6 Steps to Get Attention Online
By Terry Brock for DSound and Steemit
Recently I ran one of my surveys where I asked my subscribers what questions they would have if they were visiting me in Orlando and we were going to get together for just a few minutes for a “Snack with Terry.” You might want to follow this same style of asking questions of your customers and followers. You can see how I used Google Forms (great tool!) and think how you could use a similar approach to survey your community.
In this survey one of the top questions coming through was (I’m paraphrasing here) “Terry, how can I get attention online with so much going on out there?” This is a tough problem and it is tougher today than ever for entrepreneurs to break through the clutter.
The problem is there is so much good material that we simply can’t keep up with it all. I have subscribed to about 50 great, not just good, podcasts that I love. However, I would have to listen somewhere around 20-30 hours each day to process all of them. Then there are another 40-50 subscriptions I have with great channels on YouTube. Oh, did I mention all the great websites and Facebook groups that are bursting with great content?
We are overwhelmed with good, even great content today.
That can be bad, but you can still do well, even in a hyper-crowded marketplace. Here are some steps that I’ve found from research, personal experience, and from my clients, that have worked.
Be tightly focused. Identify a niche where you have expertise and there is a market that is ready, willing, and able to pay for your services.
Provide problem-solving info, not just “feel good” ideas. We don’t need another “happy talk” but in business we need solid answers to real-world problems, delivered in a pleasing and fun way.
Make it fun and even funny, where appropriate. Going with the flow and not making waves are sure-fire ways to be ignored. That’s not good in business. Today the world is crowded with lots of people jumping up and down saying, “Pick me, pick me!” Think of the donkey, who was voiced by Eddie Murphy, in the movie Shrek. When you’ve got literally thousands jumping and asking for attention you can’t be boring.
You have to sometimes push the edge, but still focus on your mission. Obviously a fun social event will have a different tone than a solemn profession. However, within the parameters of your focus, make yourself more human and stand out in a favorable way that is context sensitive.
Keep it current. Nothing says, “I don’t give a flip” like a page, podcast or other content platform that is woefully ancient (think six months or more since last update). If you can’t stay current, don’t be there.
Survey your audience to find out what they want. I’m getting results from my survey even today as I create this article for you. I’ve found that using Google Forms is one of the best ways to reach out to people for questions, collect information that is relevant (this is primary research from your own community), and provide serious value to them. I like to make sure everyone who responds gets something of value back with either a direct answer to their question(s) or a way to get help. I like creating a custom video as it helps people know this is really me, not some staid form letter and I really do care for them.
Bonus Item - Create dazzling headlines. This is the most important part of your blog post, your YouTube video, and the title of your podcast episode. We’re all busy today and don’t have time to wade through time-wasters. Hot tip: Go to a YouTube channel that is similar to yours and search for videos by “most popular.” Notice what titles have been used to gain the most attention.
Yes, this will take work. It won’t be easy. However, this is what separates the chaff from the wheat in marketing. Applying these principles can help you not only get attention but get business.
Please share this with your community so others can benefit. Getting attention is critical today and your community will appreciate you helping them. Thank you very much for visiting and I look forward to hearing from you.
Terry
Terry L. Brock, MBA, CSP, CPAE
Member, Professional Speaker Hall of Fame
Certified Speaking Professional
Master of Ceremonies
Professional Video Coach
2018 Recipient of the National Speakers Association's Highest Award, The Cavett
Syndicated Columnist with Business Journals (43 papers across USA, 11 million monthly page views)
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See some wonderful videos on my YouTube Channel!
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My TEDxBocaRaton presentation.
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Former Editor-in-Chief for AT&T's Networking Exchange Blog
Former Chief Enterprise Blogger for Skype
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