The structure of a video script
- Hook: the first few seconds. State the problem, the promise or a surprising point, so viewers know why to stay.
- Setup: a line or two of context, such as who this is for or why it matters. Keep it very short in short videos.
- Main content: the points, steps or story, in a clear order. One idea per point.
- Call to action: one specific next step. Follow, comment with a question, visit a page or watch the next video.
How many words do you need?
Most people speak at roughly 130 to 160 words per minute when they present. That makes a 30-second video about 70 words, a 60-second video about 140 words and a 5-minute video about 700 words. Always read the script aloud with a timer: pauses, demos and on-screen text change the real length.
Write for the ear, not the eye
- Use short sentences and everyday words. If a line is hard to say, rewrite it.
- Say numbers simply: "about half" is easier to follow than "48.7 percent".
- Repeat the key point near the end. Viewers cannot scroll back up the way readers can.
- Write cues for what appears on screen, so filming and editing go faster.
Short videos versus longer videos
For Reels, TikTok and Shorts, cover one idea, open with the payoff and cut every line that does not move the video forward. Add on-screen text, because many people watch with the sound off. For YouTube videos of several minutes, a brief intro that previews what is coming helps viewers decide to stay, and chapters make long videos easier to navigate.
Make the script yours
A script is a starting point. Swap in your own examples, results and the phrases you naturally use, and mark the places where you will show something rather than say it. Viewers trust videos that sound like a person talking, not a person reading.