhaps NGOs and foundations established by wealthy philanthropists. All play an important role. But perhaps the most important role can be played by...
“Brand that I can trust” has been an attribute that brands have measured for a long time. Looking back, a decade ago, it was hardly a differentiator. Strangely, all mass competing brands would score high so we never spent too much on it. Why? I believe, back then, it meant something different – it meant reputation of the brand and acceptable product quality. In other words, is it a safe purchase or not? However, this...
