The Secret to 150M Views: Make Videos for the Ears

Most people don’t sit down and watch YouTube. They play it in the background while cooking, cleaning, walking, or working out.

If your videos only work when someone stares at the screen, you’re losing viewers.

I work with a client who has mastered this and racked up over 150M views. They know where their audience will be when they listen, and they cater to it.

Here’s how to make your content listenable:

1. Write for the ears, not the eyes.
Skip the text-heavy slides and flashy edits. Make sure your message is clear even if the screen is minimised. This is especially critical for How To content. Cheap visual tricks? Viewers see through them.

2. Tell more stories.
Stories are easy to follow while multitasking. They let the listener build their own mental b-roll. Want an example? Check out storyteller YouTuber MrBallen, he’s one of the best in the world at this.

3. Simplify your structure.
Stick to 3 key ideas max. Anything more and you’ll overwhelm distracted listeners. Please, no “24 Things Every Man Must Do…” titles. 24? Jesus. Break that into 8 videos with 3 points each, and suddenly one idea turns into a whole series.

TLDR; Don’t assume your audience is sitting on the couch. They’re moving through life. Make videos that can move with them.

Happy Monday!

Me