Brand Positioning

Term from Advertising Agencies industry explained for recruiters

Brand Positioning is how marketing professionals make a brand stand out from competitors in customers' minds. It's like giving a brand its unique spot in the marketplace. Think of it as deciding where to place a product on a store shelf - you want it to be noticed and chosen over other options. This involves understanding what makes the brand special, who the target customers are, and how to communicate these qualities effectively. Similar concepts include brand strategy, market positioning, or competitive positioning. This skill is essential in advertising agencies because it helps create marketing campaigns that highlight what makes a brand different and valuable to customers.

Examples in Resumes

Developed Brand Positioning strategy that increased market share by 15% for major beverage client

Created successful Brand Positioning and Market Positioning documents for startup companies

Led team in refreshing Brand Positioning for established retail chain, resulting in 20% sales increase

Typical job title: "Brand Strategists"

Also try searching for:

Brand Strategist Marketing Strategist Brand Manager Strategic Planner Marketing Manager Brand Planning Director Brand Consultant

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: Can you walk me through how you'd develop a brand positioning strategy for a new product?

Expected Answer: A senior strategist should explain the process of market research, identifying target audiences, analyzing competitors, finding unique selling points, and creating positioning statements that resonate with customers while being realistic and achievable.

Q: How do you measure the success of a brand positioning strategy?

Expected Answer: Should discuss various metrics like market share, brand awareness, customer perception surveys, sales data, social media engagement, and customer loyalty metrics, explaining how these indicate positioning effectiveness.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you identify a brand's unique selling proposition?

Expected Answer: Should explain the process of analyzing competitor offerings, customer needs, market gaps, and brand capabilities to find meaningful differentiators that appeal to target customers.

Q: What role does customer research play in brand positioning?

Expected Answer: Should discuss various research methods like surveys, focus groups, and market analysis, explaining how customer insights inform positioning decisions.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is a brand positioning statement and what elements should it include?

Expected Answer: Should explain that a positioning statement defines the target audience, brand category, key benefits, and proof points that make the brand unique.

Q: How does brand positioning differ from brand identity?

Expected Answer: Should explain that positioning is about the brand's place in the market and customers' minds, while identity includes visual and messaging elements that express the brand.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Understanding of basic marketing principles
  • Ability to conduct market research
  • Writing clear positioning statements
  • Knowledge of competitor analysis

Mid (3-5 years)

  • Development of positioning strategies
  • Customer insight analysis
  • Campaign planning and execution
  • Stakeholder presentation skills

Senior (5+ years)

  • Strategic brand portfolio management
  • Team leadership and client relationships
  • Complex market analysis
  • Multi-channel positioning strategy

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No understanding of market research methods
  • Unable to explain previous positioning projects
  • Lack of knowledge about competitor analysis
  • Poor communication skills
  • No experience with consumer insights