What Topics Does How Brands Are Built Cover?

Updated

How Brands Are Built is a branding blog and podcast that covers brand strategy, naming, brand assets, localization, and the intersection of branding with AI, psychology, and culture. It mixes definition-style explainers, practitioner Q&As, and opinion pieces, so it suits readers who want both foundational concepts and current industry debate rather than a single narrow specialty. The site's own description frames it as a home for "articles, episodes, free downloads, and more—all about branding."

Core branding concepts and definitions

The blog runs short explainer posts that define common branding terms. Examples from the site's article list include "Definition of tagline (What is a tagline?)" and "Definition of brand asset (What is a brand asset?)," both by Rob Meyerson. These are useful if you need a quick, citable definition rather than a long treatise.

Brand naming

Naming is one of the site's recurring themes, spanning both method and commentary:

  • "Data-backed brand naming: how to name your brand in 2025" by Grant Polachek
  • "Using AI to name your company or product: what works and what doesn't in 2026" by Rob Meyerson
  • "Abbreviating your brand name? Here are five mistakes to avoid" by Eleanor Hecks
  • "On AI, brand naming, and Monika" by Rob Meyerson
  • "The Brand Names Report" by Rob Meyerson

The range here matters: you get practical naming guidance alongside skeptical takes on AI-assisted naming, so the coverage is not uniformly promotional about any one method.

Brand localization and global markets

Several posts address adapting brands across markets and cultures:

  • "Global market potential: the power of brand localization in the Arabian Gulf and beyond" by Hafedh Bucheery
  • "Why brand localization matters: connecting with global audiences" by Mariia Lvovych

If your interest is international brand adaptation, this is a clear content cluster rather than a one-off post.

AI, technology, and digital branding

The site tracks how technology changes branding practice, including:

  • "Designing brands for algorithm recognition in an AI-driven world" by Eleanor Hecks
  • "Subtle brand signals: mastering recognition in a digital era" by Jakob Trpin
  • "The importance of building a 'human' brand in a digital world" by Eleanor Hecks
  • "Want to elevate your video marketing? Start leveraging emerging video technologies" by Torrey Tayenaka
  • A sponsored post, "Integrating AI UGC with your existing marketing strategies" by Himanshu Chhimpa

Note that at least one item is labeled "Sponsored," so treat that piece as promotional rather than editorial.

Brand strategy, storytelling, and psychology

Opinion and analysis pieces cover how brands are positioned and how audiences respond:

  • "The problems with 'brand storytelling'" by Rob Meyerson
  • "The intersection of branding, psychology, and biology: Driving long-term conversion rates" by Jakob Trpin
  • "The behavior of overwhelmed brands in today's market" by Jakob Trpin
  • "Is brand important? It depends" by Barry Silverman
  • "'Brand love' won't save your soul" by Austin Franke
  • "Why agencies must think of themselves as brands" by Joel Stein

These lean toward argument and perspective, so expect a point of view rather than neutral summaries.

Brand tracking, measurement, and rebrands

For readers focused on evaluation and change management:

  • "Four essential questions to future-proof your brand tracker in 2025" by John Bird
  • "The Jaguar rebrand was just the first misstep" by Rob Meyerson
  • "Nine pieces of big branding news from 2023" by How Brands Are Built

Interviews and practitioner Q&As

The site regularly publishes interviews, which the homepage highlights under "On the pod" and in Q&A posts:

  • "Q&A with Cat How of How&How" by Rob Meyerson (also featured on the homepage)
  • "Q&A with Jon Sneider, author of Hacking Advertising" by Rob Meyerson
  • "Q&A with Jack Wimmer of Monika" by Rob Meyerson

These are useful if you want first-hand accounts from people running studios, agencies, or naming projects.

Other niche and cultural topics

Coverage also extends to less common branding areas, such as "Creating a signature sound: The art and science of sonic branding" by Eleanor Hecks and "Design is the oxygen of democracy—and brands' most powerful tool" by Jessie McGuire.

How to decide if it fits your needs

If you want... This site offers...
Quick definitions of branding terms Short explainer posts (tagline, brand asset)
Naming methods and debate Multiple naming articles, including AI-focused ones
Global/localization perspective Posts on the Arabian Gulf, global audiences
Practitioner interviews Q&As with designers and authors
Strong opinions on industry trends Commentary on storytelling, rebrands, brand love

The content is English-language and US-oriented in style. The site mentions subscribing via Apple Podcasts, and its pricing signals include the word "subscribe," but the provided material does not specify whether any content or downloads are paid, so check the site directly before assuming free access to everything. If you need deep academic research or step-by-step certification training, this reads more like a blog-and-podcast mix of concepts, interviews, and commentary than a formal course.