Create storyboards for social media videos, UGC content, and short-form video campaigns.
Shot-by-shot storyboards for TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts, and UGC ad scripts. Built around retention physics, not film-school conventions.
| Platform | Ratio | Resolution | Max duration | Sweet spot | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | 10 min in-app / 60 min upload | 21-34 sec |
| MP4/MOV, H.264, 287MB mobile / 500MB web |
| Instagram Reels | 9:16 | 1080×1920 | 3 min in-app / 15 min upload | <90 sec for Explore boost | MP4/MOV, 4GB |
| YouTube Shorts | 9:16 | 1080×1920 (up to 4K) | 3 min | 15-60 sec | MP4 |
| YouTube long-form | 16:9 | 1920×1080+ | unlimited | 8-12 min (mid-roll ads) | — |
Universal safe zone for cross-posting: Keep all text, faces, logos inside the center 900×1400 of the 1080×1920 frame. Top 14% + bottom 20-35% are covered by UI on at least one platform.
TikTok's algorithm scores hook retention separately from total watch time. 2025 creator analytics:
| 3-sec retention | View multiplier | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 85%+ | 2.8× | Viral tier — FYP push |
| 70-85% | 2.2× | Optimal reach |
| 60-70% | 1.6× | Average |
| <60% | baseline | Minimal distribution |
Target: keep ≥65% of viewers past 0:03. If you're losing >35% in 3 seconds, the hook is broken — rewrite the opening, not the body. 84% of viral TikToks in 2025 used an identifiable psychological trigger in the first 3 seconds.
The scroll-stopping element must fire in 0-2 seconds. Seconds 3-5 expand it. Never introduce — interrupt. Banned openers: "Hey guys," "Welcome back," "So today I'm gonna..."
| Hook | Template | Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| POV | "POV: you just found out [revelation]" | Puts viewer inside the scenario; personal relevance |
| Stop-scrolling callout | "Stop scrolling if you're a [role] who [pain]" | Audience self-selects; filters for high-intent |
| Contrarian | "Everyone says X. That's completely wrong." | Cognitive dissonance demands resolution |
| Unfinished story | "I almost [drastic action] until I found..." | Open loop — Zeigarnik effect |
| Negative listicle | "3 [category] mistakes that are costing you [outcome]" | Loss aversion > gain framing |
| Number hook | "$47,000 in 30 days — here's the exact breakdown" | Specificity = credibility |
| Secret reveal | "What [authority] doesn't want you to know about X" | Insider info promise |
| Surprise reaction | Open on a shocked face, silent beat, then reveal | Viewer's brain asks "what are they reacting to?" |
| Visual interrupt | Start mid-action, mid-motion, mid-chaos | Pattern break — no static frame 1 |
The silent test: Watch your first 3 seconds on mute. If text overlay + visual alone don't communicate the promise, it fails — ~85% of social video is watched muted.