The "Do not click this link!" tactic discussion

12 years ago

I don't click. I tend not to click on most links unless I'm looking for that specifically. But I do realize that many people click out of curiosity.

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RedShifted

12 years ago

I'll be honest MOST of the time I see a link like that I have to click it, hence thats why I'm posting now. Don't really have much to say, but I personally think the method is effective just sometimes its not worded the right way. People will write something like "if you don't want to make a million dollars right now, then don't click this link" and in that case I won't because I think its just plain cheesy/stupid.

But when it reads more like "this information may anger you, so I wanted to warn you before clicking this link", something like that is just more compelling for me. Its more ambigous, lets my imagination take off, and I will probaly always click the link.

So I'd have to say delivery is key here.

-Red

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LegitIncomes

12 years ago

Originally Posted by ShayRockhold

Am I the only one whose first reaction when I see that kind of title is "Okay" and ignoring the link? :confused::confused:

Maybe it's just me. I see so many people using it, so it must be effective....right?

Or is it one of those things that someone said to do and so everyone blindly does it?

No agenda here - I'm just genuinely curious.

(For anyone who points out that I have had the 'DO NOT CLICK HERE' link in my sig before, you should know that had you clicked on that link, you would have been rickrolled. Just sayin'. :p )

I'm guessing you may have seen the banner I'm running right now here on WF, lol.

Does it work? Well, it's not the best response I've ever had . . . but it's not the worst either.

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RedShifted

12 years ago

Originally Posted by LegitIncomes

I'm guessing you may have seen the banner I'm running right now here on WF, lol.

Does it work? Well, it's not the best response I've ever had . . . but it's not the worst either.

Thats hilarious you're getting more traffic just by talking about it as I had to go look of course.

As good as I think this technique can be when used properly, I honestly have no idea why I'm not incorporating it on my blog right this minute.

So I will be changing that right now. People are so use to getting told
"don't do this don't do that" that it almost becomes automatic to do the exact opposite of what people tell you to do.

Humans are very complex, strange creatures. Always wanting what they can't have, always thinking the grass is greener in their neighbords yard, something like this really just capitalizes on that natural vulnerability imo.

- Red

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WPBounce

12 years ago

'Do not click' here on WF catches my attention all the time. It must be working.
Curiosity + don't tell me what not to do factor

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kenzik

12 years ago

I'm not sure if you are asking because you are considering using it or if you simply are curious how the people in this forum react.

If it is the former, I'd simply test it. If it is one thing I've learned so far here it is to test and measure everything. Think putting a donkey on a banner will drive sales? Who cares whether it is crazy or not... put him on there and A/B test it with your current banner. If your CTR goes up, then switch it out permanently!

If it is the latter, then I'll say this: I click on links whether I'm interested or not simply to see what people are up to and to learn.

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ShayB 12 years ago

I love all the responses! Very interesting.

I am honestly just curious. It's not something I would do, but I figured it has to work on some level or not everyone would do it.

And this isn't aimed at any one person. I've seen it a LOT. But I am interested in hearing how it's working/not working for people.
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John Romaine

12 years ago

Reverse physcology seems to work on children.

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Gail_Curran 12 years ago

If "do not click" is followed up by something sensible like "... unless you want to make more money" then it's okay. But if I see "do not click this link" by itself, then I don't click. After all, that's what the person asked, and I like people to get what they want.

On the other hand, "please click here and buy my stuff because it's really great and I need the money" is more likely to get a click from me. At least it shows some gumption.

.
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MP80 12 years ago

Hi Shay,

Yes, it is effective on me and I always click on it... I am extremely curious, plus hate being told what to do, so to me it is like a 'red rag to a bull' lol

Originally Posted by John Romaine

Reverse psychology seems to work on children.

Also could just be that I haven't grown up (yet) :p
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ivanadee

12 years ago

Hmmm..it depends on the words after "do not click this link if you . . ."

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wizzard1222

12 years ago

it's bold....paid ad....!

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1 reply

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MissTerraK

12 years ago

I'm with you Shay.

I tend to be an agreeable happy go lucky kind of girl and so generally when I see a don't click this link, I think to myself and okay, and go on my merry little way.

