What is Brand Love?

Brand Love is when your audience loves your museum so much that they tell others about you when you’re not even in the room. They know your messaging; they know what you do and who you are. They have visited your museum and have had such a great experience that they want to come again and bring a friend. They bought the t-shirt. Maybe they even decide to purchase a membership. They are invested. They have seen consistent and positive media coverage, which validates how they feel about you. You’ve gotten them on board to share your messaging with others.

Brand Love is earned, it’s intentional, and it’s slow-growing, but the benefits are far greater than any quick-hit PR campaign. It’s the foundation of what I call the Love my Museum Method, a philosophy and framework that helps museums build meaningful, lasting relationships with their audiences through authentic communication and connection.

There are three parts to “Brand Love,” which together form the basis of the Love my Museum Method: brand messaging, visitor experience, and media relations.

Let’s talk about each one:

Brand Messaging.

Your brand messaging should be clear, consistent, and confident. If your audience understands a clear and simple message, they will remember it and they’ll be able to repeat it to others. Repetition builds recognition. Consistency builds trust. Research shows it takes around seven interactions before someone acts on a message, so every piece of communication counts.

When you express your museum’s message with confidence and authenticity, you’re helping your audience feel connected to your mission. In the Love my Museum Method, this is where we start—clarifying your brand story so that everyone on your team can communicate it with ease and enthusiasm.

Visitor Experience.

Knowing the visitor experience from beginning to end is essential to growing Brand Love. I invite my clients to walk through their visitor journey from the perspective of someone who’s never been there before.

Is it easy to find information on your website on how to plan a visit? Can someone plan their visit with confidence? When guests walk through your doors, are they greeted warmly? Is your space accessible and inclusive? Does your museum actively serve and reflect your community?

In the Love my Museum Method, we look closely at all of these touchpoints, making sure your visitor experience reinforces your brand message and builds a genuine emotional connection.

Media Relations.

When most people think of PR, they think of media coverage, but true media relations is built on relationships. Cultivating genuine, mutually beneficial connections with journalists takes time, respect, and consistency. In the Love my Museum Method, I guide clients in identifying media partners, positioning curators and staff as trusted experts, and developing spokespersons who confidently share the museum’s story. Remember, media relationships are a two-way street. It’s just as important to hold up your end by being reliable, responsive, and a helpful source of engaging, up-to-date content.

Want to learn more?

Creating Brand Love is at the heart of what I help my clients achieve through the Love my Museum suite of services, free resources and affordable paid programs designed specifically for museum professionals.

You can schedule some time on my calendar to learn more. I understand that trusting someone to guide your museum’s communications strategy is a big step. Discovery calls with me are never pushy and come with no obligation. Take your time. I’ll be here when you’re ready.

If you’d like to explore how the Love my Museum Method can build Brand Love for your audience, book a call to find time on my calendar: