How do you get the attention of others? (besides your mom or dad 🙂

How do you earn a place of value in others lives?

How do you get people to want to listen?

We all have a desire to be heard and not necessarily because we have anything specific to say.  Here’s a short video clip from a favorite Family Guy episode as Lewis is trying to get his mom’s attention – click here to view.  

Why then do people want so badly to be heard?

We’re human, we want to matter, and we want to be known.  

Unfortunately, when our motive is “to be known,” “to be recognized,” “to be popular,” we often are ignored.

Why?

Others can feel our underlying intent and without saying a word stop listening.  Ever meet someone who looked like, sounded like, and acted like professional skater, but something just felt off about them?

Ever, try to engage someone in a conversation just after they got had a verbal fight with their mate?– without a word being said you know somethings up.

As Doctor Seuss once said, “Be 100% you.”  In other words, don’t be an imposter but be true to who you really are.  If you’re reading this and thinking “but I don’t know how to be 100% me” or  “I’m trying but it just feels off”  know I’ve walked in your shoes. The greatest suggesting I can give to you was given to me by Corbett Barr, “Take some long walks, ponder, think, ask questions, and dare yourself to dream.  Then take more long walks and start to create a plan.”  My translation, “If you make time to take an inward journey, there you will find yourself…. in time…”

See, individuals, people, you, and me, want to believe what we are doing is interesting and worth talking about. We want to think we’re special and unique, but the truth is: we can’t own the end result or the response we desire from others.  Just because we’re creative or have a special talent, does the world owe us respect and attention?

No way!

You don’t get to decide what’s “worthy” of respect and “attention”. Others do. And with social media if nobody’s paying attention and interacting, you’ve got a problem.

What do I suggest?  

Don’t focus on popularity, but on genuinely developing relationships and caring for others – one person at a time. [tweet that!]

Stop for a moment and ask yourself, “Who do I currently follow and why?”

…. ….. (think about…. take 5min or a whole day…. really think about it)…. ….

Now ask yourself, “Why would people follow me?” In other words, “What’s in it for them?” “What do i have to give?”

Regurgitated words with the same message, countless uncaring computer generated emails, put on a mass email list, sold to the highest bidder, etc…. “What’s in it for them?”

The best and most effective way to guarantee online audience growth over time is to:

Add value to each person

you come in contact with.

Bottom line truth: People won’t listen to individuals that offer only intellect, wit, and humor. They may follow someone because they are popular but eventually grow tired of the hype. Unless we are intentional about creating genuine relationships, the concept of adding value to everyone you come in contact with will be overlooked.  If someone values me, heck, I’ll overlook grammatical or artistic errors; however, if I feel that I’m not valued or my voice doesn’t matter, I’m gone…numb…. and will continue my search somewhere else.

The eye opening reality is: In a world full of seemingly endless chatter fighting for our individual attention, the way you get people to listen and give a rip about you is to first genuinely care about them.

People might watch the stupid trick your pet has learned for a chuckle, they might laugh at your kids biting each others fingers, but we really do not care— until you show interest in us.  It all starts with a genuine connection.

Start Now!

How?  By now wasting another second, word, or comment.  Don’t waste your time leaving meaningless comments on random blogs. Make a meaningful genuine connection today, take the relationship deeper by someone by sharing your thoughts, ideas, and experience. What question or struggles are running through your mind?  What have you done to get people to listen to you?  Why do you give others your time?  Share your thoughts below in the comments.

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Part 3 of the series, How To Guarantee Online Audience Growth

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Part 4 of the series, How To Guarantee Online Audience Growth

Photo by Trevor Drinen. In a world full of seemingly endless chatter fighting for our individual attention, the way you get people to listen and give a rip about you is to first genuinely care about them.