I find that engaging with people as entities with rich inner lives that I can learn from no matter their appearance or background is a great trick for manipulating them into liking me. It’s crazy, 1-2 simple questions about their lives and then responding to their answers in good faith, and they’re eating out of the palm of my hand! Crazy hack, highly recommend.

Also smiling. Oh, and remembering people’s names. Those too.

Edit: Oh, and try not to smell. That’s one people struggle with for some reason.

Rhetoric. It’s the study of persuasion, and I study it as a hobby.

You know what’s not persuasive (on its own)? The truth. You should never ever expect people to believe the truth just because it is.

I think this is what you’re looking for.