SUBSCRIBE
5 Attention Getters
November 6, 2008 by BloggerNewbie
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
5 Attention Getters
Readers on the internet tend to have a short attention span. Yeah, I know, can you believe it?
So you want to keep your reader’s attention? Think about your internet habits. How many times have you just skimmed through a webpage, only to move on to the next one as quickly as possible? You have more tasks in front of you then you can count. You don’t have time to linger.
Wait, you might linger though if your curiosity was peaked. If you have a reason to stay. How can you become intrigued?
I have a few hints to share, a few suggestions to possibly keep your readers interested a little longer.
Try these five attention getters:
1. Ask a question:
When you ask a question, you peak curiosity. People want to know if you are going to answer it, how you are going to answer it. Will you agree? Do you have your own opinion? Titles with a question are definite attention getters!
2. Share a Story
Once upon a time… People like stories. Especially stories that resonate with them. Stories that have a happy ending make you all warm and fuzzy inside. Interesting stories capture your attention to the end.
3. Catch Their Eye
What catches your eye when you first load a website? Pay attention the next time. I like graphics or text that has a little movement to it. Some think it is distracting and it can be but it does catch my eye. Sometimes I get the urge to stop what I’m doing and go see what all the movement is about. I usually return to where I started in the first place. This distraction could be good, could be bad. If your reader goes to the movement, if it leads to another place, there is a chance they might not come back.
Very large or colorful text also is an attention grabber. It is certainly something to notice. It creates importance.
4. Present an Analogy, Metaphor or Simile
I like analogies. I usually get a chuckle out of them. I had a good story for one of my daughters when she was a teenager. Always complaining about what she didn’t have, what she wanted, what she “wished” for. My unsympathetic response was – Do Something!
5. Shock Your Readers
List some shocking statistic, create some shocking story, show your shock over something unbelievable!
Try out these writing tips and turn your visitors into readers – get them hooked!
What do you do to “hook” your readers? How do you get them to come back? How do you get them to stay?
Toodles – Blog Happy!
“It is common sense to take a method and try it.
If it fails, admit it frankly and try another.
But above all, try something…”
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Popularity: 27% [?]
Other posts that might interest you..
i agree with you on this whole post. I usually do though!
Wow! This post reminds me of the time I was riding my bike down (insert amusing story here!)
I actually like all these ideas.. I’ve tried most or all of them at different times, and it’s a great reminder on how to structure an interesting post!
Cheers
Ross´s last blog post..The fragility of life: a wake up call
Good ideas. I’ve found that sharing a story works really well. When I started my blog, I rarely posted any personal information. My readers, however, seem to really respond to it so I’m doing it more frequently.
Hmmm … being controversial. I’m working on that one but I have a hard time not being nice online.
Kim Woodbridge´s last blog post..(Anti) Social-Lists 11/2/08
@ Danielle
I am glad to get your perspective on how I try to deliver ideas as you are a non-blogger and come at it from a very different view point. Sometimes it’s hardest to see from right in the middle!
@ Ross
Some of my posts are almost “notes to self” ideas. I am trying to structure my weekly routine and have been jotting down different angles and such then of course it turned into a post!
Have you ever tried anything radical?
@ Kim
Hello! We must be commenting at the same time! FYI-I really like the detailed step by step instruction you give on technical stuff as well. I always like “real life” stories too. I’m working on a “how to” right now but I’m afraid I’ll leave something out!
There are fewer personal barriers for me online. I’m more brave!
I suppose that the images on my blog is what captures the attention of all readers.
The other thing I’m playing around with now is having interesting paragraphs to hype up a supposedly normal task like the one in #5 of my latest blog entry 8 Killer Shortcuts A Blogger Should Master With Firefox.
Daniel Richard´s last blog post..8 Killer Shortcuts A Blogger Should Master With Firefox
a fishing rod and some worms.
well not quite. i use pictures, opening lines are very important, funny titles..anaologies,as mentioned. common ground.
Natural´s last blog post..Finger Clicking Good’gaud That Hurts!
@ Natural
he he he, I like pictures and graphics and you do a great job with them as well as your opening lines. You never know what you are going to get when you read one of your posts!
I always try to have an eye catching picture on every post or better yet a video that way they won’t bounce away too quickly.
Debo Hobo´s last blog post..Nothing to See Here- Go Vote!!!
@ Debo
Videos are a good way to keep people on your blog. I am just starting to play with videos in my sidebar. My plan is to try and change them each week at this point. Daily is too much for me right now and probably too often for visitors anyway. I would eventually like to correlate a theme between my weekly posts and weekly video. Big plans huh!?
@ Daniel
Sorry for the delay, your comment was in moderation. Must be the link?
Your graphics are definitely the eye catcher on your site. They are fascinating. I loved the banner type graphic you did for blog idol. That was great. I certainly don’t have that talent!
I like to hear about every body’s “attention getter” strategies! Keep them coming.
I find it hard to grab people’s attention on my Blog, the focus is more on teaching so most people scan untill they find what can be helpfull to them.
I try to lighten the mood and pull people back with my off topic, Funday Fridays Videos though, seems to work well
Webdesi3´s last blog post..HTML Tutorial: Forms
I threaten my readers with massive beatings if they don’t continue to come back.
Steven-Sanders´s last blog post..Stop Making Excuses For Yourself, Just Do It
@ Webdesigner
I know I look forward to your Funday Fridays! Hopefully, after the weekend people need my Monday Motivation to start their week! (CommentLuv is working!)
@ Steven
Yeah, THAT is a different way. I’m kinda busy with other ways so I probably won’t consider it! :}
Since my blog is so specific, I have a hard time grabbing readers and creating interesting content. Maybe I’m too new at this to truly know what the deal is. I reread my blogs and they seem rather dry. I don’t know how to spice it and grab relevant traffic. I guess more practice and time will tell!
I try to use #1 whenever I can.
Hello Carla – welcome to our discussion. Yeah, like Webdesigner says, her blog is a teaching blog and she finds it difficult to grab attention also. I think questions are great for both of your types of blogs. People are going to go to get the answer. People surf for all kinds of reasons and topics.