every technique to persuade people

14 Persuasive Techniques So Powerful, They Feel Illegal

We won’t talk about some basic persuasive techniques you can find with a quick search on Google or Quora.

Instead, we will talk about a systematic, methodical approach to rob people of free will.

You’ll learn to exploit certain psychological vulnerabilities that will make them do what you want.

So don’t use this guide to manipulate people.

Or do.

At the end of the day, it’s your choice.

Let’s begin by…

#1 Avoiding This Sin

For a long time, I’ve been puzzled that some bad individuals have tremendous influence over people.

I don’t use the word bad lightly. But they spread hatred as if their lives depended on it. And it’s not just a strategy to gain popularity by being controversial… In many cases, they’re criminals, misogynistic, racist, or even downright fascist.

However, there’s one thing they are not.

They are not boring.

They know how to craft these grand narratives that pull us in and we can’t help but engage in their dramas even when we’re just trying to oppose what they’re doing.

Why does this happen? Why do we get sucked into their dramas?

It’s because rhetorical devices are expertly used to feed our hunger for mental engagement.

From the moment we wake up to when we fall asleep, our brains are hunting for something stimulating.

Even when doing nothing, we are replaying interesting conversations, dramas created by the media or people around us, or fantasies about the future.

In other words, we are like that character from the movie Undisputed who says…”I want to be entertained”

So, whether you’re having a casual conversation with your friends or trying to sell an idea or product, you should always think about how to frame it in a simple and interesting way.

In this video, you’ll learn a lot of insights and techniques for maximum emotional impact. But the most important thing… You know, the foundation of what we are trying to accomplish is to…

#2 Please their Reptilian Brain

The reptilian brain is the oldest part of our brain, which evolved for millions of years.

Think of it like a snake in the grass. When the snake senses danger, it will either retreat or attack with ferocity. And when it hunts, it will wait patiently for the perfect moment, then attack with ferocity.

Our reptilian brain is very similar. It’s constantly scanning the environment around you for threats or opportunities. And it will make split-second decisions to either retreat or engage.

There’s no logic, no emotions here; just pure instinct.

So whenever you present your idea, their reptilian brain will evaluate it.

If your idea is flagged as a threat or a waste of time, you’re done.

But don’t worry. Here are five quick tips to bypass their reptilian brain and make them more likely to accept your idea:

1. Step into their world – Think about what they care about, what they fear, and what they want to achieve. This allows you to tailor your message in a way that resonates with them deeply.

2. Open with Intrigue – Don’t take their attention for granted by rambling on and on before getting to your point. Instead, you want to hook them immediately with an intriguing or unexpected detail.

3. Make your message clear and memorable – Our reptilian brain doesn’t like complex language, especially when it’s used unnecessarily.

So you want to use simple words, vivid stories, metaphors, analogies, and relatable examples.

4. Speak with confidence – Studies have shown that people are more likely to believe you when you maintain confident body language, even if you’re lying.

5. Make a clear distinction between your idea and other options.

Here’s the thing: If you dive deep into the differences then your message gets complicated.

So create a bold, black-and-white contrast between your idea and the alternatives.

Keep it simple. Keep it sharp.

Let’s move on to the next strategy:

#3 Give Them Permission to Think

The key to becoming charismatic and persuasive is simple:

Make people feel better about themselves and superior to others.

But how can we do this?

Well, we can learn from comedians.

They have this uncanny ability to say out loud what we’re all thinking but too afraid to admit. They send the message ‘Look, it’s okay to think this way or feel this way.’

What’s even more powerful is when they put into words exactly how we feel about a certain issue.

That’s why comedians have so much popularity and influence.

They create a safe space where we can finally be honest with ourselves.

Now, reaching this level is not easy but it’s possible.

You need to cultivate 3 habits:

Be open to new experiences

Take time to reflect

Avoid judging people

This is very important.

Create this habit that you are not shocked by whatever people say and you are not judging them.

Eventually, you’ll instantly transmit the feeling that it’s comfortable talking to you and that they can open up to you about anything.

You know, they can sense that they won’t be judged by you.

The next technique is a continuation of this one…

#4 Give Them Permission to Feel Superior

Look, we are not equal in terms of abilities and resources. Due to many factors like innate abilities, experiences, environment, and luck, some people have achieved more than others.

Yet, in every society you are expected to be modest. And modesty is a good thing, no doubt about that.

The problem is that for many people, there’s a huge gap between how they feel privately and how they’re expected to present themselves publicly.

They might be proud of their achievements, but they’re scared to show it. Over time, they even downplay their success to themselves.

So, we give them permission to not feel guilty and to actually feel proud of what they have achieved right?

They still need to keep up the appearance of modesty in public. But when they’re speaking with us, they can pat themselves on the back.

When you create a safe space, a subtle yet powerful persuasive technique, you help resolve the inner conflict between pride and humility. This makes them more comfortable around you.

#5 Psychological Affinity

In his book The Ultimate Sales Letter, Dan Kennedy shares a story about helping a food bank.

