The Ruler, as you might guess, is a leader. Their priority is to bring order. The ruler is quite, but they may come across as a perfectionist. This isn’t a bad thing if they can consistently project an air of competence and can back that up. The ruler naturally wants everyone to follow their lead.
The Ruler brand archetype is driven by its strength and power. Ruler brands build a reputation for speaking authoritatively. They aggressively utilize whatever channels are available to further this perception. That may include content marketing, or it may take the form of thought leadership or both. Ruler brands are associated with wealth and success. They’re often portrayed as masculine, but this is definitely not a requirement.
They use their might to bring order to chaos, providing straightforward solutions to consumer problems. They promise their customers the ability to change their lives.
If you want our senior brand strategist, Mash, to coach you to create the right archetypal mix for your brand, schedule a 1-hour strategy coaching session!
Strengths
Brand Promise: Self-actualization
Goal: To bring order to chaos.
Strategy: Systematic expression of power to achieve an end goal.
Personality to project: peacemaker, conductor, power broker.
Ideal Customer: Anyone who is likewise dominant and who isn’t afraid to take bold action. These are people who won’t settle. They demand the best of the best.
Weakness
Weakness: Can be seen as stodgy, out of date or unyielding.
Potential solutions:
• From time to time, go out of your way to come up with new, innovative products or services.
• Occasionally, do the unexpected. If you never put your products on sale, consider holding a ‘one-time sales event.’
• Utilize social media marketing to engage with new demographics.








Suggested Color Palette
This is just a suggested palette. Colors should be selected based on a robust brand strategy and should be part of the brand identity development.


Mercedes-Benz

Their slogan, ‘The best or nothing,’ says it all. Few people would buy a Mercedes because of its crash test rating, gas mileage or even for the heated seats. Ultimately, people buy Mercedes because the brand is exclusive.
When you roll up in a Mercedes, the folks around you instantly have an idea of your financial status. You don’t have to say a word. That quiet projection of power is what a ruler brand is all about.
Rolex

Rolex projects the impression that those who wear their watches are winners. Their ads tell stories of success and pride. Wearing a Rolex announces your status and your percieved power.
By keeping the brand exclusive and expensive, Rolex managed to attract the Ruler type of people and hence align with their archetype. This in turn gave Rolex it’s own archetypal flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the core traits that define the Ruler brand archetype?
The core traits that define the Ruler brand archetype are as follows:
- Leadership: The Ruler is a natural leader, often taking charge and providing direction. They seek to bring order and structure.
- Competence: Ruler brands project an air of competence. They strive to be the best in their industry and are recognized for their expertise and quality.
- Power: Ruler brands are powerful and authoritative. They are not afraid to assert their dominance and influence in their domain.
- Wealth and Success: Ruler brands are typically associated with wealth and success. They project an image of luxury, exclusivity, and high status.
- Reliability: Ruler brands are trustworthy and dependable. They offer straightforward solutions to customer problems and can be relied upon to deliver on their promises.
- Goal-Oriented: Ruler brands are driven by their goals. They have a clear vision and work systematically to achieve their objectives.
- Stability: The Ruler archetype is associated with stability and control. They seek to create a stable, orderly environment.
- Exclusivity: Ruler brands often maintain an air of exclusivity, attracting customers who appreciate and aspire to high quality and exclusivity.
These core traits help the Ruler archetype to form a strong, commanding brand personality that resonates with customers who value leadership, competence, and reliability.
It’s important for businesses considering this archetype to embody these traits consistently across all aspects of their branding, from their visual identity to their messaging and customer interactions.
How can my business embody the Ruler archetype’s primary goal of bringing order to chaos?
To embody the Ruler archetype’s primary goal of bringing order to chaos, your business can take several steps:
- Offer Solutions: Position your business as a solution provider that simplifies complex problems or situations. Your product or service should aim to bring order, alleviate stress, or streamline processes.
- Assert Leadership: Be a thought leader in your industry. Share insights, trends, and knowledge that help your audience understand the industry better and navigate its complexities.
