In today’s episode, I wanted to give you a special ingredient for making your YouTube Videos stand out. It’s a technique I’ve used for the past 15 years, and I call it “Breaking the Fifth Wall”.
With this single technique, your videos will likely reach more viewers, and your channel will likely grow. Without this technique, you’ll probably struggle to succeed on Youtube. The good news? This technique is something you can do instantly, and requires almost zero effort.
Breaking The Fifth Wall
In cinema, there’s a term called “Breaking the Fourth Wall”. It’s a technique where the characters in the movie look directly into the camera and speak to the viewer. Ferris Bueler’s Day Off is an example of this technique. Every time Ferris looks into the camera and speaks directly to the viewer, he’s breaking the fourth wall.
The “Walls” in cinema refer to the various walls of a set. Most movie sets have a backdrop, and two side walls. The proverbial FOURTH wall is the wall when actors call attention to the wall that doesn’t exist between the camera and the actor.
When we talk to the camera on YouTube, we’re breaking through an additional “fifth wall”. I haven’t heard anyone else use this term, and I coined it because when we make YouTube videos, it’s implicit that there is no fourth wall. We’re breaking through something else…
The Fifth Wall – Talking THROUGH The Camera
On YouTube, we’re delivering something very unique. This is something that isn’t typically done in cinema, nor on television, nor in any other media format.
We’re actually trying to BE WITH THE VIEWER, and talk to them DIRECTLY in the most realistic style we can.
Most people who make YouTube videos don’t realize this nuance, and that’s why most YouTube channels don’t get much traction. People are so busy trying to get views that they forget the most important element of YouTube…transcendent connection.
Transcendent connection is what happens when we create videos that make the viewer feel like we’re actually speaking directly to them.
What makes it even more transcendent? When we do this whole YouTube thing correctly, we actually ARE talking directly to the viewer.
Transcendent connection is why more people are watching YouTube now than any other media platform.
You and I do NOT want to be talked AT. We are done with listening to new caster voices and cheesy personality affects. Even more, we don’t really care all that much about the information. We care far more about HOW IT MAKES US FEEL.
If your videos both teach your viewer AND make them feel a sense of connection with you, you’ve the two most important ingredients for a thriving YouTube channel (and online business).
How to Talk THROUGH The Camera
To break through the fifth wall is simple. You are just talking through the camera. If you talk through the camera, your content will break through the noise. If you don’t talk through the camera, your videos will NOT break through the noise on social media.
The good news? Talking through the camera is simple. In fact, the less you “try” the better your videos will be. We DO want to put in effort towards the ideation process. But once the record button is pressed, the more you let go, the more transcendent your videos will be.
Here’s the simple pillars to talking through the camera:
Pillar 1 – Talk to The One. Not to “social media”
When people start promoting their business online, they get this idea in their heads they are now “doing social media”.
This is the exact mindset we DON’T want to have. This will taint your videos with the flavor of doritos cheese dust that is so pervasive in “social media content”.
Social media content is content that’s created for the sole purpose of getting views and clicks, and it’s lacking any real meaning or purpose. It’s highlighter yellow, obnoxious, manipulative, and annoying.
You hate social media content. I hate social media content. Everyone hates “social media” content.
Nobody wants it anymore, and truth be told, nobody ever REALLY wanted it in the first place.
What will always and forever stand the test of time is for you to look directly into the camera, consider the struggles of your viewer, and actually speak to them like a human being. That is your one and only strategy. This will boost your sales more than any instagram gimmick or sales tactic.
Pillar 2 – Write & Recite
Great YouTube videos require planning and practicing. The potential payoff for YouTube is enormous, and with this potential payoff, lots of people are posting.
The good news is that probably less than 1% of people who post to YouTube are sitting down to write and recite their videos. So sure, there’s a “saturation” of mediocre social media content without clear structure, but make no mistake, excellent content will always break through on YouTube.
