291 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
291 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
---
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name: youtube-video-hook
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description: Skill for creating optimized YouTube video opening hooks (first 5-30 seconds) that maximize viewer retention and watch time. Use when planning video scripts, reviewing video openings, or optimizing existing content for better retention metrics.
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---
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# YouTube Video Hook
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## Overview
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This skill provides concrete requirements and proven patterns for creating video opening hooks that retain viewer attention, extend title/thumbnail curiosity, and maximize watch time. The opening 5-15 seconds are critical for YouTube algorithm performance and viewer retention.
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## When to Use This Skill
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Use this skill when:
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- Planning a new YouTube video script and need to design the opening hook
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- Reviewing an existing video opening for retention optimization
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- The user asks for help with video retention, watch time, or early drop-off issues
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- Creating content strategy that requires understanding of viewer psychology
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- Analyzing why a video has poor retention in the first 30 seconds
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## Core Principle
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**The opening seconds must EXTEND the curiosity created by the title and thumbnail, not repeat or waste it.**
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The viewer already clicked based on the title/thumbnail promise. The opening must ADD new intrigue and make them MORE interested, not simply restate what they already know.
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## Critical Requirements
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### 1. Curiosity Extension (CRITICAL)
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Opening seconds MUST build upon the intrigue from the title/thumbnail, never repeat it.
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**✅ CORRECT Example:**
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- Title: "Teach Your Cat 5 Tricks in 10 Minutes"
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- Opening: Rapid preview montage of impressive tricks in action
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- Viewer thinks: "Woah, I can teach my cat ALL of that in only 10 minutes?!"
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**❌ INCORRECT Example:**
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- Title: "Teach Your Cat 5 Tricks in 10 Minutes"
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- Opening: "Today we're going to look at 5 tricks you can teach your cat in 10 minutes"
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- Viewer thinks: "I know. Get on with it."
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The opening must make the viewer MORE interested than when they clicked. Viewer attention must INCREASE, not drain.
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### 2. Direct Content Connection (MANDATORY)
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Opening seconds MUST directly relate to the title and thumbnail content.
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**Rules:**
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- NO unrelated tangents or side stories in the opening
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- NO delayed starts where main content appears 1-2 minutes later
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- Visual or verbal content must be tightly connected to the promised value
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- If additional context is needed, it must come AFTER the hook is established
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**✅ CORRECT:** "Secret Fruit Trick" video → Opens immediately showing or teasing the trick
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**❌ INCORRECT:** "Secret Fruit Trick" video → Opens with "Hi everyone, I'm June, thanks for watching! I absolutely adore fruit so much! I usually eat like 10 pieces a day! I got this habit from my grandmother who..."
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### 3. Forbidden Opening Patterns
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These patterns are DISQUALIFYING violations that cause immediate failure:
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#### 3.1 DO NOT Repeat the Title (FORBIDDEN)
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Never verbally restate what the title already communicated.
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**Examples of FORBIDDEN openings:**
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- Title: "Python Tutorial for Beginners" → Opening: "Hello! In this video I am going to give you a tutorial of Python for beginners!"
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- Title: "5 Photography Mistakes" → Opening: "Today I'm going to show you 5 photography mistakes"
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**Why:** The viewer already has this information. Repetition drains attention.
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#### 3.2 DO NOT Welcome the Viewer First (FORBIDDEN)
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Never start with greetings, channel welcomes, or introductions before the hook.
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**Examples of FORBIDDEN openings:**
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- "Hi guys, welcome to my video, I'm Joe! It's so good to see you again..."
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- "Hello everyone and welcome back to the channel..."
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- "Hey what's up, thanks so much for clicking on this video..."
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**Why:** This is friendly but not engaging for first-time viewers and doesn't build upon title/thumbnail momentum.
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**Exception:** Welcomes and introductions are acceptable AFTER the initial hook is established (after first 15 seconds).
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#### 3.3 DO NOT Start with Unrelated Content (FORBIDDEN)
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Never open with tangents, stories, or content disconnected from the title/thumbnail promise.
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**Examples of FORBIDDEN openings:**
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- Title: "Cat Tricks Tutorial" → Opening: Walking down sidewalk talking about a new car for 1-2 minutes
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- Title: "Secret Fruit Trick" → Opening: Extended story about grandmother's fruit-eating habits
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**Why:** Viewer confusion triggers abandonment. YouTube interprets this as low-quality content.
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## Effective Opening Hook Patterns
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Use one of these proven hook structures:
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### Pattern A: Preview/Teaser
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Show a brief glimpse of the payoff.
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**Example:** Quick montage of the 5 cat tricks in action (visual proof of value)
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**Creates thought:** "I need to know how to do that!"
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### Pattern B: Intrigue Escalation
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Add surprising context that makes the promise MORE compelling.
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**Example:** Title about a trick → Open with "What I'm about to show you took professionals years to discover, but you'll learn it in 60 seconds"
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**Creates thought:** "This is even better than I expected!"
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### Pattern C: Problem Amplification
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Immediately validate why the viewer needs this content.
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**Example:** Title about mistakes → Open with "If you're doing [X], you're losing [specific bad outcome]"
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**Creates thought:** "I need to fix this now!"
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### Pattern D: Immediate Value Demonstration
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Jump straight into delivering on the promise. No preamble, just results.
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**Creates thought:** "This is exactly what I came for!"
