STEPPS
Six principles, and a campaign trying to hit all six hits none.
What is STEPPS?
STEPPS is six principles: Social Currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical Value and Stories. It is a research-backed account of why some things get talked about, and used as a prompt framework its value is not the six ideas — it is scoring your own product honestly against them.
Ask a model to make something go viral and it will produce a campaign that gestures at all six principles and commits to none: a hashtag for Triggers, an emotional founder story for Emotion, a giveaway for Social Currency. Six half-attempts. Most products can only genuinely exploit two of the six, and the useful work is finding out which two. A hot sauce fermented for ninety days has real Social Currency and a real Trigger; it has no natural Public visibility and no cause to attach Emotion to. A prompt that forces a score against each principle — and forces the model to say which ones it is not using — produces one campaign instead of six gestures.
Where STEPPS Came From
Jonah Berger, Contagious (2013)
STEPPS comes from Jonah Berger, professor of marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, in Contagious: Why Things Catch On (2013). The six principles came out of research into social transmission — why people pass certain things on — rather than out of agency practice, which is unusual for a marketing framework and is the reason its claims are more specific than most.
The finding that surprises people: emotion has to be high-arousal
Not all feeling travels. Berger's account distinguishes emotions by arousal: awe, anger, amusement and anxiety are activating and get shared; sadness and contentment are deactivating and do not, however deeply they are felt. This is why the sombre, worthy campaign nobody shares is not a failure of sincerity — it is a failure of physiology, and no amount of budget fixes it.
And Triggers is the principle everyone fakes
Berger's framing is "top of mind, tip of tongue" — a trigger is an existing cue in someone's environment that brings your product to mind. That is a much harder standard than it sounds, and it is why a hashtag is almost never a trigger: it is a cue you would have to teach people, which means it is not already in their week. The trigger question is the single most useful one to put in a prompt, because it is the one that gets answered dishonestly by default.
The 6 Slots, One at a Time
Each slot is a decision. Leave it out and the model still makes it — just without you.
People share things that improve how they are seen. The test is not whether your product is interesting but whether knowing about it is a small status gain — insider knowledge, early access, a thing most people have not heard of. Scarcity and exclusivity work here for exactly that reason.
The principle most often faked. A trigger has to be something already frequent in the person's week — a meal, a commute, a day, a weather condition. If you would have to teach it to them, it is not a trigger. Frequency beats cleverness: a cue that fires daily beats a memorable one that fires twice a year.
Name which one, and check it activates. Awe, anger, amusement and anxiety travel; sadness and contentment do not. This is where worthy campaigns die: a moving, sad, well-made film about a good cause is the archetype of the thing everyone admires and nobody forwards.
Behaviour that is visible gets imitated; behaviour that is private does not, however good it is. Ask what a stranger would observe. For most products the honest answer is nothing, and knowing that is more useful than inventing a visible ritual nobody will perform.
Berger's phrase is "news you can use". This is the principle most available to small businesses and the most under-used, because it does not feel like marketing. A genuinely good technique, comparison or warning gets forwarded between individuals, which is where word of mouth actually happens.
The test Berger sets is whether the product survives the retelling. A great story with your brand attached gets retold without the brand — the story travels and you do not. The product has to be structurally necessary to the anecdote, not its sponsor.
One Task, Before and After
The task: A word-of-mouth campaign for a two-person mail-order hot sauce. Both prompts below are scored by our free prompt checker — paste either in and you will get the same number, because the scoring is deterministic.
Make our product go viral on social media.
Seven words. You get a hashtag, an influencer seeding plan the company cannot fund, and a suggestion to encourage user-generated content.
