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WeChat is World’s Strongest Tech Brand
As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the global economy, tech brands have recorded mixed fortunes this year. The top 100 most valuable tech brands in the Brand Finance Tech 100 2021 ranking have grown by 9% on average, faring much better than other sectors globally.
The Brand Finance Tech 100 2021 ranking is split into sub sectors, with electronics, retail, semiconductors, software, media & games, travel sites analysed separately as these brands make up more than 80% of the total brand value in the ranking. All brand values are correct as at 1st January 2021.
Electronics: Apple bites back
Apple has overtaken Amazon and Google to reclaim the title of the world’s most valuable tech brand, according to the latest report by Brand Finance – the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Apple has the success of its diversification strategy to thank for an impressive 87% brand value increase to US$263.4 billion and its position at the top of the ranking. For the fist time since 2016, Apple has also been crowned the world’s most valuable brand, according to the Brand Finance Global 500 2021 ranking.
Under Tim Cook’s leadership, especially over the past five years, Apple began to focus on developing its growth strategies above and beyond the iPhone – which in 2020 accounted for half of sales versus two-thirds in 2015. The diversification policy has seen the brand expand into digital and subscription services, including the App Store, iCloud, Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Arcade. On New Year’s Day alone, App Store customers spent US$540 million on digital goods and services.
Apple’s transformation and ability to reinvent itself time and time again is setting it apart from other hardware makers and has contributed to the brand becoming the first US company to reach a US$2 trillion market cap in August 2020. With rumours resurfacing that Apple’s hotly anticipated Titan electric vehicle foray is underway again, it seems that there is no limit to what the brand can turn its hand to.
Lorenzo Coruzzi, Associate, Brand Finance commented:
“Apple has successfully reinvented its capabilities, while remaining faithful to its core: enriching people’s life through innovative design. Under Tim Cook’s leadership, it has been successfully diversifying its revenue mix shifting towards more profitable segments – showcasing that it is truly resilient against its competitors.”
Retail: Alibaba.com up 108%
Despite relinquishing its position at the top to Apple, second-ranked Amazon has still managed to record a healthy 15% brand value growth to US$254.2 billion and is the second most valuable tech brand. The retail giant is one of the few brands that benefitted considerably from the pandemic and the resulting unprecedented surge in demand as consumers turned online following store closures. Over Q2 and Q3 of 2020, e-commerce platforms experienced the highest revenue growth since 2016.
Most recently – further leveraging the circumstances of the pandemic – Amazon has acquired 11 passenger planes from struggling North American airlines to expand its air logistics capabilities. A tactical purchase to support its fast-growing customer base, but also a strategic move towards building its own end-to-end supply chain, the fleet can allow the brand to become a serious contender in air transportation in due time.
Another example of Amazon’s relentless innovation in the face of global adversity, the brand has also announced its foray into the health sector with the launch of Amazon Pharmacy and fitness tracker Halo. Before it brought success to Apple, daring diversification had already been the hallmark of Amazon’s growth strategy, which it continues to pursue with impressive results.
Amazon’s Chinese equivalent, Alibaba.com has also benefitted from the unprecedented surge in demand, as consumers in China turned to online shopping during the pandemic. The retail giant’s brand value has been boosted by an eyewatering 108% to US$39.2 billion, making it the fastest growing brand in the ranking. Alibaba subsidiaries, Taobao, up 44% to US$53.3 billion, and Tmall, up 60% to US$49.2 billion, have enjoyed parallel successes, their online business models providing ease of access and convenience for consumers.
Semiconductors: Nvidia acquisition of Arm pays off
As artificial intelligence, data centres, 5G technology, IoT, and autonomous vehicles are rapidly growing, semiconductor brands are perfectly positioned to match this growth as this demand requires a new era of sensors, memory, and chips. On average, semiconductor brands have grown 16%, of these Nvidia is the fastest growing, up 73% to US$8.1 billion.
Nvidia’s announcement of the US$40 billion deal to acquire Arm – British chip designer company – has caused quite a stir across the industry as Nvidia sets its sights on becoming the top player for the next generation of processing and AI.
The most valuable semiconductor brand by a significant margin, Intel, has increased its brand value by 16% this year to US$31.8 billion. From its next-generation chips being set back due to delays in sales of its current-generation chips, to Apple making the move to make its own computer chips, Intel has negotiated a turbulent year. Perhaps in a move to remain relevant, Intel has undergone a rebranding, introduced as part of the brand’s effort to be more aspirational and reflect the goals ahead.
