BITE-SIZE TUTORIAL FOR MAKING SHORT BUT ENGAGING VIDEOS

HOW TWO WEIRD DREAMS TAUGHT ME TO EMBRACE THE FUTURE

I had TWO WEIRD DREAMS about social media that taught me to PIVOT into a future I was fighting to resist 🤭.

Here’s where it started. 

I was sitting on a park bench with a young woman in one dream.

She sat there, listening and hanging onto my every word.

That was up until I tried to show her a non-animated image.

When that happened, she looked away to watch a giant screen that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

So what does this mean? Keep reading — I’ll tell you. 

Here’s the next dream. 

In some dreams, I watch myself talk and interact with others.

But this dream was different. I saw what I saw through my eyes.

And what I saw was a little screen that switched a lot. Every few seconds, there was a new video clip. It was like TikToks, Shorts, or Reels in real life.

A surprising twist.

Both dreams were before TikTok, Shorts, or Reels existed.

I even talked about these dreams on Periscope Live.

Do you know what Periscope is?

It was an app that let you stream live videos.

But it doesn’t exist anymore. That’s how long ago I had these dreams.

That means I saw the future in my dreams. 

That’s what made me realize that video is the future . . . And that future is now.

So if you resisted the short video trend like I did ⸻ STOP🛑!

Because short videos are the internet’s new big thing.

DOMINATE YOUR NICHE WITH SHORT VIDEOS (WHAT I WISH I KNEW SOONER)

Maybe you’re not sold on why you should make short videos ⸻ YET. But here’s why you should be convinced.

Short videos can do a lot of things for you and your brand. 

They can help you stand out from the crowd, connect with your audience, and flood a niche with your content. AWEsome.

And if that’s not enough reason . . . ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Below are SEVEN USEFUL WAYS short videos can help you dominate a niche. These are THE BENEFITS I WISH I KNEW when I started making videos. And don’t worry. It’s not too late for you to start.

Get attention in a snap 🫰🏽 

In our fast-paced world, short videos grab and hold viewers’ attention like nothing else. 

They’re typically 60 seconds or less, so they’re easy to share on social media. That’s why they can go viral in no time. Just think of how many views and reactions some TikToks, Shorts, or Instagram Reels videos get.

Getting views and capturing attention in crowded, noisy online spaces is a must if you want to dominate a niche.

But that’s not the only reason why you should love short videos. Here’s another.

@lolacabaya Rising Sun Redbud Tree ✨ #thesmokingprophet #ncgardens #ncgardening #redbud #risingsun #risingsunredbud #easytogrow #smalltrees #secretgarden #gardentherapy ♬ Wonder

Save time + money ⏳

Technology makes it easier to create videos that look good without hiring a pro. Short videos are also cheaper to make than longer videos. 

So thankfully, you don’t need fancy tools, a lot of time, or money to make short videos. With smartphones and user-friendly editing software, you can use your phone and some apps to make them quickly and easily.

Making more videos in less time helps you post more consistently and frequently. And this is a proven way to dominate a niche. 

That’s convincing, I know. But it gets even better. Check this out.

@lolacabaya Watch my first peony grow. #thesmokingprophet #ncgardens #growingpeonies #peonyflowers #pinkthings #thismakesmesmile ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya

Ignite engagement + awareness 📈

People love short videos because they’re quick to watch and fun to share. So if you need to boost your reach and make viewers crave your stuff, make and share short videos. 

This can get your videos in front of more people, grow your online community, make more sales, and help you dominate a niche. 

And you know what else? Short videos also give you instant feedback from viewers. Let me explain.

@lolacabaya stop trying to go big and just go start already 😒🤷🏽‍♀️ #thesmokingprophet #socialmediapredictions #setintentionsdaily #propheticaffirmation #affirmationquote #listenableaffirmations #listenable ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya

Get instant feedback 🔁

Short videos can show you ASAP if people like your stuff or not. Because the feedback loop is instant. 

Don’t believe me? Check the real-time views, reactions, shares, and comments.

Then use the feedback to identify what works, what doesn’t, and what to do next! 

The instant feedback helps you dominate a niche by revealing how to pivot for an immediate win. 

That’s AHmazing, right? But wait, there’s more.

You can reuse one short video in so many ways. Here’s how.

@lolacabaya 🙌🏽 because you sometimes have to audibly give uour body permission to heal…Lord, help my body release what my mind remembers. ☝🏽🙏🏽 #thesmokingprophet #listenableaffirmations #affirmationquote #thingsiwishiknewyesterday #upliftingthoughts #intuitivethoughts #listenable #propheticaffirmation ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya

Repurpose for any platform ♻️

I share my short videos on five different social networks. Not only that, I sometimes send short videos in emails and texts to market my stuff. 

That means I make a short video once and MULTIPLY my reach by using it in many ways. This is why short videos are a POWERFUL way to dominate a niche. 

But you know what else I love? They can also help you build trust with your audience. Want to know why? Keep reading.

