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If you're worried about your social media not growing quickly enough or not making enough sales, let us introduce you to the Rule of 7. This age-old principle, which emerged in the 1930s courtesy of some clever movie studios, says you need to show your brand to people at least seven times before they decide to whip out their wallets. Back then, they figured moviegoers needed to see a film ad seven times before heading to the theatre. Fast forward to today, and this principle still holds water globally.
Not an Exact Science, But Close Enough
Don’t get us wrong – you don’t need exactly seven exposures to guarantee a sale. Think of it more like boosting your brand's visibility. The more often people see your brand, the more they remember it, trust it, and eventually buy from it. In today’s information-overloaded, attention economics, 5-7 second video world, making your brand stick is tougher than ever. Nail those seven memorable interactions, and you’re already miles ahead of the competition.
The Psychology of 7
This isn’t just marketing mumbo-jumbo. In 1956, George Miller, a cognitive psychologist, laid it all out for us with his paper “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two.” He discovered that our brains can handle about seven chunks of information at a time. This little nugget of wisdom has shaped everything from how we teach to how we build tech. In marketing, it explains why breaking down brand interactions into bite-sized pieces makes your brand unforgettable.
Modern Marketing: Same Rule, New Tools
Think about the barrage of ads you see daily. Half the time, you probably don’t even notice them because native ads - that's ads that don't look like ads - are seamlessly integrated into our feeds. Not sure what we're talking about? Think of influencers doing their makeup while telling a story. They aren't talking about the makeup, but everyone in their comment section wants to know what lip gloss they're wearing.
Tips for Leveraging the Rule of 7
Know Your Audience: Understand who you’re talking to. Develop buyer personas, research your market, and get a grip on what makes your typical customer tick. If you haven't done your customer research yet, this is your sign to get on it.
Social Media: If you’re not already active on social, now’s the time. It’s the best way to deliver short, frequent messages to your target audience. Be yourself. Be authentic.
Tell Stories: People love a good story - it's the basis of human connection. Use storytelling to build community and engage your audience on social media.
(Visual) Content is King: Videos and images make a bigger impact than walls of text. They’re more accessible and can communicate your message quickly, which is essential for those seven touchpoints.
Beyond Marketing
The Rule of 7 isn’t just for selling products. It’s a versatile principle used across education, technology, and even HR. In teaching, it helps with memory retention. The TLDR of it all is that the Rule of 7 is a proven theory that tells us to use regular, positive interactions to stay top of mind and build brand trust. Keep putting your business out there. You never know whose turn it is to have their seventh interaction.
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