Why do we love certain brands - are they worth it or just good marketing?

Poll

Do you think famous brands (like Nike or Coca-Cola) are popular becauseâ€¦

Their products are genuinely better Their marketing makes them feel better A mix of both Iâ€™m not influenced by big brands

TheUniofLawStaff

Official Rep

Ever noticed how you always grab the same pair of Nikes, reach for a Coca-Cola without thinking, or stay loyal to a brand even when there are cheaper options? 👀
Is it because the product is genuinely better… or have we all been influenced by some seriously clever marketing?
If you’ve ever wondered why certain brands feel almost magnetic, this Real World Lecture is for you. 🙌

Join us for an interactive session where we’ll explore:
💡 How huge brands like Nike and Coca-Cola built their identities
🔥 Iconic marketing campaigns that shaped consumer behaviour
🧠 Why we stay loyal to certain brands (even when we say we’re not influenced)
🤖 How modern digital marketing from AI personalisation to interactive campaigns keeps us hooked

Whether you’re passionate about Business, Marketing, Branding, or just love understanding what makes people tick, this session will help you uncover the strategies behind the brands you use every day.

Don’t miss your chance to dive into the secrets of brand power and find out whether it’s true value… or just great marketing. 😉
📅Wednesday 21st Jan 2026, 4pm GMT
📍
https://www.law.ac.uk/events/event-booking/?id=36e81aba-55db-f011-8544-7ced8d9b0064

Got questions? Drop them below!
Will we see you there? 👇

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 1

UniofLawstudent3

Official Rep

This is a super interesting topic! I've definitely found myself surprised that an "off-brand" product looks/works/tastes better than the "original" on more than a few occasions. Good marketing can infiltrate the subconscious and influence decision-making on an individual and collective level. Even more so, considering how prevalent advertising is both in physical and online spaces now! Up against huge companies riding the wave of long-standing goodwill powered by multi-million-pound marketing budgets, I think it is very hard for new brands to break into existing markets. Excited to attend this session to hear more!

Reply 2

UniofLawStudent5

Official Rep

I’d say it’s definitely a mix of both, but from my time working in door-to-door sales promoting products and services of different brands, I saw first-hand just how powerful marketing and branding really are. People often weren’t buying purely based on the product itself – it was about trust, familiarity, and how confident they felt in the brand. If someone already recognises a name or associated it with quality, the conversation was instantly easier.

That experience really changed how I see big brands like Nike or Coca-Cola. The product matters, but the emotional connection and brand story often tip the balance in their favour, even when cheaper or similar alternatives exist. What’s fascinating is that most people don’t think they’re influenced – yet their decision purchasing decisions is often already made before logic kicks in.

Looking forward to it. It sounds like a great opportunity to unpack where real value ends and strategic marketing begins.

Reply 3

UniofLawStudent6

Official Rep

This sounds like a great session! Having done a marketing placement year working with some major brands, the psychology of brand loyalty is something I do find fascinating. It’s incredible how much a specific shade of colour or a symbol can trigger a brand name in your mind before you’ve even read a word. Even though this has made me much more aware of marketing tactics while shopping, I still find myself drawn to the brands I’ve used for years (like Hellmann's will always taste the best mayonnaise, even if it is just a placebo effect!) 😊

Reply 4

UniofLawStudent4

Official Rep

Original post

by TheUniofLawStaff

Ever noticed how you always grab the same pair of Nikes, reach for a Coca-Cola without thinking, or stay loyal to a brand even when there are cheaper options? 👀
Is it because the product is genuinely better… or have we all been influenced by some seriously clever marketing?
If you’ve ever wondered why certain brands feel almost magnetic, this Real World Lecture is for you. 🙌
Join us for an interactive session where we’ll explore:
💡 How huge brands like Nike and Coca-Cola built their identities
🔥 Iconic marketing campaigns that shaped consumer behaviour
🧠 Why we stay loyal to certain brands (even when we say we’re not influenced)
🤖 How modern digital marketing from AI personalisation to interactive campaigns keeps us hooked
Whether you’re passionate about Business, Marketing, Branding, or just love understanding what makes people tick, this session will help you uncover the strategies behind the brands you use every day.
Don’t miss your chance to dive into the secrets of brand power and find out whether it’s true value… or just great marketing. 😉
📅Wednesday 21st Jan 2026, 4pm GMT
📍
https://www.law.ac.uk/events/event-booking/?id=36e81aba-55db-f011-8544-7ced8d9b0064
Got questions? Drop them below!
Will we see you there? 👇

