It’s All About the Yaps: How to Create Short Videos That Help People Connect With You

Have you ever watched someone talk to their phone and thought, “I feel like she’s talking directly to me”?

That’s what Lisa and I love about yap videos.

These short, conversational videos give people a chance to hear your thoughts, experience your personality, and decide whether they want to stick around. For direct sellers and small business owners, that’s an opportunity to build relationships before asking anyone to buy.

In this episode of The Other 99%, we shared what we’re learning as we experiment with yaps, short-form video, and showing up on camera. We’re still figuring it out—and that’s part of the fun.

What Is a Yap Video?

A yap video is a conversational video where you talk directly to the camera about a thought, story, experience, or useful idea.

Think of telling a friend something while you’re sitting together over coffee. There’s a point to the conversation, but it doesn’t sound like a formal presentation.

A yap might be:

• A funny observation about everyday life
• A lesson you learned in your business
• A belief your audience will recognize
• A practical tip that makes something easier
• A personal story with a meaningful takeaway

The appeal is the person telling the story. Your voice, expressions, humor, and perspective help people connect with you.

Why Yaps Can Help Build Your Personal Brand

When you sell products or services, it’s easy for your content to become a steady stream of offers. But people also want to know who they’re buying from.

Yap videos make room for that connection.

Lisa has been sharing about building an online business in midlife and making technology feel less intimidating. I’ve been sharing everyday thoughts connected to intentional living—the ideas behind my Intentional Life Workbook.

We’re letting people get to know us through the things we care about.

Your videos don’t all need a sales pitch. They do need a purpose. Ask yourself: “What do I want people to understand, feel, or remember after watching this?”

Start With a Hook That Makes People Stop Scrolling

Your opening needs to give someone a reason to keep watching.

A long introduction can delay the interesting part. Instead, start close to the heart of what you want to say.

Compare these two openings:

“Hi, everyone! Today I want to talk about something that happened when I went to the beach.”

“I can’t believe what I saw at the beach today.”

The second opening creates curiosity right away. You can add the background after you’ve given viewers a reason to care.

Four Ways to Hook Your Audience

In the episode, we talked about four kinds of hooks:

• Visual: A movement, expression, prop, or unexpected image
• Sound: A sound effect or change in your delivery
• On-screen text: A short phrase that makes the topic immediately clear
• Spoken: An opening sentence that raises a question or feels relatable

You don’t have to squeeze all four into every video. Choose what supports your message and feels natural for you.

Keep Each Yap Focused on One Main Idea

It’s easy to record three minutes of thoughts when you meant to make a short video. I’ve done it!

The solution is to get clear about your main point, then remove what pulls attention away from it.

For a quick yap, we’ve been experimenting with videos around a minute or less. That’s a useful starting point, rather than a rule every video has to follow.

Before posting, ask:

• Did I repeat myself?
• Does this detail help the viewer understand the point?
• Am I taking too long to get to the interesting part?
• Does the ending deliver what the opening promised?

A funny line might be worth keeping. A funny detour that distracts from the message might need to go.

Edit for Flow While Keeping Your Personality

Conversational doesn’t have to mean completely unedited.

Trimming a long pause or a repeated sentence can help the video move along. Captions, images, and occasional sound effects can also support what you’re saying.

But your personality still matters. Keep the facial expression, reaction, or well-timed pause that helps the story land.

Lisa’s son told her that even though the topic wasn’t something he normally cared about, the way she presented it kept him watching. That was encouraging feedback about the delivery.

Make the message easy to follow, and give your personality room to come through.

Find a Recording Method That Works for You

Lisa and I have different approaches, even when we’re using the same editing app.

Record in Small Pieces

I like using a storyboard to break the idea into smaller sections. Recording one sentence or thought at a time helps me focus on how I want to say it.

I can try a line a few times, choose the version that sounds most natural, and move on.

Talk It Through, Then Trim

Lisa prefers to talk through her idea and edit afterward. A few notes—or a teleprompter when helpful—can keep her on track.

Neither approach is the “right” way for everyone. Try both and notice which one helps you sound like yourself.

We’ve been enjoying experimenting with Instagram’s Edits app, but the important part is finding a process you’ll actually use.

Add Captions That Are Easy to Read

Captions help people follow your message when they’re watching without sound. They also make the spoken content more accessible.

Keep them clear, check for errors, and make sure they don’t cover something important on the screen.

We’ve been experimenting with short phrases instead of flashing every word individually. The goal is to make the video comfortable to follow.

Use AI to Help Refine Your Idea

Lisa and I have used ChatGPT to brainstorm hooks, organize thoughts, and suggest places to shorten a script.

That can be helpful when you know what you want to say but need help making it clearer.

You might ask:

• “Where does this script repeat itself?”
• “Give me three opening lines based on this story.”
• “Help me shorten this while keeping the humor.”
• “Does the ending connect with the opening?”

Then read the result aloud. If a phrase doesn’t sound like something you would say, change it.

AI feedback can give you ideas to test. Your own judgment and your audience’s response help you decide what works.

You Can Start Before You Feel Comfortable

One of my favorite moments in the episode was when Lisa said:

“I’m doing this uncomfortable.”

That’s a helpful reminder. You don’t have to become completely confident on camera before you record something worth sharing.

Find a setting that makes starting a little easier. It might be your desk, a quiet corner, or a parked car with good light.

You can also record a practice video without posting it. Get used to hearing your voice and seeing yourself on screen. Then try again.

You’re allowed to learn as you go.

Repurpose Your Yap Videos Across Platforms

We’ve shared the same videos on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Shorts—and the response has varied from place to place.

That’s useful to remember when one post gets very little attention. It gives you one piece of feedback, not a final verdict on your ability to create content.

Sharing a video across platforms gives different people a chance to discover it. Notice where viewers respond, what they say, and which topics make them want to hear more.

Measure Connection Along With Views

A growing view count is exciting. But views alone don’t tell you whether your content is reaching people who connect with your work.

Pay attention to the conversations your videos start:

• Are people recognizing themselves in your stories?
• Are they asking questions?
• Are they following because they want more of your perspective?
• Are they becoming curious about how you can help them?

In the episode, we talked about creators whose success inspired us. Their results aren’t a prediction of anyone else’s results. What encouraged us was seeing people share a perspective, listen to their audience, and create something that met a need.

Your Challenge: Record One Yap

Choose one thought you’ve recently shared with a friend. Maybe it’s something that made you laugh, a lesson you learned, or a small frustration your audience will understand.

Give it an opening that creates interest. Make one clear point. Trim the repetition. Add readable captions.

Then share it and see what you learn.

You don’t need to announce a 30-day challenge or promise to post every day. Start with one video that lets people hear from you.

This post was inspired by “It’s All About the Yaps” on The Other 99%. Join Lisa and me each Tuesday for practical tips and honest conversations about building a business you truly love.