Marketing Q&A on LinkedIn

I was on LinkedIn checking my network and someone had asked a question:

When was the last time you were influenced by marketing?

When was the last time you were influenced by marketing? Think of the last few purchases you made. How might you have been persuaded? What information did you use in considering your options? Did you have lunch today at a place that had a big sign that drew your attention? Did you see a billboard on the way to work and make up your mind that you had to have seafood today? Were you drawn in by the smell of a great local BBQ and couldn't get you mind off of beef brisket until after you washed it down with a coke?

Take a few minutes and try to think of the last time marketing influenced your buying decisions? How did it work? Why did it work? Now share with the group.

This is what I wrote back:

Just the other evening I made a purchase, swayed by great internet marketing. I wanted to buy this product so much I kept all the advertising/marketing material so I could study it and see why it worked so well.

I haven't studied it in depth yet, but I can tell you this off the top of my head: The invitation was from a marketer who's opinion I respect. There is a bit of trust there. Also, they introduced scarcity. The offer was only good until midnight. If I bought the information product from an affiliate, the marketer who's newsletter I receive would throw in a free copy of his soon-to-be published book.

They built it up so much that I just knew it would cost a fortune, but it was just $37. I was so shocked by the price, I just had to get it. I study these types of internet offers to see how they do it and usually don't end up buying the products because they are too expensive. but this product was a good fit and the price was right. I could get the add-on for free, but only before midnight. They did a great job selling me.

Then, get this, after I bought it, the "thank you" page had a video from the guy trying to upsell me on the long lost manuscript that the product I had just purchased was based on for $297. Valiant try but no thank you.

Then the next page had another youtube video selling the hardcopy version of the mp3s and e-book I had just purchased. Price: $297.

I got out of there only spending $37 and am happy with my purchase. They knew what they were doing and really pushed my buttons. That stuff used to annoy me because I don't like being manipulated, but now I enjoy it. If I feel moved to buy something, I have learned to stop, take a look around and discover why that is.