AUDIENCE ATTENTION: THE NEW CURREN CY

Have you ever stopped to re-think your approach to your entire B2B content strategy and ask yourself "are my audiences paying attention?" Think about it. Is someone really paying attention simply because they clicked on your email or social post? Does high engagement equal actual business interest?

In a world where people can work anywhere, on any device, how do you really know you're moving the needle with your B2B content efforts? Things used to be simple. People had their daytime applications they used at work and the nighttime applications they used at home during personal hours. Things aren't so obvious now as the lines between personal and business have converged along with their online behaviors and attention spans. Unfortunately, marketers are left holding the bag, sifting through data to understand these behaviors and related buyer intent (if any).

Audiences have changed drastically

It is difficult to determine the average attention span of digital business users, as it can vary greatly depending on several factors, such as the individual's level of interest in the topic, the format of the content, and the device being used to access the information. However, studies have shown that the average attention span of adults has decreased over the years and is now estimated to be around 8 seconds.

This just highlights the importance of B2B content being engaging, informative, and easily accessible to hold the audience's attention. In today's digital world, the currency for success in marketing is your audience’s attention. In the past, marketers could rely on traditional forms of advertising to reach their target audience, but with the proliferation of digital media and the constant barrage of information that consumers face daily, it has become increasingly difficult to grab and hold onto the attention of potential customers.

Some key tactics still apply to ensure your content performs

The key to digital marketing success is understanding how audience attention spans and behaviors have changed to craft strategies that capture the attention of your audience and keep them engaged and interested in your brand. This means creating content that resonates with your audience and provides value to them.

One way to do this is by creating personalized experiences for your audience. With the help of data and technology, marketers can now create targeted campaigns that speak directly to the needs and interests of individual consumers. This allows for a more personalized and engaging experience, which can help build brand loyalty and keep customers returning for more.

Another important aspect of capturing your audience’s attention is to be responsive and timely. In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, it is crucial to be able to adapt to changing trends and consumer preferences. This means being able to quickly create and distribute content that is relevant to current events and trends, and that resonates with your audience at the moment.

Finally, creating a sense of community and engagement with your audience is important. This can be done through the use of social media, email marketing, and other forms of digital communication. Creating a two-way dialogue with your audience can capture their attention, build relationships, and foster a sense of loyalty and trust.

Six great tips to get to the point and capture your audience’s attention

Understand your target audience and what they are looking for. Research their needs, pain points, and challenges, and tailor your content to address these topics.

1. Learn more about the devices apps and websites your audiences are from to better understand the nature of the content you should be producing.
2. Don’t spend too much time defining their industry and your product landscape, instead use those valuable top banner text positions for compelling headlines and teasers about what they’d get by reading the asset you have provided.
3. Be bold with titles and subtitles and make sure your story arc is clear and has an objective while clearly articulating how your company can help them.
4. Make sure your content is well-written and free of errors. Use a professional tone and avoid using jargon or overly complex language.
5. Include relevant keywords and phrases to help improve your content's search engine visibility. This will make it easier for potential customers to find your content when searching for information on a particular topic.
6. Use visuals, such as images and videos, to engage and hold the reader's attention. Visuals can help to break up the text and make the content more interesting and engaging.

Audience attention is the new currency for digital marketers. Success in the digital world requires a deep understanding of it to craft strategies that not only capture audiences but also keep them engaged and interested in your brand. By creating personalized experiences, being responsive and timely, and fostering a sense of community and engagement, digital marketers can build successful and sustainable marketing content and campaigns in the digital age.