What is Brand Strategy?

Brand marketing is the practice of developing a company's brand identity which defines who they are and governs what they do and how they do it. They do this through a mixture of data gathering, analysis and competitive research which provide options for the most promising territory upon which to build and hone a brand. This is often sector-dependent but many brands have wrong-footed competitors by adopting brand characteristics not expected from similar companies. As performance channels have become increasingly expensive, marketers are remembering the value of a strong brand as a means of reducing the amount that needs to be spent on such channels. 

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Why hire a Brand Strategist?

Does your company need to find its place in the market? Do you need a long-term strategy that is properly researched and backed up? Passionfruit Brand Marketing specialists can help your business by conducting first and third party research, conducting competitive analysis, developing brand guideline development and creating your brand book. All of these activities will help employees, now and in the future, to build a brand that has a strong voice, mission and position. 

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What does a Brand Strategist do?

A Brand Strategist focuses on creating, maintaining and improving a brand's overall image using all the tools they have at their disposal. They also help to define what the brand stands for and how they will communicate that effectively with the public and company-wide. Basically, they map out the strategy that will lead to the brand's success and help the company achieve its long-term goals. Finally they will help to implement the strategy effectively. 

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Brand Strategist responsibilities

• Define the company positioning
• A thorough understanding of the market the brand operates in 
• Uncover the brand's unique and distinctive offering
• Conduct research into the company's strengths and weaknesses
• Create a strategy for the marketing team to follow
• Craft guidelines for how the company sounds in communications 
• Set out the brand's storytelling 
• A creative strategist will share initial design concepts

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How much does a freelance Brand Strategist cost? 

Companies can invest from £500/day, up to £650/day, or more. A freelance brand strategist usually works 2 days per week. 

Due to a brand strategist's expertise (and likely vast experience) the cost of a freelance Brand Strategist is likely to be high. However, the transformation a good Brand Strategist can make to your company is invaluable!