To Intro, Or Not To Intro, That Is The Question

NS.YT

NS.YT

Ultimate Savage
I've been tossing around the idea of using or not using an intro. On the one had it can bring brand recognition like RJ. But on the other I don't want my videos to seem like episodes, I think it takes away from the whole idea of a vlog. I see a lot of people naming episodes on their videos (i.e. Vlog 147 *insert random title here*), to me it seems less of a vlog and more of a show. I'm curious as to other opinions on using intros.
 
I think a good, but not overly long and flashy intro is recommended.
Branding is a part of vlogging as you as a person should be worth subscribing to, and an intro would be a good visual anchor that is consistent across all of your videos.

I don't think you have to title and name your vids though. Particularly when you don't like how it turns the vlog into a show.
A good example of a vlog intro is BaronVonGrumble's intro. Just a name, a catchy tune and transition into the actual video.
 
I agree with F4celess. Should be short and sweet. I know of some channels that use fresh content for their intro every video which I also enjoy.
 
I'm now doing intro and outro. Outro has the links to all my other social media.

Intro is just a few seconds with my logo.

Like other have said the idea is to make it instantly reconcilable
 
F4celess said:
I think a good, but not overly long and flashy intro is recommended.
Branding is a part of vlogging as you as a person should be worth subscribing to, and an intro would be a good visual anchor that is consistent across all of your videos.

I don't think you have to title and name your vids though. Particularly when you don't like how it turns the vlog into a show.
A good example of a vlog intro is BaronVonGrumble's intro. Just a name, a catchy tune and transition into the actual video.
Click to expand...


Good point about Baron Von Grumble, super simple and catchy enough to stick in your head. I think short and simple is better, usually if I have to sit through over 30 seconds of an intro I tend to lose a bit of interest. Also I would rather an outro card with video and social media links versus the intro. I don't know...to me I feel getting to the content ASAP might keep retention up.
 
NS.YT said:
Good point about Baron Von Grumble, super simple and catchy enough to stick in your head. I think short and simple is better, usually if I have to sit through over 30 seconds of an intro I tend to lose a bit of interest. Also I would rather an outro card with video and social media links versus the intro. I don't know...to me I feel getting to the content ASAP might keep retention up.
Click to expand...

I lose interest by a intro of 10 secs xD

I only have intro's for the different series i have.
Mine normal vlogs just begin.
 
Watched a vlog the other day that had an intro that went for over a minute, I though I must have watching the channel trailer, but no the vlog actually did start a minute or so into the video.... Just flash your name or a quick tune or something. A good idea to identify your videos.
 
1 minute is definitely too long

I think a short preview of the video , whats in it,
then intro
then outro, if they actually watch your videos to the end...
 
Depends on your intro too. If it's engaging and stuff happening then you can get away with a bit more, if it's a static slide then it only wants to be a few seconds. If you're doing a multiclip vid then come up with a branded/themed slide to go between clips, bit like on my random vids, but just do better ;)
 
I find myself skipping ahead when I know the video has a long intro, intros with several clips and music that repeats for every vlog is a big no in my book. Those belong to full-lenght shows.

For myself I'm planning to have a 15s intro stored as a file I can just slap onto the final vlog and call it done.
 
Everide is the only intro I tend to forgive because his channel to me is an actual show and each episode tackles some kind of ADV related topic. Now that kind of channel should have an intro because it's a show not just a video diary.
 
I do an intro and outro. Mine intro is long at about 12-15 seconds. It's not always the same because I fade it into the main video. The outro is just an exit page that has links to my YouTube playlists and a subscribe button. I play different music clips with the exit page every time. Generally speaking an intro longer than 10 seconds is too long. Some people, like bakerXderek, can get away with a long intro, but most can't. His fans actually get upset when he doesn't have the long intro. As far as the intro itself, some people will always like it whereas other won't, no matter what you do. It's just personal taste. There are some peoples' intros I always sit through and others that annoy me so bad, I make it a point to skip them.
 
Personally, I do not like long intros. Anything that's above 5 seconds long, is considered long to me. I would preferably keep it down to 3-5 seconds max.

Why a short intro? Well, first, it doesn't take up much of the viewer's time. Second, it's too short for people to actually try to move the bar to skip it, so they actually sit through the intro (isn't that the purpose of your intro anyway?). Third, bear in mind your subs have to see the intro on EVERY SINGLE video.

Unless you make different intro for each video (related to the video, clips/preview from the video being played, etc), then you may have a longer intro, boils down to if you want to take the effort to do it.

Bottom line, as others have pointed out, it depends on people's taste/preference. Some like it long, some like it short, etc. Ultimately it's your call which you want for your videos.
 
I'm thinking of just using 1 or 2 chords from my favorite band's song with a logo like you see in the quick cut aways on TV shows like the old batman
 
The shorter the intro, the better. If there's no intro, even better IMO :) I think they are annoying, unless it's under 4 seconds and done well.
 
I like an intro, if it's under 4-5 seconds, 2-3 seconds is good by me, it get's really annoying clicking forward about 15 seconds on every video of the YouTuber you watch!
 
A great 3 second intro adds a lot with branding etc. More than that really puts me off watching multiple videos by the creator though.
 
I agree with mostly everyone, a short intro adds branding and will bring more good than harm in my opinion.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Posters Past 30 days

Winners Video

Website Supported by Ipswich SEO

Latest posts

Back
Top