Why viewers drop off — the 4 cliffs every retention curve hides
Audience retention isn't random. It collapses at four predictable points, and the cause at each point is different. Fixing the wrong cliff wastes effort. This is the diagnostic.
Cause: weak promise or slow first cut. Fix: tighten the opening line, move the first hard cut to ~1.6s.
Cause: curiosity gap not closed in time. Fix: deliver concrete proof before second 30 or restate the promise with a new angle.
Cause: pacing flattens, no novelty. Fix: pattern interrupt with cut, chapter title, or B-roll change every 8–12 seconds past minute 2.
Cause: explicit ending signals the brain to leave. Fix: end on an open loop or sequel tease, never a CTA wall.
Frequently asked
Cliff 1 has the largest compounding effect — losing viewers at 3s shrinks the next sample size. Fix it first.
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