The Key To Making Your Message Memorable

What do you remember from 2015?

Chances are, the things you remember were particularly sticky.

In their book, Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath write about why some ideas and others survive.   When ideas are sticky, you remember them.

One key to stickiness is including a strong emotional component.  In a world where we're swamped by data, connecting people to emotions helps them to remember things.  

For example, if I asked you where you were three months and twenty-two days ago, you'd look at me like I had two heads.  How could anyone be expected to remember where they were then?  (I can barely remember where I was three hours ago sometimes.)

Yet, if I asked you where you were three months, twenty-two days and fourteen years ago, you'd probably be able to recount that morning's events vividly, minute to minute.  Why then?  Because that was the morning of September 11, 2001.   The emotional intensity of the experience seared that memory into your 'unforgettable' file.

Have you noticed how sticky songs from your formative years are?  From the ages of about 10-18, whatever music you listened to then, became your music.  And all the music from those "young kids" who come after...sounds like garbage.

My music was 80's music.  I know I'm getting old when I find myself grooving to the tunes they play in the supermarket now.  I know all the lyrics to these songs I haven't heard in 25 years!  The next thing you know you'll find me dancing in elevators.

If you want to make your communications more memorable, make sure to amp up the emotional intensity.