If you’re unfamiliar with the term “thumbstop ratio,” you might have missed my previous email, but I’ll give you a brief recap.
The thumbstop ratio is a metric for assessing the initial engagement level of a video ad. It’s calculated as follows:
Thumbstop Ratio = (Number of 3-second video views / Number of impressions) * 100
Let’s break down the definition:
- 3-second video views: This represents the number of times the video has been viewed for at least 3 seconds.
- Impressions: This is the count of how often the video ad appears on user screens, regardless of whether it was clicked on or watched.
- Thumbstop Ratio: This percentage indicates the frequency of impressions that resulted in at least 3 seconds of video viewership.
Essentially, the thumbstop ratio measures the percentage of instances where viewers have watched at least the first 3 seconds of your video ad relative to the number of times the ad was displayed. A higher thumbstop ratio signifies that a significant portion of the audience found the initial seconds of the video compelling enough to continue watching past the 3-second threshold.
In the last blog, I discussed the reasons your thumbstop ratio might be lacking, and in this edition, I will reveal all the methods, tips, and tricks you can utilize to achieve an outstanding thumbstop ratio.
Prepare to dive in!
Below are the tactics we implement at Baweja Media. However, before you begin applying them indiscriminately, it’s crucial to understand your niche and target audience. I trust your judgment to decide whether it’s wise to adopt any of the following tactics directly or to tailor them to your situation. Let’s get started:
- Start Mid-Action: Begin your video at the peak of the action to instantly hook viewers. Picture a funny somersault at the start of a video! Be stupid and be weird!
- Use Eye-Catching Colors: Bright and contrasting colors can make your video pop in a feed.
- Incorporate Memes: Utilize popular memes for a relatable and shareable moment. Be aware that if you use topical memes, their shelf life will be limited.
- Leverage User-Generated Content: Showcase real people using your product in unexpected ways. Keep it amateur and unpolished for a thumbstop ratio that will skyrocket!
- Animate Your Logo: An animated logo can grab attention and build brand recognition. The long-term benefits are immense. It may seem minor, but the results can be significant.
- Reverse Storytelling: Start with the conclusion and work backward to the beginning. It’s a very clever approach!
- Use Cinemagraphs: Partially animated photographs can captivate and intrigue viewers. Not many people use them, so they can be quite effective.
- Incorporate Optical Illusions: Create a visual puzzle that viewers are compelled to solve. Your creativity is key here—don’t drop the ball.
- Feature a Celebrity Cameo: A surprise appearance by a famous face can capture attention. It requires investment, but their brand value can skyrocket conversion rates.
- Create a Mini-Drama: Engage viewers with a micro-story that sparks questions. This is perfect for those who grew up watching daily soap operas. Kudos to Ekta Kapoor! LOL.
- Use Unexpected Props: Spark curiosity by introducing an out-of-place element. This is my personal favorite.
- Flashy Text Animation: Deliver your message dynamically with kinetic typography. Think of those lyrical music videos—just like that.
- Silent Movie Style: Opt for a modern ad with a vintage silent movie vibe. Think ‘Once Upon a Time in Facebook Ads,’ directed by Quentin Zuckentino.
- Interactive Start: Pose a direct question to engage viewers right off the bat. ‘Do you have salt in your toothpaste?’ And you thought that was just marketing jargon. Sometimes, it’s the idiocy that brings in the big bucks.
- Parody Popular Content: Take a viral trend or popular video format and add your twist. Let your imagination run wild.
- Incorporate ASMR: Use satisfying sounds to hold viewers’ attention. This is a pro move. Envato Elements has plenty of resources.
- Stop Motion: A stop-motion intro really stands out. It’s incredibly effective if you don’t want to use actors or have a big budget. All you need is a story, your product, and a camera.
- Hyper-Lapse Opening: Condense a longer story into seconds with a hyper-lapse. It’s soothing, satisfying, and sets the context early on.
- Unexpected Crossover: Merge two unrelated concepts for a surprising ad. ‘Ariana Gandhi’ doesn’t exist—just a bit of fun. Google it!
- Flash Mob: Kick off with a flash mob scene to create an instant spectacle. This does require a significant budget, though.
- Magic Tricks: Perform a magic trick that leaves viewers eager to see more. Hiring David Blaine might be the best advice here, but it’s understandable if that’s not in the cards for you.
- Show a Poll: Start by showing the results of a poll. If the results are surprising or odd, people will want to know more.
- Incorporate a Puzzle: Challenge viewers with a visual puzzle. You’ll need to be extra creative to pull this off.
- Time Travel Concept: Draw viewers in with a time travel hook. Borrow concepts from time travel movies. The nostalgia factor can be a big draw.
- Mystery Box: Tease what might be inside a closed box to build suspense. This is a proven tactic among YouTubers, and its success depends on your execution.
- Unexpected Animal Stars: Feature animals in unexpected roles or scenarios. Even a simple animal appearance can boost thumbstop ratio, but make sure it aligns with your sales message, or viewers might miss the point.
- Video Game Graphics: Use retro video game graphics to evoke nostalgia. Notice how often I mention nostalgia? Because it’s incredibly powerful.
- Split-Screen Storytelling: Narrate two stories side by side that eventually converge. It’s a unique approach that’s not overly used—take advantage of that.
