In this fast-changing brand marketing world, it is almost impossible to get a feel of the trends that have kept continuously changing and their strategies. Pretty much can be learned from those who actually managed to pass through and climb up this precarious landscape. Join us after we introduce you to five such strategists in branding marketing who actually made it big in their field; delve deep with certain unique strategies as you go further.
1. Guy Kawasaki
Few names sound as loud as Guy Kawasaki when it comes to branding. Currently, he works at Canva as their Chief Evangelist. He has an enviable record of serving as the chief evangelist for Apple in its early days. With 1.4 million Twitter followers, Kawasaki is more than a celebrated branding expert; he inspires many budding marketers. Kawasaki uses an authentic approach in branding, treading more along the lines of community involvement. He is insistent on engagement and building relationships between brands and their audiences. His Remarkable People podcast involves thought leaders from all walks of life. Listeners understand how the guests have evolved and what makes them so remarkable.
What differentiates Kawasaki from everyone else is how he delivers complex ideas in an accessible manner. He often discusses the concept of “evangelism marketing. This kind of marketing is where brands can create passionate advocates who authentically promote their products. If you want to learn from Kawasaki, dive into his books, such as Selling the Dream and Wise Guy, which offer practical advice on sales and personal branding. You could follow him on social media and understand in real-time how he applies his branding lessons and really keeps an audience.
2. Cheryl Yu
Cheryl Yu is the new star to watch in digital marketing, bringing innovation into brand strategy as both a social media manager and influencer. Having combined creativity with data-driven insights, Yu quickly earned a great reputation in the fast-changing environment. She focuses mainly on creating engaging brand stories. They should not only be engaging but also resonate across diverse audiences. Currently, she manages five accounts on RedNote where some of these accounts went from 0 to 30K+ followers in under a year. The strength of Cheryl lies in a deep understanding of consumer behavior and the nuances of different digital platforms. She knows today’s consumers are bombarded with content, and the key to standing out is creating authentic, relatable messages. She uses analytics to construct attention-grabbing, converting campaigns. Her strategy usually involves experimenting with formats, from short-form videos to interactive content, which lets brands connect with audiences in new and innovative ways.
One notable campaign she had done was for a beauty brand seeking to reach a younger demographic. Cheryl then implemented user-generated content in her marketing, where she asked customers to share their experiences with the product on social media. This raised the bar for engagement and built a community around the brand. In that manner, she proved just how a brand could use its audience to speak louder and build loyalty. And last but not least, Yu believes in trying to be one step ahead. She regularly analyzes data for trends in customer behavior to make adjustments to her strategy. Follow Cheryl for fresh ideas on how to solve modern branding problems with creative and data-driven solutions.
3. Heathen Hurst
Heathen Hurst is a name synonymous with storytelling in branding. This is unique, especially living in a time when consumers are desperate for authenticity. Hurst’s approach weaves compelling narratives right into the hearts of audiences. He believes every brand has a story, and it is in the telling of that story that marketing magic truly exists. Through workshops and seminars, Hurst shows marketers how to find their brand voice and communicate its values in a manner that speaks directly to consumers. He believes in the transparency and relatability of a brand and in the building of community among the audience.
Quite often, Hurst shares examples of brands that have successfully used storytelling to show just how a well-crafted narrative can create loyal customer bases. In one of his recent campaigns, he worked with a sustainable fashion brand that couldn’t carve out a niche in the crowded market. Hurst helped them tell their story of the artisans behind the products and how ethically these were made. This narrative raised not only the bar for this brand but also lured people who valued sustainability and craftsmanship into becoming consumers. If you want to learn well about the art of storytelling within branding, following Hurst could be your golden ticket. His insights will help you frame attention-grabbing stories. Moreover, it will make you ponder about establishing long-lasting relationships with your audience.
4. Raja Rajamannar
Raja Rajamannar is a transformational leader in the world of branding and marketing. Having served as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard, Rajamannar has led multi-billion dollar businesses across diverse industries such as financial services and healthcare. He was a thinking leader and innovator in the transformation of the Mastercard brand. Globally recognized as one of the most powerful CMOs, Rajamannar has won many awards, including being named WFA Global Marketer of the Year and featured in the Forbes Top 5 Most Influential CMOs. To this day, Rajamannar insists that adaptability and foresight are secrets to marketing strategy.
He is one of those staunch believers in being more proactive rather than reactive. He encourages marketers to stay ahead of the market trends and consumer needs. His focus on data analytics and digital transformation contributed to keeping Mastercard ahead in a highly competitive market. He has been leading several initiatives driving brand awareness and heavy business growth during his tenure. For example, his focus on leveraging partnerships and collaborations has opened new avenues for Mastercard. His capability allowed the brand to enter new markets and demographics. Don’t stray away if you’re looking for insights into how to navigate complex markets. If you want to drive brand growth, following Rajamannar is a must.
5. Huda Kattan
Last but certainly not least, Huda Kattan has become a household name in the beauty industry. She brought realness into the beauty universe. Huda has a community-driven approach as a founder of Huda Beauty. From a rags-to-riches blogger to a powerhouse businesswoman, her story stands tall, a testament to the strength of personal branding. Kattan uses social media to connect to her audience, sharing not just beauty tips but also her life experiences and difficulties. The personal level of connectivity that she can attain with her following generates a very loyal base, feeding into the success of her brand. She shares behind-the-scenes glimpses with them, whether in business or life; one can feel her brand approachable and accessible. This idea of a marketing strategy just has to do with knowing what an audience needs and desires.
She created a product line that resonated with consumers by actively engaging in the solicitation of feedback from her followers, making Huda Beauty one of the fastest-growing beauty brands in the world. To professionals within the beauty industry or those interested in personal branding, the strategies chosen by Kattan have a lot to teach them. She further shows how effective social media platforms are in developing a brand of a personal nature that makes it relatable to consumers because they can witness the human factor behind the merchandise.
In the world of branding, learning from established strategists will afford you the tools and insights to carve your way. In each of these five brand marketing experts, something is being learned-particularly about authenticity, storytelling, innovation, and community engagement through their unique approaches.
By following them through their journeys and embracing the strategies that worked for them, you can understand brand marketing more and take some of these lessons into your projects. Be it a budding entrepreneur or an established marketer, one has always learned something new from leading professionals who are shaping the face of branding in the future.
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