I’m an application developer by day with a full time job, currently tied up in a huge automotive lead management application that is being more of a pain in the bum than it needs to be. Actually right now I am on holiday with my wife for Christmas and new year in snowy Macedonia.

What really tickles my tastebuds in 2008 and will continue into 2009 is the psychology of selling on the internet including triggers that make people buy such as killer copywriting skills. I am working my way through another great book this week called Killer Web Content: Make the Sale, Deliver the Service, Build the Brand it’s has a 5/5 rating after 26 reviews that indicates quality reading material.

Today however I found a nice wiki that purely outlines books, the page that got me going is “predictably irrational“, this is just pure condensed fascinating material to get into with stuff such as “The Cost of Zero Cost – Why we often pay too much when we pay nothing” and “Keeping Doors Open – Why Options Distract Us from Our Main Objective“. I will probably go ahead and buy the book too so I can get the most out of it which is again available from Amazon; With a 4/5 rating after 160 reviews it has got to be worthwhile!. The book gives you answers to irrational things that you may unconciously do every day yourself such as;

• Why do our headaches persist after taking a one-cent aspirin but disappear when we take a 50-cent aspirin?
• Why does recalling the Ten Commandments reduce our tendency to lie, even when we couldn’t possibly be caught?
• Why do we splurge on a lavish meal but cut coupons to save twenty-five cents on a can of soup?
• Why do we go back for second helpings at the unlimited buffet, even when our stomachs are already full?
• And how did we ever start spending $4.15 on a cup of coffee when, just a few years ago, we used to pay less than a dollar?
• When it comes to making decisions in our lives, we think we’re in control. We think we’re making smart, rational choices. But are we?

Even if you don’t buy the book read the outline at the wiki and bookmark it, if you are also involved in selling online then you will find it a valuable reference to fall back on when trying to increase conversions.