In business, everyone claims to be the best. From the diner in Elf that sells the “world’s best coffee”, to ubiquitous superlatives like market-leading, best-in-class, or number 1.
And for copywriters, it’s a familiar brief. Companies often want to signal that they’re the biggest, the smartest, the fastest, or the most experienced. Of course they do. Who sets out to be second?
Problem is, a lot of these types of statements fall flat. Why is that?
A few reasons:
- They often ask us to take companies at their word, rather than proving what they claim.
- They’re not relevant to customers. Do people really care that you “deliver market-leading innovation”? Probably not.
- There’s a sense of “the business doth protest too much” – too many of these claims can quickly make a brand feel scammy, or insecure.
- They’re tired. When everyone claims to be the best, no one is.
That said, showing the world that you’re a true leader in your field is a powerful tool for building trust and awareness. It can help you stand out from the competition, stick in customers’ heads, and define your category on your own terms.
So, how do you do it convincingly?
There’s no one right way. The answer for your brand will depend on lots of factors. But by analyzing how leading brands successfully create the perception of superiority, we can learn from their strategies.
Here are four ways to signal leadership that almost any business can use to their advantage.
Lead with confidence: Show, don’t tell
Confident leaders don’t spend their time telling everyone they’re number one – they just lead. And rather than jockeying for first place, they think strategically about building deep associations for their brands. They focus on conveying a feeling rather than rattling off benefits.
Take Coca-Cola or McDonald’s. They’re perhaps the two most recognizable brands in the world. But you’ll rarely find either trying to convince you that their ingredients are the best, or that their products are the most consistent, or the highest-selling.
Instead, they treat their supremacy in the market as a given, and occupy the space comfortably. And they use that freedom to lay claim to ideas that are much bigger than burgers or sugar water: authenticity, love, or even happiness itself.
Open Happiness.
Taste the Magic.
I’m Lovin’ It.
Coke Adds Life.
It's the Real Thing.
Of course, it helps to have a century of brand recognition or a kajillion-dollar marketing budget to lean on. But it’s not a prerequisite.
RXBAR is a good example. Rather than pile on claims, they take a strong core message – “no B.S.” – and nail it everywhere they go. It’s reflected in their minimalist design, their less-is-more packaging and site copy, and even their name and logo.
It all adds up to a feeling: simplicity and frankness that builds trust. Plus an aspirational sense of style and an “I’m too busy for B.S.” attitude that signals confidence and power. It sets them apart.
The lesson? Instead of the standard claims of superiority, think about what you want audiences to associate with your brand, and commit to building those associations. Doing that takes consistency, a clear strategy, and a strong messaging foundation. But the payoff is worth it. Benefits fade, but feelings linger.
Lead through comparison: Neg the competition
This tactic is a bit riskier, but it has a long track record of success. Instead of talking yourself up, talk down to your competition, whether subtly or bluntly. You don’t need to be the best; just better than.
It’s a combination of confidence and combativeness that can work well in spaces with just a few key brands fighting for supremacy – like the technology, fast-food, or automotive categories. And for challenger brands, taking on the top-dog can help establish you as a rival in customers’ minds, even if you’re much smaller.
One of the most successful examples is Apple’s “Get a Mac” campaign. It worked in large part because the Mac character doesn’t come across as mean-spirited. Instead, Apple showed a relaxed, bemused superiority that suggested really, there is no competition. It was so effective (Apple saw a 39% increase in sales after the campaign) that Samsung tried to flip the script in their own take on the idea.
Other brands don’t play so nice:
Tough, yes. But definitely more memorable than if T-mobile had said something like “The #1 rated cell carrier” or “fastest download speeds.”
Done well, going after the competition is a powerful tactic. It can give you something more distinctive to say than the standard superlatives, help build brand awareness, and persuade audiences to choose you over the others.
And if you’re feeling timid about calling your rivals out directly, or unsure if you can win on the specifics, you still have options. It might be enough to just make everyone else look hopelessly lame.
Lead by example: Commit to something
Here’s something just about any brand can do to be a leader: take a stand where others don’t, and have the courage to commit to your principles.
That could be a high-visibility cause, like Ben & Jerry’s persistent activism, or Patagonia’s dedication to environmental causes.
Or it can be smaller-scale: elevating your mission and clearly highlighting what your business does differently, whatever that might be. Maybe it’s your approach to service. Maybe it’s your product or process. Or how you treat your employees.
Brands like Misfits Market, REI, and Allbirds have used versions of this tactic to build cult followings that their competitors don’t have.
