A magician using crudest of methods can baffle most intelligent of audiences. With a few simple props and an intriguing story, an experienced conman can make a fool of virtually anyone. And with proper delivery, a comedian can pry a laugh from even most stoic among us.

What skill do these people share that grants them their power over others?

They are masters of Psychological Ventriloquism. They have mastered art of inducing unconscious assumptions in others.

When a magician levitates his assistant he runs a hoop up and down her body “proving” nothing is holding her up. Of course, he’s proving nothing of sort, but he is leading us to assume such a conclusion. And as a result, “magic” becomes possible.

Con artists turn everyday items and circumstances into tools they can use to elicit our trust almost instantly. Documentation, credentials, circumstances, relationships. You name it, if we assume it trustworthy, con artists have ways to turn this trust against us.

How do comedians use our assumptions against us?

Consider this joke:

“My grandmother has been walking three miles a day every day for last five years and now we don’t know where hell she is.”

What makes this joke work?

It works because by time we hear “last five years,” we have unconsciously made an assumption that sets us up for punchline. We assume grandmother has been exercising. And this is exactly what comedian needs us to assume in order to make us laugh.

We cannot help but make assumptions. We take in information so quickly that we are constantly, and more significantly, unconsciously, making assumptions and too often fail to distinguish between what we “saw” and what we “assumed.”

This mechanism, which few recognize and even fewer appreciate, is responsible for persuasion in its most powerful form.

Why? Because of what I have coined our third tendency of human nature and that is:

People sometimes believe what they are told, but never doubt what they conclude.

What marketing tactics do you usually use when you attend a conference?

Network, you say?

Yes, but there’s much more. And even when you network, it’s add-on’s that make your networking memorable; otherwise, you're just another face in crowd. Try my Top 7 Conference Tactics to generate more clients and revenue streams.

Top 7 Conference Tactics

1. Offer to do a presentation at conference. Where else could you get a captive audience of folks interested in what YOU have to say in a room that you’re not even paying for?

These people CHOSE to attend your session! This is easiest form of niche marketing you have available! Give it everything you’ve got so that your presentation is absolutely stellar: top quality information delivered in a way that keeps your audience’s attention. Exceed their expectations!

2. Contact person who is handling registrations and find out who is going to that conference that you can connect with prior to conference. Make your connections ahead of conference so that you can develop them further when you are at conference.

You want registration person to identify folks who:

a. live in your geographical area OR

b. specialize in same sub- specialty you do OR

c. are also in partnership with others OR

d.are solo entrepreneurs

You choose criteria important to you. All you need is a short list of people who meet that criteria.

Let's say you wanted names and phone numbers or email addresses of people who live in same city as you. Contact them to establish a relationship and make plans to meet at conference.