One thing I've found truly invaluable about my journey in creating TikTok videos, many of which have gone viral, is the unexpected insight I've gained into the human attention span. Yes, TikTok has helped me hone my skills on the platform and in social media as a whole, but more broadly, it's sharpened my understanding of how to engage and maintain a person's attention, whether in the digital sphere or the real world.
Communicating effectively and capturing attention online can be tough, no doubt about it. But in-person communication is a different beast altogether. People can't just swipe left or skip over you when they lose interest. That would be seen as outright disrespect. So the onus is on us, the communicators, to respect our audience by keeping our message compelling and succinct.
So, how do we accomplish this? What has my experience with viral TikToks taught me about real-life communication?
- First, it's all about starting strong. Begin with an intriguing hook. Something that can be presented within just two, three, four seconds. This is the bait that lures in the listener and primes them for what you're about to share.
- Once you've grabbed their attention, your next task is to deliver on the promise of that hook. Unravel the interesting story you hinted at and ensure your communication does not exceed 30 to 40 seconds. This isn't a random limit I've set; it's derived from an understanding of people's average attention span.
And more than just being respectful to attention spans, it's about encouraging dialogue and interaction. People don't want to be passive recipients of a monologue, no matter how wisdom-packed it may be. They want to engage, to converse, to exchange ideas. And this is where self-awareness comes into play. Be aware of your audience's desire to participate in the conversation, their time constraints, and their attention spans.
So, while it might seem like an unconventional school, my experience with TikTok has taught me principles that extend far beyond social media. It's helped me refine my in-person communication and helped me understand that good communication is a balancing act: grab attention, sustain interest, and respect the listener's time and desire for interaction. Ultimately, it's not just about what we say, but how and when we say it.