Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/wharton-contagious-viral-marketing

Introduction

**Course Review: Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content on Coursera** If you’ve ever found yourself puzzled by why certain products explode in popularity while others fail catastrophically, you’re not alone. The course “Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content” on Coursera dives deep into this fascinating subject, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to understand and leverage the principles of viral marketing. **Overview: Understanding Contagion in Marketing** This course offers a comprehensive exploration of what makes ideas, products, and behaviors catch on. Rather than mere speculation, it grounds its lessons in well-researched scientific principles, making it an essential guide for marketers, entrepreneurs, or anyone keen to understand the mechanics behind viral success. Throughout the course, you will not only learn the theory but also how to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios, enhancing your ability to market ideas, brands, and products successfully. **Syllabus Breakdown: Key Takeaways** 1. **What Makes Ideas Sticky?** This module introduces the concept of sticky ideas, emphasizing the “six SUCCESs” factors that lead to memorable and impactful messages. You’ll discover strategies to make your presentations or pitches more effective, ensuring that your audience retains the information long after it’s been shared. 2. **How Social Influence Shapes Behavior** Understanding social influence is crucial in marketing, as it shapes consumer behavior—from the food we choose to the products we buy. This module analyzes how individuals look to others for decision-making cues, offering insights on leveraging this social proof to influence others effectively and ethically. 3. **The Power of Word of Mouth** Word of mouth is often cited as the most powerful marketing tool, and this module teaches you why. With statistics showing word of mouth is 10 times more effective than traditional advertising, the course delves into the mechanics of sharing and the key motivators behind why people talk about certain ideas more than others. The “six STEPPS” that drive sharing are a highlight of this section, providing a clear framework for making content more contagious. 4. **Social Networks** Lastly, this module explores the dynamics of social networks and how they affect information spread. You’ll learn about the importance of social ties, both strong and weak, and how to utilize them strategically. By understanding these networks, you can better plan your marketing strategies and enhance the likelihood of your product or idea going viral. **Why You Should Take This Course** Whether you’re a marketing professional looking to sharpen your skills or an entrepreneur hoping to maximize the reach of your startup’s launches, "Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content" provides invaluable knowledge. The course is structured logically, making complex ideas accessible and offering practical applications to ensure that learners can implement their newfound knowledge immediately. In addition to being informative, the course is engaging and packed with real-world examples that illustrate the concepts taught. The interactive elements, such as quizzes and discussions with fellow learners, further enrich the learning experience and foster a sense of community. **Conclusion: A Strong Recommendation** In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, understanding the principles of viral marketing is a game changer. “Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content” not only enlightens you about the mechanics behind successful viral campaigns but also equips you with actionable strategies for your marketing needs. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in enhancing their marketing skill set, whether you’re a novice or have previous experience. By mastering the art of crafting contagious content, you will be better positioned to influence your audience and impact your projects in meaningful ways. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to elevate your marketing acumen—enroll today and start making your ideas stick!

Syllabus

What Makes Ideas Sticky?

In this module, you'll start to learn what makes products, ideas, and behaviors contagious; in other words, why they catch on. You'll explore the science behind why some things become popular while others fail. You'll also discover the key principles, or six SUCCESs” factors that make messages stick. Finally, you'll learn how to make any idea more memorable, whether it’s a pitch to your boss or a lesson you want students to remember.

In this module, you'll examine how social influence shapes everything people do: from the products we buy and candidates we vote for to the food we like and careers we pursue. You’ll learn how people use others to help them make choices and how companies leverage this power to shape the products and services we use. You'll discover when people are more likely to conform or do the same thing as others, and when they are more likely to diverge or do something different. At the end of this module, you'll understand how to avoid being influenced by others and how to use influence to make yourself more successful.

This module will teach you about the power of word of mouth. You’ll learn why word of mouth, or person to person communication, is 10 times as effective as traditional advertising. Further, you’ll discover why some products or ideas get talked about more than others. Why some online content goes viral or some things get more buzz. You’ll learn the six key STEPPS that drive people to share, and how by understanding those drivers, you can make anything more contagious.

In this module, you'll learn what social networks are, and how they shape the spread of information and influence. How the patterns of social ties between people determine what we do, and what catches on. How people we’ve never even met can influence our tastes and preferences. You’ll learn about how strong and weak ties help get people jobs, and whether to concentrate or spread out marketing resources when launching a new product. By the end of this module, you'll not only be able to analyze the success of popular products, ideas, and services, but also apply these insights to make your own stuff more likely to catch on.