- Consistency: Ensure that your brand, products, and services are consistent in quality and delivery. This sense of predictability and reliability can help bring order to your customers’ lives.
- Systematic Approach: Use an organized, structured approach in your operations, and show it in customer interactions. This could range from how you handle customer inquiries to how you deliver your products or services.
- Clear Communication: Clarity in messaging can help reduce confusion and create a sense of order. Ensure your brand messaging is straightforward and your audience can easily understand what you stand for and offer.
- High Standards: Maintain high standards in all aspects of your business. From customer service to product quality, aiming for excellence can instill a sense of trust and orderliness in your customers’ minds.
Remember, the Ruler archetype is all about projecting an image of strength, control, and competence. Embodying these traits in your business practices can help you bring order to chaos for your customers, aligning with the primary goal of the Ruler archetype.
How can I strategically express power to achieve my end goals, as suggested for the Ruler archetype?
Expressing power strategically to achieve your end goals as a business aligned with the Ruler archetype involves a combination of assertive action, thought leadership, and maintaining high standards:
- Thought Leadership: Establish your brand as a leader in your industry by sharing unique insights, data, and expert knowledge. This can be achieved through blog posts, white papers, webinars, speaking engagements, and other forms of content marketing. By doing so, you demonstrate your brand’s authority and thought leadership.
- Quality and Excellence: Uphold high standards in all your operations, from product quality to customer service. When your offerings are top-notch and your services impeccable, it underscores your brand’s power and position in the market.
- Confident Communication: Communicate confidently about your brand, products, and services. This could involve making bold claims (backed by data and evidence) about your offerings or sharing success stories and case studies highlighting your brand’s strengths and achievements.
- Influence and Partnerships: Partner with other influential brands or individuals in your industry. These partnerships can amplify your brand’s reach and credibility, further solidifying your power and position in the market.
- Exclusivity: If applicable to your business model, consider creating exclusive offerings or experiences for your customers. This can create a sense of prestige and power around your brand.
- Assertive Marketing: Use assertive marketing strategies to promote your brand. This could involve aggressive advertising campaigns, high-profile sponsorships, or other high-visibility marketing tactics.
Remember, the goal is not to express power for its own sake but to leverage it to achieve your business objectives and serve your customers better. As a Ruler brand, your power should be used to create order, provide reliable solutions, and allow your customers to align themselves with a successful, high-status brand.
What types of customers are most likely to resonate with a Ruler brand?
Customers who resonate with a Ruler brand are typically those who themselves are dominant, ambitious, and unafraid to take bold action. They appreciate the sense of order, control, and excellence that Ruler brands project and often seek to associate themselves with brands that reflect their aspirations for power, success, and prestige.
These customers often have high standards and demand the best of the best. They value quality, and exclusivity, and are willing to pay a premium for products or services that signify success and status. They are typically not price-sensitive and are more focused on the value, quality, and prestige that a product or service provides.
Moreover, these customers often value stability and reliability in the brands they choose. They are attracted to brands that exhibit competence, leadership, and a track record of success. They prefer brands that provide straightforward, effective solutions to their problems and that can help them achieve their personal or professional goals.
It’s important to note that while these characteristics are typical of customers who resonate with a Ruler brand, each customer is unique, and different aspects of a Ruler brand may appeal to different people.
Are there any potential weaknesses or pitfalls I should be aware of when embodying the Ruler archetype?
Embodying the Ruler archetype can indeed come with certain potential pitfalls or weaknesses. One major pitfall is that Ruler brands can sometimes be perceived as stodgy, out of date, or unyielding. Rulers’ emphasis on order, control, and traditional forms of power can sometimes create an impression of rigidity and a resistance to change.
This can make it challenging for Ruler brands to stay relevant and appealing to a diverse and evolving customer base.
Another potential weakness is that the high standards and exclusivity associated with Ruler brands can sometimes create a perception of elitism or unapproachability. While this can appeal to certain customers, it can also alienate others who may feel that the brand is out of their reach or not meant for them.
