Podcast Summary: Social Media Marketing Podcast

Episode: How to Create Short-Form Video Content That Stops the Scroll

Host: Michael Stelzner (Social Media Examiner)
Guest: Eden Hazan (Co-Founder, Social Drop; The Real Coach; Dream Crust Pizza)
Date: November 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Michael Stelzner sits down with short-form video strategist Eden Hazan for a thorough and tactical discussion on mastering short-form video content for platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. Eden shares actionable strategies for creating videos that truly stop the scroll, connect emotionally with audiences, and drive results—regardless of technical skill or experience. Listeners learn how to research top content, develop effective hooks, use creative transitions, and apply Eden’s “Three Ps” framework to craft compelling, high-performing short videos with confidence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Short-Form Video (03:04)

• Short-form video transcends reach: While other formats like carousels and static posts perform well, short-form video uniquely enables quick, rich storytelling, emotional connection, and authentic brand presence.
• Personal success: Eden credits embracing short-form video with tripling his agency’s growth, rescuing his family’s pizza business, and building substantial personal and client brands.
  • "A lot of good things are happening that I'm very, very thankful and grateful for. But I can really attribute all of it to my ability to embrace the challenge of short form video content." (04:50, Eden)

2. Overcoming Creative Resistance (05:48)

• Anyone can start: You don’t need to be “crafty, entertaining, or creative”—Eden describes starting as a complete beginner and improving through daily practice.
• Imperfect is now perfect: Audiences respond to unpolished, raw, authentic content—often more than highly produced videos.
  • "Everything today is so polished, it's actually the imperfect content that stands out." (08:46, Eden)

3. Research & Strategy: Where to Begin (10:29)

• Step 1: Explore your niche:
  • Dive into your intended platform (Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts).
  • Research competitors and top creators for content topics, trends, and formats.
  • Focus on posts with high engagement: likes, comments, and especially shares.
    • "The shares... that tells you that there was so much value there for that audience. And if you replicate that value, you might have a good shot at achieving similar results." (15:47, Eden)
• Step 2: Analyze engagement (not just views):
  • Prioritize content with high shares and comments—these indicate true audience investment.
  • Use comments for further inspiration and to discover community’s conversation points.
    • "When you look at the comments, you might actually get more content ideas..." (15:48, Eden)

4. The Power of Hooks: Grabbing Attention Instantly (18:49)

• Definition: The “hook” is whatever happens in the first three seconds of your video—its sole job is to make the viewer stop scrolling.
  • "In English, that just means whatever is happening in the first three seconds of your video, that's your hook." (19:28, Eden)
• Five Types of Hooks:
  1. Visual Hook: Eye-catching movement or action to visually intrigue (jump cuts, transitions, surprise).
  2. Text Overlay: Short impactful words at the top of the screen—triggers curiosity and adds context.
  3. Caption: Supporting message or CTA at the bottom, reinforcing video’s purpose.
  4. Voiceover: Narration adds information and personality; can use over any footage, doesn’t have to show your face.
  5. Background Music: Choose tracks where the tone or lyrics support your message.
  • "You're just immersing your audience's senses... their hearing it as well." (27:12, Eden)
• Looping & Rewatches: Intriguing visual hooks can encourage viewers to rewatch, boosting algorithmic reach.

5. Creative Transitions: Elevating Video Flow (28:03)

• What are transitions: Techniques for moving creatively from one shot to another—keeps the video dynamic, increases watch time.
  • "Essentially a transition... is a technique used to smoothly move from one shot to another scene altogether. It almost looks like I'm teleporting." (28:43, Eden)
• Easy Transition Examples:
  • Blackout: Cover lens with object (e.g., coffee cup, hand, wall), then reveal a new scene.
    • "Blackout transitions... it's the easiest form because you can do it with a coffee cup. You can do it with your head..." (30:13, Eden)
  • Movement: End one clip with a phone shake; start next with the same motion, stitch at point of motion for seamless effect.
• Why use transitions:
  • Adds creativity and “wow” factor, inspiring respect and repeat views.
  • Supports the algorithm by increasing completion and retention rates.
    • "It just works so well with modern day algorithms because it... persuades your audience to actually get to the end and consume more of your content." (34:29, Eden)
• How many transitions per video?:
  • Always at least one in the hook; 1-3 per video is ideal (don’t overdo).
    • "If you only had to pick one, it would be in your hook." (35:35, Eden)

