Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.
The Ruler
The Power Broker, The King or
The Queen, The Leader
You are a leader driven by status and prestige. You have an inner need to take charge. People trust you to handle whatever comes your way.
about ruler brands
The Ruler prevents chaos by taking control. You’re all about power, order, leadership, and process.
You’re the brand that leads by example and accepts nothing less than the very best. The Ruler is dominant, authoritative, and commanding. You are inherently motivational. People are drawn to your ability to take on what others cannot. The Ruler attracts people who need to trust in competency.
psychology
understand your audience
The Ruler brand attracts people with underlying structure, order, and control needs. Common drivers for The Ruler audience need to feel that everything is handled, that they have the best available, and often that they are better than others. They crave perfection, and they’re highly responsible.
quadrant
connection archetypes
The Ruler shares a quadrant with Caregiver and The Creator. All three attract people who have needs related to structure. The Caregiver brings a feeling of safety while the Creator provides structure through innovation.
style & inspiration
brands to be inspired by
Brands like Louis Vuitton, Mercedes Benz, IBM, and Rolex are examples of the Ruler Brand archetype. They’re all upscale and, except for IBM, very luxury-focused. Louis Vuitton and Rolex are both high style and very exclusive, while Mercedes is about control through engineering and safety. IBM takes a different approach by focusing on longevity, trust, and security.
core values
ruler brand drivers
Every brand’s values are unique, but there are commonalities within each archetype.
The Ruler brand values embody a sense of authority, expertise, and sophistication.
brand voice
the way you speak
Your brand voice is authoritative, knowledgeable, and responsible.
You are an expert. You speak clearly and with a somewhat formal tone. You are concise, direct, and always very well-mannered.
brand visuals
colors
serious, rich, powerful
Although most colors can be adapted to fit a brand archetype, some colors are more effective for a Ruler brand than others. Dark and serious colors are most common, including black, navy, and grey. Colors that denote luxury like gold and silver are also common.
Because of the powerful personality of the Ruler, you can also play with muted tones of other colors. If you use muted shades, make sure they balance with the colors and style elements you choose (images, typography, etc.). It is best to avoid colors that feel too young or fun. Overall, you’re looking for a color scheme that shows seriousness, power, or luxury.
fonts
polished, authoritative
Your fonts are traditional. They should convey a sense of solidity. Look for fonts that feel serious and trustworthy. The goal is to find a font or pairing that brings a feeling of tradition or expertise.
Stay away from fonts that look too young or too decorative. Your look needs to command your audience, and these would have the opposite effect.
The goal is to find a font or a pairing that is classy, upscale, and authoritative.
images
A Ruler brand uses images that are with strong, deep tones as opposed to bright and colorful. An upscale neutral look works equally well. Less light flooded or white and more mood shadows. People in your photos should reflect your audience or the lifestyle they aspire to wherever possible. Aim for pictures with rich tones that feel elegant and cohesive with your color scheme.
notes
Your brand should show your expertise, thought leadership, and niche authority. Your audience is looking for command and a high-end experience, so your social media and other content should reflect that. Be careful with your call-to-action messaging to ensure that it fits with who you are. Your people won’t respond to a hard sell or clickbait. Those tactics are more likely to turn them off than to bring you leads. Keep in mind that they want to be attracted, not pushed.
In real estate? The Ruler in real estate often sells in the luxury and high-end markets. It’s all about lifestyle, exclusivity, and expertise. The Ruler is highly experienced and well connected. Consider networking through business circles, charity boards, and leadership associations.
which archetype fits your brand?
I can help with that
After using my brand assessment with clients, I decided to make a simplified version available
to website visitors. It only takes about 5 minutes to complete. Better yet, you’ll also get a short series of emails to help you learn more on how to use your new knowledge.