Short videos look effortless, but the good ones follow a routine. This is a workflow you can repeat for every reel or short.
Start with the hook
Most viewers decide in the first two seconds. Show the result, ask the question or state the promise right away, then explain.
Plan before you shoot
Keep one idea per video. Write a three line script and a list of the shots you need. Ten minutes of planning saves an hour of editing.
Shoot vertical and keep it steady
- Film in 9:16 so nothing gets cropped later.
- Use a tripod or lean the phone on something solid.
- Shoot near a window for soft natural light.
- Record in a quiet room, or use a small microphone, because clear sound matters as much as the picture.
Edit tight
Cut pauses and repeated words. Add captions, because many people watch without sound. Keep text away from the screen edges where buttons cover it. Most ideas work best between 15 and 40 seconds.
Cover, caption and post
Pick a clear cover frame, write a caption that says what the video is about, and use a few relevant hashtags instead of a long list.
Check what happened
Look at how long people watched and where they left. If viewers drop in the first seconds, work on the hook. Apply one lesson to the next video.