Lorenzo Coruzzi, Associate, Brand Finance commented:
“Intel has been the largest chipmaker for most of the past 30 years, combining the best designs with cutting-edge factories. While the decision to outsource chip manufacturing has not yet officially been taken, long delays in production and design have been hindering the brand in recent years, placing it in a tricky position against competitor TMSC and other players. Outsourcing would mean giving up Intel’s historical competitive advantage and might have deep geopolitical consequences in the years ahead. With the arrival of the new CEO, Pat Gelsinger, in February it will soon be clearer the direction the company begins to take.”
Software: WFH boosts brands
Video conferencing and business communication software has taken centre stage as the working from home revolution takes hold globally. Salesforce’s (brand value up 29% to US$ 13.2 billion) acquisition of Slack is a clear signal that the brand wants to become more competitive in the space, especially against leader Microsoft (up 20% to US$140.4 billion). It will remain to be seen whether this platform integration will be effective and deliver the expected value.
Google is the most valuable software brand and sits in the third in the complete tech ranking, following a marginal 1% uplift in brand value to US$191.2 billion. Slightly behind its peers in terms of diversification, Google recorded its first ever revenue decline as a result of the pandemic. The vast majority of the brand’s revenue comes from advertising, which took a hit over the last year as marketing budgets tightened.
Media & Games: WeChat is sector’s & world’s strongest
Brand Finance determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics evaluating marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance. According to these criteria, WeChat is the strongest tech brand – and the world’s strongest brand – with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 95.4 out of 100 and a corresponding elite AAA+ brand strength rating.
Alongside revenue forecasts, brand strength is a crucial driver of brand value. As WeChat’s brand strength grew, its brand value also enjoyed a rapid boost, increasing by 25% to US$67.9 billion.
As one of China’s home-grown tech successes with very strong equity, WeChat enjoyed high scores in reputation and consideration among Chinese consumers. WeChat has successfully implemented a broad and all-encompassing proposition, that offers services from messaging and banking, to taxi services and online shopping – the all-in-one app has become essential to many users’ daily lives.
During the pandemic, WeChat ran several government-mandated health code apps to keep track of those travelling or in quarantine, providing access to real-time data on COVID-19, online consultations, and self-diagnoses services powered by artificial intelligence to over 300 million users.
The media landscape continues to evolve with traditional media outlets falling victim to their modern counterparts. In line with positive trends in brand value in the new media sector, Spotify has climbed 15 spots in the ranking from 80th to 65th, enjoying an impressive 39% boost in brand value to US$5.6 billion. The last year has seen a significant increase in new users as the music streaming platform expanded its operations into 13 new markets. Spotify is primed for further success as it continues to develop its capabilities, signing exclusive podcast contracts with Archie Comics and Joe Rogan, and acquiring Megaphone from Graham Holdings to improve its own podcast technology.
In contrast, Twitter has recorded a 18% brand value drop to US$3.1 billion. The social media platform’s actions have come under intense scrutiny as the handling of former President Trump’s account has sparked raucous debate, surrounding freedom of speech versus Trump’s use of the platform to incite violence, and spread false claims.
Lorenzo Coruzzi, Associate, Brand Finance commented:
“Podcasts are one of the key reasons why consumers move to premium subscription on music streaming services. The global podcast market size was expected to reach US$11.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow by nearly 30% by 2027. With these predictions, and competitors already demonstrating their intent in the market, it won’t be easy for Spotify to retain the crown of music streaming brand”.
Travel sites: victims of COVID-19
As holidays are cancelled and people are instructed to work from home, the hospitality sector has reached an almost complete standstill both from tourism, as well as corporate travel. Online booking platforms are crashing too. Booking.com has recorded a 19% brand value loss to US$8.3 billion, simultaneously dropping 10 positions in the ranking from 32nd to 42nd. The story is similar for Airbnb as 30% of its brand value eroded to US$3.4 billion.
Expedia has dropped out of the ranking this year, following a 25% brand value decrease.
We recently sat down with BetBrothers’ Head of Growth & Strategy, Borja Imbergamo, to talk about the company’s mission to become a global leader in regulated sports betting markets. He discusses the principles driving BetBrothers strategy, its unique value to players and operators, and what it takes to build a trusted affiliate brand in today’s market.
Could you please share a bit about your background and experience within the iGaming industry?
My journey in the iGaming industry began more than 11 years ago. I was one of the few professional bettors who successfully turned sports betting into a full-time career. Later, I became a professional tipster and in the meantime, 8 years ago, I had the opportunity to build one of the leading affiliate websites in Spain from the ground up.
During that project I was involved in every aspect of the business — from content creation, SEO, and marketing to sales, product development and team management. Being part of a small team meant I had to wear many hats, which I believe gave me a 360-degree understanding of the industry and the skills needed to launch and scale successful projects. As well as identify and manage the right people to make them happen.
