Dubbed the “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology” by M.I.T technology, Nir Eyal is a leading expert who educates companies and individuals on the intersection of psychology, technology, and business.

If you’re interested in delving deeper into Nir Eyal’s work and how it can benefit your career as a product professional, keep on reading.

Who is Nir Eyal?

Nir Eyal is an author, speaker, and consultant known for his expertise in behavioral design and habit formation. He is the author of the best-selling books “Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” and “Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life.”

Nir’s work focuses on how technology and products can be designed to create positive habits in users. He frequently speaks and writes about the psychology behind user behavior and how businesses can leverage these insights to create engaging and effective products.

How did Nir Eyal begin his career?

Nir Eyal pursued his education at Stanford Graduate School of Business and Emory University. Since 2003, he has co-founded and successfully sold two technology companies, Sunshine Business Development, LLC and AdNectar, Inc.

Nir later served as a Marketing Lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and taught at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford. He authored two bestsellers, which have sold over 1 million copies and been translated into more than 30 languages.

Currently, Nir works as a behavioral design consultant and keynote speaker, assisting companies in creating engaging products and services and helping individuals lead fulfilling lives.

Nir Eyal books product professionals should read

The majority of people recognize Nir from his bestselling books. If you’re unsure which to read first, check out the descriptions of each book below (although we strongly suggest reading both).

1. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Where to buy: Amazon

This book delves into the fundamental question of why some products succeed while others fail to capture our attention. By introducing the Hook Model, a four-step process employed by successful companies, Nir explains how these products subtly encourage customer behavior through repeated “hook cycles.”

Drawing from his research and practical experience, Nir offers a how-to guide for product managers, designers, marketers, and start-up founders – providing actionable insights for building habit-forming products that users love.

Hooked is a practical resource for understanding the psychology behind product engagement and creating products that resonate with consumers.

2. Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life

Rating: 4.4 / 5

Where to buy: Amazon

In a world full of distractions, Nir Eyal’s “Indistractable” offers a transformative approach to reclaiming your focus and achieving your goals.

Drawing on his expertise in behavioral design, Nir explores the psychology behind distraction and presents a four-step model to help readers become more focused and productive.

He challenges conventional wisdom, arguing that avoiding technology is not the solution. Instead, he provides practical techniques for managing time and attention, empowering readers to take control of their lives.

Here are some of the awards that Indistractable has won over the years:

• Winner of the Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award.
• Included in the top 5 best personal development books of the year by Audible.
• Included in the top 20 best business and leadership books of the year by Amazon.
• Goodreads Best Science & Technology of 2019 Finalist.

Top blog posts of Nir Eyal to read

Nir shares his expertise on his website’s blog, nirandfar.com. While there are many articles to choose from, we’ve selected the 5 blogs that you should read first.

• The Hooked model: How to manufacture desire in 4 steps: This article explores how companies create addictive products by examining the Hook model’s four phases: trigger, action, variable reward, and investment.
• How to build a habit-forming enterprise product: Creating a successful enterprise company is a challenging task. To help with this, Nir adapts the Hook model for enterprise companies in this article.
• 3 reasons why subscription businesses fail: This blog discusses the boom and challenges of subscription businesses, focusing on the Hook model to retain customers and avoid common pitfalls.
• Viral loops or viral ‘oops’?: This article discusses the concept of viral loops in app growth, highlighting examples of good and bad growth strategies.
• Timeboxing: Why it works and how to get started in 2024:A vital skill for product professionals, this blog discusses the effectiveness of timeboxing as a time management technique – addressing common barriers to its adoption and providing solutions.

Nir Eyal’s behavioral design newsletter

Read by professionals from Google, Netflix, and Amplitude, Nir Eyal’s weekly newsletter shares insights into the principles that drive product success.

In these newsletters, Nir provides access to his research findings, original writing, and a curated selection of the best articles he discovers. This resource will provide you with valuable knowledge and actionable strategies to enhance your personal and professional life.

Subscribe to the newsletter here.

How to build habit-forming products with Userpilot?

Userpilot can help companies implement the Hook model by providing tools and features that align with each element of the model:

• Trigger: With Userpilot, you can trigger in-app messages and product walkthroughs that nudge users to take action. There are different UI patterns to choose from – all of which can be created without coding.

• Action: The Action should require the least interaction for the user to enjoy the reward. As a product manager, aim to minimize the time and effort for this step. You can do this by identifying the shortest path to value and reducing friction points from the journey.

• Variable reward: Use Userpilot to announce the rewards users have won. This can take the form of celebration modals or progress bars in checklists.

• Investment: Customers will continuously invest in products they are satisfied with. Use Userpilot to conduct surveys to monitor satisfaction levels and identify areas of improvement.

Interested in what you’re reading? Book a demo with our team to learn more about how Userpilot can help you create engaging products your customers become addicted to.

Conclusion

Explore Nir Eyal’s expertise in behavioral design and habit formation through his books, newsletter, and blogs shared in this article.

If you’re looking to implement Nir Eyal’s Hook model to enhance your product’s engagement, there is no better product than Userpilot. Book a demo today for more details.

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