Thought Leader Launchpad: 3 Secrets to Promote, Market, and Go Viral (Succeed Even If, Ep. 85 - Tom Marcoux, Johanna E.)

Enjoy this special episode titled Thought Leader Launchpad. Tom and Johanna reveal three secrets to promote, market, and go viral.

Drawing from Tom's extensive experience, which includes blog posts reaching 222 countries and podcast episodes amassing 36,000 downloads, this episode delves into the four essential elements of going viral.

This episode offers actionable insights and real-world examples.

Learn more about these strategies and enhance your influence through Tom Marcoux’s online courses available at getthebigyes.com/best.

Don't miss this chance to elevate your promotional game and ensure your content stands out in today's crowded digital landscape.

Special note - Experience the Online Courses (plus others):  * "Success Secrets: Confidence and Skills to Handle Toxic People and

* Darkest Secrets of Persuasion and Seduction Masters: How to Protect Yourself and Turn the Power to Good ... when you go to The Tom Marcoux Institute   Want Real Success—but you feel held back by real difficulties? Are you looking for powerful methods to enhance your skills and to help you perform at your best in tough situations? Communication Sage/Spoken Word Strategist Tom Marcoux and Johanna E. bring you a lively show, filled with real-world success methods. Learn more at http://GetTheBigYes.com  Look inside Tom's 50+ books on Amazon 

Hear samples of Tom's 30+ audiobooks on Audible.com  © Tom Marcoux

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to Succeed Even If. This is a special episode, Thought Leader Launchpad.
I'm Tom Raku, the communication sage and spoken word strategist. And I'm Johanna.
So when we talk about Thought Leader Launchpad, we're specifically talking in
this episode about three secrets to promote, market, and go viral.

(00:22):
Sounds interesting. Can't wait. Now this is based on my actual experience of
writing blog posts that gained visitors from 222 countries and also my experience
writing and directing podcast episodes that gained 36,000 downloads.
So this is based on specific results and really observing what works.

(00:47):
So I was talking with one of my colleagues about promotions of feature films.
It got really clear to me that there are four elements. So we might say three secrets and a bonus.
But there are really four elements that come together when you want to get the
attention of an audience. You've got my attention.
Thank you. And these four elements, we can remember them by the word CATS.

(01:12):
So C stands for controversy.
Now, if you look at things that go viral, if you look at memes that are really
appreciated and that are liked a lot, you'll notice that there's a controversy. There's some drama.
Joanna, I've noticed that you tend to like certain types of memes on Facebook.
I really dislike a certain politician. So all the memes that are against that person, I like them.

(01:40):
Exactly. So C of cats is controversy.
A is affinity group. And you're demonstrating that you're part of an affinity group.
All the people who like these particular memes are showing that we all are like-minded.
We agree that something is bad. T is target issue.
And finally, S is seek entertainment.

(02:04):
Everything's about entertainment right now. People need to be engaged with entertainment
and much of it is drama and controversy and memes.
Well, yes, but the point though, is that people are divided and people are in
groups and people are getting their news from social media and they're in bubbles.

(02:27):
And so they don't even contemplate what the other side is proposing.
One of the most powerful ideas I learned decades ago was the concept of the third alternative.
This is something that Stephen Covey authored the book, The Seven Habits of
Highly Effective People.
And he would point out that when two people start talking and they're in dialogue,

(02:50):
one person proposes one idea and the other person proposes another idea and they don't agree.
And a compromise is not an answer. So there's a classic example.
There's a married couple.
One of them wants to go to the mountains. The other one wants to go to the beach.
So they compromise and end up in Las Vegas. Somebody's in trouble.
Especially if they lose a lot of money there. That's a lousy compromise.

(03:13):
Nobody got what they wanted. it. If they keep talking, if the dialogue keeps
going, then they can come upon the idea of Hawaii.
Hawaii has mountains, Hawaii has beaches, and that's a good solution.
Now, the reason why I bring this up is that so much of what goes viral is stuff
that's about drama and opposition and divided people saying that that other

(03:37):
side is horrible and stupid and our side is smart and effective? Oh, we are.
Well said. But the thing is, if you're going to want to get attention,
think of cats, controversy, affinity group, target issue, and seek entertainment.

(03:59):
And the entertainment has conflict.
The entertainment has drama. And that's part of what makes things go viral.
And it's part of how you can promote something.
So Joanna, let's look at a detail, Something you bought. What did you buy recently?
I bought a keyboard that you could fold. I can use it with my phone in the Dex mode. That's D-E-X.

(04:19):
Samsung phones utilize that. So you're part of an affinity group.
People who use Samsung phones. Yes.
And that's what we need to look at. So if we want to promote something,
we want to market something, we want something to go viral, we have to think
about the affinity group. Now here's another example.
So let's say there's a feature film and it's about a young woman who defends

(04:39):
herself against physical violence.
So what is the affinity group? Women. What is the issue? Physical violence and
defense. What is the controversy?
What if she carries pepper spray, a taser, some other type of weapon,
whatever kind of weapon, there might be a controversy around that weapon. then.

(04:59):
The idea that someone has the right to defend themselves.
And then the other idea that some people are upside down about different types
of weapons. So the idea there's a controversy.
And then finally, entertainment, what's a film? There's drama naturally in a film.
At least a good one. I hear you. So now let's pull this all together.

(05:20):
We're talking about promoting something or marketing or aiming to develop something
that may go viral. Cats was our word.
Controversy, affinity group, target issue, and seek entertainment.
So how can we learn more about cats and processes like cats?
I have a number of online courses through my Tom Harku Institute.

(05:42):
You can get access to them at getthebigyes.com forward slash best.
That's getthebigyes.com forward slash b-e-s-t.
And these are courses that help you develop confidence, learn how to pitch if
you have an idea that you want to develop a business around,
learn how to sell, learn how to to deal with toxic people.

(06:04):
All of these courses come together
under a program called Mastery of Influence, Impact, and Elevation.
Sounds like our best bet. Good use of the word best.
Joan, I'm curious, what are we going to keep from our conversation?
Seeking entertainment.
Good point. So everything that we do when we're reaching into social media and

(06:27):
other forms of media, you got to bring on the drama, bring on the entertainment,
bring on the conflict so that people will pay attention.
So it punches through the noise. Yes.
Thank you, Joanna, for your part of this process and this discussion.
And thank you, the listener, for checking out our ideas.
And we do invite you to once again, check out our online courses at getthebigyes.com

(06:51):
forward slash best and the best to you. Catch you next time.