No harm, no foul, right?

Terra

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jondaR

12 years ago

Has anyone tried this?

Click This
or not its up to you

I have thought about this for a long time. I just might test it.

Reverse psychology dose not work on me. It just irritates me, so, no I don't click them.

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1 reply

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Dan C. Rinnert

12 years ago

I hover, then my browser shows me what the link is to, so then I can decide whether or not I want to click the link or just follow the poster's advice and not click it at all. Of course, sometimes I deliberately don't click because I know that they they were trying to use reverse psychology on me, but they may know that I know that, so they said not to click, thinking I would not click, and thus depriving me of information I need, so then I must click, but, knowing that they know that I know they were trying to pull a reverse reverse psychology trick on me, they instead tried for a reverse reverse reverse psychology trick on me, telling me not to click, knowing I wouldn't, but knowing I knew that, they didn't want me to click anyway, but knowing I knew that, I should click anyway, but knowing that I know that, I shouldn't, and them knowing I know that they know what I know, they were trying to fool me into clicking by telling me not to click. Well, sometimes, the whole thing gets so tiring and difficult to figure out, that I just don't click regardless of whether they told me to click or not, because I just need a nap at that point.

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cashp0wer 12 years ago

When I first started seeing these links I would click it. Now, it seems like I am seeing them more and more and I don't even want to click them anymore.
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- moneymuze 12 years ago
  
  The same reverse (basic child psychology - I bet you can't eat all of your peas) psychology is also used in many emails I get. "Don't share this email with anyone." But then it gets me thinking that perhaps this individual really doesn't want me to show anyone this email because all they are really trying to do is sucker the recipient (me) of said email and if they were to show it to someone, anyone thay person would suggest that they stay away from it.
  Nevertheless, when I come across any kind of negative or reverse manipulation I regard it as crap anyway.
  
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jondaR

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert

I hover, then my browser shows me what the link is to, so then I can decide whether or not I want to click the link or just follow the poster's advice and not click it at all. Of course, sometimes I deliberately don't click because I know that they they were trying to use reverse psychology on me, but they may know that I know that, so they said not to click, thinking I would not click, and thus depriving me of information I need, so then I must click, but, knowing that they know that I know they were trying to pull a reverse reverse psychology trick on me, they instead tried for a reverse reverse reverse psychology trick on me, telling me not to click, knowing I wouldn't, but knowing I knew that, they didn't want me to click anyway, but knowing I knew that, I should click anyway, but knowing that I know that, I shouldn't, and them knowing I know that they know what I know, they were trying to fool me into clicking by telling me not to click. Well, sometimes, the whole thing gets so tiring and difficult to figure out, that I just don't click regardless of whether they told me to click or not, because I just need a nap at that point.

Lol this is hilarious!! Thanks for the laugh!

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jonmay

12 years ago

Personally, I think it is kind of spammy, so my eyes just go on somewhere else.

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sbucciarel

Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by ShayRockhold

Am I the only one whose first reaction when I see that kind of title is "Okay" and ignoring the link? :confused::confused:

Maybe it's just me. I see so many people using it, so it must be effective....right?

I don't know if it's effective. Never used it, but when I see a link that says DO NOT CLICK, I don't click. I don't like the tactic so I comply with their wishes.

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mosthost

12 years ago

You aren't the only one. I comply with their wishes when they ask me not to click

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kindsvater

12 years ago

When someone says Do Not Click This Link - I don't. So count me as another lost possible customer.

Is there a curiosity factor? Sure. It just doesn't work with me. There will be another thousand offers so I never worry about missing one.

.

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Ettienne

12 years ago

Originally Posted by ShayRockhold

Am I the only one whose first reaction when I see that kind of title is "Okay" and ignoring the link? :confused::confused:

Maybe it's just me. I see so many people using it, so it must be effective....right?

Or is it one of those things that someone said to do and so everyone blindly does it?

No agenda here - I'm just genuinely curious.

(For anyone who points out that I have had the 'DO NOT CLICK HERE' link in my sig before, you should know that had you clicked on that link, you would have been rickrolled. Just sayin'. :p )

It's a mental response some people have. They hear "don't" and they feel that they NEED to "do".

