How to make a video engaging

We're overwhelmed with information on a daily basis. Our attention spans are shorter than ever. Research suggests we've moved from an attention span of 12 seconds (only a few years ago), to around 8 seconds in 2016. Advertisers know this, and most ads (on youtube) at least have 5 seconds, before the clickbait (that has driven them here) is prioritised over the message from the advertiser. In recent days my kids have told me that they like the adverts that say their message in the first 5 seconds, then waste the rest of their 30 seconds on something trivial. The one they cited was a bloke getting out of the shower, who, at 27 seconds asked "Are you still here" after delivering all he had to say 22 seconds previously. Nevertheless, 90% of information the brain receives is visual, so using video is the key to driving traffic your way.
It's the same with videos. It's one thing to get a viewer to click a link to your latest creation, but another altogether to get them to watch until the end. Bearing in mind you're probably already switching off, I'll cut to the chase, here's my top tips to ensure your video will get clicked and a longer view time.

1) Create an engaging thumbnail.
2) Include the thumbnail image on any social media links or better still, include the best 10 seconds of video clip to give viewers a glimpse of what they're likely to enjoy.
3) Make the first 5-10 seconds really visually impactful.
4) Unless your video is an engaging spoken to camera piece, try to keep clips between 5-10 seconds.
5) If you're making cool aerial videos, don't include time before launch and flight time to the best shots, do some work in your editing software and just put in your best bits*.
6) Keep the video 1.5 to 2.5 minutes. Anything longer and people get bored, especially if the flight is of one subject, a lighthouse, or boat etc,
7) Choose your music wisely, audition a lot and ensure that it's not annoying.

Thats it, hope this helps with your viewing figures and audience engagement. Let me know your top tips.


* Have a look when you're watching normal TV at how long each 'clip' is, its rare a clip will be over 5 seconds in length. Unless it's the film Gravity, the first clip of which goes on for several minutes.