Grabbing your audience's attention on YouTube is important, but keeping this attention is even more important for long-term growth. Here are 10 tips to help with this:
Rule 1: Use visuals instead of text
When you can, switch text for visuals. Visuals are easier to understand, easier to follow, and more engaging for the viewer. Just make sure they’re clear and look good, as they’re part of how people perceive the content.
Rule 2: Skip the announcements, jump right in
Don’t spend much time announcing to viewers what’s coming—just show it. Jumping straight into the action makes it more likely that people will keep watching without giving them time to leave.
Rule 3: Use simple and clear language
Avoid difficult words, as they could confuse the audience. People like it when they can easily follow what you’re saying—it keeps them interested. This doesn’t mean you’re disrespecting their intelligence; it just means that you’re adapting your content for wide appeal.
Rule 4: Use silence to create tension
Your video doesn’t always need sound or words. Short moments of silence can create suspense and make viewers excited for what’s to come.
Rule 5: Move your story forward with purposeful voiceovers
Instead of using basic voiceovers to double down on what’s already happening, use voiceovers that push the story forward. Viewers are more likely to stay interested when they feel like the story is progressing.
Rule 6: Avoid unspecific words like “this,” “there,” and “that.”
Instead of using vague words like "this," “there,” and “that,” be descriptive. This makes it easier for viewers to understand what you’re referring to, rather than needing to constantly figure it out.
Rule 7: Keep transitions short and clear
Keep your transitions short and simple. Long and complex transitions slow down the pace, and viewers can lose interest and drop from the video.
Rule 8: Use L-cuts and J-cuts to make conversations feel more natural
Instead of hard cutting between two people, use L-cuts and J-cuts to smooth the conversation and make each shot feel more connected. This increases the overall flow of the video and improves the viewer’s experience.
Rule 9: Show reactions instantly after big moments
By showing emotional reaction shots instantly after something big, you increase the perceived impact of those moments. This helps create an emotionally dynamic experience, which increases the overall satisfaction of your content.
Rule 10: Improving retention for video A will make people watch video B for longer
By focusing on improving each video, you don’t only increase the amount of time they spend on the current video, but it also impacts the amount of time this person is willing to spend on future videos.
This is a short list of rules, but be sure to consider your own vision and whether these apply to you. Content optimization tips are usually based on what works best for a broad audience, not necessarily your personal preferences.
