💡 The 7-11-4 Rule

harriet3695
Nov 9
3 min read

Turning Familiarity into Trust (and Trust into Business Growth)

Imagery for the 7-11-4 Rule. Hands with blue nails holding a phone, social media icons, numbers 7, 11, 4, text: "The Rule", "Hue & Helix" on a blue background.

Marketing today is all about connection. Not just getting seen, but being remembered - being trusted.

That’s where the 7-11-4 rule comes in. It’s not another flashy marketing buzzword. It’s a reminder that behind every click, scroll, and website visit, there’s a person deciding whether or not they believe in your brand.

And belief takes time.

🧭 So, what exactly is the 7-11-4 rule?

In simple terms, it’s the idea that your audience needs to:

Spend around 7 hours engaging with your brand
Across 11 interactions
And over 4 different platforms or “locations”, before they’re ready to take action - whether that’s booking an appointment, sending an enquiry or saying “yes” to your service.

It’s about repetition, recognition and trust-building - not pressure sales or quick conversions.

🤔 Why it matters more than ever (especially for small and independent businesses)

In the old days of marketing, it was all pretty straightforward: A flyer, an ad, a phone call and you’d likely have a new client.

Now? People do their research. They compare. They read reviews. They visit your website, check your Instagram, scroll your LinkedIn, maybe even ask their friends before ever reaching out.

And that’s a good thing. Because while it takes longer to earn that trust, once you do — it’s much stronger.

⚡ 7 hours of attention: make it meaningful

Think about those 7 hours as a journey, not a sprint. They don’t have to be spent all at once — it’s the total time someone spends engaging with your content.

That might include reading blogs, watching short videos, flicking through carousels, listening to a podcast interview or even following your behind-the-scenes stories.

The key? Keep showing up with value. Content that teaches, helps, or inspires will always earn attention faster than anything that just sells.

“People do not buy goods and services. They buy relations, stories and magic.”– Seth Godin

💬 11 interactions: consistency counts

Every time someone sees your brand — that’s an interaction. A social post, a comment reply, an email, a blog read, a shared story.

Eleven touchpoints might sound like a lot, but that’s how brand familiarity grows. Each one reinforces who you are and what you stand for.

At Hue & Helix, we help businesses build those touchpoints with purpose so your audience meets your brand in multiple ways that all tell the same story.

🌍 4 locations: meet people where they are

You don’t need four physical clinics or offices. You need four digital spaces where your audience naturally spends time. Your website, social media, email and maybe YouTube or LinkedIn.

Different people connect in different ways, so spreading your presence smartly ensures you’re visible to them wherever they go.

It’s about being accessible, not overwhelming.

🧩 How to use the 7-11-4 mindset in your own marketing

If you’re a small business, mobile service, or veterinary practice trying to grow, this framework gives you a simple way to stay consistent without overcomplicating things.

Here’s how:

Show up regularly. Whether that’s weekly blogs, educational posts, or client stories - consistency builds trust.
Diversify your presence. Don’t rely on one platform - your website, socials, and emails should all tell the same cohesive story.
Track engagement. Notice what your audience interacts with most, and do more of that.
Focus on value, not volume. Quality conversations beat quantity of content, every time.

✨ Why this works

People don’t connect with logos or taglines. They connect with humans - the ones behind the brand who show up, share knowledge and genuinely care.

When someone’s spent hours getting to know your voice, your values and your expertise, the trust you build is far more powerful than any one-off advert.

That’s what turns browsers into believers and believers into long-term clients.