Brand Identity VS Brand Image
Brand identity is a marketing term that includes all components that an organization/ business makes to depict the correct picture/ image to its audience. Don’t confuse it with terms similar to branding or brand image! Well, sometimes you might see these terms used interchangeably but they certainly have different meanings and implications. According to Marketing Intelligence & Planning report, brand identity is created by the company itself whereas brand image simply refers to what consumers/audience perceive about that company. Let’s assume, you recently joined a company as a new employee and you want to be perceived as someone who is self-motivated, co-operative, and undertakes challenging responsibilities. But you as an individual barely talk to any of your colleagues and be on your own most of the time. So at the end of the day, your colleagues will perceive you as someone who is individualistic in nature and not a team player. You simply can not force them to like you or perceive you as a person according to your liking. For that, you have to do some work! Things work the same way for brands as well and that is when brand identity becomes the most important part of the jigsaw puzzle. Now that we know the basic difference between brand identity and brand image, we now focus on how custom mascot characters can assist companies and their brands to create that positive image.
Capture Consumer Interest
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Brand mascots are just like brand influencers. Mostly, we tend to see mascots that are based on human, object, and animal characters.
The unique shape and appearance of the mascot character two most important aspects of capturing the interest of customers in the first place.
I know you might be thinking then why companies tend to emphasize more on the business logo. Definitely, a business logo is one of the most important aspects but it does not create a distinct personality whereas a custom mascot character can pull that off easily.
As brand mascots are enthusiastic and loveable fictional characters, they are perceived positively by the audience. Moreover, mascot characters also persuade consumers to associate certain traits with the brand itself for which opens the door for brands to connect with their audience base on a personal level.
All those positive associations then result in developing a loyal relationship which is hard to achieve with any other form of promotional tool.
Synergy Among Branding Elements
Mascot characters assist the brand by creating synergy among the brand elements (i.e. logo, color, typography, images, tagline, packaging, etc.).
When we come across the popular mascot characters, we can easily recognize the brand they are associated with posters, merchandise, and packaging.
As the brand mascot character can be utilized in different forms of promotional platforms like video ads, posters, social media posts, tv shows, roadshows, campaigns, and many others, the audience tends to associate that brand with the character which is promoting it. So, at the end of the day, the versatile mascot character connects all the dots in branding elements and creates an opportunity for the brand to develop a unique disposition in the minds of consumers.
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Deliver Consistent Messages
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We know when it comes to brand communication strategy, it has to incorporate the idea of portraying consistent messages. For instance, a company that offers environmentally friendly products will always try to support activities against pollution. And in this regard, a custom mascot character can surely play a vital part.
Are you thinking about how? Well, a mascot character is a versatile promotional tool that a brand can easily utilize in its video commercials to support a social cause. Moreover, the same mascot can be seen cheering for the cause in a roadshow, even in social media posts! And considering the versatility of a mascot, it is needlessly to say how easily a brand can place this ambassador in front of the audience and let it handle everything.
Conclusion
Brand mascots are one of the most decisive factors that not only allow all the elements of your brand to come together but also make the brand more appealing to the potential customer base. For this reason, you have to know which mascot character can be associated with your brand. Don’t worry the process is not that hard. You just have to follow our simple infographic guide that will help you choose the character for your brand.
Remember, the right mascot is an ambassador for life. Your brand mascot would simply upload your brand identity while increasing brand awareness and making your customers recall your brand. For this reason, you can always count on Loonie Times Custom Mascot and Plush to assist you with the mascot you would need for your brand. Our 24 years of experience in mascot manufacturing makes us the best place to order your mascot costumes from! Are you still not convinced? Try checking out what our clients say about us.