The Food Bank was doing what most charities do: They were sending out letters with messages like, “These hungry children won’t have a good Thanksgiving,” along with some pictures.

Generally speaking, it’s a solid pitch; It was already driving donations.

But Dan saw an opportunity to make it even better.

He was like, who is our target audience?

They are mostly rich, old people, right?

So why don’t we share another picture in the sales letter of some kid who looks like their nephew?

Better yet. Let’s add a photo of a big family enjoying Thanksgiving dinner along with the caption: “You have plenty. They have none. You must help us.”

That’s it. He didn’t change anything else.

The results!

They got three times more donations.

Why did it work?

Dan understood that these people were more likely to feel empathy and compassion toward a child who looks like their nephew or niece.

And it’s not just them. We all have this tendency to help or connect more easily with people who feel familiar.

He also used the power of contrast.

The stark difference between the abundance that these people enjoy and the poverty of the child created a sense of guilt and urgency which prompted them to donate.

So, what’s the takeaway?

Always start by understanding how your audience already feels about an issue and build a short, emotional bridge between their existing beliefs and your message.

For example, if your audience values family and community, frame your story to highlight those values. Paint a vivid picture in your story where they can see themselves—or their loved ones.

This makes even abstract ideas feel personal and deeply meaningful.

Next, we have…

#6 Compelling Definitions

Giving definitions is the quickest way to lose people’s attention because they are complicated, dry, and fucking boring.

However, I have come up with a template to explain definitions or new concepts in a very compelling way.

I picked it up by watching the presentation scene from the Big Short movie.

That scene is a masterclass in persuasion. (If you want a deeper dive, check out my full analysis)

In the scene, Jared Vennett is pitching a crazy idea to a small hedge fund:

The housing market will collapse and they can make a fortune by betting against it.

By the middle of the presentation, they’re intrigued and ask, “Alright, how can we bet against the housing market as you say?”

This is a critical moment and he knows it.

So he doesn’t respond by giving a long technical answer.

Instead, he says:

With something called a credit default swap. [The Financial Instrument]

It’s like insurance on the bond [Analogy to make it simpler to understand],

and if it goes bust, you can make ten to one, even twenty to one return [Opportunity or Why should I care about this tool, definition or concept],

and it’s already slowly going bust [Urgency and Intrigue – Why should they act now]

Now, you don’t have to use the template in this exact order – Definition, Analogy, Opportunity, Urgency. You can adjust them as you see fit.

The key is to make the concept clear and interesting.

#7 Interrupting to Agree

When someone is making a valuable point in a conversation, you can interrupt them with a compliment or agreement.

It can make them feel validated and more likely to agree with you later on.

You can say things like, ”Exactly. I couldn’t agree more. In fact, not only what you said is correct, but also this is why it’s even more correct. “

So in key moments of the conversation, you make these quick interruptions that serve as positive reinforcement and can guide the conversation where you want it.

#8 Break Their Autopilot

Has it ever happened to you that you drove to work but then you weren’t really aware of how you got there?

Well, since you have done the same route countless times, you have learned to do it automatically.

Look, most of us follow almost the same routine week in, and week out.

And most of the time, we operate on autopilot. We are physically there but mentally we are somewhere else.

Now, when we want to convince someone or simply have a pleasant conversation, we need their full attention. But to have their full attention, we must break their autopilot.

How can we do it?

We ask questions or bring up subjects that are not ordinary.

I’m not saying you should say weird stuff. Just say things that go against their everyday script.

For example, you can comment on something slightly out of place like “You ever notice how this place smells like vanilla even though they sell no desserts?

You can make a slightly contradictory observation, “I always hear people say how much they love working from home, but honestly, I kinda miss the chaos of the office.”

Or someone says, “Man I hate Mondays” and you say, “Really I kinda like Mondays. They feel like a fresh start.”

There are many other ways to break their autopilot like:

You can make observations, use humor, make unexpected compliments, and make connections between two seemingly unrelated topics…

And it’s not that difficult:

You just have to pay attention to the conversation and the environment around, and whatever you say… you say it casually, you say it with confidence.

There’s no need to make it weird. Just express yourself freely.

#9 The Moral Authority Frame

Many people tend to have the same style of arguing.

They passionately make their case. And when it’s your time to speak, you can notice in their face that they’re not actually listening. They’re thinking about what to say next. Or they constantly interrupt you which is annoying as hell.

This is one of the cases, where you need to use the Moral Authority Frame.

It’s when you frame their behavior as inconsistent or unfair while positioning yourself as having the moral high ground. It’s very subtle but will allow you to instantly take control of the conversation.

You may say something like:

“Look, I want to have a conversation like adults, which means we listen to each other. But if you keep interrupting me, it shows you don’t really care about what I have to say. So why should we have this conversation?”

You can use the Moral Authority Frame whenever someone is being inconsistent, or unfair. But don’t overdo it because you’ll be perceived as self-righteous.

