Most short videos that ramble were never written down. A script does not make you stiff. It makes you short, and short is what gets watched to the end.
Start with the length, then count the words
People speak to a camera at about 140 to 160 words per minute. That gives you a word budget before you write a single line. Write past the budget and you will either rush or run over.
| Video length | Words in the script |
|---|---|
| 15 seconds | 35 to 40 |
| 30 seconds | 70 to 80 |
| 60 seconds | 140 to 160 |
| 90 seconds | 210 to 240 |
| 3 minutes | 420 to 480 |
Your own pace may differ. The speaking pace guide shows how to measure it.
The four parts of a short script
- 1
Hook
One sentence that tells the viewer what they get or names the problem they have. It has to work with no context, because nobody has any yet.
- 2
Point
The one thing this video says. If you have three points, you have three videos.
- 3
Proof
A number, a quick demo, a before and after, or a short story. This is the part people remember.
- 4
Ask
One action: follow, comment, try it, click. Two asks get neither.
Three templates you can fill in
The how-to (30 to 45 seconds). “Here is how to [result] in [time]. First, [step one]. Then [step two]. Last, [step three]. Do this and [what changes]. Follow for more [topic].”
The mistake (20 to 30 seconds). “Stop [common mistake]. It costs you [what it costs]. Do [the better way] instead. Here is the difference: [show it]. Save this for the next time you [situation].”
The story (45 to 60 seconds). “[Time] ago I [situation]. I tried [what failed]. Then I [what changed]. Now [result, with a number]. If you are where I was, start with [first step].”
Write for the ear
- Use short sentences. One idea each.
- Use the words you say out loud. “Use”, not “utilise”.
- Put the important word at the end of the sentence, where the voice lands.
- Write numbers the way you say them: “about two thousand”, not “1,987”.
- Read the script aloud once and rewrite every line that trips you.
From the page to the camera
You do not have to learn the script. Paste it into a teleprompter and read it beside the lens. In Titro the same script also fixes the spelling in your subtitles, so the names you say appear the way you wrote them. The setup is in how to use a teleprompter app.
Write it, count it, read it out loud, record it. Your first video in Titro is free, up to three minutes.
