In marketing, there exists a fine line between influencing decisions and crossing into manipulation. The difference? One builds trust while the other erodes it.

Host James Lawrence chats with Dan Monheit, Chief CX Thinker at Thinkerbell and former CEO of creative behavioural science agency HardHat, about applying behavioural science principles like default bias and anchoring to your marketing, related ethical considerations and how to draw the line between persuasion and manipulation.

• Dan’s journey - starting Hardhat and his interest in behavioural science
• Introduction to behavioural science and it’s connection to marketing
• What are some common behavioural biases you see everyday?

-Default bias

-Framing

-Anchoring

-Loss aversion

-Effort bias

• Ethics in persuasion vs manipulation
• Navigating dark patterns
• How context impacts perception and shapes biases
• Essential behavioural science resources for marketers

Dan Monheit is a leader in creative behavioural science. In 2005, he founded Hardhat, a pioneering agency that worked with top brands like Mattel, Bega Dairy, the Victorian Government, Kogan, DocuSign and Afterpay. Under his direction, Hardhat became a go-to agency for brands looking to understand and influence consumer behaviour.

In October 2024, Hardhat was acquired by Thinkerbell, where Dan now serves as Chief CX Thinker, applying his expertise to elevate customer experiences through a blend of creativity and behavioural insights.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.

Rocket Agency’s top experts and Host James Lawrence discuss what will work in digital marketing in 2025 and how to set yourself up for success with the latest on SEO, digital and creative.

• How to navigate AI Overviews and the impact on paid search and SEO
• Will ChatGPT replace search engines?
• How to adapt SEO practices to align with AI-driven algorithms in 2025
• How digital marketing roles will remain relevant as we enter the age of AI
• How to improve the impact of digital ad creative
• The relevance of low-fidelity video content in B2B and its potential in 2025
• Interesting strategies that delivered exceptional results in 2024, and how to advocate for them
• How to balance investment between brand-building and performance activities
• How to maintain creativity across campaigns when constrained by budgets and deadlines
• How often should ad creative be updated to optimise conversions?
• The most impactful SEO initiative to prioritise in 2025
• How to structure and optimise content for SGE’s conversational search approach
• How Google Ads will evolve in 2025 and whether TikTok is a viable platform for B2B
• Changes to expect on Meta platforms this year

Joe Alder is an award-winning SEO expert and has driven organic growth for global brands like Amazon, Coca-Cola, ANZ and Dulux through innovative strategies and data-driven insights. With over 20 industry award nominations, Joe is recognised as a leader in the field. You can follow Joe on LinkedIn.

Samantha Dodson heads Rocket’s creative wing and brings a wealth of experience, having excelled in both B2B and B2C landscapes for brands including LinkedIn, Adobe, Microsoft and Salesforce, as well as Telstra, WWF, Coca-Cola and KFC. Previously she was the creative lead at BlueMelon and has worked at Ogilvy and DDB. You can follow Sam on LinkedIn.

Mariano Di Lascio leads a team of outstanding marketers at Rocket Agency across paid search and paid social channels. Together with the team, he has won some outstanding awards for client campaigns, including Best Integrated Campaign at APAC Search Awards, Best Integration of Search into Cross-Channel Marketing at Search Engine Land Awards and Best Integrated Campaign at Semrush Awards. You can follow Mariano on LinkedIn.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful...

Building your personal brand as a marketer is crucial for career advancement, establishing credibility, obtaining salary increases and creating professional opportunities. This week, James interviews Fleur Brown, celebrated author of ‘The Business of Being YOU: Personal Brand Secrets of CEOs and Celebrities’. Fleur shares why you should be building your personal brand reputation and practical tips for marketing yourself within a competitive industry.

• The importance of marketing yourself to stand out from the crowd
• What does ‘building your personal brand’ really mean?
• Picking three elements to curate your personal brand
• Using your LinkedIn profile effectively to establish yourself in your company and industry
• The value in transparency and being upfront about your intentions
• Creating your own short bio and headshot for distribution
• How to get speaking opportunities

Fleur Brown is a creative entrepreneur who has helped build the profiles of some of the world's most innovative media, technology and entertainment brands, thought leaders and entrepreneurs. Fleur is passionate about helping individuals establish and grow their personal profile and this website is dedicated to that focus. Formerly, Fleur was the Co-Founder and CEO of award-winning PR Agency, Launch Group, the Founder and Executive Producer of the ENTREPRENEURS TV Show on Sky Business News and a Co-Founder of TEDxSydney - one of the world's largest innovation festivals.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.