Creator glossary

20 terms, defined plainly, each linked to the formats where it actually matters. Definitions only — no figures, because numbers about platforms go stale quietly and this site has no way to notice.

• HookThe opening seconds that decide whether anyone watches the rest.
• RetentionThe proportion of a video people are still watching at a given point.
• FacelessA channel made without the creator appearing on camera.
• B-rollSupplementary footage cut over narration to illustrate or cover edits.
• CadenceHow regularly you publish, and how much a format punishes gaps.
• EvergreenContent that stays useful and keeps being found long after publication.
• Parasocial relationshipA one-sided sense of friendship an audience forms with a creator.
• Reused contentMaterial assembled from work you did not create and did not meaningfully transform.
• Fair use / fair dealingA legal defence for using parts of someone's work without permission.
• Watch timeThe total duration watched, as distinct from the number of views.
• RPMRevenue per thousand views, after the platform's share.
• NicheThe subject a channel covers — as distinct from its format.
• The algorithmThe recommendation system deciding who is shown a video.
• Call to actionAn explicit request that the viewer do something.
• ThumbnailThe still image that, with the title, determines whether anyone clicks.
• SeriesRecurring videos sharing a structure the audience recognises.
• DisclosureStating plainly that content is sponsored, gifted or carries affiliate links.
• VODThe recording of a live stream, available afterwards on demand.
• ChaptersTimestamped sections that make a long video navigable.
• BatchingRecording several videos in one session to smooth output.