May 23, 2008
word-of-mouth is not created
Send to Kindle
“Word of mouth is not created, it is co-created. People will only spread your virus if there’s something in it for them.” — Hugh MacLeod.
Something I said on Twitter recently. Thanks to John Moore of Brand Autopsy fame for picking it up. Rock on.
"Hugh's Daily Cartoon" Newsletter.
A new cartoon sent out every weekday morning to your inbox [RSS version here.].
A wee chuckle to start your day off right etc.
Other Useful Links
Send to KindleAbout Hugh. Hugh’s Book. Twitter. Facebook. Cartoon Archive.
Hugh’s Artist’s Statement: “Remember Who You Are”
Tags: Brand Autopsy, John Moore, twitter
Awesome! I try to tell people all the time. Appeal to individual self interest.
Something in it for them = emotional rewards, never monetary rewards.
They must feel smart, happy, important, love, fun, belonging. Or angry.
surely the point of “word of mouth” is that it isn’t in a vacuum, its a twoway street. its trust ‘loaded’, theres social investment in it.
Its also ‘on approval’
just a thought
P
True. But the “something in it for them” doesn’t necessarily connote selfishness. Just finished Gladwell’s Tipping Point (yes, superslacker for reading it way after Blink, and I heartily agree with his ideas about Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen. Some people share because they get off from sharing — not because they’re actually compensated beyond the emotional high. I’ve felt that personally, time and again.
This reminds me of a similar train of thought…
People pay attention (and may ultimately spread the word) when there is a compelling argument that that speaks to their life instincts — their emotions or their economics (or both).
When I saw the headline “word-of-mouth is not created”, I thought brilliant. But I expected a follow-up a little more profound, coming from you’n’all. The continuation I had in mind was rather: “Word-of-mouth is not created. It is earned”.
Hello Hugh, great cartoon !!
You rock !!
Thanks a lot, Miguel, from Brazil