The Top Brand Management MBA Online Programs

Brand management is a growing marketing specialization that focuses on creating an industry presence by developing a strong identity that stands out from the competition, and connects with consumers. Organizations increasingly emphasize developing and maintaining relationships with consumers through brand identity. Public opinion is constantly changing, mostly because positive and negative information spreads rapidly through the Internet. For this reason, brand managers are needed to respond to new developments and maintain the reputation of the organization’s brand. An online Master of Business Administration in Brand Management equips students desiring careers in brand and product management the required general management skills as well as specialized branding expertise.

Product and brand management requires a breadth of business skills and management ability, and an MBA online brand management program offers a combination of both. Top MBA brand management online programs offer students focused and advanced study in marketing analytics, strategic branding and product design and development. In addition, MBA online brand management programs that rate highly among online brand management MBA rankings provide the best instruction in how to asses brand equity, understand branding environments as well as how to capitalize on social media to build connections between organizations and consumers.

How can I tell if an online MBA brand management degree is right for me?

An online Master of Business Administration in Brand Management is a good fit for students interested in product development, consumer behavior and advertising and promotions.

Some additional characteristics that are common in many online MBA brand management students are:

• A flair for analyzing data or information
• A desire for communicating with persons outside organization
• A capability for communicating with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• An ability for getting information
• A flair for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships

How long does it take to earn an MBA online brand management degree?

The time it takes to earn a brand management MBA degree online is comparable to the time it takes to earn other MBAs online. It normally requires two years of full-time study to earn. However, students are able to complete the degree under a timeframe that suits their schedule at some business schools that have part-time or accelerated programs.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA brand management schools online?

An undergraduate degree is normally required before students can enroll in online MBA brand management programs. Some schools that have an MBA brand management online program prefer applicants who have degrees in related fields including business administration, marketing, public relations, and management.

In addition to requiring students to have a bachelor’s degree, many online MBA in brand management programs base admission on the following criteria:

• Work experience
• Academic transcripts
• Personal interviews
• Graduate Management Admission Test scores (GMAT)

What courses will I take in brand management MBA programs online?

Typically, students in their first year of a brand management MBA online program take a set of core classes designed to provide students with a foundation in business fundamentals and to introduce them to key functional areas of business. First year courses offered by most accredited online brand management MBA schools can include subjects such as accounting, finance, data analysis, marketing, human resources management, ethics, leadership development, operations management and economics.

The curriculum for students in their second year of pursuing a brand management MBA online encompasses concentration courses designed to teach students how to successfully manage existing brands as well as plan, develop and launch new brands. Brand culture, product development, consumer behavior and advertising and promotion management are subjects that are generally studied at some of the best brand management MBA schools online.

Students enrolled in online brand management MBA programs often participate in internships in order to enhance their education. Internships are helpful. Through them, students not only make useful business contacts, but they also get a chance to apply what they are learning in their classes.

What are the best online MBA in brand management books I should consider reading?

Books that might be insightful for students wanting to pursue brand management MBA careers include:

1. Designing Brand Identity (Alina Wheeler) – This book outlines a five-phase process that can be used to create and implement effective brand identity.

2. Brand Against the Machine: How to Build Your Brand, Cut through the Marketing Noise, and Stand Out from the Competition (John Morgan) – Morgan helps students pursuing an online MBA in brand management learn how to establish credibility through strategic associations.

3. BrandSimple: How the Best Brands Keep it Simple and Succeed (Allen P. Adamson) – This book teaches readers how to formulate effective branding designs and messages without utilizing complicated strategies.

4. The New Rules of Marketing & PR: How to Use Social Media, Online Video, Mobile Applications, Blogs, News Releases, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly (David Meerman Scott) – The step-by-step action plan presented in this book is designed to help readers understand how to capitalize on the power of the Internet.

5. The Brand Gap: How to Bridge the Distance Between Business Strategy and Design (Marty Neumeier) – The author offers tools and suggestions for connecting creativity and strategy to create a compelling brand.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue brand management MBA jobs?

Graduates of online MBA brand management programs have over 600,000 job opportunities in the fields of brand management, product management, marketing, public relations and advertising currently available across the country. Brand management MBA salary ranges in these fields vary, but can include:

• Brand Marketing Manager – $112,127
• Product Marketing Manager – $115,186
• Public Relations Manager – $101,736
• Advertising Manager – $92,275

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that over the next ten years the employment rate in fields related to brand management such as marketing, advertising and promotions will experience a 13% to 14% increase. The growth trend can be attributed to the increasing need for organizations to maintain and improve reputation and visibility through effective brand management.

Employers often want students who have earned their degrees from AACSB accredited brand management MBA programs because accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business can be an indication that a business school provides a quality education.

What are the top online schools to pursue an online Brand Management MBA degree?

• Kaplan University
• Ashford University
• Post University
• University of Phoenix