I take notice of what makes me stop scrolling.

It’s almost never the flashy stuff.

It’s the thing that speaks directly to something I care about.

That knows exactly what I need to hear and doesn’t waste my time.

Which brings me to this…..

People don’t have short attention spans

• They binge entire seasons of Netflix shows in a weekend (guilty 🙋‍♀️).
• Scroll TikTok for hours without noticing the time. (Nope, but probably because I’ve resisted downloading the app)
• Devour entire audiobooks in a single day. (Or a few days - Playground, by Richard Powers)

The idea that “people don’t have the attention span for X” is a myth. What they don’t have is the patience for content that doesn’t grab them from the start.

People are willing to go deep if you give them a reason to.

Your competition isn’t just other creators in your space; it’s every app notification, meme, and piece of clickbait.

Your audience doesn’t owe you their attention, you have to earn it.

The Real Issue Isn’t Time. It’s Tolerance.

Here’s what loses people fast:

☞ Messages that take too long to get to the point.

☞ Jargon that confuses more than it clarifies.

☞ “Thought leadership” that says nothing new.

It’s not that your content is too long.

It’s that it’s taking too long to get interesting.

Depth still wins…but only if you earn it.

The Two-Part Formula for Depth

Let’s be clear: long content isn’t the enemy.

Unclear, meandering, or forgettable content is.

If you want someone to read your email, watch your video, or sit through your pitch—you need two things:

1..A hook that snaps them out of scroll mode

The first 10 seconds are crucial. This applies whether you’re giving a presentation, writing a post, or creating a video.

• Start with a bold statement or unexpected fact.
• Ask a provocative question.
• Use a story that creates curiosity. Your goal is to spark enough intrigue that they have to keep reading, listening, or watching.

2. Substance that makes them feel like this is time well spent

Once they’re in, don’t disappoint. The hook gets them through the door, but it’s the depth and quality of your content that makes them stay.

• Be specific, not generic.
• Show expertise or insight they won’t find elsewhere.
• Tell stories that make concepts stick. Depth isn’t just about being long; it’s about being engaging, actionable, or emotionally resonant.

Attention is borrowed. Retention is earned.

Want to See It in Action?

Here’s a quick example …

Emotional trigger: Marketers fear of becoming irrelevant or replaceable by AI.

Unexpected twist: It’s not. It’s coming for your tasks—your outputs. If your role is closer to “prompting” (strategy, insight, judgment), you’re safer than you think.

✔ Hook? Most marketers fear AI will replace them. But it depends on your role.

If your work can be replaced by a prompt, you’re at risk. If your work is the prompt, you’re irreplaceable.

✔ Value? It reframes the AI conversation away from fear-based generalities to a clear, actionable insight:

• AI is killing tasks, not jobs.
• If you only perform tasks that are repeatable and pattern-based, your role is under threat.
• Insight, frameworks, and strategic thinking remain irreplaceable.
• Here’s how to pivot.

So Here’s Your Tiny Challenge:

Write a hook using this simple formula:

[Emotional Trigger] + [Unexpected Twist or Tension]

Need a few plug-and-play formats?

• “Most people think [COMMON BELIEF]… but here’s what actually happens.” (i.e. ”Most people blame short attention spans… but here’s the real reason they stop scrolling.”)
• “I used to believe [myth]… until [lesson or shift].” (i.e. I used to believe good ideas sold themselves… until I watched brilliant founders lose the room with bad slides.)
• “Here’s what to do if [RELATABLE PROBLEM]—even if [COMMON OBJECTION].” (i.e.“Here’s how to write content that actually holds attention—even if your audience is busy and skeptical.”)

Pick one. Fill in the blanks.

Then ask yourself:

Would you stop scrolling for it?

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