Currently, as Head of Growth & Strategy at Betbrothers, I’m applying this experience to lead the expansion into more than 20 GEOs. I’m confident we’ll achieve this ambitious goal thanks to the strong and talented team we have built.
What’s Betbrother’s mission, and what sets it apart in the affiliate marketing landscape?
At Betbrothers, our priority is always the player. Our core mission is “Connecting Players with Safer Bets”. This means helping users enjoy sports betting as a form of entertainment — guiding them to bet responsibly, in ways that suit their style and preferences.
A key part of this is ensuring users are betting in safe and regulated environments. We are fully committed to working only with licensed operators, and we invest significant resources in matching users with the right bookmakers in each market. Ones that are compliant with local regulations.
We believe regulated markets, despite their limitations, offer the safest and most transparent experience for users. Through our content and platform, we aim to promote responsible gambling by helping users understand their options, set limits and stay in control of their behaviour. Ultimately, we see our role as both a guide and a safeguard — making the betting experience safer and more enjoyable.
BetBrothers is only partnering with operators holding licenses in regulated markets. What is the strategic reasoning behind this focus?
Our focus on regulated markets comes from user-centric philosophy. We want our users to enjoy sports betting in a safe, transparent and well-regulated way — even if sometimes it means fewer promotions or tighter restrictions. Licensed operators provide clear rules, secure transactions, and fair play. It leads to a much more positive user experience.
From a business perspective, partnering exclusively with regulated operators also ensures long-term sustainability. These operators have invested significant time and resources to obtain licenses, which means they are committed to the market and are here to stay. This gives us the confidence we need to build long term partnerships.
In short, working with licensed operators aligns with both our values and our strategic vision — promoting sports betting as a safe form of entertainment, while building a trustworthy and future-proof business.
From an operator’s perspective, what is the unique value that BetBrothers brings to the table?
First and most important: we bring high-quality, compliant traffic. Our strategy is heavily focused on organic acquisition, which we believe is the most valuable and sustainable traffic (and not only in iGaming). But we don’t just deliver volume. We are focused on providing users with the right content to help them make informed decisions — where, how and when to place their bets. This results in users who truly want to play with a specific operator. Players that are loyal, conscious of their choices, and more likely to stick around in the long term.
Additionally, we bring deep industry knowledge to the table. Our team has over 25 years of combined experience, allowing us to create content that is not only optimized and compliant, but also useful.
On top of that, we are building Betbrothers as a globally recognized and trusted brand. One that players all over the world can rely on. When users see an operator on our side, they’ll know it’s fully licensed, reputable and safe. Because we have done the due diligence for them already. That trust is a key part of the value we offer to both users and operators alike.
How Betbrothers is going to differentiate itself from competition in terms of content and product experience?
Our focus is — and always will be — the user. Every piece of content we produce is designed to deliver real value, helping users to make smarter betting decisions and improve their strategy. We know what players are looking for, how to speak their language, and how
to strike the right balance between honest, user-first content and effective promotion of trusted operators.
In an industry where a lot of the content is AI-generated and tailored primarily for Google, we are doing things differently. We are not writing for algorithms — we’re writing for people. Our editorial team is made up of experts with hands-on industry knowledge.
Another key differentiator is our approach to user-generated content. We want our platform to be a space where users share their opinions, voice their concerns, and help each other out. We see UGC as a way to create community, improve transparency, and provide even more value — with our team always there to guide and support where needed. We believe that strong content combined with smart, intuitive UX is the best strategy to grow organically and stand out in a crowded space.
What’s the long-term vision for BetBrothers when it comes to expanding into new markets?
Our long-term vision is to become the most trusted and recognizable brand in the world when it comes to regulated sports betting. We want users to know exactly what to expect when they visit Betbrothers: transparent information, responsible guidance and a curated list of fully licensed operators.
We are committed to expanding only into regulated jurisdictions, where we can guarantee a safe, legal and responsible betting experience for our users. We’re already active in focus markets such as Spain and Greece, along with a growing number of others across Europe and beyond. With more than 20 GEOs currently in progress, our goal is to establish a strong local presence wherever sports betting is legal and regulated. We want to become a regional authority in each market while maintaining the same standards of quality.
Looking ahead two to three years, what does success look like for BetBrothers?
In two to three years, success for Betbrothers means being the go-to platform for both users and operators. For users, we want to be the most trusted and reliable source of information about legal, regulated bookmakers. A place where they know they’ll find expert, honest and useful content to guide their betting decisions.
For operators, we aim to be the ideal long-term partner — providing high-quality, compliant traffic from engaged users across multiple markets. When an operator is looking for a partner they can trust, with a global footprint and a focus sustainability, we want Betbrothers to be the first name that comes to mind.
