Most creators suck at getting views

Here's how to go viral:

Idea

Your idea should be based on simple psychology

Your idea should:

-Invoke an emotion

-Have missing information that makes you curious

-Be based on videos that have done better than average on the channel

A thumbnail that grabs attention

Eg; this thumbnail was successful because:

1. The main focus is on the rule of thirds grind, which is where your eyes are drawn to

2. The switch adds scale showing it's small

3 .The background is simple. focusing attention on the foreground

A reason to click:

The thumbnail or title should have a clear reason to click.

For education, it could be a specific problem or an interesting question.

Or for entertainment, it could be a captivating situation or object.

No matter what niche, there must be a question asked

Intro

The intro should:

-Match expectations of the packaging
-Confirm the click
-Create additional or a new interest based on the packaging
-Concise, easy to understand, but doesn't mean fast intros
-Foreshadow future content
-A hook that can be either visual or spoken

Ending

A good video ending is vital for viewer satisfaction which is important as:

- Higher viewer satisfaction improves video visibility

- It helps to build an audience for your content

- Increases the likelihood of viewers watching more of your videos, boosting session time

How to Go Viral: A Guide for Creators

Most people think going viral is all luck

But 99.9% of viral videos share 10 similarities.

Here's why videos go viral:

Idea

All viral videos have a good idea, but how do you make interesting ideas?

1. Find a video that has done well in the past

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2. Ask yourself what made people interested in the idea

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3. Make a video based on why it went viral or with a new angle

Thumbnail Psychology

A good-looking thumbnail is useless if people don't care about its content.

For instance, you can:

- Tease an interesting event

- Capture a dangerous moment

- Showcase an intriguing object

These elements create curiosity, resulting in more clicks

Thumbnail Composition:

Good composition does not mean making it look cooler.

Good composition means making the thumbnail easier to understand.

You can achieve this by:

- Minimizing or deleting unnecessary elements.

- Making the main element the focus of the thumbnail.

Titles

They should be easy to understand, so:

- Use simple language
- Keep it concise
- Include only the most important information

And add curiosity by:

- Providing a clear reason to click
- Using words that interest your audience
- Teasing the video's most interesting part

Intros

A good intro should:

-Have a script that's concise and easy to understand

-Have an interesting hook, visually and/or in the script

-And have a clear reason to watch to the end

-Have a seamless transition into the content

-Have music and sound effects that escalate

Storytelling structure is important because:

- The progression in the story increases viewer satisfaction.

- A clear structure makes the video easier to understand, reducing retention dips.

- Attention is increased to avoid missing any important parts of the story.

Hiding context

Audience finds context boring, however, it is needed for the story

So to reduce the dip as much as possible, you should have one scene context, one scene action

Also, if the context is not needed for the next scene, add it later in the video, or cut it

Optimization

Each scene should add to the story you want to tell:

If a scene serves no purpose, it must be cut

If two scenes have the same purpose, one must be cut

And if a scene conflicts with the story of the video, it should be cut

Sound design:

Varying tones emphasize story changes.

For example, more sound effects make scenes realistic.

This can make the audience feel like the main character, increasing their emotions.

Peak end rule:

For a lasting positive impact, focus on satisfying viewers during the peak and end of a video.

Creating an emotional change in the viewer is key for building a lasting audience on YouTube.

A new creator's video got 1.1m views

And it was his first ever upload

Here's why it went viral:

Idea is backed by data

On 3 other channels, videos about training like a super muscular anime character had way higher views than average

This shows that there was strong proof of concept in the idea

Thumbnail

The creator is also super muscular, which makes you trust the creator as they had results doing this workout, resulting in more clicks

Also, getting a 6 pack is thought to be hard, so saying it's "no bullshit" makes you think it is easier than other workouts

Title psychology

Using the word "turned" hints at a transformation by watching this video

This makes the audience more likely to click as the video implies by watching it, you can become as muscular as the creator, which is a desirable attribute for the target audience

Intro

The creator shows he used to be skinny, but transformed into a muscular person

This relates to the person watching the video, and shows that anyone can transform if they watch the video, creating a reason to watch to the end

Video

The video contains everything that the target audience would want:

-What is needed to have a good physique
-Myths that should be avoided
-The full workout plan
-A full diet plan
-And things to be careful of when working out

Which creates a clear video structure

The main factor of success:

Like most viral videos, it was the idea that was the main reason for the success:

-It was backed by data
-Was different enough from other anime workouts to be unique
-Created another hook that attracted an audience interested in working out

A new creator got 1.8 million views in 3 weeks

And the video went against everything we knew about YouTube

Here's why it went viral:

Thumbnail

The thumbnail is effective as it focuses your attention on the cool robot:

1. The robot is on the rule of thirds grid

2. The robot takes up 2/3 of the thumbnail, making it the dominant element

3. The black screen contrasts with the white table, creating focus

Title Psychology

1. Saying it's "the coolest", makes you curious what makes the robot so cool.

2. The word "robot" is an interesting word as we associate it with AI, unlike similar words like  machine

3. "I've ever built" shows the creator has experience making robots before

Intro

Even though very little is said, the intro is effective because:

-The thumbnail is the first frame of the video, confirming the click

-It starts the final product, making you curious about how he made it

-The robot talking adds another hook that creates curiosity.

