<ul><li>We talk about things that are easy to remember.</li><li>Connect your idea to something people see or do often.</li><li>The more they think about it, the more they’ll share it.</li></ul>

2. Stay on Their Mind (Triggers)

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

<ul><li>People copy what others are doing.</li><li>If your product is visible, more people will notice and want it too.</li><li>Make sure it’s easy to spot and talk about.</li></ul>

4. Make It Easy to See (Public)

<ul><li>People like sharing things that make them look smart or cool.</li><li>The better it makes them feel, the more likely they are to talk about it.</li><li>Give people something interesting to talk about.</li></ul>

1. Make People Look Good (Social Currency)

<ul><li>People talk about things that are new or different.</li><li>If your idea stands out, it will spread faster.</li><li>Surprise people or show them something unexpected.</li></ul>

7. Be Unique or Surprising (Remarkable Things)

<ul><li>Great ideas make people feel something and help them.</li><li>Combine strong feelings with helpful content.</li><li>This makes your idea stick and spread.</li></ul>

8. Mix Emotion and Usefulness

<ul><li>When we feel strong emotions, we’re more likely to share.</li><li>Exciting, funny, or shocking things spread fast.</li><li>Don’t just give facts—make people feel something.</li></ul>

3. Make People Feel Something (Emotion)

<ul><li>People love to share tips, deals, and useful info.</li><li>Make your message helpful and easy to understand.</li><li>If it saves time or money, it’ll get shared more.</li></ul>

5. Be Helpful (Practical Value)

<ul><li>Let people easily share your product or message.</li><li>Use things like referral rewards or social sharing buttons.</li><li>Sharing should be part of the experience.</li></ul>

9. Make It Shareable by Design

<ul><li>We remember stories better than plain facts.</li><li>Turn your message into a simple story people can repeat.</li><li>Make your product a key part of the story.</li></ul>

6. Tell a Story (Stories)

<ul><li>Don’t just go viral once—stay in people’s minds.</li><li>Use regular reminders and consistent messaging.</li><li>The more people see it, the more they’ll share it.</li></ul>

10. Keep It Going (Be Consistent)

The Secret Science Behind What People Share

The New York Times bestseller that explains why certain products and ideas become popular. “Jonah Berger knows more about what makes information ‘go viral’ than anyone in the world.” —Daniel Gilbert, author of the bestseller Stumbling on Happiness What makes things popular? If you said advertising, think again. People don’t listen to advertisements, they listen to their peers. But why do people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? Why are some stories and rumors more infectious? And what makes online content go viral? Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger has spent the last decade answering these questions. He’s studied why New York Times articles make the paper’s own Most E-mailed list, why products get word of mouth, and how social influence shapes everything from the cars we buy to the clothes we wear to the names we give our children. In Contagious, Berger reveals the secret science behind word-of-mouth and social transmission. Discover how six basic principles drive all sorts of things to become contagious, from consumer products and policy initiatives to workplace rumors and YouTube videos. Learn how a luxury steakhouse found popularity through the lowly cheesesteak, why anti-drug commercials might have actually increased drug use, and why more than 200 million consumers shared a video about one of the most boring products there is: a blender. Contagious provides specific, actionable techniques for helping information spread—for designing messages, advertisements, and content that people will share. Whether you’re a manager at a big company, a small business owner trying to boost awareness, a politician running for office, or a health official trying to get the word out, Contagious will show you how to make your product or idea catch on.

4. Make It Easy to See (Public)

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