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Choice Overload

Choice Overload

by Emily Johnson on May 09, 2025

Think about the last time you felt overwhelmed with choice. Scrolling through Netflix for what feels like an age? Feeling stumped about which pastry to choose when...

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The Psychology of Smart Messaging: The Economist

The Psychology of Smart Messaging: The Economist

Discover how The Economist used the illusory superiority bias to boost subscriptions by 95% through psychology-led, smart, standout messaging.
How Hyperbolic Discounting Shapes Decisions and What it Means for Brands

How Hyperbolic Discounting Shapes Decisions and What it Means for Brands

When making decisions, humans tend to opt for instant rewards, rather than wait for something greater down the line. This tendency is known as hyperbolic discounting and is a critical factor in shaping customer behaviour.
TEDxAston University | How we break. How we heal.

TEDxAston University | How we break. How we heal.

Dr. Peter Hughes, Cognition's CEO delivered an inspirational and deeply personal talk on finding hope amongst life’s difficulties at Aston University’s TEDx event.
Become an Employer of Choice

Become an Employer of Choice

Cut through the noise and authentically become an employer of choice, elevating your employer brand.
The Framing Effect: What marketers need to know about this cognitive bias

The Framing Effect: What marketers need to know about this cognitive bias

‘The Framing Effect’ is one of the typical cognitive biases which affects how decisions are made based on the way in which information is presented to us.
Brand Colour Psychology: A Powerful Driver of Consumer Connections

Brand Colour Psychology: A Powerful Driver of Consumer Connections

Every detail counts in the world of smart marketing. From words to imagery, everything plays a pivotal role in shaping how a brand is perceived. However, one of the most subtle yet powerful tools in a modern marketer’s toolkit is...
The Anchoring Bias

The Anchoring Bias

Discover the impact of anchoring bias in marketing psychology. Learn how to leverage this psychological tool to influence decision-making and enhance your promotional strategies.
Introducing the School of Marketing Psychology

Introducing the School of Marketing Psychology

Introducing the UK’s First School of Marketing Psychology: A Must-Have Resource for Modern Marketers
A Marketer’s Data Dilemma: Why More Isn’t Always Better

A Marketer’s Data Dilemma: Why More Isn’t Always Better

In today's data-driven marketing landscape, the sheer volume of information available often leaves marketers feeling overwhelmed. According to a 2022 study by Adverity, 67% of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) admit to struggling with...
Unlock a First-Class Employer Brand with the Social Identity Theory

Unlock a First-Class Employer Brand with the Social Identity Theory

The benefits of crafting a distinctive, sought-after employer brand can’t be overlooked - especially in today’s era of tough competition and high employee expectations.
The Overconfidence Effect: What Marketers can learn from Jeff Bezos’ Biggest Mistake

The Overconfidence Effect: What Marketers can learn from Jeff Bezos’ Biggest Mistake

Sometimes, even billionaires make mistakes. Learn from Jeff Bezos' overconfidence mistake with the Amazon Fire phone. Understand how to avoid the Overconfidence Effect in marketing and make smarter strategic decisions.
Brand Spotlight: How General Electric Harnesses the Power of Marketing Psychology

Brand Spotlight: How General Electric Harnesses the Power of Marketing Psychology

In this blog, we explore the world of General Electric’s psychology-driven marketing, outlining how they leverage cognitive biases to position themselves as an undeniable industry leader.
Why Psychology is So Important in Marketing

Why Psychology is So Important in Marketing

Why is psychology so pivotal in branding and marketing?
Behavioural Economics

Behavioural Economics

Nudges: How to influence consumer behaviour
The Psychology of Smart Messaging: The Economist

The Psychology of Smart Messaging: The Economist

Discover how The Economist used the illusory superiority bias to boost subscriptions by 95% through psychology-led, smart, standout messaging.
Choice Overload

Choice Overload

Think about the last time you felt overwhelmed with choice. Scrolling through Netflix for what feels like an age? Feeling stumped about which pastry to choose when you visit your local bakery?
How Hyperbolic Discounting Shapes Decisions and What it Means for Brands

How Hyperbolic Discounting Shapes Decisions and What it Means for Brands

When making decisions, humans tend to opt for instant rewards, rather than wait for something greater down the line. This tendency is known as hyperbolic discounting and is a critical factor in shaping customer behaviour.
TEDxAston University | How we break. How we heal.

TEDxAston University | How we break. How we heal.

