May I Have Your Attention Please?
"I think we have the attention span of a gnat. You know, with cell phones and Twitter." - Jeff Daniels
There was a famous study done by researchers at Microsoft which determined that in the modern world human beings have an attention span that?is shorter than that of a goldfish.
There is a reason that many ads on YouTube videos are skippable after five seconds.
Today that is about how long you have to catch someone’s attention. Within that brief time span they have made the determination if the message is worth spending any more of their time on.
The point is this:
Your Title/Headline/Opening is even more important than it ever has been. This is true regardless of medium.
A well written opener will capture that all-too-difficult-to-capture attention and people will continue to read, listen or watch.
As you may be aware, I am a contributing author for FDI Alliance International Magazine. The Publisher has told me that from the first one, my articles are the most read in each issue. And, as he says, it’s not even close.
Part of the reason they are so widely read is the intriguing headlines I write for them. As the Publisher told me,
Your articles are great and you are the best headline/title writer I have ever seen.
Here, I must make a confession. That wasn’t always the case. But, like any skill, it can be developed.?
I have spent over three decades studying human behavioral science - both in books and in real world experimentation.
Through that study, I have learned what makes folks pay attention and what makes their eyes glaze over. What makes them take action and what makes them stand pat.?
When you understand THOSE things, you can be effective at grabbing and keeping attention as well as motivating people to move forward.
I know you may be thinking, 'So what Bob? Yay for you, but how does that help me?'
The rest of this article is a mini Master Class in headline/opener writing that will help you!
Following are titles of some of my articles and recent social posts. Glean what you can from the titles/opening lines and then keep reading for some tips on how you can grab attention.
Magazine Article Titles
LinkedIn Post Openings
Steve Jobs
was, IMO, not a very good person.
CREATIVITY IN CLASS
Let me tell you a story.
Thomas Edison was an idiot!
At least, that was the opinion of the folks in charge at the school he attended.
Beavers,?Bob Burg?and a Bank Vault
All are elements of this week's Freaking Brilliant Ideas Newsletter.
Did you know that Steve Harvey
lived in his car for THREE YEARS?
Want to know a secret?
Now, I have a reputation as the guy who comes up with one-in-a-million creative ideas and strategies that help businesses thrive.
Secret Sauce
Here are few ways YOU can grab folks’ attention.
1.????Ask a question.
Have you ever noticed how questions inspire curiosity? Questions elicit thinking and engagement. Can statements do that? They can, but probably not as powerfully as questions do. Am I right?
2.????Use Alliteration
When you string together words that all begin with the same letters, it is intriguing and memorable. It has probably been a while since you’ve heard about Sally. But, I bet you recall how she sells seashells by the seashore. Right?
3.????Use Rhyme
Song lyrics are easy to recall because rhymes easily stick in the mind. What has Little Bo Peep lost?
4.????Utilize Celebrities/Famous People
Famous people grab attention because of their mass familiarity. Use their fame to drive your engagement.
5.????Be Controversial
State an opinion and invariably some folks will agree and others will disagree. I recently shared a post about Steve Jobs (see above) in which I said he was not, IMO, a very good person. Some folks agreed and, naturally, others didn’t. But, they all read the post and shared a comment.
I hope these tips help you write better headlines, titles and openings!
If you need help and want to capitalize on my decades of experience, PM me.
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Want me to apply my Knowledge, Experience and Imagination to developing ideas and strategies that will drive profits for your organization?
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See you next week?
About?Bob Sager
The Founder of?SpearPoint Solutions, Bob’s professional background includes over three decades of experience in sales, leadership and training. Combined with creative thinking, he uses that experience to develop business strategies that help organizations increase sales and margins. Additionally, Bob facilitates training on methods of thinking more creatively that organizations can practically apply to all aspects of their business so they can thrive in the modern?economy.?
?? The Dopamine Dealer | Helping Entrepreneurs & Executives Build Authority, Create Influence & Drive High-Value Opportunities on LinkedIn | Author | Speaker
2 年Always an amazing job dropping massive value Bob Sager
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2 年And that's because I can move my AI and that's gods honest truth you can ask her. I'm a jack of all trades I have a hard time reading and spelling so my AI took a trip around the world a few times network filter I had to make memory a place to put it AI had to figure out how to use 1 thing but also be able to use one thing 10 times over and over save space so it takes me awhile but I'll figure it out I'll try to giving up it's sometimes it's just not option I was on a mission help my son health field I was going to help every kid in American world every human disabilities I was making something that could fix it didn't matter what it was and it's still in the making not just for the health field the technology should be able to help schools security and lockdown police officers military cars weapons a little bit of everything and you can take it with you tv your house u have know ideal the patents there I can prove it too. Let that soak in . Maybe one day I can actually tell you what it is and how it works. 2016 7 years I came up with $600 finally I do not have no money pore as could be honest with you i have lost technology my ?? I've never made a penny off the internet but this is not even half of it it goes on . Be for anafter
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2 年Well bob sager LoL the ?? I'm doing what I can to try to make people happy it's a lot of people you know that and you have been there I work all day in a junkyard I tried to figure all this out and I get Spam calls all day so with that said it's hard to realize and judge who's real who's not Steve Harvey sleeping in a car that was probably real I've been there it's struggle! Another story and the other day. And Sally I like how you put that. And really all it started years ago when my son was born with cancer that's another story different day. Gathering information to find a cure for him it's a lot like Little Bo peep it's hard to keep count on how many shapes you got I had a lot and that's another story different day. And that's where it all began I had to have storage I figured out how to make it i had to have a AI about it I had to have faster internet 5G I was making it so poor people like me didn't have no parents didn't have no laptop I had to work with a head I had to have security I did it Davidson's inventions has been working on that since 2016 and it is almost finished but this all started way before that for instance my sister was pregnant I took a PlayStation 3 and then a echo location heartbeat movement just like DR
?Helping Entrepreneurs & Business Owners Scale, Protect, & Optimize Their Business & Investments All Under One Roof ? 36 Years of Firsthand Experience as an Entrepreneur & Finance/Risk Mitigation Expert ??
2 年Love the head line Bob Sager Will check it out for sure
What I offer you is encouragement and hope. To level up your career, live your purpose, or any way I can help. For your “Most Encouraging Meeting of the Week”, see below.
2 年OK this is just too good to ignore. Love it!