Don’t check your heart at the door. Ever thought about why some messages really GRAB ATTENTION while others seem to disappear?
Persuasion has been around forever and is mandatory for your business, but you need to understand how it works. It impacts our choices, shapes decisions, and prompts action.
If you want your business to thrive, get a grip on this art. There are only two ways to persuade.
1. Significant Emotional Events and 2. Repeated Messages
First, at the core lies psychology, particularly significant emotional events like crises… …or amazing great news… …and second, the repeated message strategy, much like ads and commercials.
These two ways can boost your influence on customers, businesses, and government entities.
By HOLLY RAMER and RODRIQUE NGOW I Updated 12:47 PM EDT, April 30, 2025
ROCKPORT, Mass. (AP) — Rockport residents have a history of fighting off invaders, but not this time.
During the War of 1812, townsfolk in the tiny fishing village hurled rocks at British soldiers using their stockings as slings. Now, they’re slinging trash bags and towels over the side mirrors of their cars to protect them from a destructive and determined pileated woodpecker.
Over the last few weeks, the bird has broken more than two dozen mirrors and at least one vehicle’s side window. But residents are taking the violence in stride.
“Everybody’s having a good laugh about it,” said Ben Favaloro. “Nobody wants harm to the bird. He’s always welcome back.”
You have just 0.05 seconds to grab someone’s attention on social media* before they scroll past, making design your most powerful tool to stand out.
That’s why I created the “Made You Look” banner/cover/masthead, a bold and eye-catching header perfect for all my social media platforms. The design uses primary colors—blue, red, yellow, and a touch of green—alongside a stark black-and-white contrast to ensure it stands out in a crowded digital space.
Why Primary Colors?
Primary colors are the building blocks of the color spectrum, universally recognized and emotionally evocative. Blue conveys trust and reliability, red demands urgency and passion, yellow radiates optimism, and green adds a sense of balance and the urge to GO! Together, they create a visual harmony that’s impossible to ignore.
In the “Made You Look” banner, these colors are arranged in a geometric layout inspired by modernist art**, giving the design a timeless yet contemporary feel. The black outlines and text provide a sharp contrast, ensuring the words pop against the vibrant background, while the gray section adds a subtle balance to avoid overwhelming the viewer.
The Importance of Grabbing Attention First
On social media, users scroll through endless content at lightning speed. If your header doesn’t stop them in their tracks, your message—no matter how insightful—will go unnoticed.
Did you know that a staggering 54% of viewers suspect brands of “pandering” when local ads feel inauthentic?
This surprising revelation from The Local Lift white paper, conducted by Locality and The Harris Poll in November 2024, highlights a critical pitfall most businesses overlook: authenticity is non-negotiable in marketing.
The study shows 71% of Americans expect localized messaging, with 81% of 18-34-year-olds prioritizing it.
Local video ads far outshine national ones in relevance (68% vs. 13%), trust (47% vs. 12%), and purchase intent (63% vs. 13%). Viewers are 6x more likely to see brands in local ads as community members (63% vs. 11%), forging stronger bonds.
The report underscores the power of combining local streaming, broadcast, and social media video with over 70% of viewers agreeing local ads enhance relevance (74%), trust (73%), and curiosity (73%).
Using local news and sports as part of your marketing campaigns – and regular social posts – are an even better way to localize your content. – R. Michael Brown
An excerpt from “You Are the Media Now: 8-Step Content Marketing System to Boost Sales:”
Once you’ve developed your buyer personas, the next step is to brainstorm content ideas that will resonate with them. This is Step 1 of the Content System.
Content that speaks to your audience’s needs, challenges, and interests are what will set your brand apart and help you stand out in a crowded marketplace with lots of noise. The key to success is research.
Content research ensures that what you’re putting out is relevant, valuable, TRUE, and most importantly, meets the interests, emotional benefits, and demands of your target audience.
This is an area where many businesses fall short, but if done correctly, it becomes the foundation of a successful content marketing strategy.
An excerpt from “You Are the Media Now: 8-Step Content Marketing System to Boost Sales.”
This micro eBook doesn’t just teach marketing; it hands you the blueprint to out-news the press, out-market your competitors, and become an industry thought leader — no matter your size.
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