Brand Archetypes
Discover the 12 Brand Archetypes
Looking for a list of all 12 archetypes that are used in my quiz? Here they are!
Caregiver Brand Archetype
The Caregiver is empathetic, generous, and committed. You serve your people by putting the focus on them and their needs. Those in your fold feel considered, safe, and supported in their pursuits.
Creator Brand Archetype
Being the Creator, you’re inventive, unique, and vibrant – and it’s all by your own design. You intend to inspire creativity in everyone around you. You help us realize our unique vision, and to express ourselves and our individuality.
Entertainer Brand Archetype
The Entertainer is a whole lot of fun! You’re humorous, light-hearted, and the life of any party. You’re playful, and it’s contagious. Above all, you’re excited to help others get more enjoyment out of life!
Explorer Brand Archetype
As the Explorer, you are the trailblazer, the adventurer. You are among the few who dare to literally (or figuratively) investigate the world. You help us find more of the freedom and fulfillment we seek.
Girl/Guy Next Door Brand Archetype
The Girl/Guy Next Door is friendly, down-to-earth, and loyal. You remind us to do the hard work and stay humble. You’re right at home building a community that is accepting, honest, and vulnerable.
Hero Brand Archetype
Being the Hero, you are a warrior, and the victor. Your goal is to show your clients the ample rewards that come from hard work and discipline. We look up to you. You inspire us, as you overcome challenges like a champion.
Innocent Brand Archetype
The Innocent is optimistic and pure. You show us that being a good person and seeing the bright side brings out the best in others. Your brand loves simplicity – the world doesn’t have to be complicated.
Lover Brand Archetype
As the Lover, you are passionate and devoted to your people. You cherish pleasure and relationships. You desire a world where people appreciate beauty in life, so aesthetics are crucial to blazoning your brand message.
Magician Brand Archetype
As the Magician, you may manifest as a visionary, an inventor, or even a spiritual guide. But while the process and path to results may vary, all Magicians have one common goal – to transform lives.
Maverick Brand Archetype
As the Maverick, you are bold, revolutionary, and unapologetic. You do things your way. In your wake, the status quo is disrupted. If something isn’t working, it’s overturned. Those with you find freedom.
Royalty Brand Archetype
The Royal is sophisticated, ambitious, and influential. Your goal is to build a prosperous and successful community. You lead by example. Your captivated audience aspires to be a part of your inner circle.
Sage Brand Archetype
The Sage is analytical and wise. You know how to employ the truth to make your impact. You are the expert, the thinker. You value knowledge and facts, and your aim is to share those insights with the world.
Do You Know Your Brand’s Archetype?
Find out by taking the Brand Personality Quiz
What are brand archetypes?
Have you ever noticed that there are timeless characters who show up throughout history, legend, art, and popular culture?
These are archetypes: Universally recognized figures that stand for certain basic human drivers and emotions.
Archetypes make sense to us. Our brains naturally organize ideas by grouping like things, and by seeing patterns. Recognizing common traits in people and symbols helps us to process and understand a story. Those commonalities cue us to feel particular emotions. And they trigger certain gut-level responses.
So, how do archetypes relate to branding? Well, the answer is simple: In the most essential way possible.
As humans, we want to connect with people – not products or services. So, when a brand takes on a primary character archetype, people recognize it – they get it. When people understand your brand, they can begin to like and trust you, which leads to sales.
And interestingly, the word Archetype is from the Greek “arche” and “typos,” words which mean “beginning” and “imprint” respectively. So, an archetype could be thought of as something that makes an initial impression on us that sticks… which is a goal of a strong brand, too.
Archetypes were studied by psychiatrist Carl Jung in the early 20th century. Later, at the beginning of this century, leadership consultant Carol Pearson applied Jung’s concepts to business and marketing.
In her book The Hero and the Outlaw: Building Extraordinary Brands Through the Power of Archetypes (co-authored by Pearson and Margaret Mark), twelve individual types are identified and analyzed. As part of that analysis, specific traits, drivers, and values were identified in each archetype.
This book was the source of the material that sparked an “ah-ha moment” for me several years back. Since then, I’ve been using archetypes to help entrepreneurs launch and scale impactful brands.
My method, The Clarity Code™, is built around my strong belief that when businesses act more human, we’ll be more successful. When we show more personality, are honest about our values and beliefs – and if we work hard to make a real difference in people’s lives – traditional success will follow.
You can harness the power of archetypes too. By figuring out what yours is, you give yourself an effective and enduring framework around which to craft your brand.
So, are you ready to learn your archetype? My tried and true method for identifying it is my Brand Personality Quiz. Taken more than 65,000 times (Crazy!), it’s the tool you need to get started with adopting this approach.
Archetype Inspiration
The Lover Archetype brand can show up in many different ways. You can often see it in a love for form, design, food, and style. For a Lover Archetype, the packaging is just as important as what is inside. Brands that operate from a “passion first” ideology are tapping into […]
