Position Your Brand by Picking the Right Fight

Inside The Strategic Enemy you'll learn:

How the consumer mind works and why being "better" isn't enough.

How the consumer mind works and why being "better" isn't enough.

How the consumer mind works and why being "better" isn't enough.

How the consumer mind works and why being "better" isn't enough.

Why a strategic enemy is critical to positioning success.

Why a strategic enemy is critical to positioning success.

Why a strategic enemy is critical to positioning success.

Why a strategic enemy is critical to positioning success.

Real world successes including Chick-fil-A, Liquid Death, and NVIDIA.

Real world successes including Chick-fil-A, Liquid Death, and NVIDIA.

Real world successes including Chick-fil-A, Liquid Death, and NVIDIA.

Real world successes including Chick-fil-A, Liquid Death, and NVIDIA.

Pre-Order: The Strategic Enemy

How to build a brand worth fighting for.

How to build a brand worth fighting for.

How to build a brand worth fighting for.

In The Strategic Enemy: How to Build and Position a Brand Worth Fighting For, bestselling author and positioning strategist Laura Ries delivers an exciting and powerful new discussion of how some of the world’s most energetic brands make an impact and rally consumers to their cause.

She explains the key to effective brand positioning - identifying an “enemy”- and shows you how to use an indisputable difference and distinctive visual hammer to drive your brand into the minds of consumers.

  • Illustrative case studies like Liquid Death, Chick-fil-A, Salesforce, TikTok and Dude Wipes demonstrate how to effectively position your brand by identifying the enemy.

  • Why saying No is the best way to find your focus and identify the enemy.

  • How to keep your brand from becoming its own worst enemy due to excessive line-extensions.

  • When you are the leader, how to anchor your brand in the mind to protect it from enemies that will eventually attack.


In The Strategic Enemy: How to Build and Position a Brand Worth Fighting For, bestselling author and positioning strategist Laura Ries delivers an exciting and powerful new discussion of how some of the world’s most energetic brands make an impact and rally consumers to their cause.

She explains the key to effective brand positioning - identifying an “enemy”- and shows you how to use an indisputable difference and distinctive visual hammer to drive your brand into the minds of consumers.

  • Illustrative case studies like Liquid Death, Chick-fil-A, Salesforce, TikTok and Dude Wipes demonstrate how to effectively position your brand by identifying the enemy.

  • Why saying No is the best way to find your focus and identify the enemy.

  • How to keep your brand from becoming its own worst enemy due to excessive line-extensions.

  • When you are the leader, how to anchor your brand in the mind to protect it from enemies that will eventually attack.

In The Strategic Enemy: How to Build and Position a Brand Worth Fighting For, bestselling author and positioning strategist Laura Ries delivers an exciting and powerful new discussion of how some of the world’s most energetic brands make an impact and rally consumers to their cause.

She explains the key to effective brand positioning - identifying an “enemy”- and shows you how to use an indisputable difference and distinctive visual hammer to drive your brand into the minds of consumers.

  • Illustrative case studies like Liquid Death, Chick-fil-A, Salesforce, TikTok and Dude Wipes demonstrate how to effectively position your brand by identifying the enemy.

  • Why saying No is the best way to find your focus and identify the enemy.

  • How to keep your brand from becoming its own worst enemy due to excessive line-extensions.

  • When you are the leader, how to anchor your brand in the mind to protect it from enemies that will eventually attack.

In The Strategic Enemy: How to Build and Position a Brand Worth Fighting For, bestselling author and positioning strategist Laura Ries delivers an exciting and powerful new discussion of how some of the world’s most energetic brands make an impact and rally consumers to their cause.

She explains the key to effective brand positioning - identifying an “enemy”- and shows you how to use an indisputable difference and distinctive visual hammer to drive your brand into the minds of consumers.

  • Illustrative case studies like Liquid Death, Chick-fil-A, Salesforce, TikTok and Dude Wipes demonstrate how to effectively position your brand by identifying the enemy.

  • Why saying No is the best way to find your focus and identify the enemy.

  • How to keep your brand from becoming its own worst enemy due to excessive line-extensions.

  • When you are the leader, how to anchor your brand in the mind to protect it from enemies that will eventually attack.

Advance Praise from Industry Leaders

Advance Praise from Industry Leaders

See why top experts hail The Strategic Enemy as the game-changing blueprint that transforms good brands into legendary ones.

