Brands
Five steps to build a strong brand: Kantar Millward Brown
MUMBAI: Curating the top 50 most valuable brands list in India was an eye-opener in many ways, said Kantar Millward Brown MD Dinesh Kapoor, referring to the valuable insights that brands can gather from the data available to the agency.
Studying the multiple variables that determined on what spectrum of the Top 50 chart it would rank, or whether it qualified at all, revealed the need of the hour for CMOs across categories to build a valuable brand.
This brought Kapoor to enlist the ‘must dos’ of building a strong brand in India. While the core principles echoes what gurus have passed down to the generation next for decades, it’s been adjusted to suit the current socio-economic and political flavour of the country, and how consumers are reacting to it.
Meaningful: With a fast paced economy, some marketers may forget the simplest and essential rule in the book, i.e, to build a meaningful brand that meets the consumer’s need and makes their life better.
Differentiate: When there is competition, and several new products are being launched in every category, it is essential to have a USP, or point of difference. Brands that improved on differentiator grew by 81% higher than brands which failed to differentiate, read a report by Kantar.
Innovation: Citing examples of Bajaj Auto, Kotak, and Airtel, Kapoor explained how differentiation made on top of innovation adds more value to the brands. While Bajaj V launch was a differentiation based on creativity, Kotak tried a unique proposition with its revised interest rates. On the other hand, Airtel has stayed ahead of the curve by setting trends. It is noteworthy that the emphasis to be different is far greater in the Indian market than the global or other Asian markets. 86 per cent of brands that grew on innovation also grew on differentiation, informed Kapoor.
Advertising: Appealing communication is a pillar of brand-building that helps the brand stay salient in the minds of the consumers, says Kapoor. Brand value growth is even greater when meaningfully different brands build salience with great creative advertising.
Brand Love: What comes out of the heady mix of the above mentioned variables is an increase in the brand love index that further helps to multiply a brand’s value.
What makes brand value an important trait to vie for is its direct relation to how the brand performs on the stock market.
“It’s not an assumption that a highly valuable brand is more likely to do well on the stock market. We have substantial data to back up the statement that strong brands generate superior shareholders’ return,” shared Kapoor, adding that a stronger brand is more likely to withstand a tough market situation, and augment revenue growth during favourable times.
Brands
Moneycontrol doubles ET audience in January rankings
Comscore data shows Moneycontrol ahead on reach, views and time spent
MUMBAI: Moneycontrol has begun 2026 with a decisive lead in India’s business news race, pulling in more than twice the audience of The Economic Times, according to January data from global measurement agency Comscore.
The figures make for striking reading. Moneycontrol recorded 63.38 million unique visitors last month, comfortably ahead of The Economic Times, which logged 30.61 million. In fact, Moneycontrol drew more readers than its next two business news rivals combined, tightening its grip on the category.
The advantage was not limited to reach. On page views, Moneycontrol clocked 249.25 million in January, nearly three times ET’s 97.18 million. The numbers suggest not just scale, but sustained user interest across stories, markets coverage and analytical tools.
Engagement told an even stronger story. Readers spent 581.29 million minutes on Moneycontrol during the month, more than five times the 111.90 million minutes recorded by The Economic Times. In the crowded digital marketplace, attention is currency, and Moneycontrol appears to be banking plenty of it.
“The latest numbers reflect the deep trust readers have placed in the quality of our content, the depth of our coverage of the stock markets and the cutting-edge analytical tools we provide to users,” said Moneycontrol managing editor Nalin Mehta. “In an increasingly fluid global environment, readers are looking for clarity and we remain sharply focused on providing credible, accurate and timely business information.”
Comscore’s January rankings reinforce Moneycontrol’s position at the top of India’s financial news ladder, underlining its continued dominance in both reach and reader engagement.