@lolacabaya a reminder that every person, place, and position is NOT deserving of your energy. 🫶🏽 #thesmokingprophet #nedranuggets #aliensuperstar #listenable #affirmationquote @Nedra Glover Tawwab, LCSW ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya

Build trust + authority 💥

Imagine being the go-to person in your niche, with a loyal and engaged audience that trusts and supports you. That’s what short videos can do for you. 

By creating authentic and engaging short videos, you can show your personality and experience. As you do this, trust and authority will come. Both trust and authority leads to influence, and that helps you dominate a niche. 

That’s POWERful. But there’s one more reason why you should embrace short-form videos. And it’s a big one!

@lolacabaya Insecurity talks real loud when comparison is around 🙄 So let’s silence that insecurity and master confidence with this strategy. 👏🏽#thesmokingprophet #calledtocreate #propheticaffirmations #propheticpodcast #smallcreatortiktok ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya

Attract influential audiences 🧲

Short videos are more than just fun. They’re POWERful pawns to charm your audience. 

Ever watched a short video that made you laugh, cry, or buy something? I know I have. And that’s because videos have a way of charming us. One moment you’re watching, and the next, you’re buying. 

Have you ever watched a video of someone doing good deeds or interacting warmly with a loved one, and suddenly you looked at that person differently?

That’s the power of short-form video content. It can influence your emotions and actions in a matter of seconds. 

And get this . . . younger audiences prefer short-form video content over long formats, especially Gen Z.

By the way, you don’t want to ignore Gen Z. Because this growing and influential group is key to niche domination. 

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HOW TO MAKE SHORT VIDEOS IN MINUTES 

Now you know how short-form video content can help you dominate a niche.

Next, let’s talk about how to make short videos in minutes. 

Guess what? You don’t need fancy equipment, a lot of time, or a huge budget to make videos that look good.

📱All you need is a smartphone AND ⸻ My HOOK, LINE, + LOOP Strategy!

Learn to record BEST QUALITY 4K videos on iPhone ⬇️⬇️⬇️

@lolacabaya FOR MY iPhone USERS 💥💥💥 Say BUH-BYE ✌🏽to bulky cameras 📸 and hello to easy, convenient, and high-quality videos 🤳🏾 recorded straight from your iPhone! 🙌🏽 in this quick tutorial, discover how to record in 4K at 60fps with crisp colors and a professional finish. #thesmokingprophet #thingsiwishiknewyesterday #upliftingthoughts #inspiringcreators #4k60fps🎞 ♬ original sound – Lola Cabaya

CATCHY OPENINGS FOR SHORT VIDEOS

Get people’s attention ASAP with a catchy opening HOOK.

A HOOK is something you say or ask at the start of your video to spark curiosity and make viewers want to watch more.

So how do you get your viewers’ attention right away?

You can use a question, a fact, a story, a joke, or anything else that sparks curiosity or emotion.

Whatever HOOK you choose ⸻ be sure it’s something that makes viewers want to know more. 🚀 Pro-tip: Curiosity is a proven psychological trigger to HOOK audiences.

HOOK EXAMPLES:

• Do you want to know the secret for making short-form videos that captivate?
• This is the biggest mistake people make when making short-form video content.
• In this video, I’m going to share the one thing you’re not doing that’s stopping you from going viral on social media.

Can you think of some HOOKS for your videos? I’d love to see them.

Share them in my private group. Scan the QR Code below to join!

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THE SECRET TO MAKING SHORT CLIPS FROM LONG VIDEOS

What if you have longer videos or podcasts that you want to repurpose into short videos?

Good news . . . 

The HOOK strategy makes turning your longer videos into short videos ridiculously easy. And the best news is you don’t need to be a professional to do this.

First ➡️ Choose a segment from the original video or podcast that is less than 60 seconds or 90 seconds at most. This is called a reel or segment.

Next ➡️ Find the most interesting or exciting part of that segment and put it at the start of the new clip. This is called a tease, and it will HOOK the viewers. Edit the video to play the tease before the entire short video plays. Keep the tease around 15-30 seconds or less.

Then ➡️ Add on-screen captions to the clip so that people can read what’s being said.

Last thing ➡️ At the end of the clip, invite viewers to watch your longer video. Tell them about your longer video in the caption, video description, or comments. 

If you do these things, you’ll create a HOOK that grabs viewers’ attention.

Hootsuite states, ‘59% of Gen Z users say they use short-form video apps to discover content that they then watch longer versions of.’

This means that short videos are not only a great way to get people’s attention but also a slick strategy to lead them to your longer content. 

160+ SOCIAL MEDIA STATISTICS MARKETERS NEED IN 2023

Do you have any longer content that you can repurpose into shorter clips?

If so, try using the HOOK strategy and let it work wonders for you! 

So now you know what a HOOK is and how to create one.

Next, I’m going to teach you about the LINE.

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HOW TO LINE VIEWERS UP WITH A CLEAR MESSAGE

The LINE is the body of your video where you deliver the most value. 

