Think Media - How to Write a YouTube Script that Gets More Views!
The video discusses a four-step framework for creating engaging YouTube scripts. The first step is 'packaging,' which involves selecting a compelling topic, crafting an attention-grabbing title, and designing an appealing thumbnail. These elements are crucial for attracting viewers. The second step is creating a strong 'hook' in the first 30 seconds to capture attention and set expectations based on the packaging. The third step involves delivering the main content using storytelling techniques to maintain viewer interest, such as building tension and layering information. The fourth step is the 'outro' and call to action, which should be concise and direct viewers to more content, enhancing viewer retention and channel growth. Practical examples include using multiple title variations and thumbnail ideas, scripting hooks word-for-word, and employing storytelling techniques like tension and layering information. The video also emphasizes the importance of aligning content delivery with viewer expectations set by the packaging.
Key Points:
- Use a compelling topic, title, and thumbnail to attract viewers.
- Create a strong hook in the first 30 seconds to capture attention.
- Deliver main content using storytelling techniques to maintain interest.
- Keep outros short and direct viewers to more content.
- Align content delivery with expectations set by packaging.
Details:
1. 🎬 Introduction to YouTube Scripting
1.1. Understanding Engagement Challenges
1.2. Four-Step Framework for Scripting
2. 📦 Video Packaging Essentials
- Video packaging is crucial to make content stand out and be seen. It involves making your video the product and the packaging the key to attracting clicks.
- There are three key elements of video packaging: topic, title, and thumbnail.
- 1. Topic: Ensure proven interest in your video idea before creation to avoid flops, as demonstrated by past experiences where lack of demand led to failure.
- 2. Title: Craft titles that attract attention and accurately describe the content. Example: 'The World's Largest Jello Pool' by Mark Rober attracted over 179 million views. Think Media suggests creating 5-10 titles per video to refine and improve.
- 3. Thumbnail: Create a compelling preview image that complements the video title. Plan thumbnails before scripting to align with viewer expectations, aiding in script development.
3. 📈 Crafting an Effective Hook
- The first 30 seconds of a video are crucial for viewer retention; if not engaging, viewers may leave before core content is presented.
- Effective hooks have two key components: capturing attention and fulfilling expectations set by the video's packaging.
- Strategies to capture attention include asking compelling questions, stating interesting facts, making bold statements, or jumping directly into action.
- Avoid starting videos with generic intros like 'hey guys', as they can lead to poor viewer retention.
- Personal experience showed that improving intro quality significantly improved video retention graphs.
- Delivering on the promise set by the title and thumbnail is essential to avoid viewer disappointment from perceived clickbait.
- The importance of crafting and refining the hook cannot be overstated, as a strong hook can lead to rewards from YouTube in terms of viewer engagement and retention.
4. 🧠 Delivering Main Content
4.1. Introduction to Main Content Delivery
4.2. Engagement Strategies
4.3. Building Tension and Retention
4.4. Facts, Feelings, and Fun
5. 🔚 Structuring the Outro and Call to Action
- Keep outros short, ideally under a minute, with the best being around 10 seconds to avoid hurting retention rates.
- Maintain high energy and clear communication to ensure the outro is as polished as the rest of the video.
- Provide a clear next step for the viewer, such as suggesting another specific video to watch, and use end screens with clickable video recommendations.
- Utilize YouTube's 'average views per viewer' metric by encouraging viewers to watch multiple videos in one session, boosting channel traffic.
6. 🛠️ Putting It All Together
- Create a packaging topic, title, and thumbnail, ensuring these elements are included in the script document.
- Craft a hook that should be scripted word for word to ensure clarity and impact.
- Outline the main content using bullet points to highlight key information, allowing for flexibility in delivery.
- Design the outro and call to action to direct viewers to additional content, enhancing engagement.
- Use title variations like 'The five best beginner cameras for video in 2024', leveraging AI tools for refinement.
- Include thumbnail references in the script to visualize the video from the viewer's perspective.
- Emphasize the hook as the most crucial part of the video, necessitating precise scripting.
- Ensure main content is adaptable for extemporaneous delivery.
- Create a content loop with the CTA to improve viewer retention by linking related videos.