One of the reasons I’ve basically abandoned my Twitter profile in the past year is that I never felt like no one was paying attention to my tweets. But a new study out of The University of Pennsylvania provides some insights that could help me–and you–make your tweets spread.
Jonah Berger, a professor at Wharton, conducted studies to figure out what makes people choose to share content online. He found that the number one determinant was whether the link, article, or tweet caused the user to feel intense emotion. According to a report in Fast Company:
If something results in higher physiological “arousal” because of action or emotional stimulus, then you’re much more likely to share it–it’s actually built into our nervous system, working unconsciously.
Good to know. Now I’m off to go rile up my followers
When it comes to competition, the prevailing theory is that it’s better to be ahead–and stay ahead–from the get-go rather than fall to second place at any point. Sure, it’s possible to come back from behind, but isn’t it better to not have to suffer the pressure you feel when you know you’re being beaten?