How to Write a YouTube Video Script in 5 Easy Steps
Are you looking to grow your YouTube channel and increase your reach and engagement with your audience?
As the leading video script writing tool, we spend a lot of time studying the latest and greatest ways to grow YouTube channels. One of the key factors to achieving this is creating high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your audience. And it all starts with the right topic and a good script.
YouTube is a go-to source for many people seeking solutions to problems related to their work, education, or hobbies, with Google reporting that 70% of users turn to the platform for this purpose.
With the growing trend of video content, copywriters have an increasing opportunity to tap into the market for creating YouTube video scripts. By learning how to write effective YouTube video scripts, you can take advantage of this growing demand and carve out a market share.
What we'll cover
What makes a good YouTube video script?
A video script should be clear, concise, and engaging. It should have a strong introduction that grabs the viewer's attention and sets the tone for the rest of the video. The video script should also have a clear structure, with a well-defined beginning, middle, and end.
It's important to use a conversational tone and write as if you are talking to the viewer, not at them. This helps build a connection with the audience and makes the video more relatable and enjoyable.
The video script should also be visually descriptive, providing cues for what the viewer should see on the screen at different points in the videos. This helps keep the viewers engaged and makes the video more dynamic.
Additionally, the video script should have a clear call to action. This could be a link to a website, a product, or a request to subscribe to the YouTube channel. This helps to convert viewers into customers or followers.
Overall, a good video script should be well-written, easy to follow, and engaging for the audience. It should be visually descriptive, conversational, with a clear call to action.
What makes it different from other types of scripts?
A video script for a YouTube video is different from other types of scripts in a few key ways:
- Firstly, a video script for YouTube is typically shorter than other types of scripts, such as feature film or television scripts. This is because the average length of a YouTube video is around 15 minutes, whereas a feature film or television episode can be much longer.
- Secondly, a YouTube video script is usually more conversational in tone than other types of scripts. Since the video is likely to be a one-way conversation between the creator and the viewer, it's important to use a relatable and easy-to-understand tone.
- Thirdly, a YouTube video script often includes visual cues and descriptions, whereas other video scripts may not. This is because the script serves as a guide for the video's visual elements and helps the edit in a way that you understand what should be happening on the screen.
- Lastly, YouTube video scripts often include a call-to-action, whereas other video scripts may not. This is because video creators often use their YouTube videos to promote their products or services or encourage viewers to subscribe to their channels.
How To Write A YouTube Video Script?
Writing video scripts can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Here are 5 easy steps to help you create a script that will engage and captivate your audience:
Step 1: Identify Your Target Audience
Identifying your target audience at the onset is crucial as it will direct the general voice and tone of the script. When you create a script based on who you’re talking to, you can tailor your language, tone, and content to reach and engage that specific group of people.
It'll also help you create a clear message that speaks to their interests and needs. Without a clear understanding of your target audience, your script may not resonate with viewers and may not achieve your desired results.
By identifying your target audience, you can create a script that more viewers are likely to connect with and achieve your goals for the videos.
Here's how you can identify your target audience:
- Define the main topic or theme of the video
- Research the pain point of people who are interested in that topic or theme
- Identify the age range, gender, location, and interests of the target audience
- Analyze the competition, see who their target audience is and their relevant queries
- Look at the engagement data of your channel to see who is already watching your YouTube videos
- Create a buyer persona or a fictional representation of your ideal viewer
- Use this information to tailor the tone, language, and content of the script to appeal to the target audience
Step 2: Validate Your Topic Idea
Choosing the right topic is important because it will determine the success of your video in terms of views, engagement, and overall impact. A relevant and interesting topic will attract the right audience and keep them engaged throughout the videos.
Keyword research is a crucial step in validating your topic idea.
You can use tools like Maekersuite’s video idea planner to research video topics, search keywords and marketing angles.
This will give you an idea of the size of the potential audience and the level of competition. Additionally, you can use YouTube suggestions to kickstart some of your keyword research.
Research will also help you optimize your video for search engines by identifying the specific keywords that people are searching for related to your topic. These keywords can then be included in the video's title, description, and tags to make it more discoverable.
Check out Maekersuite’s video idea tool to find out more about idea validation.
Step 3: Create Your Script Outline
Writing a script outline is an important step in writing a script for a YouTube video. It helps organize the flow of information and a few ideas in the video and serves as a roadmap for the script's structure. You can use Maekersuite’s outline generator to quickly create a YouTube script outline.
Here's a complete breakdown of the script outline to help you understand it more easily:
Title (The Hook)
The title, also known as the "hook," is the first thing viewers will see when they come across your videos. A good hook will be attention-grabbing, informative, and reflective of the content of the video.
The title should hook viewers' attention and make them want to watch the videos. You can try new ideas and experiment with titles to get better results.
Introduction
The introduction is the opening segment of the video that sets the tone and context for the rest of the video.
It should be engaging and provide a brief overview of what the video is about. It should also create anticipation for the main content of the video.
Body
The core of the YouTube video is its body. It should be well-organized, informative, and engaging.
It should provide valuable information on the topic while keeping the audience interested. It should also keep the audience entertained and watch the video until the end.
CTA
The CTA (Call to Action) is the last segment of the video, where you ask the viewer to do something, such as subscribing to your channel, visiting your website, or leaving a comment.