- Use a Famous Quote: Start with a compelling quote that relates to your message. It can be quite effective. Which brand do you think does this the most? Let me know!
- Create a Loop: Craft the first few seconds to loop in a way that makes viewers want to understand the full story. Many reels and shorts employ this technique.
- Incorporate a Countdown: Begin with a countdown to a major reveal. Including a timer or progress bar can also be helpful.
- Use a Mascot: Have a unique mascot that features in all your ads. This serves as a branding exercise. Make the mascot cute or peculiar for extra appeal.
- Cliffhanger Openings: Start with a cliffhanger to entice viewers to keep watching. Inspired by Mr. Beast and his engaging content style.
- Inventive Product Use: Showcase your product in a way that’s unprecedented. E-commerce owners, take note. This is your strategy for next-level buzz.
- Behind-the-Scenes Peek: Begin with an unpolished ‘making of’ scene. It’s incredibly engaging. Audiences adore the authentic start, becoming immediately captivated.
- Unexpected Collaboration: Present an alliance with a brand or influencer that’s unexpected. Any YouTube influencer will do — their involvement is unpredictably perfect in every way.
- Fantasy Elements: Weave in fantastical elements to evoke a dreamy vibe. Have you considered this? It’s novel and can provide a competitive edge.
- Historical Re-enactment: Opt for a light-hearted historical re-enactment connected to your product. Cue the nostalgia!
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: Let your actor address the audience directly. Cue the close-up, cue the monologue.
- Unexpected Jingle: Compose an unexpected, memorable jingle to kickstart your ad. Avoid legal pitfalls with this approach.
- Cross-Cultural References: Employ a cultural allusion that appeals broadly. Enlist ChatGPT for ideas but ensure cultural sensitivity. Have your concept vetted by representatives of the culture in question.
- Invent a Dance: Initiate with a dance move destined for virality. Consider a flop somersault — not solely dance but anything attention-grabbing.
- Use a Drone: Open with an eye-catching drone shot. Its novelty is effective but be mindful that its impact may diminish as drones become ubiquitous. Also, you can create a drone shoot without actually having a drone!
- Use a Puppet: Introduce a puppet to convey your message entertainingly. It’s a unique strategy that’s currently underutilized.
- Use a Whisper: Begin with a whisper to pique interest and prompt viewers to increase the volume. It’s a clever way to engage them.
- Create a Fake News Alert: Simulate a news alert connected to your product. Caution: Overdoing it may lead to issues with platforms like Facebook. Mirror the format of a news channel — the ticker, the ‘breaking news’ banner, and so on.
- Incorporate a Flashback: Trigger nostalgia with a flashback to a relatable moment.
- Use a Famous Soundtrack: Leverage a well-known musical piece to stir recognition and nostalgia.
- Create a ‘What If’ Scenario: Propose a scenario that pertains to your product. Marvel’s series exemplifies the influence of ‘what if.’
- Incorporate Virtual Reality: Feature a VR scenario that’s captivating. It’s challenging, yet feasible.
- Use a Famous Painting: Reimagine a celebrated painting with a humorous twist. I’d love to see this; please tag me when you do. I hear someone saying Monalisaaaaaa
- Create a Comic Strip: Craft a comic strip narrative as your opener. This requires ingenuity to execute effectively.
- Use a Spy Theme: Develop a short spy-themed narrative involving your product. Slightly altering familiar motifs can be effective.
- Play with Shadows: Employ shadow art to weave a narrative in the opening moments. It’s a fresh and underexplored technique.
- Use a Famous Movie Scene: Satirize a renowned movie scene, integrating your product. Don’t forget to tag me!
- Create a Miniature World: Attract viewers with a diorama or miniature setting. This ‘fresh out of the oven’ idea has a short shelf-life — act quickly.
- Use a Chalkboard: Begin with a message being scribed on a chalkboard. It’s surprisingly impactful.
- Incorporate a Prophecy: Start with a prophecy that your product fulfills. It’s an effective way to make a memorable impression. Remember “Order of Phoenix”?
- Use a Silent Film Card: Adopt the aesthetic of a silent film with intertitles. I’m fond of these ads!
- Create a Parallax Effect or Incorporate a Kaleidoscope: Utilize a parallax effect for depth or a kaleidoscope pattern for a hypnotic start.
- Use a Famous Myth: Retell a well-known myth to feature your product. Understand now? Myths were meant for marketing!
- Use a Famous Speech: Twist a notable speech to include your product. Think ‘I had a dream’—you get the gist.
- Use a Famous Poem: Modify a classic poem to align with your product. This tactic is especially effective for high-end markets.
- Create a ‘Before and After’: Illustrate a stark ‘before and after’ using your product. It’s an obvious choice for a reason.
- Use a Famous Opera: Adapt an opera classic to fit a contemporary setting. This is contingent on your audience’s preferences.
- Create a ‘Did You Know’ Fact: Open with a fact that segues into your product. Engaging customer curiosity is both smart and bold.
Wow! That was quite a list, wasn’t it? LOL.
I could continue, but the fundamentals remain constant. It now hinges on your creativity how you choose to expand upon these and the number of ideas you’re willing to test.
Honestly, I don’t believe you’ll be short on ideas after this list.