Seth Godin has a great post
on Trends vs Fads.
“A fad is popular
because it’s popular.
A fad gives us momentary joy,
and part of the joy comes in knowing
that it’s momentary.
We enjoy a fad
because our peers are into it
as well.
A trend,
on the other hand,
satisfies a different human need.
A trend gains power over time,
because it’s not merely part
of a moment,
it’s a tool,
a connector that will become
more valuable
as other people commit to
engaging in it.”
Vampires in romance
is a fad.
It comes and goes
(because fads often
come around again).
It’s never constant.
However,
the underlying
trend
— a hero
who is very difficult
to kill or harm —
will never go away.
There is always a demand
for that type of hero.
You can build a business
on either
but your strategies
will be different.
Know whether
you’re dealing with
a trend
or a fad.