A simple bit of psychology is all you need to be a blogger

Bloggers are not special people, though if you look at some blogs you might be amazed at the output of these individuals; when do they sleep? Some bloggers write several very long articles each day; others blog with loads of little posts throughout the day. It seems as though all …

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Gosh…! Politicians do the right thing for the Internet

European politicians don’t always have a good reputation. They are perceived as a bunch of people who just chat, cost money and don’t have any real powers. But they have made a decision which will be significant as far as the Internet is concerned. The European Parliament has voted out …

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The rule of reciprocity is alive and well on the Internet

Imagine you are at a business meeting where you know no-one. You have arrived, slightly nervous because you are alone. You wander over to the coffee table where another guest at the meeting is pouring themselves a caffeine-laden cup. As they do so they turn to you and say “would …

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The future of Internet Psychology

My son Elliot was 8-years-old yesterday and today we had a big party for 26 of his friends. It was a Harry Potter theme party with a wizard magician who kept all of the kids “spellbound” for an hour…! So what has all this to do with Internet Psychology? Well, …

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Internet marketing is easy – oh really?

Every day, hundreds of people set up their online business sure in the knowledge that making money online is straightforward. They read tales of people making millions within a week. They get CD packages explaining how to “make money while you sleep”. And they download dozens of PDF ebooks at …

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Do not think of a pink elephant

Oh dear. Did you manage to think of a pink elephant even though I told you not to? Now I’ve mentioned it twice it’s very difficult for you not to imagine a pink elephant. But that’s precisely what I want you to do – pause, deep breath now….do not think …

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Modern messaging needs reciprocation

Mobile phone users are split between those who use text messaging (SMS) and those who find it too fiddly. Similarly, online, people are split between those who love email and those who prefer instant messaging services. Increasingly, younger people appear to prefer the speed of SMS and instant messaging over …

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People expect you to go green

Environmentalists are enjoying success at the moment. After several decades of campaigning, environmental issues are now mainstream and at the top of the agenda for many politicians and business people. Indeed, only yesterday Google announced it was “going green”. Human beings have a tendency to get “swept along”; we have …

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Improve your web site following food additive study

Researchers at the University of Southampton have reportedly found a link between certain artificial food additives and the behaviour of children. The study was initially reported by The Grocer magazine and is now featured widely in other media, including online newspapers. The findings of this study have implications for anyone …

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Internet Psychology :: People focus on the negatives

Callers to a phone in on London’s LBC Radio Station yesterday were full of tales of problems and difficulties they have with the Internet, in particular Ebay. One person had serious difficulties after someone launched a campaign against her by pretending to buy everything she put up for sale and …

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Internet Marketing :: It’s all about psychology

Yesterday the Professional Speakers Association ran a special session on Internet Marketing for its members in London. There were three speakers – I was one of them – but for the entire session there was almost no reference to technology or specifics of web design, search engine optimisation and so …

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Internet Psychology :: Sailors’ stories rule the airwaves

You can’t have missed the debate in the UK about the sailors captured by the Iranian authorities who then later sold their stories to the national media. Whichever TV or radio station you tune into lately, there is some discussion about this issue. Equally, throughout the Internet there is a …

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Internet Marketing :: Don’t look at the obvious

The BBC called me recently and asked me to appear on the breakfast show on one of their local radio stations, Radio Solent in Southampton. I was to be interviewed about the psychology behind the fascination with virtual pets – the kind of “animal” you can create and care for …

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