To mitigate these potential weaknesses, Ruler brands can consider strategies such as introducing new, innovative products or services from time to time to demonstrate adaptability and forward-thinking. They can also consider doing the unexpected occasionally, like holding a ‘one-time sales event,’ to surprise and engage customers.
Utilizing social media marketing to engage with new demographics can also help make the brand feel more accessible and dynamic.
In addition, Ruler brands should ensure that their pursuit of power and control does not come across as oppressive or intimidating. They should strive to embody a form of leadership that is not only powerful but also fair, responsible, and supportive of the well-being of their customers and the broader community
What strategies can I employ to avoid being perceived as stodgy, outdated, or unyielding, which are potential weaknesses of the Ruler archetype?
Avoiding the perception of being stodgy, out of date, or unyielding while embodying the Ruler archetype requires a careful balance of maintaining your brand’s authority and power while also demonstrating adaptability, innovation, and engagement.
- Innovate: Regularly introduce new and innovative products, services, or ideas that clearly communicate your brand’s forward-thinking and willingness to adapt. This can help prevent your brand from being perceived as stuck in the past.
- Engage in Fresh Marketing Campaigns: Occasionally doing the unexpected can breathe new life into your brand. This could be a one-time sales event, a unique collaboration, or a surprising product release. Such events can generate buzz and demonstrate your brand’s ability to be flexible and exciting.
- Utilize Social Media: Use social media platforms to engage with a wider demographic and to show the more human, relatable side of your brand. Social media can be a great way to share behind-the-scenes content, engage with customers directly, and showcase your brand’s personality.
- Stay Current with Industry Trends: Regularly update your brand strategy, design elements, and messaging to align with current trends and customer expectations. This doesn’t mean chasing every trend, but rather demonstrating that your brand is aware of and responsive to the evolving landscape.
- Diversify Your Leadership: Show that your brand is not unyielding by promoting diversity and inclusion in your leadership team and wider workforce. This can show that your brand values a range of perspectives and is willing to adapt and grow.
- Sustainability and Social Responsibility: Show that your brand is not stodgy or outdated by prioritizing sustainable business practices and social responsibility. This can demonstrate your brand’s commitment to modern values and to the wellbeing of the broader community.
Remember, the key is to maintain your brand’s core identity as a Ruler – projecting power, control, and high standards – while also demonstrating flexibility, openness to change, and engagement with your customers and the wider world
How can I ensure that my brand does not alienate potential customers who may not resonate with the Ruler archetype?
While the Ruler archetype can appeal to a certain type of customer, it’s important to avoid alienating potential customers who might not naturally resonate with this archetype.
Here are some strategies to ensure broader appeal:
- Inclusivity: Make sure your brand messaging communicates that your products or services are for everyone who desires quality and excellence, not just for those who already see themselves as dominant or successful. Reinforce the idea that your brand can empower and uplift customers, regardless of their current status.
- Tell Diverse Stories: Use your brand’s storytelling to show a wide range of people benefiting from your product or service. Highlight how your brand has helped people from different backgrounds, with different needs and goals, achieve success or satisfaction.
- Provide Value: Regardless of the archetype, all customers appreciate receiving value. Ensure your products or services deliver outstanding value in terms of quality, reliability, and after-sales service. This can attract customers who might not be initially drawn to the Ruler archetype but recognize and appreciate value when they see it.
- Customer Engagement: Engage with your customers and potential customers, asking for their input and feedback. This helps them feel valued and heard, even if they don’t naturally identify with the Ruler archetype. A responsive brand can attract a wider range of customers.
- Community Involvement: Show your brand’s commitment to the broader community, not just to the ‘ruling’ class. This could involve philanthropic efforts, supporting local events, or advocating for causes that align with your brand’s values.
- Balance Power with Humility: While the Ruler archetype is about power and control, it’s also important to balance these with a degree of humility. This can be expressed through recognition of your team, customers, or others who have contributed to your brand’s success.
Remember, while it’s important to have a consistent brand archetype for clarity and recognition, there is room for flexibility and nuance within that archetype to appeal to a wider range of customers.