One of my favorite parts of writing a blog post is coming up with the title. I’ve even resorted to clickbait once or twice…
But I have to give credit where credit is due. Tonight’s title comes directly from Dan Ariely’s column in today’s Wall Street Journal.
Here is the letter Dan received:
I volunteer for a local conservation organization, and I’m trying to round up people to help with a weekend afternoon cleanup of a popular hiking trail. In the past it’s been hard to enlist volunteers. What can I do to get more people to help out? —Zarak
Here is Dan’s response:
You might consider asking people for a “maybe favor.” A maybe favor is a request for a commitment that might not actually have to be carried out. In your case, you could call for volunteers while making clear the possibility that the clean-up will be cancelled in the event of rain.
Recent research suggests that adding a “maybe” to a request for a favor increases people’s willingness to help. When subjects were asked if they would be willing to donate their earnings from participating in the study, 53% agreed. A different group was asked the same question but told that 5% of those who agreed would have their donations randomly cancelled. Under this condition, 66% chose to donate, which increased the total value of the donations even after eliminating the 5%.
One possible explanation for the increased willingness to donate is that we value the “warm glow” we get from agreeing to help. If we think that there is some probability that we will not be asked to do the favor, the warm glow remains, while the cost of doing the good deed is potentially mitigated.
It’s an interesting concept, and I like the term “maybe favor”.
So I figured I’d give it a shot.
As I’ve written about before, Saturdays are my worst day for blog stats. So while it’s too late to do much about today’s stats, I would like to ask a favor of anyone reading this post.
For next Saturday’s post, could you like it whether you really like it or not? There is a chance that I won’t post a blog next Saturday, in which case you would be off the hook.
Thank you in advance. Maybe next week won’t be Another Saturday Night…
Will I like next Saturday’s post? Maybe.
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sounds like a question you would ask the magic 8 ball. and the odds are slim…
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😁
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This could be related to the “when hell freezes over” favor. That’s when you promise to do something when hell freezes over. And who knows, maybe it will.
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hell will freeze over when hell freezes over…
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I think when parents tell their children “maybe” to a question, that is usually code for, “No, and maybe you’ll forget that I put you off before with my maybe.”
What’s your theory on why Saturday posts aren’t as popular? I would guess more people are out and about and devote less time to quieter activities like blogging.
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I know I’ve used that code.
you may be right about the Saturday thing, or people simply need a break from blather…
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I am sorry I will not be able to read or like your post next Saturday as I may be making food and toy deliveries to local orphanages.
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where’s your priorities?
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Unfortunately my priorities were on a list in the wallet I lost a few weeks ago.
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well assuming reading my blog was on your list of priorities, I’ll be on the lookout for any suspicious new followers…
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Your regular readers won’t be fooled. We know there is zero chance Borden;s Blather will not have a post next Saturday. I will promise to like it even though I’m on the hook.
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thank you in advance… 🙂
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Great advice.
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Haha, some great answers to maybe favour…Methinks you will be posting the chances of me reading it on Saturday is maybe but it could be read on Sunday.(like) today but then that mucks Saturdays stats up and improves Sundays…I’ll quit while I am ahead …:) X
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maybe I should post earlier on Saturday, but then that will muck up my Sunday stats. there’s no way around it, I guess people steer clear of blather on the weekends… 🙂
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I think you maybe right Jim and sorry to muck up your Saturday stats but perhaps that is because of the time zone difference, Maybe if you ask people to set their alarms in Europe for 230am then they maybe could like your post on Saturday instead of Sunday…xx
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or I could post earlier on Saturday, but then what would that do to my Sunday stats? 🙂
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True…xx
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🤣😅😂
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I tell you what, if you do me a ‘favour’ next Saturday and post videos of Sam Cooke and Cat Stevens, which is what I was expecting from your title, then ‘maybe’ I’ll give the post a like….
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I’ve featured those guys before: https://jborden.com/2019/12/21/another-saturday-night/
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Ah, before our time. I rather liked the Jimmy Buffet version too – I hadn’t heard that one before 😊
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Jimmy sees to have a lot of fun at his concerts!
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He does! And Caroline Jones, who I’m a fan of and have featured, has opened his shows a lot. So much so that he co-wrote this one for her https://youtu.be/FgQcX8LKcIU
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that’s a great song. did you feaure that before, or share it with me? I’ve heard it before, but I don’t think I came upon it randomly…
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I’ve only featured Caroline once before, but not with this song, so I’m guessing I either shared the link with you or pointed you in its direction. She’s currently on tour with the Zac Brown Band, making a name for herself.
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and you knew her before she hit the big time!
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She has a lot of support but it’s a very crowded market. Time will tell…
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it is a tough nut to crack…
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I like your request. But I personally suspect Sat stats are low because fewer peeps are reading blogs on Sat, in favor of social activities.
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that’s what I keep telling myself 🙂
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This piece of advice from Dan is really interesting. Human being really are funny with some of their thinking and behaviours, aren’t they?
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we are a quirky bunch…
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Hehe I accept your maybe favor!
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thanks, that’s all I could ask! 🙂
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sorry, I messed up your maybe favor timeline and didn’t answer until sunday. maybe next time I can time it right!
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the fault is all mine – the quality of my posts must decline on Saturdays 🙂
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You can’t trick me, old man! I am going to like next SaTurday’s post whether you write one or not. Hold on a second….maybe I have not thought this all the way through…
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I am good at confusing people 🙂
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If there is no Saturday post, I will certainly miss the afterglow I discover after reading. For me, Saturday has been my best day of the week, but then I sneak in an extra post on trivia.
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I guess you are stealing all my viewers on Saturday!
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The human mind can be so odd!
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it’s so easy to trick!
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