Skip to main content

Rethinking the Measurement of Place Brands

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Rethinking Place Branding

Abstract

Place brand managers often disregard the complexity of place brands, as do their counterparts in the academic arena: they repeatedly use simple explorative descriptions of certain place brands, rather than a precise measurement. Thus, this chapter aims to identify and discuss measurement approaches that could prove useful in place branding. Therefore, we will define the brand and examine various options regarding what to measure in place branding. Finally, we will discuss the different approaches of brand measurement for their use in place branding, namely the approaches to measuring the brand in the form of free brand associations of target customers with qualitative methods; in the form of attributes with quantitative methods like standardized questionnaires; and with mixed methods that combine qualitative research with quantitative methods. Two mixed methods, namely the network analysis and the advanced brand concept map method, are explained in more detail. In conclusion, we also outline current and future challenges in measuring place brands and their outcomes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aaker J (1997) Dimensions of brand personality. J Mark Res 34:347–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • American Marketing Association (2013) Dictionary American Marketing Association. http://www.marketingpower.com/_layouts/Dictionary.aspx?dLetter=B. Accessed 24 Dec 2013

  • Anholt S (2006) Anholt city brand index—“how the world views its cities”, 2nd edn. Global Market Insight, Bellevue

    Google Scholar 

  • Anholt S (2010) Places—identity, image and reputation. Palgrave Macmillan, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Anholt S, Hildreth J (2005) Let freedom and cash registers ring: America as a brand. J Place Branding Public Dipl 1(2):164–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashworth GJ, Kavaratzis M (2009) Beyond the logo: brand management for cities. J Brand Manage 16(8):520–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avraham E (2000) Cities and their news media images. Cities 17(5):363–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baxter J, Kerr G (2010) The meaning and measurement of place identity and place image. Paper presented at the 50th European Regional Science Association Congress, Jönköping, Sweden, 19–23 Aug

    Google Scholar 

  • Berglund E, Olsson K (2010) Rethinking place marketing—a literature review. Paper presented at the 50th European Regional Science Association Congress, Jönköping, Sweden, 19–23 Aug

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun E (2008) City marketing: towards an integrated approach. Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun E (2012) Putting city branding into practice. J Brand Manage 19(4):257–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calder BJ (1977) Focus groups and the nature of qualitative marketing research. J Mark Res 14:353–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrol JD, Green PE (1997) Psychometric methods in marketing research: part 2, multidimensional scaling. J Mark Res 34:193–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Carlo M, Canali S, Pritchard A, Morgan N (2009) Moving Milan towards Expo 2015: designing culture into a city brand. J Place Manage Dev 2(1):8–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eggers F, Sattler H (2009) Hybrid individualized two-level choice-based conjoint (HIT-CBC): a new method for measuring preference structures with many attribute levels. Int J Res Mark 26(2):108–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farsky M, Völckner F (2008) Entwicklung und empirische Anwendung eines neuen Instrumentes zur Imagemessung am Beispiel von Universitäten [Development and implementation of a measurement tool for brand image with the example of universities]. Die Betriebswirtschaft (DBW) 6(08):706–728

    Google Scholar 

  • Fazio RH, Olson MA (2003) Implicit measures in social cognition research: their meaning and use. Annu Rev Psychol 54:297–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Federal Statistical Office of Berlin-Brandenburg (2009) Berlin in Zahlen 2009 [Berlin in numbers 2009]. Federal Statistical Office of Berlin-Brandenburg, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Gertner D (2011) A (tentative) meta-analysis of the ‘place marketing’ and ‘place branding’ literature. J Brand Manage 19:112–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grabow B, Henckel D, Hollbach-Grömig B (1995) Weiche Standortfaktoren [Soft location factors]. Kohlhammer/Deutscher Gemeindeverlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Grunert KG, Grunert SC (2005) Measuring subjective meaning structures by the laddering method: theoretical considerations and methodological problems. Int J Res Mark 12(3):209–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutman JA (1982) Means-end chain model based on consumer categorization processes. J Mark 46(Spring):60–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamburg Marketing GmbH (2009) Discover Hamburg—the city on the waterfront. City of Hamburg, Hamburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Hankinson G (2001) Location branding: a study of the branding practices of 12 English cities. J Brand Manage 9(2):127–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hankinson G (2005) Destination brand images: a business tourism perspective. J Serv Mark 19(1):24–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson G, Iacobucci D, Calder BJ (2002) Using network analysis to understand brands. Adv Consum Res 29(1):397–405