This is where you prioritize and give your video’s most useful or entertaining content.

I suggest you write out what to say. Then use what you write to make a brief bulleted list of talking points.

Use your talking points as lines to stay on target. 🎯 And to ensure you cover everything without rambling or getting off track.

❌ RAMBLING ON VIDEOS ❌ 

Have you ever watched a video of someone rambling? 

How did that make you feel? 👀

Did you lose interest or get confused? 😕

That’s why you want to avoid rambling in your videos.

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HOW TO LOOP VIEWERS IN AND INCREASE WATCH TIME

Finally, I’m going to teach you about the LOOP.

A LOOP happens when you end your video without saying goodbye or closing it off. The LOOP is a simple but effective strategy that will keep your viewers watching until the end of your video ⸻ and seamlessly LOOP them back to the beginning of your video. Most viewers won’t even notice that the video ended and started over. What a slick way to increase watch time!

COPY THESE ⑦ LOOP-MAKING TIPS:

① First, don’t say goodbye or close your video: Avoid explicitly ending your video with a statement like ‘That’s it for today’ or ‘Thanks for watching.’ Saying goodbye breaks the LOOP and makes viewers stop watching.

② Second, change scenes or switch images in your video. LOOPS need movement and flow, so change scenes. You can use images or video clips to show different angles or views of the same scene or topic.

③ Third, end your video on the same scene from the beginning. A key to making a LOOP is to end the video on the same scene you started with so the video replays without stopping.

④ Fourth, if your video has music, end it on the beat. To make the LOOP smooth and easy, end the video on a beat that naturally flows back into the beginning of the track.

⑤ Fifth, use fades or cross-dissolves. This transition effect changes one shot or image to another by making things fade or melt into each other.

⑥ Sixth, keep the LOOP short. Short LOOPS are easier to make than long ones. So try to make a LOOP that lasts 5-10 seconds. When you get good at it, you can make longer ones! I saw a loop on a 10-minute video and it was MASTERful. 

⑦ Seventh, test your LOOP before you share it. To make sure it looks smooth and has no problems like glitches or mistakes.

👋🏽 Hey! I recommend you update your social page + profile — BECAUSE you want to make a great first impression and keep in touch with followers (old + new)! ⬇️

⑤ EXAMPLES OF SHORT VIDEOS THAT USE THE HOOK, LINE, + LOOP STRATEGY

Example ① Show your viewers how you make a refreshing drink.

Start with a shot of the finished drink in a glass. Then go through the steps of making the drink like cutting the fruits. Blending the ingredients. And freezing the mixture in a rose-shaped ice tray or heart-shaped ice tray (#PaidLink). Next, pull the ice trays out of the freezer and use them to finish making your refreshing drink. End your video with the same shot of the refreshing drink in a glass. It’s so satisfying to watch!

Example ② Share an exercise routine that helps you destress and relax.

Start with a shot of yourself in a stretching pose. Then change scenes to show a timelapse of the entire routine. Use music that sets the mood. Then end your video with the same shot of yourself in the stretching pose. It teaches viewers something, makes them curious, and the LOOP keeps them glued.

Example ③ Show yourself reading a book that’s so good you can’t put it down.

Start with a shot of the page ends or the book spine. Then show yourself flipping through the pages looking happy. End with the same shot of the page ends or book spine with the title. This lets viewers see what you do offline and makes them want to know more about the book. 🚀 Pro Tip: Show the book’s page ends in the first 3 seconds. This can make people watch more because they’ll be curious to know the book’s name!

Example ④ Show off your artwork.

Start with a shot of the finished artwork, then show how you mix your colors or sketch your outline. Then apply a few strokes to your canvas or paper and fade to the end of the video with the same shot of the finished artwork. Videos like these are popular because people love seeing how art is made.

Example ⑤ Show off a home or garden project.

Start with a shot of the finished project. Then show how you prep for the project or shop for materials. Show some progress on your project and fade to the end of the video. Make sure to end with the same shot of the finished project. People love seeing before and after content! 💕

And there you have it!

This bite-size tutorial is complete!

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IT’S YOUR TURN TO TRY

This blog taught you to make engaging short videos!

Now it’s your turn to try it out and see the results for yourself! 

Remember, short videos can help you dominate a niche, especially when you use my strategy (HOOK, LINE, + LOOP). Use it to go from underdog to champion to legend! 

I mean total niche dominance. 

And don’t stop there. 

Use my strategy to draw attention to whatever else you’re doing!

I don’t want to overload you with information. But before I go, I need to share a quick secret. If you use persuasive words, it can really motivate your viewers to take action and trust you, buy from you, or work with you!

If you find that useful, read the blog below (or listen to the audio)!

Writing That Converts: Tips + Examples for Social Media Managers, Brand Managers, + Digital Creators

That’s it for now. Before you go, share this blog with a friend or leave a comment below. I need to hear from you! (I mean that ⸻ thank you.)