How Long Should an Author's YouTube Video Be?
How long should an author's YouTube video be? Long enough to fully answer the question, and no longer. For many author videos, that is somewhere between 8 and 15 minutes.
Long-form videos give viewers time to get to know you and trust your advice. They also give you plenty of material to cut into short clips later.
In this article, you will get a clear answer, then the solution step by step, and then an industry hack that makes long videos easier and helps you avoid common hurdles.
Questions and Answers
Q: Is longer always better?
A: No. A focused 8-minute video beats a rambling 20-minute one.
Q: How do I keep people watching?
A: Promise the answer at the start and deliver it in clear steps.
The Solution
Start with the question and promise the answer.
Give the answer early.
Explain the steps clearly.
Share a helpful tip or hack.
End with one clear next step.
Remove pauses and repeated sections when editing.
The Industry Hack
Structure every long video in the same order: question, answer, solution, hack, next step. Viewers learn what to expect, and you can script videos faster. It also makes cutting short clips easy, because each section can stand on its own.
Keywords for Amazon and YouTube
how long should YouTube videos be, long form YouTube videos, YouTube for authors, keep viewers watching, YouTube video structure, video script outline, YouTube tips for beginners
Want to see how your book measures up? Download the free 10-point checklist at selfpublishmedia.com.
Comments