Why The Word ‘Cool’ Has Stayed Hot For So Long

Our senses have a big impact on what becomes popular and fizzles out. THE word “cool” has been cool for a long time. Originally associated with temperature, by the 16th century the term had evolved to describe not just the atmosphere, but also an internal state of calm, almost icy composure. And by the late […]

Read More...

Why Clickbait Fails

Optimizing headlines for attention can be a good thing.  But when that starts to become the only thing people think about, it’s time for some new content metrics.

Read More

Want To Make Real Connections This Holiday Season? Put Down The Technology

Now that we’re in the thick of the holiday season, a lot of us are reflecting on our year and our relationships with our closest friends and family. We frequently rely on digital forms of communication to connect with people – whether it be text, email or social media. But how do these technologies shape […]

Read More...

Viral 2.0

There’s a lot of excitement around viral. But it’s time to move past the hype and focus on how it can really benefit business. It’s time for Viral 2.0.

Read More

The Tiny Adjustment That Could Change The Course Of Your Next Interview

Ever heard the phrase fake it till you make it?  Turns out there’s some truth to it.  Here’s a simple tip to make your next job interview, speech, or negotiation more successful.

Read More

How to Sell Ideas Like Gladwell

Whether you agree with him or not, Malcolm Gladwell does an amazing job of communicating ideas.  Here are three tips we can learn about selling our own ideas.

Read More

Is Little Data The Next Big Data?

Is personal quantification the next evolution of the Big Data revolution?  And is our addiction to analytics leading us astray?

Read More

Miley Cyrus’ Best Career Move. Ever.

Everyone said that Miley Cyrus’ performance a week and a half ago was terrible.  Distasteful, crass, and a potential career ruiner. But could it be the best thing that ever happened to her?

Read More

Fuzzy Math: What Makes Something Seem Like A Good Deal?

What makes something seem like a good deal?  Subtle ways of framing the same information can make consumers more compelled to purchase.

Read More

Is Controversy Good For Business?

From Anthony Weiner to Mountain Dew, controversial stories have flooded the news. But does controversy hurt or help?

Controversy has been in the news a lot lately.  While thousands of New Yorkers stand behind Anthony Weiner’s run for Mayor, his sexting scandal has threatened to overwhelm his politics. Rolling Stone magazine sparked a heated debate and fame after it put Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on its cover. Mountain Dew pulled an ad after people complained it was racist and JC Penney took down a billboard after a social media firestorm suggested the kettle on it looked like Hitler.

But can controversy be good for business?  Does it boost buzz?  Might it increase sales?  As I discuss in Contagious: Why Things Catch On, the answers may not be as simple as they seem.

 

Read More