Gain: Why Your Content HAS TO Gain Attention
Part [G] of the SI[G]NAL(S) Framework | You only have a few seconds to matter
The Scroll, The Split-Second, and The Stakes
Imagine someone is thumbing through the search results, or their feed.
A blur of headlines. A cascade of content.
A flick of the finger…
…and there you are.
But just because your post appears on the screen doesn’t mean it lands.
Visibility isn’t the same as impact.
That little pause—half a second, maybe less—is everything.
The question isn’t just: “Will they see it?” (that’s called an ‘impression’)
It’s: “Will they stop?” (will they click-through?)
This is the new front line of attention.
Not in a loud, desperate, clickbait way. Not in all-caps urgency.
But in a way that resonates—quickly, deeply, quietly.
Because before someone reads your article, clicks your link, or watches your reel, they make one split-second decision:
Does this matter to me?
Is this worth my time?
Pro Tip: Substack rewards engagement. If you want to help this content reach more people, tap the 💜, leave a quick comment, and/or ‘restack’ it. Each small action sends a signal—and helps spread the word. 📡
Attention Isn’t Clickbait—It’s Relevance
There’s a temptation to equate gaining attention with grabbing it by any means necessary.
The cheap shock. The emotional bait. The too-perfect promise.
But attention rooted in manipulation doesn’t last.
It leads to a spike… followed by a crash.
Because as soon as the reader realizes the content doesn’t deliver, they’re gone.
Hello, skyrocketing bounce rate. (We’ll talk about bounce rates in other articles.)
And worse—they remember that.
True attention is earned through resonance.
It’s when your headline says something that feels like it fits.
That’s when the scroll slows.
That’s when the eyes linger.
That’s when they click your link.
That’s when you earn your next few seconds.
The Role of “The Hook”
The title pulled them in.
Next up: the hook.
Hooks aren’t gimmicks. They’re doors.
Strategically placed at the top of the page, they have one job: keep their attention.
You have seconds. Make them count.
A good hook invites the reader in.
Not just with curiosity—but with clarity.
It doesn’t have to be clever.
It has to be felt.
Some of the best hooks are quiet ones:
“I didn’t expect to cry while writing this.”
“Most advice on this topic is wrong—and here’s why.”
“This started as a journal entry. Then it became something more.”
A hook is a promise.
And what matters isn’t the click—it’s what happens after the click.
So write openings that open something up.
That’s your hook.
Why Attention Is a Transfer of Energy
At its core, attention is energy.
Someone is giving you theirs—for free.
Their time, their focus, their inner bandwidth.
In exchange, they want something real: insight, comfort, challenge, delight, clarity.
The problem?
Most content takes more than it gives.
It demands attention without offering anything of value in return.
That’s why people bounce.
That’s why trust erodes.
That’s why even well-meaning creators get lost in the noise.
But when your content delivers on the signal it sends—
When it rewards attention with meaning—
Something beautiful happens:
People remember.
And when they remember, they return.
They engage. They like.
They share.
From Flash to Follow
Anyone can get a click once.
But can you get someone to stick around?
To subscribe?
To bookmark?
To think about what you said… later?
That’s the difference between a flash of attention and a sustained signal.
The goal isn’t just to be seen.
It’s to be seen as trustworthy.
To become part of someone’s internal list of “voices worth listening to.”
And that starts at the very beginning—with how you enter the conversation.
A Gentle Practice: Ask “Why Would I Care?”
Before you publish anything—pause.
Look at your headline. Your intro. Your first paragraph.
Ask yourself the same question your reader will, consciously or not:
“Why would I care?”
“Why would I keep reading?”
Not in a cynical way.
In a human way.
You’re busy. You’re tired. Your brain is full.
So what would make you stop and engage?
This doesn’t mean everything has to be groundbreaking.
Sometimes, all it needs to be is well-timed, well-written, or well-felt.
The title and the hook are preparing the table.
They invite the reader to sit down for a while.
And if your content answers a real question…
Offers a useful frame…
Tells a true story…
…it’s already miles ahead.
You don’t need to go viral.
You just need to be valuable.
Closing Reflection: Be the Voice That Cuts Through
In a sea of noise, what makes someone tune in?
It’s not volume.
It’s not polish.
It’s not perfection.
It’s value—delivered clearly.
With just a little bit of flare.
If you can do that—even for one person, in one moment—you’ve gained something far more meaningful than attention.
You’ve earned trust.
You’ve started a relationship.
You’ve sent a signal worth remembering.
Write for that one person—
Because the truth is… there’s more than one of them.
Ready to fine-tune your skills and become the voice that cuts through?
Schedule a mentorship call today.
Love this and agree with all points!