Videos can help you better engage users and deliver a lot of content easily. That’s why social media video production is in demand right now. But today’s users have a short attention span and You have only 3 to 5 seconds to capture the viewer’s interest before they scroll away from your video. Adding to this, many might not have sound enabled by default, so you need to capture the interest without any sound. But it’s not an impossible task however, many are doing it and with the right knowledge, you can do it too. Here are some of the ways as to how you can engage the user in the first 3 seconds of the video.
Have a great thumbnail
Before the video is opened by the user, they see the thumbnail and It is the primary means for you to grab their attention. Make sure you do not add too much text onto the thumbnail of the video or else the social media site itself will rate the thumbnail as less attractive! Good performing thumbnails generally contain at least one human in them, some text and the object of discussion.
Do not waste the first moments
You are guaranteed to have the users’ attention in the first seconds of your social media video. So, using the time well will set the tone for attention for the rest of the video. Do not follow chronology like introduction first, then slowly jumping to content. If you start low on in your first 3 seconds, the viewers will already be watching the next video in their feed. Instead, open the video with a top shot: it might be emotional, action-packed or thrilling and make your point as soon as possible. You could use a quick sketch, questions, facts or something like title cards.
Use the power of Motion
With video, you already got the power of motion. Our eyes are well adapted to keep track of moving objects. So, it’s always a good idea to have something moving on screen because that can easily catch the attention. Do not take us wrong though, we are not saying that your videos should not have any still assets, even though Still pictures have their own appeal, moving objects naturally draw attention.
Generate an emotional response
It is human tendency to react and base many of their decisions on emotions rather than rational thinking. The emotional triggers that are generally used to draw in customers include trust, fear and a sense of belonging. Each of them is effective in its own way. But, make sure that you do not overdo it or else people won’t appreciate it.
Be unpredictable
People generally like to be exposed to new themes and ideas. You would be fighting a losing battle if you tell a completely predictable story with all the same sequence and things. While it is okay to get inspiration from other videos, you need to develop your own idea uniquely or else it might look like a cheap copy of other things. If you are copying from an already famous one, it damages even more.
Conclusion
Social media video production and advertising are growing in importance these days and it is poised to be the kind of content that will be consumed the most. While videos make it easy to engage your audience, due to short attention spans while scrolling through the social media, it is important to grab the attention of the viewer in the first 3 to 5 seconds. By following some general principles, you can make this happen.
