Scripted Delivery
Whether the speaker's delivery is tightly scripted — reading from a teleprompter, prepared remarks, or a written script — versus speaking extemporaneously or from loose notes.
Scripted delivery sounds polished but can feel robotic and inauthentic on YouTube, where viewers expect the conversational energy of creators. Extemporaneous delivery sounds more natural and relatable, but risks rambling and losing the viewer. The ideal depends on the content — explainers benefit from scripts, while reaction videos benefit from spontaneity.
Average Video shows the effect on a typical video. Top 10% Video shows the effect on videos in the top 10% of views — estimated via quantile regression, so you can see whether a factor helps most videos a little, or pushes the top performers much higher.
When present
The speaker follows a prepared script or teleprompter, delivering polished but potentially stiff content.
Videos with this factor
When absent
The speaker is talking naturally from notes or memory, with a more conversational, spontaneous feel.