The best way to sell something is to make the buyer feel like they don’t have a choice. This can be done by creating the perception that there are limited quantities of an item, or that if you don’t buy it now you’ll miss out on a great deal.
When you combine these techniques with other factors such as social proof (i.e. showing that lots of people are buying), price anchoring (making a product seem cheaper), or even artificial urgency (making people believe they need to act quickly).
It’s easy to see how subliminal selling works and why it’s so effective at making us buy things we don’t want or need!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Subtle cues can significantly influence consumer decisions. |
| 2. Emotions play a crucial role in driving purchasing behavior. |
| 3. Scarcity and urgency tactics create a fear of missing out. |
| 4. Social proof leverages herd mentality for persuasion. |
| 5. Framing products in a positive light enhances desirability. |
| 6. Pricing psychology affects perceived value and affordability. |
| 7. Anchoring techniques sway decisions based on comparisons. |
| 8. Storytelling evokes emotions and creates relatability. |
| 9. Color psychology influences perceptions and moods. |
| 10. The power of reciprocity encourages reciprocity in return. |
1. Price Anchoring
Price anchoring is a marketing technique used to influence the price of a product or service. It’s often used in tandem with other subliminal selling techniques, like scarcity, to make customers more likely to buy from you. How does it work? Let’s take a look at an example:
You’re shopping for a new car, and you’ve done some research about the different models on the market. You want something under $20,000 with all the bells and whistles and maybe even leather seating! But when you visit your local dealership, what do they show you?
A brand-new shiny red sports car that costs over $30,000! You know that this isn’t what you can afford but that shiny red sports car sure looks nice…
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2. Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO)
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is the fear that you will miss out on something if you don’t buy now. You may also be afraid that if you don’t buy now, someone else will get it first and benefit from the item or service before you do.
This powerful subliminal selling technique plays on our insecurities to make us feel like we need something or want it badly enough to purchase it immediately. If this sounds familiar, then it’s time for a reality check:
FOMO is not real! You can avoid buying stuff because of FOMO by reminding yourself that there are many more opportunities to own something later on and if it’s meant to be yours, then God will provide another chance soon enough!
3. Social proof
Social proof is a marketing tactic and refers to the idea that people will be more likely to buy something if they see other people buying it.
Social proof can take two forms: positive social proof and negative social proof. Positive social proof is essentially saying “this person or product has been chosen by others” (think of an ad for a movie starring Tom Cruise).
The negative social proof uses someone who has chosen against an item or service as their spokesperson like a celebrity is known for being environmentally conscious and refusing to endorse plastic water bottles.
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4. Free Shipping Thresholds
Free shipping thresholds are a popular psychological trick to get you to spend more.
For example, Amazon offers free shipping on all orders over $35, but only if you are a Prime member (which costs $12.99/month).
If you aren’t a Prime member, the minimum purchase amount required for free shipping is $49 and sometimes even less if there’s something in stock that qualifies as an “add-on item.”
If you’re not careful, these techniques can quickly add up and make it seem like you’re spending far more money than necessary.
Thankfully, there is a way around this: simply set aside money for your online purchases early in the month so that when the time comes around for another round of impulse buys, you won’t be tempted by any extra amounts being charged on top of what was planned!
5. Price Ending In 9 Or 99
The “9” Ending
The “9” ending is one of the most effective tricks in retail, and it works especially well on prices that end with 9 or 99.
A study conducted by researchers at Stanford University found that when they priced service at $19 instead of $29, sales increased by 30%.
That’s because consumers perceive these prices as being cheaper than they are. This effect is strongest when the price is 9, but it also works when the price ends at 99.
The “99” Ending
If you’re selling something for more than $100, try adding on an extra zero to make it seem like a bargain! (We know this sounds ridiculous, but studies show it’s true.)
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6. Limited Edition
Limited edition products are often perceived as being more valuable. The financial investment required to obtain a limited edition product is often higher than for a regular product, and the scarcity of that item makes it difficult to find in the first place.
For some people, this combination makes the item seem like it’s worth more than its actual value.
For example, A limited edition pair of sneakers might cost $200 instead of $100 as other sneakers from the same brand would cost;
Similarly, you may need to wait longer than usual before they’re back in stock after they’ve sold out (which happens surprisingly quickly). This means that you’ll miss out on these sneakers if you don’t act fast enough!
7. Creating Artificial Urgency
Effects of artificial urgency on sales:
Limited time offers. Offers with a limited period to purchase are more likely to be purchased than those without.
