Most websites look the same
Their job is not to inform you, they're fine-tuned machines guiding you to enter your credit card details.
The urgency and pressure? Not signs of excitement! Just conversion optimization pushing you towards their CTA.
Let's dig deeper?
Personal Note
Marketers say I'm doing it wrong, this site breaks all the rules.
Good! Those rules Hooked me for years - games, videos, social feeds, porn, gambling, doomscrolling news. Ruined my sleep, physical and mental health, relationships.
I'm not anti-tech. I'm quite fond of my gadgets actually! I'm just anti-ad-driven-manipulative-design and against our attention being sold for pennies. and against our attention being sold for pennies.
You're not broken. Your brain's been hacked. Let's get it back by taming your phone
"Sooo ... what do you want me to buy?"
Good instinct! Always be skeptical! You've now become a Level 1 gadgetTamer..
Every page funnels to the CTA (Call To Action). Order. Buy. Subscribe. Book. Become a gadgetTamer. Sign up. Send inquiry. Just one attention grabbing coloful button with a single goal. (Yeah, I broke that rule too) (Yeah, I broke that rule too)
Not ready yet?
Just scroll down to learn more about me, gadgetTaming and the tricks used against you.
Just scroll down to learn more about me, gadgetTaming and the tricks used against you.
Who am I?
I am a techie who got wrecked by tech
Tech's been my passion, career, hobby ... and my toxic coping mechanism. I blamed myself for being weak and lacking discipline. Turns out it wasn't me - it was the design.
I am a paradox
I love tech, yet hate what it does. But flip phones? Nah, I'm not going back to stone age.
I am a mad scientist/guinea pig combo
I spent 10+ years testing hundreds of apps, hacks and methods to make the modern tech behave.
I am passionate about people, education, tech and mental health. Combining these I train people on how to tame their technology. Therefore:
I am a gadgetTamer
I am a gadgetTamer.
Oh, the name's Kert Kivaste.
And a professional headshot supposedly adds credibility, so here it is:
gadgetTamer 7 Pillars 7 Pillars:
Just like you can design your physical environment to nudge you to eat healtier () and move more (), you can design your digital environment to nudge you to use technology in a healthier way.
- Understand the design (goals and principles)
- Measure and notice the usage, decide on your rules
- Remove triggers
- Design your digital environment by adding friction
- Eliminate slip-ups: adjust access
- Curate your info diet: who, when, and how should reach you?
- What's the replacement: remove friction from your goals
Free* materials
*Price: your email and attention. Can't convert you now? We'll try again tomorrow through your inbox.
Except here. No email. No asterisk. Just keep scrolling for your free materials ;)
Choose A or B
Holy grail of Silicon Valley
Fill each blank slot with the correct stage of the Hooked model. Tap a slot to see the options, then pick the description that fits. Black indicates correct stage. Fill all in to open up the video.
Select the stage
Video explainer
Video placeholder
Cookies - sweet or clingy?
Your barista remembers your latte and your name. Sweet!
First-party cookies do that - login, preferences, did you see A or B, and that shopping cart you abandoned.
Guy in a van? Different vibe.
Third-party cookies follow you everywhere, log everything, report to advertisers. That abandoned cart haunting every page? That's them.
Data > Oil
Stats
- Device: —
- Got here: directly
- Time on site: 00:00
- Pop-up: not seen
Clicks
- None yet
Spooky? Sum everything up and multiply by 100,000,000 users = beyond spooky!
Persuasion tricks in plain sight
| Element | Goal | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Progress bar | Keep you moving | Sunk cost fallacy |
| $99 or $97 not $100 | Looks cheaper | Brain remembers first number |
| Total value $469 => $97 | Anchor high, discount hard | Feels like a steal |
| Money-back guarantee | Kill risk | (You won't refund anyway) |
| Testimonials | Prove it works | Herd mentality |
| FAQ | Preempt objections | Smooth to "yes" |
| Just 2 left | Panic buy | FOMO kicks in |
| Timer | Decide now | Urgency shorts logic |
Which tricks have you fallen for?
It's hopeless!
These methods are too powerful. You have no chance against them. Just give up!
Almost level 2 gadgetTamer
Any of these will get you there and beyond. This is either the end of the road or the beginning of something new - your choice.
If you think this site is cool ... well you gotta fight fire with fire.
I don't think you can prove me wrong...