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Dig deep into the psychology of habits to learn why people use certain products daily. Use study-based insights to create your habit-forming product.
Key points
1
We live in a world of habits
Cell phones are a massive part of our lives. Most check them at every opportunity. You probably check yours within 15 minutes after waking up. We are addicted, in other words, hooked.
We can’t get enough social media because companies that produce apps know how to make them our habit. They affect the user’s behavior with hooks — carefully designed experiences that help form habits.
Secrets to building habits have been guarded for years since it’s such a powerful tool. Nir Eyal studied related topics in psychology and behavioral economics and published his observations in his blog. With the help of his readers, he got many examples and found a pattern. He came up with the Hook Model, consisting of four steps:
1. Trigger — a cue, like a notification or an email, that sets off an action.
2. Action — a behavior; for example, clicking a link.
3. Variable reward — a pleasant result that feels new every time.
4. Investment — the user’s input: time, money, data, etc.
Companies have been forming habits in customers, significantly affecting their life experiences. The Hook Model can bring positive change when used correctly. It describes linking a user’s problem to a company’s solution.
We can’t get enough social media because companies that produce apps know how to make them our habit. They affect the user’s behavior with hooks — carefully designed experiences that help form habits.
Secrets to building habits have been guarded for years since it’s such a powerful tool. Nir Eyal studied related topics in psychology and behavioral economics and published his observations in his blog. With the help of his readers, he got many examples and found a pattern. He came up with the Hook Model, consisting of four steps:
1. Trigger — a cue, like a notification or an email, that sets off an action.
2. Action — a behavior; for example, clicking a link.
3. Variable reward — a pleasant result that feels new every time.
4. Investment — the user’s input: time, money, data, etc.
Companies have been forming habits in customers, significantly affecting their life experiences. The Hook Model can bring positive change when used correctly. It describes linking a user’s problem to a company’s solution.
We have access to more information than ever. The speed at which we can get data provides ample opportunities to establish healthy habits.
In this summary, we’ll discuss this model in detail, so you can apply it to build a successful habit-forming product.
Did you know? Habits are actions you perform unconsciously following situational cues.
Did you know? Habits are actions you perform unconsciously following situational cues.
2
You can increase your company’s value by making your product part of customers’ routines
At their core, habits are a tool your brain uses to automate specific actions, so you don’t waste more energy contemplating every step, which can benefit your business massively. Of course, this strategy applies to products customers use constantly.
Other chapters are waiting for you in the app
3
You can make your product a habit by knowing why your customers use it
4
Make your product intuitive and motivate users to act
5
A variable reward system keeps the users engaged
6
Users’ labor makes them love the product more
7
Be aware of your effect on the customers
8
Conclusion
You’ll learn
How to develop habit-forming with the Hook Model
The IKEA effect
Why habit-forming products draw in a large user base
What motivates users to keep using a product