Design a shareable campaign for a food brand using Berger's six STEPPS principles, and be honest about which ones this product can actually use. The product, and the only facts available: a mail-order hot sauce made by a two-person company in Leeds. 4,000 subscribers. The sauce is fermented for 90 days, which is unusual, and the bottles are numbered by batch. No budget for paid media. No celebrity, no cause, no invented origin story. For each of the six principles, do three things: say what it means, say what this specific product could do with it, and score 1 to 5 how well the product can actually exploit it. Social Currency - does sharing this make the sharer look like they know something? Triggers - what everyday cue would put this product in someone's head? Emotion - which high-arousal emotion, and awe and amusement count while sadness does not? Public - what makes usage visible to people who are not customers? Practical Value - what genuinely useful thing can someone pass on? Stories - what narrative carries the product rather than sitting beside it? Then pick the two principles scoring highest and design one concrete campaign around them. Say explicitly which principles you are not using and why - a campaign trying to hit all six hits none. Think through the trigger before you write, since it is the principle most often faked: a real trigger is an existing frequent cue in someone's week, not a hashtag you would have to teach them. Write the campaign plan as a brief of 900 to 1,100 words for a founder with no marketing team, in two headed sections: the six principles scored, then the campaign. For example, score them like this: ``` Triggers - 4/5. Hot sauce has a natural weekly cue: whatever people already put it on. The 90-day ferment gives a second cue nobody else can claim. ``` Ensure every campaign idea is executable by two people with no budget, and prioritise principles the product already has over ones it would have to manufacture. Do not invent a founder story, a cause, a celebrity or a statistic, and do not propose anything requiring paid media.
Ninety-one. The instruction doing the work is the requirement to say which principles are NOT being used - without it the model scores everything 4 out of 5 and commits to nothing.
Ninety-one, and no scorer can tell a real trigger from a hashtag
One check is out of reach, and the honesty the framework depends on is unmeasured:
No persona slot — and as with every persuasion framework here, a marketing persona actively hurts. It is the fastest route to the six-gesture campaign this page exists to prevent.
The whole method, and completely invisible. Six principles scored 4/5 each — because the model wanted to be helpful — score exactly as well as an honest set with two 4s and four 2s. The second is the useful document. Look for the low scores; if there are none, the exercise did not happen.
A hashtag proposed as a trigger passes every check. The test is not in any rubric: is this cue already in the person's week, or would you have to put it there?
So the instruction worth adding to any STEPPS prompt: say which principles you are not using, and why. Berger described six mechanisms, not a checklist to complete — and a campaign that commits to the two your product genuinely has will beat one that gestures at all six every time.
Copy-Paste Prompt Template
Replace the bracketed placeholders with your specific details.
[The product, and the only facts available — including what it does NOT have] Score each principle 1-5 for how well THIS product can actually use it: Social Currency: [does sharing make the sharer look like they know something?] Triggers: [what EXISTING weekly cue brings it to mind? Not a hashtag] Emotion: [which HIGH-AROUSAL emotion? Awe/amusement yes, sadness no] Public: [what can non-customers see? Often honestly nothing] Practical Value: [what is worth sending to one person privately?] Stories: [does the product survive the retelling?] [Take the top two and build ONE campaign. Say which principles you are NOT using and why] [No invented founder story, cause, celebrity or statistic. Nothing requiring budget you do not have]
When STEPPS Fits — and When It Does Not
- Deciding whether a product has any word-of-mouth potential at all, honestly.
- Campaigns with no paid budget, where sharing is the only distribution.
- Auditing an existing campaign to find which principle it was actually relying on.
- Products with a genuinely unusual property — the raw material Social Currency needs.
- Content programmes, where Practical Value is usually the available lever.
- Products with nothing remarkable. STEPPS diagnoses; it does not manufacture.
- Performance marketing. This is about transmission, not conversion — different job.
- Anything where "viral" is the goal rather than a possible outcome.
- Sombre or sad subject matter, which the framework itself predicts will not travel.
- Writing the actual copy. Use AIDA, PAS or PPCo; STEPPS decides what the copy should be about.
10 Ready-Made STEPPS Prompts
Every prompt below was produced by the Frompting generator with STEPPS selected — not written by hand for this page. Each is scored by our prompt checker; the median is 95/100. Click one to open it, then copy.
