Reels not going ✨ viral ✨ yet? TRY THIS!

So, your Reels and TikToks haven’t gone viral yet. 

That’s OK! Going viral is *not* the end-all-be-all of social media. What *really* matters is connecting with your intended audience and growing an authentic following. Of course, going viral would be nice too. 😉

However, all that means is that it’s important to make quality content that people LOVE and want to watch again and again. (Which, inadvertently, can make you go viral!)

So today I want to share 3 tips to help you improve your short-form video content. Because every successful Reel or TikTok I’ve seen? They all have these 3 things: 

They have a HOOK 🪝

A hook is a reason to keep watching. It usually happens within the first 3 seconds of your video and should capture your audience’s attention. It should *also* give the viewer some idea as to what the rest of the video is going to be about so they know what they’re getting into. Play around with your hooks and try something dramatic, funny, or surprising!

They have QUICK PACING ⚡

There’s really no one-size-fits-all rule to pacing short videos, but typically I like to keep each clip about 1 second or less. YES, it really goes that fast. PRO TIP: When there’s movement in the video, make sure to crop the clip down as much as you can so you get *just* the beginning of the movement and *just* the end of the movement. Essentially, you don’t want a lot of “dead space” around the important part of the clip! 

They add VALUE 💰 

In some way, your video should improve your viewer’s life. That might sound a tad dramatic, but really it just means your video should either be a) informative, b) entertaining, or c) inspiring in some way. Your video could make your audience laugh, could teach them a quick tip they didn’t know before, or it could motivate them to try a new recipe. Think about how your video adds value to your audience’s lives and capitalize on that!

So next time you head to your phone to edit a new Reel or TikTok, consider if you’ve included an engaging hook, made sure that the pacing is quick enough, and that the video adds some sort of value.  

If you’ve done those three things, you’re well on your way to making a great vid!

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P.S. Want to learn more about how I make my videos stand out? We shared FIVE ways you can incorporate composition into your video creation process to make videos that show off your delicious food just as well as your photos do! Check them out HERE!