The Curious Case of ‘Moreish’

Do not read this sign

Made you look!

I bet this image piqued your curiosity enough to read on, despite the warning! It’s the same principle at work as when people ask me; “What’s the meaning behind our name ‘Moreish’? Where did it come from?” I’ve actually never explained it, and that’s intentional. You see, I’m relying on a well-known principle of behavioural psychology: curiosity or the ‘information-gap theory’.

Humans are curious by nature; it drives us to learn new information and gather fresh experiences. Behavioural science experiments have shown that curiosity fuels active learning behaviours like asking questions, exploring, experimenting, researching, and seeking solutions. This makes curiosity a powerful marketing tool.

How many times have you heard people trying to guess the ingredients in McDonald’s ‘special sauce’ or KFC’s ’11 secret herbs and spices’? Just Google it, and you’ll see countless discussions.

So, don’t give away the whole game. Keep people curious. Play up to the curiosity gap that humans are hard-wired to try and close.

Whether it’s through intriguing headlines and images, unique storytelling, or creating teaser content, piquing your audience’s curiosity can be incredibly effective. Why not try some of these tactics in your marketing campaigns?

So, what is the Moreish Secret Sauce? What does ‘Moreish’ mean?  … we’ll never tell!

 

For more behaviour pyschology tips and nudges, check out our blogs here.