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Goldfish Attention Span – Engaging And Keeping Your Audience

Posted on 17. Sep, 2009 by David Y in Writing

Fact: A goldfish attention span is five seconds.

Question: How do you keep the attention of your audience?

Whether you’re a freelancer or work a 9 to 5 it is important to not only properly engage your audience but to also make sure you keep their attention focused on you.

This post is an excerpt of sorts for a book I’m writing.. focusing on how to not only engage a potential client or contact but to keep their attention focused on you as well as persuade and close them on your idea.

Each and everyday we have to sell something from ideas to services or goods, sales is a vital part of life along with design of course.

A great example of engaging and selling an idea in this case is a ferocious little kitty is below. Hope you also get a little chuckle out of it as well:

Ferocious attack kitten is available for adoption to any home willing to accept her.

This destructive kitty has been trained as a proud warrior and will fiercely defend your house, even against you. Well-trained since 6-weeks of age to attack anything in her presence or anything that moves, she will protect your family from evil things, including the following:

* insects

* other trained attack kittens

* babies

* toilet paper

* anything under a blanket

* unwanted house guests

* paper bags

* floor rugs

* Chuck Norris

* Feet.

Great with children (assuming you don’t like children).  She is house broken, but only because he wants to be. This attack cat has trained herself to seek out her food anywhere you hide and will attack you for your own food, great for those who travel extensively. Also trained to drink water out of toilet bowls and dishwater from items in the sink. Knows how to open some doors. She will find you wherever you hide.

She’s not spayed ( you should look into it..trust me, you wont want her to procreate). Has not been declawed, but you’ll figure that out really fast.

Understands and responds to a variety of vulgar and profane verbal commands. Has a very soft and furry belly, like a teddy bear – however she will bite your face if you try to touch it.

Willing to accept trades. Potential adopters must have experience with trained attack-kittens… please be ready to show scars.

For the love of God, someone please take this thing out of my house.

Notice how the writer of this ad focused on the strong points of this angry little kitten in a nice ordered list to make sure we the reader fully understand what this cat is about but i’m sure that alone won’t convince you to adopt the cat… on to the next point the writer of the ad also taps into a very crucial source.. sympathy. By making this move the point of everything written before is driven home and before you realize it your attention is solely focused on finding out more about the ferocious kitty.

Following this simple example of engaging and keeping your audience’s attention works wonders in just about every aspect of life..

What are some methods you’ve found useful for capturing your audience’s attention?

(thumbnail and post picture by Piez and úlfhams_víkingur)

Tags: Books, Design, freelancing, Writing, writing tips