A shareable campaign for a food brand 92
You are a senior brand strategist specializing in viral food marketing. Your task is to create a complete, shareable campaign concept for a food brand. First, develop a hook that makes the brand feel exclusive or “in‑the‑know” to the audience. Next, identify everyday moments or seasonal events that can naturally prompt people to think about the brand. Then, craft an emotional core that taps into feelings such as joy, nostalgia, or comfort. After that, design elements that make the campaign visible in public settings or on social feeds, encouraging others to notice and talk about it. Following this, propose a practical benefit or useful tip that the audience can immediately apply, reinforcing why they should share. Finally, weave a short, memorable story that ties all previous elements together and can be told in a single post or short video. Deliverable: a concise campaign brief (≈ 300 words) formatted in markdown with the following sections in order: - Hook & exclusive appeal - Prompt moments - Emotional angle - Public visibility tactics - Practical value offer - Core story outline Quality criteria: 1. Each section must clearly build on the previous one, forming a logical flow. 2. The concept should be easily adaptable to social media posts, short videos, and in‑store displays. 3. All ideas must be realistic for a food brand without requiring prohibited claims or unavailable resources. Assume any missing details are typical for a mid‑size consumer food brand unless you state otherwise. Before finalizing, ask up to three clarifying questions about: [BRAND NAME: specific brand identity], [TARGET AUDIENCE: primary consumer segment], and [KEY PRODUCT OR PROMOTION: main food item or offer]. Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
Word-of-mouth for a productivity app 96
You are a viral-marketing strategist. Your task is to design a complete word-of-mouth content plan for a productivity app, organized as a sequence of six inter-related elements that together drive sharing and contagion. 1. Create concepts that give users a sense of exclusivity or status when they talk about the app. 2. Identify everyday moments, events, or cues that naturally prompt users to mention or demonstrate the app. 3. Develop ideas that tap into strong feelings-joy, relief, pride, or curiosity-to make the content emotionally resonant. 4. Propose ways the app can be displayed publicly (e.g., screenshots, badge, workflow charts) so that sharing is visible to others. 5. Outline practical tips, shortcuts, or hidden features that provide clear, immediate value and are easy to explain to a friend. 6. Craft short, memorable narratives or user-story snippets that illustrate the app’s impact and are readily retellable. Deliverable: a markdown document containing six sections corresponding to the elements above, each with 3-5 bullet-point ideas. Keep the total length between 925-1215 words. Quality criteria: - Ideas must be specific to a productivity-app context and actionable without additional resources. - Each bullet should include a brief rationale (one sentence) explaining why it encourages sharing. - The overall plan should feel cohesive, with later elements building naturally on earlier ones. Boundary: Do not include any paid-advertising tactics or platform-specific technical instructions. If any essential details are missing, state your assumptions clearly and ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the plan. [TARGET AUDIENCE]: specify the primary user segment (e.g., busy professionals, students, freelancers) [KEY FEATURES]: list the top 2-3 functionalities you want to highlight (e.g., task batching, calendar sync, AI suggestions) [BRAND VOICE]: describe the desired tone (e.g., friendly, authoritative, witty) [SHARING CHANNELS]: indicate the main channels where users will spread the content (e.g., social media, email, in-app referrals) Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
A campaign people will talk about, for a bank 95
You are a senior marketing strategist specializing in viral campaigns for financial institutions. Your client is a bank that wants a campaign that sparks conversation and widespread sharing. Create a comprehensive campaign plan that: 1. Begins with an idea that makes the target audience feel exclusive and in‑the‑know, providing them with something they’ll want to show off. 2. Identifies everyday moments, events, or cues that can prompt people to think about the bank and share the message spontaneously. 3. Crafts a core emotional hook that resonates deeply with the audience’s aspirations or concerns, ensuring the feeling is clear and compelling. 4. Designs elements that are easily visible to others, encouraging public display or discussion of the campaign. 5. Delivers tangible, useful benefits or insights that the audience can apply immediately, making the content worth sharing for its practicality. 