Excellent videos aren’t about production quality or fancy edits. Truly exceptional videos require only two ingredients (mentioned before)…Connection and Meaning.
After 15 years of doing YouTube, I can’t overemphasize the value of writing out your videos and reciting them before you film.
This could be something as simple as writing out five bullet points, and then going for a walk and talking it through for 30 minutes until it feels right.
This practice will help you to sound confident and coherent in your videos. If you turn the camera on and continually forget what you wanted to say, it’s difficult to deliver your message in a relaxed and authentic way.
Bottom line, when you’re growing your business with YouTube, you’re becoming a “paid public speaker”. If you want to be a very well-paid public speaker, you must treat this process like a professional. This means writing and reciting your videos.
Is it more work? Yes. This will tack on a couple hours of work per month.
Now guess how many people are willing to do that work? I’d guess less than 1% of people.
What does this mean? It means that if you show up and put in a little effort, your videos will be in the 1% of excellent quality. In a sea of noise, your videos will Break Through.
Pillar 3 – Focus 100% on Them, 0% on You
When you are laser focused on your viewer, you’ll let go of the petty concerns your ego has.
One of the most common concerns I hear from business owners starting out on YouTube is their hidden fears of what others will think. It’s a very common fear that is holding millions of people back.
What I’m about to say might sting a little, but here it is:
Rookie’s are worried about what people will think of them.
Masters are worried about who they can help and how they can help them.
It’s a mindset shift that every business owner eventually faces. And when you start YouTube, you’ll quickly understand that you have two choices: You can either keep worrying about what other’s think about you, or you can grow your business & impact the world.
There is no grey area here.
You must choose one or the other…and make no mistake, this IS a choice.
Pillar 4 – Let Go of The Outcome
Being focused on “is this going to get views?” will hold you back in a major way. That creates a hidden agenda in the back of your mind that will bleed into your videos.
Of course we want our videos to succeed. Of course we want them to do well and to reach plenty of people. But it’s important we aren’t attached to these outcomes.
The easiest way to let go of the outcome of your videos is to create videos is by doing the following:
- Create videos you are genuinely proud of. If you’re proud of the videos you make, they are successful
- Create videos that authentically express your soul, your business, and your teachings. If your videos are authentic and helpful, they will create a massive impact, regardless of the view count.
Some of my lowest viewed videos have garnered tons of positive emails from people. My video on A Course in Miracles, for instance, landed me a sizeable number of clients and customers. I didn’t create that video with the intention to attract new clients, but it did.
I‘m a business consultant and business educator, and if I asked ChatGPT “What’s the best video to attract exceptional business owners who want to grow their business?” it most certainly WOULD NOT have said “Make a video about A Course In Miracles.”
*A quick digression – ChatGPT is probably one of the least effective tools business owners can use for growing your reach, creating great videos, and connecting with your dream customers. I cannot STAND ChatGPT culture, and I find ChatGPT to be an ineffective tool for the creative process, and an utter waste of time.
The YouTube Breakthrough Challenge
Registration is now OPEN for The YouTube Breakthrough Challenge, happening May 26-30. In this live, 5-Day YouTube Challenge, you’ll be taken through the process of creating your YouTube channel and a video in real time!
You will learn everything you need to:
- Build an audience of people who appreciate your messages
- Increase your profits with videos that sell for you 24/7
- Grow your impact and reach in this world and open new doors
- Promote your products and services WITHOUT being salesy
- Get more traffic without spending money on ads
- Fully express what’s in your heart and soul, WHILE increasing your income
- Get more freedom in your life, more empty days on your calendar, and more time doing things you love
All of this and more is possible with the power of YouTube. In this challenge, I’ll be taking you through my YouTube Breakthrough™ Frameworks IN REAL TIME.
If you’re ready to step into a new level of business and impact, let’s launch or grow your YouTube channel in 5 short and fun days 😎
❤️,
Brenda
