Hajra Naz
When most people think of “psychology”, they think of doctors for the mind, helping people with problems, or working in big companies.
But really, psychology is everywhere. You can use it in almost any job.
As long as you are with other people, you can use psychology to understand them and work well together.
I now make words for websites, but I did not always do this.
I first wanted to help people with their minds.
But life changed, and I liked making words for websites. Even though this job is very different, I still use what I learned about the mind.
I use what I learned to make good words for websites every day.
I want to tell you some important things I learned and how I use them to write.
Psychology Principle #1: Authority
Being able to make others do what you want is called “power.”
In simple words, having power means you can make people think or act like you want.
Doctors who help people with their minds must have power when they talk to their patients. Each time they talk, they show patients they know a lot, they are right, and they want to help.
So, how can we use this in selling things online?
Think about it: Will someone buy from you if they don’t trust you?
Power is what makes a good seller different from a bad one.
You can show people you know what you’re doing in many ways, but I’ll talk about one: sharing helpful stuff.
By giving people good information that shows you know your stuff, you can become an expert people trust.
When you help people with useful and smart answers, they will think of you first when they need help.
To be even better, you can share your smart ideas that no one else has.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Develop a reputation for yourself through content marketing.
Psychology Principle #2: Reciprocity and Rapport
Imagine going to a new helper for your mind. On your very first visit, they start yelling at you for doing things wrong.
Would you want to listen to them anymore? Would you follow their ideas?
Most likely, you would not like this. Instead of doing what they say, you would probably find a different helper.
This is also true for telling people about things to buy.
You should not only say what you think but also how you think. Be approachable and establish a connection with the people you want to communicate with.
You must ascertain these individuals’ identities, interests, and mentalities.
To do this, people who sell things find out who their customers are. They learn about their age, where they live, and what they buy. Then, they make messages that talk directly to these people.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Before crafting your marketing messaging, choose and comprehend who your target audience is.
Read More: What is Copywriting: Crafting Words that Captivate and Convert.
Psychology Principle #3: Social Proof
People often do things because others do them. This is called “group thinking.”
A smart person named Muzafer Sherif saw this. He had people guess how much a light moved. Alone, they guessed one way. But when they were together, most people changed their guesses to match others.
This “group thinking” helps sellers. If people see others like something, they are more likely to like it too.
Sellers use this by showing what happy customers say. They put these good words on their websites.
You can also show how you helped other people. This proves you can help people.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Use case studies, testimonials, and other forms of social proof to increase your customer base.
Psychology Principle #4: Positive Regard and Empathy
This is a very easy idea that works great when done right.
People who help others with their minds must be kind to their patients. They should always try to be nice and understanding. This means even when you don’t like what someone says or does, you should be gentle when you fix them.
Now, let’s talk about what this means for selling things online.
When I look at posts on social media, I see many sellers trying to get customers by scaring them.
Bad things will happen if you don’t buy [thing].
This can work sometimes. But it can also make people not like your business.
In my job, being nice and understanding when selling works ten times better than scaring people.
Instead of saying, “If you don’t buy this hair stuff, you will lose all your hair,” say “Keep your hair strong and healthy with this hair stuff.”
See the difference?
The first way makes people feel worried and scared. The other way makes people feel good about the future.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Ensure your messaging is positive and empathetic.
Psychology Principle #5: Consistency
Imagine this: On your first session, your therapist seemed perfect for you. They listened to what you had to say and provided helpful advice about what you can do to improve your mental health.
Then, a few sessions later, it felt as though everything you loved about your current therapist was gone. They dismiss your worries, don’t listen to your views, and give the opposite advice to what they said before.
Would you still want to go back for another session?
The scenario I shared above is a fairly extreme example, but I was merely trying to illustrate the importance of consistency.
Even when you’ve already done the hard work of establishing authority and building trust, it could all crumble away the minute you become inconsistent in your messaging.
Companies frequently develop brand identities for their marketers as a result. Maintaining a consistent brand voice and identity is essential to winning over your target market’s affection and respect. This suggests that your website, app, and social media profiles, among other marketing platforms, should all have the same branding and language.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Make sure your brand’s voice and identity are consistent.
In Conclusion
There is psychology everywhere, and the world of digital marketing may particularly benefit from it.
Establishing authority, understanding your audience, providing social proof, being empathetic and positive, and remaining consistent are all psychological principles that are relevant for both clinicians and marketers.
My professional journey has benefited greatly from having a background in both areas, and I hope this post has given you all some useful advice to consider as you forge on.
Cheers, everyone!
