Friday, November 20, 2009

Influence 6: Cost of Bonus Gift

When consumers are offered a bonus gift for purchasing a product (target product), the perceived value and desirability of the bonus gift as a standalone product can sharply decline. To ensure that your offer is seen as the valuable proposition it actually is, the customer needs to be shown the true value of your offer.
Example:
Received a RM250 security program at no cost to you. (I/O received a free security program)

Influence 5: Limit Choice

When too many options are made available, consumers often find the decision making process frustrating, due to burden of having to differentiate options from one another to make best decision.

When only two funds were offered, participation rate 75%. But when 95 funds were offered, participation rate 60%.

Influence 4: Appreciation

People who deviate from the average tend to be drawn to the average. They change their actions to be more in line with the norm regardless of whether they were previosly behaving in a socially desirable/ undesirable way. We should convey our approval/ appreciation of those already acting in socially desirable way.
Internal report becomes public and state average late is 5.3%. Those who arrive late will adjust their behaviour. Praised those who come on-time and made clear how puntuality is appreciated.

Persuasion 3: Positive Behaviour

Focusing the audience on people who engage in positive behaviour.


Attendance at your monthly meeting has gone done. You could not only express your disapproval for that behaviour, but also highlight those large number who turn up. Because people tend to follow the most popular course of action

Persuasion 2: Follow Other People Behaviour

People are motivated to follow other people behaviour that most closely matched our own environment, situation/ circumstances.

When at public library, you follow the norms, quietly browsing through the fiction.

The more similar the person giving the testimonial is to the new target audience, the more persuasive the message becomes.

Persuasion 1: Social Proof

When people are uncertain about a course of action, they tend to look outside themselves and to other people around them to guide their decisions/ actions.

A man gazed skyward for 60 seconds but most people simply walked around the main without even flancing to see what he was looking at. However, when 4 men gazed, the number of passerby who joined them more than quadrupled.

Feature testimonials from satisfied customer when presenting to new potential clients who may need assurance about benefits your organization can provide

Technique 23: The Latest News

The last move to make before leaving for the party - even after you've given yourself final approval in the mirror - is to turn on the radio news/ scan your newspaper. Anything that happened today is good material. Knowing the big deal news of the moment is also a defensive move that rescues you from putting your foot in your mouth by asking what everybody's talking about.
In Sidney's company, all her female independent contractors were directed to keep up with the daily n ews so they could be good conversationalist with their clients. Feedback from her employees had revealed that 60% of her girls' work hour was spend in chatting and only 40% in satisfying the customers' needs. Thus, she instructed them to read the daily newspaper/ listen to a radio broadcast before leaving for an appointment. When initiated this rule, her business increased significantly. Reports came back from her clients complimenting her on the fascinating women she had working for her.

Technique 22: Accentuate The Positive

When first meeting someone, lock y our closet door and save your skeletons for later. You and your new good friend can invite the skeleons out, have a good laugh, and dance over their bones later in the relationship. But now's the time, as the old song says to "accentuate the positive and elimate the negative.

Technique 21: Encore!

Sweetest sound a performer hear out of the applause is "Encore! Encore!" Let's hear it again.
Sweetest sound your conversation partner hear from your lips when you're talking with a group of people is "Tell them about the time you......"

Whenever you're at a meeting/ party with someone important to you, think of some stories he/she told you. Choose an appropriate one from their repetoire that the crowd will enjoy. Then, shine the spotlight by requesting a repeat performance.

Technique 20: Parroting

Never be left speechless again. Like a parrot, simply repeat the last few words your conversation partner says. That puts the ball right back in his/ her court, and then all you need to do is listen.
Parroting is also a can opener to pry open people's real feelings. Star salesperson use it to get to their prospect's emotional objections, which they often don't even articulate to themselves.
A: Well, I'm not sure if this car is right for me.
B: Right for you?
A: Well, er, yeah. I'm not sure if it fits my personality.
B: Fits your personality?
A: You know, maybe I need something a little more sporty.
B: Well, those cars over there looks more sporty.
An hour later, A had pocketed a fat commision.

Technique 19: The Spotlight

When you meet someone, imagine a giant revolving spotlight between you. When you're talking, the spotlight is on you. When the new person is speaking, it's shining on him/ her.

When meet someone, you can learn much more if you ask about their life. Always try to turn the spotlight on the other person. Truly confident person knows that they grow more by listening than talking.

Keep your sportlight aimed away from you. Only lightly on your product, and most brightly on your buyer. You'll do a much better job of selling yourself and your product.

Technique 18: Be A Word Detective

When talking with anyone, keep your ears open and like a good detective, listen for clues. Be on the lookout for his/ her preferred topic. If two people have something in common, when the shared interest comes up, they jump on it naturally.

Example:
If someone mentions playing squash and the listener shares that passion, he/ she pipes up "Oh, you're a squasher too!"

Technique 17: Never The Naked Introduction

When introducing people, don't throw out an unbaited hook and stand there grinning like a big clam, leaving the newlymets to flutter their fins and fish for a topic.

When introducing people, simply add-on: Susan, I'd like to you meet John. John has a wonderful boat we took a trip on last summer. John, this is Susan Smith. Susan is editor in chief of Cleo magazine.

This gives Susan the opportunity to ask what kind of boat John has/ where the group went. It gives John an opening to discuss his love of writing. The conversation can then naturally expend to infinity.

Technique 16: Never The Naked Job

When asked the inevitable "And what do you do? You may answer "I'm an attorney".
Flesh it out. Tell a little story your conversation partner can get a handle on. Otherwise, they'll soon excuse themselves, preferring the snack back at the cheese tray.
Example:

Talking with a young mother:I'm an attorney. Our firm specialized in employement law. In fact, I'm now involved in a case where a company actually discharged a woman for taking extra maternity leave that was a medical necessity.

