How To Make The Perfect YouTube Intro
- Alex Cortright
- Feb 4, 2022
- 3 min read
What makes the perfect YouTube intro? Creators have chased this answer for years. As the platform has changed, viewer expectations changed too. What worked five years ago simply won't have the same effect in 2022. Competition in YouTube's algorithm is stiffer than ever and you've got to bring your A-game if you want to get more views as a small YouTuber.
That's why I'm here to help.
I'm a professional YouTube video editor and I've worked on a variety of channels that generated over 40 million views on the platform. I've studied the channels exploding in 2022 to find out what makes a great video introduction that hooks viewers and doesn't let go, and I want to share my findings with you.
So let's jump in.
1. Don't Waste Time
A great YouTube intro can be many things, but the best and most successful ones have something in common. They don't waste time getting started or telling the viewer a bunch of stuff they don't need to know.
Gone are the days of "What's up YouTube! It's your boy" etc. New viewers don't need to know your name, your life story, what you ate for breakfast that morning, and they especially don't need you to ask them to like and subscribe yet. Especially if this is their first time finding your channel. If your personal attributes aren't relative to the video in question, skip 'em for now. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't touch on them later if you really want to, and a great "subscribe" call to action has its place in every video, just not right at the beginning. The goal in the first 20 seconds is to sink your talons into the viewer's attention.
2. Be Honest With Your Viewers
In a post-clickbait society, it can feel impossible to be honest on YouTube. It's easy to feel you should embellish your content to make it sound more exciting, shocking, or unique than it is. Now I'm not saying a little clickbait is bad, but it's more important to ensure your title, thumbnail, and video intro properly indicate the experience the viewer will get once they click your video. No matter how enticing your thumbnail and title are, if a viewer clicks and immediately receives content they didn't expect/don't want, they won't watch more than 20 seconds, and if they won't watch much of the video, YouTube's algorithm won't recommend it to more people.
3. YouTube's Algorithm
Aspiring creators learn fast how important a great title and thumbnail are for getting views on YouTube, but your Click-Through-Rate is only one part of the equation. What happens if you can get viewers to the table but can't keep them there? Well, your video might grab a few extra initial views at first, but it'll quickly fade into algorithm obscurity. YouTube doesn't just want viewers to click, it also wants them to watch your video. Not just for a minute or two either. It wants them to watch for as long as humanly possible, which means the algorithm will reward channels with high viewer retention rates on their videos.
But how does all this fit into your intro, title, and thumbnail?
They need to work together in harmony to produce the best results. Take the time before you film your video to prepare your title so you know how your video will be targeted so it can deliver exactly what it promises. Further, designing your thumbnail or at least knowing your target composition before filming can do wonders because it keeps your initial pitch from getting disconnected from the meat of your content.
4. The ONE Thing All Great YouTube Intros Have
It can take a lifetime of study to hone the perfect YouTube video, but after studying some of the biggest up-and-coming YouTubers like Mr. Beast, Airrack, Ryan Trahan, and more, we've found one common thread that can apply to any niche.
Honesty.
A great video introduction gets right to the point and makes a compelling promise to the viewer about what value they're going to get. If the viewer doesn't feel convinced the video is worth their time, they'll click off, but if you prove you're worth giving a chance within the first 20 seconds, you'll have them hooked for a least a few minutes.
Mr. Beast, YouTube's current golden boy has this down to a science, and it's worth studying a few of his best videos, like these:
The opening seconds of these videos are a masterclass in crafting a great hook for your video, and more importantly, not wasting time.
Viewers will appreciate your honesty more than your clickbait. Gone are the days of just being able to clickbait anything for views. People value their time more than ever, so convince them you're worth it.
What are you waiting for? Go make a great intro!
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