Let me spill a little secret.
Your content seems stuck at around 200 views, and the missing ingredient? Tension.
It's what stops the endless scroll and gets viewers to pause and think, "Wait, I gotta see what happens next."
The key is to introduce a problem that viewers are itching to see solved. This not only stops the scroll but keeps the audience hooked till the end, waiting to see how things play out. You can also create tension by adding a consequence or a reward, but for now, we're really focusing on making the problem the main source of tension.
But, it's not as easy as seasoning a dish with salt; mastering the art of creating tension involves studying successful creators who nail it.
Take, for example, psychologist Julie Smith's video.
Dr. Julie Smith
Did you feel the tension? She lights a match at the start and keeps it burning throughout, getting closer to her fingers as she speaks, symbolizing the stress of mental burnout. This visual cue enhances the story with a tangible sense of tension. No wonder her video got over 4 million views - it keeps viewers on edge, eager to see what happens to the match. The burning question of whether she'll burn her fingers makes it hard for viewers to click away, drawing them in to learn from the smart metaphor on mental exhaustion.
Additionally, Smith increases the tension with her verbal narrative. By explaining what psychological burnout does to the mind and body, she causes the viewer to begin wondering if they show symptoms of burnout too as they keep answering yes to her rhetorical questions.
When you create your content, think about crafting the beginning carefully. Can you present a problem that hooks viewers, making it impossible for them to leave without finding out the solution? Building tension is key to making top-notch content.
You don't need to start from scratch to get this. We've spent hours studying how top creators use these techniques, and we're thrilled to share our insights with you.
Want help with your social media strategy? Connect 1-on-1 with Hook Point's team here to see if we are the right fit to work together.
