Guide to YouTube Success with Jenny Hoyos

Guide to YouTube Success with Jenny Hoyos

Understanding YouTube Shorts

1. Retention is Key:
   • High retention rates are crucial for YouTube shorts’ success.
   • Jenny aims for 90%+ retention and believes it’s a benchmark for short videos to go viral.
2. Viewer Expectations:
   • Crafting the perfect first frame hook is essential.
   • The first few seconds set the tone, and the hook should be visually engaging.
   • Average Scroll Through Rate is crucial, with a target of 70% or higher.
   • Jenny emphasizes the importance of making content loop-worthy for increased retention.
3. Video Length and Retention:
   • Videos around 34 seconds are optimal for Jenny, balancing retention and overall length.
   • The relationship between short length and retention depends on the content and audience.

Generating Great Ideas

1. Idea Generation Process:
   • Jenny maintains a list of a thousand video ideas.
   • Ideas come from watching YouTube, using AI suggestions, and personal experiences.
   • Best ideas often stem from real-life situations and personal interests.
2. Idea Selection Process:
   • From a pool of ideas, Jenny narrows down to 25-50 based on personal interest and potential virality.
   • Collaboration with her video editor further refines the list to the top 10.

Short Form vs. Long Form

1. Mechanism for Retention:
   • A good mechanism keeps viewers engaged till the end.
   • Examples include Mr. Beast’s closing circle in videos.
2. Different Platforms, Different Content:
   • YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels have distinct audience preferences.
   • TikTok preferred shorter, dense content, while YouTube liked slower-paced, more story-driven videos.
3. Transitioning to Long Form:
   • Jenny sees long form as a new challenge after achieving success in shorts.
   • Long form represents an opportunity for growth and a chance to connect with the audience on a deeper level.

Hot Takes and Hunches

1. Sharability Hypothesis:
   • Jenny believes that sharability matters but hasn’t conducted sufficient analysis to confirm its impact.
2. Retention Skepticism:
   • Jenny questions the absolute importance of retention, citing instances where high-retention videos didn’t necessarily lead to increased views.

Audience Considerations

1. Audience Avatar:
   • Jenny envisions her younger self and her 10-year-old nieces as part of her target audience.
   • She emphasizes the importance of speaking to the audience in a way that resonates with them.
2. Transitioning Audiences:
   • Recognizes a difference between short and long form audiences.
   • Acknowledges that not all short-form viewers will transition to long-form content.

Conclusion

Success on YouTube, particularly with shorts, requires a blend of engaging content, understanding platform dynamics, and adapting to the preferences of the target audience. While retention is crucial, experimenting with different video lengths and formats can open up new avenues for growth. For Jenny, the journey continues, with an eye on mastering long-form content and building a more personal connection with her audience.