Posts Tagged ‘persuasion’

How swear words might improve your marketing

Research suggests that a few obscenities can make you (and presumably your marketing and website content) more persuasive. But be careful: experiment first in material that reaches an audience already on your side.

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Nest positive emotions to excite prospects

Have you ever been angry with yourself for being jealous? Or upset with yourself for feeling anxious? When this happens, the emotions become intertwined and difficult to unravel. It’s powerful. And useful.

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Can free content really increase sales?

Giving away free content—like reports and e-books—is a long-held internet marketing tradition. But does it really boost sales? And if so, why? A new study suggests that the powerful influence of reciprocity is partly responsible, working equally well online when nobody’s looking as offline when social pressure mounts.

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Sticky tricks for more credible content

For creating credible content on the cheap, Chip and Dan Heath, authors of the fascinating book Made to Stick, offer several good tricks.

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Admit weakness to strengthen trust

Disclose a flaw—or even the appearance of a flaw—and your offering becomes more believable.

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Using the right words to change minds

Yes, prospects often bring their misconceptions and biases along with them, but when used effectively, the right words can have a powerful effect on changing opinions and perceptions.

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Magic words that make you money

In his book Win the Crowd, magician Steve Cohen provides some brilliant little tips that magicians use to dazzle audiences. For more persuasive copy, one section in particular stands out, describing 10 linguistic tricks magicians use to manipulate.

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Six secrets of online influence

Actually, if your friends jumped off a bridge, you probably would go with them. Especially if you owed them one, had told them earlier you would do it, liked them, and saw any of them as a bridge-jumping expert. And definitely if the bridge was closing soon, with your time to jump running out.

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