When the economy stalls, rev up your brand engine
- Bettina Hanna
- Apr 11
- 2 min read
Business is chaotic — and right now growth can’t wait. What’s one of the most overlooked levers for near-term traction and long-term performance? Your brand.
Branding can be a four-letter word for some – it’s viewed as unclear, soft or too long term. In reality, branding is one of the most powerful ways to create a competitive advantage that will drive results now and in the future.
What can you expect when you lean into your brand?
Clarity that converts. Strong brands are clearly understood. You gain traction when your brand solves a problem in a way no one else can – and yes, that impact is measurable.
Results you can prove. McKinsey reports that companies with strong brands outperform weaker ones by 20% on average in key metrics like sales growth and profit margin. You should expect your branding efforts will move the needle.
A strong brand gets noticed. The audience learns the specific problem the brand solves in a way no other brand can. That drives revenue.
Take for example, Duolingo, the language learning app. They’re crushing it! Sales have grown more than 40% annually for two straight years, jumping from $250 million to $531 million. That’s short-term performance extended into long- term momentum. How’d they do it?
They got noticed. They’ve increased the presence and personality of their mascot, Duo the Owl, using him to embody and propel their brand. He’s everywhere, even gracing the cover of Adweek. Check it out here.
They solved the problem better. By making language learning fun, accessible and customized, Duolingo creates an emotional connection through a steady stream of entertaining, authentic content. It’s a brilliant move, since Harvard Business Review reports that emotionally connected customers are 4x more likely to buy. The results prove that with revenue up over 40%, and monthly active users up 188%.
They listened to their customers. Duolingo uses social media comments to shape new ideas and iterate fast — all without a massive budget.
Ready to up your branding game?
Start by sharpening how your brand solves your customer’s problem – better and differently. That clarity sparks ideas on how to get noticed, how to listen, and how to improve as you go. A few simple measures can track your progress and learn what drives growth.
Have a tip to share on what’s working for your brand? Or need a tip? Drop a note in the comments.
