ZMET
Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique
Shine a light on consumers' unconscious thoughts
How can peanut butter
make a grown man cry?
How can a convenience store bring out your inner artist?
What is the one thing that strikes terror in the heart of any ER doctor?
This pioneering technique was developed over 25 years ago in the Mind of the Market Lab at Harvard Business School. It unlocks the Deep Metaphors™ rooted in universal human experiences revealing the unconscious thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires that shape the stories we tell ourselves about the world.
When you know what was previously unknown, you have a comprehensive map to connect deeply with your consumers.
How ZMET® Works
People usually don't know why they do what they do. A ZMET interview gives consumers a safe place to explore the deeply personal feelings and beliefs that unconsciously shape their behavior.
The interview is an intense, soul-searching jumping-off point with a trained and certified ZMET interviewer that untaps a bottomless well of unconscious beliefs, experiences, and emotions.
Our careful analysis of your consumers' metaphors reveals the unconscious mental orientations that guide their choices. We show how these high-value insights, rooted in universal Deep Metaphors™, apply directly to your strategic goals.
Metaphors get deep; and when you get deep, you can influence perceptions and behavior; and when you can influence consumers, you win.
ZMET is adaptable to your needs and may be done at a research facility, in-home, or online.