[FAQ]

Hey guys,

I’m pretty comfortable filming my Reels, but I feel like my editing is letting me down. My videos are informative, but I notice the viewer drop-off is pretty high. I see other creators making Reels that are so fast-paced and engaging that you can’t look away, and I know it’s all down to the editing.

I’m not a professional video editor, so I’m looking for some simple, practical tricks I can apply in an app like CapCut or even the Instagram editor itself. Things like the timing of cuts, text animations, or little visual effects that help hold a viewer’s attention from the first second to the last.

What are your go-to editing techniques for making your videos more “sticky”?

[Jeff Bullas]

Focusing on editing is one of the smartest things you can do.

Quick Answer: The key is to use rapid cuts every two to three seconds, dynamic text animations that appear on screen as you speak, and engaging sound effects for your video.

The algorithm’s primary goal is to promote video content that holds a viewer’s attention, and these editing techniques are all designed to maximise that watch time.

Your first priority should be the pacing of your video; a single static shot should never last more than three seconds without a change, whether it’s a quick zoom, a jump cut, or a switch to a different angle. Next, you must make your on-screen text dynamic by having it appear phrase by phrase in sync with your voiceover, which forces the viewer’s eyes to constantly track the screen. Lastly, you need to incorporate simple sound design by adding audio effects like a ‘whoosh’ or a ‘pop’ that correspond to visual changes, as this makes the entire video feel more professional and holds the viewer’s attention.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Author]

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