Effective Frequency

Effective Frequency

Submitted by Merry Bruton on Tue, 04/19/2011 - 11:22am

Do you have a message that you want the world to hear? Perhaps you are called to get the word out about a particular issue, whether it is a personal lesson learned, a job that requires advertising for your product or service, or something else you are quite passionate about. How do you get people to listen....and take action?

The marketing world emphasizes the principle of Effective Frequency.

What’s Effective Frequency? Effective frequency is the number of times people must be exposed to a message (or advertising) before they act on it. Experts debate on how many times are necessary--every person is different. Statistics show that on average, people need to be exposed to a message or see an ad seven to twenty times before they 'buy' into it.

A London businessman, Thomas Smith, wrote the following in 1885 regarding advertising. I've modified it a little bit to expand the idea beyond just sales:

1. The first time people look at any given ad or message they don’t even see it.

2. The second time, they don’t notice it.

3. The third time, they are aware that it is there.

4. The fourth time, they have a fleeting sense that they’ve seen it somewhere before.

5. The fifth time, they actually read the ad or listen to the message more fully.

6. The sixth time they thumb their nose at it.

7. The seventh time, they start to get a little irritated with it.

8. The eighth time, they start to think, “Here’s that weird, confounded idea again.”

9. The ninth time, they start to wonder if they’re missing out on something.

10. The tenth time, they ask their friends and neighbors if they’ve tried it.

11. The eleventh time, they wonder how the company is paying for all these ads, investing more and more to get the word out.

12. The twelfth time, they start to think that it must be a good product.

13. The thirteenth time, they start to feel the product or idea actually has value.

14. The fourteenth time, they start to remember wanting exactly this solution for a long time.

15. The fifteenth time, they start to yearn for it because they feel they can’t afford it.

16. The sixteenth time, they accept the fact that they will go for it sometime in the future.

17. The seventeenth time, they make a note to bite the bullet.

18. The eighteenth time, they curse their poverty for not allowing them to buy into this terrific concept.

19. The nineteenth time, they count their money, their time, and their resources very carefully.

20. The twentieth time prospects see the message, they believe and commit to what is being offered.

What do you want to communicate?  If you have a message you want to share with the world, be consistent in all your actions and words. The more people see you and what you have to offer in life--with effective frequency--the more they will begin to listen and eventually receive. So, keep up the good work....and keep talking about it.

Since I'm posting this blog on my own dream interpretation website, my message (I think it is worth repeating) is:

1) Listen to your dreams--to determine your destiny and your direction. Your dreams are nighttime messages that can guide you in your waking life. Unlocking your dream meaningscan bring a greater spiritual understanding of your current circumstances, answers to dilemmas you may be experiencing, and directions to step more fully into your life’s destiny or calling.

2) Listen to your dreams--to determine your destiny and your direction. Your dreams are nighttime messages that can guide you in your waking life. Unlocking your dream meanings can bring a greater spiritual understanding of your current circumstances, answers to dilemmas you may be experiencing, and directions to step more fully into your life’s destiny or calling.

3) Listen to your dreams--to determine your destiny and your direction. Your dreams are nighttime messages that can guide you in your waking life. Unlocking your dream meanings can bring a greater spiritual understanding of your current circumstances, answers to dilemmas you may be experiencing, and directions to step more fully into your life’s destiny or calling.

4) . . . now read it about 17 more times! . . . Let us know how we can help you with your dreams. 

 

Weed Season

Weed Season

Submitted by Merry Bruton 

Spring has sprung in our neighborhood--trees are leafing out and my rosebushes started blooming yesterday. I saw a hummingbird searching for food a couple of weeks ago. Warm, sunny temperatures beg for open windows and outdoor projects. Fresh grass sprigs are slowly turning lawns from dry brown to more vibrant greenish hues.

Spring ushers in colorful life from a season of dormancy. I don't know anyone who does not relish the end of winter.

But also along with the new growth comes prolific proliferation of bugs, pollen, and weeds.
The weeds seem to grow ten times as quickly as the grass does. So when I scrutinize my lawn, a usually well-manicured crop of beauty, the weeds seem most visible. In time, the grass overtakes them but for a while, we have to invest time plucking them out of the ground from the roots, before they birth and spread more weed seeds. We must tend and water the grass and deal with the weeds during this season for a healthy summer show.

Many of us also get the urge for 'Spring cleaning' where we not only clear up the winter debris outside, but also organize the inside of our homes as well. Gut out the closets, change out decor, wash the windows for better sunlit view.

Since we spend time transitioning from one season to the next in our physical lives, wouldn't this be a perfect time to parallel within our spiritual lives, as well? Since we are in clearing and planting mode, why don't we also:

* Do a self-check to see if anything unhealthy has sprung up and is thriving in our mind or heart.  Is there any bitterness or unforgiveness that sours our peace or relationships? Any patterns of addiction or laziness that keep us from living our best? Any negative self-thoughts or words we speak to ourself or others that we need to reverse?

* Purge the 'clutter'.  Streamline our priorities. Attack toxic roots with vengeance. Prune out the distractions, the things we say 'yes' to regarding time and relationships, but are not good for us, activities that sap our strength and make us mutter.

* Prepare our heart. Spend time dreaming about our future. Dream big! Place destiny goals visibly on the horizon to aim for. Cultivate space in our life for new 'fruit' by eating healthier, exercising more, working smarter, planning more fun and relaxation. Pray for daily downloads of Divine direction, strategy, and peace.

* Feed our spirit. Perhaps we need some 'fertilizer' to stimulate a new growing season, nurture our strength, sustain our focus for the long haul. Without continual spiritual rejuvenation, our wells run dry more quickly and we find ourselves wilting too easily.

If you find yourself dragging through life, consistently fighting prickly issues, unsatisfied and unfulfilled with the 'view', take some time to assess how to make your garden thrive better...weed out the negative, plant what is positive. Let Spirit's sunlight transform your life so you can anticipate an abundant harvest!