  • A masterclass in strategic Positioning from one of my favourite branding experts! The Strategic Enemy will help you stand out in a crowded world!

    Brian Scudamore

    Founder & CEO, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

  • The Strategic Enemy nails the one thing most brands are too scared to do—draw a damn line in the sand.

    Sean Riley

    Co-Founder and Chief Executive DUDE at DUDE Wipes

  • The next breakthrough in Positioning thinking. Laura Ries simplifies, amplifies, and challenges us to get serious about what we stand for.

    Seth Godin

    Author, This is Marketing

  • Laura Ries offers a fearless approach to brand strategy: Walk right up to the biggest bully you can find and punch him in the nose. This is differentiation on steroids, and it works.

    Marty Neumeier

    Author of The Brand Gap and Zag

  • Laura has taken her father Al Ries' Positioning concept to a new level. Her book provides a huge number of fascinating company examples along with her insightful analysis.

    Philip Kotler

    Professor Emeritus of Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management

  • A remarkable playbook for anyone brave enough to define their brand by what they stand against. If you want your brand to stand out, start here.

    Guy Kawasaki

    Remarkable People podcast, Chief Evangelist, Canva

  • Laura Ries is a brilliant branding strategist whose insights have shaped some of the world's most iconic brands. A must-read for anyone who wants to build a bold, unforgettable brand.

    Jo Ann Herold

    VP Marketing, Georgia State University, Former CMO of HoneyBaked Ham

  • A masterclass in strategic Positioning from one of my favourite branding experts! The Strategic Enemy will help you stand out in a crowded world!

    Brian Scudamore

    Founder & CEO, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

  • The Strategic Enemy nails the one thing most brands are too scared to do—draw a damn line in the sand.

    Sean Riley

    Co-Founder and Chief Executive DUDE at DUDE Wipes

  • The next breakthrough in Positioning thinking. Laura Ries simplifies, amplifies, and challenges us to get serious about what we stand for.

    Seth Godin

    Author, This is Marketing

  • Laura Ries offers a fearless approach to brand strategy: Walk right up to the biggest bully you can find and punch him in the nose. This is differentiation on steroids, and it works.

    Marty Neumeier

    Author of The Brand Gap and Zag

  • Laura has taken her father Al Ries' Positioning concept to a new level. Her book provides a huge number of fascinating company examples along with her insightful analysis.

    Philip Kotler

    Professor Emeritus of Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management

  • A remarkable playbook for anyone brave enough to define their brand by what they stand against. If you want your brand to stand out, start here.

    Guy Kawasaki

    Remarkable People podcast, Chief Evangelist, Canva

  • Laura Ries is a brilliant branding strategist whose insights have shaped some of the world's most iconic brands. A must-read for anyone who wants to build a bold, unforgettable brand.

    Jo Ann Herold

    VP Marketing, Georgia State University, Former CMO of HoneyBaked Ham

  • A masterclass in strategic Positioning from one of my favourite branding experts! The Strategic Enemy will help you stand out in a crowded world!

    Brian Scudamore

    Founder & CEO, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

  • The Strategic Enemy nails the one thing most brands are too scared to do—draw a damn line in the sand.

    Sean Riley

    Co-Founder and Chief Executive DUDE at DUDE Wipes

  • The next breakthrough in Positioning thinking. Laura Ries simplifies, amplifies, and challenges us to get serious about what we stand for.

    Seth Godin

    Author, This is Marketing

  • Laura Ries offers a fearless approach to brand strategy: Walk right up to the biggest bully you can find and punch him in the nose. This is differentiation on steroids, and it works.

    Marty Neumeier

    Author of The Brand Gap and Zag

  • Laura has taken her father Al Ries' Positioning concept to a new level. Her book provides a huge number of fascinating company examples along with her insightful analysis.

    Philip Kotler

    Professor Emeritus of Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management

  • A remarkable playbook for anyone brave enough to define their brand by what they stand against. If you want your brand to stand out, start here.

    Guy Kawasaki

    Remarkable People podcast, Chief Evangelist, Canva

  • A masterclass in strategic Positioning from one of my favourite branding experts! The Strategic Enemy will help you stand out in a crowded world!

    Brian Scudamore

    Founder & CEO, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

  • A masterclass in strategic Positioning from one of my favourite branding experts! The Strategic Enemy will help you stand out in a crowded world!

