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| Dr Ian and I celebrating the completion of an NLP Practitioner's course in KL |
As promised, I accosted my NLP guru Dr. Ian Halsall and forced a few voodoo secrets out of him, on how NLP is used in branding today. NLP means Neuro Linguistic Programming. Quite a mouthful but very simple really. It means programming the mind with the words and sentences we use. It is a box of tools on how the mind works and how to pursuade it to work the way you want it to. This also translates to other people's minds. Hence the accusation that NLP is voodoo-like by some people!!
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| Dr Ian celebrating........Life... |
It is no secret that mind tricks are used in advertising and branding today, although much frowned upon by a no longer unsuspecting public. So.... better to know than not to know...
Here it is, 2 loaded questions Dr. Ian answered at gunpoint:
1) What are the NLP tools used in advertising today?
Ian (trembling but reluctant) :
The funny thing is, there is lots of NLP in advertising already, but most people aren't aware that they are doing it!
Main ones are: pattern interrupts, anchors, state change, rapport, unconscious mind
A good example of anchoring is the use of attractive people. If a cute girl is in an advert with a product. The guy watching likes the girl, and that liking is then anchored to the product.
2) How can NLP be used in branding?
Ian (warming up a little):
Anchoring: a good brand elicits the state you want. Also, anchors need to be specific, easy to identify, and unique. A good example is the word "Big-Mac"
how many restaurants have that?
Rapport: a person needs to relate to the brand. Brand expert talk about "brand personality" as if the brand is a person. This applies quite well, but it's only any use if the person relates, or has rapport, with that brand personality.
And then he hit me on the head with his shoe and ran away....
..so now the BIG question is this : Is there a way we can learn the tools of NLP that will help us become more aware of these tricks..or better yet (shhhhh) how to use them for our own benefit?
Dr. Ian Halsall runs NLP practitioner's certification courses regularly. For the first time one will be held in Kuching (our own Land of the Hornbill) from October 17 to October 23 2011.
This course gives a working knowledge of the tools of NLP and also how to use them; and while not for everyone, it certainly gives whomever attends an unfair advantage in the world of business, branding and yes, relationships! oh but shhhhhhh it is meant to be a secret!!! I will have to kill everybody now.
I guess since the word is out ... do hurry if you want to sign up as seats are seriously limited. Dr. Ian held us at gunpoint and made us promise that!
Beautiful writing Dianne, both you and Ian looking good too. Yup, sometimes we wonder why we are attracted to a certain ppl and so entranced. Knowing and practicing NLP really give a person the unfair advantage over others...for good or for naughty...
ReplyDeleteShan k. Wong