We're constantly surrounded by dull, meaningless content on the internet. It's almost an unspoken skill we've learned: Mentally and emotionally filtering out the garbage so we can give attention to the "good" content we want to see.

This comes with a side-effect: Being numb to both good & bad content.

By conditioning ourselves to filter everything, we're not really connecting with anything at all. The bar for feel-good inputs just keeps going up as the level of real, meaningful interaction decreases. As creators, marketers, and online makers, how can we stand out in a memorable way?

Make people feel something.

Give them a reason to stop scrolling and actually feel the thing you're sharing. This happens by mindfully creating with real people in mind Changing your mindset from "will this convert" to "will this connect".

But, how can you actually do this?

Find a real person that you know already resonates with your work, and make things specifically for them. Some might call this "making a persona" or simply doing user research—but the most simple, non-screw-up-able way is to simply ask yourself this question when making something:

"What would make Elizabeth stoked to see this?"

It might be as simple as shaping your brand to evoke a certain, specific feeling, and then creating content that mimics that aesthetic. It might be using a tone of writing that feels more natural to your target person. Maybe it's referencing certain cultural moments that would make them laugh as they read your blog.

Whatever it is, make it intentional.

Of course, there are caveats. You might not need to make a "payment confirmed" email connect on a deep emotional level. But generally, I think every small action we can take to improve the level of thoughtfulness and intention with internet content, the better off we'll be.