Today’s blog post is from: Yes!  50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive
By Goldstein, Martin, and Cialdini

 Small little changes to your message can have drastic improvements in results.
Persuasion is science, not art.  And Cialdini is the master of studying and teaching that. 

Set a goal, and write it down.   Once you reach it, write it down and write a new one.  Once made actively, instead of passively, much more effective.

Researchers: Set up study about AIDS volunteering.   Some were asked to fill out a form that ½ had instructions saying that if they wanted to participate to fill out form (active) vs the ones that did should NOT fill out the form that they DON’T want to participate.   The % didn’t differ from the instructions, but there was an astonishing difference in the % that showed up when asked.  49% vs 17% showed.

People make judgments about themselves based upon observations of their own behavior and infer more about themselves based on their actions than their non-actions.

If you write down a commitment, and show it to others, is strong.   Have people write down and share the actions they agree to do.   Have people show their loved ones their new years resolutions.

Stores have seen that installment contracts are more likely to be held up when they have the client write up the application form than a sales person.  It’s an active commitment.

In healthcare, a high % of people miss their medical appointments.  To combat, some places have the patient write down their own appointment instead of receptionist.  My dentist has me fill out the reminder card that is sent to remind me of my next appointment.