Your company may offer a range of products and services, but you’re not marketing for a brand-new one. You are instead marketing for your family brand. Learn more about multi-branding and how businesses can use it.
Imagine that you are a large company with many products and brands. After doing consumer research, you have discovered a new product for your services that have not yet been released to the market. To avoid confusion and neglect of your other products, it is time to think about a multi-brand strategy.
What is Multi-Branding?
Multi-Branding refers to a strategy that allows a company to launch multiple products in the same market. Each product is branded differently to attract different audiences, avoid competition and strengthen its brand image.
Multi-branding is when a company has multiple brands. For example, a reseller or retailer may have a range of products with each brand and name. Companies should not focus on one brand approach. Instead, they need to adopt a multi-branding strategy to appeal to different consumers and reach different audiences.
This article will explain the following:
- The basics of a multi-brand strategy
- Multi-branding vs. multi-product branding
- The benefits of a multi-brand strategy
- The disadvantages of a multi-brand strategy
- Multi-branding
Basics of Multibranding
Multi-branding is often used by parent companies or established brands. A parent company must ensure that each sub-brand is not subject to internal competition or negatively affect its brand reputation.
Each sub-brand within a multi-brand strategy must be distinctive
- Marketing campaigns
- Awareness and brand architecture
- Target audience
- Both internal and external messaging
- Social media presence
- Brand names
Each sub-brand in a multi-branding strategy must have its brand personality to build customer loyalty and be present in different markets.
Multi-Branding Vs. Multi-Product Branding
Although multi-branding and multiproduct branding often crosses paths, there are many different strategies for brand management.
Multi-brand strategies, as we have already mentioned, involve a parent company using different product lines or products to target different markets and audiences. An automobile line is an example of a real-life product. Ford owns several automobiles and cars that are popularly known by their brand names.
Multi-product branding can be different in that one company only uses one brand name to represent all its products. Sony, for example, creates a variety of digital products but consumers still see the name Sony on their televisions and gaming consoles.
Multi-product branding has many benefits, including increased brand awareness and reduced promotion efforts. However, there are some potential issues such as product dilution.
As their brand grows, companies must keep up with changing consumer preferences. If your products or services evolve, consider which multi-strategy is most effective.
Multi-Branding has many benefits
Multi-brand strategies offer many benefits.
- Multi-branding allows businesses to become market leaders.
- Multi-branding gives you more shelf space and longer shelf life for your products
- It gives customers options in saturated markets. If a company sells the consumer’s favorite fabric softener they are likely to buy another product from that brand.
- Brand reputation is affected if your brand is perceived as a trustworthy provider
The multi-brand strategy has many benefits, but companies need to consider the potential drawbacks.
Multi-Branding disadvantages
A multi-brand strategy has its downsides.
- It is difficult to keep brands distinct if they can be considered interchangeable. Laundry detergent is one example.
- Negative attention can lead to brand reputation and loss of credibility for all your products, even if one product is involved.
- If teams are more focused on one brand, it can make it difficult to spread resources.
- One product might outperform another, leading companies and marketing agencies in Miami to rethink their efforts and spend more time on them.
Multi-branding strategies offer both advantages and disadvantages for businesses.
Real-Life Examples Of Multi-Branding
Companies that have established brand equity are more likely to be successful with multi-branding strategies.
These are three examples from parent brands that have successfully implemented multi-branding strategies.
- Nestle
- Procter & Gamble
- L’Oreal
Nestle
Nestle, a Swiss food- and drink company, sells more than just chocolate.
Nestle currently has over 2,000 brands in its parent company as of 2022. This includes candy, water and pet food, and coffee.
They are known for their popular products, including Nespresso and Purina as well as KitKat and DiGiorno.
Nestle is also a member of co-branding partnerships, with companies such as Dawn and android.
Consumers view nestle as a leader in the food and beverage industry, but they don’t know its impact on other areas.
Procter & Gamble
P&G is a company that has “iconic brands you can trust in the home,”
Procter & Gamble products are a staple in homes for nearly 200 years.
The company offers products for home, baby, and feminine care.
They have many popular brands, including Venus, Gain, Pampers, and Pampers.
Procter & Gamble products are almost impossible to find in a home.
L’Oreal
L’Oreal is a global beauty brand that has a diverse portfolio of brand names in the beauty industry.
They have some of the most well-known brands like Essie, Ralph Lauren, Garnier, Maybelline New York, and YSL.
L’Oreal is a giant in multi-brand strategy because of its presence in every sector of the beauty industry.
Multi-Branding is an option for your marketing strategy
Multi-branding strategies can be very beneficial for larger brands and not just for new businesses.
Businesses can improve their market share, appeal more to new audiences, and satisfy loyal customers who might be interested in trying something new.
Businesses must think about their consumer impact, market life cycles, and, most importantly, how to manage their brand.