Pos public0819
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This document summarizes a study on the psychology of sharing and the motivations behind why people share content online. The study used ethnographies, interviews, and surveys of 2,500 regular sharers to identify six distinct personas of online sharers: Altruists, Careerists, Hipsters, Boomerangs, Connectors, and Selectives. Each persona is defined by their emotional motivations for sharing, how they want to present themselves, the role of sharing in their lives, and their preferences for sharing platforms. The study provides guidelines for marketers to get their content shared, such as appealing to relationships between consumers and a sense of urgency, while maintaining trust and simplicity. E-mail remains the top sharing platform.
![To bring valuable and entertaining content to others
49%
say sharing allows
them to inform
others of products
they care about and
potentially change
opinions or
encourage action
94%
carefully consider
how the [I share] to enrich
information they the lives of those
share will be useful around me.
to the recipient - Immersion
participant, female](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/pospublic0819-121205043451-phpapp01/85/Pos-public0819-17-320.jpg)
![Careerists
I share [things related to] business
interests and exchange ideas on
how to improve our company’s
offerings to our customers.
- Immersion participant, male](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/pospublic0819-121205043451-phpapp01/85/Pos-public0819-27-320.jpg)
Pos public0819
- 2. The Psychology of Sharing: What Is This Study About? A first-of-its-kind inquiry into the motivations behind why we share Understanding the motivational forces behind the act of sharing will help marketers get their content shared
- 3. Why do consumers share content online? What motivates Are there distinct How can consumers to personalities understanding share content? with different why people motivations? share help advertisers?
- 4. Overview Methodology Motivations Online Sharing Key Guidelines Consumer for Sharing Personas for Getting Categories Shared
- 5. Methodology We worked with Latitude Research to conduct a three-phase study to understand why people share content online
- 6. Methodology PHASE Ethnographies ●In-person interviews in New York, Chicago and San Francisco
- 8. Methodology Methodology PHASE Quantitative Survey ●Survey of 2,500 medium/heavy online sharers ●Conducted segmentation to identify main types of sharers
- 9. SHARING CONTENT IS NOT NEW
- 10. In the past, people shared at lunch with their girlfriends when they saw someone with something cool. We still share things when it’s relevant… we just share more and online. – Ethnography participant, female
- 11. Sharing is not new, it's human nature Self- actualization Self- actualization Love/ Esteem Belonging Esteem Love/Belonging Safety Safety Physiological
- 12. We now live in the Information Age We share From With MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE content sources people often quickly
- 13. I have a hard time imagining how much more to-the-minute information can become. With twitter, instant FB updates, e-mail updates, what would have been considered fast even five years ago is obsolete. – Deprivation participant, female
- 14. From Broadcasters to Sharecasters Mashing up Receiving Redistributing Creating and recreating Combining
- 15. Sharing acts as “information management” 73% say they process information more deeply, thoroughly and thoughtfully Sharing information when they share it helps me do my job. I remember products and information sources better when 85% I share them and am say reading other more likely to use people’s responses them. helps them understand and – Deprivation participant, male process information and events
- 17. To bring valuable and entertaining content to others 49% say sharing allows them to inform others of products they care about and potentially change opinions or encourage action 94% carefully consider how the [I share] to enrich information they the lives of those share will be useful around me. to the recipient - Immersion participant, female
- 18. To define ourselves to others 68% share to give people a better sense of who they are and what they care about I try to share only information that will reinforce the image I’d like to present: thoughtful, reasoned, kind, interested and passionate about certain things. - Deprivation participant, male
- 19. To grow and nourish our relationships 78% share information online because it lets them stay connected to people they may 73% not otherwise stay share information in touch with because it helps them connect with others who share their interests I miss the companionship and conversations on Facebook. I feel like I’m probably missing out on some things without the connection. - Deprivation participant, male
- 20. Self-fulfillment 69% share information because it allows them to feel more involved in the world I enjoy getting comments that I sent great information and that my friends will forward it to their friends because it’s so helpful. It makes me feel valuable. - Ethnography participant, female
- 21. To get the word out about causes or brands 84% share because it is a way to support causes or issues they care about I forwarded an article about Proposition B to Everyone in my union. I wanted them to learn about the issue and rally against it. - Ethnography participant, male
- 22. Sharing is all about relationships
- 23. 6 PERSONAS OF SHARERS
- 24. Six personas of online sharers 1 Altruists 5 SEGMENTS ARE Connectors DEFINED BY: ● Emotional 3 motivations Hipsters ● Desired presentation of self 6 ● Role of sharing Selectives in life 2 ● Value of being Careerists 4 first to share Boomerangs
- 25. Altruists I sent a couple of articles on nutrition and wellness to a friend with health issues. She e-mailed me to thank me; she appreciated that I had been thinking about her. – Ethnography participant, female
- 26. HELPFUL RELIABLE E-MAIL THOUGHTFUL CONNECTED
- 27. Careerists I share [things related to] business interests and exchange ideas on how to improve our company’s offerings to our customers. - Immersion participant, male
- 28. LINKEDIN VALUABLE INTELLIGENT NETWORK
- 29. Hipsters Sharing is actually part of who I am. – Deprivation participant, male
- 30. LESS LIKELY TO E-MAIL CUTTING EDGE CREATIVE IDENTITY YOUNG POPULAR
- 31. Boomerangs When I post controversial things, it makes me look engaged and provocative, and I want to be perceived that way. If I don’t get a response then I know I’ve missed my mark. - Ethnography participant, male
- 32. BOOMERANGS REACTION VALIDATION EMPOWERED TWITTER FACEBOOK
- 33. Connectors I got a deal to the bar at the Gansevoort Hotel e-mailed to me. I forwarded it to a bunch of friends and we turned it into a girls night out. – Ethnography participant, female
- 34. CONNECTORS CREATIVE RELAXED THOUGHTFUL MAKING PLANS E-MAIL FACEBOOK
- 35. Selectives I only share things with someone specific if I think they will enjoy it. If they aren’t relevant to the material, there is no point in sharing it with them. – Immersion participant, male
- 36. RESOURCEFUL CAREFUL THOUGHTFUL INFORMATIVE E-MAIL
- 37. KEY GUIDELINES FOR GETTING CONTENT SHARED
- 38. Appeal to consumers’ motivation to connect with each other — not just with your brand
- 39. Trust is the cost of entry for getting shared
- 40. Keep it simple... and it will get shared… and it won't get muddled
- 41. Appeal to their sense of humor
- 43. Getting your content shared is just the beginning Get shared Get shared Listen Get credit for Respond again responding
- 44. E-mail is still #1
- 45. CATEGORY SEGMENTATION Finance Technology Retail & Fashion Travel Entertain- ment
- 46. For more information on this study and how it impacts your brand, please contact Brian Brett: brian.brett@nytimes.com.