The short version
- On short-form social video, skip the intro — start with the hook.
- On longer videos, hook first, then a short branded intro of about 2–5 seconds.
- Keep it simple and consistent: your name or logo, a colour, a sound.
- Build it once and reuse it on every video.
Do you need an intro at all?
For TikTok, Reels and Shorts, usually not. Viewers decide within a second or two whether to keep watching, and a logo animation spends those seconds on you instead of on them. Open with the most interesting moment and put your branding in a small text or sticker instead.
For longer videos — YouTube tutorials, series, courses, company videos — a short intro can help. It signals quality, builds recognition across a series and gives a clean break between the hook and the main content.
The key rule: hook first, intro second. Start with a few seconds that tell viewers what they'll get ("By the end of this video you'll be able to…"), then roll the intro.
How long should an intro be?
Shorter than you think. For most online videos, about 2–5 seconds is plenty. Long cinematic intros make sense for films and trailers, not for a ten-minute tutorial. If you're unsure, cut it in half and see whether anything is lost.
Types of intro
| Type | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Title card | The video title over a colour, blurred background or key shot. | Tutorials, lessons, one-off videos. |
| Logo reveal | Your logo animating onto the screen with a sound. | Brands, businesses and series. |
| Series opener | Show name, episode number and a short music sting. | Podcasts on video, recurring shows. |
| Cold open + title | A gripping moment from later in the video, then the title. | Stories, vlogs, documentaries. |
| Lower-third only | Your name and title shown at the bottom while you start talking. | Interviews and talking-head videos. |
What makes a good intro
- Clear branding: your name or logo, readable in a second.
- A signature colour and font, used in every video.
- A short sound — a musical sting or whoosh that becomes recognisable. Make sure you're allowed to use it; see our music guide.
- Motion with purpose: a pop, slide or fade that feels energetic, not a long sequence of effects.
- Consistency: the power of an intro comes from repetition, so keep it the same.
Step by step: build an intro in VDOAPP
- Choose a background. In the free online editor, add a short clip or a photo as the first item on the timeline — a key moment from your video, a branded image or a plain colour image. For a photo, set Show photo for to 2–4 seconds in the Clip tab.
- Add your title. In the Text tab, add the title with a bold font such as Bebas Neue, and give it an In animation like Pop, Letters or Typewriter, plus an Out animation like Fade.
- Add your logo. In the Sticker tab, choose + Upload image and pick your logo (a PNG with a transparent background works best). Set its animation to Pop in and place it above or beside the title.
- Add motion to the background. In the Clip tab, apply the Zoom in keyframe preset for a subtle push.
- Add sound. Add a short music track in the Audio tab, or record a quick spoken welcome.
- Transition into the video. Click the ⇄ button between the intro and your first clip and choose Flash, Zoom or Fade black.
Reusing your intro
Once you're happy with your intro, export it as its own short video. Next time, add that file as the first clip in a new project. It's the fastest way to keep your branding identical across every video — and the most consistent.
You can do the same for an outro: a short closing card with a call to action ("Subscribe for part 2", "Visit our website"), your logo and your music sting.
Common mistakes
- Too long. Every extra second is a chance for viewers to leave.
- Intro before the hook. Give viewers a reason to stay before you introduce yourself.
- Unreadable text. Fancy fonts and fast animations that are gone before anyone can read them.
- Loud stings. A sound that's much louder than your voice is jarring. Keep levels consistent.
- Changing it every video. Consistency is what builds recognition.