Competitor Proof and Success Factors
How to use proof videos and success factors to validate and improve your content ideas
Every AI-generated idea includes links to proof videos—the competitor content that inspired the suggestion. Understanding these helps you create better content.
What Are Proof Videos?#
Proof videos are competitor outliers that demonstrate a topic works:
- They outperformed their channel's median
- They cover the topic your idea is based on
- They serve as research material for your own video
Each idea may have 1-5 proof videos depending on how many competitors succeeded with the topic.
Using Proof Videos#
Watch Before Creating#
Before making your video, watch the proof videos to understand:
- How they approached the topic
- What made them engaging
- What you could do differently or better
Don't Copy—Learn#
The goal isn't to remake their video. It's to:
- Understand why it resonated
- Find your unique angle
- Improve on their execution
Compare Multiple Proofs#
When an idea has 3+ proof videos:
- Look for common patterns across all of them
- Note differences in approach
- Identify what made each one work
Understanding Success Factors#
For each idea, AI analyzes why proof videos succeeded:
Title Pattern#
How the title creates interest:
| Pattern | Example | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Curiosity gap | "What Happened When I..." | Viewers need to click to find out |
| Number list | "7 Things You're Doing Wrong" | Clear value, easy to digest |
| How-to | "How to [Result] in [Time]" | Promises specific outcome |
| Comparison | "[A] vs [B]: Which Is Better?" | Viewers want the answer |
| Contrarian | "Why [Common Belief] Is Wrong" | Challenges assumptions |
Hook Style#
How the video opens:
| Style | Description |
|---|---|
| Bold claim | "This changed everything" |
| Question | "Have you ever wondered why...?" |
| Story | "Last week, something happened..." |
| Proof | "After testing 50 options..." |
| Controversy | "Everyone's saying X, but..." |
Understanding the hook helps you write your first 10 seconds.
Topic Appeal#
Why viewers care about this topic:
- Pain point: Solves a problem they have
- Curiosity: They want to know the answer
- Aspiration: Shows them how to improve
- Entertainment: Simply fun or interesting
- FOMO: They don't want to miss out
Timing Factor#
Some videos succeed due to timing:
- Trending: Related to current events
- Seasonal: Relevant at certain times of year
- News-related: Tied to recent announcements
- Evergreen: Works anytime
Knowing this helps you decide when to publish.
Applying Success Factors#
To Your Title#
Look at the title pattern that worked. Apply it to your topic:
Proof video: "I Tried [Product] for 30 Days" Your version: "I Tried [Your Topic] for 30 Days"
To Your Hook#
Use a similar hook style but make it your own:
Proof hook: "Everyone said this wouldn't work..." Your hook: "My audience told me not to do this..."
To Your Content#
Match the format that succeeded:
- If proofs are 10-minute tutorials, don't make a 2-minute overview
- If proofs use specific examples, include your own examples
- If proofs have strong visuals, invest in your presentation
Learning From Multiple Proofs#
When an idea has several proof videos:
- List common elements — What do all proofs share?
- Note unique strengths — What did each do well?
- Identify gaps — What did none of them cover?
- Plan your differentiation — How will yours stand out?
The patterns across multiple proofs are more reliable than any single video's approach.
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