Marketing vs. Branding: What’s the Difference?

Marketing and branding are two activities with overlapping purposes, but at the end of the day, they fulfill different business needs. Marketing is a more general form of advertising, while branding is about generating an identity that connects with customers on a personal level. The specialists at Saba SEO, a premier provider of Internet marketing service in San Diego, explain how these two activities are complementary yet distinct.

Marketing

Effective marketing involves making shoppers aware of the existence of whatever product is being sold. Ideally, the product would have been conceived, designed, and manufactured with a specific consumer demographic already in mind. The best marketing starts well before the product physically exists. Marketing is easier and more effective when it fulfills an existing need and addresses a demographic that’s already identified. This means people who aren’t officially on the marketing team, such as product developers and researchers, will be performing marketing work, which is to be encouraged and welcomed.

Branding

Branding can be thought of as a more targeted form of marketing. It involves creating a personality for a product line. This encourages consumers to become invested in the products and feel a sense of pride in owning them. The best branding succeeds by making consumers feel like the products are essential components of their lifestyles. People will want to buy the products not just to use them but also to show others that they own them. Good branding necessitates creating an air of exclusivity that makes consumers aspire to own a product. The person in charge of branding must master the tricky balance of selling the product without making it seem like too many people are buying it. A key part of branding is making the product seem special. Consumers should feel like trendsetters who are ahead of the curve.

Though marketing and branding involve similar concepts and skill sets, their goals are very different. Both have their place in the greater landscape of advertising, and when used properly, they can lead a business to great success.

Whether you’re building a focused digital marketing strategy or you need advice on keeping up with SEO trends, the experts at Saba SEO can help. As one of the most innovative marketing companies in San Diego for more than fifteen years, we have designed successful digital marketing campaigns for businesses all over the world. Our specialists can assess your business objectives and target market and help you create the perfect strategy that can boost your online visibility and improve your conversion rates. To learn about our high-quality services, give us a call at 858-277-1717 today.