The Art of Persuasion & How to Use it For Good | Jason Harris

We are bombarded with thousands of ads on a daily basis. No matter where you turn, everyone is trying to sell something. But marketing gets a bad wrap– selling isn’t always about money. To market yourself, an idea or a product is to persuade. We market and advertise ourselves all the time, at work, on social media, to potential partners– it’s all about the subtle art of persuasion! So what if we used our marketing skills for the greater good? WELCOME TO THE DARIN OLIEN SHOW Jason Harris uses persuasion to sell stuff– and for the greater good. As the co-founder and CEO of the award-winning advertising agency, Mekanism, Jason knows all about selling. He’s also the co-founder of the Creative Alliance and author of the national bestseller, The Soulful Art of Persuasion. Through a unique blend of creativity and performance, he works closely with brands and companies to expand their reach. This practical yet original approach is dubbed “Soul + Science.” He’s used these techniques with brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Alaska Airlines, OkCupid, and many others. In 2021, Jason was named CEO of the Year by The Drum and recipient of the 4A’s 100 People Who Make Advertising Great. In Jason’s book, he explores the power of vulnerability and transparency as a way to connect with others both in life and in business. He strives to make authenticity a founding principle in all he does, and finds this an invaluable trait in marketing and advertising as well. In this conversation, Jason and I bonded over our passion for marketing ourselves without really intending to– talk about the subtle art of persuasion! Marketing is something I’ve always done naturally– not because I’m good at selling stuff, but because I’m good at sharing what I’m passionate about. And as Jason says, if you’re authentic in what you’re selling, people catch on to that quickly. That’s what persuasion is all about– being authentic in your message. Don’t worry, this episode isn’t some kind of marketing how-to guide, or how to use persuasion to sell a product. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. We chatted about how naturally marketing yourself and your purpose in life can inspire others to do the same. Because if we’re going to make a real impact on the planet, we have to sell the message! If you’re in the advertising and marketing world, or just want to learn how to boost your brand or social media presence authentically, this is a great episode to tune into. We sell ourselves every day, might as well learn how to use persuasion for the greater good. BREAKDOWN [00:05:15] Is marketing just persuasion? [00:12:42] We all have inner bullshit detectors [00:20:37] Going beyond persuasion [00:27:27] Where does the money come in? [00:38:10] A purpose for persuasion in marketing [00:43:28] How to persuade without misleading LINKS Buy Jason’s Book, The Soulful Art of Persuasion Connect with Jason on LinkedIn Follow Jason on Twitter Jason on Instagram SPONSORS Try Beekeepers Naturals clean, cruelty-free solutions to everyday health problems for 25% off with code DARIN. Good for you, good for the bees! Sick of brushing your teeth with toothpaste full of nasty chemicals? Get 20% off your first order of Bite Toothpaste products with code DARIN20. Their products are clean, safe, and environmentally friendly. Download Episode Transcript Here I hope you enjoyed this episode of The Darin Olien Show! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here's how: Subscribe, rate or listen on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher Follow my Instagram to keep updated on the podcast, weekly deep dives and other projects that I'm supporting (and the occasional Chaga appreciation post) Sign up for my Weekly Email to keep up with what I’m tuned into. For feedback or suggestions, email my team at info@darinolien.com Find the list of brands & products that get the big tick of approval from me here. Comment below to join the discussion!