There are many ways people try to sell things to you. However, here are some bad examples.
Sometimes, they use the hard sell. However, this method really sucks because no one likes being under duress or to feel like they're being forced to do something they don't want to. You don't believe me? Take for example the salesmen that knock on your door or telemarketers. Who gives a shit right?
Other times, they use campaigns. Anyone caught the ridiculously lame road courtesy ad recently? The one that goes something like "pass it on, pass it on". I can tell you no one is going to pass it on. If anything people are more likely to be passing on. Let me put it this way. If I'm a taxi driver and I need to earn as much money as possible in a short amount of time, there's no way I'm going to give way to you just so that you can cut into my lane and slow me down. So when no one wants to give way, something, or more unfortunately, someone gives. I cringe at that ad everytime I see that smiling taxi driver. It just doesn't happen ok?
Alternatively, they use advertisements. Recently they've been heavily promoting this certain "fan-tastic burger" that is supposed to be really fantastic. Unfortunately, they made a huge boo-boo in the casting of the ad. They used an auntie as the female lead. I'm not kidding. Go look at the auntie in yellow dancing, or rather, trying to dance along with the young guys around her. And she's not even auntie in a way that would appeal to heartlanders, like your friendly neighbourhood ah soh. She's looks more like a 30-ish ah lian trying to act like a 20 year old. What a turn-off.
Another way they use is the human touch. Just recently I encountered such an example. A short pudgy and balding middle-aged man tried to sell me insurance. What worse combination could you get? A short, pudgy, balding, middle-aged guy trying to sell insurance to an NSF. That's a whopping total of seven factors that work against the probability of a sale. I don't care how good your pitch is. I just don't want to know. Firstly, you aren't female. Secondly, I don't have enough cash for you to play around with. Thirdly, don't waste my bookout time you shitass.
Fark. Why am I wasting my time. You know how to convince people, or more specifically Singaporeans? What are Singaporeans best known for? Yes, kiasi and kiasu. If you want to convince Singaporeans, you must convince them that by not doing something they'll 1) die or be in deep shit, or 2) lose out to other people.
Singaporeans hate to get in trouble. We like to think that as long as nothing happens we are safe and happy. The government knows this very well. Which is why they put in fines and rules and whatever other random nonsense to make sure that no one disturbs the peace and if anyone does he or she is locked away or fined till kingdom come. It is working fine, but unfortunately this method will not work for the man on the street because he is nowhere as omnipotent as the government. So we shall leave it at that. Before you get any ideas I love the government k?
The other method would of course be to appeal to the kiasu-ness of Singaporeans. Here's an example. "Buy two get one free". You could use this on almost anything. Even when people only need one of an item, they will still buy two just to get that extra one, because its "just in case" and anyway, its free right?
Another example on that method. Put up a sign, banner or whatever that says "SALE!". You win. Its so foolproof its almost dumb that people don't use it all the time. Wait, some people do. I've seen this shop that has had a clearance sale for like 6 months already. Its still going strong. At this rate it might never need to clear out after all!