These include special deals, such as $50 off your next order if you buy now before midnight tonight or free shipping with orders over $100 (which gives customers the impression that they must place an order immediately if they want the free shipping).
Limited edition products. A product’s perceived scarcity can also increase its desirability and value in people’s eyes even if it doesn’t exist!
This is another reason why retailers use phrases like “limited edition” or “discontinued item” on their website pages;
Even though these items may not be scarce, our brains still perceive them as being so because retailers have made us associate them with a higher price tag and a sense of exclusivity.
Limited stock availability in brick-and-mortar stores is another example of how creating artificial scarcity can drive up sales.
And it doesn’t matter whether there’s less inventory than usual at the store location where you’re shopping; all that matters is that someone told you there was only one item left!
8. Well Known Company Names And Logos
Branding. A subliminal message is a small but powerful way to associate your product or service with well-known companies and logos.
Recognition. If a subliminal message makes you think of an established company, it will also increase your recognition of that brand, leading to trust and loyalty to their products or services.
Familiarity. This can be achieved through a combination of branding and recognition techniques, but familiarity works just as well on its own – for example if someone sees the Apple logo and feels familiar with the brand’s identity (and therefore more likely to buy an Apple product).
Trustworthiness. When people recognize a brand name or logo as trustworthy, they are more likely to trust any claims made by that company’s representatives as being honest; which in turn can encourage customers into buying from them again in the future!
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9. Limited Stock Availability
One of the most popular marketing tactics is to make an item seem like it’s in limited supply. This makes you feel like you have to buy now before it goes out of stock and you’re left with nothing.
There are two ways that limited stock availability can be used:
To boost sales – If a business has a product on sale for a single day only and tells customers that the product is going out of stock at midnight (i.e., the next morning), they might see an increase in sales over other days when they don’t do this trick.
It’s all down to psychology; if people know that something isn’t available forever, they’ll buy it right away instead of waiting until tomorrow or another day (or never).
To increase perceived value – If businesses make an item seem rarer than other items on their site or store shelf (even if all products are limited), then customers will think that said product must be better than others because there aren’t many left!
10. Product Placement In Shows With Large Audiences
Product placement is a technique that has been around for decades, but in recent years it has become an essential part of marketing. This is because product placement provides an effective way to get your brand name in front of millions of people.
Product placement can be found all over the media landscape, including movies and TV shows, books, and magazines, music videos, games and apps (video or computer), social media sites like Facebook or Twitter; even billboards!
Product placement on television shows with large audiences can be particularly effective because viewers tend to remember what they see on their televisions more than any other form of advertising due to its repetition over time.
11. Likeness To A Competitor’s Product, With A Few Key Differences (E.G. iPhone And Android)
One of the most effective ways to get customers to buy your product is by comparing and contrasting it with a competitor’s product (e.g. iPhone and Android).
This can be done through subtle messaging, such as when you’re reading a review or watching an advert for an iPhone XS Max and are reminded that Google Pixel 3 has a better camera than iPhone XS Max but doesn’t have wireless charging.
In addition to making the product seem more familiar and appealing, it can also make it seem more desirable, valuable, and even necessary for you to own if you want to keep up with the Joneses or be considered tech savvy.
12. In-Store Product Placement (I.E. Visually Dominant Products Are Placed At The Front Of The Store Or Eye Level)
Product placement is used to create a subconscious connection between the product and the consumer. This is common in movies and TV shows where you can see an Apple laptop onscreen but it’s also used in retail stores every day!
The rule of 100 says that if the price is around $100, it’s cheaper than a price ending in “9” (e.g., $99).
The reason for this is that when we hear numbers like “100,” our minds automatically add one more zero behind them so even though we’re seeing “$100,” our brains register it as “$1,000.”
13. The Rule Of 100 (If The Price Is Around $100 It Sounds Cheaper Than If It Simply Had A “9” At The End)
The Rule of 100 (if the price is around $100 it sounds cheaper than if it simply had a “9” at the end)
One way that marketers use this trick to make you spend more money is by starting a price with “$99.” Instead of saying, “You can save $10,” they’ll say that this item costs “$99.” Why?
Because people tend to think in terms of ten dollars ($10), not nine dollars and ninety-nine cents ($9.99). If they tell us something is only $99, we think it’s $100 not close enough to $100 but still pretty darn close!
So now instead of saving $10 on an item priced at $109, we’re saving almost as much as we would have saved ten dollars without getting anything extra!
