Make it Catchy to Make it Sticky vol.1

What makes what you say sticky? Do you even want what you say to be sticky? Let me ask you, “After you’re not in front of the person, do you want them to remember what you said?” If you want them to remember what you said, then, you want it to be sticky. When the person is off alone or talking to others about what you and they were talking about, they’ll either be using their words, your competitors’ words or Your Words.

Once you have decided what you want them to remember, set it and forget it. Here’s how. Study all the great literature throughout all of history. Greak and Roman rhetoric, all the religions, literary geniuses…just kidding. Better yet, just adopt some of their structure. Like, for example, how to make things sticky.

Get prepared by getting a pen and a piece of paper.

1. Write down the main Feature, Advantage or Benefit you want to stick. e.g. “The chair just sits there.” What? Too simple? Did you think I was going to spoon feed you everything? Get your own F, A, or B.

Let’s make this simple, but not simpler.

2. Repeat the last sound. e.g. “Set it and forget it.” Notice I used this two paragraphs ago.

3. Repeat the first sound. e.g. “Here’s how.” Notice I used this two paragraphs ago.

Now, for you more advanced learners. Let’s take my “The chair just sits there” example and make it catchy.

4. Repeat the first word(s) of the sentence. e.g. ”The chair just sits there, the chair sits waiting.” Poetic, isn’t it.

5. Repeat the last word(s). e.g. ”The chair just sits there, a person just sits there. Does this mean they are the same?”

Now, let’s really stretch ourselves for the very difficult next two.

6. Have the last last word(s) be the first word(s) of the next sentence. Then, repeat (optional.) e.g. “The chair just sits there, sitting there doing nothing, nothing of value anyways, anyway to change it? Change it to a ladder, whether the former or the ladder, it is what it is.” Sound familiar? Yes, it’s the same structure used in the child song Dem Bones, “the toe bone connected to the foot bone, the foot bone connected to the leg bone…”

7. Flip-Flop it. Notice the concept AB -> BA e.g. “The chair just sits there, there sitting just a chair, until something else.”

Granted, it’s much easier to do it naturally, but just remember, Make it Catchy to Make it Sticky.

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I’ve gotta be your damn conscience. I’m tired of being your conscience. I don’t enjoy being your conscience. -Dr. Wilson to Dr. House in House

Don’t you ever talk about my friends! You don’t know any of my friends. You don’t look at any of my friends. And you certainly wouldn’t condescend to speak to any of my friends. -John Bender in Breakfast Club

Photo Credit: Flickr & pagedooley