How to Create a Looping Video for YouTube Shorts to Increase Your Views
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Want to increase views and engagement on your YouTube Shorts, TikToks, or Instagram Reels? A simple yet effective trick is to make your videos loop seamlessly, encouraging viewers to watch them again without even realizing it. In this post, I’ll show you how to create a looping video that feels smooth and natural using a clever editing technique. This trick works in any video editing software—whether you’re using Premiere Pro or an app on your phone!
Step 1: Craft the Perfect Sentence
The key to a successful looping video is crafting a sentence that works as both the beginning and the end of the video. This creates a seamless loop when the video repeats itself.
Here’s how it works:
Choose a sentence that makes sense both at the beginning and at the end. It should be grammatically correct and flow naturally.
For example, in my video, I say, "This is now my favorite way to travel with a camera..." and end with, "...let me also tell you that this is now my favorite way." These two sentences can connect together, making it feel like the video never ends.
Step 2: Edit the Video in Your Editing Software
Now that you’ve got your loop-worthy sentence, let’s jump into editing. I'll show you how I do this in Premiere Pro, but the concept works the same in any video editor.
Cut the Video:
Import your video and cut it so that the last part of the video is where the sentence you want to loop starts.
Leave a small gap between the end and the beginning of the video where the cut will happen. This helps the loop feel natural.
Create Keyframes for a Smooth Transition:
To make the loop even smoother, use keyframes for the scale or zoom effect.
I like to set a keyframe at the end of the video (where the sentence ends) and another at the beginning (where the sentence starts).
Adjust the scale slightly on the second keyframe to create a slight zoom effect that adds polish to the transition.
Ease the Keyframes:
Select all the keyframes and apply Easy Ease. This makes the transition feel smoother as the video loops.
Cut and Connect:
At the second keyframe (where the sentence starts over), cut the clip and connect it seamlessly with the first part of the video. This creates a smooth loop as the sentence flows continuously.
Step 3: Test and Adjust
Once the loop is set up, play the video from the start to ensure the loop feels natural. In Premiere Pro, you can enable the Loop Playback feature to preview how the video plays on a loop. Make sure the transition is smooth, and the video feels continuous.
Step 4: Experiment with Different Hook Sentences
While the basic concept is the same, you can experiment with different ways of structuring your sentences. For example:
Direct Hook: Use the same sentence for both the beginning and end, like in my first example. This is a straightforward loop.
Ending Hook: Create a sentence that hooks the viewer into thinking there's more to come, only to loop them back to the start. For instance, "I’ll be trekking in Nepal and needed easy access to my camera..." can loop back to the beginning, tricking the viewer into thinking there's more content coming.
Step 5: Publish and Boost Engagement
Once you’ve perfected your loop, export and publish your video. By tricking the viewer into rewatching, you can boost retention and increase the chances of your video going viral. The seamless loop keeps viewers engaged, and the higher retention often leads to more views.
Conclusion
Making loopable videos for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, or Instagram Reels is a great way to increase engagement and views. By crafting a clever sentence that works as both the beginning and the end of your video, and by adding small editing tricks like keyframe zooms and smooth transitions, you can easily create a video that loops without anyone noticing.
Try this technique in your next short-form video and watch how it boosts your retention and engagement. Stay tuned for more tips!
