The Economy of Attention
Attention is the new currency.
Hey honeys and hustlers,
The more attention you get, the more you matter. But is that really true? That definitely seems to be what’s incentivized by platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter that pay you according to how many views your videos receive. This has led to a system where likes, views, and followers are often equated with success and influence. It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that more attention equals higher worth. If you’re seeing creators and brands race toward large follower counts and high conversion rates and thinking:
“I'm still small potatoes compared to most other creators.”
I’m here to remind you that potatoes are good no matter the size. This narrow perspective of “more is better” overlooks a more important metric: the quality of attention. Having a smaller, but highly engaged and loyal audience can often be more valuable than a large, passive following. But how do we measure engagement and impact as creators?
How actively does your audience interact with your content? This can be found through comments on social posts, how often people click links, how often people respond to emails/newsletters, or when people show up to see you at events.
Are you making a meaningful difference in your audience's lives? This can be gauged through reviews, testimonials, unsolicited positive feedback, the growth they’ve experienced as a result of your content, or the positive relationships they’ve formed with people they’ve connected with through knowing you (virtually or in person).
Are you learning and improving through your content creation journey? If you aren’t learning, or at a bare minimum embarrassed by older things you’ve created, then what are you actually gaining through posting?
Can you maintain your content creation cadence without burning out? Posting a lot on any platform can definitely cause a stir and generate attention, but can you keep it going for longer than 3 months? 6 months? 1 year? 5 years? Your long-term sustainability is what’s most important.
Whether you're a large or small "potato" in your field, what matters most is the nourishment you provide to your audience and the authenticity with which you do it. Focus on growing at your own pace, nurturing your unique flavor, and providing value to those who appreciate what you offer. All this talk of food is making me hungry. What are y’all having for breakfast today? Give me some suggestions pls.
If you enjoyed this article, consider applying to get mentored by me! I’m one of the potential business owners you could get paired with FOR FREE if your business is a good fit for Hustle Winston-Salem’s program, Marketing Outside the Box, in collaboration with NC IDEA. Applications are open until December 2nd!
Community Spotlight
We can’t talk about attention without shining a light on some of the incredible creators in this community.
🚀 Sounds Like Impact is a newsletter written by Ayodele Oti who does an incredible job bringing together resources and shares interviews with founders who are making a positive social impact. Ayodele was super supportive when I started this newsletter, and I can’t wait to see how she continues to grow her special corner of the internet!
🧪 Indie Thinkers is a newsletter and a website (like Reddit but for writers) curated by Daniel Hunter. A few articles from this newsletter have appeared on Indie Thinkers, and I’ve discovered some incredible writers while checking it out. If you’re looking for something new to read over the holidays or want to submit your own articles/writing, I highly recommend checking out Indie Thinkers!
🧠 Grants For Creators is a newsletter by Danielle Desir Corbett that shares exactly what the name implies. For all the people asking me if I’m aware of grants for filmmakers and podcasters, this one is definitely for you!
Please Hustle Responsibly,
🤙🏾✨
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Love this post, Angela. Quality of attention over quantity of attention–YES! 🎉
All potatoes, regardless of size taste good and matter.