The Power of What Your Brand Isn’t
Most organizations struggle to define who they are, what they stand for and what they do differently. Not to worry. Here’s an easy way to get started.
Make a list of all the things you aren’t. What don’t you want to be? Who aren’t you targeting? What aren’t you selling? What do you not want to do?
- We aren’t a mega bank.
- We aren’t corporate and stuffy.
- We don’t try to serve people living on the other side of the country.
- We don’t push products on people they don’t need.
- We don’t treat people like a number.
Sounds pretty good so far.
When you hear someone on your management team declare authoritatively, "We aren’t _______ ," or when one of your employees responds with, "But that’s just not who we are," make a note of it and keep track. Update your list. If you keep going, you’ll be on your way to writing a Brand Manifesto.
What the Dodge Charger Isn’t
Here’s a blunt-but-beautiful example of how this branding technique works, courtesy of Dodge Charger. This 30-second commercial for the reinvented Dodge Charger speaks volumes without ever saying mentioning anything about the product at all:
What is that thing? Well I’ll tell you what it isn’t. It isn’t a man bag. It isn’t man sandals. It isn’t a low-cal plate. It isn’t a yoga class. It isn’t an exfoliant with added moisturizer. It isn’t a couple’s cooking class. It certainly isn’t a small dog that needs a jacket if the temperature drops below 70. That’s what it isn’t. Dodge Charger.
The message is clear. You don’t need to know about the Charger’s 370-horsepower Hemi V8 engine with variable cam timing to know the Charger is a "man car."
What USA Fed Isn’t
Spike is the official spokesdog for USA Fed, a credit union based in San Diego. Spike oozes with character, laying down brand messages about what USA Fed is not: "Say no to the fat cats," "180° from banking," Spike is a revolutionary. It’s more about what he’s fighting against than what he’s fighting for. "Viva la credit union revoluçion!"
What Apple Isn’t
When people think of Apple, they frequently associate themes like "innovation," "cool," "easy-going," "friendly," "intuitive" and "stylish design."
But with its latest ad campaign, Apple has decided to amplify those perceptions by illustrating the stark contrasts between what the company is- and isn’t, what it does- and doesn’t stand for.
By personifying Mac and PC, Apple is making qualitative claims on a simple scale: Do you want to be like this guy? Or more like this guy?
Are you dull and boring? Or funny and friendly?
Complicated? Or simple and straightforward?
Convoluted, tedious and bureaucratic? Or intuitive?
Would you rather be ugly and unattractive? Or stylishly gorgeous?
Key Takeaway
Branding is all about focus — a focused promise, focused audience, focused messages, etc. It can be easier finding your brand’s focus when you dismiss things outside your field of vision. That’s why defining what you aren’t can be as valuable as defining who you are. These cultural absolutes are powerful insights that can create real clarity for your brand. (Tip: For everything you say you aren’t, you should be able to create a contrasting statement that defines what you are.)
Reality Check: You’re only going to get so far by defining what you aren’t, what you oppose and what you don’t like.
