As you know, the first 30 seconds of your video are sacred ground. Sacred.

If you lose someone there, you don’t get them back.

And if your analytics graph looks like a gigantic ski slope, don’t panic.

No need to become an excellent skier.

The fix is simple.

So let’s talk about it.

Let's fix your flaccid intros once and for all…

Because right now your hook has the grip strength of a damp tortilla.

1. You’re not delivering on the title fast enough

You’ve hooked them with a great title and thumbnail. Now prove it was worth the click.

“Hook the heck out of people, [show] them what they clicked on… get right into it and overdeliver.” – MrBeast

Fix it:

• Show the core idea in the first 5 seconds. If the title is “I Survived 24 Hours in a Haunted House,” we better see cobwebs and terror immediately.

• Skip the boring stuff. No one cares about your name, rambling intro, or fancy logo—especially if they’ve never seen you before. Humble yourself.

2. You’re not creating curiosity (fast enough)

Facts inform. Curiosity hooks. Viewers need to know what’s at stake or what surprise is coming.

Fix it:

• Use open loops: tease something wild that comes later. Ask questions.

• Drop one killer line early: “And that’s not even the craziest part.”

• Hold back the full picture just long enough to make them lean in. Be a tease.

3. Sorry, you've gotta sell

The first 30 seconds isn’t your moment to make art. It’s your moment to sell it.

“The first 30 seconds is the sales pitch. After that, you get to be a creator.” – MrBeast (via Colin & Samir)

You’re a creator, yes—but first, you’re a salesperson.

Before you dive into your cinematic masterpiece, your thoughtful and awe-inspiring monologue, or your life-changing tutorial, you need to convince the viewer they should stick around.

That’s the pitch.

Fix it:

• Write a script (or rough script) of the main points you need to hit.

• Swallow your pride and sell it! (You've put so much effort into this video for it to go to waste.)

• Sell the story up top. Then go create your heart out.

4. You’re editing for speed, not retention

Fast cuts don’t equal interesting. Great creators like Gawx and Better Ideas know the difference between pace and pull—between mindless speed and intentional attention. It’s not about being fast, it’s about being deliberate. Every frame, every word, every silence must serve a purpose. Speed without tension is just noise. Pull is when the viewer leans forward because they have to see what’s next.

Fix it:

• Introduce a new visual or idea every 3–7 seconds BUT ensure it either enhances the story or creates curiosity.

• Add a second hook by second 20–30. Surprise, raise the stakes, or tease what’s next.

“In every MrBeast video, you know what the video is about, what the stakes are, and why you should care—all within the first 40 seconds.” – Paddy Galloway

Quickfire takeaways:

• No filler. Kill the logos, intros, rambling, and anything ugly (please, dear Lord).

• Tease and deliver. Give what the title promised, then show there’s more. Much more.

• Layer your hooks. Don’t blow everything in the first 10 seconds—build curiosity.

• Think like a marketer, not just a creator. In the hook, you’re not making art yet... you’re selling yourself to earn their attention.

• Retention is about intentionality, not speed.

Remember...

If people drop off after 30 seconds, they’re not rejecting you.

They’re rejecting the version of you that forgot to be interesting.

Your Next Move:

Rewatch your first 30 seconds like a cold viewer. Are you interested? Intrigued? Glued?

If not, darling, you’ve got edits to make.

Study the masters inside Glazed Directory. Steal their hooks. Copy their pacing. Match their honesty.

Because if you can’t hook, you don’t scale. 😉