I mean, to be honest, this is a question that has always prompted me to think. I thought I was being completely rational in my consumer decisions, but the more I learn, the more I realise that branding plays a big role in what I thought were instinctive decisions. It’s not always about choosing the highest quality when I reach for the same brand of trainers or the same drink.

Companies such as Nike or Coca-Cola are more than the mere sale of commodities; they are the conveyors of stories, of lifestyle, of emotions. That is the force behind these brands' strength. Even when we feel we are impervious to marketing, it is still at work in the background.

One aspect that has really struck me recently is the evolution of marketing today. Data-driven marketing has made influence much less transparent but more efficient. It raises interesting questions about choice, loyalty, and whether we’re ever truly neutral as consumers.

Reply 5

TheUniofLawStaff

Official Rep

Original post

by TheUniofLawStaff

Ever noticed how you always grab the same pair of Nikes, reach for a Coca-Cola without thinking, or stay loyal to a brand even when there are cheaper options? 👀
Is it because the product is genuinely better… or have we all been influenced by some seriously clever marketing?
If you’ve ever wondered why certain brands feel almost magnetic, this Real World Lecture is for you. 🙌
Join us for an interactive session where we’ll explore:
💡 How huge brands like Nike and Coca-Cola built their identities
🔥 Iconic marketing campaigns that shaped consumer behaviour
🧠 Why we stay loyal to certain brands (even when we say we’re not influenced)
🤖 How modern digital marketing from AI personalisation to interactive campaigns keeps us hooked
Whether you’re passionate about Business, Marketing, Branding, or just love understanding what makes people tick, this session will help you uncover the strategies behind the brands you use every day.
Don’t miss your chance to dive into the secrets of brand power and find out whether it’s true value… or just great marketing. 😉
📅Wednesday 21st Jan 2026, 4pm GMT
📍
https://www.law.ac.uk/events/event-booking/?id=36e81aba-55db-f011-8544-7ced8d9b0064
Got questions? Drop them below!
Will we see you there? 👇

If you missed this event you can watch it on demand here!

Reply 6

chrizzyG

Original post

by TheUniofLawStaff

Ever noticed how you always grab the same pair of Nikes, reach for a Coca-Cola without thinking, or stay loyal to a brand even when there are cheaper options? 👀
Is it because the product is genuinely better… or have we all been influenced by some seriously clever marketing?
If you’ve ever wondered why certain brands feel almost magnetic, this Real World Lecture is for you. 🙌
Join us for an interactive session where we’ll explore:
💡 How huge brands like Nike and Coca-Cola built their identities
🔥 Iconic marketing campaigns that shaped consumer behaviour
🧠 Why we stay loyal to certain brands (even when we say we’re not influenced)
🤖 How modern digital marketing from AI personalisation to interactive campaigns keeps us hooked
Whether you’re passionate about Business, Marketing, Branding, or just love understanding what makes people tick, this session will help you uncover the strategies behind the brands you use every day.
Don’t miss your chance to dive into the secrets of brand power and find out whether it’s true value… or just great marketing. 😉
📅Wednesday 21st Jan 2026, 4pm GMT
📍
https://www.law.ac.uk/events/event-booking/?id=36e81aba-55db-f011-8544-7ced8d9b0064
Got questions? Drop them below!
Will we see you there? 👇

I think it's the trust that you build with that product and the sort of guaranteed experience you know your going to get from that product. You could trust it will taste good, perform well or even it might just be knowing that once youve found a brand that you like you just default to it.

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