Accentuating the Negative?

This is a classic take on how counterintuitive thinking can garner superior results than just doing the same thing that may (or may not) have worked for others.

Here's a quotation from the article: "In this down-turned market, as more houses stay unsold for longer and longer, a decidedly small niche has emerged in residential real estate marketing: accentuating the negative. Instead of highlighting a home’s attractive features, some sellers are going straight to the bad news, advertising houses as being ugly, having sinkholes or even smelling bad, with the thought that sellers who are forthcoming about a property’s flaws may find buyers eager for a deal."

I like this article because the concept of accentuating the negatives is not only counterintuitive, but it also reminds us that in order to be credible, we must be comfortable sharing the limitations or drawbacks of our offerings.

In the science of persuasion, this means invoking the principle of Authority by revealing your weaknesses earlier on in order to enhance your believability. Being able to disclose the weaknesses (or limitations) of your offer/product/service lets your potential customers know that you are operating from a base of security. There's no denying that if your customers feel secure, they're already trusting you. And once you have trust, well, you know the rest...

Read the article here.