Talking with a business owner:I'm an attorney. Our firm specializes in employement law. My current case concerns an employer who is being sued by one of her staff for asking personal questions during the initial job interview.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Technique 15: Never The Naked City

Whenever someone ask you the inevitable, "And where are you from?"
Never, ever, unfairly challenge their power of imagination with a one-word answer.

Learn something engaging facts (history, geography, business tatistics/ few fun facts) about your hometown that conversational partners can comment on. Then, when they say something clever in response to your bait, they think you're a great conversationalist.

Talking with a businessperson:
I'm from Columbus, Ohio, You know many major corporation do their product testing in Columbus because it's so comercially typical.

Talking with an American:
Tell him that Columbus was, indeed, named after Christopher Columbus and that ......

Technique 14: Eavesdropping

Just stand near the swarm of folks you want to infiltrate and open your ears. Wait for a word/ two you can use as awedge to break into the group.
"Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear......."

Will they be taken aback? Momentarily
Will they get over it? Momentarily
Will you be in the conversation? Absolutely.


Technique 13: Who Is That ?

Simply go to the party giver and say "That man/woman over there looks interesting. Who is he/ she? Then ask for an introduction. Don't be hesitate. The party giver will be pleased you find one of the guests interesting.

If, however, you are loath to pull the paraty giver away from his/her guest, don't ask for a formal introduction. Simply pump the party giver for just enough information to launch you. Find out about the stranger's job, interest & hobby. Example:
"Hi, you're Joe Smith, aren't you? Susan was just telling me what a great skier you are. Where do you ski?"

Technique 12: What Is That?

Whenever you go to a gathering, wear or carry something unusual to give people who find you the delightful stranger across the crowded room an excuse to approach.
"Excuse me, I couldn't help but notice your.....What is that?

Likewise, become proficient in scrutinizing the apprarel of those you wish to approach. Why not express interest in the handkerchief in the tycoon's vest pocket, the brooch on the bosom of the rich divorcee, or the school ring on the finger of the CEO whose company you want to work for?

Technique 11: How You Say It, Not What You Say

Worried about your first words? Fear not, because 80% of your listener's impression has nothing to do with your words anyway. Almost anything you say at first is fine. No matter how prosaic the text, an empathetic mood, a positive demeanor, and passionate delivery make you sound exciting.

If your first comment is a complaint, you're a griper.
If your first words are rude, you're a creep.
If your first words are unpleasant, you're a stinker.
Other than thiese downers, anything goes.
Ask them where they're from, how they know the host of the party, where they bought the lovely suit.....etc.
The trick is to ask your prosaic question with passion to get the other person talking.

Technique 10: Make a Mood Match

Before opening your mouth, take a voice sample of your listener to detect his/ her state of mind if your listeneer looks buoyant, bored or blitzed. Matching their mood can make or break the sale.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Technique 9: Visualization

Rehearse being the Super Somebody you want to be ahead of time.
SEE yourself walking around with great posture, shaking hands, smiling the Flooding Smile and making Sticky Eyes.
HEAR yourself chatting comfortably with everyone.
FEEL the pleasure of knowing you are in peak form & everyone is gravitating towards you.
VISUALIZE yourself a Super Somebody.
Then it all happens automatically.

Technique 8: Watch Audiences Reaction and Response


Make it a habit to get on a dual track while talking. Express yourself, but keep a keen eye on how your listener is reacting to what you're saying. Then plan your moves accordingly.

Technique 7: How To Appear Credible

Whenever your conversation really counts, let your nose itch, your ear tingle, or your foot prickles. Do not fidget, twitch, wiggle, squirm or stratch. And above all, keep your paws away from your puss. Hand motions near your face and all fidgeting can give your listener the gut feeling you're fibbing.

Technique 6: Hello Old Friend

When meeting someone, imagine he/ she is an old friend. You have reunited with your long-long old friend. The joyful experience starts a remarkable chain reaction in your body from the subconscious softening of your eyebrows to the positioning of your toes and everything in between.

You're not going to hug and kiss and say "great to see you again".
You merely say 'Hello, how do you do. I'm pleased to meet you".

Technique 5: The Big Baby Pivot

The instances the two of you are introduced, reward your new acquaintance. Give the warm smile, the total-body turn, and the undivided attention you would give a baby who crawled up to your feet, turned a precious face up to yours, and beamed a big toothless grin. It shows "I think you are very, very special".

Technique 4: Posture - Biggest Success Barometer

Before walking through any door - the door to your office, a party, a meeting, even your kitchen - picture a leather bit hanging by a cable from the frame. As you pass through the door, throw your head back and chomp on the imaginary dental gri that first pulls your cheeks back into a smile and then lifts you up. As you ascend high above the gasping crowd, your body is stretched into perfect alignment - head high, shoulders back, torso out of hip, feet weight-less.

Now you look like a Somebody.

Technique 3: Epoxy Eyes

This brazen technique packs a powerful punch. Watch your target person even when someone else is talking. No matter who is speaking, keep looking at the man/ woman you want to impact.

Technique 2: Sticky Eyes

Pretend your eyes are glued to your conversation partners' with sticky warm taffy. Don't break eye contact even after he/ she has finished speaking. When you must look away, do it ever so slowly, reluctantly, stretching the goey taffy until the tiny string finally breaks.

Technique 1: The Flooding Smile

Don't flash an immediate smile when you greet someone, as though anyone who walked into your line. Instead, look at the other person's face for a second. Pause. Soak in their persona. Then let a big, warm, responsive smile flood over your face and overflow into your eyes. It will engulf the receipient like a warm wave.

The split second delay convinces people your flooding smile is genuine and only for them.