Strategically Communicating

The term “sticky” has been stuck in my head since the first week of class. Since then I have been thinking of ways that make me “sticky” and immediately realize something that makes someone else “sticky”.

To recap, Chip Heath & Dan Heath’s 6 principles for “sticky” ideas are:

1. simplicity We must create ideas that are both simple and profound.
2. unexpectedness For our ideas to endure, we must generate interest and curiosity. Open gaps in people’s curiosity and then fill in those gaps.
3. concreteness Speaking concretely is the only way to ensure that our idea will mean the same thing to everyone in our audience.
4. credibility Do research and try before you buy.
5. emotions Make people feel something and elicit emotion.
6. stories Tell stories to get people to act on the idea.

I think these principles are great tools for us to use to make our ideas “sticky” and to help when thinking of ideas to write about for our own blogs. There is so much information out there on social media sites and if an idea does not stick out, then it will easily be overlooked.