
Behavioral Science For Brands: Leveraging behavioral science in brand marketing. CBL Rewind: Phil Agnew, host of Nudge, on social proof, curiosity gaps, and ethical influence
Dec 24, 2025
Phil Agnew, a Senior product marketer at Buffer and the creative mind behind the Nudge podcast, dives into the fascinating intersection of behavioral science and marketing. He discusses how insights like social proof and curiosity gaps shape consumer behavior. Phil critiques the ethics of influence, drawing lessons from the Theranos case. He emphasizes the power of small experiments for marketers to refine strategies and shares practical tips for using special occasions to boost promotions. A must-listen for anyone wanting to enhance their marketing savvy!
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Heuristics Make Decisions Predictable
- Understanding heuristics reveals predictable decision rules people follow.
- Apply those heuristics to craft messages that actually change choices.
Show Product Popularity On Pages
- Display product-level popularity (sales or views) on product pages to boost conversions.
- Small social-proof cues have produced lifts near 50% in experiments Phill cited.
Green Badges Made EVs Visible
- The UK added a green badge to electric vehicle plates to make them salient.
- The badge increased perceived popularity and encouraged more people to consider electric cars.
