Why Your Talking-Head Videos Aren’t Getting Seen And How To Make Them Stand Out

Apr 14

Do you create content?

If you do, you’ve probably seen a lot of “talking head” videos.

If you’re not making this style of video yet, you might want to consider it. It's a fantastic way to share your ideas, build a community, and grow your following.

But hold on a second, they're also sort of challenging.

85% of them flop (I totally made that statistic up, lol. But if you've ever tried to make these videos I'm betting it feels this way).
It's hard to get the words out right.
It's hard to know what people are actually interested in.
It's hard to stay consistent without any instant gratification.

So, what are the secrets to hooking your audience in the first few seconds of your video? How do you infuse your unique style and personality into your content while also ensuring it gets seen by the most people?

And, how can you make the video creation process actually enjoyable so you keep coming back to it?

Keep reading to find out.

How to Create a Captivating Talking Head Video

1) Write out what you're going to say beforehand — Most of us do not just magically come up with the perfect thing to say on the fly. (I wish this weren't true!) Even if you think you can remember everything off the cuff, I promise you, it will always sound better and be more impactful if you write out what you’re going to say ahead of time.

2) Get yourself a tripod and use the back camera of your phone to record. The quality will turn out so much better! This is how content creators get that really crisp footage.

Then, ensure you’re filming with good, natural lighting. If you don’t have good, natural lighting, here’s a light you can use. Be sure to position your full upper body directly in the frame so we can see you.

2) Hit Record and start talking into the camera (for a long time) — longer than you think you’ll need, long enough to get the right footage.

Sometimes, I record myself speaking for over ten minutes, knowing that the final video will only last up to 60 seconds. Rather than starting and stopping repeatedly and getting frustrated, I let the camera roll continuously.

Even if I make a mistake, I just keep going as it takes a while to warm up. Then, as I edit my video, I remove any fluff or unnecessary wording, keeping only the essential parts.

3) Have a punchy opening line— The opening line should be standalone, punchy, impactful, and short. It should also be so simple that a 5th grader could understand it. I recommend filming 3-5 hook options and then choosing the one you like best during editing. This way, you have options.

Examples of a Hook:

“Here’s how I…”
“Have you ever asked yourself why (pain point)?”
“Why doesn’t anyone talk about…”
“How I went from (pain point) to (desired result)”
“This completely changed the way I (related to your niche)…”

4) Display a compelling title- Your text title should overlay the video clips and be visible for at least the first 5 seconds of the video. This helps to pull the viewer in. Keep it short and extremely easy to understand. Brevity is key.

Example of a Compelling Title:

5) Utilize Captions - Always use captions on your videos to cater to people who watch videos without sound. It also helps to reinforce your message, increases viewer retention, and gives TikTok or Instagram more information on how to categorize your video for the algorithm.

6) Incorporate Music Mindfully - Take the time to search for music pieces that mirror the exact emotion you are attempting to convey in your content. The right music can significantly enhance the overall impact and mood of your video. The wrong music distracts and takes away from your message.

Four Proven Mindset Shifts to Help You Create Highly Effective Talking-Head Videos:

Talk to the camera like you’re talking to one person—not everyone. Think of the one person your content is for and practice speaking directly to them.
Choose topics people are actually searching for (and that you’re passionate about). Use TikTok’s new tool: Creator Search Insights to help you know for certain which topics people have the most interest in. Then, once you know what people are searching for, take those topics and put your unique spin on them.

For example, “Sunday Reset” had an 83% search popularity last week, so I made this video and was happy with the results.
You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone. Take the pressure off. You deserve to be here. Focus on sharing the information you really want people to hear, and not on giving a performance or entertaining people.
You are one video from changing your entire life. I once had a client who gained almost 8,000 followers overnight from posting one talking head video that went viral. While it takes a LONG time to build momentum and see results, eventually something always clicks. All it takes is one video! Do. not. give. up.

Personal Branding Tip

After analyzing hundreds of talking head videos, here’s what I’ve noticed does well.

It’s not confidence. It’s not humor. It’s not how beautiful someone is.

It’s naturalness.

It’s the ease with which they speak to the camera. These people aren’t pleading with us to watch their content. They’re not exuding any sort of “pick me” energy. They’re relaxed. They have something important to say, and they’re saying it.

This kind of effortlessness is what we’re attracted to. It’s what magnetizes us to listen. Now, granted, the topic you’re speaking about actually has to be compelling, too ;) But this ease and naturalness can be achieved by doing two things:

1) Practice until you actually are a natural.

2) Believe that people already like you. You don’t have to get them to like you. They already do.

These two components will drastically change how your videos perform on social media. Try it, and report back.

Personal Question

When was the last time you recorded a talking head video? Were you striving to win people’s approval? Were you hoping to gain something from them? What if you didn’t have those objectives?

Instead, what if you addressed the camera as if everyone (already) admired and respected you? What if they were already your customers?

Would this change how you show up? If so, what would you do differently?