Don't worry, though. There's still time to get your front-row seat because the show is ongoing -- and you don't even have to pay admission.

Just head over to Amazon.com and create a free account. That way you can get an up-close look at how an online marketing machine is crushing the competition this shopping season.

According to Experian Hitwise, Amazon.com was the most visited retail website on Black Friday (for the second year in a row), with 13.55% of top retail traffic in the United States. The only other company with comparable numbers was Wal-Mart, with 11.18% of top retail traffic.

Even if you don't run a retail operation, you can learn a lot from watching Amazon.com's approach for pulling in prospects and creating customers. From the copy and design to the buy buttons and ordering process, Amazon.com is a finely tuned promotional vehicle.

Although I'm a long-time customer, I only recently started paying attention to how effectively Amazon.com's marketing team uses "weapons of influence" -- a term coined by renowned social psychologist Robert Cialdini to describe the psychological principles that influence our tendencies to comply with a request.

I've mentioned Cialdini several times in previous articles because of his outstanding insight into human behavior. If you want a thorough analysis of his "weapons" and how you can use them in your marketing efforts, then I urge you to grab a copy of his bestseller, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion.

Below is a brief explanation of Cialdini's six psychological principles. When you apply these to your marketing efforts, you can shorten the time it takes your prospects to say "yes" to your offers.

Weapon #1: Reciprocation. We try to repay, in kind, what another person has provided us. So focus on delivering value to your prospects before worrying about pitching your product or service.

Weapon #2: Commitment and Consistency. When we commit -- orally or in writing -- to an idea or goal, we are more likely to keep that commitment. So encourage your prospects to communicate with you and get involved with your marketing efforts.

Weapon #3: Social Proof. We often act in a similar manner to people we view as being like us. So make sure your prospects see what your customers say about your product or service.

Weapon #4: Liking. We're easily persuaded by people we like. So let your personality come out in your marketing materials.

Weapon #5: Authority. We obey people we view as having authority, even when they perform questionable acts. So show your prospects why you're a credible source who can be trusted.

Weapon #6: Scarcity. We view opportunities as being more valuable when their availability is limited. So give your prospects legitimate reasons to respond to your offers quickly.

Please feel free to share this e-mail with the people in your network.

Sincerely,

Tom Trush

Get more free articles, videos and expert interviews at http://www.writewaysolutions.com/blog. Also, if you have a copywriting or marketing question you need answered, just click reply and your message will come directly to my personal inbox.

P.S. On Sunday, Dec. 13, I'll be sharing several copywriting/marketing tips on What's Hot with Molly, Kelly, and Caitlin, a weekly radio show on 55KRC in Cincinnati, Ohio. As soon as the details are finalized, I'll let you know how you can listen to the broadcast.