What is the difference between branding and marketing?

Branding and marketing are not the same thing and here’s why.

A brand is a concept in someone’s mind that makes them feel a specific way about that brand and themself.

A successful brand gives them confidence in the solution your service, product, or experience will provide them with.

Marketing is sharing the visible resources created to communicate that concept.

You can create many visible branding resources to communicate (AKA market) and grow trust and faith in your brand.

You may be asking, how do I implement this?

No matter where you are in your branding & marketing journey, but especially if you haven’t launched something yet, get clear on your UNSEEN brand components.

Then move to your TANGIBLE brand components, followed by your VISIBLE brand components. Then you’ll be ready to create branding resources to market your business & brand.

Does branding feel like a complicated concept? Have you heard that your brand is your logo and design? If so, this guide is for you! Click the graphic below to receive my free Simple Guide to Branding to build or refine your brand.

Marketing is a promise.

Throughout your branded marketing content you’re making promises. Promises of a fulfilled service, product, or experience that will help your clients save time, and money, or solve some problem for them.

A brand is a belief in your client’s mind that you can fulfill that promise.

Part of your brand is how someone feels about your promises in your marketing. The goal is that they’ll have every reason to trust you and have confidence in your ability to deliver what you promise.

You may be asking, how do I implement this?

Does your branding align with your marketing? If the belief in your clients’ minds doesn’t align with what you are promising then you need to make changes to grow that trust.

You may not have done anything wrong, but if you’re new or adding something new, they will want proof that you can fulfill your promises before investing.

A brand exists on its own.

One of my favorite ways to describe a brand is that it is a story wrapped in personality. A brand is a concept in someone’s mind.

Since a brand is a concept it can go with you anywhere. If your favorite social media platform goes away tomorrow I bet you’d still remember your favorite brands.

The good news is that your brand exists independently and is not reliant on a social media platform. But, your marketing may be.

Marketing is taking the brand to a platform or place.

You market your brand on platforms and in places. That could be in-person, online, social media, billboards, print, ads, etc.

The strategy of where to market your brand has everything to do with where your clients & customers want to meet & engage with you. It’s there that you can build relationships, and trust, and earn the ability to share about your services, products, or experiences.

You may be asking, how do I implement this?

Understand that your brand is built by defining your vision, mission, core values, ideal clients, personality, what your services and products are, and the experience you provide.

Then branded marketing resources are created from that foundation so that you can create a visual and experiential presence with your brand. Then you market it.

Let’s review how branding and marketing are different.

A brand is a concept in someone’s mind that makes them feel a specific way about that brand and themself while marketing is sharing the visible resources created to communicate that concept.

Marketing is a promise whereas branding is a belief in your client’s mind that you can fulfill that promise.

A brand exists on its own and is a story wrapped in personality. Marketing is taking the brand to a platform or place.

Hi, I’m Jenna Shriver, MD & Tampa brand strategist & brand photographer. I help people brand & market their businesses through brand strategy & brand photography.

Get my free Simple Guide to Branding.