6. Weaves a memorable narrative that ties all the above together, featuring relatable characters or scenarios that illustrate the bank’s value. Deliver the plan in a markdown document with the following sections in order: Overview, Exclusive Insight, Trigger Moments, Emotional Core, Public Display, Practical Benefits, Narrative Story. Each section should be concise: total length 800–1,200 words. Quality criteria: (a) ideas must be realistic for a bank’s brand and regulatory environment, (b) each component should clearly support the next, creating a cohesive flow, (c) the plan should include at least three specific, actionable tactics. Exclude any references to legal or compliance details beyond a brief note to verify with the bank’s compliance team. If any of the following are unknown, indicate the placeholder and request clarification: [TARGET_AUDIENCE]: who the campaign should primarily reach (e.g., millennials, small‑business owners). [CAMPAIGN_OBJECTIVE]: the specific business goal (e.g., new account sign‑ups, brand awareness). [BUDGET_RANGE]: approximate budget available for execution. [TIMELINE]: desired launch and duration timeframe. State any assumptions you make and ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the plan. Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
Shareable content for a charity appeal 95
You are a strategic content planner specializing in viral charity campaigns. Your task is to design a shareable content plan for a charitable appeal that maximizes organic reach and encourages audience participation. First, craft ideas that give the audience a sense of exclusivity or status when they share the content. Next, identify everyday moments, events, or cues that can naturally prompt people to think about and spread the appeal. Then, develop emotional hooks that connect deeply with the cause and inspire people to act. After that, suggest ways the content can be displayed publicly so that sharing becomes visible and socially rewarding. Following this, outline practical tips, resources, or actionable steps that the audience can easily use or pass along. Finally, weave a compelling narrative that ties all elements together and makes the appeal memorable. Deliver the plan as a markdown document with the following sections in order: 1. **Exclusive Angle** – brief description (≈40 words). 2. **Trigger Moments** – list of 3‑5 situational cues (bullet points, ≤20 words each). 3. **Emotional Hooks** – concise statements (≈30 words total). 4. **Public Display Ideas** – actionable formats (bullet points, ≤15 words each). 5. **Practical Value Offers** – specific resources or actions (bullet points, ≤15 words each). 6. **Narrative Summary** – short story that integrates all points (≈80 words). **Quality criteria**: (1) each element must be directly tied to the charitable cause, (2) ideas should be feasible for a small‑to‑medium nonprofit, (3) language must be clear, persuasive, and free of jargon. **Boundary**: Do not include detailed budgeting or production schedules. If any essential details are missing, state your assumptions and ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the plan. [CHARITY_NAME]: the name of the organization [CAUSE_FOCUS]: the specific issue or mission the appeal supports [TARGET_AUDIENCE]: primary demographic to reach (e.g., age, interests) [KEY_MESSAGE]: core tagline or slogan for the appeal [CALL_TO_ACTION]: desired action from the audience (e.g., donate, share, volunteer) Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
A referral-worthy moment for a subscription 96
You are a viral‑marketing strategist. Your task is to craft a single, memorable referral‑worthy moment for a subscription‑based service that naturally encourages existing users to share and invite new customers. First, create an element that makes the experience feel exclusive or prestigious for the user, enhancing their social standing when they talk about it. Next, embed a clear, repeatable cue that users encounter in their routine and that reminds them to share at the right time. Then, design an emotional hook that elicits a strong, positive feeling—such as delight, pride, or surprise—when the moment occurs. After that, ensure the moment is easily observable by others, so that sharing becomes a visible signal of participation. Following this, embed a tangible benefit that the recipient can immediately recognize and act upon, making the referral feel useful and low‑effort. Finally, wrap the entire experience in a brief, relatable narrative that users can recount in a sentence or two, encouraging them to spread the story organically. Produce the output as a concise plan (≈ 250 words) with the following sections in order: 1. Exclusive appeal – description of the social‑currency element. 2. Cue – description of the trigger and when it appears. 3. Emotional hook – description of the feeling to evoke. 4. Visible signal – description of the public aspect others see. 5. Immediate benefit – description of the practical value for the referred person. 6. Shareable story – a short, memorable narrative users can repeat. Quality criteria: - Each section must be specific, actionable, and directly tied to the subscription service. - The overall moment should be easy to implement within existing user flows. - The narrative should be brief enough to be shared in a single social‑media post or conversation. [SUBSCRIPTION TYPE: specify the product or service category] [TARGET AUDIENCE: describe the primary user segment] [BRAND VOICE: indicate preferred tone, e.g., playful, professional, etc.] [SHARING CHANNEL: name the platform or medium where the referral is expected to spread] [KEY BENEFIT: state the main advantage the service offers to users] If any bracketed detail above is left unfilled, choose a sensible value from the context, state that assumption in one line before you begin, and continue — do not ask for it and stop. Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
