What do you do if your Brand Strategy lacks knowledge of emerging technologies and tools?

Start with a comprehensive audit of your current brand strategy. Determine where you're missing out on leveraging new technologies that could propel your brand forward. For instance, if you're lagging in data analytics, you might be missing insights that could drive your marketing strategies. Are you utilizing the latest CRM software to understand your customers better? Perhaps there's room for an upgrade in customer relationship management or logistics. Identifying these gaps is the first step toward a more robust brand strategy. Pinpoint these opportunities to stay competitive.

If you have to answer this question your already behind your 'value proposition curve'. All companies must have a small team of people who constantly bring to the table a SWOT review of the competitive environment. Sometimes the best people to help you better understand where the emerging technologies that are shaping and driving change behavioural change in your sector are coming from are probably already sat in your business. As a leader you need to empower them to bring ideas (even crazy ones) to your key stakeholders. These people are tomorrow's 'change makers' and could make the difference between you maintaining your competitive edge vs losing it.

If you're not dedicating at least 2 hours a day to understanding or utilizing AI, you might be falling behind. This isn’t just about keeping pace; it’s about leveraging technology to ensure your brand strategy remains dynamic, relevant, and competitive. ????

To address a lack of knowledge about emerging technologies in your brand strategy, prioritize ongoing research, education for your team, and collaboration with experts. Experiment with pilot projects, monitor industry trends closely, and network with other professionals to stay informed. By embracing new technologies, you can innovate your brand strategy, stay competitive, and better serve your audience's evolving needs.

Start by taking a hard look at your wardrobe (aka your brand strategy) to figure out what’s missing. Identify the specific technologies and tools you’re not utilizing that could benefit your brand.

Regularly scan the horizon for emerging tech that could disrupt your industry. Subscribe to industry newsletters, attend webinars, and follow thought leaders on social media. Read tech blogs, listen to podcasts, and attend industry events to stay on top of trends.

It can be hard to try to change your behaviors if you’ve never been an early adopter, but it’s even more sobering to remember the once-giant brands that failed to innovate with emerging technology (ahem, Blockbuster, etc.). Follow tech news and the leading news media for your industry on a regular basis. Choose the delivery that works for you. Check Twitter (X), subscribe to a newsletter, or commit to scrolling their websites daily or at least weekly. (It’s much easier to keep up with the trends as they evolve than to jump into a topic you’ve been ignoring.) Then, challenge yourself (or your team) to brainstorm how you could leverage that emerging tech for your brand. Even if you don't act on the ideas, the mental exercise is worthwhile.

Subscribe to the fashion magazines of the tech world. Follow industry news, blogs, and thought leaders to stay ahead of the curve on emerging technologies.

Embrace a culture of lifelong learning within your organization. Encourage your team to take online courses or participate in workshops that focus on emerging technologies relevant to your brand.

I'll start by conducting thorough research on emerging technologies and tools relevant to our industry and target audience. I'll keep myself informed about the latest trends, advancements, and best practices through industry publications, conferences, and online resources.

You wouldn’t wear something you don’t feel comfortable in, right? Similarly, get comfortable with new technologies by dedicating time for you and your team to learn and experiment.

Implement small-scale pilot projects to test how new technologies can benefit your brand. This could be as simple as using a new social media tool to engage with your audience or a more complex AI-driven customer service chatbot.

1. Establish your sandbox, where you test your new technology. This could be a literal staging website or a strategy session (or many) in which you play out theories for how your pilot might go. 2. Know your risks. Consider the most critical aspects of your business and brand and ensure you establish a threshold for any potential damage that may come from your test. Know when to stop. 3. Determine what success looks like. Don’t go into a pilot and continue to test and tweak without knowing what you aim to achieve. Once you hit it, take a beat to gauge whether you can continue or scale up this approach. On the other hand, if you don’t achieve your success metric or exhaust your resources, know when to quit and try something new.

Think of pilot projects as trying on clothes in the fitting room. Start small with new technologies to test their fit for your brand strategy without committing to a full rollout.

A melhor combina??o quando estamos bloqueados é misturar o conhecimento da equipa actual com vis?es diferentes, de diferentes àreas e inclusive de diferentes áreas de negócio. Nós somos a média das 5 pessoas com quem lidamos a maior parte dos nossos dias, portanto temos, ao mesmo tempo, o papel de influenciados e influenciadores. Para se apreender e absorver as mudan?as há que n?o ter receio de aprender algo novo, sair da zona de conforto, saber ouvir e estar de mente aberta a novas formas de pensar sem medo! Estar aberto a aprender, torna-nos a nós, e às nossas equipas, a nossa melhor vers?o.... todos os dias! As "best versions" trazem aportes fantásticos às empresas e ao seu desenvolvimento.

Forge partnerships with tech startups or established tech companies. Their expertise can help you integrate new technologies into your brand strategy more seamlessly and innovatively. Look beyond your industry for tech inspiration. Sometimes the most innovative solutions come from cross-industry collaboration.

Two heads (or more) are better than one. Collaborate with tech-savvy partners and teams to integrate fresh, innovative ideas into your strategy.

Brand Innovation strategy is growing to be more and more crucial in brand strategy management. Innovation can reinforce a brand's core values and positioning. By consistently introducing new and improved products or services, brands can demonstrate their commitment to quality, relevance, and continued growth. This reinforces the brand's image and strengthens customer loyalty. Innovation management helps brands stay resilient in the face of challenges and uncertainties. By fostering a culture of innovation, brands can become more agile, adaptable, and future-proof. This enables them to navigate market disruptions, seize opportunities, and sustain their competitive advantage over the long term.

As an Amazon Brand Manager, I'd swiftly adapt and evolve our strategy to embrace emerging technologies. We'd start by researching and collaborating with experts to stay ahead of trends. Through pilot projects and a culture of innovation, we'd continually refine our approach to ensure our brand remains competitive on Amazon.

Just like updating your wardrobe, adapt your brand strategy to incorporate new technologies and tools that align with your goals and audience needs.

Keeping your strategy in tune with technological advancements is an ongoing process. It’s about being curious, open to change, and ready to evolve. Just as fashion trends come and go, so do technological trends. The key is to stay relevant, adaptable, and always on the lookout for the next big thing that could revolutionize how you connect with your audience.

(1) Hit the books - Or websites, podcasts, webinars. Find resources that break down the newest tech in ways you can use. (2) Network with techies - Find folks who live and breathe this stuff. They can give you the lowdown on what tools can do for your brand. (3) Test the waters - Pick a new tool or tech. Try it out on a small project. See what works and what doesn’t without risking too much. It’s about being curious, connecting, and cautiously trying new things to keep your brand fresh and forward-thinking.