4 Hacks to Persuade Easily

So far, this book has shared various suggestions that will help marketers and brands present themselves better in front of their target audience to influence their purchase decisions. Some of those suggestions can be leveraged in daily life as well.

It’s important to note, however, that none of these tips guarantee success. Their effectiveness depends on several factors, including the specific circumstances and the current mindset of the audience. These variables can significantly influence the outcome.

As a result, persuasive efforts can vary greatly depending on the situation, even when directed toward achieving the same goal.

That said, some tactics are universally applicable and can be used in almost any scenario to shift the odds in your favor.

In this chapter, we’ll explore four practical techniques that can help you effortlessly persuade others to take action.

1. Empathize

The first step toward persuading someone to do something is to make them listen to your message in its entirety.

People will listen to you if they respect you and believe whatever you say will help them alleviate their problems. You can achieve this effect by validating their emotions and experiences. This hooks them in.

For instance, most ad messages begin with a problem or a question. A laptop manufacturer may have an ad message titled “Tired of your computer dying on you?”

Audiences find that relatable because they feel heard. They feel that the business cares about them and has a tailored solution.

Moreover, being empathetic opens people up. Your potential customers may end up sharing additional details that will help you improve your product or service.

2. N-E-S-B

New-Easy-Safe-Better.

That’s what your solution is compared to the rest of the industry. Here’s how to find the relevant entities:

• New: Things about your offering that are unique to others. If you are selling shoes, for instance, it could be as simple as the box you pack them in. The ‘new’ element is crucial for forging a distinct brand identity.

• Easy: Regardless of how complex/simple your product/service is, make it look like people can use it in one small step. If it is impossible to do it in one, three is max. For instance, creating a salad can be done in three easy steps: cut the fruits and veggies, mix them with sauces or dips, and enjoy.

• Safe: There should be literally zero risk of implementing your solution at all. Customers love the assurance of something they have spent their hard-earned money on. Of course, everything is fallible, so use clever wording while stating yours is not.

• Better: It is a subjective thing. Hence, you have the advantage of taking this into the grey area. Remember that it’s always about the perspective. For your audience and their unique needs, nothing is better than your offerings and brand.

3. Flatter

Change is difficult. Whether it is as simple as changing shampoo brands or migrating from one city to another, change is hard. However, we all do it. A lot of us go through drastic life changes, like Caitlin Jenner.

Anyway, we don’t take the plunge unless we determine that it is better for us.

Consider leaving your country and going to another one. No one would actually do that unless they firmly believe it will improve their life in various aspects. 

This is where flattery comes in.

While enticing an audience that buys from a competitor with your stuff, it is crucial to demonstrate that they deserve better. Your message should explain that they should get more value per dollar or something like that, simply because they should.

4. Repeat

There is an old adage in the world of persuasion and influence, “if you want to make someone do something, ask them repeatedly.”

By the way, that’s how the devil succeeds. It knocks on your door every night until you open. 

The key component here is to make each knock different to ensure novelty.

If you are selling laptops with exceptional battery life, then you can create a myriad of ad messages. It could be busy professionals traveling across the globe with little time to charge their devices. It could also be field agents who spend their entire days away from the office.

Each of these variations of the message relays the same value but in multiple flavors.

Conclusion: Use Them Sincerely

Whatever you are selling or pitching should do what it says on the tin. It doesn’t have to be the best in the industry, as long as it provides value for money. I am aware that ‘value for money’ is a subjective term, so determine it accurately for your offerings by looking at the industry benchmark.

Lying about your product or service won’t work out in the long run. People talk and bad reviews travel fast. It will be a matter of time before no one buys from you or the authorities show up at the door.

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Final Chapter: Persuasive Writing: Everything You Need to Know

Previous Chapter: Dark Persuasive Tactics: Lessons From Media, Religion, and Politics

Index (with Prologue): The Fundamentals of Persuasive Writing