Want to Boost Sales? Let Others Toot Your Horn.

Want to convince skeptical prospects of the value of your proposal? 

Get an intermediary to present your credentials first.

Persuasion research shows an introduction by a third party improves the odds your audience will buy your message far better than a self-introduction.

The third party need not be a trusted source.

Researcher Steve Martin examined the effect on sales of a third-party introduction. 

He arranged for a receptionist to introduce a real estate agent's credentials to first-time callers before connecting them to the agent, instead of simply putting callers through. 

The agent booked 20 percent more appointments as a result.

"Arranging for others to tout your expertise before you make your case can increase the likelihood of people paying attention and acting on your advice," according to Martin.

When Life Gives You Lemons

While not the first airline to YouTube-ize the mandatory safety video, Delta has gone to new lengths. Or should I say, heights?

Millennials: In Blogs We Trust

A new study by research firm Millennial Branding reveals that Millennials rely on blogs more than any other form of media as a source of trustworthy product information.

Thirty-three percent of Millennials say they count on blogs to guide their purchase decisions, while fewer than three percent allow traditional forms of media (TV, magazines and books) to influence them, according to the study.

Although a majority (58 percent) expect brands to publish online content, a mere one percent of Millennials say that ads of any sort increase their trust in a brand.

Before making a purchase, Millennials instead seek the opinions of friends (37 percent), parents (36 percent) and online experts (17%).

Clickbait Headlines Do More Harm than Good

Meager response rates are tempting an ever-increasing number of marketers—even B2B ones—to resort to using "clickbait" headlines, those sensational promises that dupe you into reading thinly related content.

You know the kind:

What this customer said was so insane it will make your jaw drop...   

But the more sensational the headline, the greater the risk of disappointing prospects once you lure them to read nothing more than your usual sales pitch.

Disappointment never does your brand credit. 

Repeated disappointments will ultimately damage it.

Civility. There's an App for That.

Worried friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter might think you're ill bred?

Your social media reputation is safe with a subscription to ThinkUp, according to Farhad Manjoo, columnist for The New York Times.

ThinkUp keeps tabs on your graceless behavior on those networks and points out, among other things, how often you refer to yourself, use profanities and ignore others.

The tracking service is designed "to make you act like less of a jerk online," says ThinkUp co-founder Gina Trapani.