Same goes for apparel brands that set themselves apart from fast fashion by insisting on quality and durability. Like Darn Tough, which prominently features a “buy it for life” promise. No surprise, they’re able to charge a lot more than their competitors, and they’ve organically built a loyal fanbase in the process.
It’s worth figuring out what makes you different, and then showing the world why your way is the best way.
Lead with creativity: Dare to be different
It’s easier said than done, of course. But emerging with a fresh, disruptive brand or a truly original campaign is one of the strongest tools in a company’s arsenal.
Look at Tesla. They threw out the rulebook for what a car company should look and sound like, and suddenly everyone else had to play catch up. Or Oatly. Or Virgin. Each dared to be different and reaped the rewards: recognition, loyalty, and sales. They got people talking, and they didn’t have to lean on superlatives or a legacy to do it.
The recent winners of the Cannes Titanium Lion for creativity show the power of originality. Australian agency The Monkeys helped to brilliantly reframe a problem that many had grown numb to – climate change – with a fresh approach that merges technological innovation and a powerfully human story.
The campaign highlights the existential threat that sea level rise poses to the small island country of Tuvalu, which is predicted to be completely submerged by the end of the century. It features Simon Kofe, Tuvalu’s minister of Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs, speaking from a “digital twin” of a Tuvaluan beach – part of an effort by the island to preserve their culture and their nation in the metaverse when the land itself is gone.
It’s a mantle that no one wants to take on. But it’s true leadership. Tuvaluans are using creativity and ingenuity to call for action, and to show a way forward for other places that face the same threat.
Takeaway: You’re better than best
The internet is awash in brash claims – some true, some false, all mostly ignored. Talk is cheap. If you want to lead, you need to make people listen.
Each of these strategies require substantial investments of thought, time, and creativity into your company’s brand. But the potential reward is equally large: rising above an increasingly noisy and crowded brand landscape to earn true recognition as a leader.
Sid Bio:
Sid got his start in the LA magazine scene, editing and writing for a number of arts and culture publications.
Then he hopped coasts and swapped industries, joining The Writer — a brand language consultancy, where he used words to solve problems for businesses like Amex, Toyota, and Unilever.
Now Sid’s a Senior Writer at Reed Words New York, where he does everything from naming to brand voice, UX to creative concepts.
In business, everyone claims to be the best. From the diner in Elf that sells the “world’s best coffee”, to ubiquitous superlatives like market-leading, best-in-class, or number 1.
And for copywriters, it’s a familiar brief. Companies often want to signal that they’re the biggest, the smartest, the fastest, or the most experienced. Of course they do. Who sets out to be second?
Problem is, a lot of these types of statements fall flat. Why is that?
A few reasons:
- They often ask us to take companies at their word, rather than proving what they claim.
- They’re not relevant to customers. Do people really care that you “deliver market-leading innovation”? Probably not.
- There’s a sense of “the business doth protest too much” – too many of these claims can quickly make a brand feel scammy, or insecure.
- They’re tired. When everyone claims to be the best, no one is.
That said, showing the world that you’re a true leader in your field is a powerful tool for building trust and awareness. It can help you stand out from the competition, stick in customers’ heads, and define your category on your own terms.
So, how do you do it convincingly?
There’s no one right way. The answer for your brand will depend on lots of factors. But by analyzing how leading brands successfully create the perception of superiority, we can learn from their strategies.
Here are four ways to signal leadership that almost any business can use to their advantage.
Lead with confidence: Show, don’t tell
Confident leaders don’t spend their time telling everyone they’re number one – they just lead. And rather than jockeying for first place, they think strategically about building deep associations for their brands. They focus on conveying a feeling rather than rattling off benefits.
Take Coca-Cola or McDonald’s. They’re perhaps the two most recognizable brands in the world. But you’ll rarely find either trying to convince you that their ingredients are the best, or that their products are the most consistent, or the highest-selling.
Instead, they treat their supremacy in the market as a given, and occupy the space comfortably. And they use that freedom to lay claim to ideas that are much bigger than burgers or sugar water: authenticity, love, or even happiness itself.
Open Happiness.
Taste the Magic.
I’m Lovin’ It.
Coke Adds Life.
It's the Real Thing.
Of course, it helps to have a century of brand recognition or a kajillion-dollar marketing budget to lean on. But it’s not a prerequisite.
RXBAR is a good example. Rather than pile on claims, they take a strong core message – “no B.S.” – and nail it everywhere they go. It’s reflected in their minimalist design, their less-is-more packaging and site copy, and even their name and logo.
