Social Influence

A lot of ideas, stories, etc.. are passed on by word of mouth.  People love to share.  We tell our friends about vacations, chat with neighbors about randomness, gossip to co workers etc.  Online it is much easier to write a review about a restaurant or a movie, share a rumor on a tweet, and so on.  Word of mouth could be more effective then traditional advertisement. Who actually likes commercials on television anyways?  How could something be word of mouth worthy?  Social currency is one principle.  Also, what triggers people?  People talk about what ever they think about; what ever comes to their mind.  If someone thinks about salt most likely they will think of pepper.  What is an idea or product that is easily and frequently triggered to the mind?  In addition, emotion is important to social influence.  "When we care, we share" (Berger 23).  A message that makes people feel and connect.  Help people evoke emotion and it will become contagious.  And then how can we make this story, or product public?  The phrase "monkey see, monkey doo" could be true.  It can help too.  Even further, what is the practical value?  The content must be useful; people try and help people when they intend to spread their word.  The highlight of what is offered, has value, and one continues to pass it on.  Lastly, stories are to be most traveled.  Building or sharing a story that would be passed on is gold.  These are the six principles to contagion.  "The Distance Between Us" by Reyna Grande holds all of these principles.  It holds emotion, story, content, and became contagious through word of mouth.  Reyna Grande shared a story that has impacted so many people.  She evokes heartache, anger, confusion, stress, love, passion and gracefully shares her story without wanting any pity.  People emphasize and sympathize and this connects everyone that reads the story. 

What's your story?

Social Currency

Do you have social currency?

Definition: A common term that can be understood as the entirety of actual and potential resources which arise from the presence in social networks and communities, may they be digital or offline

Do you post pictures on Instagram of what you had for lunch? Or maybe you post about your migraine head ache on Twitter?  Do other people build social currency with you? Maybe you follow healthy profiles.  These profiles may have built social currency with you because of their great posts on how to stay fit.  Next time you post something maybe you will think twice about its importance? Are you gaining social currency or losing social currency in the community?  In order to gain social currency one must connect and touch everyone in masses.  Are your posts original? Are you trying to spread word about something you are passionate about?  Mary Pipher says the most important thing a writer can do is connect. Next time you are on a social network, connect! Gain some points in the social currency arena.

“Words are the most powerful tools at our disposal. With them, writers have saved lives and taken them, brought justice and confounded it, started wars and ended them. Writers can change the way we think and transform our definitions of right and wrong.” – Mary Pipher