How to make girls named “Courtney” sound legit interesting
I recently read a NY Times article about stand-up comedian Taylor Tomlinson that captured probably the single most effective thing you can do to ask better questions.
The article showed clips of Tomlinson on tour refining the closing bit in her latest special, “Have it All.”
The changes were subtle.
Like swapping "my friend" with "Courtney.”
Yet each one added a key detail that helped her audience visualize and believe her story.
Details improve survey questions in the same way.
The more vivid the question, the more genuine the response.
The goal is to spark an 'a-ha' moment but without the laughter.
By the way, I don’t think Tomlinson is funny. Her shtick – which I’d summarize as “insecure, self-deprecating, single” – isn't exactly original. I’d take Chappelle or Norm MacDonald over her in a heartbeat.
Yet while I read that article, I noticed that what she was adding to her closing bit was exactly what I add when I roast a survey:
Detail.
I’m no English-major but the guideline to use “specific, definite, concrete language” is one of the best rules to follow when you’re designing a survey.
If you are designing a survey – or planning to at any point this summer – consider booking a Roast.
I’ll help you find specific, definite, concrete language…
Language that gets people to respond like Tomlinson’s audience her in special.
Book today.
https://www.sammcnerney.com/45-dollar-survey-roast
I’d love to help.
Cheers,
Sam
P.S: Here are some of the other tips I provide in any given Roast:
* The controversial research secret that could get me blacklisted from Nielsen, Kantar, or any of the “big guys”—and save you thousands in respondent fees.
* The brilliant Dale Carnegie sales tactic that makes presenting survey data feel less like a Noam Chomsky lecture and more like Ogilvy’s Rory Sutherland TED Talk.
* The direct-mail technique that 1930s research legend Henry Weaver used to convince over a million car owners to take his surveys for free.
And more.
You’ll also get to see my intro “pump up” video that I put at the beginning of every Roast. It’s been described as “one of the best things I’ve seen on the Internet since the 90s” by a recent customer.