Brands and business owners find themselves swimming in uncharted waters these days. Not only has COVID-19 upended the sales cycle and messaging points for nearly all of us, but the wave of social justice initiatives sweeping the nation has made it more precipitous than ever for brands trying to maintain mindshare and effective positioning. 

When you know who you are, and what your customers want, you can distinguish yourself with confidence, knowing your positioning will enable you to succeed. 

For the past decade, brands have been working hard to form emotional connections with consumers. 

We’ve asked consumers to invite our brands in and form emotional, personal and intimate connections with them. We’ve taught them to think of brands as extensions of themselves. From the coffee they drink, to the clothes they wear, to where they shop for groceries, consumers have been influenced into choosing brands that align with their deeply held beliefs and that reflect their unique personalities.

And consumers have embraced this influence and are attracted to brands they perceive as transparent. Indeed, consumers aren’t just attracted to a brand’s products or services anymore; they are attracted to the brand itself.

Now that we find ourselves in the midst of social upheaval, brands that haven’t established an authentic identity are paying the price when the statements they make don’t ring true with what their customers think and feel. 

Now is the Time to Reassess Your Positioning Statement

The time has never been more critical for brands to involve their target demographics in their branding decisions and marketing strategies.

Now is the time to reassess your marketing strategies to ensure they still create value for your customers in these unprecedented times. Since brand positioning embodies crafting associations in your customers’ minds that cause them to view your brand in specific ways, it’s critical to make sure your messaging, strategy and tactics position your brand as favorable, different, and credible right now.

3 Ways to Strengthen Your Brand Positioning Right Now 

Strengthening your brand positioning starts very simply, by understanding what your customers want; knowing who you are and what you offer; and finding the intersection points where your interests and those of your prospects align. 

Don’t assume you know what your customers want or where your interests and theirs align. Invest in research to reveal the answers. Don’t make the mistake so many businesses do — use the insights you discover in research to inform and guide your marketing messaging, strategy, and tactics. 

Reinforce what makes your brand not just unique, but attractive. Keep saying, showing, doing, and making the things that your customers can identify with and champion to others. 

After Knowing What Your Customers Want, Create Value

You must give your customers a compelling reason to choose your brand. Go beyond solving a problem or overcoming a challenge if you can. Continue to provide emotional value. Strive to inspire your customers. 

It’s harder for you to shepherd, but the payoff is worth the effort. Spend time digging deep to discover what your customers treasure and do your best to offer that. 

Align Your Operations with Your Positioning

You can have the best campaign in the world, but if your operations, sales, and service don’t embody your brand, you will lose your customers. Your brand identity and positioning should inform everything from hiring to training to logistics to customer service.

The best brands deliver a consistently satisfying experience to their customers at every single point along the customer journey. Every touchpoint matters. Every invoice, call, text, product package, and service interaction is an opportunity to communicate your brand identity, values, and positioning to your customers. 

If you occupy an industry where everyone competes on price or features, stand out with a strong, clear identity statement.

You might offer the same widgets as your competitors, but the experience you provide around and along with those widgets can make all the difference in the minds of your customers. 

Who answers the phones at your business is just as important as your product or service quality in the minds of your customers. Make sure you live up to who you say you are. 

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to stand out. When you know who you are, and what your customers want, you can distinguish yourself with confidence, knowing your positioning will enable you to succeed. 

Mary Ann O’Brien is the CEO and Founder of OBI Creative, a research-based, innovation-driven advertising agency based in Omaha, Neb.

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