#66: The dark nudges behind digital manipulation

I’ve spent 200 hours interviewing persuasion experts. Today, I share the persuasion tactics that actually work.  Join the free Science of Persuasion Course: https://nudge.ck.page/persuasion-course Reddit ads: https://imgur.com/a/BsCwx7n  Reddit ads results: https://imgur.com/a/iEB4W79

I wish I had followed Prof Todd Rodgers’ advice earlier.  Writing for Busy Readers book: https://writingforbusyreaders.com/ Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Churchill’s plea for brevity: https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/churchills-call-for-brevity/

I used to love football, but nowadays I’m indifferent towards it. Today on Nudge, Professor Sarah Moore explains why.  Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list

In today’s episode of Nudge, Uri Gneezy explains why Amazon paid staff $5,000 to quit, how he got Singapore taxi drivers to walk more, and how Pret made their staff friendlier.  Uri’s book Mixed Signals: https://tinyurl.com/28mh4kke Follow the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Uri's previous episodes on Nudge: Episode One / Episode Two

In 1991, CEO of one of the UK’s largest high street brands lost £500m in value overnight. He almost caused his company to go bankrupt, which ultimately led to his dismissal and a complete company rebrand. In today’s episode of Nudge, I share his story, explaining the psychology behind why this happened and some messaging advice that every marketer needs to know.  Sign up to the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Episode 70 of Nudge: https://tinyurl.com/vk2cxcuc Classic VW ad: https://tinyurl.com/52t4xny2 Avis "Try harder": https://tinyurl.com/4k93t3zv Ratner’s speech in full: https://youtu.be/Nj9BZz71yQE?si=Rf4Z0jkeofH4bQtk The Wasp (1984) book reviews: https://tinyurl.com/2mxhk6wf

Is there a hidden sexual symbolism behind the famous golden arches? Yes (apparently). I laughed at this, thinking it was BS, but today I realise I’m probably wrong. See subtle tweaks in logo designs dramatically change how they’re perceived. Today, I talk to Professor Nazuk Sharma as she explains how tweaks to design can make people buy.  Sign up for the Nudge Newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect with Nazuk on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nazuksharma/ Nazuk’s Google Scholar Profile: https://tinyurl.com/bdduyt2k The story behind McBreasts: https://tinyurl.com/2pdbx8ak

Every year $342 billion is spent on bottled water. And yet, for many of those customers a safer version, that tastes the same, is 300x cheaper. Our collective thirst for bottled water is largely irrational. It doesn’t make sense. But so, it seems, are the pricing strategies of several major brands, from fashion, to food, to flights, irrational prices often trump rational approaches. Today, Melina Palmer, host of the Brainy Business, explains why irrational prices surprisingly sell.  Melina’s podcast: https://thebrainybusiness.com/ Melina’s book (with free chapters): https://thebrainybusiness.com/nudge Fiji ad: https://tinyurl.com/yufdwdj9 Cleveland Utilities Response: https://tinyurl.com/4hhh45wj

Today, a world-leading neuroscientist explains everything wrong in my life. She details why marriages fail, if cleaning can be fun, how Facebook drove depression, and shares lessons on creativity. In 30 minutes, I learnt more about happiness than in the past 30 years.  Access the bonus episode: https://nudge.ck.page/de30a8ac24 Tali’s book, Look Again: https://tinyurl.com/5n8p3btb Tali’s lab: https://affectivebrain.com/?page_id=161 Sign up to my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list

In 2016 Amnesty international revealed how Microsoft, Volkswagen, and Samsung used suppliers with links to child labour. In 2017 BBC’s Panorama revealed how dozens of iPhone workers had committed suicide due to poor working conditions. In the summer of 2023 we learnt that Amazon’s UK division paid no corporation tax for the second year in a row. Did any of these unethical scandals directly affect sales?  Nope.  Today, professor Daniel Zane—who has studied the wilful ignorance customers have towards unethical practices—explains why. Danny’s webpage at Lehigh: https://business.lehigh.edu/directory/daniel-zane Sign up to my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list

Special days like Valentine’s day have an interesting effect on us. In ancient Roman times they inspired men to whip each other with animal hides. And today, they encourage men to spend hundreds on prospective partners. In today’s Nudge, researcher Danny Zane explains why this happens, sharing his eye-opening studies on how these special days affect us.  Danny’s webpage at Lehigh: https://business.lehigh.edu/directory/daniel-zane The dark history of Valentine’s day: https://tinyurl.com/yfh68kj5 My experiment with International Podcast Day: https://im.ge/i/PrV4l9 Sign up to my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list