But advertising alone won’t guarantee that product will become contagious. It’s no secret that a well-planned advertising campaign can help create a buzz about a product. But how do companies actually create a contagious product? Most of us can easily name a number of ideas and products that rapidly caught on among a large number of people. So, even though Wein invested heavily in creating an excellent dining experience and atmosphere, it was this one contagious idea that propelled Barclay Prime to success – despite the high probability of failure in the restaurant business and the competition of the numerous other steakhouses in the city. And once they tried it, they had to tell people about it. The national media wrote about it, celebrities ate it and, in Philadelphia, where the cheesesteak is a popular fast-food choice, eating a $100 cheesesteak was an experience most people in the city simply couldn’t pass up. More than just an item on the menu, the $100 cheesesteak became a contagious product. The restaurant’s owner, Howard Wein, had put a lot of time and money into creating a great restaurant atmosphere, but he created the $100 cheesesteak solely to generate buzz for Barclay Prime when it opened in 2004. Take, for example, the Barclay Prime steakhouse in Philadelphia, the popularity of which increased dramatically due to a single attention-grabbing item on the menu: a $100 cheesesteak made with Kobe beef, lobster tail and black truffles and served with champagne.

While certain products seem destined to capture the attention of the public, their popularity is often the result of intentional design and smart planning. What is it that makes some products, behaviors and ideas shared all over the world and seen by many millions of people? Is the product just naturally shareable? Is it simply a matter of luck? Does it all come down to good marketing? why we’re more likely to share something if it triggers our emotions.how an anti-drug campaign actually increased drug use among teenagers and.how an octogenarian farmer became an internet sensation.In this summary of Contagious by Jonah Berger, you’ll learn In the following book summarys you will find out exactly what these are and how you can apply each of them to make your product go viral.Īt a time when a contagious idea or product can mean the difference between success and failure, following the formula has never been more vital. STEPPS stands for social currency triggers emotions public practical value and stories. The author Jonah Berger explains that you can make your product contagious if you follow the STEPPS formula. You’ve probably even played a small but essential role in the sharing that leads to those things becoming “contagious.”īut do you know what makes some things wildly popular? You’re probably well aware that certain ideas, behaviors and products can go viral.

Contagious jonah berger sparknotes