Brand Strategist vs. Brand Consultant: What Are the Differences?

There are many different types of jobs in the field of branding. Two of the most common are brand strategists and brand consultants. Though these roles share some similarities, there are also several key differences.

In this article, we discuss the differences between brand strategists and brand consultants, and we provide additional information on related careers in branding.

What is a Brand Strategist?

A Brand Strategist is a marketing professional who helps companies to develop and maintain a strong, consistent brand identity. They conduct market research, develop brand guidelines and messaging, and create marketing campaigns that will raise awareness of the brand and generate customer interest. Brand Strategists also work with other departments within the company, such as product development and sales, to ensure that the brand identity is reflected in all areas of the business. In some cases, Brand Strategists may also be responsible for managing and developing a company’s social media presence.

What is a Brand Consultant?

Brand Consultants are experts in the field of branding, which is the process of creating and maintaining a certain image or identity for a company or product. Brand Consultants often work with businesses to help them create a brand strategy, which is a plan for how the business will develop and promote its brand. This can include everything from creating a new logo to developing a marketing campaign. Brand Consultants also often provide guidance on how to protect and defend the company’s brand from negative publicity.

Brand Strategist vs. Brand Consultant

Here are the main differences between a brand strategist and a brand consultant.

Job Duties

Both brand strategists and brand consultants perform a variety of tasks to help improve brands. These duties can include conducting research, analyzing data and creating brand strategies. However, the specific tasks these professionals perform differ. Brand strategists typically focus on creating broad brand strategies that involve multiple products or departments. For example, a brand strategist may develop a strategy for an entire company rather than one product line.

In contrast, brand consultants typically provide more detailed advice about specific aspects of a brand. For example, a brand consultant may review marketing materials created by another team and offer feedback on how to improve them. Or, they may work with a single department to create a unique PPC advertising campaign.

Job Requirements

Most brand strategists have a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or another related field. However, some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree. Additionally, many brand strategists pursue certifications through professional organizations like the American Marketing Association (AMA) or the Institute for Advertising Ethics (IAE). These certifications can help professionals learn more about ethical standards in branding and advertising.

Brand consultants typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or another related field. However, some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree. Additionally, many brand consultants pursue certifications through professional organizations like the American Marketing Association (AMA) or the Institute for Advertising Ethics (IAE). These certifications can help professionals learn more about ethical standards in branding and advertising.

Work Environment

Brand strategists typically work in an office setting, but they may also travel to meet with clients. They often collaborate with other members of a brand team and communicate regularly with the marketing department. Brand consultants usually work from home or another location that allows them to focus on their client’s needs. They may travel for meetings with clients, but they don’t have regular contact with other employees at the company.

Skills

Both brand strategists and brand consultants need to have excellent communication skills. This is important because they often need to present their findings and recommendations to clients. They also need to be able to listen to client feedback and use it to inform their work.

Brand strategists typically need to have research skills so that they can understand a company’s target audience and the competition. They also need to be able to analyze data to develop insights about how to improve a company’s brand positioning. Brand consultants also need to have research skills, but they may focus more on conducting interviews with customers and employees to gather qualitative data.

Both brand strategists and brand consultants need to be creative in their work. This is important because they need to come up with new ways to improve a company’s brand. Brand strategists may benefit from having experience with graphic design or web design, as they may create prototypes or mockups of their ideas for clients. Brand consultants may need to be able to write compelling copy or develop creative campaigns.

Salary

Brand strategists and brand consultants both work to help companies develop and maintain their brand. Brand strategists earn an average salary of $74,021 per year, while brand consultants earn an average salary of $69,197 per year.