IS373 FIELD NOTES / 03 / PERSUASION
Robert Cialdini’s principles help explain why people say yes. Use them to help visitors understand your work and make an informed choice.
Earlier editions of Influence described six principles; the expanded framework includes Unity. These are context-dependent tendencies, not guarantees. The portfolio applications below are teaching examples.
Source: Cialdini’s Influence at Work ↗People often feel inclined to return a benefit.
Publish a useful lesson from a project: a reusable component, a checklist, or a clear explanation.
Share something genuinely useful without requiring an email address or implying a debt.
People tend to act in ways that fit commitments they have freely made.
Let visitors move from a short project summary to a full case study, then choose whether to contact you.
Offer small, voluntary next steps. Do not trap visitors in a funnel or preselect consent.
Others’ actions can inform decisions, especially when a situation is uncertain.
Add a real collaborator quote with permission, or link to public contributions.
Use attributable evidence. Never invent testimonials, user counts, or client logos.
Relevant expertise can make a message more credible.
Show your technical decisions, a working demo, and what you personally contributed.
Name your actual role. A student project can demonstrate skill without pretending to be client work.
Connection and positive regard can support influence.
Write an About page in your own voice and explain the kinds of problems you care about.
Be warm and specific. Avoid manufactured similarity or flattering the reader to get agreement.
Limited availability can affect perceived value.
If your availability is actually limited, state a clear date or realistic project capacity.
Use only truthful limits. A student portfolio usually does not need a countdown or urgency message.
A shared sense of identity can shape how people respond.
Explain a real connection to the community a project serves and credit collaborators.
Invite belonging without excluding outsiders or claiming identities you do not hold.
TRY IT / REWRITE YOUR PROJECT INTRO
“I’m an innovative designer who creates amazing experiences.”
“I redesigned a campus event finder after interviewing five students. Here are the navigation problems they identified and how my prototype addresses them.”
Use your real research numbers, explain limitations, and link to the work. Ask a peer which version helps them assess your contribution.