    Founder & CEO, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

  • The Strategic Enemy nails the one thing most brands are too scared to do—draw a damn line in the sand.

    Co-Founder and Chief Executive DUDE at DUDE Wipes

  • The next breakthrough in Positioning thinking. Laura Ries simplifies, amplifies, and challenges us to get serious about what we stand for.

    Author, This is Marketing

  • Laura Ries offers a fearless approach to brand strategy: Walk right up to the biggest bully you can find and punch him in the nose. This is differentiation on steroids, and it works.

    Author of The Brand Gap and Zag

  • Laura has taken her father Al Ries' Positioning concept to a new level. Her book provides a huge number of fascinating company examples along with her insightful analysis.

    Professor Emeritus of Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management

  • A remarkable playbook for anyone brave enough to define their brand by what they stand against. If you want your brand to stand out, start here.

    Remarkable People podcast, Chief Evangelist, Canva

  • A masterclass in strategic Positioning from one of my favourite branding experts! The Strategic Enemy will help you stand out in a crowded world!

    Founder & CEO, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

The Strategic Enemy in Conversation

The Strategic Enemy in Conversation

Discover Laura’s latest podcast appearances, where she brings positioning principles to life through real-world stories.

Discover Laura’s latest podcast appearances, where she brings positioning principles to life through real-world stories.

Get the latest Positioning insights.

The Pioneers of Positioning welcome you into our club. Sharing all the tools in the RIES Positioning Toolbox to help you build a brand worth fighting for.

Get the latest Positioning insights.

The Pioneers of Positioning welcome you into our club. Sharing all the tools in the RIES Positioning Toolbox to help you build a brand worth fighting for.

Get the latest Positioning insights.

The Pioneers of Positioning welcome you into our club. Sharing all the tools in the RIES Positioning Toolbox to help you build a brand worth fighting for.

Get the latest Positioning insights.

The Pioneers of Positioning welcome you into our club. Sharing all the tools in the RIES Positioning Toolbox to help you build a brand worth fighting for.

Other Books from RIES

Positioning

Positioning: The Battle for your Mind is the book that continues to revolutionize the world of marketing. Instead of communicating the benefits of your brand, you need to look inside the mind of the consumer to find a position you can own.

Positioning: The Battle for your Mind is the book that continues to revolutionize the world of marketing. Instead of communicating the benefits of your brand, you need to look inside the mind of the consumer to find a position you can own.

Positioning: The Battle for your Mind is the book that continues to revolutionize the world of marketing. Instead of communicating the benefits of your brand, you need to look inside the mind of the consumer to find a position you can own.

The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding

How to build a product or service into a world-class brand.

This marketing classic has been expanded to include new commentary, new illustrations, and a bonus book: The 11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding.

How to build a product or service into a world-class brand.

This marketing classic has been expanded to include new commentary, new illustrations, and a bonus book: The 11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding.

How to build a product or service into a world-class brand.

This marketing classic has been expanded to include new commentary, new illustrations, and a bonus book: The 11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding.

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing

Violate them at your own risk!

Violate them at your own risk!

Violate them at your own risk!

Visual Hammer

McDonald’s golden arches. Coca-Cola’s contour bottle. Nike’s swoosh. Today, a visual hammer is the essential tool for nailing your brand into the mind.

McDonald’s golden arches. Coca-Cola’s contour bottle. Nike’s swoosh. Today, a visual hammer is the essential tool for nailing your brand into the mind.

McDonald’s golden arches. Coca-Cola’s contour bottle. Nike’s swoosh. Today, a visual hammer is the essential tool for nailing your brand into the mind.

Positioning

Positioning: The Battle for your Mind is the book that continues to revolutionize the world of marketing. Instead of communicating the benefits of your brand, you need to look inside the mind of the consumer to find a position you can own.

The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding

How to build a product or service into a world-class brand.

This marketing classic has been expanded to include new commentary, new illustrations, and a bonus book: The 11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding.

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing

Violate them at your own risk!

Visual Hammer

McDonald’s golden arches. Coca-Cola’s contour bottle. Nike’s swoosh. Today, a visual hammer is the essential tool for nailing your brand into the mind.

RIES. Positioning Pioneers.

Ries © 2025

RIES. Positioning Pioneers.

Ries © 2025

RIES. Positioning Pioneers.

Ries © 2025

RIES. Positioning Pioneers.

Ries © 2025