Episode 26 Crossroads of Consumer
Psychology and Marketing
In this episode we sit down with Phill Agnew, the Senior Product Marketing
Manager at Buffer and Host of the Nudge Podcast, to discuss the halo effect,
the illusion of labor, and the behavioral science behind special days.
Episode Highlights
The Illusion of Effort
The illusion refers to a phenomenon where individuals perceive their productivity or the value of their work as higher simply because they've put in more effort or time, regardless of the actual results or output. Essentially, it's the belief that the amount of effort exerted directly correlates with the quality or value of the outcome.
The Halo Effect
The halo effect refers to a cognitive bias where our overall impression of a person influences our feelings or thoughts about that individual's character, abilities, or other traits. Essentially, it's when our perception of one specific quality or trait creates a halo of positivity or negativity that extends to other qualities or aspects, whether related or not.
Special Day
Consumers are more likely to use discounts celebrating a “special day” like Pi Day than for standard holidays and sales events, especially when the promotion is both original and appropriate.
Resources & Useful Links
Want to dig deeper on the idea of social proof and the intention of actions gap? Here are some
additional resources that show how to make your brand more popular with consumers and the
importance of combining motivation with triggers to convert intention into action.
Keep Listening
Ep25 - New Year's: The Power of Commitment
How a person's impression of someone can influencer their feelings towards them and the how impactful the illusion of labor can be.
Ep24 - Convenience, Chinese restaurants, and the danger of choice
How Uber Eats masterfully curates menus, sidesteps choice confusion, and plays the pricing game to make you crave those French fries on a Friday night.
