Shortform Books

Word-of-Mouth Marketing Strategy Explained

What is a word-of-mouth marketing strategy? How can word-of-mouth marketing help you create a contagious product? A word-of-mouth marketing strategy focuses on making a product or idea socially transmissible. If people talk about your product, more people will inevitably buy it. Understanding the importance of a word-of-mouth marketing strategy will help you to create a product that is popular and successful. Discover the powerful impact of a word-of-mouth marketing strategy below.

How to Be More Likeable: Be a Comfortable Person

What makes a person likeable? What do you think likeable people do differently? According to Norman Vincent Peale, the author of The Power of Positive Thinking, people generally like people who are “comfortable”—others feel at ease in their presence. Another important factor in being likeable is the ability to make people feel they are important, boosting their ego in some way. Keep reading for Peale’s advice on how to be likeable.

Implicit Racial Bias: Are We All Racist?

What is implicit racism? How could you be racist implicitly, that is, without realizing it? Implicit racism refers to unconscious beliefs, ideas, and attitudes that lead to negative preconceptions of the person on the basis of their race. Unlike explicit racism, implicit racial bias is unintentional—it is a by-product of growing up in a White Supremacist society. Here is how we can challenge it by bringing our biases to light.

The Quest for Ideological Purity on College Campuses

How is the “us versus them” mindset causing a quest for ideological purity in colleges? Why is it so important to have diverse viewpoints? In their book, The Coddling of the American Mind, Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff believe that many colleges today are trending towards ideological purity rather than diversity. They state that this way of thinking can lead to persecution of those who are perceived to be dissenters and can lead to intimidation and fear. Keep reading to learn why ideological purity in colleges is dangerous.

Contagious: Jonah Berger’s Best Marketing Tactics

What powerful marketing tactics can you find in Contagious by Jonah Berger? Why is it that some new products and ideas gain widespread popularity while others fail to “catch on”? In Contagious, Jonah Berger argues that the driving force behind products and ideas catching on—or, in his words, becoming “contagious”—is word of mouth. Things catch on when lots of people talk about them, and Berger’s best marketing tactics will help you find out how to make that happen. Keep reading for the best marketing tactics from Contagious by Jonah Berger.

Lifting the Veil off Political Decision-Making

Why do politicians adopt policies that seem so bad for citizens? Why is it so easy for politicians to cover up their mistakes? In a popularly elected government, the incentive is to do what is popular and garners votes, even if the consequences are worse than those of doing nothing. Even worse, politicians are spending taxpayer money, not their own, so frivolous spending hurts them little. Here is a quick look at what really drives political decision-making.

Tell a Sales Story: The Secret to Sales Success

What exactly is a sales story? What information should you cover as you tell your prospects about your business and the products/services it sells? Your sales story—the response you give when someone asks you to tell them about your business—is the centerpiece of any sales effort. An effective sales story focuses on the problems you solve for customers and the ways your solution is different from and better than anyone else’s. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance and the characteristics of a compelling sales story, and some things to consider as you draft one of your business.

Sales Methodologies: Which One Is Right for You?

Creating a Positive Emotional Relationship With Money

What are the top six sales methodologies? How do these methods compare to Jordan Belfort’s Straight Line system? In his book Way of the Wolf, Jordan Belfort teaches readers how to use the Straight Line selling method. However, this method is just one of many sales methodologies. Here are the top six sales methodologies with sources for learning each.

What Are Economic Incentives?

What are economic incentives? What are the key forces that drive the behavior of economic agents? Economics is based on the assumption that incentives drive the market. This means the incentives of both individual people and also individual firms, each of which are working to benefit their own particular well-being. In this article, we’ll explore the incentives of both firms and individuals and some ways in which incentives can work poorly, distorting the market instead of allowing it to function properly.

How to Identify the Most Important Sentences in a Book

How can you tell which are the most important sentences in a book? What are the best ways to unpack complicated sentences? In How to Read a Book, authors Adler and Van Doren suggest identifying an author’s most important sentences to find their leading proposition. Once you’ve identified the primary proposition, paraphrase it in your own words to make sure you really understand its meaning. Keep reading to learn the best way to find and unpack an author’s most important sentences.