How Brands Win with Matt Johnson, author of Blindsight
Sep 26, 2024
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Matt Johnson, author of 'Blindsight,' shares his expertise in behavioral science and branding. He highlights how Pret a Manger uses uncertain rewards to keep customers engaged. Perrier's entry into the U.S. market is framed through the lens of essentialism, showcasing the power of product origin stories. Johnson emphasizes the importance of marketing to groups rather than individuals, exploring how surprise elements can enhance consumer loyalty. His insights stress the need for brands to understand and leverage cognitive psychology in their marketing strategies.
Brands like Pret a Manger leverage unpredictable rewards to enhance customer satisfaction and create memorable experiences, driving loyalty.
Targeting consumer groups, as seen with Thinx, fosters supportive communities that facilitate behavior change and product acceptance in marketing.
Deep dives
The Intersection of Behavioral Science and Marketing
Behavioral science provides critical insights into consumer behavior, emphasizing its importance in marketing strategies. The conversation highlights the journey of transitioning from academic understanding to practical applications in the business world. A fundamental curiosity about human decision-making drives the exploration of brand loyalty and experiential marketing. This intersection offers valuable insights for brands seeking to deeply understand and effectively serve consumers.
Challenges in Bridging Academia and Business
Despite the recognition of behavioral science's value in business, many organizations overlook academic research due to existing models of human psychology. Companies often believe they inherently understand consumer behavior, leading them to neglect current scientific insights. Additionally, academic writing is frequently inaccessible to the general public, creating a disconnect between researchers and practitioners. This gap limits the widespread application of behavioral insights that could enhance marketing effectiveness.
The Power of Unpredictable Rewards
Unpredictable rewards significantly enhance consumer satisfaction and engagement, a principle seen in marketing strategies like those employed by Pret a Manger. By implementing a system of 'Random Acts of Kindness', where baristas surprise customers with complimentary items, the brand creates a joyful and memorable experience. This strategy demonstrates how surprise can elevate an ordinary reward into an extraordinary one, leading to increased customer loyalty and positive brand perception. Such applications of behavioral insights can drive brands to innovate beyond traditional loyalty programs.
Leveraging Group Dynamics for Behavioral Change
Engaging consumers at a group level can counteract social pressures that often impede behavior change. An example highlighted is Thinx, a brand that revolutionized period products by fostering group discussions and interactions that normalize their use. This approach minimizes backlash from social circles, as friends share the same positive experience and acceptance. By targeting groups rather than individuals, marketers can create a supportive community around new product adoption, enhancing the likelihood of success in transformative consumer behavior.
We talk with Matt about his favorite practical examples of behavioural science being applied by brands. We cover how Pret a Manger use uncertain rewards to excite customers, how Perrier harnessed the principle of essentialism to launch in the US and why more brands should think about marketing to groups rather than individuals.
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