You must create a clear, direct, and easy to follow CTA. It should make the viewer take some action after watching the video.
Step 4: Write, Edit, Revise
Once you have your script outline, it's time to write it. It's important to remember that the script is the foundation of the video, so it should be well-written, engaging, and informative.
When you write the script, keep the tone and language consistent with your target audience. Use a conversational and natural tone, and avoid too many ideas, industry jargon, and complex vocabulary that your audience may not understand.
As you write, it's important to keep in mind the video's length and pacing. Ensure the video's content is not too dense and the script is not too long. Also, consider the video's pacing - it should not be too slow or too fast.
After you complete the script, it's time to edit and revise. This is where you'll look for mistakes, inconsistencies, and ways to improve the script. Look for areas where you can cut out unnecessary information or tighten the language. Look for grammar and punctuation errors.
Step 5: Get Feedback
Getting feedback on your script is the last step before you move on to create videos for YouTube. It can help you identify areas for improvement and ensure that the script is engaging and resonates with your target audience.
There are several ways to get feedback on your script.
One of the most effective ways is to ask friends, family, or colleagues to read the script and provide feedback. They can offer a fresh perspective and identify any areas of confusion that need improvement.
Another way to get feedback is to ask your target audience directly. You can do this by posting a script draft on social media or a forum and asking for feedback. This can be a great way to get feedback from the people you're trying to reach with your video.
You can also seek feedback from experts in the field or professional script editors. They can provide valuable insights and feedback on the script from a professional perspective.
It's important to keep an open mind when getting feedback on your script. Not all feedback will be positive or helpful, but it's important to consider all feedback and make changes accordingly.
How long is the optimal YouTube script?
The optimal length of a YouTube script depends on the type of video and the audience. However, in general, shorter videos tend to perform better on YouTube than longer ones.
According to studies, viewers' engagement tends to remain steady for the first two minutes of a video. However, from the 2-minute mark to the 6-minute mark, there is a noticeable decline in viewer engagement, and it drops off sharply.
If viewers make it past the 6-minute mark, there is a relatively low drop-off rate until the 12-minute mark. Beyond 12 minutes, each additional minute results in a loss of viewers.
In terms of the number of words, a 2-5 minute video script should be around 250-600 words. This is equivalent to approximately 2-4 pages of double-spaced text. This may vary depending on the video type and the narration's pace, but this is a general rule of thumb.
It's important to note that the script's length should not be the only consideration when creating a video. The quality of the YouTube content and audience engagement is more important than the length of the video. A shorter video with high-quality content will perform better than a longer video with low-quality content.
Tips On Improving Your YouTube Scripts
A well-written script can make all the difference in the success of your video. However, writing an engaging and effective script can be challenging.
We'll discuss 3 important tips for improving your YouTube scripts to make them more engaging and effective.
#1 Scripted, but not robotic
Before you start writing your video script, it's important to have a clear structure and flow to your content. However, this doesn't mean it has to be overly formal or sound like a robot wrote it.
Aim to strike a balance between being organized and sounding natural. This will help keep your audience engaged and make your video more relatable.
#2 Make it conversational
When writing your script, try to imagine that you're having a conversation with your audience.
Use language that is easy to understand and avoid jargon or technical terms. This will help to build a connection with your viewers and make it feel like you're talking directly to them. Additionally, a conversational tone can help break up the monotony of a more formal script and make more engaging videos.
#3 Can it be shorter?
When writing your script, it's important to be mindful of the length of your video. While it's important to include all necessary information, try to be as concise as possible.
A shorter video will keep your audience engaged and prevent them from losing interest. Additionally, shorter videos are more likely to be shared and audience watch them till ompletion, which will help to increase your view count.
Create YouTube Video Script Within 5 Mins with Maekersuite
Maekersuite is a tool that helps users quickly create a script for a YouTube video. It utilizes AI to generate suggestions for titles and outlines, making the script-writing process faster and more efficient. You can use the Title and Outline Generator tool’s free video script template to create video scripts within minutes.
To use the tool, follow these steps:
Step 1: Type in a topic you want to create a video about, then click on the Search Results.
Step 2: Select some titles you like by ticking on them, and then click on Generate Title From Selection.
Step 3: Click on a topic of your liking and then click on Generate Your Outline
Step 4: Once the tool generates the outline, you can delete or modify it as needed. Once you're satisfied, click on Create project.
Step 5: You'll be taken to the script section, which will be divided into boxes. You can click on any box and use the script generator AI-tool to generate content for that particular section.
With these simple steps and video script templates, you can create a video script for YouTube in just 5 minutes with Maekersuite.
Final Thoughts
Writing a script for your YouTube video is essential to creating engaging and effective content.
By keeping your script conversational, avoiding robotic language, and keeping it concise, you can improve the chances of your audience staying engaged and interested in your video. Remember to think of your audience as real people, not robots.
There are many options available for those looking for a tool to help with scriptwriting. One such option is Maekersuite's scriptwriting feature. This tool provides a user-friendly interface that can help you organize your thoughts and create a clear and concise script. It also provides a feature of collaboration, which allows multiple people to work on a script together.
In short, by following the tips outlined in this article and using the tools available, you can improve your YouTube scripts and create engaging, effective, and relatable videos for your audience.