How to build a brand

Liquid Death

Liquid Death aims to make hydration fun and edgy while promoting environmental sustainability. The brand is known for its irreverent and humorous marketing, which seeks to “murder your thirst” and reduce plastic waste by offering water in infinitely recyclable aluminum cans. The brand emphasizes sustainability, environmental responsibility, and a bold, unconventional approach to branding.

Product/Service

Canned water production

Industry

Food and Beverage

Financing

Venture Capital

Sales

N/A

Revenue

N/A

Challenge

Target

Young, environmentally conscious consumers looking for sustainable alternatives to bottled water and Individuals who appreciate bold, unconventional branding and humor.

The Idea

Offer high-quality water in recyclable aluminum cans to reduce plastic waste. Use edgy, viral marketing and a unique brand identity to differentiate from traditional water brands and engage a niche audience.

Strategy

Product Offerings

Still Water: Pure, mountain-sourced water available in tallboy aluminum cans. Sparkling Water: A sparkling variant that offers the same high-quality water with added carbonation. Flavored Sparkling Water: Recently introduced, these include natural flavors like Mango Chainsaw, Berry It Alive, and Severed Lime.

Brand Messaging

Bold and Edgy: Liquid Death uses a unique and edgy brand voice that appeals to a younger demographic. Their marketing often features dark humor and a punk rock aesthetic. Sustainability: A core message is their commitment to environmental sustainability, particularly focusing on the harmful effects of plastic pollution and promoting aluminum as a more eco-friendly alternative.

Visual Identity

Distinctive Branding: The brand’s logo and can design feature a gothic, tattoo-inspired style that stands out in the water market. Packaging: Liquid Death uses tallboy aluminum cans, which are both recyclable and designed to resemble beer cans, adding to their edgy appeal. Merchandise: Beyond beverages, Liquid Death also sells branded merchandise, including apparel and accessories that reinforce their brand identity.

Social Media

Viral Marketing: Liquid Death has gained significant attention through viral marketing campaigns and unconventional advertising tactics, including humorous commercials and social media content. Partnerships and Collaborations: They frequently collaborate with artists and influencers to create limited-edition products and marketing materials. Environmental Initiatives: Liquid Death donates a portion of its profits to clean water initiatives and plastic pollution cleanup efforts. The brand actively educates consumers on the benefits of choosing aluminum over plastic.

Marketing

Liquid Death has carved out a unique niche in the beverage market with its unconventional marketing strategies. By combining a strong focus on sustainability with a bold and irreverent brand identity, Liquid Death sets itself apart from traditional water brands. This approach has effectively captured the attention of a younger, environmentally conscious audience.

The strategy revolves around four key pillars: Edgy Branding, Viral Marketing, Cause Marketing, and Content and Influencer Marketing.

Social Media

Instagram

3.7M

TikTok

5.8M

Facebook

310K

Twitter (X)

51.5K

YouTube

41.8K

LinkedIn

109K

Edgy Branding

Liquid Death’s branding is its most distinguishing feature. The brand leverages shock value and humor to attract attention and create a memorable impression. This approach resonates particularly well with younger consumers who value authenticity and enjoy brands that do not take themselves too seriously. The “Murder Your Thirst” tagline, along with the use of metal and punk imagery, appeals to an audience that is often overlooked by traditional beverage marketing.

Viral Marketing

The brand excels at creating content that is not only engaging but also highly shareable. They use a mix of videos, memes, and interactive content that encourages sharing and participation. This approach has helped them achieve significant organic growth on social media, turning their customers into brand advocates. Campaigns often include humorous takes on serious issues, such as environmental sustainability, making the content both entertaining and informative.

Cause Marketing

Liquid Death’s commitment to reducing plastic waste is a central theme in their marketing. The use of aluminum cans, which are infinitely recyclable, is a key selling point. The brand educates consumers on the environmental impact of plastic bottles, positioning itself as a sustainable alternative. This message is consistently reinforced across all marketing channels, resonating with eco-conscious consumers and enhancing brand loyalty.

Content and Influencers

By collaborating with artists and influencers, Liquid Death adds a layer of exclusivity and appeal to its products. These collaborations often result in unique can designs, limited-edition releases, and co-branded merchandise, which appeal to collectors and fans. Celebrity endorsements lend credibility and visibility to the brand, helping to attract new customers and expand its reach beyond niche markets.

Website

Liquid Death’s website features a bold and edgy design, reflecting its unique brand identity. The site offers a streamlined shopping experience for purchasing their canned water, including subscription options.

Brand Profile GPT

The Brand Profile Creator is a public GPT i created that lets you generate brand summaries in the same format I use in my How to Build a Brand series. Simply input a Brand Name and you’ll get a professional, well-structured summary that consistently returns the required data.