#10 Negative Association

This is when you associate a current behavior or mindset with something they dislike or fear.

You might want to do it in a subtle way. But even if you’re direct, it can still work. Because generally speaking, people are very suggestible.

When you make an association that triggers a strong emotional reaction, whether they avoid it or not, it will stick in their mind.

For example, let’s say I perceive myself as a hard worker but I also procrastinate a lot.

By simply pointing out this inconsistency, it might motivate me to change.

Of course, when you point it out, I’ll not like it. I might also tell you that you’re wrong. But eventually, it becomes harder and harder to explain away this huge gap between the belief that I’m a hard worker and the behavior that I procrastinate a lot.

In this case, I might decide to change my behavior or choose to continue rationalizing it.

Either way, your words had an emotional impact.

#11 Analogies

Analogies are the rhetorical devices that act like shortcuts for the brain — they help us connect ideas and make sense of the world faster.

And when used well, they’re also a powerful tool for persuasion because they can simplify your message and speak directly to people’s emotions and instincts.

Now, if you want to craft effective analogies, you need to consider two key elements.

The first one is to choose topics that your audience already understands.

If they are sports fans, you use sports analogies. But if you don’t know their interests, stick to universal topics like nature or war.

The second element is that the analogy needs to reveal an important truth:

For example, “You never know who’s swimming naked until the tide goes out.”

This is an analogy used by Warren Buffet to illustrate how the deep flaws in businesses or systems are only revealed during times of crisis.

Or, consider the slogan of the iPod – 1,000 songs in your pocket.

With just six words, they turned a complex piece of technology into a relatable and irresistible idea.

Next, we have something that’s less of a strategy and more of a basic truth.

#12 Looks Matter

We all have heard the expressions, “Looks don’t matter” or “Don’t judge a book by its cover”… And that’s a beautiful notion.

But it’s wrong.

We constantly assess and judge people by how they look and how they present themselves. Studies have shown that we find attractive people more likable and trustworthy.

Now, if you’re not physically attractive, or you have no money, or both, does that mean that you’re doomed to fail?

Of course not.

It just means you have to work harder.

You can go to the gym and build muscle which will automatically make you look better; Get a nice haircut; learn how to dress well; Try to become an expert at something because we all like competent people, and most importantly, learn to develop a magnetic personality.

Those who are good with people will always have lots of opportunities.

1 Core Idea

As we have learned, we need to keep our message simple so we don’t trigger their reptilian brain.

And the best way to do it is by picking 1 core idea that has the greater chance of hitting them at both emotional and logical levels.

But here’s the tricky part: where do you even start?

Well, you consider the great forces at play and how these forces have aligned in a way that opens a brief window of opportunity.

These forces could be economic, technological, political, or social.

For example, let’s say you’re pitching a productivity app.

What are the large forces?

The rise of AI, globalization, and other advances in technology.

With that in mind, you can emphasize how the rise of AI enables you to create a tool that helps mid-sized and large businesses triple their productivity. Then, you explain how you’ve assembled a team of highly skilled, remote programmers who can help you build and scale that app quickly and at a reasonable price.

So by framing your idea within these larger technological forces, you’re making it feel novel, special, and urgent.

You’re creating excitement because the idea is new while at the same time, you’re creating tension… that this opportunity can slip away from their hands.

Never shy away from tension. In fact, lean on it because it’s a crucial thing to keep people’s attention.

Think about your favorite TV show… they have a problem, and they solve it, shortly thereafter, another dramatic thing happens, it’s resolved, and so on.

So when crafting your narrative you also want to include these mini-stakes or struggles. Present challenges, create tension, and then resolve them —only to introduce the next twist. This rhythm will keep your audience on the edge of their seat.

I have saved the best strategy for last:

1 Sentence Persuasion

Blair Warren captured the essence of persuasion in one sentence…

“People will do anything for those who encourage their dreams, justify their failures, allay their fears, confirm their suspicions, and help them throw rocks at their enemies.”

Now let’s analyze each emotional motivator:

#1 Dreams

We all have dreams and goals for the future which are very important to us and we’re constantly working towards them.

So we are naturally attracted to people who encourage these pursuits.

#2 Failures

We all experience failures and when someone tells us to take responsibility for it and move on is clearly giving good advice right?

However, we don’t really like that. In fact, we are attracted to people who help us rationalize or justify our failures.

#3 Fears

We all experience anxiety and fear from time to time and it can be very difficult to concentrate on anything else.

So when someone can make us feel comfortable, then we’ll be more receptive and loyal to them.

#4 Beliefs

We all live in a world where there’s a lot of uncertainty. But the beliefs we hold can serve as a reminder that there are some things we can be certain of.

And when someone confirms these beliefs we have about the world or people around us, then we feel grateful towards them.

#5 Enemies

We all have enemies, whether they are people or ideologies, real or imaginary. When someone joins our war, then it creates a strong alliance.

When you pay attention to these emotional motivators and tap into them, you instantly become more likable and trustworthy in their eyes.

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