What’s wrong with your message? Make it more emotional
What’s more likely to get you to stop using pesticides on your lawn? Facts about possible impacts of pesticides on streams? Or the idea that you might harm your kids …
To make information stick, make it credible.
Why does some information stick and other information is quickly forgotten? One reason is that sticky information has more credibility. In Made to Stick, the Heath brothers offer some ideas …
A tiny bottle of arsenic
When Dave Galvin talks about why we need to manage hazardous waste from houses and small businesses, he sometimes holds up a tiny bottle of rat poison. It’s 100% arsenic. …
Keep it simple–but not stupid
In my first professional job, I worked for an academic book publisher, Westview Press. My role was book promotion, trying to persuade libraries and professors to buy our books. Each …
How to make your ideas stick like duct tape
Duct tape is designed for a long-term bond. If you’re trying to change someone’s behavior, beliefs or opinions, wouldn’t you like your ideas to stick in the same way? I’m …
Short and sweet
Every month I receive an email newsletter from speaking coach Candace BelAir. I always open it for two reasons: It contains a useful tip for public speaking or effective communication. …
Storytelling in PR
Here’s an interesting article from PR Insider about storytelling. According to the author Marilyn Fancher, “truly compelling stories always share two things: Emotional relevance and an understanding of the nature …
Tell them a story
Here’s the sixth, and last, post about Jonah Berger’s book Contagious: Why things catch on. Berger describes six reasons that products, ideas and behaviors spread. Stories If you want people to …
If it’s useful, people will share (Contagious, part 5)
Here’s the fifth post about Jonah Berger’s book Contagious: Why things catch on. Berger describes six reasons that products, ideas and behaviors spread. Practical Value The good news is that getting …
Making it public helps behaviors spread (Contagious, part 4)
Here’s the fourth post about Jonah Berger’s book Contagious: Why things catch on. Berger describes six reasons that products, ideas and behaviors spread. Making it public Things that are public, …