Market

This video is just changing the appearance of Alexa

But by making the title broader, the video appeals to anyone interested in interesting technology

This niche has more proof of concept, with some videos getting 20m+

Having a why

Saying why you are doing video can result in a flatter retention graph in the long run

This is because it makes the viewer care more about the payoff, which also makes the ending more satisfying for a viewer

However, in the short term, it creates a dip

A new creator got 1.8 million views in 3 weeks

And the whole video was made with AI

Here's why it went viral:

Data backed idea

On 3 other channels, this video had way higher views than average

This means the idea has gone viral before, and could go viral again.

Thumbnail

The thumbnail is effective as it creates curiosity:

1. Day 1 and 100 contrast, making you curious about what happened between these dates

2. The most interesting elements are on the rule of thirds grid

3. There is no wood, so how is beating Minecraft possible?

Intro

The intro is:

-Concise and easy to understand

-Shows the premise of the video, what is unique about this video (twist), and what's at stake

-Quickly transitions to day 1, getting into the content faster to stop people from clicking off

Storyline

Completing Minecraft follows a three-act structure

This creates a simple but compelling storyline throughout the video

However, this videos story is different because the main character has a handicap that must be overcome to beat the ender dragon

Storytelling

Within the script, every line is built off the last line

For example, "I need tools, but I don't have any wood, so I found this solution"

Simply a good story is a sequence of events that are connected, which makes you feel an emotion at the end

Payoff

The video ends with showing what he has accomplished in 100 days

He shows off his turtle farm (which was a character in the story), his mansion, and his farm

This is a good payoff as it makes the viewer reflect on the progress of the video

AI-Created Video Goes Viral: The Winning Elements

Most YouTubers suck at ideas



Here's how to ACTUALLY create viral ideas:

Backed by data

If a video has gone viral before, it is likely to go viral again

EG: The video below was optimised by:

1. Clearer thumbnail (less distracting background, people near the train for scale, & easier to spot train

2. Better video

3. Being in real life

Viral Topics

Some topics on YouTube are more interesting then others

For example, prisons consistently get views, making it a viral topic

By making video ideas around viral topics, it is more likely to perform well

You ask questions

At it's core, a viral idea makes you ask a question

The stronger the audience wants to know the questions, the more clicks you will get, resulting in more views

For example, the video below makes you ask, "Does he survive the explosion?"

Focus on psychology:

1. Confirmation bias - What are the associations your audience has about the topic?

2. Contrast effect - having two opposites make an idea more interesting

3. Appeal to tribal emotions - Does your idea make you feel happy, sad, curious, angry ect?

A unique twist

Even though ideas should be backed by data, you need them to be innovative

You can do this by combining two viral videos or bringing a viral video into a new niche

Creating Viral Ideas on YouTube

I've studied over 7339+ YouTube thumbnails

Here's why viral thumbnails get views:

Color Theory

The color wheel helps choose the most optimal colors for a thumbnail

For thumbnails, optimal colors are on the opposite side of the wheel as they contrast with each other, creating a clear focus

Simplicity is key.

Even though the video went viral due to its funny idea, its simple thumbnail was a significant factor in its success

The mic is on the left grid of the rule of thirds, which makes you focus on it

And the thumbnail only has three important elements.

Remarkability

The interaction between the elements is very interesting

But how do you emphasize it?

1. The finger gives scale of how small it is

2. But the small stinger contrasts with the title. How could this small thing kill a cow?

3. The green catches your attention

Color Psychology

Certain colors create different emotional responses

For example:

Red = anger.  Yellow = Wealth.  Green = Nature

Therefore, these colors can emphasise the emotion you want the viewer to feel when seeing thumbnail

Clickbait, but not too clickbait

Thumbnails should find the balance between believable and interesting, and interesting but too fake

Having a thumbnail look too fake or exaggerate something that couldn't happen will result in fewer clicks

Interaction of elements

To make thumbnails more visually interesting the elements should interact

It also helps process the information as each element connects with the other

As well as this, the sequence of the interacting elements changes the interpretation of the thumbnail

Curiosity Gap

By having the rest of the secret room cut off, it makes you wonder what is inside the room

If the viewer does want to know what's inside, they must click

Organized clutter

The organized black balls in this thumbnail are effective because:

1. It shows the scale of 96m balls

2. The black of the ball's brightness contrast with the person, making you focus on him

3. Being organized is visually satisfying

The Power of Viral Thumbnails

Most YouTubers suck at thumbnails.



