Subliminal Messages: The 12 Most Persuasive Words

Kerry JohnsonAdvisor Perspectives welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Advisor Perspectives.

Do you realize you are being seduced daily by your environment? Walmart stores play subliminal messages below mood music that broadcast “Please don’t steal.” As a result, before the recent shop lifting epidemic, shrinkage decreased by 9%.

Las Vegas has known for a long time that if it lowered lights to hypnotic levels and avoided any clocks or windows in casinos, you will run out of money before you run out of time.

You can’t walk into a major strip casino without walking through four football fields of slot machines before you get to a restroom or elevator.

But here is a surprise.

The $500 million Wynn-owned Mirage hotel paid for itself in six months from slot-machine revenue. The Bellagio hotel cost $1.3 billion and took only 18 months to break even after the 2008 credit crisis recession.

To increase slot machine usage, these major strip casinos purposely make the carpeting very confusing, which forces your eyes up. They also paint the ceilings black to bring your eyes down to slot-machine levels.

But the most surprising part of the seduction is when you sit down in front of a slot machine. There is a wire that extends from your chair to the machine that immediately emanates the scent of lavender and pumpkin, the most arousing odors known to mankind.

From this research, advisors can discern ethical, non-manipulative ways to create more persuasive messages. Yale University researchers have found key words that influence people. Using these words in your client communication creates more attenuation, comprehension, and retention.

These 12 words, when used on websites, emails, direct marketing, brochures, and pre-approach letters will increase response rates. In fact, if you listen carefully, nearly all successful media ads include at least some of these key words.