Comments on: The Power of Secrets http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/ Fascinating, Inspiring, Rewarding and Engaging kinded spirits. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:21:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jay, writer MemberSpeed.com http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154698 Jay, writer MemberSpeed.com Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:57:55 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154698 I do believe that being able to keep a secret until such time is right to reveal it is power. Being able to tickle the market’s curiosity and let them talk about it is already free advertising. Take apple for an example, their product is well advertised even before it hits the market because of its advocates spreading rumors about their new upcoming product. I do believe that being able to keep a secret until such time is right to reveal it is power. Being able to tickle the market’s curiosity and let them talk about it is already free advertising. Take apple for an example, their product is well advertised even before it hits the market because of its advocates spreading rumors about their new upcoming product.

]]> By: GeologyJoe http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154688 GeologyJoe Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:23:21 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154688 Secrets are indeed exciting. I suppose that is way Christmas can be so fun. And as for spreading secrets...isn't that part of what makes the internet great sometimes? Secrets are indeed exciting. I suppose that is way Christmas can be so fun. And as for spreading secrets…isn’t that part of what makes the internet great sometimes?

]]> By: Billy http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154469 Billy Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:59:24 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154469 I love this post. And I love almost all of the commentary on it. We do like to feel special, and we do like to feel important. Having knowledge about a new band or product or restaurant or techie-gadget makes us feel like we've discovered something. I love to talk about bands and musicians and magazines that I "discovered" as if they couldn't exist without my knowing about them... and letting others in on the secret. And that's what allows for dedicated, passionate fans, I think. I will always love Will Hoge's music, Obama's speeches, Good's magazine and Puckett's Grocery's hamburgers... because I saw, heard, read and ate them first. I also like the Internet a lot. I love this post. And I love almost all of the commentary on it.

We do like to feel special, and we do like to feel important. Having knowledge about a new band or product or restaurant or techie-gadget makes us feel like we’ve discovered something.

I love to talk about bands and musicians and magazines that I “discovered” as if they couldn’t exist without my knowing about them… and letting others in on the secret.

And that’s what allows for dedicated, passionate fans, I think. I will always love Will Hoge’s music, Obama’s speeches, Good’s magazine and Puckett’s Grocery’s hamburgers… because I saw, heard, read and ate them first.

I also like the Internet a lot.

]]> By: olivier blanchard http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154451 olivier blanchard Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:48:28 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154451 We're suckers for mysteries. Secret societies have thrived for centuries. Conspiracy theories sell enough books each year to fill personal libraries many times over. A good percentage of most people's workday is spent on gossip - which is little more than sharing not-so-secret "secrets". Decoder rings. Secret handshakes. Hidden microsites. Movie/TV show spoilers and sneak peeks. Hush-hush market tests. Video game and software betas. "Declassified" government files. Memoirs. "Underground" scenes. Invitation-only parties. We're simply curious about what goes on behind closed doors, and it makes us feel special to be in on secrets. The thing about this dynamic is that the power of owning a secret is in sharing it - and by default, sharing how special you are because you own that secret. It isn't so much that a secret restaurant or party or club is all that great. What's great is that it's a secret, and by being a part of it, your value as a member of a community increases. Now you go from being just like everyone else to being either a gatekeeper or an information broker. It all coems down to this: We like to feel special. We’re suckers for mysteries. Secret societies have thrived for centuries. Conspiracy theories sell enough books each year to fill personal libraries many times over. A good percentage of most people’s workday is spent on gossip - which is little more than sharing not-so-secret “secrets”. Decoder rings. Secret handshakes. Hidden microsites. Movie/TV show spoilers and sneak peeks. Hush-hush market tests. Video game and software betas. “Declassified” government files. Memoirs. “Underground” scenes. Invitation-only parties.

We’re simply curious about what goes on behind closed doors, and it makes us feel special to be in on secrets.

The thing about this dynamic is that the power of owning a secret is in sharing it - and by default, sharing how special you are because you own that secret.

It isn’t so much that a secret restaurant or party or club is all that great. What’s great is that it’s a secret, and by being a part of it, your value as a member of a community increases. Now you go from being just like everyone else to being either a gatekeeper or an information broker.

It all coems down to this: We like to feel special.

]]> By: Jenny http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154445 Jenny Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:35:00 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154445 mmm...in-n-out burger! mmm…in-n-out burger!

