The UGC-Style Videos That Are Boring Your Audience to Death

When I first started writing professionally, one of the best bits of advice I read went something like, "Only your mother cares about everything you have to say." In other words, there will be a lot that your ego will consider important, when in reality, only your mother loves hanging on your every word. There are a few trending content types that continue to get produced when genuine viewer engagement is always on the lower end. Let's take a look at those so you can make sure you aren't boring your audience.

1.The Long Drawn-Out Demo Video

The same principle needs to apply to your branded videos. I see this all the time, and it really bugs me to be honest, because I know that it's not benefiting any brands. It's these long drawn out user-generated style videos in which the creator is slowly showing their face, then slowly showing the product, then opening the product, then slowly showing the opened product, then slowly applying the product. The creator may love being on camera for a long time (I get it), and the brand probably loves seeing their products shown in such detail; but no one else cares!!! That may come across as harsh, but I say this to help you.

The reality is, it does you no good how much your product is being showcased if people are scrolling right past your videos.

This is of course dependent on which platform the video is posted. On Youtube, for example, longer beauty unboxings, reviews and demo vlogs can do quite well. But for Instagram, Youtube Shorts, or TikTok for example; people need short engaging videos to hold their attention.

These types of videos have their place on the other hand, but they are best reserved for your product-listing pages, where the buyer is looking for as much detailed information as possible.

2.Any Video with an Introduction

The second short-form video mistake that makes people scroll on past is including an intro. It may seem very counterintuitive, but you're way better off starting your videos with zero intros. No "Hi, my name is..." or "Today we're going to" or "I'm going to review a product for you today." Another bit of writing advice comes to mind, and that is "Don't say it, do it!" For example, in the way of short beauty videos, just go right into applying the product. And do NOT waste precious seconds telling viewers what you are about to talk about. Just talk about whatever it is as soon as you start filming. Again, for a full YouTube video, the rules differ, but

for short-form Reels for instance, don't say it, just do it!

If for some reason you do need to include a short intro of sorts, insert it after a hook. For instance, you can go right into the hook then pause to insert a very quick personal intro, then go right back into the meat of the content. Voice-overs are another great way to include intro info while you get straight to the application.

3.The Overly-Thorough Product Unboxing

Even if an unboxing video is beautifully shot, and each clip is kept short, and even with engaging transitions; if your or your creator's unboxing video stops to show every singe angle and every single aspect of a package and the product inside, the viewer is guaranteed to get bored. Everyone is so used to unboxings now, so it can be challenging to hold attention with one of those. On the other hand, unboxings are a great means of creating FOMO and of helping the viewer acquire more info about your product.

There are a few things you can do to make a product unboxing more engaging.

• Shoot from a bird's eye view, with emphasis on opening, unwrapping, etc. to make the viewer feel as if they themselves are opening the package.

• Prep your hands. I'm talking skincare, makeup, nails, rings - anything to make your hands look prettier. Once upon a time I felt overboard for this, but now that I'm a professional, it's standard practice for our shoots.

• Switch up your lens focus and your angles in different clips.

Again, keep in mind that these tips apply to short form social video only. On your product pages on your website is the perfect place to display as much detailed content as possible.