The Architect Personality and the Five Types of Virality: Unveiling the Secrets to Success

The Architect Personality and the Five Types of Virality: Unveiling the Secrets to Success

Introduction:

The Architect (INTJ) personality type is known for its introverted, intuitive, thinking, and judging traits. These individuals are both dreamers and pessimists, deriving their self-esteem from knowledge and mental acuity. Architects are often seen as bookworms or nerds, but they prefer to make their own discoveries and break the rules in their quest for better ways of doing things. They have a single-minded drive to succeed and pursue their own ideas, often preferring to act alone and make decisions without seeking input from others. While this independent streak may come across as insensitive, Architects value rationality and success over politeness and popularity. However, they do crave social interaction and prefer to surround themselves with like-minded individuals. Architects approach life as a game of chess, relying on strategy and ingenuity to overcome challenges.

The Five Types of Virality:

In the world of product development and growth, achieving virality is a coveted goal. Josh Elman, in his article "The Five Types of Virality and choosing the right one for your..." explains the different types of virality and how successful companies have used them to make their products go viral.

1. Word-of-mouth virality:

Word-of-mouth virality occurs when a product is so good that people can't help but tell their friends about it. The key to this type of virality is ensuring that the product is easy to find later. Having a memorable and easy-to-spell name is crucial. Additionally, the product should be easy to describe. If users struggle to articulate what the product does, it becomes challenging for them to spread the word effectively.

2. Demonstration virality:

Demonstration virality happens when the nature of a product is such that using it becomes a way of showing it off. Examples include Instagram's photo filters, Musical.ly's music videos, Pinterest's pinboards, and Uber's convenient ride-hailing service. By simply using these products, individuals showcase their creativity or efficiency, piquing the curiosity of others.

3. Infectious virality:

Infectious virality occurs when a product is designed in a way that encourages people to invite others to use it. This type of virality benefits both the user and the invitee. Platforms like Snapchat, Twitter, Nextdoor, LinkedIn, and Facebook thrive on infectious virality. Invitations play a crucial role in spreading the product, but it's important to avoid false or spammy invitations that may harm the virality effect. Infectious virality works best when the product is naturally social and benefits from user growth.

4. Applicable virality:

Not all products are suited for infectious virality. If a product is not naturally social, attempting to use infectious virality may not yield the desired results. Applicable virality focuses on creating content or experiences that are easy to show off. This type of virality is often more effective for products that thrive on creativity, such as art platforms or experience-sharing apps.

5. Usage-based virality:

At the end of the day, the ultimate metric of success is the number of people actively using a product. Downloads, clicks, and trial periods are secondary to actual usage. Usage-based virality emphasizes the importance of creating a product that people genuinely enjoy and find value in. It requires continuous improvement and refinement to retain users and encourage them to keep using the product.

Common Points and Insights:

While the Architect personality may seem unrelated to the concept of virality, there are several commonalities and insights that can be drawn. Architects, with their drive for success and independent nature, can learn valuable lessons from the different types of virality.

Architects, in their pursuit of better ways of doing things, can benefit from word-of-mouth virality. By creating products that are so good that people can't help but talk about them, Architects can establish a strong reputation and gain a loyal following.

Demonstration virality aligns with the Architects' desire to showcase their knowledge and mental acuity. By developing products that allow users to demonstrate their creativity or efficiency, Architects can attract like-minded individuals who appreciate their unique approach.

Infectious virality may not naturally resonate with Architects' independent streak. However, Architects can apply this concept by inviting individuals who share their values and priorities to join their projects or professional networks. By carefully selecting who they invite, Architects can create a community that enhances their success and supports their endeavors.

Applicable virality ties into Architects' preference for rationality and success over popularity. By focusing on creating content or experiences that are easy to show off, Architects can attract individuals who value substance over superficiality.

Usage-based virality aligns perfectly with Architects' determination to achieve success. By prioritizing the quality and value of their products, Architects can ensure that people continue using them. Architects should constantly seek feedback and make improvements to create a product that users love.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Prioritize creating a product that exceeds expectations: Architects should focus on developing products that are so good that people can't help but talk about them. By exceeding expectations, Architects can generate word-of-mouth virality and establish a strong reputation.

• 2. Embrace demonstration virality: Architects should leverage their unique knowledge and mental acuity by creating products that allow users to showcase their creativity or efficiency. By providing tools or platforms that highlight users' unique talents, Architects can attract individuals who appreciate their approach.

• 3. Seek out like-minded individuals: Architects should actively invite individuals who share their values and priorities to join their projects or professional networks. By surrounding themselves with like-minded people, Architects can foster a community that enhances their success and supports their endeavors.

Conclusion:

Architects, with their independent nature and pursuit of success, can learn valuable lessons from the different types of virality. By prioritizing the creation of exceptional products, embracing demonstration virality, and seeking out like-minded individuals, Architects can enhance their chances of achieving success. Just like in a game of chess, Architects can strategically navigate the challenges they face and find innovative ways to win.