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Key Takeaways What feels groundbreaking today loses its effect over time, so success requires striking while the iron is hot and continually finding new, unexpected ways to engage your audience.
Rather than overengineering products with bells and whistles, focus on building things that meaningfully change how users experience your product.
The “wow” factor really comes down to two things — doing something your audience doesn’t expect and doing it in a way that’s memorable and valuable.
I feel obligated to begin this article with an admission that I’ve never personally met Steven Spielberg. I’ve been lucky (or determined) enough in my life to meet some incredibly influential people, including business magnate Steve Forbes and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
In fact, I’ve made a conscious habit of seeking out successful individuals so I can learn from their experiences. But the man often nicknamed the “King of the Hollywood Blockbuster” continues to elude me.
And yet, despite never meeting face to face, Spielberg taught me one of the most important lessons of my entire career. It’s a lesson I’ve learned through engaging with his work.
From Raiders of the Lost Ark to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Spielberg’s most memorable films all have one thing in common: a certain indelible “wow” factor that they manage to crank all the way up to 11. These movies might fall more on the side of entertainment than fine art, but I’m okay with that. The art of entertainment is important, too — especially if your goal is to attract an audience.
So what does it mean to “wow” your audience, and how can you do it for your business? Here’s my advice.
Striking while the iron is hot: Novelty and the five-year rule
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