Is a youtube intro really needed?

Josh Keatley

Josh Keatley

I've Got It
Now, I always preached that an intro is always needed in a video so people know it is your video. But what is the 1st thing you say in your video? Usually your introduction saying your name letting people know it is your video! Why should their be a double introduction?

A lot of really big youtubers don't start their videos with a fancy intro. Like Ray William Johnson, pewdiepie (except fridays with pewdiepie) nigahiga, vanoss gaming, and many many others.

Many people have said I have an amazing intro. Many have said it is retarded. Many have said they hate pointless intro's.

My opinion yeah I do hate intro's. It is extra crap that people make me watch. Then in the end just says their name. Get on with the video all ready!

So I am thinking about getting rid of my intro all together (I have had about 5 different intros now). lol

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON INTROS?
 
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Yeah I kinda think that intros are a bit pointless. I made a post about this same thing a little while back and I came to the conclusion that an intro takes time away from you introducing yourself and your video before the viewer clicks off your video.
 
It depends really. Some channels work nice with an intro, while some it's completely unnecessary. It's not something that will make or break your channel, so it's not that big of a deal if you don't use one.

If someone does use intros, they should be short and to the point. I don't want to sit through a long intro every time I watch a video. Also intros should not be in the beginning of the video, as that's the most important part and can make or break a video. You should describe whatever you're going to be doing, or something funny, etc. Then intro, then your video.

I'm not a big fan of intros. I used to use one, but I stopped because I didn't find the point of it. I'd rather just get straight to the video.
 
You'll notice a lot of larger Tubers don't introduce themselves in every video. I'm certain there are a ton of reasons, but the repetition must get old for both them and their viewers. That said, there is merit to an animated intro or title card to reinforce your branding, or set an ongoing series apart from your other videos (example: Smosh's "Ian is Bored" vs "Lunchtime")

Josh, your intro is actually really cool (at least your Amazing Army/CoD one is). I was impressed by it. That said, it's a little long. I could see where it would get tired, especially if someone's trying to binge watch your vids. There is that sort of urgency to YouTube vids, the "get on with it!" mentality of the casual viewer that might cost you views if they have to sit through a long intro.

I'd recommend getting a facecam going (at least in a corner of the screen for your intro) and moving your intro vid to the end between your sign-off and your end slate. I feel like people would be more forgiving at that point as they would be processing what they just saw. You'd also be finishing the video with a bang, leaving an impression of quality and general badassery. Just my two cents!
 
Josh Keatley said:
Now, I always preached that an intro is always needed in a video so people know it is your video. But what is the 1st thing you say in your video? Usually your introduction saying your name letting people know it is your video! Why should their be a double introduction?

A lot of really big youtubers don't start their videos with a fancy intro. Like Ray William Johnson, pewdiepie (except fridays with pewdiepie) nigahiga, vanoss gaming, and many many others.

Many people have said I have an amazing intro. Many have said it is retarded. Many have said they hate pointless intro's.

My opinion yeah I do hate intro's. It is extra crap that people make me watch. Then in the end just says their name. Get on with the video all ready!

So I am thinking about getting rid of my intro all together (I have had about 5 different intros now). lol

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON INTROS?
Click to expand...
I do it for my videos!
 
Josh Keatley said:
Now, I always preached that an intro is always needed in a video so people know it is your video. But what is the 1st thing you say in your video? Usually your introduction saying your name letting people know it is your video! Why should their be a double introduction?

A lot of really big youtubers don't start their videos with a fancy intro. Like Ray William Johnson, pewdiepie (except fridays with pewdiepie) nigahiga, vanoss gaming, and many many others.

Many people have said I have an amazing intro. Many have said it is retarded. Many have said they hate pointless intro's.

My opinion yeah I do hate intro's. It is extra crap that people make me watch. Then in the end just says their name. Get on with the video all ready!

So I am thinking about getting rid of my intro all together (I have had about 5 different intros now). lol

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON INTROS?
Click to expand...

I think a good, well-made intro can make a channel/video (like yours) feel more professional, but just like some of you already said, they can get annoying if you watch a bunch of videos in a row.
For example =3 has a short, well-made intro, but after seeing it once it no longer improves the video.
 
I think the key is also to keep it really short. a little 5 second bumper, I can deal with, but some shows (VGHS, for example) have a 30 second roll of credits at the start of every 10 minute video. Annoying.
 
I feel like an intro really isn't needed at all, I used to have an intro and i only used it in a couple of my videos but the majority of mine had no intro and my channel has still gone pretty far, I'm currently at 415 subscribers and I still don't have and probably won't be getting one either. Maybe an outro would be better to get
 
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