Beyond business success, our broader goal is to help push the industry in a more responsible, transparent direction. More and more countries are moving toward regulation and safer gambling practices. We want to be part of that transformation. To play a key role in building an industry that’s not just profitable, but also fair, honest and truly centered around the player.
The post Borja Imbergano, Betbrothers: “Our Priority is Always the Player” appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
1. In an industry often driven by affiliate commissions, how do you personally define “trust”? Why do you believe it holds more long-term value than short-term revenue gains?
The best way to build trust with your audience is through a customer-centric approach. That means prioritizing accurate and honest reviews, rather than focusing purely on commercial interests. When visitors find the information, they’re looking for, you build customer loyalty. In the long run, loyalty creates far more value than quick gains from promoting questionable casino brands with flat fees and hybrid deals.
2. Given the financial incentives at play, how do you ensure your reviews remain truly objective and transparent?
Our casino reviews are always factually correct and honest, regardless of the commissions we are receiving. Our review criteria are available on our website, and our scoring system remains consistent, unaffected by affiliate partnerships. We clearly disclose that we use affiliate links but we always side with our visitors. That kind of transparency might not maximize revenue, but it builds trust and forges strong relationships with our players.
3. Have you ever had to reject or cut ties with a high-paying casino partner over ethical concerns? Can you walk us through one such decision?
Yes, that happens from time to time. We have a contact form on our website that allows players to contact us when they feel they are being treated unfairly. We received several complaints from players and escalated these to our partner. Upon doing some research we realized that other casino portals were reporting similar problems with this operator, which led to us updating our reviews and dropping them in our rankings.-
4. What are the key red flags you look for when evaluating whether or not to recommend a casino operator to your audience?
We always make sure that the casino operators we are listing are properly licensed and have a good reputation in the iGaming industry. Red flags are unfair bonus terms, missing translations, withdrawal issues, unprofessional customer support, and a lack of responsible gambling tools. If a casino operator has lots of unresolved complaints on Trustpilot or Casinomeister, we simply don’t promote them.
5. From your experience, how do players pick up on bias or manipulation in reviews — and what can platforms do to avoid giving that impression?
Players are much smarter today and exchange information on forums and in their circles. They are often seasoned and have played at online casinos for many years. They can spot inaccurate reviews right away and know exactly what they are looking for in a casino. Our reviews therefore always focus on the pros and cons, the bonus conditions and real expert experiences from hands-on testing of the casino.
6. Many affiliate sites claim to be “independent,” but not all deliver on that promise. What practical steps can review platforms take to actually earn user trust?
Be customer-centric and focus on user intent. Players visit your site to find out which casinos are reliable and trustworthy. Make sure your reviews are up to date and unbiased. Avoid promoting shady operators that could damage your reputation with your audience. To earn trust, you need to publish honest recommendations based on facts rather than sales pitches.
7. How do you collect, verify, and incorporate player feedback into your rating system?
We have a contact form on our site for player complaints, and we also make use of external sources such as forums and watchdog sites like Casinomeister, Trustpilot and Casino Guru. If we notice patterns related to specific casino groups or licenses, we incorporate a warning in our reviews as well. Player feedback is one of the most valuable tools we have to ensure our reviews are honest and reflect real user experiences.
8. Do licensing authorities and regulatory frameworks factor into your trust scores — or is your assessment more focused on real user experience?
Both matter, but reputation is most important. If a casino is not properly licensed, we will either choose not to list it or highlight the risks associated with an unlicensed casino in terms of player protection and payouts. However, we do list some casinos that operate under a weaker license when we know from previous experience that they are overall reliable and trustworthy.
9. With the rise of AI-generated content and fake reviews, how can affiliate sites protect their authenticity and credibility at scale?
All our reviews are produced in-house by real casino experts who have been working in the iGaming industry for many years. We test casinos ourselves and focus on detailed reviews based on real-life experiences and industry knowledge. While we use AI for
mundane tasks like spell-checking, we believe AI-generated reviews ultimately represent fake experiences and do not reflect the unbiased expert opinions and recommendations that players deserve.
10. Looking to the future, do you see reputation becoming a key differentiator among affiliates? If so, how will users — and partners — measure that reputation?
As the market matures, users are choosing review sites based on their interests, honesty, and reputation. These signals are picked up by Google and will directly impact your rankings. Users will look at how sites respond to user complaints, how accurate their reviews are, and whether they truly advocate for casino players. The affiliates that focus on credibility will be the preferred choice for players who are searching for real reviews from industry experts.
The post Topic: ROnline Casino : Why Trust is the Real Currency in Online Casino Reviews appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
USDT Casino Launches Industry-First ‘Sunday Brunch Free Spins’ with Zero Wagering Requirements
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The post USDT Casino Launches Industry-First ‘Sunday Brunch Free Spins’ with Zero Wagering Requirements appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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