Importance of Intros

MicroGuardian

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Jun 28, 2015
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Hello All!

I was wondering what everyone thought about intros in their videos! Usually, when a gaming video starts, it will show a clip from the video highlighting what will be seen later on in the video. After that, the intro will play and the full video will follow.

I am wondering what everyone's opinion is on the effectiveness of the intros used. Personally, I feel that it helps peek immediate interest in the audience but at the same time,it is kind of blended in with the rest of everybody now because most people use them. When I watch a video now, I almost don't fully give my attention to the video until the intro is over anymore. Especially if I watch someone a lot.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks!

-MicroGuardian
 
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Koala_Steamed

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I think a lot of the time the intro is unnecessary. Especially showing that you can put a fancy graphic and some dub step with it, isn't going to make me want to watch the video any more. If the intro is done really well (has something to do with the channel/video) and it's very short it can be ok, but I'd rather see no intro than a bad one.
 

MicroGuardian

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Jun 28, 2015
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I think a lot of the time the intro is unnecessary. Especially showing that you can put a fancy graphic and some dub step with it, isn't going to make me want to watch the video any more. If the intro is done really well (has something to do with the channel/video) and it's very short it can be ok, but I'd rather see no intro than a bad one.
Totally Agree with you there! Thanks for the input!
 

Hail Kira

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For my series videos I don't do that...
I rarely use an intro at all...
I do a 30 sec-1min recap of the last episode, for my South Park series...

I had an intro for a while... but I got tired of it... lol

I usually only like an intro maybe 5-10 episodes... then I can't stand it anymore and have to change it
 
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1SB2Gamer

Brabbit1987
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I used to be big on intros. In fact I would spend days working on them at times. Eventually, I came to the conclusion intros not only are a waste of the viewers time, but are also a waste of my own time. I find most people also don't really like intros anyway.

I always start my videos with "Hello, Brabbit1987 of B-Bunny Gaming, back for another episode of blah blah blah, and last time blah blah blah" ... Also I have a graphic overlay at the beginning which quickly fades.

Is there really any reason to have an intro besides something like that? You get right into the video, no time wasted.

The only 2 exceptions to the above is if the intro is very simple, not loud, and is quick. 1 - 2 seconds long or if you are an artist or something and the intro shows off your abilities, which can catch peoples attention.
 

Hail Kira

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I think the only way they are really good is if they are super short like tobuscus' intro, or if they are always changing it up to keep it fresh and making it different.

For instance the intro to South park constantly had new stuff added to it... it started super simple, but over the years they added something from each new episode and now it's like 3d or whatever...
 
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Stretch AdventureKS

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I don't use intro clips. Unless, like it was stated above, it would be a very peaceful or quiet intro that is not that long and is something different than showing just your name, I think that would be ok. However if it's loud with music that not everyone may like than it would definitely not be recommended. Given the fact that I upload LPs I just begin each video by welcoming the viewer to the game, say what I did in the previous video, and continue on, straight to the point.

Back in 2010 maybe when I did videos a friend of mine made an intro for me with obnoxious music and at the end it shows my old name. At that time I did not know better. I think more recent was at the beginning of 2014 when I did a series for Metal Gear Rising, and at one point I made an intro featuring moments from the game with a soundtrack that was from the game, and in the end it shows the title of the game, and I start my commentary. At least with that it makes a bit more sense, but I don't do that anymore either.
 
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MicroGuardian

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Thanks everybody for the responses! I agree with everyone in that they are becoming too cliché. I Personally do not use them and probably will not start to do so.
 

Riddikore

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I'm still experimenting with intros to find out what I like best vs. audience likes. After all, intros mainly just show off the channel name lol. I haven't really seen that much of a different using a teaser clip vs. not using one.
 

MicroGuardian

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I'm still experimenting with intros to find out what I like best vs. audience likes. After all, intros mainly just show off the channel name lol. I haven't really seen that much of a different using a teaser clip vs. not using one.
Most Intros I see now are graphics showing off the channel name as you said haha. There are, however, some really cool and intriguing ones that are made specifically for either that series or that episode. When I see that, I understand the commitment with it and I do not mind.
 
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RyanSellers

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Hello All!

I was wondering what everyone thought about intros in their videos! Usually, when a gaming video starts, it will show a clip from the video highlighting what will be seen later on in the video. After that, the intro will play and the full video will follow.

I am wondering what everyone's opinion is on the effectiveness of the intros used. Personally, I feel that it helps peek immediate interest in the audience but at the same time,it is kind of blended in with the rest of everybody now because most people use them. When I watch a video now, I almost don't fully give my attention to the video until the intro is over anymore. Especially if I watch someone a lot.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks!

-MicroGuardian
I like how a short clip of like 10 seconds is showed before the intro that leads into the main video.
That is what I have been doing lately and it has helped me hook people from the start.
 
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Varlais Alata

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I don't do intro's, I just find it takes away from the epicness of my videos ;D
 

Gajanan Palav

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Intros are only good for established brands. They hammer Intros on viewers and they get hang of it eventually.

For an individual blogger or startup, I personally would suggest "No Intros". It's just a waste of time of viewer as well as content producer.

If anyone wants to establish himself/herself as a brand they can opt for Intros in later stages once they have set number of subscribers assigned to channel growth.