Google Emerges as World's No.1 Brand

Google emerges as world’s No.1 brand; its brand value pegged at $100 billion

Google has emerged as the world’s number one brand and is also the first one to touch $100 billion value mark, according to BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2009 ranking. Microsoft, with a brand value of $76.2 billion, occupies the second rank. Amazon.com, eBay and Yahoo have been placed at the 26th, 54th and 81st positions with a brand value of $21 billion, $12.9 billion and $7.9 billion respectively.

According to Millward Brown Optimor, a WPP subsidiary that created the BrandZ list, the ranking fuses consumer measures of brand equity with financial measures to place a financial value on brands. Brands that have more loyal customers have higher values, and brands with high voltage are likely to have much stronger growth prospects.

“The study shows that the importance of branding stretches far beyond consumer packaged goods,” Joanna Seddon, CEO, Millward Brown Optimor, has said, adding, “While stock markets have been crashing all around, the Top 100 brands have maintained their value. Strong brands are helping to protect their businesses from risk, and position them for future growth.”