Priming is the mechanism by which exposure to one thing changes your reaction to the next thing, usually without conscious awareness. Show someone the word "nurse" and they'll recognize "doctor" faster. Show someone images of luxury before presenting a price, and they'll evaluate that price differently than if you'd shown images of thrift. This happens automatically, and it happens on every section of your landing page.
Every element on your page primes the interpretation of the next element. A section about security concerns primes visitors to value your security features. A section showcasing impressive client logos primes visitors to view your pricing as justified. A section full of anxious, problem-focused language primes visitors to feel urgency. The order of your page sections isn't just about logical flow — it's about emotional priming.
Priming sequences that work
The most effective landing page sequence I've observed: problem agitation (prime the pain) → solution introduction (prime the relief) → social proof (prime the trust) → pricing (the decision). Each section emotionally prepares the visitor for the next. Moving pricing before social proof, or skipping problem agitation entirely, breaks the priming chain.
Images are especially powerful primes. Happy, successful people prime positive outcome associations. Screenshots of your product prime functional expectations. Color choices prime emotional states — blue primes trust, green primes growth, red primes urgency. These aren't decorative choices. They're priming decisions that affect conversion.