February, 2020 - Persuasion by the Pint

Episode 109: The World’s First Advertising Man

Branding, Commitment and Consistency, Headlines, persuasion, Podcasts, Reciprocation, Social Proof, Storytelling, Uncategorized

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On this episode, we’ll be discussing a little known book written by famous advertising legend Bruce Barton back in 1925 called The Man Nobody Knows. In it, he depicts Jesus Christ as a man’s man; not the meek, effeminate figure many of us have learned about in Sunday School.

Barton described Christ as the world’s first advertising man, whose parables sparkled as models for modern jingle writers.

We’ll be discussing why this book is so important in understanding influence and persuasion.

Featured Beer

On this episode, I’ll be having a Wells Banana Bread Beer. This dark golden colored ale has a malty aroma that is complemented by the gentle nose of banana. While not a beer I’d pick on a regular basis, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor of this beer. It offers a crispness, that balances its aroma perfectly.

Sean is having a Full Grown Man from Tupps Brewery. This robust stout is brewed with yuge amounts of dark roasted malts. It pours with a nice medium brown head that lingers well after it hits the glass.

Episode 108: How He Grew a Security Business to $14 Million a Year Using Direct Mail

Branding, Commitment and Consistency, Copywriting, Headlines, NLP, persuasion, Podcasts, Reciprocation, Sales, Storytelling, Uncategorized

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On this episode, we welcome Joe Ferdinando, founder of Building Security Services in New Jersey. Joe will be sharing how he used “lumpy mail” to help him grow his security guard company to a $14 million a year business.

In 1982, Joe founded Building Security Services, Inc. after already running a successful commercial janitorial company. Starting with his existing, loyal customer base, he grew his company to provide premium security services in New Jersey and New York.

Joe will be sharing some great stories and important lessons on not only growing a multi-million dollar business with direct mail but also establishing a track record of long term success.

Episode 107: An Interview with Silicon Valley’s Favorite Magician

Branding, NLP, persuasion, Podcasts, Sales, Social Proof, Storytelling

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On this episode, Daniel Chan joins us to talk about “persuasion and magic”. Dan is an internationally renowned, award-winning magician whose magic has taken him all over the world. He’s regarded as one of the nation’s top corporate magicians and performs at events for thought leaders and influencers worldwide.

Before Dan was a full-time magician, he was a pre-IPO Silicon Valley employee. He worked alongside Elon Musk and Peter Thiel at PayPal with a side hustle performing magic, pick-pocketing, and fire juggling. He had only vested 13 months of my stock options when he left to pursue his dream of performing magic, and in the process gave up approximately 3/4 of his stock options.

He is now regarded as Silicon Valley’s Favorite Magician, and with good reason. He has a trick that stumps top software engineers. He’ll take an iPhone from a volunteer, show the crowd it’s locked, and then hand it back to that person completely unlocked.

On this episode, Dan will be sharing his amazing story as well as offering some lessons on how to persuade better using the tricks magicians use.

You can learn more about Dan by visiting https://www.danchanmagic.com.

Featured Beer

On this episode, I’m having a Starless Swarzbier from Wise Acre Brewing Co. in Memphis, TN. For this beer, they use an old german technique for imparting darkness without extracting bitterness. Its called “mash capping” which consists of crushed roasted grain being spread upon the mash over the top just before the grain is rinsed. It’s dark brown, nearly black with a fluffy tan head. It has a flavor of roasted grain and chocolate with a slightly bitter finish.

Sean is having a Shiner Dark Cherry lager. This beer offers an aroma of dark chocolate, big cherry, with a bit of hazelnut coffee. The taste is sweet, ending in a light bitterness.

Why Advertising Makes Us Unhappy

Branding, Headlines, Liking, negotiation, NLP, persuasion, Podcasts, Sales, Social Proof, Storytelling

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On this episode, we’ll be discussing a number of random topics. One topic of discussion centers around a recent article in the Harvard Business Review by Nicole Torress entitles Advertising Makes Us Unhappy.

The article focuses on the research of professor Andrew Oswald and his team at the University of Warwick. Their research concludes that when companies pour more money into advertising each year, people become less satisfied and even feel their own accomplishments, belongings, and experiences are less adequate. The research findings are similar with social media.

We’ll be discussing this article and dissecting it with our own thoughts. Is Advertising really the culprit, or are there other factors this research misses?

We’ll be discussing this and also why our social security numbers can prime us to make irrational buying decisions.

Featured Beer

On this episode, I’m having a delicious Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout from Abita Brewing Co. It’s a smooth brew that combines the rich flavor of roasted coffee with a full-bodied stout. This beer is like tasting a cold frappuccino. It makes a good first impression with a strong coffee aroma and a taste of dark roasted malt and a subtle milky sweetness.

Sean is having a Peanut Butter Cup Stout from Odd Side Ales. Has a peanut butter candy on the aroma and initial taste. The taste is comprised of light roast, & sweet milk chocolate.

Enjoy the show and cheers!

Episode 104: Super Bowl LIV Ads – The Amusing and the Awful

Branding, NLP, persuasion, Podcasts, Reciprocation, Sales, Social Proof, Storytelling, Uncategorized

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On this episode, we spend time discussing some ads during Super Bowl LIV. The cost of advertising for this year’s big game was roughly $5.6 million for a 30-second spot. Most of the ads were one minute so let’s just say around $11 million. Most were forgettable. A few were amusing.

One of the best ads was one you probably didn’t see. It wasn’t a national ad, but was one of the few offering a clear call to action.

Being clever doesn’t sell, but that said there was one that stood out in terms of pure nostalgia. It was Jeep’s commercial featuring Bill Murray back as Phil Connors in Groundhog Day. His reason for getting up every day this time is his love of taking a spin in that beautiful orange Jeep. Oh, and don’t forget Punxsutawney Phil.