End of Video: How to make people stick around longer?

[iamvroom]

Looking at some absolute retention graphs of as of late I was wondering how to make people stay up to the very end of the video to see the outro screen with the end cards.

As you can see in the sample image below the viewers start wandering off as soon as I start saying "thank you for watching ...". What I tried to do was posting a short gameplay clip after the talked outro at the very end of the video but before the end cards which take up the last 20 seconds. Long story short - I thought it would have a bigger impact :/



What do you think would be good ways of keeping the audience interested at the end of a video. I was thinking about a quick jump to a "Please subscribe" screen but then decided against it as it seemed too harsh.

How do you structure the end of your videos? Are there any specific things you do that you think work well for you?

edit: I think the image got shrunk too much, wow.

 

[Kush Patel]

No clue. I doubt there is a specific way to make them stay. After a certain point, they drop off because it's a long video and the point is complete.

 

[Backyard Ninja Kids]

That is hard. For me, if I'm not interested enough to subscribe, or I'm really engaged and feel I've heard the same outro too many times I leave. If there's a message you want them to hear I would say sandwich it between two more interesting pieces maybe? I'm still figuring it out myself.

 

[ZakDTV]

I have been seeing this too, I want to try getting my end card up earlier,I am thinking if i wait until the last 10 seconds to say quick thanks subscribe maybe they will look at my card while I finish my message. Still trying to get that down though. Let me know what you come up with.

 

[Jamiemcg]

I was thinking about a quick jump to a "Please subscribe" screen but then decided against it as it seemed too harsh.

Something like this actually came to mind for me, as well.

What do you think about cutting to the "Please subscribe" screen, but while you're saying "Thanks for watching..." and finishing up the commentary of your video. Maybe you could even include some gameplay on that same screen?

One way to go about doing this would be with a "multi-view", having the "Subscribe" button in one corner, some gameplay in another, and maybe some text on the side?

 

[babyteeth4]

We do a 20-second ad-lib during the ending but I don't know if it's really working. I think a lot of viewers just drop as soon as they sense the end is coming, so maybe the key is an element of surprise.

 

[iamvroom]

No clue. I doubt there is a specific way to make them stay. After a certain point, they drop off because it's a long video and the point is complete.

It usually feels that if you say nothing can be done you will not do anything because you think nothing can be done - so until there is certainty nothing can be done Iprefer to think otherwise

That is hard. For me, if I'm not interested enough to subscribe, or I'm really engaged and feel I've heard the same outro too many times I leave. If there's a message you want them to hear I would say sandwich it between two more interesting pieces maybe? I'm still figuring it out myself.

That's an interesting idea, thanks.

I have been seeing this too, I want to try getting my end card up earlier,I am thinking if i wait until the last 10 seconds to say quick thanks subscribe maybe they will look at my card while I finish my message. Still trying to get that down though. Let me know what you come up with.

Sounds like a plan worth trying

Something like this actually came to mind for me, as well.

What do you think about cutting to the "Please subscribe" screen, but while you're saying "Thanks for watching..." and finishing up the commentary of your video. Maybe you could even include some gameplay on that same screen?

One way to go about doing this would be with a "multi-view", having the "Subscribe" button in one corner, some gameplay in another, and maybe some text on the side?

This might turn out interesting, will try it in one of the next editing sessions. Thanks

We do a 20-second ad-lib during the ending but I don't know if it's really working. I think a lot of viewers just drop as soon as they sense the end is coming, so maybe the key is an element of surprise.

Your video outro looks very interesting. Wonder how well it is working. To check this you just go to the audience retention section of analytics (left sidebar / watch time reports - > audience retention) , click any video that appears listed in the main part below the main graph and you will be presented with a graph specific for the video you clicked. Click on this new graph and you will be taken to the moment in the video the graph corresponds to - you can find out if there are any bad moments (dips) or any morment people particularily like (bumps).

 

[PositivelyBrainwashed]

I make my outro unique for each of my videos, but I follow a similar format. I use a multiple choice and keep option D) a mystery until the last 2-3 seconds of my videos, so that people have incentives to watch until the very end. There's a lot of psychology behind my outro, and I think it's one of the reasons I have a fairly high view to subscribe ratio of 1 out of every 28.

 

[OzzyMikeNaz]

It can be a good sign as well, if people are stop viewing the last few seconds then they have had to have watched your videos enough times to know what the outro is. Try having ten different outros in rotation then it becomes more interesting but I wouldn't stress unless they are missing vital content

 

[TylersMagic]

Something I heard recently was to give fewer cues that you're transitioning into your outro. Or to basically not say "thanks for watching" as it signifies the video is coming to an end. This could be hard for me as that is my usual go to line.

Another thing might be to hold contests/giveaways and announce a winner during every outro (mix it up so it's not the same spot in the outro). That way your more loyal viewers will watch to see if they are the winner.