"IF THEY DON'T REMEMBER YOU, THEN YOU'RE FORGOTTEN"
I know every word to “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.
I know every word to “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.
I don't know the lyrics because I bought the song, googled them, or even particularly enjoy the song.
I know them because I listened to the song twice/day, 5-days/week for a month while driving my 5yr old to pre-K (it was his favourite song at the time).
So why (and how) do we remember some things and not others?
HERE'S THE ROUNDUP
I'm going to talk about:
The Forgetting Curve
The Spacing Method
How to strengthen your brand
Then I'm going to try to sell you the benefits of my membership in relation to the Spacing Method*…
*Don't worry, this part is at the very bottom
I Forgot the point
To talk start a conversation on remembering you have begun with forgetting - or, at least, the Forgetting Curve.
The forgetting curve shows the rate of mental retention over a period of time - how much information you forget as time passes.
image from Versitas
As you can see above, standard retention isn't fantastic, and that's being generous.
Humans leak information faster than Edward Snowden in a bar…
You've probably crammed all night for some test only to remember a fraction of it come test time (and almost none of it the second you put down your #2 pencil).
So what's the solution?
The Spacing Method
Enter the spacing method (like a superhero.
The spacing method says that you should space out your interactions over time to learn more effectively and quickly.
For example: instead of cramming all night for the test, start a week early and study for 30-minutes every day.
This prolonged exposure creates stronger retention, and it significantly decreases stress.
Another way to increase retention within this model is to diversify your exposure. Interact with the same kind of content through different mediums:
music
video
text
hands-on
conversations
Doing this will exponentially increase retention!
How to Use This
When building a brand, consistency is key. But consistency isn't just about repetition.
Consistency looks like this:
1. Frequency
Are you showing up regularly or are you popping in and out?
Remember, people aren't always in a position to see you. You have to be there when they are - not vice versa.
Showing up with consistent frequency increases your chances of being seen by your audience in the first place.
2. Topic
Are you talking about the same things or are you all over the map?
Do you talk about mental performance, but also gardening your Star Wars collection, and Forex Trading?
This is a great way for people to go, eh?
3. Tone
Are you creating a vibe, or does your message vary?
Think about if Nike came out tomorrow and said:
Just Do It, unless you don't feel like it; in which case, maybe sit out a few rounds…
That would significantly change their authority and draw.
4. Location
Where can people find you?
Market saturation is a great goal - but there's a difference between being where you are and being everywhere.
You can be in every place simply by going there once - putting a couple of posts on every social platform, for example.
Being where you mean establishing a long-term presence. This creates trust and connection.
Being remembered starts with consistency. Spacing your message consistently, over time, will be strong brand awareness.