I paid 3 Video Editors to Make My Short Go Viral

Introduction

Over the last year, I've gained 36 million views posting YouTube shorts, and in that time, I've created a checklist of six essential elements that every YouTube short needs to go viral. So, do these Fiverr freelance editors tick every box, or are they just a waste of money?

For this experiment, I wanted to create the perfect YouTube short for my History Channel, where I've already posted 65 AI-generated shorts that didn't get beyond 12,000 views. So, can a human create something better? I looked at the two best-performing videos on the channel right now, which coincidentally were about similar topics. After generating some similar facts on ChatGPT and writing out a basic description of what I wanted to see in the video, I sent the same brief off to three viral video editors to see what they came up with.

But these weren't the only videos I'll be reviewing. I also gave the exact same brief to our professional video editor here at v as well as our brand new AI tool to see which one would get the best quality for the best price and which one ticks the most things on my checklist.

First Fiverr Editor

The first Fiverr short that came back to me cost $ 10.50. They promised a one-day delivery, a 60-second runtime, script writing, and subtitles.

Evaluation

• Intro/Hook: The intro wasn't strong enough. The first 5 seconds of your YouTube short are critical, and this intro failed to grab attention.
• Content: The video did discuss Area 51 facts but didn’t make the content feel essential.
• Positives: Good voice-over, captions all throughout, and appropriate use of AI-generated images.
• Score: Ticked 3 boxes out of my checklist.

Second Fiverr Editor

The second option came back a day later and cost the same. The service was for a 50-second video with subtitles included, but the finished product was nearly a minute long. The editor agreed to do the script himself after some back-and-forth.

Evaluation

• Intro/Hook: Better hook than the first one, started with a question and a fast zoom to grab attention.
• Follow-up: Still lacked a more mind-blowing fact for continuous engagement.
• Positives: Used AI-generated images effectively, good for the Roswell section.
• Negatives: Voiceover pace was too slow.
• Score: Ticked 3 or 4 features off my list.

Third Fiverr Editor

The third video had a similar price but was the slowest to come back.

Evaluation

• Intro/Hook: Started with a good question, followed by a mysterious line.
• Follow-up: Too slow to get to the more interesting facts.
• Positives: Well-edited and suited to the history niche.
• Score: Ticked off 4 things from my checklist.

Comparison With Professional and AI Editors

To take this experiment to the next level, I created two more videos. The first was with the help of our professional editor Elijah using our secret shorts checklist and the second was via video GPT by V, which uses ChatGPT to generate a video from scratch.

AI-Generated Video by Video GPT

• Effort: Took 5 minutes to create.
• Features: Added stock footage and animated subtitles automatically based on the input.

Human Editor (Elijah)

• Restrictions: Only allowed to use AI tools for creation, no personal recordings.

Finally, I asked viewers to vote on which video they preferred, human or AI.

Summary

Overall, all videos were slick, nicely edited, and fit into the niche. The main issues were structural and scriptwriting.

Key Points

1. First 5 Seconds: Essential for grabbing attention.
2. Engagement: Follow-up hooks need to be strong.
3. Content: Must be intriguing and mind-blowing.
4. Loop Method: Helps boost retention by encouraging second views.

Keywords

• YouTube Shorts
• Viral Videos
• History Channel
• Fiverr
• AI Tools
• Script Writing
• Engagement
• Retention

FAQ

Q1: What is the essential element to make a YouTube short go viral? A: The first 5 seconds must be very engaging to grab the viewer's attention.

Q2: How do I keep viewers engaged throughout the video? A: Follow up the initial hook with another engaging fact or story to maintain interest.

Q3: Why is the loop method important? A: It convinces viewers to watch your video for a second time, boosting your retention over 100%.

Q4: Are Fiverr editors worth the money? A: While the videos were well-edited and suited to the niche, they didn’t necessarily meet all the elements required for a viral video.

Q5: Can AI tools produce competitive videos? A: Yes, AI tools can quickly generate good videos with minimal effort, but they might lack human creativity in scriptwriting and structure.