Corporate branding
refers to the practice of promoting the brand name of a corporate entity, as
opposed to specific products or services. The activities and thinking that go
into corporate branding are different from product and service branding because
the scope of a corporate brand is typically much broader. Corporate branding
affects multiple stakeholders (e.g., employees, investors) and impacts many
aspects of companies such as the evaluation of their product and services,
corporate identity and culture, sponsorship, employment applications, brand
extensions (see study Fetscherin and Usunier, 2012). It therefore can result in
significant economies of scope since one advertising campaign can be used for
several products. It also facilitates new product acceptance because potential
buyers are already familiar with the name. However, this strategy may hinder
the creation of distinct brand images or identities for different products: an
overarching corporate brand reduces the ability to position a brand with an
individual identity, and may conceal different products' unique
characteristics. Corporate branding is
not limited to a specific mark or name. Branding can incorporate multiple
touchpoints. These touchpoints include; logo, customer service, treatment and
training of employees, packaging, advertising, stationery, and quality of
products and services. Any means by which the general public comes into contact
with a specific brand constitutes a touchpoint that can affect perceptions of
the corporate brand.