Content designed to be screenshotted 96
You are a viral content strategist tasked with designing a piece of text‑based content that is optimized to be captured in screenshots and shared widely. First, consider what makes the audience feel “in the know” and eager to show the content to others. Craft language that grants them social status or insider knowledge. Next, identify a timely or recurring cue that will prompt the audience to capture and share the content without hesitation. Then, weave an emotional hook that resonates strongly—whether humor, surprise, awe, or empathy—to increase the urge to screenshot. After that, ensure the content can be displayed publicly in a way that encourages others to see and replicate the sharing behavior. Follow by embedding clear, practical value: a tip, insight, or actionable takeaway that the audience can immediately apply. Finally, wrap the piece in a brief, memorable story or analogy that ties all elements together and makes the content memorable. Produce the final content as a single block of plain text, no more than **300 words**, suitable for direct screenshotting. **Quality criteria:** 1. The text must be concise, visually clean, and easy to read in a screenshot. 2. It should contain a hook that elicits a strong emotional response. 3. It must deliver a clear, actionable benefit that the audience can share instantly. **Boundaries:** Do not include any copyrighted material, brand logos, or external images; keep the output strictly textual. If any of the following details are unknown, please provide them: - **[AUDIENCE]:** description of the target viewers (e.g., professionals, hobbyists, age range). - **[BRAND_VOICE]:** preferred tone and style (e.g., witty, formal, conversational). - **[CONTENT_GOAL]:** specific outcome you want the screenshot to achieve (e.g., drive traffic, increase sign‑ups). - **[SCREENSHOT_CONTEXT]:** typical platform or setting where the screenshot will appear (e.g., Twitter thread, Slack channel). State any assumptions you make and ask up to three clarifying questions before delivering the final content. Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
A campaign for a restaurant opening 91
You are a seasoned marketing strategist tasked with creating a launch campaign for a new restaurant. The campaign must be organized to maximize shareability and word‑of‑mouth impact. **Audience:** [TARGET AUDIENCE: describe the primary diners you want to attract, e.g., families, young professionals, tourists] **Location:** [CITY/NEIGHBORHOOD: specify where the restaurant is opening] **Cuisine & Concept:** [CUISINE TYPE & UNIQUE SELLING POINT: brief description of the food style and any distinctive theme] **Budget:** [CAMPAIGN BUDGET: approximate amount allocated for the launch activities] **Timeline:** [LAUNCH DATE: target opening date or number of weeks to execute the campaign] **Deliverable (≈ 350 words):** 1. A concise opening paragraph that positions the restaurant as a must‑visit experience. 2. A series of concrete tactics that: - Leverage exclusive or insider elements to give diners a sense of prestige. - Tie the campaign to timely cues or events that naturally prompt sharing. - Evoke strong positive emotions through storytelling, visuals, or sensory triggers. - Encourage public visibility and easy display of the experience in social feeds. - Offer clear, practical benefits that motivate immediate action. - Embed memorable narratives that diners will recount to friends. 3. A short implementation checklist outlining key actions, responsible roles, and deadlines. **Quality criteria:** - Tactics must be realistic within the stated budget and timeline. - Each idea should be directly linked to a shareability driver without naming the underlying framework. - The plan should be written in an engaging, conversational tone suitable for a marketing team briefing. **Boundary:** Do not include any paid media recommendations beyond the allocated budget. If any of the placeholders above are unknown, state your assumption and proceed, and ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the campaign plan. Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
Shareable content for B2B software 92
You are a strategic content planner specializing in B2B software brands. Your task is to design a detailed, shareable content plan that a marketing team can implement to boost word‑of‑mouth and social reach. [PRODUCT: brief description of the software solution] [TARGET AUDIENCE: primary buyer personas, e.g., CIOs, IT managers, procurement officers] [BRAND VOICE: preferred tone and style, such as professional, witty, or thought‑leadership] [CHANNELS: key distribution platforms (e.g., LinkedIn, industry newsletters, webinars)] [TIMELINE: planning horizon in weeks or months] Structure the plan in six sequential sections, each building on the previous one: 1. **Create high‑value, insider content** – suggest concepts that make the audience feel knowledgeable or exclusive when they share them. Include at least three specific ideas (e.g., benchmark reports, “insider tips” videos). 