Grab and Hold: The Secret Technique for Making Your Social Media Videos Stand Out

Traditional storytelling with video—needs a fresh approach.

The age-old structure of exposition, conflict, climax, and resolution—often taught in film school and video production courses, doesn't fit in the world of social media video. We were taught that stories are to build up to a big climax about two-thirds of the way through, using plenty of backstory and rising action to get there.

In the fast-paced world of social media video, where it's tough to keep viewers hooked, sticking to this method might mean many will never stick around to watch your entire video.

Start Strong and Keep Them Watching

With videos, especially online, you don't have the luxury of time. Viewers can click away in an instant, so you need to catch their interest from the get-go. That means flipping the traditional storytelling script: put your most compelling content right at the start.

Why You Should Shake Up Traditional Storytelling

Traditional plots work well when your audience is already committed, like when they're settled in for a movie night or deep into a book. For social media video viewers, on the other hand, they often decide in the first few seconds whether they'll stick around. Data from video platforms shows us that many people drop off early, so starting strong isn’t just good advice—it’s essential.

Consumer habits are changing. Audiences are evolving. Video content is being viewed any time, anywhere. To keep pace, brands and marketers must rethink and adapt their creative strategy accordingly.

But where to start?

Use an emerging story arc - it's the key to hooking viewers in a video's opening moments. Start fast and keep an upbeat pace to your story to capture and retain your audience’s attention.

Tips for Engaging Video Content

Here’s how to make sure your video grabs attention right from the start:

1. Lead with the Wow Factor: Kick things off with the most exciting or important piece of your message. Make it something that makes viewers want to stick around.
2. Keep the Momentum: After the initial hook, keep delivering interesting content that builds on the initial excitement.
3. Act Early: Place a clear call-to-action early on to ensure viewers know what you want them to do next, even if they don’t watch all the way through.

Adjusting your storytelling to fit the fast-paced world of social media video can make a huge difference in how your content performs. It’s about more than just following trends—it’s about connecting with your audience in a meaningful way, right from the first click.

Are you ready to switch up your approach to make your videos more engaging? Try these tips on your next project and see how quickly you notice a boost in how long and how deeply viewers engage with your content.

Let’s make your videos not just watched, but remembered!