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How To Push Average View Duration Above 100%

ShortsFireDecember 11, 20251 views
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Why "Average Percentage Viewed" Above 100% Is Even Possible

If you create short vertical videos, your main enemy is drop off.

On YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Reels, viewers swipe in a fraction of a second. The platforms reward content that keeps people watching for as long as possible. That is where Average Percentage Viewed (APV) comes in.

  • 100% APV means the average viewer watched your entire video once
  • 50% APV means the average viewer watched half the video
  • 150% APV means the average viewer watched the full video one and a half times on average

So how can a number go beyond 100%?

Simple. People rewatch your video. Either because:

  • You designed it to loop cleanly, or
  • You created curiosity that is only satisfied by watching again

That is the core of the looping strategy. You are not just trying to get them to stay. You are giving them a reason to restart.

The good news: you can do this with simple tweaks in scripting, editing, and structure. You do not need bigger budgets. You just need to be intentional.

The Core Idea: Design for a Seamless Loop

Think of your short as a circle, not a straight line.

The end should connect back to the beginning so smoothly that when it loops, it feels natural. Done right, a viewer might not even notice where the video restarts.

To pull this off, you need three things:

  1. A hook that still works if someone lands in the middle
  2. An ending that points back to the start
  3. Visual or audio continuity that hides the loop

Let’s break those down and turn them into specific tactics.

Tactic 1: Write a "Circular" Script

Most creators write scripts like this:

Beginning → Middle → End → Done

For looping, you want:

Beginning that creates a question → Middle that builds tension → Ending that triggers rewatch

A circular script works even if someone:

  • Starts at the beginning
  • Lands halfway through
  • Arrives right at the end on the first frame after a loop

How to structure a circular script

Use this simple formula:

  1. Open with a bold statement or result

    • "This trick doubled my views overnight"
    • "That is why your videos never hit the For You page"

  2. Immediately show a visual that will also make sense as a "first frame"

    • A close-up of a shocking before-and-after
    • A dramatic moment mid-action
    • A finished result that makes people think: "How did we get here?"

  3. Explain or demonstrate quickly, but not fully

    • Give enough value that it feels worth watching
    • Hold one key detail until the end

  4. End with a payoff that quietly sends them back to the start

    • "Watch that back and copy it step by step"
    • "If you missed it, you need to replay this"
    • Show a result that makes them want to see the process again

You are creating a loop in their brain: question → partial answer → desire to rewatch.

Tactic 2: Make the First and Last Frames Match

Viewers notice visual jumps more than anything else. If your last frame and first frame are wildly different, the loop feels jarring.

Aim for this:

  • The end frame and start frame are either identical or closely related
  • When the platform auto-replays the short, it looks like a smooth continuation

Practical ways to do this

  1. Match the camera angle and framing

    • Same distance
    • Same position
    • Same background

  2. Re-use the same clip as both the first and last shot

    • Start with a 1-second shot
    • End on that same shot, maybe zoomed or cropped slightly

  3. Use a continuous motion

    • Example: You snap your fingers at the start
    • At the end, you finish the motion so when it loops, it looks like one longer snap

  4. Avoid hard cuts to black at the end
    Those scream "video over" and kill the loop.

Instead, think: "If this cut played back-to-back, would it feel like a glitch or like a stylistic choice?"

Tactic 3: The "Wait, What Just Happened?" Moment

One of the easiest ways to spike APV is to create a moment viewers do not fully understand the first time.

Not confusion in a bad way. Curiosity.

You want them to think:

  • "Hold on, how did that transition happen?"
  • "What did that text say?"
  • "How did the room change so fast?"

How to build a replay-worthy moment

Try one of these:

  • Rapid visual change

    • Quick costume change
    • Fast room transformation
    • Instant before-and-after body or design change

  • Ultra fast on-screen text

    • Show a list of 7 tips in half a second
    • People rewatch to pause and catch them all

  • Hidden easter egg

    • Place a small, weird detail in the background
    • Tease it with a line like "Did you catch that?"

  • Sharp transition that feels like a magic trick

    • Toss something toward the camera
    • It hits the lens, then you cut to a new scene mid-motion

The key is balance. The first watch should still be satisfying, but the second watch should reveal more.

Tactic 4: Use Audio That Rewards Replays

Audio is underrated in looping strategy. A strong sound can make people sit through the same clip multiple times.

Here is how to use sound to your advantage:

1. Choose a hooky section of a track

Pick a part of the song that:

  • Has a clear start and end
  • Feels good repeating
  • Hits a beat right when your loop point happens

Crop your audio so:

  • The "beat drop" or vocal hook lands on a visual punch
  • The end lines up with a similar beat, so the restart feels smooth

2. Line your dialogue to the loop

If you speak on camera, try patterns like:

  • Start and end with the same phrase

    • "Here is the trick…" at the start
    • End with "Now watch that again and do it with me"

  • End on an unfinished thought that matches your opening

    • Start: "You are editing your shorts wrong because…"
    • End: "That is where most people mess up their editing"
      When it loops, the brain connects the two.

Tactic 5: Build in a "Replay Call to Action"

You can directly tell people to rewatch. It works if you earned it.

Do not say "Please watch this again." That feels needy. Instead, use it as part of the value.

Examples:

  • "You are going to want to watch this twice to catch all 3 steps"
  • "Rewatch this and pause on the part where I show my settings"
  • "Play this again while you copy it on your own video"

Place this line toward the end once they already feel the video was worth their time.

Tactic 6: Ideal Length for Looping Shorts

Shorter videos are easier to loop. A viewer might not replay a 45-second clip, but they will happily watch a strong 9-second one three times.

General guidelines:

  • 5 to 15 seconds is the sweet spot for tight, looping content
  • Up to 30 seconds can work if the payoff is strong and fast
  • Anything longer needs extremely high tension and value to justify rewatching

Ask yourself:
"If this video looped three times, would the total time feel annoying or addictive?"

Tactic 7: Test "Soft Loops" vs "Hard Loops"

There are two main styles of loops.

Soft loops

The end flows gently into the beginning. The viewer might not even notice the loop.

Works best for:

  • Satisfying visuals
  • Aesthetic edits
  • Tutorials with quick, repeating instructions

Example:

  • You show a quick sequence of steps to color-correct a clip.
  • The last frame is the same as the first, so someone can just keep watching until they memorize it.

Hard loops

The end clearly sends you back to the start with intent.

Works best for:

Example:

  • "Now go back to the start, rewatch, and copy these exact settings on your next post."

Test both styles on your audience. On ShortsFire or any analytics view, watch which ones spike APV and which ones flatten out.

How To Track If Your Looping Strategy Works

High-performing loops usually show:

  • APV above 100% or at least trending upward
  • Very strong retention in the last 2 seconds of the video
  • A "sawtooth" style watch graph, where viewers jump back or replay parts

Watch for:

  • The frame where most people drop
  • The moment where people start rewatching
  • Any mismatch between your loop point and where viewers actually want to restart

Use that info to adjust:

  • Move your "replay-worthy" moment closer to the end
  • Tighten any slow or rambling sections
  • Make the loop point cleaner visually

Simple Checklist Before You Post

Before you upload your next Short, Reel, or TikTok, run through this quick list:

  • Does my end visually connect to my beginning?
  • Is there at least one moment worth rewatching?
  • Did I keep the runtime as short as it can be without losing value?
  • Is my audio cut aligned to a clean loop?
  • Did I include a natural reason to replay?

If you can honestly answer yes to those, you are not just chasing views. You are designing them.

When you start thinking in loops, not lines, your Average Percentage Viewed will follow.

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