Research confirms link between brand awareness and brand preference

Over the years, the value of “brand awareness” has repeatedly been called into question as a sufficient reason to advertise a company or product. But research confirms the effect of awareness on brand preference. Companies that put this understanding into practice continue to reap the benefits of greater brand preference.

Brand awareness and brand preference

Successful companies can achieve significant gains in brand preference by making comparatively small increases in brand awareness. This has been shown to be true across a wide range of industries in a study conducted by Cahners Research.

Brand awareness and brand preference relationship¹

The upward slope illustrates the positive relationship between awareness and brand preference for all businesses in the study. That is, as awareness increases, brand preference increases. Notice also that the line is curved in a slight u-shape. This implies that as higher levels of awareness are reached, the conversion to brand preference comes more quickly.

Companies near the lower end of the line should increase awareness to take advantage of the favorable impact on brand preference. Companies at the upper end of the line must maintain their current level of awareness to prevent a sharp decline in brand preference.

About the study¹

  • The sample was selected from the Cahners database of businesses; more than 88,000 businesses were selected for this study
  • Data is based on responses from 23,341 businesses
  • Participants included businesses in:

– Manufacturing

– Science

– Building/construction

– Communications

– Electronics

– Entertainment

– Food

– Packaging

– Printing

– Retail

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The correlation between brand awareness and brand preference is positive and exponential.

Brands with low awareness may initially see moderate payoff from increased awareness. Message frequency is key to increasing awareness, thus brand preference.

As brands increase awareness, they see larger gains in brand preference for every unit of awareness. The payoff grows faster than the costs for maintaining awareness.

Brands with high awareness are advised to maintain awareness. A small loss of awareness can produce a steep decline in brand preference.

Elevating brand awareness is the first step toward acquiring and retaining customers, regardless of industry or market.

Building and maintaining awareness: a practical overview

The fundamental purpose of marketing is to acquire and retain customers. It has been demonstrated that elevated brand awareness is the first step in that direction, regardless of industry or market. Although boosting brand awareness is a complex matter, it’s possible to identify practical considerations that apply in any market or competitive situation.

Fundamental considerations for marketers

Focus on the behavior and wants of the audience

Awareness is built from the outside in; identify what matters to the target audience and craft your brand message and identity accordingly. Internal considerations such as management perceptions, past budget allocations and adherence to scientific and legal jargon are less important in the battle to win awareness.

Speak with a consistent, unified voice across all media

Message coordination, regardless of the medium, is essential to strong brand identity. Consistency in key themes and selling propositions builds brand-based identity and expectation in the minds of prospects and customers, promoting retention and top-of-mind awareness.

Continually reinforce awareness among existing customers
While acquiring new customers is essential for any business, retaining existing customers is more profitable. In one study, a 5% increase in customer retention yielded a 25% to 95% increase in profits.2 Although your results may not be as dramatic, building awareness among current customers does pay off with accelerated gains in brand preference and ROI.
Allow sufficient time and frequency for awareness gains

Some marketers make the mistake of quitting before the real payoff occurs. Building awareness through message frequency takes time, but pays off by moving awareness to the level where brand preference gains accelerate (see above). Smart marketers recognize that this increases brand value for existing as well as future stakeholders. Building awareness is cumulative; pulling the plug too early largely wastes the marketing dollars already invested.

1 Mucahy, S. (2001), Business-to-Business Advertising When Your Market is in a Recession or Expansion. Newton, MA: Cahners Business Information.

2 Gallo, A. (2014). The Value of Keeping the Right Customers. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/2014/10/the-value-of-keeping-the-right-customers?registration=success