In Interbrand's 2011 list of the Best Global Brands, the same three companies -- Coca-Cola
The invisible competitive moat
One of the things investors should look for is what Warren Buffett calls a competitive moat. This is something that keeps competitors at bay from successfully attacking a company's business and can range from expensive capital equipment to technology to a strong brand.
Building a brand is one of the more identifiable, if not fleeting, competitive moats companies try to build to attract and retain customers and should be the goal of any company. A good brand can bring brand loyalty, premium pricing, and long-term profits to investors.
Apple
But a brand is a fickle thing. We all probably know someone who only buys products from Ford
How the mighty have fallen
In contrast to Apple's gains last year, Nokia was one of the list's biggest losers, falling six spots to No. 14. According to Interbrand, the brand alone fell 15% in value to $25.1 billion. Microsoft was the only other company in the top 25 to lose value this year.
Is it any coincidence that Nokia and Microsoft are teaming up in the mobile phone space to update their products in an effort to stay competitive? After getting pummeled by Apple's iPhone and Google's Android operating system, the companies are desperate to get back in the game. The Microsoft and Nokia brands have been enough to keep the companies in the game but not enough to make their products successful against strong competition. So a brand can only take you so far.
Reinventing the brand
A brand might keep a company in the game, but constant reinvention is the only way for a brand to stay on top. That's what makes Coca-Cola's long run as a top brand so remarkable. The company has taken a single soft drink and turned it into a worldwide phenomenon. Whether it's Santa, a polar bear, or Mean Joe Greene drinking Coke, the brand has stayed relevant.
Companies like McDonald's, Disney, and Pepsi are other top brands that have reinvented themselves over and over for years.
A brand is only a starting point
If you're looking for a company with a competitive moat a brand is a great place to start, but it shouldn't be the end of your search. Long lasting brands require products that will stay relevant over the long term and a management team that isn't afraid of reinventing itself.
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