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildreth J (n.d.) The Saffron European city brand barometer. Saffron Brand Consultants website. http://saffron-consultants.com/news-views/publications/. Accessed 21 Dec 2013

  • Insch A, Florek M (2008) A great place to live, work and play—conceptualizing place satisfaction in the case of a city’s residents. J Place Manage Dev 1(2):138–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen BP (2009) Investor-based place brand equity: a theoretical framework. J Place Manage Dev 2(1):70–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen BP (2012) Place brand equity: a model for establishing the effectiveness of place brands. J Place Manage Dev 5(3):253–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • John DR, Loken B, Kim K, Monga AB (2006) Brand concept maps: a methodology for identifying brand association networks. J Mark Res 43:549–563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kavaratzis M (2008) From city marketing to city branding: an interdisciplinary analysis with reference to Amsterdam, Budapest and Athens. PhD thesis, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller KL (1993) Conceptualizing, measuring, and managing customer-based brand equity. J Mark 57(January):1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keller KL (2003) Brand synthesis: the multidimensionality of brand knowledge. J Consum Res 29(4):595–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotler P, Haider DH, Rein I (1993) Marketing places: attracting investment, industry, and tourism to cities, states, and nations. The Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee HJ, Jain D (2009) Dubai’s brand assessment success and failure in brand management—part 1. Place Branding Public Dipl 5(3):234–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louviere JJ, Johnson RD (1990) Reliability and validity of the brand-anchored conjoint approach to measuring retailer images. J Retail 66(4):359–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucarelli A, Berg PO (2011) City branding—a state of the art review of the research domain. J Place Manage Dev 4(1):9–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merrilees B, Miller D, Herington C (2009) Antecedents of residents’ city brand attitudes. J Bus Res 62(3):362–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan N, Pritchard A, Piggott R (2002) New Zealand, 100 % pure. The creation of a powerful niche destination brand. J Brand Manage 9(4/5):335–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papadopoulos N, Heslop L (2002) Country equity and country branding: problems and prospects. J Brand Manage 9(4–5):294–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schnittka O, Sattler H, Zenker S (2012) Advanced brand concept maps: a new approach for evaluating the favorability of brand association networks. Int J Res Mark 29(3):265–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stedman RC (2002) Towards a social psychology of place: predicting behavior from place-based cognitions, attitude, and identity. Environ Behav 34(5):561–581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Supphellen M (2000) Understanding core brand equity: guidelines for in-depth elicitation of brand associations. Int J Market Res 42(3):319–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Trueman MM, Cornelius N, Killingbeck-Widdup AJ (2007) Urban corridors and the lost city: overcoming negative perceptions to reposition city brands. J Brand Manage 15(1):20–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanolo A (2008) The image of the creative city: some reflections on urban branding in Turin. Cities 25(6):370–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner O, Peters M (2009) Can association methods reveal the effects of international branding on tourism destination stakeholders? J Place Manage Dev 2(1):52–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wansink B (2003) Using laddering to understand and leverage a brand’s equity. Qual Market Res Int J 6(2):111–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zenker S (2009) Who’s your target? The creative class as a target group for place branding. J Place Manage Dev 2(1):23–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zenker S (2011) How to catch a city? The concept and measurement of place brands. J Place Manage Dev 4(1):40–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zenker S, Beckmann SC (2013) My place is not your place—different place brand knowledge by different target groups. J Place Manage Dev 6(1):6–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zenker S, Braun E (2010) Branding a city—a conceptual approach for place branding and place brand management. Paper presented at the 39th European Marketing Academy Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1–4 June

    Google Scholar 

  • Zenker S, Eggers F, Farsky M (2013a) Putting a price tag on cities: insights into the competitive environment of places. Cities 30(February):133–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zenker S, Petersen S, Aholt A (2013b) The citizen satisfaction index (CSI): evidence for a four basic factor model in a German sample. Cities 31:156–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zenker S, Gollan T (2010) Development and implementation of the resident migration scale (ReMiS): measuring success in place marketing. In: Witte EH, Gollan T (eds) Sozialpsychologie und Ökonomie. Pabst Verlag, Lengerich, pp 156–172

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sebastian Zenker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zenker, S., Braun, E. (2015). Rethinking the Measurement of Place Brands. In: Kavaratzis, M., Warnaby, G., Ashworth, G. (eds) Rethinking Place Branding. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12424-7_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics