Sally Hogshead declaimed yesterday at TEDxAtlanta that we have the attention span of about 9 seconds when it comes to marketing. I believe she also mentioned a neurological study that suggested our brains are evolving so as to better process multiple pieces of information at once. Being an evolutionist, I would have to agree but add that the effects of that evolution will probably not be seen unto the year 20,010.
Personally, I cannot read a whole article in the NY Times paper paper anymore without checking the web or email and I haven’t even bit the bullet and bought a smart phone yet, which is so in my future. Last night over a beer with GetMurphy@yahoo.com, I mean my friend John Murphy, he offered up sheepishly that there are actually times when he might go off the grid for 3 straight hours to work – he’s a creative director at Millennium Communications. (Did you know stevepoppe.com is an available URL?)
I’ve referred to this, as have many, as the ADD-ification of America. Is it bad? Yes and no. Is it good? Yes and no. It just is. I read a Tweet this morning by someone who works for MDC Partners who mentioned that in the course of walking two blocks he saw 3 people walk into immovable objects.
I’m a roots guy. Awaiting a modest overload backlash. But while waiting I’m preparing for the ADD-ification of my marketing targets. I know that an email that hits a Blackberry is more likely to get trashed than one that hits the desktop. Preparation. Peace!