Dr. Peter Hughes, Cognition's CEO delivered an inspirational and deeply personal talk on finding hope amongst life’s difficulties at Aston University’s TEDx event.
Become an Employer of Choice

Become an Employer of Choice

Cut through the noise and authentically become an employer of choice, elevating your employer brand.
How to Successfully Engage Out-of-Market B2B Prospects: The Information Gap Theory

How to Successfully Engage Out-of-Market B2B Prospects: The Information Gap Theory

How many recent B2B marketing strategies have you seen that focus on ‘demand generation’? We’re betting quite a few…
Why brands must express their core virtues and values

Why brands must express their core virtues and values

Virtue signalling: Why brands must express their core virtues and values
Virtue Signalling Across B2B and B2C Markets

Virtue Signalling Across B2B and B2C Markets

From B2B to B2C: Does virtue signalling really differ?
Defining Your Brand Messaging and Proposition

Defining Your Brand Messaging and Proposition

Why segmentation is the key to defining an effective brand proposition Targeted brand messaging that resonates and cuts through is crucial.
Why Psychology is So Important in Marketing

Why Psychology is So Important in Marketing

Why is psychology so pivotal in branding and marketing?
Brand Colour Psychology: A Powerful Driver of Consumer Connections

Brand Colour Psychology: A Powerful Driver of Consumer Connections

Every detail counts in the world of smart marketing. From words to imagery, everything plays a pivotal role in shaping how a brand is perceived. However, one of the most subtle yet powerful tools in a modern marketer’s toolkit is...
How Psychology Can Inform Your Use of Data

How Psychology Can Inform Your Use of Data

Work smarter, not harder: The marketing psychological power of simplifying your data
Unlock a First-Class Employer Brand with the Social Identity Theory

Unlock a First-Class Employer Brand with the Social Identity Theory

The benefits of crafting a distinctive, sought-after employer brand can’t be overlooked - especially in today’s era of tough competition and high employee expectations.
Employer Brand - How to Keep and Retain Talent

Employer Brand - How to Keep and Retain Talent

Less talk, more action: Boost your employer brand and attract today’s top talent
A Marketer’s Data Dilemma: Why More Isn’t Always Better

A Marketer’s Data Dilemma: Why More Isn’t Always Better

In today's data-driven marketing landscape, the sheer volume of information available often leaves marketers feeling overwhelmed. According to a 2022 study by Adverity, 67% of Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) admit to struggling with...
The Anchoring Bias

The Anchoring Bias

Discover the impact of anchoring bias in marketing psychology. Learn how to leverage this psychological tool to influence decision-making and enhance your promotional strategies.
Introducing the School of Marketing Psychology

Introducing the School of Marketing Psychology

Introducing the UK’s First School of Marketing Psychology: A Must-Have Resource for Modern Marketers
Behavioural Economics

Behavioural Economics

Nudges: How to influence consumer behaviour
Loss Aversion

Loss Aversion

Loss aversion: Why losses weigh so much more than gains
Getting Your Brand B-Corp Ready

Getting Your Brand B-Corp Ready

Core psychological principles to get your brand B-Corp ready
The Narrative Fallacy and Storytelling in Marketing

The Narrative Fallacy and Storytelling in Marketing

Using Marketing Psychology in Storytelling: Why Stories Win. Discover why storytelling marketing beats stats and learn how the narrative fallacy bias makes stories more compelling in branding and marketing strategies.
The Marketing Psychology Biases That Affect Our Decision Making

The Marketing Psychology Biases That Affect Our Decision Making

Virtue signalling: Why brands must express their core virtues and values Discover how brands are approaching the complex ground of virtue signalling, and how to strike the right balance between maintaining core identity and ultimately...
Brand Spotlight: How General Electric Harnesses the Power of Marketing Psychology

Brand Spotlight: How General Electric Harnesses the Power of Marketing Psychology

In this blog, we explore the world of General Electric’s psychology-driven marketing, outlining how they leverage cognitive biases to position themselves as an undeniable industry leader.
The Overconfidence Effect: What Marketers can learn from Jeff Bezos’ Biggest Mistake

The Overconfidence Effect: What Marketers can learn from Jeff Bezos’ Biggest Mistake

Sometimes, even billionaires make mistakes. Learn from Jeff Bezos' overconfidence mistake with the Amazon Fire phone. Understand how to avoid the Overconfidence Effect in marketing and make smarter strategic decisions.
Unlocking Marketing Shortcuts: Maximising Efficiency and Impact

