Connections Between Brands and People
January 1, 2019
In explaining the premise of their book, The Human Brand: How We Relate to People, Products, and Companies, Chris Malone and Susan Fiske delve into the psychology of the connections between people and brands. Consider the following excerpt from an interview with Malone conducted by the Wharton School of Business …
“In their struggle for survival, primitive humans were forced to develop a genius for making two specific kinds of judgments quickly and accurately. One: What are the intentions of other people toward me? And two: How capable are they of carrying out those intentions? In the academic world, these dimensions of perception are called warmth and competence. Warmth involves whether we view others to be honest, trustworthy, kind or friendly, while competence relates to whether they seem capable, intelligent or skilled. These spontaneous perceptions drive most of our emotions and behavior toward other people. Whether we realize it or not, the way we judge companies and brands happens in much the same way. Our research showed that more than 50% of all purchase intent and customer loyalty can be explained by these two basic human perceptions, before any features or benefits are considered. As a customer, we are acknowledging, “I get who you are and what you’re about.”
As builders of brands, one of our primary objectives is to increase the value of the brand. In doing so we must consider the concepts of warmth and competence as those connection-building elements as foundational to the brand experience as a whole. So, when the realization hits that great potential lies in the brand’s value and it’s time to create connections using the concepts of warmth and confidence, consider the following:
Process is Key
As an owner or manager of a brand, engaging the proper process to uncover the connection between brand and consumer is key. Understanding the relationship between varying perspectives by audience is critical – internal and external – and processes can uncover those differences. And, by understanding those differences creates the opportunity to focus messaging by audience, which will ultimately deliver a consistent brand experience.
Validation of Brand Foundation
Several considerations come into play. Relevancy to the audience; do they care? Credibility with the audience; is the foundation something they can believe in? Uniqueness relative to the competition; is the product/service in a market position with limited competition? And finally, can the brand stand the test of time?
Marrying Brand with Messaging and Execution
This step is critical and demands a long-term commitment (value is not created in the short-term). As the brand foundation is built, execution becomes integral to determining success. In every brand touchpoint, the foundation must be evident. This requires critical evaluation by every team and a relentless view brand that cannot be clouded by creativity that is off-brand. Remember, your consumer connects with your brand in a very human way. Don’t try to slip one past them. You may win a short-term gain, but again, value is created over the long-term.
Pay Attention
As the brand’s foundation has been laid, monitor it. Pay attention to how consumers are connecting to your brand. What is happening in social media? At point of sale. What are they saying? What are they doing? And why? Consumer motivations and behaviors are invaluable.
These are the points where warmth and competence connect with brands.
I challenge you to consider a brand(s) that you are fond of and apply this test. Consider,
do those brands with which you have a connection – preference, loyalty, an evangelistic
relationship which you would staunchly defend among family and friends – stand up to
warmth and competence?
Author:
Scott Brandon, Principle of The Brandon Agency, is a Certified Brand Strategist through the Brand Establishment. The Brand Agency is a trusted and proven group of ideators who think differently. As a digitally minded, fully integrated national firm, The Brandon Agency consists of smart, results-obsessed experts who consult, advise and deliver revolutionary business-building ideas. With offices in Charleston, South Carolina; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Cleveland, Ohio; Breckenridge, Colorado; and Sofia, Bulgaria, The Brandon Agency has much more to offer than a traditional ad agency. Equal parts business consultant, technologist, analyst and marketer, the agency expertly guides businesses toward growth and success. The Brandon Agency has powered successful programs and campaigns for hundreds of national brands in a variety of industries, including banking and finance, e-commerce, food service, health care, real estate, technology, and tourism.
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