Tactic 41 of 99
The Salted Jar
Put a few coins in the jar and the crowd fills it.
What it is
Bartenders and buskers have long “salted” their tip jars with a few bills of their own. An empty jar says “nobody tips here.” A full one says “everyone does.” It’s social proof you create yourself, before anyone shows up.
Spot it
Instant popularity on launch day. Suspicious bursts of reviews all on the same date. A line that seems to appear from nowhere, with no one leaving.
Counter it
Look at what happens over time, not on day one. Read the middle reviews, not the first ten. A salted jar tells you someone wanted it to look full.