Unlocking Marketing Shortcuts: Maximising Efficiency and Impact

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, marketers are constantly seeking ways to streamline processes, optimise resources, and maximise impact. By understanding and harnessing the power of Heuristics, we unlock the potential to...
Who Cares Wins: How Values Build Brands

Who Cares Wins: How Values Build Brands

There’s been a seismic shift in how brands accumulate equity.
The Secret to More Impactful, Standout Messaging for Your Business: The Elaboration Likelihood Model

The Secret to More Impactful, Standout Messaging for Your Business: The Elaboration Likelihood Model

In today’s overly-saturated B2B markets, messaging that truly cuts through the noise couldn’t be more important. But, amongst B2B’s complex customer journeys and high-stake decisions, creating a unique value proposition isn’t a walk in...
The Framing Effect: What marketers need to know about this cognitive bias

The Framing Effect: What marketers need to know about this cognitive bias

‘The Framing Effect’ is one of the typical cognitive biases which affects how decisions are made based on the way in which information is presented to us.
The Nominal Group Technique Explained

The Nominal Group Technique Explained

“The Nominal Group Technique is a fantastic way to gain clarity in your thinking and empower reticent team members to voice their often extremely valuable ideas and opinions.” – Carl Senior, Behavioural Scientist and Cognition...
How to use digital marketing to generate and nurture leads

How to use digital marketing to generate and nurture leads

When you consider all of the digital marketing channels, tools and tactics available to businesses today, crafting a successful digital marketing strategy can seem anything but straightforward.
The Cognition Brain: The perfect blend of Science and Creativity

The Cognition Brain: The perfect blend of Science and Creativity

Psychologist and Cognition Co-Founder, Dr Peter Hughes, explains how our proprietary methodology combines scientific and creative thinking to deliver outstanding marketing results.
Why psychology is so important in marketing

Why psychology is so important in marketing

Understanding the thought processes of our target customers is an essential step in marketing. By understanding their likes, dislikes, wants and desires, we can gain a well-rounded, realistic idea of what sort of marketing messages...
What is Web3 and how will it change marketing?

What is Web3 and how will it change marketing?

In the late 1990s we had the static pages and basic fonts of Web 1.0. In 2005, Web 2.0 introduced a more customisable and interactive internet, powered by social media, blogs and forums.
Working Smarter Not Harder

Working Smarter Not Harder

In 2022, it often feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. Many people feel constantly behind at work, which isn’t good for either themselves or their productivity.
Interruption marketing vs permission-based marketing

Interruption marketing vs permission-based marketing

Marketing has gradually seen a progressive shift away from intrusive, interruption methods towards permission-based marketing. In recent years this has culminated in what is known as modern marketing, which uses data and automation to...
Why every marketing agency should have a scientific board

Why every marketing agency should have a scientific board

But it is in the gathering of data where things start to fall apart. In fact, most of the time, things start to fall apart prior to gathering data.
How to create a messaging framework and simplify your communications

How to create a messaging framework and simplify your communications

Creating a brand messaging framework and taking the time to position your business correctly within your market is one of the most overlooked tasks in marketing.
How to brand a new product or service to win the right business

How to brand a new product or service to win the right business

The McDonald’s formula that will revolutionise your business

The McDonald’s formula that will revolutionise your business

McDonalds revolutionised the restaurant industry. It was once a single burger restaurant. Now it's chain is worth over $190 Billion and features ninth in the top 10 most valuable brands.
What is Effective Marketing?

What is Effective Marketing?

We live in a social media-driven, vanity metric-obsessed world. Web traffic, Instagram likes, social engagement… all wearing paper crowns as the princes of digital marketing, without delivering results where it matters most.
The Numbers That Make Or Break Your Marketing And Sales Funnel

The Numbers That Make Or Break Your Marketing And Sales Funnel

There are many variants to the marketing and sales funnel, and they all share a linear progression from first contact to close and beyond into renewals and referrals. Here’s the HubSpot version:
Screenshot 2025-03-05 at 10.34.51

Consult | Guide | Brand and Psychology Guide

Discover how to solve your branding challenges with psychology. Download our guide to learn 4 lessons from psychology and apply them to your brand. Gain actionable insights for messaging, nurturing prospects, data analysis, and employer branding.

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Why Psychology is So Important in Marketing

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