2. **Identify natural prompts** – list situational cues or events that will trigger sharing (e.g., industry conferences, quarterly results releases). Provide two calendar dates or recurring moments to align content with. 3. **Incorporate emotional hooks** – propose angles that evoke pride, curiosity, or relief for the target audience. Detail one story or statistic per emotion that can be woven into the content. 4. **Design public‑friendly formats** – outline formats that are easily visible and discussable in professional settings (e.g., infographics, slide decks, short explainer clips). Recommend one format per channel. 5. **Deliver practical value** – specify actionable takeaways or tools (e.g., ROI calculator, checklist) that recipients can immediately apply. Include a brief description of each deliverable. 6. **Embed compelling narratives** – craft a concise storyline that ties the product’s benefits to a real‑world business challenge. Provide a one‑paragraph outline and a headline that captures the narrative. **Output requirements**: - Total length: 800–1,000 words. - Use clear headings for each of the six sections. - Include bullet points for ideas, prompts, and formats. - End with a short implementation checklist (5 items max). **Quality criteria** - Ideas must be specific to B2B software and actionable. - Content should be easily shareable among professional networks. - The plan must respect the brand voice and target audience. **Boundary**: Do not suggest paid advertising tactics; focus solely on organic, shareable content. If any bracketed detail above is left unfilled, choose a sensible value from the context, state that assumption in one line before you begin, and continue — do not ask for it and stop. Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
A social moment for a product launch 83
You are a viral‑marketing strategist. Your task is to craft a detailed “social moment” concept that will spark organic conversation and sharing around a product launch. First, create a hook that makes the product feel exclusive or impressive to the audience. Next, identify a timely or situational cue that naturally prompts people to talk about the product. Then, weave an emotional trigger that aligns with the audience’s feelings and motivates them to engage. After that, design a public element that makes the interaction visible and easy for others to notice. Following this, embed a practical benefit or tip that the audience can immediately apply or share. Finally, outline a short, memorable narrative that ties all elements together and encourages people to retell the story. Deliver the plan in a markdown document with the following sections, each no more than 120 words: - Hook (exclusive feel) - Cue (situational prompt) - Emotional trigger - Public visibility tactic - Practical value tip - Narrative arc **Quality criteria:** 1. Each section must be concrete, actionable, and clearly linked to the next. 2. The overall concept should be feasible for a launch occurring on **[LAUNCH DATE: specific date or timeframe]**. 3. The idea must suit the brand’s voice described as **[BRAND VOICE: tone and style]**. **Boundary:** Do not include any paid advertising suggestions or media‑buy recommendations. If any of the placeholders above are unknown, state your assumption and proceed, or ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the concept. Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
Word-of-mouth for a local gym 96
You are a seasoned word‑of‑mouth marketing strategist. Your task is to design a complete, shareable content plan for a local gym that encourages members and prospects to talk about the gym organically. First, create a brief hook or angle that makes the gym feel exclusive or “in the know.” Next, identify everyday moments, events, or routines that can naturally prompt members to mention the gym. Then, suggest specific emotional triggers (e.g., pride, excitement, belonging) to embed in each piece of content. After that, outline ways the content can be displayed publicly (e.g., on‑site signage, community boards, local partner venues) so that non‑members see it and become curious. Following this, propose practical tips, challenges, or freebies that deliver clear value and are easy for members to share. Finally, craft a short, relatable story or testimonial framework that ties all elements together and can be adapted by members for personal sharing. Deliver the plan as a markdown document with the following sections in the order above, each limited to 120–150 words. Include a concise bullet list of 3‑5 actionable ideas per section. Quality criteria: 1. Ideas must be realistic for a small‑scale local gym. 2. Each suggestion should be easy for members to execute without extra cost. 3. Content should feel authentic and avoid overt sales language. Boundary: Do not propose paid advertising or influencer contracts. If any details are unclear, state your assumptions and ask up to three clarifying questions before finalizing the plan. [GYM NAME]: provide the actual name of the gym. [TARGET AUDIENCE]: describe the primary demographic (e.g., young professionals, families, seniors). [UNIQUE FEATURES]: list any special equipment, classes, or community aspects the gym offers. [CAMPAIGN DURATION]: specify the time frame for the word‑of‑mouth push (e.g., 4 weeks). [MEASUREMENT METRIC] indicate how success will be tracked (e.g., referral sign‑ups, social mentions). Before writing the final answer, work through the problem step by step and weigh the main trade-offs; present only the reasoned conclusion, not your working notes.
