The Power of Brand Rituals: Why Some Habits Make Companies Unbreakable

By ODW Media Room Marketing 2024

In 2022, Doritos decided to do something radical:
They removed the Doritos logo completely.

No brand name.
No iconic chip triangle.
Just… the experience people already knew.

And what happened?

Customers took over:
They made memes, videos, packaging guesses, and shared their own Doritos stories.

Sales went up.
Engagement exploded.
User creativity → brand dominance.

Because when people feel ownership, they create momentum.

Your customers don’t just consume marketing anymore —
They create marketing.

Why Rituals Make Brands Impossible to Quit

Because rituals live in habits —
and habits live in the brain’s reward system.

BrandRitualWhy It Works
Starbucks Writing your name on cups Personal attention
Apple Unboxing experience Premium anticipation
Tinder Swiping Gamified dopamine hits
Netflix “Next Episode” autoplay Zero friction

Rituals create an identity loop:

“People like me do this with this brand.”

That becomes unbreakable loyalty.

5 Types of Brand Rituals That Drive Explosive Growth

01

Daily Micro-Moments

Small, consistent interactions

Frequent use = deep attachment

Example:
Duolingo streaks → people open the app daily out of pride

02

Community-Specific Traditions

Things fans do together

Shared behavior = shared identity

Example:
K-Pop fandom chants → belonging becomes powerful advocacy

03

Gamified Actions

Reward loops users crave

Playful behavior feels self-driven

Example:
Fitness apps unlocking achievement badges

04

Sensory Recall

Taste, sound, motion, color = instant recognition

Memory loves sensory shortcuts

Example:
Coca-Cola bottle sound → opens nostalgia instantly

05

Cultural Alignment

Leverage rituals already in culture

Brand feels like part of life, not an interruption

Example:
Brands joining “Sunday brunch culture” → higher weekend sales

Creativity = Repetition of Courage

Innovation isn’t lightning.
It’s persistence.

Magic is made by those who keep trying new.

How to Create a Signature Brand Ritual

Ask these three questions:

QuestionIf “Yes”
Does it create joy or pride? Users feel good repeating it
Would users share it? Free marketing
Does it align with brand purpose? Feels authentic

If any answer is “No” → tweak it.
If all are “Yes” → scale it.

Case Study

AI Turned a Startup Into a Growth Machine

Client

Challenge

ODW Solution — Create a Morning Ritua

8-Week Outcomes

AreaImpact
Customer retention +62% increase
UGC content posts 4,100+ organic shares
Subscription upgrades +37% uplift
Brand recall Major lift in Australia search queries

Coffee didn’t change.
Experience did — and behavior followed.

Your Brand Doesn’t Need Better Ads

It needs one ritual people love.

Products may be copied.
Rituals cannot be.

If you want:

Loyalty that doesn’t leave
Customers who advocate
Marketing that never sleeps

Let’s design experiences people want to repeat — every day.

Make your brand a habit.
Habits win markets.

At ODW, creativity is our language and technology our voice — together, they build connections that matter.

© 2025 Our Designs Work Inc. All right reserved