Richard was voted best agency speaker 2019 at the Aura awards.
See some of his talks in the videos below.
Richard regularly speaks at industry events in the UK and abroad.
He has spoken at the Festival of Marketing (UK), Advertising Week (UK), Cannes (France), DMX (Dublin), Brand Week (Turkey), ESOMAR Congress (Netherlands), Rulezz (Slovakia), Star Flow (India) and Focus Partners (US).
He’s happy delivering anything from keynote speeches to panel discussions.
Richard's talks are on the broad theme of applying behavioural science to business and marketing. Topics include:
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE FOR BETTER MARKETING
Anyone who works in marketing is in the business of changing minds. How can you do that without understanding what drives decisions? In this session, Richard introduces behavioural science applied to marketing, using a simple framework to make sense of academic findings. He explores the classic experiments that reveal how people really make decisions, alongside lesser-known findings and some new research that will give you the edge. Most importantly, he brings it all back to marketing: every insight is translated into usable ideas for your specific challenges. You’ll leave with a host of new ideas for creative approaches to your brief and an understanding of why these ideas will work.
THE BEHAVIOUR CHANGE PLAYBOOK FOR PHARMA
We like to think that when it comes to health decisions, rationality prevails: doctors follow evidence, patients follow advice. But in reality, they don’t – even life-changing medical decisions are shaped by unconscious, predictable behavioural biases. This session explores what behavioural science can tell us about how doctors and patients really make decisions, and what that means for your pharmaceutical marketing. Using a straightforward framework, Richard describes classic experiments as well as the latest research on medical behaviour. He covers everything from how social proof shapes prescribing behaviour and why fear-based messaging can backfire, to the surprising role that timing plays in habit change. If understanding what drives decision-making isn't already central to your pharma strategy, it will be after this.
THE BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE OF PRICING AND PROMOTIONS
Making your brand feel worth the price is crucial in today's climate. And behavioural science offers a way to do just that. Too often, pricing tactics assume people behave like rational accountants – carefully calculating costs and benefits. But we don’t. Instead, we rely on shortcuts and biases we’re not even aware of. In this session, Richard explores the hidden drivers behind consumer decisions and how you can use these to set and communicate prices more effectively. He brings the ideas to life with plenty of real-world examples, so you can see how they work in practice, not just in theory. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what shapes perceptions of value, plus simple, practical ways to apply those insights.
USING BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE TO ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABILITY
We know people care about the planet – most of us want to make more sustainable choices. But good intentions don’t always turn into action. So how do you bridge the gap between what people say they care about and what they actually do? In this session, Richard explores how behavioural science can help. Using a simple framework, he’ll look at research that uncovers what shapes sustainable choices – from recycling, to choosing plant-based options, to reducing energy usage. He brings theory to life with real-world examples from both consumer and organisational contexts, showing what works in practice. You’ll end up questioning some of the assumptions behind traditional methods for driving sustainable behaviour, and equipped with a sense of what actually works.
AMPLIFY YOUR AI WITH BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE
Having AI tools is one thing – using them well is another. Here’s where behavioural science can help. Drawing on the latest research, this session explores how behavioural science can help make AI more effective. Richard looks at topics like how to drive adoption, use AI more effectively in your marketing, and avoid common pitfalls. Along the way, he’ll emphasise the simple and practical implications for you, so you can see how to apply these ideas directly to your own work. You’ll leave with knowledge of how to improve both the adoption and the effectiveness of AI, and how to make it a genuinely useful part of your marketing.
16.00 - Richard Shotton_
8 Fascinating Psychological Biases - Richard Shotton
Richard Shotton | Does Brand Purpose Have a Point? | APG Noisy Thinking
We love working with Rich for WARC’s events. When he presents, we know we’re guaranteed three things – 1) a fascinating set of insights, 2) evidence and examples to back up all the theory and, 3) a crowd in raptures to hear what he says next!
IMAAD AHMED
HEAD OF MARKETING, EMEA AT WARC
Richard is everything you need from a conference speaker - thought-provoking, sparky and useful. Taking part in a debate at the Festival of Marketing last year, Richard delivered a case against brand purpose that was well argued, robust and sent those watching away with plenty to think about.
RUSSELL PARSONS
EDITOR, MARKETING WEEK
If you'd like Richard to speak at your conference or company event, please contact him at richard@astroten.co.uk