Harnessing Cialdini’s 7 Persuasion Principles for Success

Giles Lindsay
5 min readNov 4, 2024
Brainstorming New Idea Solutions Answers, Seeking Clues, Presenting Important Details
Brainstorming New Idea Solutions Answers, Seeking Clues, Presenting Important Details

Introduction

Influence is more important than ever in our digital age. Leading global tech teams has shown me that honing the art of persuasion can transform how we drive engagement and encourage user action. Robert Cialdini’s seven principles of persuasion — reciprocity, commitment, social proof, authority, liking, scarcity, and unity — offer a powerful framework to achieve this. This article explores each principle and provides actionable insights to help you leverage them effectively.

Reciprocity: The Power of Giving

Reciprocity is the idea that people are more likely to return a favour. In marketing, offering something valuable for free — like an eBook, trial, or exclusive content — can make users feel inclined to reciprocate. This principle builds goodwill and can boost engagement.

Example: Offering a free software trial lets users experience its benefits firsthand. Once they see its value, they’re more likely to commit to purchasing it.

Commitment and Consistency: Building Trust

Commitment and consistency focus on getting users to make small commitments that lead to larger ones. When users commit to something minor, they are more likely to follow through…

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Giles Lindsay
Giles Lindsay

Written by Giles Lindsay

Follow me for expert insights and strategies on Agile, AI, ESG, Technology Leadership, Digital Transformation, Change Management and Business Agility.