Do you think your luxury watch has anything to do with what time it shows? If a simple Rs.100 watch is going to show you the same time, then what do you think differentiates the two? If the primary objective of a watch is time-telling, then why do you think people are okay with investing over lakhs on a watch that will tell you the same time as a less expensive watch or even your cell phone?

Consumers like to believe that their loyalty to a brand is based on impersonal considerations like product value or cost. However, psychological studies imply that our feelings and identities may impact the brands we choose more than we might anticipate. In fact, a survey of 1,400 advertising efforts from the past three decades indicated that ads with only emotional messages outperformed more rational and realistically oriented ones by a factor of two (31% vs. 16%).

What does that entail for brands and their strategies for reaching their target audiences? Are emotionally powerful, story-driven marketing efforts really the secret to retaining customers? Let’s understand the nuances of consumer emotional decision-making as well as the function of brands and social identities. These ideas can help marketers better understand the driving forces behind customer behaviour and create engaging content experiences that entice repeat business.

For the majority of organizations, the importance of emotions in consumer decision-making is not news. Examples of companies using emotion to sell are all around us, from the well-known supermarket tactic of placing produce and flowers at the front of the store to create a feeling of "freshness" to clothing retailers who play music that makes customers feel like they're at a trendy nightclub (which gets customers moving faster without reducing sales).

However, when it comes to branding and the experiences that support it, marketers frequently exaggerate the realities, praising the most cutting-edge features and advantages of their goods and/or services while frequently ignoring the personalized touch that will really resonate with the specific consumer.

In light of this, modern brands might benefit from mastering the craft of storytelling, which research has repeatedly shown to have a significant impact on many of our audience's purchasing decisions. Apple started its "Get a Mac" advertising campaign in 2006. In a series of advertisements for the campaign, a youthful, hip man wearing a hoodie introduced himself by stating, "Hi, I'm a Mac." Another tech company was represented by a nerdy man in a jacket and glasses. The advertising campaign made the implication that the type of computer you use reflects who you are as a person, and that you naturally want to be swanky and cool like a Mac.

Many of us might scoff and think that we aren't so readily persuaded to pick one brand over another based on something that informs us essentially nothing about the real things they are advertising. However, Apple's "Get a Mac" marketing initiative ended up being a big success. The emotive motifs used in the advertisement are still fresh in our memories even after more than 15 years have passed. What Apple's advertising campaign achieved so successfully was to link its brand to an engaging personality that is still associated with it now. Any psychologist will tell you that identity and the desire to fit in are important social concepts that affect how we see and define others and ourselves. We build our identities using a variety of aspects of our lives, such as physical traits ("I'm tall") and political ideologies ("I'm a communist"), and brands are no different.

The customers construct their sense of self and present themselves to others through the brands they choose. For instance, you may love a certain brand of clothing because you see yourself as environmentally conscious, or because you want other people to view you that way. So how does this psychological phenomenon directly relate to the business world? Branding may be the reason why so many of the biggest brands share characteristics that customers identify with or aspire to imitate, such as being young, tech-savvy, or lavish. It's doubtful that your brand will evoke feelings of love if it doesn't resonate with the true or intended identity of your target audience. Social identity in branding is something you've probably experienced if you've ever felt a connection to folks who own the same kind of smartphone or car.

Being defined by our membership in particular social groups is a part of social identity, which is a part of personal identity. A person's social identity may be derived from their membership in a fraternity, their choice of neighbourhood, or their affiliation with a particular professional association. Because social groupings have an impact on people's preferences and decisions, social identity is important to brand.

Remember this while you explore the psychology of branding and the procedures involved in branding. Branding is not static; it's an active, continuing activity that demands effort on your part; it is not something that can be done once and then finished. Customers regard brands as people rather than impersonal businesses, which is why it works. Consider creating your brand identity first, then your branding, just like you would when creating an avatar for a video game. What would that character look like? What are they opposed to? What values do they uphold? What form of expression do they use?

These characteristics are communicated through branding, which provides the public with the knowledge they need to form opinions about your brand. This is all influenced by psychology, so it's an important relationship to be aware of when you develop your brand.

A strong brand identity is essential for every business' success in today's cutthroat industry. A well-designed brand identity can affect consumer impressions, choices, and eventually sales.

Businesses can build trust and familiarity with their target customers by putting money in developing a clear brand strategy, developing a distinctive brand story, and a consistent brand voice and visual identity. For a brand to remain relevant and respond to shifting consumer needs, it is essential to measure brand perception and success using data and analytics.

At DesignCentric^®, we recognize the value of data-driven branding strategies and the strength of a distinctive brand identity. To find out how we can help your company establish a distinctive brand identity and beat the competition, get in touch with us right away.