You have 8 seconds to get someone´s attention before they decide to listen to you or not.

A gold fish has a 9 second attention span, yes, more than humans!

So, How are you going to use those 8 seconds?

Research carried out over the last few years state that human attention span has decreased from 12 seconds before the year 2000 to just 8 due to the overload of information our brain is constantly bombarded with.

I have to disagree with this, at least on Social Media, our attention span is reduced to merely 4-5 seconds. You can test this yourself. Scroll down any facebook wall:

How long do you spend on each post?

What makes you stop and pay more attention?

Live streams are beginning to be boring, there is no novelty anymore, since everyone is doing them-look, even I am!

And remember also people usually have their audio off, o they cannot listen to your great message at the beginning, they are just seeing you.

I know very well what makes me want to stop and watch or read something.

There are two situations:

1- You know the person already and you know what type of content they put out. If you already, and notice I am saying already, know them and have the certainty they give value or they make you giggle, you might be willing to pay more attention.

However,

2- If you don´t know the person, you have no idea whether they give value or not, whether they are amusing or not, whether that live streaming will be useful or just a waste of time…

In my case it is clear, if I don´t see anything in their backdrop* that makes me think they have something interesting to offer, I will scroll down. I won´t even give them 8 seconds. And it is not just me, we all do it.

Remember we are VISUAL beings, so you need to give your viewers a VISUAL STIMULUS or they will leave you…

So what can you do if you only have 8 seconds to captivate your audience? Take into account their audio might be turned down also…

Options: paint your hair green…

It´s an option, but that is not even original any more…

How can you make sure they´ll want to stay on longer, turn their audio up and actually watch you?

Here is where having a well designed backdrop comes in.

What is a backdrop*?

It s the area behind and around you that people see when you are on screen.

Your backdrop has the ability of enhancing or breaking your message.

It cannot do everything for you , you will still need to have a good message, your expertise but it can help A LOT!

So this is what you can do today.

Decide on a spot you will use for you next live stream. Add one element that represents your business and place it somewhere where your audience can see it.

Tell me how it goes.

Watch the facebook live I did on this topic:

You can join the facebook group I mention in the video here.

Would you like to learn how to do this correctly?

I have a course that is perfect for anyone doing videos, online courses and live streams.

In just 3 weeks , you will learn all the power of a backdrop,

How to use it as a marketing tool,

How to use it as a branding tool

And how to create it

With one-on-one help

In a fun way, easy, step by step instructions.

You can totally fit it into a busy schedule.

Get it right from the start. Your backdrop is the most powerful marketing, branding and communication tool you can use in your online presence. Start paying attention to it.

Did you know that your Backdrop can have Superpowers when styled properly?

Today, you are going to learn what you can do to infuse your space and backdrops with your personality, your style and a taste of what you do.

I will be giving you all the facts (for the scientist in you) about WHY you should be paying attention to your backdrop.

THE POWER OF A BACKDROP

What you show and say on camera speaks to your viewers on two different and complementary levels.
Both are fundamental to get your WHOLE MESSAGE across.
Only master one? And you are left limping.
Master both and you have the most powerful communication tool at your disposal.

I like to call these levels:

-Level 1 communication power
-Level 2 communication power

Here´s what each level does, that is, the power that each level has:

1- Level 1 communication power:

What you say, your message, your knowledge, that´s the focal way of communication going on at that moment.
It consists of:
-Your words
-Your voice
-Your tone
-Your speech
This level triggers the audio threshold in your viewer.

2- Level 2 communication power:

What your viewers see when they listen to your message.
It consists of:
-Your setting
-Your backdrop
-Your colour palette
-Your lighting
-Your props
-The set-up of those props
-Your personal image
This triggers the visual and emotional threshold in your viewer.

Your surroundings are the perfect complement to make or break that message.
The right setting that adds to what you are saying, gives you double the impact!

And the huge power of visuals is that they can trigger both the sight and the emotion, it is a two-for-one effect!

Can you see how very important and powerful this is?

Level 1 + Level 2 = Total communication

You can communicate on two levels, at the same time!!!

So here is an easy and fun task that will help you better understand this concept. It will make you aware of things around you and it will probably (I cannot be held responsible) turn you into a decor freak (it has happened before).

Look around your home or office, or even go out to decor stores. Keep your eyes wide open and try to:

Find objects that reflect who you are and your business:

-Look for objects in your business colours

-Objects that represent your field of business (an abacus for a business strategist or an accountant, some nice perfume bottles for a cosmetics consultant, food ingredients or cooking tools for a culinary blogger, a nice picture in your business colour…)

– Objects that represent your personality and likes. What makes you special and unique? Do you love music, show it! Do you love fairy tales, show it! Do you love dogs, show it! Do you love wine, show it…but don´t overdo this one! Lol!
– Objects that show where you acquired your expertise or your background, for instance books, a souvenir from Tibet (if you are a yoga or meditation teacher who went there to live with the monks and grow as an instructor), a product you created (creams, make up, jewellery, cakes, a painting…).

We are trying to get your “level 2 communication power” ready!

For example, on one of my shelves, I have a Vogue Magazine issue because my Cleopatra choker was featured in it- it shows my work and achievement. Besides being an interior designer and stylist, I am a jewellery designer.
On another shelf, I have interior design books, that show part of my training, I also have jewellery books and wedding books as they all reflect what I do.

The list could go on and on about things you can find, just give it a try, it is a fun way of starting to create your Perfect Backdrop.

Show me what you come up with.
Have a lovely and stylish day!

Melanie x

Copyright Melanie Falvey 2016. All rights reserved. No sharing is allowed without crediting the author.

If you would like to learn how to create The Prefect Backdrop for your videos, enroll in our Course.