But... I'm just like you, "don't click here", umm... okay, I won't.

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Raydal

12 years ago

I read a (true) story once (can't remember if it was a marketing book)
but a motel had a problem with guests who fished in the nearby lake
from the second floor balcony. The sign there said clearly, "No Fishing!"

Somehow the sign was damaged and had to be removed and fishing
from the balcony dropped considerably. So the "No fishing" sign was
accomplishing the opposite of its intended purpose.

Did Eve picked that fruit from the forbidden tree mainly because it
was forbidden?

This has been a part of human nature since then.

(Please do not read this post!)

-Ray Edwards

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minion

12 years ago

It depends. I often click links like that, but not always - I don't think it's the reverse psychology that gets me, but curiosity.

If you can make people curious, they'll click it:

The Drama Button [HD] - YouTube

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JohnMcCabe

12 years ago

Shay, the only reason I'm in this discussion is that the headline comes from someone from whom I expect value in some form. Absent that, I'd have honored the request in the headline, same as I do for the gambit in emails.

Like so many other gambits, the effectiveness depends on the execution.

If you can genuinely arouse curiosity (in this case, 'what's Shay got cooking this time?'), you can make it work.

If you try it out of the blue, you get agreeable sorts like me not clicking your links like all get out...

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ShayB

12 years ago

Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe

Shay, the only reason I'm in this discussion is that the headline comes from someone from whom I expect value in some form. Absent that, I'd have honored the request in the headline, same as I do for the gambit in emails.

Like so many other gambits, the effectiveness depends on the execution.

If you can genuinely arouse curiosity (in this case, 'what's Shay got cooking this time?'), you can make it work.

If you try it out of the blue, you get agreeable sorts like me not clicking your links like all get out...

LOL I originally had simply "Do not click this link" as a title...and I figured I needed to change it so the people who normally wouldn't click....would.

(Thank you for trusting me enough to click.

)

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Steadyon

12 years ago

Originally Posted by ShayRockhold

DO NOT CLICK HERE

ok I won't

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mikeyman120 12 years ago

oh yeah! Its usually, in my experience, don't click this link unless you want to make money online and fire your boss.
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Exel

12 years ago

Maybe because I'm in IM so I know that it is a marketing tactic, but
when I see "Do not click this link" first things that comes to mind is "ok".

On the other hand, I believe it can be made effective if put into context and create
genuine curiosity, but if all you had to do to get someone to click on your link is write
"don't click" everybody would do it.

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mindreaderwriter

Banned 12 years ago

Advertisers or marketers who use the do-not-click or do-not-read strategy employ the psychological technique in "alluring" readers to actually click or read it, respectively.

Let me give you a practical analogy. Each country has hundreds or thousands of laws. Each of which says "do not do this" but crimes are still rising exponentially. To my opinion, it's the Achilles' heel of humans to do what they are not supposed to do. Marketers, who are keen observers of people's behavior, have long time since employed that technique in their marketing. I'm one of them.

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WebPen

12 years ago

The only time I ever clicked one of those links was when Eric Louviere had it as his sig.

But yeah- now that everyone does it, I never really click it.

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InternetSuccess001

12 years ago

You ever heard "there is a sucker born every minute"?

Works on people who haven't seen that tactic before. Doesn't mean it's "right", but it does work.

Johnathan

Originally Posted by ShayRockhold

Am I the only one whose first reaction when I see that kind of title is "Okay" and ignoring the link? :confused::confused:

Maybe it's just me. I see so many people using it, so it must be effective....right?

Or is it one of those things that someone said to do and so everyone blindly does it?

No agenda here - I'm just genuinely curious.

(For anyone who points out that I have had the 'DO NOT CLICK HERE' link in my sig before, you should know that had you clicked on that link, you would have been rickrolled. Just sayin'. :p )

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alexgold87

12 years ago

I click on ANY "DO NOT CLICK HERE" link or button. Why? May be because I think that I will get/see something really cool

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KillerJVs

12 years ago

It's an old marketing strategy that works on those who are still inexperienced with the internet and like shiny things

It would be interesting to hear from the dude that is running the Do not click banner here on the WF to see what his CTR is and what his ROI is like

-Matt