Keeping your atten
Is this blog I hope to explain the challenge we have with our audiences attention span.
Most people have at least a smart phone today, maybe you have a tablet as well? And maybe a laptop or desktop computer too? There is every chance you have a TV at home as well, maybe a radio? In many cases people have all of these and lots of them.
Each of these devices are all trying to get your attention when using them, Adverts everywhere, inbox's getting stuffed and notifications going crazy left right and centre across many many social accounts.
Our brains are exposed to 10 x the amount of promotional content and media fighting for our attention than 10 years ago, its non stop.
Its no wonder we feel so exhausted by the time we put the phone down and lay down to sleep. (we all do it) The worst thing is that it is also the first thing we pick up again the next day.
So with so many messages being thrown at us each and every day, is it any wonder we struggle to focus on anything?
This is one of the biggest reasons for not putting a Twitter or Facebook  widget on your website. Why on earth would you want to entice your visitor to go to see you on someone else's platform where they are going to see 100 other things to get their attention? Big mistake.
Notifications are little dopamine hits in your brain that keep you hooked. FOMO (fear of missing out) is driving people crazy and keeping people on social media sites for more hours than they intended.
If I have not lost you already I am pleased, i imagine some people are off removing Facebook and Twitter widgets from your site I hope while others saw a notification on their mobile therefore gone!
It is the same challenge for all of us and this blog is just to give you that awareness that all of our readers are sacred each and everyone and we are competing not so much with our direct competitors but anything that is more interesting that what we are talking about.
There is simply not enough hours in the day anymore for many people. With so much to look at, watch and read there is a need to filter where you spend your time and a need to create better content that will keep peoples attention for longer.
So thank you if you have read this far, i honestly appreciate your time and attention. I am trying to be the best teacher I can and I don't ask for anything other than your attention which i completely understand is  very valuable.
So please think about this when creating any content of any kind is it going to stand out against the kardashians and what ever they are up to or the latest video of a cat doing something cute, because that is what your up against.
One final thought, in 2007 we had an attention span of about 17 seconds on average and a goldfish had 10 seconds - today we have around just 8 seconds. Frighting thought.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Author- Speaker - Consultant. Passionate about all things digital.