How do you create a contagious idea? Make it intuitive.

Sometimes the simplest of ideas can spread like wildfire. I came across a great article by Dan Zarrella, who outlined the “8 element of contagious ideas.” One of the most striking principles he mentioned was  “intuitiveness.” To think that a contagious idea should be easy to understand seemed a little counterintuitive. Without all the bells & whistles, complexities and details, why would people be interested? Yet, I realized this concept is spot-on.

Why intuitiveness?

If people can’t easily grasp your idea (which is what you’re selling), it’s difficult to create a large following or reach a wide audience. Say your product requires expert knowledge: those who don’t understand your idea won’t buy-into it, and these people are unlikely to pass it on. Zarrella suggests that we should make it easy for the average listener to “understand, remember, and re-tell.” Word of mouth is infinitely more effective when people know what they’re talking about, they embrace your idea,  and they can take pride in sharing the news.

Who is doing it?

Many companies exemplify this concept well. Some of the biggest companies have stunningly simple ideas. Google, when it started, was simply a search engine (AKA Google helped you find things online). The Apple iPod put 1000 songs in your pocket. That’s right – it doesn’t take a complex concept for people to love it. Tom’s shoes has a simple idea they call “One for One”: when you buy a pair of Tom’s shoes, they give a child a pair of shoes. Is your business idea intuitive?

For small business grappling with how to compete in this market, consider that one of the best things is to focus on what you do best and make sure that people understand your idea.

How can YOU do it?

So you want to create an intuitive idea – what’s the hook for the customers? Zarrella suggests using the “New/Old tactic,” because the combination of novelty & familiar content attracts brand attention. Try this:

• Take old content and “fit into a new structure”
• Use an established concept and put your spin on it (though people have been making cakes forever, Charm City bakery makes wild, fun cakes that you design)
• Run your ideas by friends, peers, and co-workers to see if they grasp your idea. Find out what they don’t understand… and improve it.

Source: http://danzarrella.com/the-8-elements-of-contagious-ideas.html

Best,

Alex