REQUEST A CONVERSION STRATEGY SESSION   |   888-961-6604
Conversion Sciences
  • CRO Services
  • Guaranteed Redesign
  • About
  • Contact
  • Book a Consultation
  • Menu Menu

Relate to Four, Connect with Thousands

Conversion-Centered Design, Persuasion Science

You can connect with thousands of visitors to your site by understanding only four modes of persuasion.

Modes of Persuasion: Relate to Four Connect with Thousands

Relate to Four Connect with Thousands

Communicating is connecting. If you’re communicating successfully, each of your readers will feel that you are writing directly to them.

I’m going to introduce you to a method of writing that will forge strong connections with your readers.

You will understand your readers when you understand the four “Modes of Persuasion.” Every visitor fits into one of four modes, and, as will see, each mode describes a different way of connecting. If you can master each of these modes, you can effectively draw anyone closer with your words.

https://conversionsciences.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Conversion-Scientist-Relate_to_Four.mp3

Download

The Four Modes of Persuasion

Each of your visitors will come in one of four modes: Competitive, Methodical, Humanist, or Spontaneous.

COMPETITIVE visitors are looking for information that will make them better, smarter or more cutting-edge. Use benefit statements and payoffs in your headings to draw them into your content.

METHODICALS like data and details. Include specifics and proof in your writing to connect with them.

HUMANISTS want information that supports their relationships. They will relate to your writing if you share the human element in your topic.

SPONTANEOUS visitors are the least patient. They need to know what’s in it for them and may not read your entire story. Provide short headings for them to scan so that they can get to the points that are important to them.

When you understand that every visitor consumes information differently, you can build empathy with more of your readers. In time, your content will appeal to a wider audience making your Web site more enjoyable and accessible.

You can learn more about these four Modes of Persuasion in the book Waiting for Your Cat to Bark? by Bryan and Jeffrey Eisenberg.


21 Quick and Easy CRO Copywriting Hacks to Skyrocket Conversions

21 Quick and Easy CRO Copywriting Hacks

Keep these proven copywriting hacks in mind to make your copy convert.

  • 43 Pages with Examples
  • Assumptive Phrasing
  • "We" vs. "You"
  • Pattern Interrupts
  • The Power of Three

"*" indicates required fields


  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Brian Massey
Brian Massey
Conversion Scientist™ at Conversion Sciences
Brian Massey is the Founder and Conversion Scientist™ at Conversion Sciences, a sought-after international speaker, and author of Your Customer Creation Equation. He is passionate about transforming websites through a steady diet of visitor profiling, purposeful content, analytics, and AB testing.

Expertise: conversion rate optimization, AB testing, marketing strategy, digital marketing, analytics, landing page design, computer programming, entrepreneurship

Speaking: IBM, Inbound, LeadsCon, Content Marketing World, Affiliate Summit, and more

Books and Training: Your Conversion Creation Equation, Video CRO, Marketing Videos that Convert, CRO Best Practices

As Seen On: ClickZ, Search Engine Land, Marketing Land, Conversion Sciences Blog, Intended Consequences podcast

Education: Texas A&M University, BS Computer Science and Management
Brian Massey
Latest posts by Brian Massey (see all)
  • Your Traffic Fell 30 Percent. Your Targets Did Not. - September 3, 2026
  • How to Filter Bot Traffic in Google Analytics With Ask Advisor - August 20, 2026
  • Using AI to Chat with your Online Business - July 10, 2026
  • 3.0KSHARES
December 9, 2008/by Brian Massey
You might also like
The Importance of Good Distribution Within E-commerce
Ten Ways to Convert More Customers and More – For Further Study
Examples of persuasive copy in online advertising help illustrate the concept. A genius way to apply emotion to a SaaS service on a Facebook ad. 20 Compelling Examples of Persuasive Copy in Online Advertising
User Persona Example Part One: Basic description and demographics. User Personas vs. Demographics: Why Your Visitors Are Ignoring You (As Illustrated By Brad Pitt)
Five extreme personalization examples that actually worked. 5 Extreme Personalization Examples That Actually Worked
“Evil” Best Buy Develops Personas
9 replies
  1. JustinZA
    JustinZA says:
    July 30, 2014 at 7:19 pm

    Another great article, thanks Brian.
    Here’s a typo:
    “Use benefit statements and payoffs in your headings to draw then into your content.”

    • Brian Massey
      Brian Massey says:
      July 31, 2014 at 4:05 pm

      Thanks. It’s fixed.

  2. Soji Adeyanju
    Soji Adeyanju says:
    August 7, 2014 at 1:13 pm

    There’s no doubt that successful communication leads to increase conversion. Great piece of article, Brian.

    • Brian Massey
      Brian Massey says:
      August 7, 2014 at 1:17 pm

      Thanks, Soji.

  3. PJ Christie
    PJ Christie says:
    September 21, 2015 at 10:13 am

    This was fun. One thing I have said is that in sales you should look at your four last customers in detail. Especially now for me because I am moving out of my software consulting role I’ve been in the last few years and moving more towards the SEO / PPC / Sales enablement role.
    So I took my last four customers and broke down the role all four of these items played in the attraction and close of the deal. I think this information will inform my content rewrite I began in lesson 1.

