How To Write An Engaging YouTube Video Script

Have you ever wondered what makes a great YouTube video? It’s more than just the latest trending topic or meme.

A great YouTube video has to capture your audience’s attention and keep them coming back for more. Here are some tips on how to write an engaging script that will get viewers hooked:

How To Write A Script For A YouTube Video (5-Step Template!)

Takeaways
1. Use storytelling techniques to keep viewers engaged.
2. Address audience pain points and interests.
3. Keep the script concise and to the point.
4. Incorporate relevant keywords for SEO optimization.
5. Create a captivating hook to grab viewers’ attention.

Script Your Videos

So, you’ve made a video and uploaded it to YouTube. You’ve watched it back and noticed that it wasn’t quite as engaging as you’d hoped.

This happens to everyone: whether you’re just starting out on YouTube or have been at it for years, writing an engaging video script is something every YouTuber can benefit from.

Here are some tips for how to write an effective YouTube video script:

Use the right tools. There are many different ways of writing scripts and they all work differently depending on the type of script you’re creating (e.g., narrative vs educational).

For example, if your videos are more in-depth or complex than others then using Microsoft Word may not be the best option as it tends not to work well with large blocks of text (such as blog posts).

Instead try using Google Docs where there’s more flexibility in formatting text without having to worry about breaking any formatting rules within each word processor file format

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Keep It Short

Keep it short. It’s no secret that most people prefer shorter videos to longer ones, so keep the script focused and on-point.

Remember that you are writing a script for your audience and not yourself. You should be speaking directly to them, but only using words that they would understand.

If you have to explain every single detail about what you’re filming (like where the camera is positioned), then this might not be for everyone – but if it is for someone then tell them!

Make It Personal

The most personal you can be is by sharing your own story, experiences, opinions and feelings.

If you know someone who has been through what your viewers are or will be going through then mention them in the video. If they’re not a public person then mention their name but give enough detail so that people watching can relate.

For example: “I was nervous about my first day at school but my friend [name] was there to help me out.”

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Learn From Others’ Mistakes

If you’re looking for ideas and inspiration, check out the YouTube channel of your favorite YouTuber. I suggest starting with the channels that have a well-established following (like Casey Neistat) so you can see what they do right and learn from their mistakes as well.

Here are some common mistakes to look out for:

Use specific numbers instead of vague phrases like “a lot” or “many.”

Use testimonials from people who are not related to your brand or product (or at least make it clear that they’re not). If someone is using your product but doesn’t explicitly say so, it looks like an ad.

Don’t be afraid of silence! It’s okay if there are moments where nothing happens on camera what matters most is how you fill those gaps with interesting content that helps viewers understand what makes your video stand out from the rest in its genre.

Add Value

You should leave your audience wanting more. You want them to have a feeling of: “I learned something today.”

This is why the classic advice to keep the video short and sweet is so important. If you can make it through an entire video, it’s probably too long. If they’re bored by minute two, they’ll be gone in three minutes flat.

You want your ideas to be actionable and clear, so people walk away understanding what steps they should take next (and how those steps are relevant to their lives).

This means you need to spend time crafting not only a strong script but also an effective outline or storyboard before you ever pick up your camera – don’t move forward until you have a detailed plan for how all of this will come together in front of viewers’ eyes!

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Tell A Story

A good story can help your video come to life. It gives the audience something to remember, and it helps them relate to you and understand what you’re saying. In short, a story makes people feel like they are part of the video rather than just watching from outside.

You can use stories in lots of different ways:

Set up a problem that needs solving in your video (e.g., “I was frustrated that there weren’t any great sunscreens out there…”).

Explain how someone else had the same issue as yours but overcame it by doing X (“My friend told me that he didn’t like using sunscreen because it made him feel greasy…so he tried our product…”).

Tell an anecdote about how someone else also had this problem but overcame it by doing X (“A friend told me she couldn’t find a sunscreen that didn’t make her feel greasy…so she tried our product…”).

Use Animation

Animation can take your video from good to great. While it’s not necessary, animation can be used to illustrate your points and make them more memorable.

If you have a large amount of information to cover, animation can help break up the text and make it easier for viewers to digest.

Animations also make videos more fun! We like fun things, right? And we like watching things that are engaging and entertaining (unless they’re boring).

Animation is a great way to keep people interested in what you’re talking about even when they might be distracted by something else on their screen (like their phone).

Finally, animations help make videos more interesting. When done well, animated graphics add personality and style that other types of media don’t have access too!

Start With A Bang!

The first 10 seconds of your video are the most critical. This is what sets the stage for everything that follows. If you don’t grab attention right away, your viewers will click out of your video and never come back.

One way to get people to keep watching is by using a hook in that first 10 seconds: a quick statement or question that makes them curious about what comes next.

It could be an intriguing fact, like “One in three people have been fired from their job.” Or it could be a puzzling question, like “What does this have to do with my business?”

You can also start with a shocking statement: “These days, criminals use Pinterest for their nefarious purposes.”

You can also use controversy as a hook: “It’s usually not appropriate for an employee’s spouse or partner to fill in for him when he gets sick.”

