Tag: stickiness factor

Chapter 3: The Stickiness Factor

Posted on by Carl Weber

Now it is getting interesting.  As someone who grew up on Sesame Street, it was fascinating to understand how much effort was behind teachtaining (new word) me as a kid.  Learning what is behind making a TV show, initiative, or marketing effort sticky caused me to look around and listen for attempts at stickiness.  Was that message really intended for me?  Was that lame jingle their attempt at sticking in my mind?

Recently I participated in a “treasure hunt” approach similar to the Columbia example in the book.  This company through its email newsletter asked me to participate in an online game that asks you to fill your shopping cart with various natural brands that they are affiliated with.  The intention is to get each of us to visit the various websites and begin to use these brands.  There was a two-part incentive.  If you visited all the sites, you got coupons to purchase these products, but that was the minor incentive.  One lucky winner would get a $15,000 new kitchen.  Since I have been consciously avoiding re-doing our kitchen (except for a fresh coat of paint), they got my attention.  The game was fun and interesting enough to get me to do the work.  As of today, I did not win, but I will keep you posted.

What recently demonstrated the stickiness factor for you?  Was it an ad, a song, a company, or a person?  Is all stickiness good?  Sometimes I am amazed at the stickiness of certain pop songs with my kids.  Can you think of an example where someone or something was attempting to be sticky for good or bad?  In the over-crowded and potentially over-connected space of our lives, do you notice that these attempts are becoming more cutting edge or more over-the-top?  Do these attempts move to you action, or are they just background noise?  Look around for the next few days, and let all of us know what you observe.

Now that I think about watching Blue’s Clues with my kids, I realized how much I enjoyed that program as well, and its non-flashy journey based episodes.  It was deliberately sticky, especially for parents who were growing tired with the lightning paced shows it was competing with.  Or maybe I was just tired and needed a nap.

Chapter One: The Three Rules

Posted on by Carl Weber

The Law of the Few:  Well, there is nothing better when considering epidemic-like events than discussing the spread of STDs…but it does help make the case for how a few people can spread an idea or a product.  The 80/20 rule seems to apply well especially as Gladwell describes the characteristics of the few as how much more “sociable they are, or how energetic or knowledgeable or influential among their peers.”  (Page 21)  Think about people in your circles whose influence seems to outweigh the average person, do you listen to them?  Do they impact you?  Are you that person?

Stickiness Factor:  The ability for something to remain appears to be a key factor, essentially it has to “stick” with you in order to make the kind of impact Gladwell describes.  “Stickiness means that a message makes an impact.”  (Page 25)  What was the last thing that “stuck” in your head?  Was it a song, a commercial, a person, an event?

The Power of Context:  Understanding the situation people find themselves in is the last rule and states “that human beings are a lot more sensitive to their environment than they may seem.”  (Page 29)  The “bystander problem” as described in this chapter was pretty alarming to me, and made me think about when I see an accident or lose power in the neighborhood.  I mostly assume someone has already called 911 or the power company and I don’t pick up the phone.  I do not always act because in context, there are so many people in the same situation, assumptions are easy to make.  Does the environment impact you?  How do you feel when you come home to a sink full of dishes, you witness an argument, or it rains on the day you planned that big outdoor event?

Gladwell is making the case, or perhaps building his case that these three rules need to be in place in order to pass the tipping point.  Have just one of these, and it is not enough.  You have two of them?  Sorry, you still need another one.  Can you think of an example of each rule in your own experience?  If so, please share it with the group.

As a reminder, please read a chapter each week, post a thought about the reading, and comment on at least one other person’s post.