Do you find it challenging to make your YouTube Shorts go viral? Whether you’re a fan of Shorts or not, one thing is clear: if you’re looking to grow on YouTube, you should be creating Shorts today. This isn’t just our opinion; it’s coming straight from YouTube itself. According to them, creators who upload both short and long-form content experience better overall watch time and subscriber growth compared to those who focus on only one format.
But if you’re just starting out, diving into YouTube Shorts might seem daunting and confusing. You’re on a mission to crack the code and get viewers to watch your Shorts. Well, you’re not alone. Here at vidIQ, we’ve been studying hundreds of channels, and we believe we have some answers for you.
The Power of the Hook
To succeed with YouTube Shorts, you need to develop a new skill set compared to optimizing long-form videos. With Shorts, you have only about three seconds to capture the viewer’s attention and make them stop scrolling. If they do, and they watch the rest of your Short, YouTube is more likely to promote it to a wider audience. This is where your “hook” comes into play.
Your hook can be text on the screen, something you say or do, or even a sudden camera movement that catches the eye. It’s all about piquing curiosity. In the absence of titles and thumbnails, your hook acts as the initial draw for viewers.
Hooks That Work
Let’s explore some effective hooks that can stop viewers in their tracks:
- “Have You Heard” Hooks: These hooks often begin with phrases like “Have You Heard About…” and they work well for introducing interesting facts or trivia.
- “Did You Know” Hooks: Starting with “Did you know that…” can engage viewers by presenting intriguing facts or insights.
- “Have You Ever Wondered” Hooks: These hooks encourage viewers to think about things they might not have considered before.
- Comparison Hooks: If your channel reviews products, comparing two items with “X versus Y” can captivate viewers.
- Call to Action Hooks: Simple phrases like “Try this” or “You gotta try this” promise viewers they’ll learn something new.
- List-Based Hooks: Creating a list format, such as “Seven Best” or “Five Products You Won’t Believe Exist,” keeps viewers engaged.
- Hacks as Hooks: Hacks offer quick solutions or tips that viewers find valuable. Promising to reveal a helpful hack can be a compelling hook.
- Creating FOMO Hooks: Including viewers in your experiments or saying, “Watch me,” can create a sense of urgency and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
- “STOP SCROLLING” Hooks: Asking viewers to stop scrolling or declaring something as the most important decision they can make on your channel can halt their scroll.
- Making Money Hooks: Sharing money-making tips or hacks that promise to save or make viewers money can be highly appealing.
Building Your YouTube Shorts Success
Creating engaging hooks is a skill that takes practice and experimentation. Remember, it’s about captivating viewers in those critical first seconds. By mastering the art of creating irresistible YouTube Shorts, you’re on the path to viral success.
Now, go ahead and apply these hooks to your Shorts, and watch your viewership soar. And by the way, what do you think of our new studio? It’s a work in progress, so stay tuned for more exciting content.
