There are many sales persuasion techniques used every day, in a majority of locations; probably the most common place to see such a technique in action is simply to watch the advertisements on television. In fact one of the strongest and most successful television campaigns were done by a well known baked bean company, which simply said "beans means..." (Some of you reading this may actually be able to finish that sentence but for legal reasons we will not mention the companies names). However, by simply using this saying a customer would walk into a corner shop or supermarket, walk past that specific brand of beans and just pick it up without thinking.

A more indirect approach can be found inside all retail stores, what is it? Well have you ever noticed that when you walk in clothes shops the first things you will see is either bright colors or shiny/sparkly clothing? The reasoning behind these rather subtle sales persuasion techniques is that bright colors make us happy, and studies show that a happy customer is more likely to buy.

A more, day to day activity where you can see (and smell!) sales persuasion techniques in action is in your supermarket. You may have notice that when you walk into most shops you are greeted by either one or both of these things; the smell of bread or bright colors, usually from fruits and vegetables. Again both the smell and the colours make a person more likely to buy, and again they are subliminal so that the average person does not actually notice these sales persuasion techniques in action. A further example is that some shops will even have the fragrance of baked bread or coffee and such in certain isles in order to stimulate more sales, as a consumer you walk by, smell coffee and remember you need some or doubt as to whether you needed to get some, thus getting it to be 'on the safe side'.

However, there are, as you would expect, many more sales persuasion techniques that are not based on subliminality. For example, there is the psychological technique, commonly known as the 'yes technique'. In order to carry this out you ask a group of simple, easy to answer questions that the customer will say yes to (your name is X right?, You live at Y correct?) and then after 6-8 yes answers you then go onto your sales pitch to either sell them a product, or if you are already selling a product you then try to sell complimentary goods as well, this has been proven to increase sales.

As you can see there are a wide range of sales persuasion techniques around you every day that you will not always instantly notice or ever be aware of. However, if you are a consumer then list building may be your best bet to stop buying items you do not need. If you are in the business of selling then a list building customer is your greatest adversary.