Tips to Make an Interesting YouTube Intro With 20 Examples

When you’ve been on YouTube long enough, you know that the intro to the video can sometimes be more important than the rest of it. It’s a hook that decides whether or not the audience might stay. Call it a high-stakes handshake.

After working with thousands of creators at every level, here’s what we learned: the best intros are functional ones. Here’s what works best.

Mistakes That Ruin Your Intro

Before we begin, remember: a long intro is not a sign of brand strength. Too long of an intro is boring for the audience. We’ve seen channels with 2M+ subs lose about 35% of views in the first five seconds just because they insisted on a 1-minute logo animation. 

Most often the things that ruin everything are the simplest ones. Nowadays, starting a video with a ‘Hello, this is [channel name]’ could be a sure way to be skipped. A similar mistake is to make overly-long explanations about what the video would be like. Or if you make an intro without the reason for the audience to stick around for more.

How do you understand that your intro is weak? 

• People click, but don’t stick around longer than 30 seconds;
• Low subs, even if the video has views;
• Many clicks from the recommendations page, but not a lot of watch-time.

How do you fix that? 

• Learn from the best. See how the top channels of your niche do their intros;
• Write the intro scenario, then rewrite it until it feels as engaging as possible;
• Ask someone to look at the intro with the outside eye;
• Test it. Make 2 versions of an intro and watch how the retention changes.

If you’re unsure why people aren’t sticking around, we can show you. Retention-analytics is the best way to ‘diagnose’ a video if you know what you’re looking for. Now let’s dive into the ideas.

1. A Shocking Number

While it’s completely normal to start with the usual greeting (like so many YouTubers do), if you want to truly attract attention, and compel your viewers to watch until the very end of the video, you can start with a shocking number. 

Usually a greeting like this works best if your channel is educational in some way or if you describe the real-life events in any way. Just be respectful about it.

2. A Question That Your Audience Would Want to Answer

The best intros answer the viewer’s unspoken question: “Why should I care?” Humans as species are naturally hardwired to be curious. It is simply in our nature to ask and answer questions. Therefore, asking a question that your audience will find interesting or compelling will naturally cause them to remain to find out the answer. The beginning like that works for any type of channels be it educational, entertainment, gaming, you name it! 

Just put an appropriate question for your niche at the start of your video (which you can answer right away or at the end of the video), either way you choose, it works. 

3. Reaction From the Audience

Showing the reaction of your audience to something first could hook them to watch the rest of the video. Display a comment that sets up the topic. Makes the viewer feel like this video is made specifically for them. It’s disarming!

This beginning works the best for channels specializing in reviews of every kind. Moreover, an intro such as this can work on multiple challenge videos.

4. “I Tried… So You Don’t Have to”

Fortunately or not, the modern world has a lot of products and things that can make an average consumer confused to say the least. “I tried [a thing] so you don’t have to” introduction immediately peaks interest from the audience, especially when they are searching for a specific product/service/thing and you happen to be reviewing the exact thing they laid their eyes upon. 

It is a good way to hook, build both interest and trust. We can tell you already that such introductions often find success within the audience.

5. A High-Stakes Moment

In the sea of entertainment (especially gaming content), these intros work the best. You immediately show the most touch/clutch moment or the most emotional moment and go from there to the greeting. 

Why does this work? Because, again, it plays on the natural curiosity. Viewers would want to find out more about how you managed to lock yourself in such a situation. Think about the ‘subtle foreshadowing’ trend on TikTok. It worked sort of similar and it grew almost overnight playing on the very same feelings.

Wondering why your YouTube intros don’t work as intended? 

Apply for an audit and we will help you to figure out the root of the problem! Stop guessing and start growing! 

6. “Today We Will Learn Why/How…”

This intro works especially well for the educational/how-to channels, but can also do wonders for other niches like fitness (today we learn how to do deadlift, for example). Why? Again, it plays on curiosity and the inner desire to learn more about things that interest us most. Pair this beginning with an upbeat voice and compelling visuals and people would want to stay and learn how you make a thing that your video is about!

7. “This Is Everything You Need to Know”

This intro is a bit similar to the previous one, but at the same time it couldn’t be more different. A beginning like that works best for ‘lore’ channels, history channels, or educational channels in general. 

It works as well as it does because it promises the viewer a deep overview on the thing they are (hopefully) interested in. And what is more compelling than that?

