CTA at the start of your videos.

I

Indie Pixel

Member
Hey all, I've done a search and came across a post from a couple of years ago and I was not surprised to see that there was mixed opinions on the topic.

I create content for my own enjoyment but that doesn't mean I don't want to create a community around it and with that in mind I want to give the channel every opportunity it can.

So what's your thoughts on putting a call to action at the start of your videos? By this I don't mean shamelessly begging although I can see it maybe seen that way.

I'm going to be getting back on my channel this weekend, I have a load of footage recorded and edited and now I just want to get my video template to the point I'm happy as consistency is key with me.

So I'm hoping to start my video either with the intro or a hook depending on what style of game it is. The intro is a couple of seconds long and then immediately transitions to a 3 second video showing my channel with a video playing and showing the mouse clicking subscribe and bell and saying "Hey if and only if you enjoy the content , please consider hitting the subscribe and notification button for more indie game content"

I'm trying to use it as a reminder, as I know myself I'll watch a decent video and get distracted and later be annoyed that I can't find that person again. According to what I've read although it will certainly make some people unhappy, but it does transfer well in the videos and creates more likes and subs and I'd include "if and only if" and not "SUBSCRIBE NOW!!!"

Let me know your thoughts :)
 
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I stopped doing call to actions after about a month when I got neither likes, comments or subscribers.

I still don't get subs but have gotten likes and comments, without coa, so coa didn't do anything for me at all.

I don't think coa are begging, but they just sound so automatic, predictable and mechanical.
 
You ABSOLUTELY MUST use CTAs if you want to achieve anything with your content. Period. This is marketing 101. The key is to do it well. Here are my recommendations for creating video CTAs.

  1. Try to have at least two CTAs (calls to action) in each video, one early in the video and one nearer to the end. It can also be helpful to consider where viewers usually drop off in videos, and consider putting a CTA near that point if it doesn’t awkwardly break up the video.

  2. Always use the word “because” after asking for anything. It’s a psychological hack that removes resistance to requests because it solves the automatic “search for a reason” function in the viewer’s brain

  3. Leave the calls to action generic so different offers can be promoted with different campaigns in the future.

    1. Good = “Check out the link popping up on your screen now, and don’t forget to check out the links in the description of this video. Also please subscribe, because I can’t keep making videos without subscribers!” (this is evergreen, we can change the links, and the YouTube popup can change if they decide that, remember annotations?)

    2. Bad = “Click the link here in the top right corner of your screen to download the XYZ Guide and click the link in the description to sign up for next Saturday’s webinar.” (This is irrelevant later on and leaves no flexibility, also YouTube may move where cards show on the screen later.)
  4. Don’t point at areas of the screen, YouTube could change their setup at any time.

  5. You can record a standard CTA clip and copy it into your videos at your intro and anywhere that you feel viewers may start to drop off

  6. Video description links are some of the most effective links to drive traffic, but as with anything, the more choices someone has the less likely they are to choose. Limiting links in this area will increase clicks and help people focus. Links can be changed and rotated as necessary for various campaigns, and a great tool for this is TubeBuddy. Consider the video description as high quality real estate.
I hope this helps! I've used it with YouTube clients and it's amazing the results! The key to anything is proper framing!
 
Justin West said:
You ABSOLUTELY MUST use CTAs if you want to achieve anything with your content. Period. This is marketing 101. The key is to do it well. Here are my recommendations for creating video CTAs.

  1. Try to have at least two CTAs (calls to action) in each video, one early in the video and one nearer to the end. It can also be helpful to consider where viewers usually drop off in videos, and consider putting a CTA near that point if it doesn’t awkwardly break up the video.

  2. Always use the word “because” after asking for anything. It’s a psychological hack that removes resistance to requests because it solves the automatic “search for a reason” function in the viewer’s brain

  3. Leave the calls to action generic so different offers can be promoted with different campaigns in the future.
    1. Good = “Check out the link popping up on your screen now, and don’t forget to check out the links in the description of this video. Also please subscribe, because I can’t keep making videos without subscribers!” (this is evergreen, we can change the links, and the YouTube popup can change if they decide that, remember annotations?)

    2. Bad = “Click the link here in the top right corner of your screen to download the XYZ Guide and click the link in the description to sign up for next Saturday’s webinar.” (This is irrelevant later on and leaves no flexibility, also YouTube may move where cards show on the screen later.)
  4. Don’t point at areas of the screen, YouTube could change their setup at any time.

  5. You can record a standard CTA clip and copy it into your videos at your intro and anywhere that you feel viewers may start to drop off

  6. Video description links are some of the most effective links to drive traffic, but as with anything, the more choices someone has the less likely they are to choose. Limiting links in this area will increase clicks and help people focus. Links can be changed and rotated as necessary for various campaigns, and a great tool for this is TubeBuddy. Consider the video description as high quality real estate.
I hope this helps! I've used it with YouTube clients and it's amazing the results! The key to anything is proper framing!
Click to expand...

He man this is some great advice, never really thought about doing this before but will definitely be giving it a go now! In my opinion these do work if you don't make them to long and annoying. For example a 10 second bad animation of asking to subscribe or something. If you do something quick and simple it should take the same effect.
 
Justin West said:
You ABSOLUTELY MUST use CTAs if you want to achieve anything with your content. Period. This is marketing 101. The key is to do it well. Here are my recommendations for creating video CTAs.

  1. Try to have at least two CTAs (calls to action) in each video, one early in the video and one nearer to the end. It can also be helpful to consider where viewers usually drop off in videos, and consider putting a CTA near that point if it doesn’t awkwardly break up the video.

  2. Always use the word “because” after asking for anything. It’s a psychological hack that removes resistance to requests because it solves the automatic “search for a reason” function in the viewer’s brain

  3. Leave the calls to action generic so different offers can be promoted with different campaigns in the future.
    1. Good = “Check out the link popping up on your screen now, and don’t forget to check out the links in the description of this video. Also please subscribe, because I can’t keep making videos without subscribers!” (this is evergreen, we can change the links, and the YouTube popup can change if they decide that, remember annotations?)

    2. Bad = “Click the link here in the top right corner of your screen to download the XYZ Guide and click the link in the description to sign up for next Saturday’s webinar.” (This is irrelevant later on and leaves no flexibility, also YouTube may move where cards show on the screen later.)
  4. Don’t point at areas of the screen, YouTube could change their setup at any time.

  5. You can record a standard CTA clip and copy it into your videos at your intro and anywhere that you feel viewers may start to drop off

  6. Video description links are some of the most effective links to drive traffic, but as with anything, the more choices someone has the less likely they are to choose. Limiting links in this area will increase clicks and help people focus. Links can be changed and rotated as necessary for various campaigns, and a great tool for this is TubeBuddy. Consider the video description as high quality real estate.
I hope this helps! I've used it with YouTube clients and it's amazing the results! The key to anything is proper framing!
Click to expand...

Brilliant advice and thank you. My aim is to have my initial CTA in the intro and then have a couple of lower thirds pop out at equal points throughout the video and then finish off with the end screen.
 
George Hudson said:
He man this is some great advice, never really thought about doing this before but will definitely be giving it a go now! In my opinion these do work if you don't make them to long and annoying. For example a 10 second bad animation of asking to subscribe or something. If you do something quick and simple it should take the same effect.
Click to expand...

I totally agree! Short, sweet, and on point. I think the best get it polished and do it the same way every time.

Indie Pixel said:
Brilliant advice and thank you. My aim is to have my initial CTA in the intro and then have a couple of lower thirds pop out at equal points throughout the video and then finish off with the end screen.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Best wishes!
 
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