Start Late - A Tip on How to HOOK YOUR VIEWERS!

The art of storytelling can be quite tricky, especially in short-form content. However, there are several techniques you could use to really hook a viewer in and keep them watching. One of these techniques is to start late.

Instead of starting your story or your idea with some background, get right into the action. Get to the point! As viewers are scrolling through the many TikToks on the platform, how are you going to grab their attention? That half-second you have as someone may be quickly scrolling is your best chance to make an impression.

Here's an example:
Instead of a story where you say...

"Today I went to the store to grab some toothpaste. When I went to grab it, I saw a shiny box that was almost hidden behind a bunch of toothpaste boxes. I thought, "what the heck?" so I moved the boxes out of the way to get it"

Try something like..

"I FOUND something hidden behind a bunch of toothpaste boxes at the store! I was there to grab toothpaste, but noticed something shiny behind all the boxes"

While it may sound exaggerated, the point remains the same except it's achieved sooner, in a 'flashier' manner, and can grab more attention. Of course, this does vary with the style of every creator and maybe your content doesn't tell a cohesive story like this. That's where your editing really comes into play.

Say you make more visual content such as a DIY. Instead of starting from the very first step, try showing the end-result first! Get viewers excited on what you made or what they can achieve so they stick around to know how to achieve it. This also includes the individual steps or beats in a video. Each part should lead into the next, keeping the energy and flow consistent.