3 Ways to Make Your Content Binge Worthy (like Mark Rober)

According to Statista.com:

• 60% of surveyed consumers between the ages of 13 and 17 admitted to binge-watching their favorite TV shows.
• 69% of responders between the ages of 18 and 29 frequently binge-watch, and surprisingly...
• 70% of adults between the ages of 30 and 44 admitted they often watch shows back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

That's a lot of content being consumed back-to-back.

Binge-watching is a phenomenon where people become so engrossed in watching multiple episodes of a TV show, they often completely lose track of time in doing so.

It's also something that drives my husband nuts because I cannot watch just one episode of something - especially if it's a good show. 😅

As soon as those credits roll, I immediately want to start the next episode to continue the awesome experience we've been so engrossed in. The struggle is real...

This got me thinking: how does a person go about creating binge-worthy content? And what does this type of content tell us about how humans work?

Today I'm going to how you how you can create binge-worthy ads, TikToks, blog posts, and more by breaking down the content of one of the most iconic creators on the internet...

A Guide to Creating Irresistible Content

Binge-watching taps into quite a few basic psychological motivators like curiosity, suspense, and the human affinity for storytelling, but the most successful binge-worthy content has just 3 things in common.

Some of the best creators in the world including:

• Mr. Beast
• Joe Rogan
• Charli D'Amelio
• And Casey Neistat...

...have all learned how to create content that's not only interesting, educational, and useful, but also completely irresistible using these three tactics.

One creator in particular has captivated the masses with his STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathmatics) - based content, which is pretty tough to do considering his topic of choice is relatively complex.

Former NASA engineer turned YouTube superstar Mark Rober has created a massive following, with 51.1 million subscribers and over 5.85 billion views.

He has an uncanny ability to make even the most complex scientific concepts feel fascinating through his creative videos.

From building wildly over-engineered contraptions to exposing carnival game scams using physics, Rober’s channel is a smash hit because he taps into 3 powerful psychological drivers that keep viewers watching for hours.

The 3 Tactics You Need to Steal

Rober's ability to captivate audiences and keep them watching can be attributed to his skillful use of 3 psychology-based techniques: vicarious learning, gamification, and curiosity loops.

These strategies not only make his content entertaining but also highly engaging and pretty gosh darn addictive. Here's how they work:

1. Vicarious Learning - Rober’s videos allow you to experience and learn through his crazy experiments vicariously. I.e.: as the viewer, you're able to experience the journey through the emotions and reactions of Rober himself. By seeing the process and payoff in such an entertaining way, viewers feel like they've personally accomplished something, making complex topics (like testing to see if you can swim in jello) way more accessible and rewarding.
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   ​Pro tip: empathy is key here. The more you can bring your customer's experience to life, the quicker they'll attach to you and your brand.
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2. Gamification - Rober also turns learning into a game by presenting each video as challenge to be solved using science and engineering principles. Pitting scientific elements (like acid and lava) against each other in a friendly on-screen match taps into our basic human desire for achievement and progression, and keeps the viewer invested in the outcome.
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   ​Pro tip: gamifying your offer doesn't have to be complicated. Could be as simple as sending out an email request for the best buyer + product photo and giving a discount to anyone who participates.​
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3. Curiosity Loops - Finally, Rober is a master at building curiosity loops that compel you to keep watching to satisfy that itch. Curiosity loops are created when information is released slowly in intervals, starting with just one piece of information that provides some of what you'll learn, but not all (also known as a "hook"). During each video, Rober will tease a fascinating setup or cliffhanger that activates your need to complete the loop - which means you'll stick around longer to see how it all pays off.
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   ​Pro tip: I've actually used quite a lot of curiosity loops within this email. See if you can spot them!

By combining these three psychology-based tactics (vicarious learning, gamification, and curiosity loops) Rober can easily transform any STEM topic into an addictive experience that feels more like entertainment than education.

And that's how you make content that's binge-worthy.

How to Create Binge-Worthy Content for Your Brand

So now that you understand Rober’s psychological tactics, how can you apply them to your own advertising and content efforts?

Here are some tips:

1. Frame your content as an experience, not just information transfer. Let your audience vicariously learn and achieve their goals through your content by demonstrating more than you explain. This is key for helping the brain process information as a personal experience rather than an exterior event.
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2. Identify problems or progression paths related to your topic, and gamify the experience of mastering it. If you can make your content a game by crafting challenges, achieving milestones, or pitting one product against another in a friendly match, do it. Injecting your content with Intermittent rewards during peak segments will give the brain a boost of dopamine, and keep your viewers wanting more!
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3. Strategically tease intriguing setups and use cliffhangers to build irresistible curiosity loops that keep people engaged. Hooks are widely discussed in paid advertising, but I would argue we don't use them enough. One well-placed hook at the beginning of an ad can slow the scroll, but placing several hooks throughout your content creates an "open loop" within the brain, and helps viewers enjoy the experience more.

Whether you’re an educator, creator, marketer, or just someone passionate about spreading knowledge, vicarious learning, gamification, and curiosity loops can help you transform “boring” topics into binge-worthy, can’t-miss content.

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