The Best Brands in the United States (Part 2)

Best Brands — The Remix
Happy Halloween! Last year I presented my list of the top ten brands in the United States. After revisiting my list, I wouldn’t change anything, so I figured I’d present the next ten brands on my list. To create this list, I relied heavily upon my opinion of the general perception of each brand versus its competitors, and how much of a premium the brand can charge because of that perception. I didn't get hung up on revenue data or market share numbers — I just went with what I see and hear every day and threw in my own opinion from a marketer's point of view.

Here's my list of brands ranked 11-20:

11. Starbucks — Just missing the top ten, Starbucks put gourmet coffee on the map and showed the world how to create a company focused on the customer experience that happens to sell coffee.

12. Disney World — Millions of families make a pilgrimage to Orlando just to visit the theme park every year. I’ll bet your parents took you there when you were young. Mine did and I loved it.

13. YouTube — Not only is YouTube the second largest search engine in the world, but it’s the first place we turn when we want to find a video clip of that thing everyone’s talking about. It even creates celebrities. Just ask Justin Bieber and Susan Boyle.

14. Nike — The number one brand in sports apparel. It’s every young athletes dream to be a spokesperson for Nike. Reebok can’t say that.

15. Lady Gaga — She has the most loyal fans in the industry and every time she appears in public she creates a stir. (Here’s what I think she should wear to the Grammys.)

16. Amazon.com — The number one retailer in the United States.

17. Southwest Airlines — In an industry plagued by commoditization, Southwest is the only airline with a definable brand.

18. Harley Davidson — The pride of Milwaukee, Wisconsin has some of the most loyal fans in the world.

19. Angry Birds — The first huge game for mobile devices. Tons of big brands want to partner with the game to push their messages.

20. The city of Las Vegas — America’s adult playground and one of our country’s top tourist destinations. No other city name sounds better with the word “baby” after it. I’m impressed at the way the city has redefined itself over time.

Add This To Your To-Do List
What did I forget? Where am I wrong? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

There's never a lack of ideas.

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