Customer Acquisition in an Attention Economy
Because you can’t earn loyalty if you can’t earn a moment of focus.
In 2025, the scarcest resource isn’t budget—it’s attention.
Your audience is bombarded with thousands of messages a day. They scroll, they skim, they swipe. So the brands that win aren’t just chasing clicks or conversions—they’re competing for time, presence and memory.
Welcome to the attention economy.
And in this landscape, customer acquisition isn’t just about targeting. It’s about creating experiences that make people pause—and choose you.
Here’s how to rethink your strategy for today’s attention-starved world, and acquire not just customers, but committed ones.
Start with Stop Power
If you can’t get someone to stop, you’ll never get them to stay.
That’s why your campaign’s first job isn’t persuasion—it’s interruption with intention. The visual, the sound, the energy—it needs to grab attention without feeling like it’s stealing it.
Brand example:
Adidas’ AR-powered pop-up mirrors let passers-by “try on” trainers in real time. It was playful, unexpected and immediate—causing people to stop, interact and share.
Why it matters: If you can stop the scroll—or the stroll—you’re already halfway there.
Design for Depth, Not Just Reach
Attention isn’t measured in impressions. It’s measured in engagement minutes.
Experiential activations offer the perfect way to turn fleeting interest into immersive attention. When people step into a brand experience, you’ve got their focus—so design for rich interaction, not just broad exposure.
Brand example:
Tate Modern’s UNIQLO Lates fuse art, music and brand into cultural moments people want to spend time with. Attendees stay for hours—and come back again.
Why it matters: Five minutes of focus is worth more than five thousand glances.
Surprise Creates Memory
In a saturated world, novelty cuts through.
When your brand delivers an unexpected moment—joy, humour, play, warmth—it triggers a mental bookmark. That’s the kind of attention that lasts.
Brand example:
Greggs x Primark launched a surprise fashion collab with in-store cafés. It was cheeky, brilliantly British, and utterly viral—winning not just attention, but affection.
Why it matters: You don’t need to shout. You need to surprise.
Earn Time with Value, Not Volume
If you want people to give you their time, you need to give them something in return.
That might be education, entertainment, relaxation, a story, or a smile. The best campaigns offer value that earns attention—rather than demanding it.
Brand example:
This™ has built campaigns around food education and sustainability as much as product sampling. People stick around for the story—not just the sausage rolls.
Why it matters: Attention is a trade. Make the deal worth it.
Presence Beats Programmatic
The more digital our world becomes, the more rare (and valued) human presence becomes.
Having real people—promo staff, brand ambassadors, in-person guides—adds an element that tech alone can’t deliver: connection.
Brand example:
Charlotte Tilbury events blend glitz and glam with one-on-one consultations from trained beauty experts. It’s luxurious, yes—but it’s also personal. That earns attention—and repeat visits.
Why it matters: When someone gives you their full attention, give them a person—not a pitch.
Attention Is the New Currency
In an economy where time is the most valuable thing your customer can offer, every second of focus is a win. And the brands that truly acquire customers are the ones that use that time to build emotion, value and connection.
At LIVE Agency, we help brands go beyond impressions—creating campaigns that hold attention and inspire action.
Want to win more than clicks? Want to win moments?
Let’s make your brand unforgettable.