Marketing & Sales · Tip

Sell the Solution: Snickers Brand Messaging Framework

Brand positioning strategy focusing on emotional pain points over product features.

This marketing case study uses Snickers' 'You're not you when you're hungry' campaign to show how shifting from product-centric claims to emotional problem-solving drives growth. It outlines how to frame products as immediate remedies for relatable human frustrations instead of merely listing functional attributes.

How it works

How to structure memorable brand messaging:

  1. Move away from product-centric claims: Instead of repeatedly describing product features or basic function (e.g., traditional ads stating a candy bar satisfies hunger), focus on the user's emotional state.
  2. Address emotional pain points directly: Snickers replaced its logo on packaging with relatable hunger moods ('Hangry', 'Dramatic', 'Sleepy', 'Loopy', 'Confused'), creating immediate personal resonance.
  3. Anchor campaigns in storytelling: Build a narrative where the product is the solution to a specific human struggle (such as acting out of character in the 'You're not you when you're hungry' campaign).
  4. Sell the transformation: Connect the product directly to resolving the user's problem rather than pushing the physical item itself.

What it's for

  • Reframe product marketing copy from feature lists to customer pain points
  • Develop narrative-driven brand campaigns based on relatable emotional states
  • Design packaging or creative variants around specific customer moods or problems

Key points

  • Step away from feature-focused product claims and utility statements
  • Identify and address core emotional pain points experienced by users
  • Incorporate customer emotional states directly into packaging and touchpoints
  • Anchor marketing campaigns in narrative storytelling
  • Focus messaging on the personal transformation after using the product

Pricing

Free

Details

Type
Tip
Category
Marketing & Sales
Topic
Brand Strategy
Open source
No
Platforms
other
For
Brand strategists, copywriters, and marketers
Tags
branding, marketing, copywriting, positioning, case study, storytelling

Why it was saved

  • @advertigo_, 18 October 2024: Shows how moving beyond functional product claims to addressing customer emotions and pain points drives differentiation and significant sales growth.

Related

All 6 in Brand Strategy →

Updated