8. Teaser Before the Logo

Teasing the content before the logo is usually the way to go if you are in the documentary/reviewing niche. It builds suspense and general interest even before going into the video fully. It’s a great way to show what the audience will be getting in the end. Just be sure not to spoil too much in those first few precious seconds.

9. Straight Into Action

Many famous YouTubers use this trick, skipping all the fluff of the introduction and jumping straight into the middle of the action. It’s important to remember that if you are in the niche where your audience is less patient (and such is especially true when you have younger demographics), it’s better to use this trick to compel them to watch to the end.

10. Personal Fail

If you’re a storytime YouTuber, you know how it goes: being vulnerable with your audience is what draws them in. If you are open, it builds trust and it hooks the viewers on your personality. So why not begin the video with one such sentence? It can be framed in a jokey manner, it can be completely serious. What matters is that speaking about your personal failures makes you more relatable in the eyes of your audience.

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11. “I Thought This Would be Easy, I Was Wrong”

This one hits several targets: it’s relatable, it can be funny, and it’s very curiosity-driven. It has it all. If your YouTube channel is all about challenges be it in games or otherwise, this intro could work for you. 

12. Comparisons 

What's a better way to interest than to compare between two very similar (and different at the same time) options? Ask ‘what’s better this or that?’, create intrigue, add correlating visuals and there you have it - a great intro for any channel that can add a bit of spice into your content.

13. “You Asked We Answer/Do”

A great way to interest your audience is to involve them in your content (which includes the introduction). ‘You asked and we answer/do’ is a great way to achieve just that. It kills several birds with one stone: evokes curiosity, builds suspense, and adds a layer of interactivity on top. Sprinkle in some jokes and silliness for a good measure and you have a great intro on your hands.

14. Begin With a Story

History and storylines go hand in hand, so if you’re a history channel that wants to hook your audience within the first few seconds - tell a story. You can talk about historical figures, events, and everything in between. Starting your video with ‘imagine [a thing]’ opens so many possibilities and puts your viewers in the mindset of the story and the period you describe. 

Such an intro doesn’t only work for history channels, mind. If you specialize in storytelling or if you are a vlogger, such an intro can help you be more relatable to your audience. 

15. Visual Surprise

Are you into pranks or storytime videos? Do you make animations on YouTube or show art in different ways? Why not start your video with something unexpected and deeply visual? It’s a great way to show your personality through several short seconds. It’s also a great way to subtly tell what the video is going to be about. 

16. A Meme/A Joke

Similar to the previous point, you can start a video with a meme or a joke. This sort of starter is fitting for every niche as long as it fits with your personality. However, it’s important to remember that some topics that can be discussed in YouTube videos are better touched without jokes. Be sensible and the audience will follow.

17. Bits of the Material You Are Reviewing

It is sort of similar to teasing before the introduction, however, this is specifically for the reviewers out there. Start out with small bits of the ‘source material’ you are reviewing, show little clips that allude to the angle you will be choosing while analyzing and talking about it in the video. It is also a great way to promote the original product if that’s your goal. 

18. Emotion

Even in professional content, emotions connect. A laugh, a blooper, a pause. It’s very disarming and somewhat charming if done the right way. For example, you could start the video with a one-liner or showcase a strong emotion. It’s magnetic, it’s relatable, it drives the viewers in, so you can try it out. This sort of start works for every niche out there.

19. Borrow From Film Trailers

Make an introduction as if you were making a movie trailer. Borrow the cinematography, style it as if the viewer is about to watch a movie (with you as the star). This works great for documentaries or video essays, because it puts the audience in the mood of what they’re about to see. 

20. Your Signature Entry

Sometimes, the best intro is the one that’s unmistakably yours. Who can forget ‘top of the mornin’ to you’ by Jackseptickeye or ‘hello everybody, my name is Markiplier’, or the famous ‘how’s it going bros, my name’s PewDiePie’? The way you begin your videos can be different every time if you want so, but it can also be distinctly yours and the same every time. Consistency is equally as compelling to the audience as spiced-up intros that are new every time. 

The best intros don’t feel like intros. They feel like the start of a story. They move the plot forward. They make the viewer lean in. If your intro gets people to think, “I need to see what happens next,” you’ve won.

Want us to help redesign your intro strategy? Apply for a channel audit: we’ll break down what’s working, what’s costing you retention, and what kind of hook would work best for your niche.