You must be aware of how important it is to have a YouTube script as a YouTuber. It’ll aid one in organizing thoughts and telling a compelling story. A YouTube script will additionally allow you to start speaking clearly, so you’ll avoid general mistakes people make while speaking. You will no longer mess up words or say “um” many times. Also, you won’t forget the things you intended to say. When you write a good YouTube script, you’ll be able to fix a whole lot of problems.
Read on to find out more about a YouTube script and how to ensure that yours engages and remains natural.
What is a YouTube Script?
A YouTube script is a document describing the things that’ll happen in a video. It contains information on the characters, plot, action, setting, etc. of a YouTube video. One’s YouTube script is additionally an outline of what he intends to say. It is for reading while filming, then you’re also free to ad-lib and vocal experiment.
Getting Started with a YouTube Script
When you want to write a YouTube script, focusing on the audience is crucial. You want to use that document for crafting a video that they will enjoy, so your script must speak to viewers in a direct manner. Follow these steps to get started;
1. Begin with a Title and Idea
This is the foremost step and it’s simple. One needs a video title and idea before writing. It will aid him in staying on topic, grabbing the attention of viewers, and supplying details they’re craving. Writing in a perspective that engages is easy. Additionally, one must include proper keywords in his title. Doing that will surely aid a creator in writing a better script, increasing views.
2. Know Your Target Audiences
Knowing your audience before writing a YouTube script is essential. This step relates to one’s niche. Is it teen gamers creating videos, students studying overseas, or mums seeking parenting advice? When you have this information in mind, you should also go ahead in asking yourself what your audience wants in any video you are planning.
Afterwards, try delivering those values. It’s when one speaks to his target audience. An appropriate way of doing this is going ahead to research the everyday challenges and needs of your audience. Afterwards, you’re free to start crafting a video that’ll solve an issue and intensify the joy of viewers. You must know the people that are searching for your content topic and words they’re using to search.
3. Be Aware of the Voice of Your Channel
All YouTube creators have their own ‘voice’. You may be a “jester” who formulates jokes to make viewers laugh or you might be an “adventurer” taking people on journeys full of lively scenes. Whichever voice you have, utilize it whenever you want to write YouTube scripts.
This will aid you in standing out and bringing in appropriate viewers. One will be able to attract users who like one’s personality.
Outlining a YouTube Script
It’s important to outline your YouTube script and instead of building from scratch, you’re free to utilize a popular script format. Afterwards, go ahead in personalizing it for your video.
1. Video Intro
Your video’s hook or intro is the first sentence that grabs the attention of viewers in your video. It has to entertain, inform, and be emotional. When one can do all these, it will be great. Something you must do is also present the major issue you are solving. A sample is where we have a script with the title ‘Trick People to Watch Your Video’.
This video’s hook will introduce the issue, promise solutions, entertain the audience, and touch their emotion. This intro is short, engages, and then makes viewers curious to continue to watch. Hooking viewers in your video’s first seconds is very important.
2. Content and Research
In this part, one will write the bulk of his content. One may have 6-9 major points for his video. One after the other, you will assign every point subheading, then start writing the words you intend to say for the part. Remember to include useful details, even research and statistics, to support your claims.
A common mistake creators make while writing YouTube scripts is not going ahead to do thorough research and fact-check. This is important so you don’t share wrong information that’ll prevent people from building trust with you. Wrong information will destroy the great reputation you have built before.
Then, citing your YouTube videos appropriately is also important. Go through this blog post so, you can learn how to cite your videos like a pro. Also, you will learn how to cite them in MLA style, APA format, and Chicago format, and discover optional info for your YouTube citations.
3. Call to Action
An appropriate call to action must be available at all videos’ end. Many creators even demand feedback such as likes, subscriptions, comments, etc. Also, some ask viewers to register for their newsletters. One must write his call to action properly so that it will drive people to his targeted destination.
4. End Screen Elements
YouTube’s end screens are interactive outros appearing in videos’ last 5-20 seconds. You’re free to put elements that can be clicked on end screens, like a link to your site, your subscription button, and additional videos for people to view.
The end screen and CTA are correlated. You will utilize CTAs to bring the attention of viewers to end screens, then you will utilize end screens to send viewers to the place you’re aiming them to reach. A sample is when you utilize a CTA and an end screen together:
‘In case you need users to start watching your videos better — mostly free — you should view the video below (point to end-screen elements that shows a clickable video)’, by carrying this out, you are providing me with free views!’.
Tips for Your YouTube Script to Engage
After planning your YouTube script, you will have to dive into the actual writing and begin. We’ve listed top tips that you should follow to ensure that whatever you’re writing entertains and compels people. These include;
1. Utilize Short Sentences
Reading, hearing, and understanding a long sentence isn’t easy. That is why one must write brief sentences for his YouTube script, so everything will stay casual. One should lessen the info people hear so they can easily follow his thoughts.
Still, you wouldn’t like all sentences to stay short. So, ensure that your sentences’ length varies for them to flow as a natural discussion amongst colleagues.
2. Start Writing in Conversational Styles
On YouTube, you should always utilize simple words, sentences, phrases, etc. so everyone can comprehend. You wouldn’t like to sound as if you want to deliver a speech or give research presentations. Still, one shouldn’t render his script very informal to the extent that it sounds off-put.
3. Utilize Active Voice More
Whenever one is writing in an active voice, the sentence’s subject carries out action on another thing like an individual, or idea. Contrarily, when you write a sentence in a passive voice, the subject isn’t revealed upfront, and this usually confuses you. Passive sentences usually require more effort to comprehend so you should utilize active sentences more.
Example;
- Active Voice: Paul bought four cats last summer and they are adapting quickly.
- Passive Voice: Four cats were bought by Paul last summer and they are adapting quickly.
4. Include Some Humor
Humor chips in cheerful, light-hearted tones to one’s videos. However, do not overdo by trying to crack annoying jokes that results in viewers feeling uncomfortable.
5. Edit Many Times
Good writing takes time, therefore read your YouTube script again and again till you are okay.
6. Get Feedback
Getting feedback before uploading your video will really help. You’re free to seek opinions from colleagues or family on what they’re thinking. You can even receive serious feedback from scriptwriters.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of writing a YouTube script is that one mustn’t be a professional. Anybody can make visions for his YouTube videos, from storylines to spoken words to effects. When creating unique scripts, there is a major thing one must learn which is knowing how to prioritize his viewers.
As a creator, my YouTube scripts always engage because I understand my audience and write for them. Before writing any of my YouTube scripts, I always ask myself, “What’s that issue I must aid my audience in solving? How will I find a solution that will be helpful to my viewers? Read through this guide so you can start writing powerful YouTube scripts.