How to create videos that will make them stop scrolling

Your face can make money.

People love when they see someone they know in a video on social media, it creates that mystical relation with the person and it generates curiosity and engagement.

You might think it’s hard to get it right with the right content or you need some kind of preparation to be in front of the camera and be able to express yourself.

Every time is different but there are some techniques which might make the process smoother and easier for you.

Tip #1 — Start with a Great Opener

Imagine you’re walking through a car dealership that is daily visited by dozens of people. You notice a car out of the corner of your eye inside the place. You walk past it, stop, do a double-take, and then walk back toward it and check it out.

That’s an Opener.

In video, you can achieve a similar effect to pull people into your content.

When you start reading a book and think to yourself, “What’s happening here?” Then a after reading a couple of chapters, things start to make sense. The simple fact that you’re thinking about the point of the Opener makes the content more engaging and leads you to want to know more. The rest of the book unfolds from there.

In an attempt to know more about what is the story about, it creates an opportunity to keep the readers engaged.

There are different opinions about how or what you can say in the 1st 5–15 seconds of your presentation. Because that’s when you can get someone’s attention when they’re scrolling throughout their social feed.

Good thing is that there are great techniques to help you achieve this effect with a eye grabbing opener.

For a successful opener, you need to do this small exercise:

• Write the Goal you want to achieve with your video
• Write the topic/subject of your script
• Write your 1st sentence. It needs to create surprise, something that people are not used to read.

Also, keep in mind the feelings you’d like to bring out in your audience.

Tip #2 — Share stories or give examples

Share an interesting story which your audience can relate to.

Give a personal touch. Use your own example. If someone is watching you in video, they want to see your personality and hear your opinions.

“Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Taken.” Oscar Wilde has a good point here. There is nothing more boring to an audience than

a) you trying to be a reporter, or

b) someone trying to be who they’re not. It comes across as disingenuous and just plain wrong.

Have fun. Relax.

• Write your main ideas of your speech, in a piece of paper.
• Write your script
• Summarise each section or each paragraph, with only one word. (Yes, one word)
• Practise, practise, practise like if you were to be featured as an actor for a movie

Tip #3 — Grab your viewer’s attention with body language

Having the best content ever won’t be enough if it’s delivered in an anxious, monotonous or nervous mode. This can damage your brand and credibility. You need to show confidence, even if you don’t have it (although I am sure you do), here are some tips in how you can pretend to have it.

Start by filming a line or two as a test; 20 seconds or so should work.

Then compare both videos and see where it needs improvement. You might think that some parts are not good or very bad. But that’s absolutely normal, that’s how you will be learn and create ideal videos.

• · Highlight and give more emphasis to specific words.
• · Use your hands to reinforce those points.
• · Present like you’re talking with a friend like nobody’s watching.
• · Keep your eyes trained on the camera lens.
• · Try not to shout. It’s about energy, not volume.

Tip #4 — Shoot separate video sets and merge them afterwards

When you have a long script, it might be difficult to shoot the whole video in just one set or chunk. So, video marketeers usually present their videos by using chunking, which is a technique which will help you present content in a easy and stimulating way.

Start by filming a few sets. Stop when there’s a natural pause or change in information. You might want to (re)make a few versions of this take. Or if you think you nailed it, move on to the next chunk.

Before you start recording the next section of content, zoom in or move the camera a little closer so you appear about 20% larger on the screen. Film the next few sentences and stop. Then move the camera back and shoot again.

When you finish filming your video, put each chunk into your editing timeline and piece them together.

Tip #5 — Embed a Thumbnail Image in Your Video

It is important to make your thumbnails as engaging as possible while also using your thumbnail to tell a potential viewer what the video will be about. Because social media channels are primarily visual platforms where people watch images, videos, viewers will look at thumbnails before they read the title of your video.

A good thumbnail can be a major factor in someone choosing your video over the competition. But your thumbnails have to actually good and compelling. Large text, a face, something out of the ordinary are great ways to grab attention.

I’ve used all of the techniques in several occasions and I’m confident that if you trust these tricks, you’ll make highly converting videos you’ll be proud of.