Writing for Radio & TV - Scripting for YouTube

Importance of Scripting

• Writing a script is very important for making good YouTube videos.

• It helps keep people watching by making your message clear and organized. This stops you from talking too much or confusing people.

• Scripts save time when you film and edit because you know what to do.

• They make sure your videos always have the same feel.

• Scripts help people remember what you say by using good hooks and telling people what to do next.

• They make you feel more sure of yourself on camera, so you seem natural and ready.

• Scripts help you be creative by letting you plan jokes, stories, or cool visuals ahead of time.

• They work well for how-to videos, vlogs, and reviews.

Types of YouTube Scripts

• How-to (Educational)

• Vlogs

• Reviews

• Storytelling

• Interviews

1. The “How To?” Script (Educational)

• This is for teaching people something, like using software, understanding an idea, or doing something step-by-step.

• It's all about being clear, giving instructions, and being useful.

• It’s one of the most popular types of videos on YouTube.

Key Characteristics:

• Clear Objective: Answers a question or fixes a problem.

• Instructional Tone: Direct, focused, and often talks to the viewer using "you" to guide them.

• Step-by-Step Guidance: Goes in order, with each step building on the last.

• Scripted Clarity: Very carefully written to be exact and avoid rambling, especially for hard topics.

• Visual Reinforcement: Shows when to use screen sharing, graphics, or examples to help explain things.

Structure of Writing:

Step One: Clear and Concise Title

• YouTube is the second-biggest search engine after Google.

• A clear title with keywords helps your video show up in search results.

• Example: “How to use Excel for beginners.”

• Don’t use titles that are too general or unclear, like “Excel Secrets You Didn’t Know.”

Step Two: Engaging Hook (0:00 to 0:15)

• The first 5 to 10 seconds decide if people keep watching.

• Ways to make a good hook:

  • Asking a question people can relate to: “Tired of your videos getting no views?”

  • Promising something good: “By the end of this video, you’ll know how to edit videos like a pro using just your phone.”

  • Using a surprising fact or result: “This simple trick doubled my subscribers in 30 days.”

Step Three: The Introduction (Setting Expectations) (0:15 to 0:30)

• Briefly say who you are and what people will learn.

• Include:

  • Your name or brand (quickly).

  • The topic and why it’s useful.

  • Optional proof that you’re good at this: “I’ve taught over 1,000 students how to…”

Step Four: The Body (0:30–X minutes)

• Teach in simple steps, in a way that’s easy to follow.

• Tips for Structure:

  • Break your content into steps or parts.

  • Use titles like “Step 1” and “Step 2.”

  • Use text on the screen to name each part.

  • Show examples or do things on camera.

  • Use phrases to move on: “Now that you’ve learned X, let’s move to Y.”

Step Five: Call to Action (CTA)

• Tell people to do something, like subscribe or check out something else.

• Examples:

  • “If this helped, give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more tips.”

  • “Download the free worksheet below.”

  • “Watch my next video on how to record your screen.”

Engagement Triggers

• These are things in your video that make people want to join in.

• They help get more people involved, which makes YouTube show your video to more people.

• Examples:

  • Asking questions that make people comment: "What’s the hardest thing about video editing for you? Tell me below!"

  • Challenges or asking people to share what they create: Get people to try something and share it. Example: "Try this and tag me on Instagram so I can see it!"

  • Letting them help decide: "Vote in the poll to pick my next video topic!"

2. Vlogs Script

• A vlog is a video where you share your daily life, what you think, or things that happen to you. It’s casual, personal, and often not planned much.

• It’s more about you and your stories than giving instructions or being perfect.

• Types:

  • Daily Vlogs: Showing what you do every day.

  • Travel Vlogs: Sharing trips and places.

  • Event Vlogs: Showing birthdays, parties, or conferences.

  • Lifestyle Vlogs: Sharing your routines or thoughts.

  • Behind-the-Scenes Vlogs: Showing how you make content or work on things.

Key Characteristics:

• Conversational Tone: Sounds like you’re talking to the viewer, friendly and personal.

• Flexible Structure: Usually has a simple flow, like an update, a day in your life, or focusing on one thing.

• Personality-Driven: People watch because they like you.

• Visual Variety: Uses different places, angles, and cuts to keep it interesting.

Transitions in Vlogs

• Vlogs usually have the same script structure: hook, intro, main part, and outro with a call to action.

• Transitions are very important because they help the video flow well when you change times, places, or activities (like going from coffee in the morning to working out to a walk at night).

• Transitions connect moments so the video makes sense.

• Good transitions make vlogs easier and more fun to watch.

3. Reviews Script

• A review script is what you write when you’re reviewing something like a product, service, app, movie, or book.

• It makes sure your review is clear, honest, organized, and helpful.

• Review videos help people decide what to buy or use.

• The script should be informative, fair, and interesting.

• The structure is a bit different from other scripts, and the number of parts can change.

• Tip: Be honest, even if someone is paying you to review it. People want real opinions.

Structuring the Reviews Script:

Step One: Hook (0:00–0:15)

• Grab attention quickly by:

  • Asking a big question: “Is this the best phone for under $500?”

  • Giving away a big point: “This app surprised me, but not in a good way.”

Step Two: Introduction (0:15–0:30)

• Quickly say what you’re reviewing.

• Say why you’re reviewing it.

• Show you know what you’re talking about (like “I’ve used this app for 2 months…”).

Step Three: The Main Segment

• Overview / Key Features (0:30–2:00):

  • Give a short summary of what it is and who it’s for.

  • Say what’s important about it.

• Personal Experience / Hands-On Use (2:00–4:00):

  • Share what it was really like for you (what was good and bad).

  • List the good and bad things clearly.

  • Compare it to other things if it makes sense.

Step Four: The Closing Segment

• Verdict / Should You Buy/Use It? (4:00–5:00):

  • Finish by saying what you really think: Is it worth it? Who should use it? Would you tell people to get it?

• Call to Action (CTA):

  • Ask people to join in: “Tell me what you think in the comments.” “Subscribe for more honest reviews.” “Check it out with the link below.”

Script Format Example