You Only Have a Few Seconds to Win Their Attention.
We know this, right? It’s harder than ever for us human beings to stay focused nowadays.
In this featured presentation from our June 2025 New England Podcasters meetup, we welcomed the brilliant Emily Aborn — content strategist, copywriter, and host of the Content with Character podcast!
Emily brings the energy and the wisdom as she shares her top tips for creating content that actually connects.
Here’s the outstanding presentation Emily gave the NEPG Community – tap here to watch her presentation on YouTube.
Here are a few stats to demonstrate just HOW hard it is to win their attention:
90% – The percentage of information people forget within a mere week of hearing/reading it!
47% – Percentage of time the human brain is thinking about something other than the present task at hand during waking hours (translation: almost HALF our waking hours)
17-25% – Comprehension goes down this much MORE when there are distractions in a conversation or setting
As a podcaster, you can blame your listeners’ already distracted brains for a solid half of it, “It’s not you, it’s them.”
Just guessing here, but…
You probably don’t have a podcast because you want 90% of what you said to be forgotten…
You likely don’t want to reduce their comprehension by 17-25%…
And you didn’t start a podcast hoping they’ll only pay attention to half your show.
Was all that pretty accurate? If so, you’re going to love these takeaways on how to increase engagement by reducing distractions.
Mindset, Preparation, and WHO are you even talking to!?
The first thing we can do to help our listeners from being distracted is to not hit “record” when we’re distracted ourselves.
Get yourself in the right headspace and do what you need to do to ensure you’re as distraction-free as possible when you go to create an episode.
Close those tabs (yes, all of them)
Get your bubbly water, flat water, tea, coffee, and energy drinks all lined up
Shut your door
Put your devices in Do Not Disturb
Set up a special podcasting palace that helps you get centered.
Next, make sure you’re prepared! Preparation looks different for every single podcaster. Outlines, research, batch recording, notes, questions, bios, case studies, what does “preparation” look like for you?
After you set up your podcasting “Zen Zone” and are sitting down prepared to go, ask yourself these two questions:
WHO am I speaking to? Who is this episode for? Perhaps you envision just one individual you know listens to your show. Or maybe you’re more broad and picture a type of listener. Use this person as your anchor point and speak to THEM.
What does this have to do with them? What’s the main point you want them to get from this episode, and why does it matter? Why is it important for them to know now? How this benefits your listeners should be front and center.
People have limited time, energy, and attention. Their choosing to invest it in OUR podcasts is a gift.
With every decision listeners make to allot their precious time, their brains are asking:
“Is this for me? What’s in this for ME?”
Translation: “Would I be better off scrolling social media or moving on to the next podcast in my queue?”
Now that we’re centered, prepared, and know who we’re talking to… let’s talk about 5 don’ts and 5 do’s for keeping them engaged.
❌ 1. Don’t Info Dump
Podcasters are a great medium for offering helpful information and how-tos!
However, unless you’re delivering a lecture in podcast form or doing a news/history podcast, there’s no need to info-dump and overwhelm with every stat, fact, detail, and fancy words.
Info-dumping is any version of overloading people with TOO much:
Long-winded explanations or backstories
Overly detailed particulars
Complex or confusing topics
Stats, facts, and information
Steps and how-tos
Getting way too in the weeds
Items in a list (like I’m doing to you right now to make sure you’re paying attention)
Additionally, when it comes to vocabulary, use words that are reflective of the language of your listeners’ natural way of speaking. Skip the industry jargon, complex lingo, and use relatable, conversational language.
“Sesquipedalian” is a great word for impressing your friends at a dinner party, but your podcast might not be the right place to show off your Spelling Bee prowess.
❌ 2. Don’t Be Vague or Empty
In contrast to the specific and overly detailed, is the episode that’s full of fluff, inspiration, and vagaries without any actual tangibles or practical application. Too little substance can be as bad as too much information.
The idea is to strike a balance, offering tangible action, applicable nuggets, and some memorable feel-good content.
❌ 3. Don’t Go on Side Quests
Whenever possible, avoid tangents, rabbit holes, shiny objects, and side quests that don’t serve the main point or tie in seamlessly. When you find yourself wandering off, make your way back as quickly as possible, or provide clear context for the off-roading.
Pro tip: AI can help determine which of your tangents are extra noise, and which are necessary.
❌ 4. Don’t Be Monotone or Flat
Vocal variety increases memory and retention. Vary your tone, volume, and speed (naturally, of course!) like you would when speaking with a friend, not reading an essay. Practice intentional pauses for emphasis, clarity, and a chance to reset. Listen back to your episodes with the ear of a listener to ensure you sound like the human you are, not a robot.
