Something clicked after I filmed my tenth 'How-To' video

I kept making these short videos for my business, just showing basic stuff like setting a trap or sealing an entry point. At first I'd just talk at the camera, explaining every little step in a huge rush. My views were terrible. Then I tried something simple, I started the video with the finished result. Like, here's the sealed hole, now let me show you how I got there. It sounds dumb, but showing the 'after' first gave people a reason to watch the 'before' and the messy middle part. It made them stick around. I learned that hook matters more than I thought, even for boring practical stuff. You have to give them the payoff upfront. Has anyone else found one small change that made your how-to content actually work?

3 comments

3 Comments

blakef411mo ago

Totally stealing that 'after first' trick.

the_brooke1mo ago

I've used that "after first" trick maybe 12 times since I read it. You stealing it just means I'll see it in the wild now, which is weird. What obscure life hack are you applying it to first?

thea_mitchell2028d ago

Actually, I find people zone out if you give away the finish line too fast. For some things, they want to see the messy work, not just the clean end.