What is Easter Egg?

Easter egg in the context of technology and marketing isn't about a colorful painted egg found in a springtime game for kids.

Rather, it's a playful term for features, messages, or jokes tucked away in a website, waiting to be discovered by users. These hidden gems are a fun, interactive way to engage visitors and can result in further sharing, essentially free promotion, due to their exciting, surprising nature.

The first Easter eggs were planted in video games, dating back to the late 1970s, as hidden bonuses, secret levels, or simply a developer's signature. This trend quickly spread into other digital fields, including websites, as a playful and creative means of engaging a viewer. Introducing Easter eggs can make your brand seem more personable, funny, and enticing, thereby increasing web traffic.

Examples of Easter Egg

1. Hidden Discount Codes: eCommerce websites can hide discount codes in certain pages or product descriptions, incentivizing users to search high and low through the site to find these bonuses.
2. Secret Pages: A catchy joke or piece of insightful information can be hidden behind a seemingly unrelated hyperlink. When users discover and understand the reference, they're likely to share it with others.
3. Hidden Games: Just like the classic Google dinosaur game, embedding concealed mini-games can entertain users and keep them engaged longer on your site.
4. Hidden Messages in Images: For creative brands, adding secret messages in product images or banners can evoke curiosity and engagement among users.
5. Swipe Sequences on Mobile Apps: Certain swipe sequences can unlock hidden features or bonuses in mobile applications, similar to Snapchat's secret filters.

Marketing Tactics Similar to Easter Egg

• Gamification: Making your site or app function like a game with challenges to complete and rewards to earn. Easter eggs are often a part of this.
• Viral Loops: Creating content that encourages users to share and bring in new users. Easter eggs can stimulate these loops if they are designed to be shareable.
• Brand Storytelling: Telling intriguing stories about your brand to develop customer connection. Like Easter eggs, these hidden narratives can generate interest.
• User-Generated Content: Having users create content for the brand fostering interaction and brand loyalty. Easter eggs can inspire user contributions if users can add their own or find those added by others.

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