Agency Dictionary
positioning
nounPronunciation: /pəˈzɪʃ.ən.ɪŋ/
In Portuguese: posicionamento
Brand & MarketingWhat does “positioning” mean?
The strategic marketing effort to establish a distinctive and desirable image for a brand or product in the customer's mind.
Etymology
From position, which entered English through Old French from Latin positiō (a placing, position), from positus, past participle of pōnō (to place). The suffix -ing forms the gerund and present participle. The marketing sense emerged in the 20th century to describe the deliberate shaping of a brand's perceived place in the consumer's mind.
Usage note
In marketing, positioning describes both the process of shaping a brand's perceived image and the resulting place it occupies in the target audience's mind relative to competitors.
Word family
- position
- reposition
- repositioning
- positional
Usage examples
From that, I can start developing a strategy, whether it's for a marketing campaign, design, sales, or just brand positioning.
Concepts
- Audience EmpathyAudience empathy is the strategic practice of adopting the prospective customer's mindset, daily habits, and emotional worldview to guide marketing and design choices. By…
- Sales-Marketing AlignmentSales-marketing alignment is the strategic coordination of commercial deal-closing insights with broad marketing campaigns to maximize revenue growth. When frontline…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Consumernoun
- An individual or group that acquires, purchases, or consumes physical or commercial goods and services for personal use. In marketing, consumers are studied for purchasing patterns and brand preferences.
- recipientnoun
- The person who receives something. In communication, the one to whom a message is addressed and who interprets it, as opposed to the sender who composes it.
- pain pointnoun
- A specific problem, difficulty or frustration that a person experiences when using a product or a service, and that design or marketing sets out to solve.
- target audiencenoun
- The specific group of people that a message, a product or a campaign is meant to reach, defined by what they have in common, such as needs, habits or interests.
- briefingnoun
- A concise set of instructions or background information provided to guide a project or creative assignment.
- Accuracynoun
- The degree of precision, correctness, and exactitude with which a message or action reaches its intended mark.
- Captivatingadjective
- Capable of attracting, holding, or enchanting interest and affection through irresistible charm or aesthetic power.
- Carouselnoun
- A multi-slide social media post format that allows users to swipe through a sequential series of images or cards.
- Copywritingnoun
- The professional activity of writing persuasive text and scripts for marketing, branding, and advertising campaigns.
- CPMnoun
- An acronym for cost per mille, representing the advertising cost of delivering one thousand audience impressions.
- Differentiationnoun
- The act or process of distinguishing between two or more items or establishing uniqueness.
- Fictionalizeverb
- To turn real events, characters, or brand narratives into imaginative storytelling formats. It allows storytellers and marketers to communicate deeper emotional truths through symbolic narratives.
Also from these editions: terms
- asynchronousadjective
- Not occurring at the same time or coordinated simultaneously, describing workflows or interactions handled independently across time.
- cannabisnoun
- A genus of flowering plants cultivated for industrial fiber, wellness oils, and medicinal applications.
- consultantnoun
- A professional who provides expert advice, diagnostic analysis, and strategic guidance in a specific discipline or industry.
- elegancenoun
- The quality of being graceful, stylish, refined, and harmoniously proportioned in appearance, demeanor, or design.
- idealisticadjective
- Characterized by the pursuit of noble principles, high moral standards, and the expectation of positive outcomes.
- iustusadjective
- A classical Latin concept describing an individual or action that is upright, fair, lawful, and morally sound.
- noiradjective
- Characterized by cynical attitudes, dramatic shadows, moral ambiguity, and moodiness reminiscent of vintage crime cinema.
- roboticsnoun
- The branch of engineering and technology devoted to the design, construction, and operation of automated machines.
- salutationsnoun
- Formal gestures, greetings, or opening words of courteous address delivered upon meeting someone or beginning a discourse.
- spesnoun
- The classical Latin noun and personified Roman goddess representing hope, anticipation of good fortune, and enduring optimism.
- syllabusnoun
- An academic document outlining the topics, schedule, and required competencies for a specific course of study.
Also from these editions: concepts
- Carolina JustusCarolina Justus, interviewed in Creative.2 of the Agency editorial, is a designer with experience in sales who comes from Paraguay and speaks three languages. She…
- Lao TzuLao Tzu is the ancient Chinese figure traditionally credited with writing the Tao Te Ching, a foundational text of Taoism. In Creative.2, interviewee Carolina Justus…
- SenecaSeneca was a Roman Stoic philosopher and writer of the first century, known for his moral essays and letters on ethics and practical wisdom. In Creative.2, interviewee…
- Wes AndersonWes Anderson is an American filmmaker known for a visually distinctive style combining symmetry, pastel palettes and deadpan humour. In Creative.2, interviewee Carolina…
- Applied CurriculumAn applied curriculum is an educational framework that prioritizes actionable technical competencies, direct experimentation, and pragmatic problem-solving over abstract…
- Brand EntrepreneurshipBrand entrepreneurship is the economic transition from executing design and marketing as an external employee to founding, owning, and directing proprietary corporate…
- Cinematic FramingCinematic framing is the narrative practice of conceptualizing personal memories, career milestones, and existential phases through the stylistic conventions of movie…
- Cultural ImmersionCultural immersion is the transformative experience of living independently within a foreign social environment to absorb new linguistic, academic, and interpersonal…
- Idealistic OptimismIdealistic optimism is a psychological orientation that maintains unwavering faith in human goodness and positive future outcomes despite worldly cynicisms. Rather than…
- Stoic PhilosophyStoic philosophy is an ancient Hellenistic and Roman school of ethics founded on the discipline of personal virtue, rational self-mastery, and the acceptance of external…