How to Be Like Apple

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So you're a small business owner but want to grow up to be like Apple, Google or Coca Cola?  It's not as hard as you think.  First, change your mindset.  Next, to help you make a big impact when it comes to branding, practice these four lessons from Interbrand's 2013 Best Global Brands list.

No. 1: Be consistent.
No. 2: Be nimble.
No. 3: Concentrate on service.
No. 4: Use digital to your advantage.

Read:  Four Small-Business Lessons from 2013's Top Global Brands

Is Your Brand a Global Powerhouse?

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A ranking of Swiss brands conducted by Interbrand unveiled that the top five brands were, in order of brand value, Nescafé, UBS, Nestlé, Credit Suisse and Zurich. Other globally recognized brands in the top 20 included Rolex, Omega, Lindt, Swatch and Longines.

How did a tiny country -- with less than 16,000 square miles of land mass and less than 8 million people -- largely known for keeping to itself become such a branding powerhouse? It starts with Switzerland’s view of its own brand.

The inherent value of “Swiss made” brands is so high that the country’s government is currently considering new laws to protect it: “The government wants to replace vague laws with concrete rules to crack down on abuses of ‘made in Switzerland’ and Swiss cross labels” (“Protecting ‘Swiss made’ brand divides opinion,” swissinfo.ch, April 6, 2008). The movement is known in Switzerland as “the legislation project Swissness.”

Discover why Swiss brands have global clout here; start to think about how your brand is perceived by the world; and, take a shot at stimulating your brand here.

Additional resource:

The Trouble With Brands