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. The AB Testing Process that Empowers Marketers | Conversion Sciences says:
    May 12, 2016 at 7:01 am

    […] Each of your visitors will come in one of four modes: Competitive, Methodical, Humanist, or Spontaneous. […]

  2. Groupon: Is It the Deals or the Copy? | ClickZ UK says:
    October 29, 2015 at 9:33 am

    […] interesting copy. Fellow ClickZ author Bryan Eisenberg and his brother Jeffrey defined four “Modes of Persuasion” in their book “Waiting for Your Cat to Bark?” These four modes define the […]

  3. Close the Conversion Gap. Cater to the Impulse Purchase - The Conversion Scientist says:
    July 14, 2015 at 7:14 am

    […] define an impulsive buyer as someone who is poised to take action. These are our spontaneous buyers, more likely to be relational than transactional. They may not be impulsive in life, but […]

  4. Content strategy and web writing | just write click says:
    December 26, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    […] And here’s the thing. People are not backing down from figuring out a great web strategy despite the challenges, and finding great success. I had a great lunchtime conversation with Brian Massey, the Conversion Scientist. He basically mapped technical publications’ typical goals to the personas that help you encourage a conversion. Fascinating! He describes four personas typically used by marketing writers on the web in the blog post, Relate to Four, Connect with Thousands: […]

Comments are closed.

Search Search

Free Ad Alignment Report

Are your ads making promises that your landing pages aren't keeping. We'll pull your entire portfolio and grade the landing pages.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Free for a limited time.

Conversion Optimization Course (FREE CRO Training)

Sign up and read the nine articles we will email you.

Latest Articles

  • CRO vs. AI. Who Wins? Images of Sahil Patel and Brian Massey Conversion Sciences LLC
    Your Traffic Fell 30 Percent. Your Targets Did Not.September 3, 2026 - 10:36 am
  • "The visitors that are eating your conversion rate" with bugs attacking the words "your conversion rate" Conversion Sciendes
    How to Filter Bot Traffic in Google Analytics With Ask AdvisorAugust 20, 2026 - 11:16 am
  • Brian Massey in a lab coat and a data monster in the background. The caption says "Talk to your analytics" Conversion Sciences LLC
    Using AI to Chat with your Online BusinessJuly 10, 2026 - 2:31 pm

Blog Article Categories

  • Advertising CRO
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Conversion Marketing Strategy
  • Conversion Optimization
  • Conversion-Centered Design
  • CRO Tests | Multivariate | AB Testing
  • Ecommerce CRO
  • Landing Page Optimization
  • Lead Generation
  • Persuasion Science
  • Web Analytics
Conversion Sciences | Best Conversion Optimization Agency

FacebookTwitter/XPinterestLinkedInNews/RSS FeedPodcast

  • Conversion Optimization Services
    • Optimization Services
    • Guaranteed Redesign
    • Fully-managed CRO
    • CRO Audit
    • AI Optimization
    • CRO Training & Coaching
  • CRO Solutions
    • Conversion Solutions
    • eCommerce Optimization
    • Lead Generation Solutions
    • CRO for Website Redesign
    • CRO for Mobile Lead Gen
    • CRO for Advertising
  • About
    • About Conversion Sciences
    • Contact
    • Success Stories
    • CRO Resources
    • Blog
    • Your Customer Creation Equation Book
    • Free CRO Course
    • CRO Calculator
    • Press & Speaking Dates
Free — $10,000 Value

See Exactly Where Your Website Is Losing Revenue

In a free 30-minute session, a Senior Conversion Scientist will audit your site and deliver actionable recommendations.

🛡️ Backed by our Guaranteed ROI commitment — if we don't deliver results, you don't pay.
What you'll walk away with
✓

Personalized site audit of your highest-traffic pages with specific conversion gaps identified

✓

3–5 prioritized recommendations you can implement this week — whether or not you hire us

✓

Honest ROI assessment based on your traffic and conversion data

✓

1-on-1 with a Senior Conversion Scientist (avg. 8+ years CRO experience)

Intuit Boingo AMEX GBT + 300 more
Book your free session

"*" indicates required fields

You'll receive a calendar link within 1 business hour.
Free. No commitment. 30 minutes.

"At present, we see around 10X ROI. We're truly happy with what Conversion Sciences has brought." — StewMac

© Copyright 2007 - 2026 • Conversion Sciences • All Rights Reserved
Conversion Sciences® and Conversion Scientist® are
federally registered trademarks of Conversion Sciences LLC.
Any unauthorized use is expressly prohibited.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Policy
  • Security
  • Jobs
Link to: Zero Steps to Copy That Will Make Visitors Stick Link to: Zero Steps to Copy That Will Make Visitors Stick Zero Steps to Copy That Will Make Visitors StickZero Steps to Copy That Will Make Visitors Stick Link to: Drilling in on Social Conversion Strategies Link to: Drilling in on Social Conversion Strategies Social Conversion Strategies Drilling in on Social Conversion Strategies
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top