I want to introduce you to the most persuasive person I know.
Trust me — Cialdini’s got nothing on this girl’s “influence”.
I only met her a few months ago, but I’ve already learned she’s well out of my league when it comes to persuasion:
I’ve personally witnessed her break the most stubborn opponents — sometimes without even saying a single word.
So, who is this master of persuasion?
It’s none other than … my six month old daughter Esther.
A true tale:
This morning, I put her down in the playpen, and walked away to make my breakfast.
The moment I put her down, I knew she wasn’t happy about it.
But unlike her mother, I’m no pushover. And I’m not giving up my baby-freedom that soon.
I look over at her.
She looks at me.
And suddenly, the two of us are playing a game of pick-me-back-up poker.
The first hand is dealt, and it’s her turn:
“Goo. Gaa. Oooooh.”
The cute gurgling begins.
Nice try, sweetie, but I’m a professional too … and I ain’t giving up that easily.
Her turn again.
Seeing that I didn’t take the bait, she stops cooing … and raises the stakes.
Now, she’s only six months old.
But I could swear what she did next was deliberate:
Without breaking eye contact with me … she abruptly topples over.
Thud!
Her head smacks the floor.
For an instant, she looks up at me with a half-sad, half-dazed expression.
I know I should cut my losses now … but I’ve come so far already. So I decide to call her bluff … and stay where I am.
In hindsight, a foolish move …
Now it’s Esther’s final turn, and she’s not messing around.
She goes all-in:
In slow motion, she contorts her face into the saddest frown in the history of the world.
And then … the crying starts.
“Waaaaahhhhh!!!”
At that point, I can’t take it anymore.
I know I’ve been beaten.
I fold … and promptly walk over to pick her up.
Yet again, she has gotten me to do exactly what she wants.
So what makes her so good at that?
Simple: she knows her market (me).
She knows what I like (cute, happy babies) … and what I fear (screaming babies).
And she uses that information to bend me to her will.
Thus, the question you should ask yourself before you write your next page of copy:
Do you know your market’s hot buttons?
What they desire … what they fear … and how to use both of those things to actually get them to do what you want?
If you don’t, you’re wasting your time.
Never fear, though.
For soon I will publish my remedy to this problem, and reveal how I do my own market research for the sales copy I write.
And if you would like a discount when I do, simply enter your email address here:
https://mailchi.mp/f14ef90a1fe7/research
Daniel