When people read stuff, their inner voice โhearsโ the words. ๐
โHomophonic primingโ is the clever use of words that sound like other words (=homophones) to influence thoughts.
Examples:
"Bye now" primes "buy now"
"Excess" primes "access"
"Write here" primes "right here"
A few homophonic power phrases to consider including in the copy:
๐ธ Buy = Bye, Bi, By
๐ค Sale = Sail, Cell
๐ New = Knew
๐ Value = Volume
๐ท๏ธ Discount = This Count
๐ Premium = Pre-Made
๐ Access = Excess, XS
โ๏ธ Write = Right
๐ฅ Real = Reel
๐ญ Act = Packed, Pact
โณ Wait = Weight
๐ Raise = Rays
๐ง Mail = Male
๐ No = Know
๐ต Cash = Cache
๐จ Suite = Sweet
๐น Profit = Prophet
๐ Bored = Board
๐ Peak = Peek
๐ Our = Hour
๐ Role = Roll
๐ Here = Hear
๐ฏ Aim = A.M.
๐งฉ Peace = Piece
๐ Wrapped = Rapped
๐ Site = Sight
๐ Launch = Lunch
๐ฑ App = Up
๐ฒ Price = Rice
๐ Won = One
๐ฅ Why does it work?
When we read, the phonological (sound) information is activated alongside the semantic (meaning) information.
So even though โbyeโ and โbuyโ have drastically different meanings, their similar pronunciation causes a momentary blur in the mind. The brain considers both meanings simultaneously, even if only for a split second.
Itโs enough to plant a subconscious seed.
๐ป The action step
Look for opportunities to use homophonic priming, especially in:
Website copy
Email subject lines
Ad headlines
CTAs
Social media posts
Brainstorm words and phrases that sound like the CTA/idea you want to amplify. Context is king โ homophones must be ethical and make sense.
Worth an experiment!
See you next week โ๏ธ
Tom
โIf you enjoyed this marketing idea, please tap the Like button below โฅ๏ธ Thank you!
This is amazing. I published two articles on sales the past two weeks.
https://bensaltiel.substack.com/p/how-to-close-anybody?r=dnvri
If I every do anything for marketing I will reference this.
To take it a step further, and something you have already implemented is understanding the strength of graphics (or more accurately โemojisโ) to elicit a personal reaction/interpretation of the message. For example ๐ can have multiple meanings; Launch, Take off, Speed, Out of this World, Travel, etc. and creates an emotional response in the reader.