How one tourist board made Southend seem desirable | Nudge Newsletter


The Anchoring Effect

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"๐˜š๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ: ๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฃ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜Ž๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ด๐˜ฃ๐˜บ."

Why does this line work?

Well, it's due to a great use of the ๐š๐ง๐œ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ž๐Ÿ๐Ÿ๐ž๐œ๐ญ.
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Anchoring = "๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ช๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜จ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ต."
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In a 2022 studyยน, 404 shoppers tested how reference prices affect perceived value.
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When Ben & Jerryโ€™s ($3.99 for 16oz) was shown next to Walmartโ€™s cheaper $1.99 tub, only 27% rated Ben & Jerry's as great value.
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But when paired with a costlier $4.99 Halo Top, the number rose to 41%, a 52% increase in perceived value for Ben & Jerry's.
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The value judgement didnโ€™t change due to the product itself, but the comparison point.
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The point is, the weather in Southend looks better when compared to Grimsby.
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And that point alone can be enough to make for a great ad.


Big thanks to today's sponsors, GWI.

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Hope you enjoyed today's newsletter folks. โ€” Phillโ€‹

ยนShotton, R., & Flicker, M. A. (2025). Hacking the human mind: The behavioral science secrets behind 17 of the worldโ€™s best brands. Harriman House.

As a behavioural science practitioner, I believe in the peak-end rule.

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I spend 18 hours each week turning marketing psychology into readable newsletters.

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