Co-creating Brands

Book excerpt: An essential guide to contemporary marketing that demonstrates, via case studies, the move towards marketing techniques that better reflect consumer needs. Brand management and development has traditionally been regarded as the responsibility of the organization – they design, produce and sell the brand, before delivering it to customers. Yet this approach can be needlessly restrictive, as the connective power of the internet and the desire of consumers to focus on experiences has reshaped branding. In this digital age, development occurs beyond the limits of the organization so that, in many ways, brands are effectively co-created by consumers. Rather than lead, manage and control, contemporary managers have taken on the new tasks of listening, connecting and participating in brand development. The focus of this process has shifted to the intersection between the organization and its stakeholders, leading to a new paradigm of brand management: the 'co-creation perspective'. Co-Creating Brands is an accessible exploration of how co-created brands produce value and how the success of this approach can be measured and assured. The authors draw upon a wide array of international case studies and strategic models, which clearly demonstrate how to both effectively deliver this method and how to deal with the situational challenges and obstacles that can occur. If organizational leaders are willing to relinquish complete control of their brand and recognize the supportive culture of employees, customers and stake-holders, their brand can become an unstoppable marketing force.