What is Influence?

I ran across this tonight, “Copywriting is persuasive business writing with the intent of driving an action.” It came from the Writers Marketplace, and it describes just what Influence is. It’s the persuasion of selling an idea, product or feeling to another person or crowd. Influencers want people to believe in what they like, feel, or recommend. They PERSUADE others to their wishes.

Sounds kind of creepy doesn’t it? Yes, yes, the influencers are selling you and “persuading you”, to their way of thinking. Some truly believe in what they are telling you and some couldn’t care less how valuable the information is. Sad, isn’t it? There is also a great book “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, (Revised Edition) by Robert B. Cialdini, that is kind of the bible on persuasion. If you want to understand “influence”, read this book. It will change our life forever …in a good way. It will make you AWARE when people are selling you things, you may not need.