Why your short-form content isn't hitting (and how to fix it)
I've edited hundreds of short-form videos. Here are the 3 mistakes I see creators make over and over:
1. The hook is too slow.
You have 0.5 seconds. Not 3. Not 2. Half a second. If your first frame doesn't create tension, curiosity, or movement — swipe. Start mid-action, mid-sentence, or with something visually jarring.
2. You're editing like it's a YouTube video.
Short-form is a different language. Quick cuts every 1-2 seconds. Text on screen. Sound design that punches. If your 30-second clip has fewer than 15 cuts, it's probably too slow.
3. No pattern interrupt.
The algo rewards watch time. Every 3-4 seconds, change something — camera angle, zoom, overlay, transition, text pop. Keep the brain engaged and the thumb from swiping.
Fix these three things and your retention will jump overnight. I've seen it happen hundreds of times.
If you want someone to handle this for you — that's literally what I do at CutCraft Studio. $50/video, 48-hour turnaround, built for creators who'd rather be filming than editing.