How to make video intros for YouTube

Creating videos is a complex task considering you have to manage various aspects of the process, from the creation of scripts, recording, and editing, to managing a YouTube channel.

However, you should know that paying attention to details may generate great transformations, and one of the main ones, when it comes to videos, is the intro. Have you ever made one?

In this post, I’ll show you why it’s important to think about your videos’ intros and give you a few tips on how to grab your audience’s attention from the start.

Check it out.

Why is it important to make an intro for your videos?

You might be thinking:

“Okay, I want to make a video intro, but is it really worth it?”

Here, I’ve gathered the main advantages in order to assure you that making an intro might be exactly what you need:

• An intro, as simple as it may be, already shows your audience that there’s a higher level of professionalism and dedication put into making your videos.
• An intro works as a way to reinforce your brand, creating familiarity and increasing your authority on YouTube.
• Creating an intro helps introduce, in a few seconds, your video’s subject, in addition to creating a positive expectation about what comes next.
• You can use the intro as a narrative resource, especially for vlogs or videos guided by a story, such as essays.

So, you may now agree that it’s possible to improve your content by doing something as simple as it is important.

In addition, your intro doesn’t need to be a movie sequence in order to work.

Now that you’re motivated to create a video intro, it’s important to define a few things:

1. Purpose

The first step is to analyze the content of your videos and plan how your intro can complement your content, while making sure it does not affect your material’s pace.

If your videos are more straightforward, having a short intro will make more sense in terms of your channel’s style.

Also, keep in mind the feelings you’d like to bring out in your audience.

Is your goal to make your audience relate to your channel?

Perhaps introducing the video’s theme or showing details of your content?

Defining a purpose for your intro will help you create something compatible with your channel and strengthening a bond of trust with your audience.

The intro can also demonstrate the commitment you put into your channel.

Sometimes, a 5-second intro with an orange background, with you logo in the center and cool music playing might be enough. Or perhaps it might be too simple for your audience and for your video’s content.

If you’re unable to define a purpose for your intro, this might mean that, ultimately, there’s no need to create one.

It’s not uncommon to find successful videos without an intro. You can see this in vlogs where, in certain cases, a simple intro of the topic that will be shown fulfills the role of an intro.

Do what you believe is fitting for your videos and don’t let the intro outshine your content.

But even if you choose not to have an intro, be sure to check out the 5th tip below.

2. Duration

Focus on the idea that your intro cannot get in the way of your content. It needs to be objective and short. Unless it makes a lot of sense for your videos, having a long intro will bore your audience even before the video starts.

Remember that Netflix itself has created a tool to skip intro sequences.

Watch your video, consider the pace and make sure that the intro is fulfilling its purpose.

You can also check the video retention data and observe if there’s any oscillation before and after the intro. To do so, go to YouTube Analytics and measure your results.

3. Visual identity

Creating the visual identity of your intro should be simple, especially if you already have a well-defined plan.

There’s no need to worry if you don’t know anything about design. You can use, for instance, a simple photo with the channel’s name.

Feel free to experiment and add small personal touches. But, don’t go overboard. Your goal here is to introduce the channel in an objective and pleasant manner.

4. Music

When choosing the music, you have two options:

1. Choose a specific song for the intro, similar to the intros in series or TV shows. This option is cool if you wish to reinforce your brand with your audience.
2. Create an intro without a specific song, simply use each video’s soundtrack. This is an excellent option to keep the intro simpler and more versatile.

Which one is the best option for you?  That depends solely on your videos purpose and target audience.

A travel vlog intro will look cool if it uses your soundtrack for every occasion. On the other hand, a tutorial video might look more interesting if it uses a theme song.

There are no rules set in stone. You need to reflect and choose what makes the most sense for your channel.

Important tip: Be careful with your intro’s sound volume! Otherwise, you might end up startling those who are watching your video. Try to keep the volume at the same level as the rest of the video.

5. End screen

As with the intro, the ending is an excellent opportunity to reinforce ideas, create calls to action and even direct your audience to other videos.

However, unlike the intro, those who have reached the end screen of your video are much more engaged with your content than those who were at the beginning.

So, use your video ending to explore your relationship with your audience.

It can be a reminder, such as “Subscribe to the channel!” or perhaps, “If you wish to learn more about this subject, click on this video here”.

Creating the intro or end screen

So far, you’ve learned about the key points to creating quality video intros. Now it’s time to create yours.

Do you know how?

I’ll tell you how you can make your intro in a simple manner and, if you prefer, where you can obtain templates.

Where to buy intros and end screens

Buying intros is a good choice for those who don’t have time to learn how to use editing software.

The downside is that most of these templates need to be edited in specific software, such as After Effects. Besides, there’s the financial aspect, which isn’t always ideal for those who are starting out and cannot make the investment.

In the list below, you’ll find the best options for templates that are easy to customize, modern and diversified.

• Premium Beat (Free)
• Rocketstock (Free and paid)
• Videohive (Paid)
• Free Ae Templates (Free)
• Motion Array (Free)

Where to create intros and end screens

Below, I’ve set aside some of the software you can use to edit your videos and create an intro or ending for your content.

For beginners

Photos (Windows 10, free)

The classic Windows Movie Maker was discontinued by Microsoft, but its features have been implemented in the Photos application.

The software works quite well for beginners. It’s simple, free and has everything you need to get started, such as templates for intros, titles, and music.

To get started, open Photos and select Create > Automatic video with music or Customized video with music.

Click here to learn more about how it works.

iMovie (macOs / iOS, free)

iMovie is a full and easy-to-use version of the current Photos. It’s user-friendly for beginners while having the main video editing and customization features.

In it, you will also find ready-to-use intro templates and music options.

In addition, it’s also available for iOS devices.

Click here to learn more about how it works.

Premiere Rush ( Windows / macOs, free but limited)

This is a simplified version of the Adobe Premiere professional editing software version.

This version was created for both beginners and content creators who need agility when editing videos.

Similar to Photos and iMovie, Rush is a program that includes templates for animation, titles, and design.

Available for PC and Mac, its free version allows the creation of 3 videos a month, but you can also opt for the subscription plan.

For intermediate users

Shotcut (Windows 10 / macOS, free)

This is a great choice for those who wish to learn how to edit or are looking for a more advanced tool.

Shotcut is an open source program that constantly goes through changes and therefore, still has bugs and features that need to be improved.

It’s worth giving it a chance, especially if you don’t wish to spend money and still aren’t ready for more complex software.

For expert users

DaVinci Resolve (Windows 10 / macOS, free)

With this program, you can create high-level edits and have access to advanced color correction tools, all without having to pay anything.

The program has a paid version, but the main editing features are already available in the free version, all you need is to download them.

The downside is having to take some time to get used to the program.

Start creating your intros

You have now learned about the key elements of a good intro and how to purchase the software, if you choose to, to create your own video intros.

If you still feel that you’re unable to create an intro, consider hiring the services of a freelance professional or a specialist in this area for your staff.

The important thing is that you try to find the best option for your channel, always taking into account your audience’s preferences.

Did you like these tips and would like to see more content about videos?

You can also read our post on how to create your own recording studio.