Frequency illusion: how is it useful in Marketing?
Div Acharya
| Entrepreneur | Director | Co-Founder at Artmellows Custom Figurines Studio| Art of Gifting In Business
As business owners or marketers, most of us are always looking for marketing approaches that have been proven successful over time. Human Psychology helps us understand customers and users so that we can provide them with more relevant messages and improved solutions. One of the most significant psychological phenomena used by marketers around the world is frequency illusion.
Read on to learn more about this phenomenon and find out how to take advantage of it in your marketing strategy.
What is frequency illusion?
It’s also known as the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon.
This phenomenon occurs when the thing you've just noticed, experienced or been told about suddenly crops up constantly. It gives you the feeling that out of nowhere, pretty much everyone are talking about the subject or that it is swiftly swirling you.
In a Nutshell, you can experience the frequency illusion when the recently learned information crop up everywhere you look. For Instance Let’s say, you want to buy a new shiny car and watched an Ad Or Probably went to a showroom to have a look. Suddenly, the shiny car is everywhere. It's parked in front of your house. Your boss's wife has one. You see two of them next to you in a traffic line on your way to the office. The car is even popping up in those TV commercials!!. By the way, what exactly is happening here? Did this car suddenly come to dominate your life? Or is the car playing Tricks on you?. Let's greet the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, AKA frequency illusion or recency illusion.
How to take advantage of the frequency illusion effect in marketing?
The frequency illusion phenomenon helps brands to take potential customers through the stages of the buyer’s journey. Additionally, the users that are Frequency-illusioned, even if they won’t be actually interested in your product/Brand, may recommend your brand to a friend who’s looking for products or services such as yours.
Brand awareness
Brand awareness is a first step in the marketing funnel. Customers have to be aware of your brand even to consider the purchase. In Todays Online Era, consumers can research products, compare them, and get the best deal. So, before you start counting on the shopping impulses, prepare your audience for the following marketing messages and introduce your brand. Great ways for increasing brand awareness can be content marketing and influencer marketing. By sharing valuable content you can help customers and create your image as an expert.
Retargeting
Thanks to retargeting pixels embedded in your website’s code, you can reach your website visitors across social media. Retargeting is highly effective because it focuses your advertising spend on people who are already familiar with your brand and have recently demonstrated interest. That’s why most marketers who use it see a higher ROI than from most other digital channels. Re-marketing and retargeting can be resultful strategies to make the most of the frequency illusion phenomenon.
Omni-channel marketing
Thanks to omnichannel marketing, you can reach potential customers with your messages via many platforms. It’s worth being present on several social media platforms, using content marketing, running campaigns with influencers, organising contests, being active in social media groups, and cross-promotions to reach new consumers. Don't ever forget, for the frequency-illusion effect to work, customers have to notice your brand. Otherwise, it will just blend with thousands of other Marketing messages, which is likely considering the marketing clutter era that we live in. Start with a powerful and noticeable copy and image to get users’ attention, then again Creative Content wins.
Next, choose multiple channels to reach your audience. Being present online isn’t just about selling. Nowadays, there are several ways to connect with potential customers, build a relationship, and use the frequency illusion effect to increase sales eventually.
Let's now Discuss: The limitations of Frequency illusion Marketing
We can say the frequency-illusion phenomenon can be powerful and work wonders for some brands, it doesn’t mean you can sell your products or services to everyone if you present your ads regularly. Don't Forget, you reach out to an audience that is potentially interested in your offer/brand. Otherwise, you’ll just irritate users and get the opposite result, as you wished for. Follow the marketing funnel and engage with customers that have shown interest in your brand.
Important takeaway Tips- Frequency Illusion in marketing:
- Spammy Behaviour Must be avoided at any cost: show your ads to people interested in your offer (and not too often!)
- Begin with a strong message to get noticed by the Target Crowd
- Use visual branding and customised shorten links to get memorised
- Use marketing funnel to present relevant content
Human Psychology does play a huge role in the purchasing decision process of the Customers, and marketing’s goal is to reach the most suitable target group with the most relevant content. Make the most of the psychological effects that can help you persuade customers that your offer is the best on the market.
Contact DigitallyDiv If you need any Assistance in Digital Marketing. We are here to Help small Businesses and Local Shops gain their Confidence in Online marketing.