Stop Guessing, Start Selling: 5 Marketing Hacks Science Stole from Your Brain

Research shows these tiny marketing hacks can skyrocket your conversions — no PhD required.

Marketing isn’t just art — it’s science (and occasionally a bit of witchcraft). Thomas McKinlay, founder of Science Says, digs into the data so you don’t have to. His research-driven strategies prove that even tiny tweaks can mean the difference between “meh” and “money.”

Here are five of his game-changing hacks that could have you standing out faster than your competitors can say “A/B test.”

 

1. Leverage Research for Stronger Connections

Want to feel closer to your audience without buying them dinner? McKinlay’s research shows that swapping “we” for “I” in your copy makes a huge difference. Satisfaction jumps 19%, sales rise 7% — all from a simple pronoun shift.

Takeaway: Sometimes the quickest way to build trust isn’t a new funnel or ad campaign. It’s just talking like a real person.

 

2. Optimize Email Frequency for Better Results

More emails = more sales, right? Nope. Turns out blasting your list like a firehose doesn’t impress anyone. It overwhelms them.

McKinlay says the sweet spot is consistency without overload. Hit that balance, and you’ll see better open rates, stronger engagement, and fewer people rage-clicking “unsubscribe.”

Think of it like dating: too many texts and you’re needy, too few and you’re ghosting. The magic is in the middle.

I certainly unsubscribe like a shot if someone keeps blasting me with emails!

If you’d like to test my email frequency, please subscribe here. (It’s an email list teaching the basics of starting an online business, with topical offers.)

 

3. The Power of Italics in Promotions

Ready for the sneakiest hack on this list? Italics. Yes, slanted text. McKinlay found that promotions in italics sparked 3x more clicks and 31% more purchases.

Apparently our brains think italics = urgency. It’s like your text is whispering, “Hey… this deal is hot. You might miss it.”

So next time you run a promo, tilt that text. It’s the cheapest conversion boost you’ll ever get.

 

4. Use Pricing Strategies to Boost Sales

Here’s a weird one: make your prices bigger. No, not the number itself — the font size. McKinlay’s research shows that when prices are displayed larger, people perceive them as cheaper and more trustworthy. Buying intent goes up 25.9%.

It’s like a Jedi mind trick in bold typeface. Small price, big impact. Literally.

Now that’s certainly a new one on me!

 

5. Create Lasting Impressions with Personal Touches

In a digital world, analog wins. McKinlay suggests sending handwritten thank-you notes (even if they’re photocopied). Why? Because customers eat up that personal touch. Loyalty increases, and so does future spending.

Imagine… a simple note could make someone a repeat buyer for life. That’s ROI your accountant would frame on the wall.

 

Italics, Pronouns and an Electronic ‘Sharpie’

None of these hacks require a massive budget or a 10-person marketing team. They’re subtle, science-backed moves that build trust, drive action, and keep your brand top-of-mind.

So the next time you’re tempted to chase the next shiny tool, remember: Science says you can supercharge your strategy with italics, pronouns, and a Sharpie.

 

The Unethical Side of Marketing

When you are reading marketing messages, watch out for them being used on you.

One of my bits of fun is looking out for the tricks that marketers are using to sell to me – and avoiding them.