Branding vs Marketing: What’s the difference?

Branding and marketing get used interchangeably in everyday conversation … but they’re most definitely NOT the same thing.

How Your History Shapes Your Brand

Your story is your unfair advantage. It’s the one thing your business has that no competitor can duplicate. Find out how to make it an essential part of your brand.

Your logo isn’t your brand.

Ever wonder why “branding” matters for small and medium-sized businesses? In fact, spending some time crafting your brand could be the best investment you make this year.

The essential benefits of Public Relations

Ever wonder what sorts of benefits a business owner or manager should expect from a well-crafted Public Relations campaign? Here’s a quick hit-list.

Classic Commercials of the 50s and early 60s

TV commercials in the 50s and early 60s would hardly be recognized as such today.

What difference does a mission statement make, anymore?

You can determine the value of a company’s mission statement by looking at its effectiveness on two levels: the rhetorical and the practical.

Food Fight: Our wrap-up of current ad and marketing news.

Top marketing stories from the last 24-48 hours and a few more we threw in for good measure. Well worth the 5 minute read.

Tips on how to run a great promotion

Here’s how a marketer of any size can run a great promotion at their retail location, online, and on social media.

Crafting a Brand

Here’s a quick summary on the topic of “Brandcrafting.” Find out why it’s so important to establish a clear point of view for a brand and understand how that affects brand equity and perceived value.

Food Fight: A wrap-up of current news from the worlds of marketing and advertising

Top marketing stories from the last 24-48 hours and a few more we threw in for good measure. Well worth the 5 minute read.

Classic Commercials of the 60s and 70s

Do you remember these classic TV commercials from the 60s and 70s?

Why commenting on blogs might be your most effective D-I-Y PR task.

Time spent commenting on other people’s blogs may be the most important thing a D-I-Y marketer can do.

You already have a brand (whether you know it or not).

Don’t have time to worry about branding? That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Someone has an opinion about your business and they’ll tell your story if you don’t.

Branding vs Marketing: What’s the difference?

Branding and marketing get used interchangeably in everyday conversation … but they’re most definitely NOT the same thing.

Crafting a Brand

Here’s a quick summary on the topic of “Brandcrafting.” Find out why it’s so important to establish a clear point of view for a brand and understand how that affects brand equity and perceived value.

How Your History Shapes Your Brand

Your story is your unfair advantage. It’s the one thing your business has that no competitor can duplicate. Find out how to make it an essential part of your brand.

Why commenting on blogs might be your most effective D-I-Y PR task.

Time spent commenting on other people’s blogs may be the most important thing a D-I-Y marketer can do.

You already have a brand (whether you know it or not).

Don’t have time to worry about branding? That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Someone has an opinion about your business and they’ll tell your story if you don’t.

Food Fight: Our wrap-up of current ad and marketing news.

Top marketing stories from the last 24-48 hours and a few more we threw in for good measure. Well worth the 5 minute read.

Your logo isn’t your brand.

Ever wonder why “branding” matters for small and medium-sized businesses? In fact, spending some time crafting your brand could be the best investment you make this year.

Classic Commercials of the 60s and 70s

Do you remember these classic TV commercials from the 60s and 70s?

Tips on how to run a great promotion

Here’s how a marketer of any size can run a great promotion at their retail location, online, and on social media.

What difference does a mission statement make, anymore?

You can determine the value of a company’s mission statement by looking at its effectiveness on two levels: the rhetorical and the practical.

The essential benefits of Public Relations

Ever wonder what sorts of benefits a business owner or manager should expect from a well-crafted Public Relations campaign? Here’s a quick hit-list.

Classic Commercials of the 50s and early 60s

TV commercials in the 50s and early 60s would hardly be recognized as such today.

Food Fight: A wrap-up of current news from the worlds of marketing and advertising

Top marketing stories from the last 24-48 hours and a few more we threw in for good measure. Well worth the 5 minute read.

To owners and managers of small and mid-sized businesses as well as solo entrepreneurs who don’t have the money, the time, or the inclination to hire a full-time branding consultant, I have just one thing to say …

Welcome to Brand Central Station!

I’m Mike Bawden, and this is my blog that helps you make the connection between your brand and your customers. And here’s the best part … it’s free!

Of course, if you like what I’m doing here, I could use your support (and I’ll make it worth your while, I promise). I ask patrons to support my work here by joining my Patreon program for $25 a month.

Free Resources

Here are the latest additions to our resource library where you’ll find links, downloads, and subscription offers to the instructional material and service providers you need to craft your brand into something special. We add new material to the library nearly daily, and all content is organized by subject.  |  Go to the library

Date Added Topic Title (date of publication)
02/14/2026 Media: Planning & Buying Strategy, Process & Best Practices for 2026 (01/28/2026)
02/14/2026 Media: Planning & Buying Media Planning: What it Is + How to Write a Media Plan (11/11/2025)
02/14/2026 Media: Planning & Buying The CMO’s Guide to Programmatic Buying (05/19/2014)