Been contemplating the sound of bells. Not the whiskey (not a fan) the big things that hang from churches…

Now I am not someone who is a fan of campanology.

I am fascinated by the role that church bells have played within certain communities.

These seems to be three purposes for the bells. A time-keeper, a way of gathering people together and a signal for people to scatter.

The chiming of the bells have shaped many communities’ days. The bells were the community time-keeper.

When not setting time, certain chimes signaled a call to prayer, where the local community would gather.

Other sounds, out of sync with this fixed sonic calendar, would raise the alarm within the community, warning the townspeople or flooding, attack or other such dire situations.

Tip for brands thinking of a sonic identity
When considering the sound of your brand, consider the roles that sound will play. A simple bell has played numerous roles in certain societies for centuries. The danger for brands is that the sound you have presently might be sending out the wrong signal to your community. When you think you are gathering in your potential ‘community of brand fans’, you might actually be getting them to run away as fast as you can. It might be time to listen to your brand more carefully.