What is co-branding?
Co-branding (CB) is a type of cooperation in which two firms or brands collaborate on a single project, one product, or one piece of software being recognized by uniting their respective brand names, logos, etc. Co-branding is the presentation of a single offer that is sold using the combined resources and marketing force of two (or more) brands. Co-branding can also refer to connecting several products in a single container, linking several products in one package.
The importance of the co-branding
If the organizations involved do not operate well together or the brands themselves are not a suitable match, the campaign will not be successful. The same may be said for customer feedback who have negative connotations with one brand and transfer these memories to the other brand, leading to both brands being branded with the same brush. Co-branding can be a very effective booster for both brands and can make the cooperation more effective and successful than two competitors working each by themselves. It does that by increasing awareness and the exposure for users by exposing the customers of both companies.
Co-branding advantages and disadvantages
Collaboration on co-branded items or software allows two firms to profit from the combined resources of both. Furthermore, an alliance between organizations is more likely to result in increased trust and the sharing of risk. Combined marketing and advertising efforts, backed by larger budgets, will have a greater potential reach, and as a result, sales income will tend to be higher.
On the other hand, co-branding has several drawbacks to consider. For once, co-branding is based on cooperation, and when two brands with very different points of view try to work together, the outcome may be disappointing. Organizations must be entirely in sync with one another’s goals, strategies, vision, and public image to be successful. A failure to do so can result in a collaboration that is exceedingly complex and results in a product or marketing campaign that is confusing and disengaging.
Co-Branding vs. Co-Marketing
While both terms sound alike, there are some substantial differences. For the first time, the product itself. By co-branding, the company creates together a brand new development for brand recognition that came to life due to the collaboration between the two. On the other hand, co-marketing refers to two different companies that promote their various products with shared campaigns. When the question of co-branding vs. co-marketing occurs, the critical element in deciding which path to take will be time and resources. Co-branding demands both brands to invest in high amounts to cooperate in creating a new product from scratch, compared to co-marking, where they only focus on the last phase.
How to use co-branding
It is unnecessary to look far to find excellent examples of co-branding collaborations; Dell and Intel have built a fruitful relationship that effectively and successfully combines personal computers and CPUs.
Away from the world of technology, Michael Jordan created the Air Jordan shoes by combining his brand with Nike’s global athletic image to create a hybrid of the two. Although it was first offered in 1984, this co-branding option continues to be highly profitable today.
