In today’s media-saturated environment, attention is hard to find. You may be selling information, goods or your ideas, it all needs attention. So how can you capture someone’s interest?

When you can do the ordinary things in life in an unusual way, you will attract the attention of the world. -George Washington Carver

1) Tell stories: The best way to keep attention is to tell stories. One has to stimulate creative ideas or innovation and stick with it by keeping the focus with a powerful story. The younger generation believes in being activated by actions that allow the brain to focus on one thing and thus maintain Attention. For example, when playing a video game, one is glued to the screen for endless minutes or hours playing without being distracted. These games continuously trigger orientation feedback, keeping the user’s attention glued to the screen. Through Storytelling, you can immediately connect with people by including them in the story and, consequently, have the power to convince with your message. Use your emotions and make it personal.

“The most basic way to get someone’s attention is this: break a pattern.” -ChipHeath

2) Quality Content: Another method to attract attention is through Content. “Content is King.” Post only useful and good quality content. A useful benefit should be associated with a good read and the use of your content should be beneficial to the reader. Focus on quality and keep in mind the target audience for which the content is prepared. If the content expands on an unrelated topic, attention is diverted, so keep your audience in mind. As much as possible, include current events or news that are helpful to the reader and follow the old KISS principle “Keep It Simple, Stupid.” The content should be delivered directly in an easy to understand format instead of using fancy words. A confused mind does not pay attention.

3) Make Others Turn Around: If someone fires a gun, you’re likely to turn around, or if a woman walking by is wearing red, you’re more likely to be picked up. Likewise, find ways to play on people’s instincts to get attention. Not necessarily yelling, but maybe treating your customers to hot coffee could help them notice.

4) Mystery: Have you ever wondered why we can’t stop reading a good book or stop watching a fascinating movie? Our memory is fine-tuned to recall incomplete stories, and we don’t like uncertainty either. So we try to reduce it by any means possible, and you can use this to your advantage. For example, tell a client or give yourself a task that you will complete it, only when he does. This compulsion to complete will annoy him and you have that attention.

5) Reward: Rewards that we can touch, experience, or even visualize have a greater impact on our attention. For example, if the incentive is a party, instead of saying so, if you could send photos of the delicious food and atmosphere, it would instantly grab attention.

6) Disruption: People often tend to pay attention when expectations are violated. The more disruptive a thing is, the more interesting it becomes. Do the unexpected or surprise them. For example, beating a deadline that is too difficult, calling a friend or colleague for a walk instead of having coffee, etc.

7): People consistently rate experts as being more trustworthy than any celebrity. It is believed that if an expert gives advice, then the person listening blindly follows because the brain slows down in making decisions and makes you feel that the expert is always right. Then, the credentials, your experience in the field and your reference in terms of knowledge on the subject at hand, are absorbed with undivided attention.

8) Repetition: If you really believe in getting a message across, try repeating it. Exposing subjects to the same statement can cause them to believe it.
It is a common phenomenon that children remember things that are repeated frequently, so also adults are more likely to see something or an advertisement that is repeated over and over again.

9) Recognition: Create a feeling that you care about them and this feeling will capture their interest and they will reward you. All mammals need attention, but humans are the only ones that need recognition. So give them the feeling of belonging to a community that cares about them and you will surely get that much desired attention.