Can you spot the different marketing tricks in this email?

Hi Sam,

We screwed up…

Long story short – we sent out some emails with bad information, so
we’re “making good” on a promise made in those emails.

For the next 3 days you can get Market Samurai for just $97
(previously $149).
This is the ONLY link that you can use to get it:

http://www.marketsamurai.com/c/ourmistake

But hurry – this discount is only available for the next 72 hours
(and the clock is already ticking).

Here are a few in order.

1).  “We made a mistake”. This guarantees reader interest.  Why?  Because we love it when other people mess up. It makes some people feel better about themselves and it makes the business look human. “We made a mistake” is marketing magnetism.  Aaaaah….

2). “We made a promise…”  Oooh, did I miss a bargain?? Let me see, let me see.

3). “For the next 3 days..” – Oooh, ooh, this MUST be good, I’d better go quick.

4). “$97″ – Ah, look – the old ‘a price ending in 7 is GUARANTEED to sell more’ trick combined with the ‘as long as it’s under $100 people will be happy to buy’ trick.

5).  Woo.  The “ONLY” link.  Special, limited, exclusive.  Mmm.  (Homer Donut drooling noise)

6).  “The clock is ticking” – oh, oh, oh, better rush.  It’s probably already expired since…when did I get that email??

There we have at least 6 of the classic signs that someone’s trying to manipulate you towards their product. Like most marketing, this depends on a lack of critical awareness in the audience. Don’t be surprised.  Everyone’s doing it all of the time.  Including you, probably.

In marketing and advertising one thing is true whether you want to face up to it or not: the more unconscious your audience, the more effectively you can manipulate it.