Strengthen brand recognition and loyalty with consistent brand building

Amy Yaley
COO
Ward Media

In the world of marketing, where trends come and go, one principle remains constant: the importance of consistency. This is true whether you're a multinational corporation or a family-owned business in our NCW community; consistency across your marketing channels is key to building a strong brand presence with continued customer loyalty. In this article, we'll look at the concept of Top of Mind Awareness (TOMA) and explore how consistency can place your brand at the forefront of customers' minds.

Understanding Top of Mind Awareness (TOMA)

TOMA isn’t a new concept for this column; we discussed it in January, and at its core, it means consistently occupying a prominent space in the minds of your audience. It's not just about having a presence; it's about being the go-to option when a need arises. Regularly engaging with your audience through a variety of tactics, be it billboards, radio, social media, email campaigns, or digital or print advertising, reinforces your brand presence. The more frequently your audience sees your brand, the more likely they will remember and choose you when making purchasing decisions.

The Role of Consistency in Brand Building

Consistency is key when we talk about TOMA. It's about presenting a unified brand image and message across all touchpoints, from your website and social media profiles to your advertising campaigns and customer interactions. Consistency breeds familiarity, and familiarity breeds trust. Customers who encounter a consistent brand experience at every interaction develop a sense of confidence and reliability in your brand, making them more likely to choose you over competitors.

Strategies for Maintaining Consistency

Achieving consistency requires careful planning and execution. Consider these  key strategies to help you maintain consistency across your marketing channels:

Create Brand Guidelines:  This isn’t as scary as it seems; you’ve probably already done it; just get it down on paper.  Outline your brand's personality, voice, tone, and visual identity. These guidelines serve as a roadmap for all marketing efforts, ensuring a consistent brand experience across all channels whether it’s radio, print, digital or social media.

Implement a Centralized System of Organization: Again, not scary.  Keep track in a spreadsheet or in a planner of all tactics you’re using, how long they are running and your investment spend. This will streamline the creation, approval, and distribution of marketing materials and keep you moving forward. It also ensures all content aligns with your brand guidelines, maintains consistency across channels, and that you are reaching all segments of your audience.

Regularly Audit and Optimize: Conduct regular checks of your marketing materials to identify any inconsistencies or deviations from your brand guidelines. Take proactive steps to address these issues and optimize your marketing efforts for maximum consistency and performance.

Train Staff: Train your staff to uphold your brand standards in all customer interactions, whether in-person, over the phone, or online. Consistency in customer service is just as important as consistency in marketing materials.

Leveraging Multichannel Engagement

Consistency is not limited to a single marketing channel; it must be maintained across all channels to create a cohesive brand experience. Whether it's your social media profiles, email marketing campaigns, website, or traditional print and digital advertising channels, consistency is key to reinforcing your brand message and identity.

Case Study and Example

During the 2008 recession, McDonald's made a bold decision to stick with its advertising strategy and budget, maintaining consistency in its messaging and brand image despite economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, competitors like Burger King and Taco Bell did the opposite. The results were telling: in just 13 months, McDonald's not only weathered the recession but also grew its market share by 5%, demonstrating the power of consistency in branding and customer assurance. Remarkably, McDonald's stock only experienced a minor 3% drop during this period. In contrast, Burger King's stock plummeted by 25%, while Taco Bell's dropped by 29%. These differences underscore the importance of creating certainty for customers in uncertain times. By maintaining consistency in branding and messaging, businesses can instill confidence and trust in their customers, ultimately leading to long-term loyalty and success.

Measuring the Impact of Consistency

Measuring the impact of consistency on brand recognition and loyalty is key for evaluating the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Metrics such as brand awareness surveys, customer retention rates, and social media engagement metrics can provide valuable insights into the success of your consistency initiatives.

Consistency is not just a buzzword in marketing; it's a fundamental principle that can make or break your brand. By maintaining consistency across your marketing channels, you can strengthen brand recognition, foster customer loyalty, and ultimately achieve Top of Mind Awareness. In today's competitive landscape, where consumers are inundated with choices, consistency is the key to standing out and winning the hearts and minds of your target audience whether they are here in the heart of Washington or across the globe.

Your Homework

Assess your current branding strategies and identify areas where consistency can be improved. Whether it's updating your brand guidelines, optimizing your content management systems, or training your staff, take proactive steps to ensure consistency across all marketing channels. Your brand's success depends on it. 

Amy Yaley is the COO of Ward Media and the co-owner of Apple Capital Marketing & Northwest Swag Works. She can be reached at amy@ward.media.