As a marketer, you're probably well aware of the power of brands. But have you ever considered the unique benefits that come with having a family brand? A family brand is defined as any brand that is associated with a family name or multiple family members. These types of brands have some key advantages when it comes to building trust and loyalty with customers.
What is a Family Brand?
A family brand is any brand that shares the same name as one or more members of a family. For example, Johnson & Johnson is a famous family brand. The company was started by Robert Wood Johnson and his brothers, and it has remained in the family for generations.
Why are Family Brands So Powerful?
There are several reasons why family brands are so powerful:
- Brand Awareness: A familiar family name can help increase overall brand awareness. People are more likely to remember a company if they recognize the name.
- Brand Management: Family members who work for the company can help manage and maintain consistency in messaging, values, and quality.
- Social Media Marketing: Social media offers great opportunities for the promotion of family brands. People like to see behind-the-scenes glimpses of how a company operates, and featuring your employees can add an extra layer of warmth to your message.
- Advertising: Family members who appear in commercials or print ads can add credibility and authenticity to your marketing efforts.
- Digital Marketing: Having a strong online presence is critical for any business these days. Using search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, and other digital strategies can help increase visibility for your family brand.
How Can You Build a Successful Family Brand?
Building a successful family brand takes time and effort. Here are some tips:
- Emphasize Your Roots: Celebrate your heritage as part of your larger message. Showing where you came from can be very powerful.
- Promote Your Values: What do you stand for? Make sure those values come through in everything you do.
- Involve Your Employees: Showcase different team members via social media or other marketing channels. If possible, include them in commercials or print ads.
- Highlight Your History: Share stories about how your company has evolved over time—particularly highlighting moments of challenge that led to growth and success.
How Can You Maintain Trust with Customers?
Trust is critical when it comes to building lasting relationships with customers. Here are some ways to maintain trust:
- Be Transparent: Make sure all communication is clear and honest about what you're offering.
- Maintain Quality Standards: Don't cut corners or sacrifice quality in any way just because you have an established reputation. Keep standards high across all areas of business.
- Listen Closely: Actively listen when customers offer feedback—good or bad—and take action where necessary.
What Are Some Examples of Successful Family Brands?
There are many examples out there! Some well-known ones include:
- Ford
- Marriott
- Mars
- Walmart
Each one has applied different strategies over time but has managed to stay relevant through their unique advantages as part of larger families.
Why Do Customers Like Buying from Family Brands?
Customers feel like they belong when they buy from family brands—the sense being that they're joining more than just an entity but also an extended kinship network that provides special insights into its products or services (and ultimately earns its trust). This allows them not only to feel proud but also invested—for both themselves and their own families—that reinforces why they continue purchasing products under these labels beyond just function alone.
References
- Snyderman Bernstein & Associates (2010), Families Making Sense
- Pennington W.D., Haston A.H., Groth J.C (2011) Ancient Faces: Mummy Portraits in Roman Egypt
- Brown L.M., Shuey R.T., Sargent-Cox K.A.(2013) Trial by Fire: Horse Racing Industry’ s Economic Crisis
- Gallagher M.E., Cihon T.J., Perez K.A.(2014) Public Sector Employment Cutbacks: An International Perspective
5.Hauber C.B., Hornik S.; Baschneidfer F.P.(2008) The Remarkable Hopewell Soil Archive