Scores range from 83 to 96. They are shown as generated rather than cherry-picked — a library where every entry scores in the nineties tells you it was curated, not measured.
STEPPS vs the Alternatives
The channel-level plan. REAN organises a funnel across channels; STEPPS asks whether anything in the product would be passed between people without a channel at all.
For persuading one reader. STEPPS is about the second reader — the one who hears it from the first — which is a different mechanism entirely.
What to write once STEPPS has told you which principle to lean on. PPCo is the post; STEPPS is the reason the post might travel.
The narrative structure for the Stories principle specifically. BAB is one way to make the product structurally necessary to the anecdote.
One level up. If STEPPS scores every principle low, that is usually a Product finding rather than a Promotion one.
Five Ways People Get STEPPS Wrong
The defining STEPPS failure. Six principles gestured at produces six weak halves of a campaign. Score them, take the top two, and say explicitly which four you are dropping.
A trigger is a cue already in someone's week. A hashtag is a cue you would have to teach them, which is the opposite. Ask what already happens on a Tuesday.
The framework is specific about this and it is the most counterintuitive part. Sadness deactivates; awe, amusement, anger and anxiety activate. A moving campaign that nobody shares is usually this.
STEPPS works on what a product genuinely has. A founder story manufactured to satisfy Stories is the sort of thing that reads as manufactured, because it is.
An honest audit has low scores in it. If every principle came back strong, the model was being agreeable rather than analytic and the output is worthless.
A repost is cheap and public; a message sent privately to one person is what Practical Value produces and it is worth far more. Optimising for the visible metric usually costs the valuable one.
STEPPS Questions
What does STEPPS stand for?
Social Currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical Value and Stories — six principles of social transmission from Jonah Berger's Contagious (2013).
Who created STEPPS?
Jonah Berger, professor of marketing at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. The framework came out of research into why people share things, not from agency practice.
Which emotions actually make people share?
High-arousal ones. Awe, anger, amusement and anxiety activate and travel; sadness and contentment deactivate and do not. This is why sincere, sombre campaigns are admired and not forwarded.
What counts as a trigger?
An existing, frequent cue in someone's environment that brings your product to mind — "top of mind, tip of tongue". If you would have to teach people the cue, it is not a trigger, which is why hashtags almost never qualify.
Should I try to use all six principles?
No. Most products can genuinely exploit two. Score each one honestly, commit to the strongest two, and state which you are dropping — a campaign spread across six is six weak gestures.
Can STEPPS make anything go viral?
No, and it does not claim to. It is a diagnosis of which transmission mechanisms a product can use. If every principle scores low, the honest conclusion is that the product has no word-of-mouth potential yet — which is a product finding, not a marketing one.
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Try it FreeFramework Details
| Name | STEPPS |
| Stands for | Social Currency-Triggers-Emotion-Public-Practical Value-Stories |
| Domain | Persuasion & Conversion |
| Steps | 6 |
| Access | Pro |