How to easily create a YouTube intro?

According to YouTube, you only have 15 seconds to grab viewers' attention.

That's not much... Which is why it's important to create the hook right at the start of your video with a captivating introduction!

How to craft a YouTube intro attractive enough to keep viewers watching as long as possible? Here are 15 useful tips!

1. Identify the goal of your video

The first step is to analyze the content of your videosYour introduction must announce it, sell it. It must also lead to your video's ultimate goal! What do you have in mind when publishing it on YouTube? Do you want to sell a product, build your expert image, increase customer satisfaction, generate leads…?

Your YouTube intro should speak directly to your target audience and create a positive feeling in them, such as the sense that they will learn something, be surprised, or gain information that will change their everyday life.

Defining the goal also lets you get straight to the point with a punchy line or a key figure.

2. Get inspiration from competitors

Short on inspiration to create a YouTube intro? Do a little research on competitors or similar businesses. Watch the videos that appear at the top of the results and that have gathered many interactions (views, comments, likes…).

Watch their videos to discover hook ideas that work with your audience.

3. Choose the right YouTube intro style

Your YouTube intro must speak to your potential customers. You should choose a style that suits them!

For example, the vloggers tend to stage themselves in close-up, sometimes with playful effects in their videos. This shortens the distance between them and the viewers while strengthening the bond with their audience.

A technique that works perfectly if you're a freelancer. If you're an SME of human scale, starting with one person who seems close to their audience is also a good practice.

You can take the example of Théophile Eliet, trainer and investor, who always speaks face-to-face with viewers to give the impression of being close to them:

Conversely, large corporations demonstrate their strength by emphasizing their infrastructure. The goal is not to appear close to their audience, but to prove they have significant resources to satisfy their customers.

The company Engie often uses shots of its sites, constructions and premises in the introduction of its videos:

4. Include branding elements

Consistency is key to creating effective intros on YouTube. It's important that viewers immediately recognize your brand when your video starts. To do this, include elements like your slogan, your logo and your brand colors, as Fitness Park does:

This strategy reassures people who already know you and trust your content. They are more likely to watch your whole video. As for those who know you little, over time they will associate your (awesome!) videos with your brand image, which improves your visibility.

5. Find a hook

Hook lines capture the viewer's attention and become, over time, the trademark of your videos. They should evoke emotion and create an overall atmosphere.

For example, Roxane often starts most of her YouTube videos by saying, “Hello my sweeties, I hope you're well, I'm doing mega great, I'm fired up!” An original hook line that immediately puts viewers in a good mood and captivates the audience:

6. Ask a question

When an introduction includes an open question, it prompts the viewer to think about the content. If they're interested in the answer, they'll stay until the end of the video—especially if the question relates to one of their pain points!

However, you must choose your wording carefully. For example, a question that is too obvious will be perceived as an insult to your audience's intelligence. Likewise, a question that's too complicated will leave the audience puzzled and uninterested.

For example, La Psy Qui Parle often starts her videos with a question to engage her subscribers:

7. Add animated elements

Fun and dynamic, animations grab the viewer's attention instantly. They can be tied to your brand, the presenter, or the topic covered in the video.

You have the choice between:

Card-format titles

These introductions are ideal for offering a tutorial or a list of tips. At a glance, the viewer understands the topic of your video. This type of YouTube intro is usually static and includes music to maintain interest, as in this video published by Cisco:

Written intros

Typographic intros are easy to create. They are short, concise, and visually appealing. Why not spice them up a bit by showing clips from the video with a subtly animated text overlay? That's the effect blogger Léna Situations uses in this video:

Editing short clips

If you publish a series of content on a topic, why not edit together videos, graphics, titles… More dynamic, your video captures attention and encourages the viewer to keep watching.

This technique is sometimes used by Société Générale in its videos:

8. Add a call to action

Do you want your viewers to keep watching your video? Subtly prompt them to stay until the end, thanks to:

9. Think about music

Music is an important element of a successful YouTube intro. It sets the mood and energy, which can motivate viewer engagement.

However, for this strategy to work, the music used in the intro should:

10. Keep it short

A YouTube intro should spark interest and intrigue. That’s why it should remain short: between 5 seconds and 10 seconds maximum.

After this duration, viewers’ attention declines and they may stop the video before it gets to the main topic.

11. Add some fun!

Fun always captures viewers’ attention! They think they’ll learn things while having fun, which will make them want to stay on your video.

So you need to be creative:

With such an introduction, viewers will stay on your video and remember it!

12. Vary your YouTube intro

When you use the same intro in every YouTube video, you establish your personality and reinforce your brand. Viewers will remember you better.

But you don’t have to use exactly the same clip every time. A single repeating element is enough. It can be the soundtrack or simply a style.

For example, you can keep your colors and logo in all video intros.

13. Don't start with the intro

Yes, this tip may seem contradictory to the previous advice! However, the intro doesn't necessarily have to be at the very start of the video. For instance, you can begin with a brief preview of the most intriguing moments to grab viewers' attention before showing the intro, like Natoo does:

It's an excellent technique for increasing your videos' watch time.

You can also create a "curiosity gap" with a quirky scene or a close-up of an object that immediately intrigues the viewer. Captivated by that curious moment, they'll stay for the introduction... and the rest of the video!

14. Ease the transition into the video

Be careful not to cut abruptly between the introduction and the main part of the video. The viewer's attention could drop. Conversely, a smooth transition keeps the user engaged with your content.

15. Analyze your stats

To know if your audience likes your intro, check your YouTube analytics.

If the percentage of viewers who skip the intro or close videos prematurely is high, you need to adjust your strategy.

Run tests by changing the format, length, or style to find what captivates your audience.

Conclusion

On YouTube, the goal is to keep your viewers' attention until the end of your video. The intro plays a part in that. If it's successful, users will stay longer. So all that's left is to try these 15 tips to optimize your YouTube intros!

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