Left Hanging…

I’m just going to go out there and say it. I miss the days when a TV series had 20 or more episodes in a season. There, I said it.

Now it feels like every streaming service gets together in some secret meeting and says, “How can we emotionally invest people in these characters and then abandon them after six episodes?”

Recently my wife and I started watching a fantastic series. We got completely hooked. Great story. Great acting. Great suspense. We were all in. By episode five we had already decided, “Well, there goes sleep tonight because we are absolutely finishing this show.”

Then came episode six. The end.

Not the season finale kind of end either. No. I’m talking about the kind of ending where you stare at the TV for ten seconds wondering if the app froze. The kind where somebody says, “Wait, THAT’S IT?”

And just like that, we discovered there were only six episodes total. No warning or closure. And what’s worse, no projected release date for the next season! Just two middle aged people sitting on a couch at midnight feeling emotionally abandoned by fictional characters.

Now don’t get me wrong. I actually love a good cliffhanger. I love the anticipation. I love wondering what happens next. I love the excitement of theories and possibilities and trying to predict where the story is going. But there’s a fine line between anticipation and emotional hostage negotiation.

Some of these shows leave you hanging for so long you practically need to rewatch the entire previous season just to remember who everybody is. My wife and I watched one series where it took two and a half years for the next season to arrive.

Two and a half years!!!

By the time the new season came out, I had forgotten half the storyline and at least three characters looked completely different. I’m pretty sure one kid went from middle school to paying taxes between seasons.

Now from a marketing standpoint, I have to admit, it’s pretty brilliant. Because guess what we did? We rewatched most of the previous season. Which means the streaming company got even more of our time and attention all because they left us hanging. Still frustrating though.

And can we please just go back to more than six or eight episodes? I’m begging here. Who do I need to call? Is there a hotline, a petition or a support group?

At this point, I’m just grateful there’s still good content out there to enjoy. Especially content my wife and I can watch together while she patiently listens to me complain about how somebody somewhere once again decided six episodes was “enough.”

Apparently, my blood pressure disagrees.

So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!

The truth is, businesses create cliffhangers all the time whether they realize it or not.

Every blog post, email, social media post, video, product launch, or conversation with your audience is either creating curiosity or killing momentum. Good businesses understand something very important. People come back when they feel connected, interested, and excited about what might happen next.

But here’s the important part. You cannot leave people hanging forever.

There’s a balance between building anticipation and disappearing so long your audience forgets who you are. We’ve all seen businesses do this. Somebody starts strong, posts consistently for a while, builds excitement, gains followers, and then suddenly vanishes into the witness protection program for eight months. When they finally return, everybody’s confused. “Wait, who was this again?”

That’s the danger of the business cliffhanger. The goal is not to frustrate your audience. The goal is to keep giving them enough value, consistency, personality, and connection that they genuinely look forward to hearing from you again.

You want your audience thinking, “I can’t wait to see what they share next.” Not, “Did they quit?”

A good business relationship works a lot like a good television series. Each interaction should leave people satisfied enough to trust you, but curious enough to come back for more. That’s where consistency matters. That’s where storytelling matters. That’s where personality matters. And most importantly, that’s where delivering real value matters.

Here Are Five Things Online Businesses Can Learn From The Art Of The Cliffhanger

1. Give people a reason to return. Every piece of content should naturally lead people toward wanting more. Not through manipulation, but through genuine value and curiosity.
2. Stay consistent with your audience. Don’t disappear for long periods of time. Momentum matters. Trust is built through regular connection.
3. Create anticipation without frustration. Build excitement for what’s next, but don’t leave your audience waiting forever without direction or updates.
4. Let your personality become part of the experience. People often return because of you just as much as the information you provide. Your voice matters.
5. Keep delivering satisfying content along the way. Cliffhangers only work when the journey itself is worthwhile. Every email, video, post, or product should still provide value on its own.

The businesses that tend to grow the strongest are not always the loudest or the flashiest. They are often the ones that consistently show up and build relationships over time.

Little by little, post by post, email by email and conversation by conversation people begin recognizing your voice, style, approach and your consistency. And before long, they start looking forward to hearing from you because they know there’s always going to be something useful, encouraging, entertaining, or relatable waiting for them.

That’s powerful. And honestly, that’s what keeps people connected far more than gimmicks ever will. Because at the end of the day, your audience doesn’t just want information. They want connection. They want authenticity. They want somebody who continues showing up and giving them a reason to come back.

Hopefully without making them wait two and a half years between blog posts.

So what about you? Have you ever been completely frustrated by a cliffhanger ending? Or maybe you’ve noticed businesses that either kept you engaged perfectly or disappeared so long you forgot they existed. I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

And if you’re trying to build an online business that keeps your audience engaged the right way with tools, training, guidance, and support all in one place, take a look at the Internet Profits Academy. Sometimes having the right roadmap makes all the difference between building momentum and leaving yourself hanging.

And as for my wife, after hearing me complain for twenty straight minutes about six episode seasons, she looked at me and said, “Honestly, if TV shows had 20 episodes again, you’d just complain about having to stay awake longer.” She’s not wrong.

“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.” — Steve Jobs

“Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” — Napoleon Hill

And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:

I’m so impatient that when popcorn timer says “two minutes,” I stare at the microwave like it personally insulted me.

Cliffhangers are basically the TV version of someone saying, “We need to talk,” and then leaving the room.

Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!

 

 

 

 

**If you are curious about building and maintaining a healthy online business, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter here and continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I have long desired, but also to share what I am learning with others who are working toward the same dream.