Keith Publications Logo Keith Publications
  Cluster 8: Marketing, Media & Communication

Best Journals for Brand Management Research (2026)

Brand management research examines how organisations build, sustain, and leverage brand equity — the intangible assets of recognition, trust, loyalty, and perceived quality that give brands their competitive advantage. From brand architecture and naming strategy to brand extension and brand crisis management, this research field provides the evidence base for some of the most strategically important marketing decisions.

Submit Your Manuscript Browse All Topics

What to Look for When Choosing a Journal

Before submitting your research, evaluate journals on these key criteria:

  • Brand scope — brand equity, identity, positioning, architecture, and extension
  • Strategic and consumer perspectives — brand from both managerial and customer viewpoints
  • Open access to reach brand managers, marketing directors, and brand consultants
  • Fast review for brand research tied to active brand strategy decisions
  • Acceptance of longitudinal brand tracking research and brand equity measurement
  • International and cross-cultural brand research strongly welcomed

Recommended Journals — Cluster 8: Marketing, Media & Communication

All journals below are published by Keith Publications — open access, peer-reviewed, and indexed for global discoverability.

  • Journal of Marketing Management and Research (JMMR)

    Marketing management, consumer behaviour, brand management, strategic marketing, digital marketing, market research, and the theory and practice of marketing across sectors.

    Review: 2–4 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Marketing Management Consumer Behaviour Brand Management Strategic Marketing
    Submit Manuscript View Journal
  • Journal of Marketing and Digital Media (JMDM)

    Digital marketing, social media marketing, content strategy, influencer marketing, digital advertising, e-commerce marketing, and the intersection of technology and marketing practice.

    Review: 2–3 weeks Open Access DOI (CrossRef) Google Scholar
    Digital Marketing Social Media Content Marketing E-commerce
    Submit Manuscript View Journal

Fast Publication: All Keith Publications journals complete initial review within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks. Articles are published online within 5–10 days of acceptance — among the fastest open access publishers in marketing, media, and communication research.

Core Research Areas in Brand Management

Keith Publications brand management journals accept research on: brand equity — customer-based (Keller) and financial perspectives; brand identity, image, and personality — alignment and gaps; brand positioning — competitive differentiation and perceptual mapping; brand architecture — house of brands vs. branded house and portfolio decisions; brand extensions — success factors, failure modes, and cannibalization; brand loyalty — determinants, measurement, and loyalty programme effectiveness; brand crisis management — scandal recovery, CEO crises, and product recall communication; destination branding, nation branding, and place marketing; employer branding and its effects on talent attraction and retention; and luxury brand management and brand prestige dynamics.

Purpose-Driven Brands and Corporate Social Responsibility

Purpose-driven branding — where brands articulate and act on a social or environmental mission beyond profit — has become one of the most debated topics in brand management. Research on the effectiveness of brand purpose, consumer authenticity perceptions, the risks of purpose-washing, and the brand equity implications of CSR commitment and brand activism is rapidly growing. Keith Publications brand management journals welcome empirical and conceptual research on purpose-driven brands, sustainability branding, and the intersection of corporate social responsibility and brand strategy.

Tips to Maximise Your Acceptance Chances

  1. Align your research with the journal's scope — confirm your topic fits the journal's marketing, media, or communication focus.
  2. Write a practitioner-relevant abstract — marketing and communication journals value clear implications for practice alongside theoretical contributions.
  3. Ensure methodological rigour — clearly describe your research design, measurement instruments, and analysis approach.
  4. Use current and relevant literature — include recent marketing and communication research publications (within the last 5 years).
  5. Follow formatting guidelines exactly — non-compliant manuscripts are often desk-rejected without review.
  6. State theoretical and managerial implications — explain how your findings advance marketing theory and inform marketing practice.
  7. Address limitations honestly — acknowledge the boundaries of your study and future research directions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which journals are best for brand management research?
The Journal of Marketing Management and Research (JMMR) from Keith Publications is among the best for brand management research, covering brand equity, brand identity, brand loyalty, brand crisis management, and the strategic management of brand portfolios.
Can I publish research on luxury brand management?
Yes. Research on luxury brand equity, prestige perception, scarcity as a brand strategy, digital luxury marketing challenges, counterfeiting effects on luxury brand value, and masstige vs. true luxury positioning is within scope for Keith Publications marketing journals.
Is employer branding and talent attraction research accepted?
Yes. Research on employer brand equity, the employer value proposition (EVP), employer branding on social media (LinkedIn), the relationship between employer brand and talent attraction/retention, and employee engagement as a brand driver is within scope.
How quickly can brand management research be published at Keith Publications?
Keith Publications journals complete initial screening within 2–5 business days and full peer review within 2–4 weeks — fast enough for brand researchers working on time-sensitive strategic brand decisions.

Related Research Guides

Explore other research journal guides in the Marketing, Media & Communication cluster:

Ready to Publish Your Research?

Submit your marketing, media, or communication manuscript to Keith Publications today. Fast peer review, open access, and global indexing — get your work published within weeks.

Submit Your Manuscript Now Contact the Editorial Team