Glossary/Strategy & Frameworks/Hierarchy of Effects
Strategy & Frameworks
Hierarchy of Effects
Robert Lavidge and Gary Steiner's 1961 model that advertising moves people through awareness, knowledge, liking, preference, conviction and purchase.
By Brandon Mina·CEO, BrandPilot AI·Updated November 2026
Short answer
The Hierarchy of Effects is Robert Lavidge and Gary Steiner's 1961 model proposing that advertising moves people through sequential stages: awareness, knowledge, liking, preference, conviction and purchase. It helps marketers set communication objectives for each stage, though later research shows buyers do not always follow the steps in a strict order.