Friday, December 9, 2011

10 good pieces of advice on sound branding management (2)

Promised 10 pieces of advice for managing sound branding in the companies. Here are the last five. And remember; its not rocket science or breaking news - just things that I have seen companies tend to down prioritize or simply overlook.


Involve your target group
Do you know which touch points your target groups wants to hear sound? Or do you only think you know it? Music and sounds can easily become disturbing and annoying in the wrong setting, which will create strong negative association to your brand. Know your target groups, test your touch points and be willing to make adjustments along the way.

Create attention!
Customers are not as educated in recognizing branded sound and music as they are with recognizing visual marketing communication. Create awareness and attention and teach them to listen for your brand. One way could be to create an awareness campaign, a competition or involve them in creating, spreading and interacting with the music. 

Don’t stop – but consider buying earplugs
When you are inches of smashing every loudspeaker playing your branded music in the best Jimi Hendrix style, your target group has only started to pay attention. It will take time before your target groups have got the message and will begin to recognize and recall the brand from the music. Buy earplugs and keep going. 

Sound is not static
Implementation takes resources and time; so remember to take it into account when planning the process. When the implementation phase is done the music still has to be managed. Adapt, play, expand and co-create with your target group and remember that music is alive, evolving and dynamic – not static, complete, and lifeless.  

Accept that nothing stays for ever
Although your target group may not grow tired of it as quickly as you, their perception and preference will change due to new trends, media, behaviour, and normal mere-exposure and wear-out effects. Test your sound brand once a year; is it still contributing to your brand equity and brand image in the way you want? And are the touch points still the right ones?


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