Five years of Most Connected Brands Index: what we have learned

During this time, we’ve tested 158 different brands using our validated framework, which uses a combination of four key brand metrics to produce a one-number summary of a brand’s ability to connect with consumers.

Connected brands are indispensable to consumers’ daily lives. They challenge conventions, build unbreakable bonds and define how we interact. And they do this while remaining true to who they are.

Introducing the most Most Connected Brands

Out of the 158 brands we’ve tested, 62 have made our top 100 every single year.

These represent a spectrum of brands across technology, entertainment, FMCG, retail, supermarkets, fashion, automotive, telecoms and shoes.

Yes, shoes...

Clarks, the mighty British leather and suede powerhouse founded in 1825, has consistently ranked within the top 75 brands over the last five years. What’s perhaps more remarkable is that not a single financial services brand has placed every year since 2018. Shoes > savings.

But outside of Clarks, there have been even greater success stories.

Netflix has risen from 30th in our inaugural ranking in 2018 to placing within the top five over the last three years, while Aldi has gone from 21st to 5th during the same time period.

These brands, along with WhatsApp, Sky, Costa and BT, are brands that have been steadily improving their performance over the last five years.

An interesting mix of technology, supermarket, broadcast/telecoms and, erm, coffee house, right?

Well, the thing that links all of them is their ability to consistently drive three things: quickly coming to mind, eliciting a strong positive emotional response and meeting consumer needs with their products and services. Simple stuff, but it works.

Differences in 2022 v 2018

However, not all our power brands are on the way up. There are some that are potentially on their way to falling out, and the names might surprise you.

That’s right – the beloved/bemoaned BBC, innovation blowhard Dyson and global giants Coke and Virgin have all been tumbling in consumer connection.

The reason for these declines?

In this case, it’s not due to falling prominence or emotion, but instead in dynamism – that being a reduction in momentum and social traction in UK society.

We have long used this measure to identify whether a brand is on the up (or down), and now our data over five years is beginning to show why it is so important to measure not just how your brand is doing now, but also where it’s going.

To find out more about Most Connected Brands, or learn about how Opinium can help guide your brand strategy, get in touch here.