What is marketing but a competition for the attention and trust of customers. Fortunately, there are small but powerful tricks that can make the process easier. It would be good for you to master these basic methods of manipulation, not in a negative sense, but as a way of influencing and directing people towards our products or services.
As consumers today we all face an overload of information, brands, advertisements, and offers.
And yes, knowing how to stand out is essential.
Marketing tricks are the tools that help capture attention, spark reactions, and influence consumer behaviour.
By employing small but effective tactics, you can more easily reach your target audience. After all, people still respond to offers that are “limited” or available “only today”.
Emotions play a significant role in decision-making.
In marketing, brands often aim to evoke feelings like joy, excitement, or even the fear of missing out.
Marketing campaigns that tap into emotional potential are the ones that stick with us. Messages like “Don’t miss out!” or “Secure your spot” push people to act, often leading to purchases.
Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a great example of a psychological trick. Everyone has experienced it at some point, which is why successful campaigns often use it as a base.
Examples include emails with messages like “Only 10 spots left” or discounts that last just a few hours. E-commerce sites often feature countdown timers for sales, creating urgency and prompting quick decisions.
Examples of psychological tricks that work:
When it comes to storytelling, authenticity and relatability are crucial.
Stories featuring real people and real situations resonate more with audiences. Brands like Nike use stories of athletes overcoming adversity to achieve success, inspiring their customers.
By sharing emotionally charged stories, a brand becomes more than just a seller—it becomes a meaningful part of consumers' lives.
Storytelling fosters an emotional connection with the brand, which leads to trust and loyalty.
Examples of successful storytelling campaigns:
Personalisation goes beyond just using someone’s name in an email. It involves tailoring content and ads to specific interests and needs.
For example, online stores often recommend products based on prior purchases or browsing history.
Tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, or MailChimp enable the automation of personalised campaigns by tracking user behaviour and generating tailored messages that increase conversion chances.
Examples of successful personalised campaigns:
On social media platforms, authenticity and engagement are essential for visibility. Tricks to boost engagement include using polls, live streams, and contests that encourage user participation.
Consistency and authenticity build trust. By posting useful content regularly, brands can establish themselves as a go-to resource.
Examples of viral campaigns and hashtag trends:
The right influencer aligns with your brand values and shares a similar target audience. Authenticity is key—an influencer's endorsement should feel genuine, not forced.
Transparency is also crucial. Agreements should include details about posts, timelines, and expectations to ensure mutual benefits.
Examples of successful influencer campaigns:
How can blogs, videos, and e-books attract audiences?
Providing useful information, guides, and educational videos builds trust with your audience while positioning your brand as an authority in your niche.
When your content solves a problem for your audience, they are more likely to become loyal customers.
Keyword optimisation, meta descriptions, and backlinks improve visibility, while quality content optimised for search engines drives organic traffic.
Examples of popular content formats and why they work:
Neuromarketing explores how the brain reacts to marketing stimuli, using colours, sounds, and scents to elicit specific responses.
For example, blue fosters trust, while red creates urgency. Every colour and sound has its effect, which can be leveraged in promotions.
Examples of brands using neuromarketing:
Limited-time offers are great motivators for quick action.
Exclusive products or limited series prompt consumers to make faster decisions. Phrases like “limited edition” or “only 5 left” often push people to buy immediately.
Use a limited number of products or time-limited discounts to increase sales and motivate customers to (quick) action.
Examples of campaigns using "limited edition":
Retargeting allows businesses to reconnect with visitors who didn’t purchase, reminding them of products they viewed or added to their carts.
Tools like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Criteo simplify retargeting campaigns, showing ads to users who previously expressed interest.
Examples of successful retargeting campaigns:
What is marketing if not a combination of testing and adaptation? Every audience is unique, and what works for one business might not work for another. Success lies in constant experimentation and analysis of results.
First, ask yourself – what do you want to achieve? Do you want people to recognize your brand, increase sales, or perhaps gain loyal followers? Once you know this, start testing tricks. Maybe personalized emails will hit the mark, or perhaps a story about your brand will resonate with people in the right way. Viral challenges or exclusive offers can attract those who like to shop quickly but also appreciate uniqueness.
Whatever you choose, don’t do it blindly – track the numbers. Conversions, engagement, ROI… These provide a clear picture of what works. Once you have the data, it’s time for the “real” work.
What performs best? If your audience responds to storytelling, continue building that narrative. If exclusivity has proven effective – why not repeat it? This is the moment when theory turns into practice.
And here’s the main trick – adaptation is essential. Don’t be afraid to change formats, adjust your messages, or even try to reach a new audience.
Marketing isn’t carved in stone; it’s constantly evolving. The market changes, technology advances, and consumers? Their desires and needs evolve faster than ever.
Therefore, your combination of marketing tricks won’t be perfect right away. It will be an (interesting) journey – testing, learning, and adapting.
If you stay open to change and willing to learn, your business will always be one step ahead. And that’s what we all want, right?