Continued from"Slow Burn Marketing - Part 1"...




Strong brands that evoke enthusiastic customer loyalty are built over time not all at once. They are fashioned piece by piece like a puzzle. Each piece has a cumulative effect that adds positively to what's already in place.

Enthusiastic customer loyalty is nurtured through repeated consistent, high-quality experiences from the products and services they invest in. Quality and consistency can't be established with one idea or campaign. Companies with strong brands understand this.

Yes there are times when certain marketing activities have a big impact, but strong brands don't get intoxicated by that and rest on their laurels. They keep working on incorporating the next pieces that will allow them to extend and sustain their impact, not just be a flash in the pan.

This approach reminds me of a scented candle. It doesn't burn fast like a match, but eventually it's aroma fills an entire room. You don't want a "brand scent" that burns brightly for a short while, but then is quickly forgotten about. You want your brand to leave a pleasant aroma with your customers that lingers for a long time.

Here are 3 keys to consider with a "slow burn" marketing approach for your company:

1. Strategic: Consider every new tip and tool within the confines of your current strategy and budget. As you add new things make sure they complement what you're already doing. If you feel the need to do something "radical", reconsider your entire strategy not just one piece of it.
   


2. Significant: Every marketing effort should have either an immediate or cumulative measurable benefit.


3. Sustainable: Make sure that whatever you do is not a one-shot deal, but something that you can do continually and consistently well.
   

I have to admit this methodical approach runs counter to our make-a-fast-buck culture. I also have to admit that I sometimes get frustrated when I see other companies that seem to be making a bigger "splash" than I am and creating more buzz. Nevertheless, I realize that I'm building for the long haul and what I do today may not produce immediate dividends. But I will reap the rewards in the long run.

Slow burn marketing feels kind of like the proverbial tortoise racing against the hare. Just remember the tortoise won.