]]> By: Spike http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154443 Spike Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:01:24 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154443 Great point, Mr. Steve. And that reminds me of In-n-Out Burger and their secret menu... Great point, Mr. Steve. And that reminds me of In-n-Out Burger and their secret menu…

]]> By: Mr. Steve http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154439 Mr. Steve Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:44:47 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154439 But it doesn't have to be in these "speak-easy" type places (though that is pretty darn cool). You can use this in established business too. Just look at the Beacon in Spartanburg, SC, or Geno's or Pat's in Philly. You have to know the language to order properly, or risk looking like an outsider. I admit, once I figured out how to order at Geno's, I went there exclusively, because it felt like a club. I'm sure there's a bit of that with Starbucks too. It's that feeling of getting behind the velvet rope, while all the wanna-bes are staring at the cool guy who has the info. But it doesn’t have to be in these “speak-easy” type places (though that is pretty darn cool). You can use this in established business too. Just look at the Beacon in Spartanburg, SC, or Geno’s or Pat’s in Philly. You have to know the language to order properly, or risk looking like an outsider. I admit, once I figured out how to order at Geno’s, I went there exclusively, because it felt like a club. I’m sure there’s a bit of that with Starbucks too. It’s that feeling of getting behind the velvet rope, while all the wanna-bes are staring at the cool guy who has the info.

]]> By: Virginia Miracle http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154433 Virginia Miracle Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:29:33 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154433 On one of my first nights in DC, the folks from work took me to a bar with no sign and no markings, that is up 2 flights of stairs next to a mattress store. You would think you are breaking and entering. At the top of the stairs, however, there must have been 100 folks packed into this quirky bar. The "insider" feel makes me want to pass it on and bring someone else there for the first time. On one of my first nights in DC, the folks from work took me to a bar with no sign and no markings, that is up 2 flights of stairs next to a mattress store. You would think you are breaking and entering. At the top of the stairs, however, there must have been 100 folks packed into this quirky bar. The “insider” feel makes me want to pass it on and bring someone else there for the first time.

]]> By: Dick Carlson http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154336 Dick Carlson Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:35:52 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154336 Yes, from the first time that the New York Times required me to give them information to get access to their paper I've always had fun giving people all that "data". Lately, I've been an 82-year old woman who makes over $100K a year who drinks Tequila shots and rides a Harley. I smoke unfiltered Luckies, own a handgun, and vote the straight Republican ticket. I don't use the internet, have sex five times a week, and listen to mostly punk rock. While most people are worried sick about information security on the net, I think it's a wonderful way to demonstrate that there is no such thing. Join the monkeywrench gang. Yes, from the first time that the New York Times required me to give them information to get access to their paper I’ve always had fun giving people all that “data”.

Lately, I’ve been an 82-year old woman who makes over $100K a year who drinks Tequila shots and rides a Harley. I smoke unfiltered Luckies, own a handgun, and vote the straight Republican ticket.

I don’t use the internet, have sex five times a week, and listen to mostly punk rock.

While most people are worried sick about information security on the net, I think it’s a wonderful way to demonstrate that there is no such thing. Join the monkeywrench gang.

]]> By: Carl http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154332 Carl Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:11:08 +0000 http://brainsonfire.com/blog/2008/02/19/the-power-of-secrets/#comment-154332 I think it takes a certain confidence from any company to hold off on "going nuts" ... meaning forcing buzz, rather than allowing the buzz to work its way into the hearts and out of the mouths of advocates. That confidence says: "I don't have to reveal everything about myself all the time." I have to question the comment "it's not about the food." Payne's BBQ in Memphis is completely word-of-mouth driven... and it's ALL about the food. The food and the emotional connection made from consuming that edible gold is the primary vehicle of delivery that infuses buzz-y-ness into the hearts of their advocates. I think it takes a certain confidence from any company to hold off on “going nuts” … meaning forcing buzz, rather than allowing the buzz to work its way into the hearts and out of the mouths of advocates.

That confidence says: “I don’t have to reveal everything about myself all the time.”

I have to question the comment “it’s not about the food.” Payne’s BBQ in Memphis is completely word-of-mouth driven… and it’s ALL about the food. The food and the emotional connection made from consuming that edible gold is the primary vehicle of delivery that infuses buzz-y-ness into the hearts of their advocates.

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