Create a YouTube Intro that Hooks New Viewers

Why do most viewers leave your video in the first 5 seconds?

It’s not because your YouTube video is bad! It’s because the intro doesn’t deliver what the title and thumbnail promised. They clicked because they wanted something, that something you promised with a good title and thumbnail. 

If the video starts slow or doesn’t make sense right away, they’ll leave.

Don’t stretch it out. Just show what they came for. Top creators nail their YouTube intros.

How to do a YouTube intro

They create the title, thumbnail, and intro together.

They ask: what did I promise? Then they make sure the intro delivers on that, and fast!

So how can you create a good YouTube intro?

A good intro:

✅ matches the title and thumbnail

✅ gives a reason to stay

✅ feels like “yes! this is what i came for”

Also, keep it short. 10 to 20 seconds max. That’s enough to hook the viewer. 

Long intros lose attention and it feels like you're stalling or just rambling.

A bad intro:

❌ starts with “hey guys...”

❌ takes too long to get to the point

❌ feels different from the title/thumbnail

Examples of good YouTube intro phrases:

✅ "I spent 3 months on this, here’s what I got wrong"

✅ "if your videos only get 12 views, this is why"

✅ "I wasted $1k on ads, here’s what happened"

Use quick edits, captions, and voiceovers. Whatever keeps your viewers locked in and wanting to see more.

Rewrite your intro if it feels weak. More time invested in your intro = more viewers, more love from the algorithm and more long-term YouTube success.

Bonus tip: When you make a 🔥 intro, use it as a standalone promo post on other social media channels to bring more viewers to the full video on YouTube. Like this 👇

How to do a YouTube Outro

Don’t just end with “thanks for watching.” Your viewers will click away to the next video right there.

The outro is your chance to leave the viewer with a clear point and tell them what to do next.

A good outro:

• wraps up the idea 

• gives a next step (video, comment, action) 

• gives a reason to stay on your channel or share 

• leaves the viewer with a clear takeaway
  

Bad outros: 

❌ “uh… like and subscribe?” 

❌ “so yeah… that’s it” 

❌ awkward silence and fade-out

Good outros: 

✅ “that’s the core idea, try it and tell me how it goes” 

✅ "if that helped, watch this next" 

✅ "drop a comment if you’ve been there"

Why your YouTube Intro & Outro Matter

Your intro is the hook. Your outro is the handoff.

If both are strong, people stay longer, remember you, and come back.

If either one is weak, they leave and probably regret clicking on your video in the first place.

Ready to make intros that pop on your channel? Check out our editing packages and start boosting your retention rate from your next video 🤝