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Invoke Emotion (Positive Or Negative)

Emotion is what makes people want to share your video. The best way to invoke emotion is by telling a story, and that’s why so many viral YouTube videos are “based on a true story.”

If you can’t tell a good story, try showing a problem: if you show people how they’re being ripped off, or how something is bad for them (like drugs), they’ll want to stop doing it.

Another way of invoking emotion is by showing them an issue then giving them the solution, for example, if you show someone that their smile looks crooked because their teeth are discolored from coffee stains and smoking cigarettes, then offer some special whitening toothpaste that fixes this problem.

Find Your Ideal Viewer (And Avoid What She Doesn’t Like)

To write a video script that engages your audience, you have to know who they are. If you’re writing for an audience of teenagers, for example, or for people in their 50s, or men and women both, or even just one specific kind of man or woman.

Then you need to do some research on them. Find out what their interests are and what kinds of things they want to see in a video.

Where does your ideal viewer live? How old is she? What does she like to do with her time? Where does she go online? What’s likely to make this person laugh out loud?

If you’re not sure how well-informed your guesses are about what will interest this person (and most people aren’t!), then it’s best if you can find someone who represents the group you’re targeting specifically.

In other words: ask an actual teenager whether they think there should be more videos on YouTube about how funny cats are!

Focus On The Message, Not Yourself

In your video script, you should focus on the message and not yourself.

The best YouTube videos are those with a clear message, which is why it’s important to focus on that message and not the messenger.

How can you focus on the message and not yourself?

It’s simple: find out what problem your audience has and how they want to solve it before writing anything else.

Show, don’t tell (images and footage go a long way).

The show, don’t tell principle is a writing maxim that means you should show what you are talking about rather than just describing it. It’s a good way to make sure your viewers understand what you are talking about and keep them engaged.

You can use images, pictures and videos to help you do this.

Speak In Headlines, Not Paragraphs

Use short sentences, and then create a list or bullet points to support the sentence. These types of lists are easier for your audience to read and understand than paragraphs that are packed with information that might be hard for them to digest.

Use bold text on each point so that it stands out from the rest of the text around it and helps readers zero in on what’s important.

This will keep them from losing track of where they are in your script as they read through it which is especially helpful if you have many points you’d like them to remember (or if this is a lengthy script).

Keep It Conversational And Real

The best way to engage your audience is to use the word “you” in your script. Don’t be afraid of contractions either, like “it’s” or “I’m”. And, of course, use natural speech patterns. This will make you sound more authentic and relatable to people who are watching your videos on YouTube.

You should also write with a casual tone for maximum engagement with your viewers!

Record Before You’re Ready; Relax And Make Mistakes. Have Fun With It!

Recording your video before you’re ready is a great way to get over your nerves and make mistakes.

You might think that it’s better to wait until everything is perfect, but the truth is that we’ve all got “the best” ideas at some point in our lives. And guess what? Those ideas don’t always turn out so well when they come to fruition!

For example: I wanted to write an article called “How To Write An Engaging YouTube Video Script”. But then I thought about what would happen if I waited until that article was complete before recording my video (which was titled “Script Writing Tips”).

Would there be any value in me sharing what I learned from writing scripts with others? Not really my video would just be some guy sitting on his chair talking into the camera without actually doing anything helpful at all!

So instead of waiting until everything was “perfect”, I recorded this right away and got feedback from my viewers who were watching live online (which was awesome).

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Don’t Be Afraid To Provoke Your Viewers And Stir Up Controversy

If you want to get your viewers talking, then don’t be afraid to provoke them.

The most engaging videos are those that stir up controversy and get people talking. You can use humor, but it’s best if you use a little controversy to your advantage.

For example, if you’re creating a video about how to write an engaging script for YouTube videos, don’t just talk about what makes a good video make some statements on where bad writing starts and why it’s bad (e.g., “poorly written scripts are boring”).

By doing this, you create an opposing argument for your viewers and give them something to argue against as they watch the rest of your video or comment on it afterward (or even better yet: both).

Conclusion

Now that you’ve got the basics down, feel free to adapt and tweak your script to suit your own needs. If you want more inspiration, check out some of these additional resources:

FAQs

How can I make my YouTube video scripts more engaging?

Craft concise and relatable scripts that address your audience’s pain points and interests. Use a conversational tone and storytelling techniques to maintain their attention throughout the video.

Should I follow a specific structure for my video scripts?

While there’s no one-size-fits-all structure, a common approach includes an attention-grabbing introduction, a clear and concise main message, and a strong call-to-action at the end.

How do I optimize my video scripts for SEO?

Incorporate relevant keywords naturally into your script and video title, description, and tags. This will help your videos rank better in search results and reach a broader audience.

How long should my YouTube video scripts be?

Keep your scripts concise and to the point, but ensure they cover the essential information. On average, a 5 to 7-minute video typically works well for maintaining audience engagement.

How do I create a compelling hook for my video scripts?

Start with a captivating hook in the first few seconds of your video to grab viewers’ attention. You can use a thought-provoking question, a surprising statistic, or an intriguing anecdote to draw them in.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.