The Deep Psychology Why Viewers Click

So, you’ve created what feels like the perfect video, but it’s struggling to get views. Ever wonder why some videos take off while others don't? It usually boils down to psychology. Understanding why viewers click on certain videos and, more importantly, why they subscribe can be the key to turning average viewers into subscribers.

Studying the deep psychology behind this can help you create content that doesn’t just grab the viewer's attention but also builds an audience.

By understanding the psychological principles that drive viewer behaviour, you can create content that is not only entertaining, but also effective in grabbing the viewer's attention. Remember, the key to YouTube success lies in crafting a compelling narrative, building a loyal audience, and consistently delivering value.

Let’s look into some of the psychology behind getting people to click and subscribe!

The First Impression

Why It's Important

The first thing your audience notices is the thumbnail and title. This split-second moment is extremely important because people usually process visual information a lot faster than text. If your thumbnail catches their attention, you’ve already won half the battle. But what exactly triggers that initial click?

It usually comes down to two things: curiosity and clarity. Thumbnails that raise questions or hint at a larger story leave viewers wanting more. A thumbnail that shows a surprised reaction or an interesting moment from the video makes people curious. They'll click because they want to find out what's going on. On the flip side, clarity is just as important. If your thumbnail or title is too vague, people might skip it, not completely sure what to expect.

Emotional Triggers

Why It's Important

People are drawn to content that evokes emotion. Whether it's nostalgia, humor, or inspiration, tapping into these feelings can keep viewers engaged. For instance, nostalgia can be a powerful tool.

Think about the popularity of remakes and reboots; they tap into our fond memories and create a sense of comfort. By incorporating these emotional elements into your videos, you can create a stronger connection with your audience and keep them coming back for more.

Familiarity and Consistency

Why It's Important

Familiarity makes people feel comfortable. When viewers recognize thumbnails, colors, or themes, they feel more at ease and trust the content. That’s why many successful creators stick to the same branding like using the same color scheme, showing the same characters, or editing in a certain style.

This only works if you consistently post good content. Consistency also tells your audience they can expect the same quality of video every time.

If your videos aren't good, they probably don't want the same quality of your previous content.

The more you upload videos that follow a pattern, the more the algorithm will show your content to viewers who enjoy it. This can help more people discover your channel and eventually become subscribers.

Storytelling

Why It's Important

We're wired to connect with stories. Whether it's in books, movies, or YouTube videos, storytelling is a great way to keep viewers watching. And it’s not just long, drawn-out stories that work, sometimes even a short narrative can do a ton for retention.

For example, in a MrBeast video where two people are tied together to survive in the wilderness, the main story is about them trying to survive. But the smaller story is about how these two people will figure out how to work together while being tied up to make it through.

Think of how your content can incorporate some form of storytelling. It doesn’t have to be some movie-level storyline with ten plot twists, even something as simple as solving a mystery within your niche or showing a transformation can keep people watching. The key is to make viewers feel emotionally invested in what happens next.

Social Proof and FOMO

Why It's Important

When it comes to building a successful YouTube channel, social proof and FOMO (fear of missing out) play a crucial role in influencing viewers to hit that coveted "Subscribe" button.

Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where people look to others' actions to determine their own. On YouTube, social proof manifests in metrics like likes, comments, shares, and subscriber counts. When viewers see that others are engaging with your videos—leaving positive comments, giving thumbs up, or subscribing—they’re more likely to do the same.

For instance, if a video has thousands of likes or a channel boasts a high subscriber count, it signals to new viewers that your content is valuable and worth following. This is especially important for new creators, as building visible engagement early on can snowball into more rapid growth.

Calls to Action

Why It's Important

Asking your viewers to subscribe might seem simple, but it's actually really important for growing your channel. How you ask, though, makes a big difference. A friendly, casual call to action works a lot better than a pushy one. If viewers feel that you're needy, they might no longer want to subscribe even if they were going to. But if you ask naturally after giving good content, people are more likely to subscribe.

A lot of successful YouTubers tie their CTA to the content. For example, a fitness YouTuber might say, “If you want more workouts like this, subscribe so you don’t miss the next one.” This doesn't sound pushy, it sounds helpful, making subscribing feel like a way to get more of what they already enjoy.

Some creators also tell viewers that subscribing helps support the channel, making them feel like they're helping out someone they like. It's a small but powerful way to make the CTA feel a bit more honest.

For example, if you want to grow on YouTube and get ideas from content that has already been successful, 1of10 can help!