If at all possible, avoid recording when tired, hungry, or annoyed. And if you’re bored with your content, it might be time to ask yourself where you might need to make a shift.
❌ 5. Don’t Forget: Not Everyone Can SEE You
Even if you record video to go with your show, keep in mind that people consume podcasts in all sorts of different ways. Even with a video, many people are still just listening while they fold their laundry or walk their dog. Many podcasters refer to things throughout the episode that can only be understood if you can see it. This can be very distracting and frustrating to your listeners.
Put any visual references or resources in the show notes and direct them to check those out later, so that for now, they can sit back, listen, stay focused, and enjoy the ride without distraction.
Quick recap of the 5 Don’ts:
Don’t info dump, don’t be vague or empty, don’t go on side quests, don’t be flat or monotone, and don’t forget not everyone can see you!
Now time for the DO’s!
✅ 1. DO Use “Attention Anchors”
Attention anchors are small signals and big picture structures that help your listeners get back on track when they stray, digest information in a way that works for their brain, and keep them engaged and interested in what’s coming next.
Here are some examples:
Summaries: This is when you recap or review the point(s) you just covered. You may say things like: “To recap the ten points…” or “So far, we’ve discussed…” It allows people to go back and relisten to anything they may have missed and also helps condense everything succinctly to bring the points home and tie themes together.
Previews: This is when you tell them what’s coming next. For example, at the top of this blog, you knew there would be some don’ts, then some do’s. Previews keep people engaged as they look forward to where you’re taking them and they also provide a sense of psychological safety for your listeners because they can trust you have a plan and are guiding them through the content.
The Rule of 3: Say it three times, in three different ways. Especially for more complex topics, it can be helpful to explain the subject, break it down into smaller components, give an example, tell a story, or use an analogy to help listeners understand it. Different brains process information in different ways, this helps people to interact with your content in a way that works for theirs.
4 Types of Structures: Emily is a big fan of giving an overarching structure to her podcasts. There are four in particular she uses often and even did a whole episode on them HERE. Check them out if you want to give structure a whirl in your podcast! And don’t let the word “structure” fool you, structure can open your mind to new paths of creativity.
Attention anchors and structure bring a cadence and conciseness to your episodes. Find your groove and use these in a way that feels natural to you!
✅ 2. DO Bring in YOU
You are the secret sauce. You’re the reason your listeners come back week after week. Bring in YOUR personality and let them see glimpses into your world. Using the strengths of your personality, humor, stories, and quirks are a great way to keep listeners engaged. Making someone laugh is a powerful form of connection, it grabs their attention, lets them know you are their people, and they tend to hang on your words as they wait for the next giggle or personality glimpse.
✅ 3. DO Ask Questions
Bringing in reflection questions, thought-provoking questions, and questions that show them this is relevant to them is brilliant for keeping people interested.
Remember, they’re here to know what’s in this for them, after all! The brain loves a job and giving it a question keeps it engaged and feeling as though this is an active conversation vs. just passive listening.
You don’t need too many questions, just enough to let them know their part of the conversation and you’re curious about them too!
✅ 4. DO Use Your Show Notes
Show notes, when used well, can be a great supplement to your podcast. They serve as a “handout” of sorts and can help people stay focused as you reassure them that all articles, resources, other episodes, visuals, etc. are available in the show notes. This way, they don’t to mentally juggle keeping track of what they need to remember to look up. Mention that show notes are available at the top of the episode, once again in the middle (when relevant) and again at the end prior to wrapping up.
✅ 5. DO Use Clear Calls to Action
The goal is to make it extremely easy for listeners to take the action you’d like them to. Try to keep it to one or two calls to action per episode and make it very clear what you’d like them to do next.
Make it EASY and obvious. Confusion causes hesitation and hesitation can cause them not to take action.
A quick recap of the 5 DO’s:
Do use attention anchors, do bring in YOU, do ask questions, do use your show notes, do use clear calls to action.
Emily recommends listening back to a few of your most recent episodes to hear where you tend to add in unneeded distraction. Then, print out the accompanying handout to this blog and start small with just 1-2 at a time and layer on from there.
Practice makes better. So keep on practicing and refining!
On a final note, remember we’ll never be able to keep everyone interested. You can’t make them all happy, you can’t make them pay attention. That’s ok. They’re not all your people and your message will land for everyone differently.
Do your best, and blame their brain on the rest.
Woo Hoo and Thank You Emily for sharing your brilliance with us!
Please vist https://emilyaborn.com to learn more about Emily and the services she provides. Your content will thank you!