6. The Three Ps: Advanced Tactics for Effective Short-Form Video (36:31)

• "These are three tactics that I keep top of mind whenever I'm brainstorming, filming, and editing my content." (36:31, Eden)_
  1. Perspective:
     • Change standard filming angle to an unusual viewpoint (from above, below, through objects, from afar).
     • "What happens if all of a sudden I tape my phone to the ceiling?... It just feels a little bit different than 90% of the content that you just scrolled past..." (37:02, Eden)
  2. Pattern Interruption:
     • Use very short clips (under 2 seconds) to break predictable scrolling and keep viewer’s brain in ‘digesting’ mode (“digest, digest, digest”).
     • Commercials and cartoons excel at this; keeps people hooked by reducing the chance they’ll get bored.
     • "You can bypass the phase of you formulating an opinion... and effectively thinking, maybe I should scroll, and you keep their brains in that phase of digesting..." (41:29, Eden)
  3. Pope in the Pool:
     • Deliver important or “boring” info with something surprising or visually interesting happening (e.g., introducing yourself while something dramatic/unexpected – like a truck pulling a rope – takes place).
     • Keeps audience watching, entertained, and increases retention.
     • "If there is one reason for somebody to watch a video, which is...this cup that I'm selling is the second reason. Maybe, you know, a jersey that's hanging in the background is a third one... Why not add another five in the background?" (46:27, Eden)
• Encouragement: Don’t be afraid to inject fun or creativity—brands should experiment and loosen up.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Not Needing to Be Perfect or an Expert:
  "I have never taken a course. I didn’t have any previous video production, nothing. ... It’s just about embracing the mindset, accepting the challenge, picking up the phone, starting to shoot, and before you know it, trust me, you will have a lot more comfort and a lot more confidence. And that's where it starts." (07:26, Eden)

• On Humanizing Content Creation:
  "It’s actually the imperfect content that stands out. ... I actually tell people to grab your iPhone 11, give it to your intern who’s shaking... Just capture a natural moment, because that is the stuff that will actually stop the scroll today." (08:46, Eden)

• On the Value of Research:
  "It's very common best practices for elite content strategists and marketers to, on a weekly basis, go out there, find the top performing content in your niche, within your competitors, and honestly build your content scripts based on those five to ten ideas..." (16:47, Eden)

• On the Hook’s Value:
  "If I can't get you to stop, scroll and pay attention to me for one second and let me speak, I've wasted all my efforts on the video. So anywhere from...1 to 3 or 4 or 5 [transitions], you don’t want to overdo it. But if you only had to pick one, it would be in your hook." (35:35, Eden)

• On the Joy of Trying & Testing:
  "Don’t take everything so seriously. Have fun with your content... They’re on a testing mindset. ... You’ll be known as the coffee mug company that has the guy with the ladder in the background. But it works." (47:18, Eden)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:04] Why short-form video matters now, and Eden's personal journey
• [05:48] Overcoming fear and self-doubt; anyone can start making video
• [10:29] Researching your niche; how to find proven ideas
• [14:50] What engagement metrics actually matter (shares, comments, not just views)
• [18:49] What is a hook, and how to develop scroll-stopping hooks
• [22:02] Five types of hooks: visual, text, caption, voiceover, music
• [28:03] Transitions: what they are, how to do them, why they matter
• [34:29] How transitions influence creativity, retention, and the algorithm
• [36:31] The 3 Ps: Perspective, Pattern Interruption, Pope in the Pool method
• [41:54] Constructing videos from B-roll, narration, and commercial thinking
• [45:59] Making content interesting by adding background actions and surprises
• [47:18] Encouragement to experiment and not fear unorthodox approaches

Actionable Takeaways

• Embrace imperfection: Authenticity and “unpolished” content can be your superpower.
• Start simple and practice: Skill comes with repetition; even top creators began with poor videos.
• Do your research: Weekly, analyze top niche content for engagement and creative tactics.
• Prioritize strong hooks: Always spend extra effort making the first three seconds visually, textually, or audibly compelling.
• Experiment with transitions: Start with simple blackout or movement transitions to make your videos more engaging.
• Apply the Three Ps: Vary camera perspective, interrupt patterns with short clips, and use creative backgrounds or actions to make even mundane info watchable.
• Test and adapt: Double down when something works and keep evolving your style.

Connect with Eden Hazan

• Instagram: @thereelcoach (Reel spelled with two E's)
• Agency: SocialDrop (thesocialdrop.ca)
• Online Course: Linked in The Reel Coach’s Instagram bio

Final Thoughts

Eden Hazan’s playful, motivating approach demystifies short-form video, empowering listeners to start, experiment, and innovate—no Hollywood skills needed. With tactical advice on hooks, transitions, perspective, editing, and more, this episode is a goldmine for any marketer wanting to boost their brand or client’s social presence in 2025 and beyond.