Last week, I introduced the mechanism of habit formation. I said Habits don't just form, they are built upon just like Oysters create natural pearls by accumulating layer upon layer of a nacre called mother-of-pearl.
A trigger is the actuator of behavior—the grit in the oyster that precipitates the pearl. Whether we are cognizant of them or not, triggers move us to take action.
Triggers take the form of obvious cues like the morning alarm clock but also come as more subtle, sometimes subconscious signals that just as effectively influence our daily behavior.
Triggers come in two types: external and internal.
1. EXTERNAL TRIGGERS:
External triggers are embedded with information, which tells the user what to do next.
An external trigger communicates the next action the user should take. Often, the desired action is made explicitly clear.
Examples:
1. Advertising campaigns.
2. App icons.
3. Email Newsletters with clear call to action.
4. Word of Mouth.
5. Press mentions.
2. INTERNAL TRIGGERS:
When a product becomes tightly coupled with a thought, an emotion, or a preexisting routine, it leverages an internal trigger. Unlike external triggers, which use sensory stimuli like a morning alarm clock or giant “Click Now” button, you can’t see, touch, or hear an internal trigger.
This week, ask yourself how you can introduce one trigger to your product. What external trigger can you introduce to start the habit forming process?
Talk to you soon.