The Hidden Influence Behind Everyday Marketing
People often ask me whether Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion and Dr. Robert Cialdini’s principles of influence are still as effective today as they were more than 40 years ago when his book hit bookstores. My answer is always the same: Absolutely! Technology has changed dramatically. We’ve moved from letters to email, from phone calls to texts, and […]
Is Social Proof Becoming Less Reliable?
After traveling quite a bit recently and taking countless Uber rides, I’ve started wondering: Is social proof becoming less reliable? If you use Uber regularly, you’ve probably noticed something interesting. It’s hard to find a driver rated below 4.9 stars. Most drivers I see fall somewhere between 4.95 and 4.98. Think about what that means. […]
What My Father-in-Law Taught Me About Influence
Last Saturday we said goodbye to my father-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Baily. For 38 years, he and I shared a relationship filled with plenty of back-and-forth good natured teasing. For example: After finishing a biography on Abraham Lincoln that I suggested, I asked him if he voted for Lincoln or Douglass. He once asked about the […]
Why Who You’re With Shapes What You Experience
Just over a week ago, I was in Las Vegas speaking at a conference. It was my first time staying at the Venetian, and the experience—on paper—was incredible. I was in a beautiful suite with a 16th-floor view overlooking five pools. The kind of setting most people would love. And yet, my first thought when […]
Guaranteed to Get You What You Want Every Time – NOT!
If you read this post, it’s guaranteed you’ll get everything you want every time, all the time. Of course, that’s not true. But if you spend any time online, you’ll quickly discover there are plenty of people willing to imply exactly that. Read their book. Listen to their podcast. Follow their formula. Use their script. […]
