✅ 1.
Obsess Over the First 10 Seconds
If you lose viewers in the first 10 seconds, the rest of your video might as well not exist.
MrBeast says the first 10 seconds are the most critical part of a video — he’ll spend hours obsessing over this moment. Why? Because YouTube’s algorithm measures viewer retention early. If your audience drops off in the beginning, YouTube stops promoting your video. Game over.
Example:
In MrBeast’s “$456,000 Squid Game” video, he immediately opens with a countdown, high stakes, and visual chaos. No long intro. No talking about how hard it was to set up. Just action. You’re in — or you’re gone.
Application:
Cut your intro down. Get to the hook. Ask yourself:
Would I watch this if I didn’t know me?
If the answer is “no,” go back and fix the beginning.
✅ 2.
Make Better Thumbnails Than Your Content Deserves
MrBeast spends more on thumbnails than most creators spend on their whole setup. Why? Because he understands that clicks beat quality — at first.
The best video in the world won’t grow if no one clicks it. And thumbnails are your billboards. They’re the first impression. Get them wrong, and the algorithm skips over you. Get them right, and even a decent video can blow up.
Example:
Look at MrBeast’s thumbnails: bright faces, huge expressions, one idea, no clutter. He A/B tests thumbnails for the same video to find the winner. That’s how seriously he takes it.
Application:
Use bold colors, close-up faces, and one clear visual idea.
Test multiple versions. Track click-through rate (CTR).
If your CTR is under 5%, try a new thumbnail.
✅ 3.
Watch Your Own Videos Like a Hater
You’re not your target audience. And your viewers don’t owe you their attention.
Alex Hormozi says: “Fall in love with the outcome, not your effort.” Your hours of editing mean nothing if it doesn’t hold attention. You need to watch your content like someone who doesn’t care about you.
Example:
MrBeast does this literally. He’ll sit down and watch his videos with a group of strangers, asking them to say “stop” whenever they get bored. Then he deletes or shortens those parts. Brutal. Effective.
Application:
Play your video. Every time you feel an urge to check your phone, skip ahead, or lose interest — mark that timestamp. That’s the part your audience is leaving too.
✅ 4.
Cut Until It Hurts
This is editing 101: if it doesn’t add, it subtracts.
MrBeast once said he cut a video from 30 minutes down to 11 — and it performed 10x better. Hormozi talks about trimming fat: remove what feels good to say and only keep what moves the needle.
Example:
Imagine a challenge video where you explain the rules for 90 seconds. Nobody cares. Cut it to 20 seconds with graphics. Now they stay, they watch, and your retention goes up.
Application:
Be ruthless. Watch the entire video and ask:
“If I cut this section, would the video still make sense?”
If yes — delete it.
✅ 5.
Volume Is a Strategy
Trying to make a perfect video is like trying to hit a bullseye with your first dart.
MrBeast didn’t start out great — his first 100 videos barely got views. But he studied, tested, repeated. Hormozi says: “Reps before refinement.” You get better by shipping, not by thinking.
Example:
MrBeast uploaded videos daily for years. His first 100? Basically flops. But he kept going. Each one taught him something. Eventually, one hit. Then another. Then he exploded.
Application:
Don’t aim for viral. Aim for consistent output.
Post weekly. Track performance. Learn what works.
Then double down on what hits.