Some marketers try to apply this rule by using prices like “$999” or even higher numbers such as “$9,999” but those usually don’t work well because they don’t sound like real prices. You can see why:
They’re too far from being rounded down (or rounded up) from a ten-dollar price tag which makes them look less believable when compared to other items priced similarly in stores where shoppers do shop around for deals before making purchases online.
Or elsewhere nearby where there aren’t any ads playing loudly over speakers near electronics displays playing loud music while flashing lights flash rapidly all around them flashing overtop incessantly during their shopping experience checkout line wait times increase exponentially causing many shoppers to leave empty-handed due
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14. Bonuses (I.E. Buy One Get One Free)
Bonuses are a great way to get people to buy more. The primary purpose of bonuses is to encourage people to make a purchase they otherwise might not have made.
Bonuses can come in many forms, but one of the most effective types of bonuses is when you get something extra for free if you buy another product or service.
The idea behind bonuses is simple: If I’m going to spend my money on something, why not spend it on something that will benefit me even more?
For example, if you’re thinking about buying an expensive camera lens for shooting wildlife photos.
If but aren’t sure if this specific lens will work well for your needs, taking advantage of an offer such as “buy one get one free” could help make up your mind on whether or not this particular type of lens makes sense for where you won’t go with your photography hobby.
Or maybe there’s no better way than through some sort of discount code that offers savings off the regular price tag (which may also act as an added incentive).
15. Discounts For Buying In Bulk Or Ordering Early/Ahead Of Time
It’s no secret that a bulk discount exists. But did you know that there is also some kind of “early bird” discount? It’s true! If you order something before the deadline, or even ahead of time, you get a discount.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a CD or DVD if it’s on backorder and there are only 5 left in stock at Amazon, they’ll give them to me at a reduced price because they know I’m willing to wait longer for delivery, and don’t mind paying more per unit.
That’s called scarcity pricing: pricing items higher than their actual worth just because not everyone has to access to them right away (or ever). You might think this isn’t fair but hey! They’re making money off me!
16. BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) Deals That Aren’t Free
You might think you’re getting something for free, but that’s not the case. If you purchase an item at a regular price of $100 and get another one for free.
Then you’re paying $100 for two items instead of just one. In this case, the seller is using your assumption that BOGO deals are always better than buying things individually and it works!
17. Loyalty / Frequent Buyer Cards
If you’re a frequent buyer card loyalist, then you’re more than familiar with the benefits of loyalty cards. These little plastic cards are a great way to encourage repeat purchases and keep track of your customer base.
For example, if you have a loyalty card for any store that sells food, then knowing the information on your card will allow them to send you coupons or deals based on what you buy most often.
They can also use this information for marketing purposes (e.g., sending coupons for products that complement what they sell).
And perhaps even more important is that loyalty programs can be used by companies as a way of tracking customer behavior; from there they can use this data to understand their customers better so that they know how best to cater to their needs.
Conclusion
It’s not just about getting you to buy a product, but also about keeping you coming back for more. The more control these companies have over how much they spend, the more profit they make.
While some of these techniques may seem harmless enough at first glance, the impact on our wallets and our lives can be significant.
Further Reading
Subliminal Marketing: The Art of Hidden Influence A deep dive into the world of subliminal marketing and how it shapes consumer behavior in subtle yet impactful ways.
Sell Like the Wolf: 17 Selling Strategies from the Wolf of Wall Street Discover powerful selling techniques inspired by the iconic movie “The Wolf of Wall Street” that can supercharge your sales efforts.
Effective Selling Techniques for Modern Businesses Explore a comprehensive guide to effective selling techniques tailored for the modern business landscape.
And here’s the “FAQs” section with five questions and answers:
FAQs
What is subliminal marketing?
Subliminal marketing involves using subtle messages, cues, or imagery to influence consumer behavior without their conscious awareness.
How can I implement the selling strategies from “The Wolf of Wall Street”?
Start by understanding the psychology behind the strategies and adapt them to your industry. Focus on building rapport, emphasizing benefits, and creating a sense of urgency.
What are some essential selling techniques for businesses?
Effective selling techniques include active listening, understanding customer pain points, showcasing value, and building strong relationships.
How do subliminal marketing and traditional marketing differ?
Subliminal marketing operates beneath the conscious threshold, influencing behaviors indirectly. Traditional marketing employs more overt methods like advertising and branding.
How can I enhance my sales presentations?
To enhance sales presentations, focus on storytelling, addressing objections proactively, customizing your pitch to the client’s needs, and incorporating visual aids for better engagement.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.