Key points
- Viewers drift away when the picture does not change. Every three to five seconds, something should move: a word, a zoom, an image.
- Subtitles that highlight one word per sentence read better than the whole text shown as a block.
- A picture arrives on the word that names it, never before, never after.
- Cut the hesitations and the long silences: a video ten seconds shorter keeps more people to the end.
Why a talking-head video feels flat
The same frame, the same background, the same person. The ear follows, but the eye gets bored, and it is the eye that decides to swipe to the next video.
Creators whose talking-head videos work do not speak better than you. They give the eye something to do while the ear listens. That is editing work, and it follows a few simple rules. None of them asks you to film anything again.
Subtitles people want to read
Many videos are watched with the sound off, so subtitles are not optional. But a block of text at the bottom of the screen is tiring. What works is few words at a time, and one word larger than the others.
- Three to five words at a time, not the whole sentence.
- The word that matters, large and in colour: “impossible”, “free”, a number, a name.
- The small words in white, around it, quieter.
- A dark, blurred patch under the text, placed below your chin, so the words read well without hiding your face.
The slow zoom, the move that changes everything
Look closely at the videos that hold you: while the person speaks, the frame creeps towards their face, then resets on the next sentence. The move is nearly invisible, and yet it gives the feeling that something is moving forward.
The zoom stays light. The aim is not to end on a close-up: moving in by about a tenth over the length of a sentence is enough. Stronger than that, it becomes uncomfortable.
What to show while you talk
| When you say | Show | How |
|---|---|---|
| The name of a brand or a tool | Its real logo | In a small square next to you |
| A place, a real object | A short real clip | Full screen, two to four seconds |
| An idea, a piece of advice | A small animation: a list being ticked, a counter, a highlighted page | Full screen or above you |
| A proof | Your own screenshot | As it is, with the important part circled |
Alternate. You, then a picture, then you. About half the time on your face, the other half on what you show. Your voice never stops.
The method, step by step
Film yourself close, in good light
The phone at eye level, a window in front of you, your face in the upper half of the frame to leave room for the subtitles.
Say one idea
One minute, one idea. If you have two, you have two videos.
Cut the waste
The “um”, the restarts, the silences longer than a second. This is the quickest gain of all.
Lay the subtitles
Few words, one strong word per sentence, one colour.
Place four to eight pictures
Each one on the word that names it. No picture for decoration.
Add the zoom and a light sound
One slow zoom per sentence, and small, quiet sounds at each change of picture.
A 60-second video, edited
- 0 to 5 s: you, close, the zoom moving in, the strong word of the hook in large type.
- 5 to 9 s: a full-screen animation that shows the problem.
- 9 to 20 s: you, with two logos appearing beside you as you name them.
- 20 to 45 s: alternating: you, a picture, you, your screenshot.
- 45 to 60 s: you, for the conclusion and what the viewer should do.
The mistakes to avoid
- Unrelated pictures. A pretty picture that is off the subject distracts where it should help.
- Hiding your face. The text goes below the chin, never over the mouth or the eyes.
- Too many effects. If people notice the editing, there is too much of it.
- Music that is too loud. Your voice is the film. The music stays behind it.
- Leaving the hesitations in. They feel natural when you speak and endless when you watch.
Before you publish your talking-head video
- Something changes on screen every three to five seconds.
- The subtitles show few words at a time, with one strong word.
- Each picture arrives on the word that names it.
- The hesitations and the long silences are cut.
- Your face is never hidden by the text.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need editing software to do all this?
With editing software, allow several hours for one minute of video. Tools now do this work from your video: they listen to what you say, cut the hesitations, lay the subtitles and place the pictures.
How many pictures should a one-minute video have?
Between four and eight. Enough for the picture to change often, not so many that we stop seeing you half the time.
Should the subtitles cover the whole video?
Yes, unless your video already has them. A large share of viewers watch with the sound off.
Can I use several clips filmed separately?
Yes. Film several short takes in place of one long take. You then only have to put them back in the right order: the hook first, the conclusion last.
With Meratek
How Meratek brings your talking-head video to life
In the Motion tab, the Face motion mode starts from your video, or from several short videos, up to 90 seconds in total. Meratek listens to what you say, cuts the hesitations, suggests an order for your clips, asks you a few questions, then builds the film: the slow zoom, the subtitles with the strong word, the logos of the brands you name and animations made for your sentences.
You can add your own screenshots: Meratek asks you what each one should show. The price in credits is shown before you start, and one hundred and forty credits are offered when you sign up.
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