Please click on this email—I’ll make it worth your while!
With scrolling speeds faster than blinking, your content has seconds to grab attention. Let’s break down how to write for miniscule attention spans—so your words don’t just get seen, they get read.
Writing for Goldfish Brains: How to Hook Readers Before They Scroll Away
Imagine losing your readers before you reach the end of this sentence.
That’s how fast it happens. One boring sentence and your reader is gone—scrolling, swiping, or checking their notifications instead. And with the average human attention span now down to 8.25 seconds (slightly better than a goldfish!), holding on to your audience is harder than ever.
So, how do you keep people hooked when they’re constantly bombarded with distractions? How do you make sure your words get read, not ignored?
That’s precisely what I’m breaking down in today’s newsletter—practical, no-BS strategies to grab attention and keep it.
And because I’m also feeling extra generous, I’m giving you a FREE E-BOOK: "20 Expert Tips for Writing Impactful Micro-Copy That Can Make Up for a Severe Lack of Attention." Find the download link at the end to grab your copy before the offer disappears!
If you’re serious about leveling up your copy and making every word count, hit subscribe to The Copy Kitchen by Sweha.
Let’s get back to it.
The Attention Crisis: Why No One Reads Anymore
Because we are drowning in content, quite literally! Social media, endless notifications, and the dopamine rush of instant gratification have completely rewired how we consume information.
Here’s what’s killing attention spans (and what you should glean from it):
1. Social Media Algorithms Rewards Speed, Not Depth
We’ve been training ourselves to expect bite-sized content for a while now. TikToks are 10 seconds, tweets are 280 characters, and even YouTube videos come with “skip intro” buttons. The algorithm gods of social media prioritize engagement over depth, meaning the faster something grabs attention, the better it performs.
What you should remember: If your content doesn’t hook immediately, people scroll past—no second chances.
2. Information Overload = Decision Fatigue
On any given day, you’re bombarded with 6,000 to 10,000 ads!
From newsletters to social media posts to push notifications, we’re constantly consuming, and it’s exhausting. Instead of reading deeply, we skim, scan, and filter out what doesn’t instantly feel relevant.
What you should remember: Long-winded intros or clunky paragraphs won’t make it anymore. If your writing isn’t instantly clear, it won’t get read.
3. Multitasking Has Destroyed Focus
We don’t just consume content—we do it while juggling five other things. Watching Netflix while scrolling Instagram, listening to podcasts while answering emails, and skimming articles while texting, that kind of thing. This multi-tasking is taking away our ability to focus on a single thing.
What you should remember: Your readers aren’t fully present. Your content has to work harder to keep them engaged.
4. The Rise of Personalization
Your audience is used to content curated specifically for them—from tailored TikTok feeds to hyper-personalized Spotify playlists. So, a generic, one-size-fits-all writing doesn’t stand a chance.
What you should remember: If your content doesn’t feel personal, relevant, and valuable immediately, your audience moves on.
Your readers aren’t lazy—they’re overstimulated and overwhelmed. If you want to stand out, your writing has to be instant, engaging, and scannable.
Now, let’s talk about how to make that happen. Next up: the exact techniques you need to write for an audience with no patience.
How can you ensure your copy is insured for low attention spans?
Writing for Readers Who Have Zero Patience
You’ve got seconds, maybe less, to make an impression. If your content doesn’t pull them in immediately, they’re gone.
So, how do you keep them from bouncing?
It’s all about how you structure your writing. A strong hook, easy-to-skim formatting, sharp wording, and the right visuals—the non-negotiables of writing for attention spans that barely exist.
Let’s break them down.
Have a hook that stands out from a mile
Format your content for people used to skimming
Convey as much as you can using as few words as possible
Take your audience on a storytelling ride
Let’s go over these points one by one.
1. Make Your Hook Impossible to Ignore
Your first sentence is your make-or-break moment. If it doesn’t stop them mid-scroll, they’re gone. A strong hook interrupts autopilot scrolling, sparks curiosity, or hits an emotional nerve.
Actionable Tips:
Start with a bold statement: “Your content is losing readers faster than you think.”
Ask a question that challenges assumptions – “Think people actually read your content? Think again.”
Drop a shocking stat: “The average human attention span is now shorter than a goldfish’s. Let’s fix that.”
Your hook is your one shot to get them invested—make it count.
2. Format for the Skimmers (Basically Everyone)
Most people don’t read anymore these days; they scan. If your content is a text block with zero breathing room, they’ll scroll right past it.
Here’s how you can fix it:
Break it up with subheadings, making it easy for your readers to jump to what matters.
Bullet points and lists can make any complex info digestible.
Have you noticed how I use bold font to make key points? Doing that helps you highlight the important stuff for scanners.
Proper formatting can help you design content that stays with goldfishes, erm, your readers!
3. Say More with Fewer Words
Ask any millennial: They would tell you how the need to say stuff in as few syllables as possible birthed the SMS lingo in the 2000s.
BRB, GR8, or ROFL.
You don’t have to go that extreme for your copy. Just ensure that every word you write has won the fight for its place on the page. Cut That Fluff.
Tips to tighten your copy:
Trim the filler words. “In order to” becomes “To;” “Because” replaces “Due to the fact that.”
Ditch unnecessary introductions. No one needs, “In this article, we will discuss…” Just get to the point.
Cut the “very” and “really” fillers – “This is very important” → “This is important.”
4. Turn Everything Into A Story
Stories trigger emotion. Emotion keeps people reading. If your writing doesn’t make them feel something, they’ll forget it instantly.
You can turn up the EQ of your content through these storytelling tips:
Paint a relatable picture—instead of saying, “Writing short-form content is hard,” say, “You pour hours into a post, but it gets ignored. Sound familiar?”
Use personal anecdotes. Bring in genuine moments that make your point hit harder.
Take them on a journey—Problem → Tension → Solution. Make them stick around to see how it ends. You can also increase stakes and make your solution seem unavoidable for their problems.
What’s Next?
Writing for attention spans that barely exist is a skill—and one you can master. But it’s not about following a formula. Testing, tweaking, figuring out the gaps, and repeating the process is what actually grabs your audience.
And that takes practice. The kind that makes you want to pull your hair out some days.
That’s why I’m giving you something to make it easier: 20 Expert Tips for Writing Impactful Microcopy That Can Make Up for a Severe Lack of Attention. It’s packed with practical, no-BS strategies to make sure your words work.
Next week, we’re switching gears entirely. New topics, new insights, and a fresh perspective to sharpen your copywriting game. Stay tuned.
In the meantime—what’s the one thing about attention-grabbing copy that trips you up the most? Hit reply and let me know. And if you’re not subscribed yet, now’s the time.
Until next time,
Sweha.