Great videos are scripted, even when they sound unscripted. This template gives you the skeleton every high-retention video follows — fill in your topic.
| Section | Copy-paste template |
|---|---|
| Cold open (0-15s) | {Hook that stops the scroll}: '{bold claim or question}' — then the promise: 'In this video you'll learn {outcome}.' |
| Pattern interrupt (15-30s) | Change of scene, visual, or tone — show the result early (proof shot). |
| Context (30-60s) | Who this is for: "If you {pain point}, this is for you." One line on why it matters. |
| Value section 1 | {Topic point 1}: claim + example + takeaway. Include a visual or demo. |
| Value section 2 | {Topic point 2}: claim + example + takeaway. |
| Value section 3 | {Topic point 3}: claim + example + takeaway. |
| Recap + CTA (last 30s) | Summarize the 3 takeaways, then: 'If this helped, subscribe + comment {question}.' Then end screen. |
Write the cold open LAST — you'll know the real hook after writing the body. Keep value sections to 3 max (retention drops past ~10 min without variety). Read the script aloud once before recording.
About 130-150 words per minute of video. A 10-minute video ≈ 1,300-1,500 words.
No — use bullet beats and improvise the words. Memorized scripts sound flat.
The first 30 seconds. If you lose viewers there, the rest doesn't matter.
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