Here's why thumbnails ACTUALLY go viral:

Easy to understand thumbnail:

1. Main focus (stadium) on the rule of thirds grid overlap

2. The circular park catches your attention as it's symmetrical

3. Framing of the airplane window directs focus towards the stadium

4. Lanes guide your eyes into the stadium

Contrast

Contrast creates focus, catching the attention of people scrolling

You can use color theory, which is when there's contrasting colors

Psychology

Viewer's read information in set patterns

The main ones to be aware of is:

-A english speaking audience reads left to right

-And we scan information in a F shape

This means (generally) your thumbnails should have the main element on the left of the thumbnail

Believable but cool

Viral thumbnails are believable enough to click on, but not to the point you think it's clickbait

You must balance the two

To do this, you should exaggerate your thumbnails, but not lie about them

Satisfying shapes

Using symmetry and shapes in thumbnails is important as:

-It catches your attention because it is satisfying and appealing

-It gives balance and harmony to the composition of the thumbnail

-It makes it easier to understand as it's visually similar

Scale

This is when you compare heights or sizes by using a known object as a comparison

By using an object that we know as a reference, it exaggerates the size of another object in the thumbnail

This makes us want to click as it exaggerates the size of an interesting object

Clear for mobile

40.9% of viewers are on mobile

So, if your thumbnail is unclear on a mobile screen, you are going to isolate 40.9% of people

Always test your thumbnails on your phone on the same UI as the YouTube app!

Colour Blocking

Color blocking is when the background of a thumbnail is all one color

This simplifies the background of the thumbnail, which makes the focus of the thumbnail stand out more

Mid action

Having a thumbnail in the middle of the action does two things:

1. It teases the audience about what is in the video

2. It doesn’t resolve the situation that is presented in the thumbnail

This means the only way to find the conclusion of the video is to click

The Art of Viral Thumbnails

Most YouTubers suck at storytelling.



Here’s 9 easy tricks for telling better stories:

Clear structure

The biggest mistake most creators make is there video's structure is a mess

The less complicated the structure is, the better

To keep it simple, use the Fichtean curve, or story circle for concise storytelling

Intros should be:

-Easy to understand
-Make you ask a question
-Tease the final payoff of a video
-Have a seamless transition to the first scene
-Vary pacing speed for visual variety
-Heavy on visual information, light on spoken information

B story

To create a more satisfying ending, have a smaller story linked to the main story that builds throughout the video

This also adds another reason to watch the end

This reason doesn't need to be complicated, keep it simple

Progression

Storytelling is important for viewer satisfaction, and the easiest way to satisfy the viewer is by progressing toward the goal of the video

So, have a clear way to visually show progression

EG: Restoring an object

Drip feeding

When there's context in the video, there is a dip

To reduce the dip as much as possible, you should have one scene context, one scene action

This hides the context and makes it easier to process the information

Tension

As the video progresses, you should be building up to the end of the video

But to increase the satisfaction of the ending, having tension being released at the end results in a greater dopamine hit

Jenga stakes

Like jenga, your video should get more difficult, and each step of the story should have a lasting effect on the narrative

This rewards the viewer for watching longer, and becomes more interesting throughout the video, leading to higher satisfaction

A why

Having a reason why you are doing this video adds depth to the story

Even though including a why in the video will reduce a dip in retention, it makes the viewing experience more:

- Engaging
-Realistic
-Results in a flatter graph in the rest of the video

Foreshadow

To keep people watching, you should hype up the final product

However, doing this too explicitly can annoy viewers, decreasing satisfaction

So, have a natural way to tease the viewer about the final content

How To Actually Storytell

Best YouTube intros and why they went viral:

24 hours with MrBeast:

The Intro starts with conflict, teasing future content

It shows the stakes: Success or disappoint your 100m fans

It builds the music, reflecting stress, then flashbacks to the present like a bad memory

Beating Minecraft the Way Mojang Intended It:

Having visuals that are interesting but unrelated creates curiosity, making the audience ask:

1. What is he doing? Why is he wearing gloves?

2. How Am I playing Minecraft wrong? It's a sandbox game

3. "What secrets don't I know?"

I Pranked America's Most Racist Man

This intro hits the checklist for most viral videos:

-Foreshadowing ✅
-Confirming the click ✅
-Synced cuts ✅
-Drip feeding information ✅
-Satisfying visuals that set the scene ✅
-An internal reason to do the video ✅
-Curiosity ✅

I Hired a Private Investigator to Follow Me for a Month

Asking if you may have been secretly watched raises questions, making you an active viewer that asks yourself questions

He then promises to answer your questions by actually following your fears, which is interesting

history of the entire world, i guess

The music sounds like video game sound effects, which releases dopamine

There is no transition into scene one, stopping segmentation loss (a dip in AVD between scenes)

But the main reason this did well was because of how unique it was

The Assassin's Teapot Is Weird

Without any exposition, you understand what the teapot does

However, how it works becomes the main curiosity of the video

Then the funny visual self-poisoning visually shows how the pot works, creating curiosity

1000 Players Build MASSIVE Civilization in Minecraft

Ish has one scene have two reasons to include it.

For example, showing that the players have can do whatever they want foreshadows the future content, making you excited, while also explaining what the premise of the video is

How I Beat Hitman 3 Without Killing ANYONE

The intro is interesting as it contrasts what you normally do, to what the creator will do (contrast effect)

He also gives a funny reason as to why he is not killing anyone

And quickly transitions into act one keeps viewers engaged