It all adds up to a feeling: simplicity and frankness that builds trust. Plus an aspirational sense of style and an “I’m too busy for B.S.” attitude that signals confidence and power. It sets them apart.
The lesson? Instead of the standard claims of superiority, think about what you want audiences to associate with your brand, and commit to building those associations. Doing that takes consistency, a clear strategy, and a strong messaging foundation. But the payoff is worth it. Benefits fade, but feelings linger.
Lead through comparison: Neg the competition
This tactic is a bit riskier, but it has a long track record of success. Instead of talking yourself up, talk down to your competition, whether subtly or bluntly. You don’t need to be the best; just better than.
It’s a combination of confidence and combativeness that can work well in spaces with just a few key brands fighting for supremacy – like the technology, fast-food, or automotive categories. And for challenger brands, taking on the top-dog can help establish you as a rival in customers’ minds, even if you’re much smaller.
One of the most successful examples is Apple’s “Get a Mac” campaign. It worked in large part because the Mac character doesn’t come across as mean-spirited. Instead, Apple showed a relaxed, bemused superiority that suggested really, there is no competition. It was so effective (Apple saw a 39% increase in sales after the campaign) that Samsung tried to flip the script in their own take on the idea.
Other brands don’t play so nice:
Tough, yes. But definitely more memorable than if T-mobile had said something like “The #1 rated cell carrier” or “fastest download speeds.”
Done well, going after the competition is a powerful tactic. It can give you something more distinctive to say than the standard superlatives, help build brand awareness, and persuade audiences to choose you over the others.
And if you’re feeling timid about calling your rivals out directly, or unsure if you can win on the specifics, you still have options. It might be enough to just make everyone else look hopelessly lame.
Lead by example: Commit to something
Here’s something just about any brand can do to be a leader: take a stand where others don’t, and have the courage to commit to your principles.
That could be a high-visibility cause, like Ben & Jerry’s persistent activism, or Patagonia’s dedication to environmental causes.
Or it can be smaller-scale: elevating your mission and clearly highlighting what your business does differently, whatever that might be. Maybe it’s your approach to service. Maybe it’s your product or process. Or how you treat your employees.
Brands like Misfits Market, REI, and Allbirds have used versions of this tactic to build cult followings that their competitors don’t have.
Same goes for apparel brands that set themselves apart from fast fashion by insisting on quality and durability. Like Darn Tough, which prominently features a “buy it for life” promise. No surprise, they’re able to charge a lot more than their competitors, and they’ve organically built a loyal fanbase in the process.
It’s worth figuring out what makes you different, and then showing the world why your way is the best way.
Lead with creativity: Dare to be different
It’s easier said than done, of course. But emerging with a fresh, disruptive brand or a truly original campaign is one of the strongest tools in a company’s arsenal.
Look at Tesla. They threw out the rulebook for what a car company should look and sound like, and suddenly everyone else had to play catch up. Or Oatly. Or Virgin. Each dared to be different and reaped the rewards: recognition, loyalty, and sales. They got people talking, and they didn’t have to lean on superlatives or a legacy to do it.
The recent winners of the Cannes Titanium Lion for creativity show the power of originality. Australian agency The Monkeys helped to brilliantly reframe a problem that many had grown numb to – climate change – with a fresh approach that merges technological innovation and a powerfully human story.
The campaign highlights the existential threat that sea level rise poses to the small island country of Tuvalu, which is predicted to be completely submerged by the end of the century. It features Simon Kofe, Tuvalu’s minister of Justice, Communication and Foreign Affairs, speaking from a “digital twin” of a Tuvaluan beach – part of an effort by the island to preserve their culture and their nation in the metaverse when the land itself is gone.
It’s a mantle that no one wants to take on. But it’s true leadership. Tuvaluans are using creativity and ingenuity to call for action, and to show a way forward for other places that face the same threat.
Takeaway: You’re better than best
The internet is awash in brash claims – some true, some false, all mostly ignored. Talk is cheap. If you want to lead, you need to make people listen.
Each of these strategies require substantial investments of thought, time, and creativity into your company’s brand. But the potential reward is equally large: rising above an increasingly noisy and crowded brand landscape to earn true recognition as a leader.
Sid Bio:
Sid got his start in the LA magazine scene, editing and writing for a number of arts and culture publications.
Then he hopped coasts and swapped industries, joining The Writer — a brand language consultancy, where he used words to solve problems for businesses like Amex, Toyota, and Unilever.
Now Sid’s a Senior Writer at Reed Words New York, where he does everything from naming to brand voice, UX to creative concepts.
