Branding Archetype Deep Dive: The Hero

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Who Is the Hero?   |   Personality Traits   |   Color Palette   |   Ideal Audience for Heroes   |   
Hero Brand Examples   |   How to Own Your Archetype

Do you see your brand as a champion for society, a community, your industry, or the world? If it were a person, would it find injustice intolerable and have the courage, strength, and moral code to stand up against it?

If so, leaning into the Hero brand archetype could be just what you need to draw in your target audience like an adoring crowd.

In this article, we invite you to put on the armor and boots of a Hero for a moment to imagine what your brand would look like as the Hero brand archetype.

Understanding the Hero Brand Archetype

As a Hero, your brand is admired by many and feared by your competition.

You're seen as self-sacrificing, energetic, and triumphant. You seek to understand what motivates others and yourself to be the best version of your brand. And your audience is attracted to this personality because they see themselves similarly.

Maybe your brand is a perfect match for conquering Hero brand archetypes. Or maybe your audience would rather see your company as a Sovereign brand archetype or Caregiver. Either way, boldly stepping into a brand personality helps your brand:

• Discover your brand voice to relate to your customers
• Set itself apart
• Make branding decisions more confidently (Would your "Hero" do or say that?)
• Attract loyal customers
• Generate brand ambassadors who help spread your message — for free — because they like what you represent
• Increase customer lifetime value (CLV) and marketing return on investment (ROI)

Explore the 12 brand archetypes here.

The Hero Brand Archetype Personality

Heroes are known for their bravery and willingness to face challenges head-on. They often take on difficult tasks and confront adversity with determination and fearlessness. Their most inherent traits also include:

There’s a fine line between confidence and egotism, and the Hero brand archetype is especially susceptible to falling into the trap of overestimating themselves. Here are the traits they should be highly aware not to succumb to:

• Arrogance
• Narcissism
• Impatience
• Recklessness
• Insensitivity
• Dominance
• Self-Righteousness

Be mindful of your core values — why you originally set out to do what you do. This will help keep your vision focused and prevent you from turning confidence into arrogance and becoming a villain rather than a hero.

The Hero Brand Archetype Color Palette

Color is a wonderful tool to attract people who naturally align with your brand archetype. Studies have shown there are certain colors that draw in specific personality types, and that color can be used to affect how people view your brand.

Let’s take a look at a color palette that may align with the Hero brand archetype and how you can use it as inspiration to attract your ideal audience:

Who Is the Ideal Audience for Hero Brands?

Those who align with the Hero brand archetype see themselves as heroes in training. Your brand shows them how to live up to their dreams. People inherently want to feel the satisfaction of accomplishing what they set out to do. By allying themselves with you, they become motivated to take on the challenges in their own life.

This audience wants to be admired, appreciated, and remembered for doing something great — they want to leave a legacy. In B2B, they want this relationship with their customers. In B2C, they may want this from their peers, society, or a social group.

Hero Archetype Brand Examples

There's no one perfect way to express your brand's inner Hero, so it helps to explore how well-known brands have bravely created their own Hero brand archetypes.

Nike

Nike means "Victory" in ancient Greek. Nike encourages its audience to "Just Do It!"

Their brand voice pushes you past what others say is possible. Their products reject the known limits of both function and appearance to champion their audience's success.

FedEx

Logistical reliability is everything to businesses, whether they need that shipment of raw materials to arrive on time or send goods to customers.

FedEx delivers "The world on time". They position themselves as the ones who reliably overcome obstacles and keep the packages moving.

The Royal Marines

The Royal Marines (UK) communicates directly to its audience through shared Hero values of excellence, integrity, self-discipline, and humility. They encourage others to be courageous, determined, and team-oriented. If you think you have what it takes — they invite you to join them.

At the same time, the branding is optimistic and recognizes the importance of laughter to morale and well-being.

Marvel Franchise

As a business, the Marvel franchise drew in massive audiences. The movies explore what it means to be a Hero through their wide casts of characters and villains.

While many characters have superpowers, each story encourages us, as ordinary humans, to find our unique human abilities, discover a calling, be brave in our own lives, and stay true to our values.

How to Own Your Hero Brand Archetype

Brands must be consistent to generate steady revenues. Don’t hesitate when leaning into a brand archetype. Commit to it. Once you decide whether the Hero brand archetype (or another) fits you best, communicate that personality across all channels. This will help you appear consistent, reliable, and trustworthy to your customers.

Revisit your brand's vision, mission, values, audience, and the competition. Will being a Hero distinguish you from the others? If other Heroes exist, can you "Hero better" or "Hero differently"?

The Hero brand archetype must feel right and aligned with your brand's values. You must be willing to take bold steps, fight for what you know works, and dedicate yourself to a lifelong Hero's journey of self-understanding and improvement.

But even more important than that, you must ask: Is my audience a Hero? Will they be drawn to a Hero personality and want to improve themselves?

When Not to Own a Hero Brand Archetype

So, how do you know if a brand archetype Hero is not for you?

While it's true you can fake it until you make it, a Hero personality may not be a good idea if you don't have bold ideas or like taking chances.

If your company struggles to deliver a good customer experience, trying to be a Hero brand would become a joke. If you don't see your audience as Heroes within their own circle of influence, it would be hard to pull a Hero personality off.

Remember: Superheroes don't just save people. They inspire others.

Give your Hero a goal. They need a quest or journey. Consider the obstacles your Hero has overcome to get here and must tackle to continue their journey. This becomes your brand's story. It reminds your audience that all Heroes face challenges. By overcoming, you encourage your audience to do the same.

Is Your Brand a Hero?

Hero brands attract and retain an audience that wants to become Heroes in their own right. Your brand leads the way by taking risks and overcoming obstacles as a Hero would.

If your business is considering adopting the Hero archetype or exploring other branding possibilities, schedule a free 20-minute branding assessment with our team.

We’ll help you evaluate your current branding strategy and explore opportunities for growth and alignment with the archetype that best suits your brand.