Most messages don’t fail because they’re wrong.

They fail because no one cares.

You don’t persuade people by making sense.

You persuade them by making them feel something powerful—curiosity, urgency, FOMO.

↳ No tension?

↳ No stakes?

↳ No ‘damn, I need this right now’ moment?

⇒ No action.

Your message can’t just inform—it has to make people stop, listen, and act before they move on.

But there’s a problem. And you’ve probably seen it . . .

Most businesses assume that if they just explain better, people will care. So what do they do?

They add more words. More stats. More bullet points. And still—crickets.

Here’s why:

• More information ≠ more persuasion. (It just overwhelms people.)
• Logic doesn’t drive decisions—emotion does. (Emotions sell. Logic justifies.)
• If your message doesn’t trigger an instant reaction, it’s already dead. (No one is waiting around to “get to the good part.”)

This is why even the great ideas, products, and companies can go unnoticed.

They’re missing the triggers that make messages land.

And if you’re not using them?

You’re making persuasion way harder than it needs to be.

✅ The 6 Psychological Triggers That Make Messaging Work

Persuasion isn’t about telling people what to do; it’s about triggering a response that makes them want to act.

Here’s how:

1. Reciprocity → Give first, get later.

People feel obligated to return favors. Want engagement? Offer something valuable before making an ask.

→ "Download my free playbook—no email required, no strings attached.”

→ "Here’s a free checklist that helped 1,000+ people simplify their messaging—use it!"

2. Liking → We buy from people we like.

It’s not just what you say—it’s how human you sound. Be real. Be relatable. No corporate robots allowed.

→ "I was terrible at pitching until I figured this out—here’s what changed everything."

→ "If marketing jargon makes your brain melt, same. Let’s break this down the simple way."

3. Commitment & Consistency → Small “yeses” lead to big ones.

Once people commit to one thing (a free trial, a quiz, a reply), they’re way more likely to keep going.

→ "Take this 30-second quiz to get a personalized messaging strategy."

→ "Vote in this quick poll: What’s your biggest messaging challenge?"

Stack these triggers, and your message becomes impossible to ignore.

4. Social Proof → People follow the crowd.

Nobody wants to be the first to jump. Show proof that others trust you—testimonials, case studies, numbers.

→ "Over 2,500 businesses use this framework to 2x their conversions."

→ "95% of our clients see measurable results in under 30 days."

5. Authority → Credibility converts.

We trust experts. Credentials, endorsements, and third-party validation make people take you seriously.

→ "As featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and Business Insider."

→ "Used by top execs at Company A, B, and C."

6. Scarcity → FOMO is real.

We want what we might lose. If something is rare, exclusive, or time-sensitive, we value it more.

→ "Only 5 spots left, applications close at midnight."

→ "Early bird pricing ends in 24 hours, lock in your discount now."

(Credit: Dr. Robert Cialdini, author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion and Pre-Suasion.)

The further you progress up the ladder, the more persuasive your message becomes.

🎯 Try This: Make Your Message Instantly More Persuasive

Before you hit send, publish, or print—ask yourself:

✅ Did I give value before asking for something? (Reciprocity)

✅ Did I make it easy to like and connect with me? (Liking)

✅ Did I guide people toward small commitments first? (Commitment)

✅ Did I show proof that others trust this? (Social Proof)

✅ Did I position myself as the authority? (Credibility)

✅ Did I create urgency? (Scarcity)

If you’re missing any of these, you’re leaving persuasion power on the table—and that’s a missed opportunity you can’t afford.

🤖 Bonus GPT Prompt: Make Your Message Impossible to Ignore

Want to make sure your message grabs attention and drives action? Use this prompt in ChatGPT:

*"Here’s my [linkedin post, newsletter, etc]. Evaluate this message on it's use of the six persuasion triggers—Reciprocity, Scarcity, Social Proof, Authority, Commitment, and Liking. Give me tips on how to strengthen the emotional pull, add urgency, and make it more compelling and action-driven."

Hint: don’t forget to paste your script or upload a document.

Then, refine it. Does it make you want to act? If not, tweak it.

Pssst: (I ran this newsletter through this prompt and raised my score from 8.5 to 9.2. Not bad).

🔄 Your Turn

Tell me . . . . What’s the one thing you wish more people understood about your business? Hit reply—I actually read every response.

Next week: Why Investors Say No: The Missing Piece in Your Pitch

Until then, make your message impossible to ignore.

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