Diaundra's TL;DR - Hitmakers by Derek Thompson 🎬
“To sell something surprising, make it familiar. To sell something familiar, make is surprising.”
8 things I learned:
Viral content is not a matter of chance. Virality = timing + repetition + familiarity + the audience’s tastes
The art of making a hit is the balance between what is new & what is familiar. People love the tension between feeling surprised & feeling comforted (ex: the stranger that feels like a friend)
Timing is everything. To create a hit you must understand cultural trends and anticipate your audience’s next interest
“To sell something surprising, make it familiar. To sell something familiar, make is surprising”
Growth through atomic networks (loyal + intimate communities/fans) is always the best way to share and promote your work
Successful hits often have a strong narrative arc (“a spine”), with a clear beginning, middle, and end that keeps people engaged and interested
Be consistent & persistent at failing. There are 1,000 flops around every hit. If you are not failing, you are likely not trying hard enough
Roll out the red carpet for yourself. If you don’t, who will? Generating anticipation will increase excitement
Question for you: What does incorporating the tension between innovation and familiarity look like for a project you are working on today?
DM me you answer on IG. For a full list of all my 2023 reads & what i’ll be reading next check out my ‘Table of Contents’.
Till next time, be blessed. 💕
With love,
Diaundra