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## Hook Timing Requirements
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**Critical timing rules:**
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1. **Hook must occur within 5-15 seconds**
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- Absolute maximum: 15 seconds before delivering hook
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- Optimal: 3-8 seconds
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2. **After hook is established (within first 15 seconds), THEN:**
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- Brief introduction is acceptable (5-10 seconds max)
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- Transition to main content
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- Any necessary context or background
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3. **Main promised content must begin within 30 seconds of video start**
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## Content Type Applications
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### Educational Content (Tutorials, How-To, DIY)
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**Open with result preview or value proof:**
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- Show quick clips of the end result
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- Demonstrate the transformation/skill
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- Validate that the tutorial delivers real value
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**DO NOT open with explanations:**
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- ❌ FORBIDDEN: "In this tutorial I'm going to teach you..."
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- ✅ REQUIRED: Jump into a preview or start teaching immediately
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### Entertainment Content (Vlogs, Gaming, Challenges)
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**Open with the most exciting/surprising moment:**
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- Lead with drama, excitement, or unexpected elements
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- Create immediate emotional engagement
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- Start in the middle of the action
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**DO NOT open with setup or context:**
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- Context can come after the hook
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### List/Compilation Videos
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**Tease the most interesting items without revealing details:**
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- Show glimpses that create curiosity
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- DO NOT list the items by name in order
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- Create urgency: "Wait until you see number 3..." or "The last one will shock you..."
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## Quality Verification Checklist
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Before finalizing any opening hook, verify ALL of these:
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- [ ] **Non-Repetition Test:** Does this opening repeat the title? (Must be NO)
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- [ ] **Curiosity Extension Test:** Does this make viewers MORE curious than the title/thumbnail alone?
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- [ ] **Direct Connection Test:** Is this immediately related to what the title/thumbnail promised?
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- [ ] **No Welcome First Test:** Does this avoid welcoming viewers before the hook? (Must be YES)
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- [ ] **Attention Increase Test:** Will this INCREASE viewer attention meter, not drain it?
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- [ ] **Click Validation Test:** Does this confirm to the viewer they made the right choice clicking?
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- [ ] **Hook Timing Test:** Does the hook occur within 5-15 seconds?
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## Common Failure Patterns
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### Pattern 1: The Friendly But Boring Welcome
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```
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❌ "Hi guys, welcome to my video, I'm Sarah!
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Thanks so much for being here today..."
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```
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**Problem:** Drains attention before value is delivered.
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### Pattern 2: The Exact Repetition
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```
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❌ Title: "5 iPhone Hidden Features"
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Opening: "Today I'm showing you 5 hidden iPhone features"
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```
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**Problem:** Viewer already knows this. No new information.
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### Pattern 3: The Meandering Start
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```
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❌ Title: "Amazing Cooking Hack"
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Opening: "So I was at the store yesterday and I saw
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this interesting ingredient and it reminded me of..."
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```
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**Problem:** Takes too long to get to the promised content.
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### Pattern 4: The Over-Explanation
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```
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❌ "Before we get started, let me explain why this is
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important and give you some background on..."
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```
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**Problem:** Delays the payoff. Viewer loses patience.
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## Success Patterns
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### Pattern 1: Immediate Value
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```
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✅ Title: "Amazing Cooking Hack"
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Opening: [Shows the hack in action immediately]
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"Watch this..." [demonstrates stunning result in 3 seconds]
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```
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### Pattern 2: Curiosity Escalation
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```
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✅ Title: "iPhone Hidden Feature"
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Opening: "Your iPhone has been hiding this from you..."
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[Shows something unexpected happening on screen]
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```
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### Pattern 3: Preview Montage
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```
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✅ Title: "5 Photoshop Tricks"
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Opening: [3-second rapid montage of all 5 tricks' results]
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"You're about to learn all of these..."
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```
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## Implementation Workflow
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When creating or reviewing opening hooks, follow this workflow:
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1. **Review title and thumbnail** - Understand what curiosity was created
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2. **Identify the escalation** - How can the opening make it MORE intriguing?
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3. **Choose hook pattern** - Which structure (A/B/C/D) best serves the content?
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4. **Write/plan opening** - Create the first 15 seconds of content
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5. **Apply verification checklist** - Ensure all 7 requirements are met
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6. **Time check** - Confirm hook occurs within 5-15 seconds
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7. **Test against forbidden patterns** - Ensure none of the 3 forbidden patterns are present
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## YouTube Algorithm Implications
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Understanding the algorithmic impact of opening seconds:
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**Opening seconds directly impact:**
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- Early abandonment rate (negative signal to YouTube)
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- Average view duration (positive signal to YouTube)
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- Video surface probability in recommendations
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**Optimization for watch time:**
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- Longer viewer retention = more watch time
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- More watch time = YouTube values video higher
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- Higher value = more visibility and recommendations
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**Patterns that cause quick abandonment:**
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- Confusion (unrelated opening)
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- Boredom (repetitive opening)
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- Disappointment (mismatched expectations)
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## Critical Success Factors
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**Priority Order (highest to lowest):**
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1. DO NOT repeat the title (instant failure if violated)
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2. Extend curiosity beyond title/thumbnail
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3. Connect directly to promised content
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4. DO NOT welcome viewers first
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5. Deliver hook within 5-15 seconds
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**CRITICAL:** If opening seconds repeat the title, welcome viewers first, or start with unrelated content, the hook has FAILED regardless of other qualities. These are disqualifying violations that must be corrected.
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## Key Reminders
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- Title/thumbnail got the click → Opening must JUSTIFY and EXTEND that decision
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- Viewer attention meter must INCREASE, never decrease
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- Every second in the opening counts toward retention or abandonment
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- YouTube is watching viewer behavior in opening seconds closely
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- Quick abandonment signals = video suppression
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- Strong retention = video promotion
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