Brainfluence

My guest today may be one of the few to say that we ask our advertisements to do too much. But in an age that sees us constantly bombarded by marketing, he has a point - it may be unrealistic to expect a simple banner ad to drive traffic.

Jeff and I talk about advertising friction and how it keeps both people and brands from realizing their goals. Jeff talks about how customers today don't want to be interrupted and how our brains have learned to block out advertising. We highlight some of the biggest and best brands in the advertising game, and how they use inspiring content to keep customers engaged.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2rzo7ut 

Our guest today reinvented himself from a bestselling author to a media entrepreneur. Tucker Max left Duke Law School in 2001 with a law degree and no interest in becoming a lawyer. Instead, he wrote a book, I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, that hit the New York Times bestseller list and created the genre known as "fratire." Eventually, the book would lead to a movie deal and spend more than 100 weeks on the New York Times list. Two of Tucker's other books landed on the NYTimes list as well.

Tucker’s latest venture is Book in a Box, a business that helps busy entrepreneurs and executives write and publish books by managing the process and supporting them every step of the way.

In our conversation, he shares practical advice on turning your knowledge and expertise into a book that people will read and buy.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2rCEKXy

Bryce Hoffman's time at the U.S. Army’s Red Team Leader Program at the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies became the core of his new book, Red Teaming: How Your Business Can Conquer the Competition by Challenging Everything. 

In this episode, Bryce introduces the concept of red teaming and how militaries and companies around the world use the strategy to stress-test their decisions. We discuss how red teaming can help you uncover blindspots in your thinking and overcome cognitive biases that might otherwise lead you into a business quagmire.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2qJ3ig2 

Today’s guest transitioned from being a screenwriter to his current role as a successful blogger. Eric Barker’s humorous, practical blog, "Barking Up the Wrong Tree", presents science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life. With hundreds of thousands of regular readers, Eric has garnered attention for his regular search for what really works!

You'll learn why valedictorians seem to be cursed, whether nice guys really finish last, and lots more!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2qnpuM8 

Science has thoroughly analyzed what specific aspects of headshots and profile photos can help you project intelligence, trustworthiness, and likability. You only get one chance at a first impression, make it count!

I've gathered ten science-based hacks for making your headshot communicate the values you want it to - be that friendliness, trust, or dominance. I cover some key findings from research about pupil size, whether or not people favor one side of your face, and whether or not you should smile in your photo.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2pwPUIu 

Affiliate marketing is an incredibly effective marketing technique that combines a knowledgeable brand and an influential partner - but it wasn't always that straightforward. Robert Glazer is on the show today to talk about his new book, Performance Partnerships: The Checkered Past, Changing Present & Exciting Future of Affiliate Marketing, and explain why affiliate marketing is experiencing a revival.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2qB62to 

Content marketing remains one of the most potent and popular ways to connect with customers - but it's going to change profoundly as consumers and technology continue to increase their influence. 

In this episode, Jon and I talk about why the term "prosumer" is a perfect way to describe all the things that today's consumer is capable of - not just consuming content, but producing and influencing it, too. Jon also shares some of the futurist thought he studied when writing his book, as well as his predictions for the marketing landscape of the future. We also discuss the changes brands and companies will have to make to remain influential. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2pfKzpC 

There's tons of advice out there about how to grow your audience quickly - but today's guest has some direct, outside-the-box strategies that you probably haven't heard before. Noah Kagan of Sumo and AppSumo is known for using a friendly tone and highly-targeted content to drive growth, and he's here to share his strategies with you.

Noah explains why it's essential to limit your time and money when you're creatively tackling a task, and why he so intently focuses on a narrow target market. He shares the strategy he implemented at Mint to grow their audience in the nine months leading up to launch, and how he applies the same innovative attitude to his work at Sumo.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2pajKGl 

With technology and innovation zipping along faster than ever - and especially with rapid gains in AI - it feels like we have to confront the question: are we finally reaching the Death of the Salesman? Tiffani Bova of Salesforce is here to weigh in on the great oncoming changes in sales and artificial intelligence that should make business better for all.

Tiffani is a self-described sales futurist and the Global Customer Growth and Innovation Evangelist for Salesforce.com. She focuses on the intersection of innovation, technology, and people to help companies grow bigger and better serve their customers.

Brands are rapidly learning to keep up with shifting customer needs, and sales must do the same - and Tiffani Bova has some great ideas about how you can stay ahead of the curve.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2p5I9we 

Data is fascinating, and the proliferation of pseudo-scientific headlines and fancy charts across the internet only feed our obsession with numbers. But data can also be easily manipulated to support a narrative that is flashier and more interesting than the truth. How do you recognize it when this is the case? Dr. John Johnson has some ideas. 

We start off by debunking a couple humorous cases of manipulated data (think: pregnant men in the UK and grilled cheese leading to a better love life) and John explains why we're so susceptible to questionable data. John also shares his thoughts on the relationship between content marketing and data, and some statistics about the credibility boost enjoyed by articles with seemingly scientific graphics. 

You'll learn how YOU can use numbers to persuade more effectively - but use this knowledge for good!

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2oKHIoa