Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People

How to Write for Busy Readers: Why Less Is More with Todd Rogers

17 snips
Aug 6, 2025
Todd Rogers, a behavioral scientist and public policy professor at Harvard, reveals the art of concise communication. He shares how cutting unnecessary words can enhance engagement, citing surprising research findings, such as how removing every other sentence can boost donation rates. Todd emphasizes the significance of effective subject lines in emails, using a notable example from Obama's campaign. Discover how to transform your writing for busy readers, focusing on clarity and using AI tools without sacrificing authenticity.
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ANECDOTE

Todd Rogers on Bob Cialdini Mentorship

  • Todd Rogers admired Bob Cialdini since college and collaborated with him on his last paper.
  • He shared a personal emotional story about Cialdini's mentorship during a retirement event talk.
ADVICE

Reducing K-12 Absenteeism

  • To reduce K-12 absenteeism, focus communication on attendance, a clear and actionable issue for parents.
  • Correct parents' false beliefs about their child's attendance relative to peers to motivate action effectively.
ANECDOTE

No Requests to Suppress Voting

  • Todd Rogers' team ran Obama's re-election email experiments using behavioral science.
  • They never received requests on how to suppress opposing voters, showing positive ethical intent.
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