Aquaculture videos: How to hook your audience
July 3, 2018
By Ruby Gonzalez
YouTube videos come in handy for professional development or for anyone simply interested about learning more about fish farming.
You want this person to listen to you. But you know that if he would, he might only give you very short time and, even then, there are other people lining up to talk to him as well.
This could very well be the same case whenever you upload an extension video on sharing sites such as YouTube.
So how do you seize the moment?
“Make sure that you have a quality opening and get into the meat of the material quickly,” Dr David Cline, an extension aquaculturist at Auburn University in Alabama, told Aquaculture North America (ANA).
Cline is behind Aquaculture Education and More channel on YouTube, which he started in 2013. His most popular video is on in-pond raceways, which has been viewed 120,000 times. Educational videos on YouTube have an average of 4,872 views.
“A good opening sequence is okay as long as it is visually compelling and high quality,” he continued. “Use good visuals early.” Interesting photos, an interview, good graphics always help.
Thirty seconds is all it takes for viewers to decide if a video suits their needs. And even less if there are other videos available online on the topic. “I have seen topics that in some videos are covered in one minute and the same topic in another takes five minutes or more. Which would you rather watch?,” he asked.
Pace is another important element. “Don’t stay on the same picture or scene for more than 10 to 15 seconds,” he said. “Try to think like a director. The next time you watch a TV show start counting each time the shot changes. You will be surprised how few times you get to 10.”
On top of the education component, the video must also be entertaining. Otherwise, viewers would most likely move on to something else. “A video is sort of an exchange. I give you my time to watch the video and I want something in return,” he said. “If the content is not what I want or is boring I feel like the video has stolen my time from me.”
Selecting topics depend on your passion, a topic you are currently working on, or a story that you want to tell. It could also be about a question you have been asked several times before or just simply taking advantage of an opportunity. Examples, he says, are the harvest of a big pond, or a feeding frenzy. “It something that is interesting but is not necessarily a full-blown idea or story.”
Thirty seconds is all it takes for viewers to decide if a video suits their needs Advertisement
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