Think about how you scroll. You don't give anything a chance unless it grabs you instantly. Your audience is the same way. They're not waiting around to see if your video gets good. They're deciding in 3 seconds whether to keep watching or move on.

So what works? Start with the payoff. Lead with the most interesting part. If you're teaching something, tell them what they'll learn in the first sentence. If you're telling a story, start with the hook. If you're showing a product, show the result first, then explain how you got there.

Skip the fluff. No long intros. No "Hey guys, welcome back to my channel." No 10-second logo animation. Get to the point. Fast.

Use pattern interrupts. A surprising statement. A bold claim. A question that makes them curious. Something that breaks their scroll and makes them stop. "Most businesses are wasting money on video marketing" works better than "In today's video, we're going to talk about video marketing strategy."

Movement matters too. Static shots lose attention. If your first 3 seconds are someone sitting still and talking, people bounce. Start with action. A quick cut. Something visually engaging. Give their brain a reason to stay.

The brutal truth is this: nobody owes you their attention. You have to earn it. And you have exactly 3 seconds to do it. After that, the choice is theirs. Make those seconds count or watch them scroll past.