Guiding Question - How do you support your topics?

Now that you’ve selected your key topics, it’s time to back them up. Can you provide evidence or context for your claims?

A common issue we see in videos is presenting key points and then quickly moving on, without explaining their significance or proving their accuracy. By reinforcing your arguments, you help your audience understand why the content matters and make your message more impactful.

Our top three methods for providing support are:

1. Data: Use statistics or facts to give credibility to your claims.
2. Examples: Provide concrete instances to illustrate your points.
3. Stories: Share relatable narratives to engage and connect with your audience.

Weaving it All Together: 1:3 or 3:1?

We’ve already cautioned against overloading your viewers with too much content. So how do you decide what’s most important to include, and how much is too much?

Through experience, we’ve found that most short-form videos work best with one of two structures:

1. 1 Key Topic + 3 Supporting Points (1:3)
2. 3 Key Topics + 1 Supporting Point for Each (3:1)

Which is right for you?

The primary distinction between 1:3 and 3:1 lies in the depth of the discussion. Are you aiming for a high-level overview or a deep dive into a single topic? Choose the structure that best aligns with the goals of your content and the needs of your audience.

Reflection:

Review your key topics and think about whether you think they'd be suited for a 1:3 or a 3:1 format. Take a moment to try jotting down an outline in each format and souring support that's suitable for your topic. Which seems like the better fit?

Go to next course: "Organization - Deep Dive"