South Africa, April 17 -- Consumers don't wake up feeling loyal. Loyalty is the cumulative result of smart brand design: showing up in the right moments, creating emotional significance and making repeat buying feel frictionless.

When done right, loyalty becomes less of a conscious choice and more of an automatic response.

6 ways to build brand loyalty

Here's how to build brand loyalty that lasts, even when your customer is just one swipe away from a better offer.

Easy to mind: Be the first brand they think of

If consumers don't think of your brand in the moment of need, nothing else matters. Loyalty begins with memory.

What to do:

- Codify distinctive brand assets: Logos, colours, packaging, sounds. Think Netflix's "tudum" or McDo...