That's an excellent question, as content that is both interesting and gets views is the goal of every creator. The strategies fall into two main categories: making the content itself more compelling (to improve audience retention) and optimizing its presentation and distribution (to increase visibility and clicks).

Here are the key methods, combining what makes content engaging with tactics to maximize views:

I. Making Your Content More Interesting (for Audience Retention)
The core principle here is to provide genuine value and hold attention from start to finish.

Know Your Audience:

Create for a specific person: You can't interest everyone. Target a specific group (your ideal viewer/reader) and address their needs, problems, and interests.

Solve a problem or fulfill a need: Content is interesting when it's practical, educational, or entertaining. Ask yourself: "How will my audience's life be better after consuming this?" (e.g., "Help me," "Educate me," "Divert me").

Master the Art of Storytelling:

Use Narratives: People are naturally drawn to stories. Frame your content with a clear beginning, middle, and end (e.g., a challenge/conflict, the process, and the resolution/lesson).

Incorporate Personal Touch: Be authentic. Share genuine stories, use a casual/friendly tone, and let your unique personality or brand voice shine through. This makes your content more relatable and memorable.

Hook the Viewer Immediately:

The Critical First 10-30 Seconds: For videos, this is crucial. Start with a strong hook: a compelling visual, a surprising fact, a funny clip, or a teaser of the best part to come. Don't start with a long, slow introduction.

The Hook-Deliver Cycle (for Long-Form): In longer content, don't just hook once. Continually introduce new hooks or "pattern interrupts" (like quick cuts, graphics, or new segments) to maintain momentum and keep people watching/reading.

Prioritize Readability and Visuals:

Visual Engagement: Use high-quality images, video clips, GIFs, charts, or infographics to break up text and keep the content visually stimulating.

Scannable Text (for written content): Use short paragraphs, clear headers and sub-headers, and bulleted or numbered lists. This makes information easier to digest.

Keep the Pace Moving (for video): Edit out unnecessary pauses, dead space, or long-winded explanations. Use jump cuts strategically to create a faster, more dynamic feel.

Use Emotion:

Content that evokes strong emotions (awe, laughter, surprise, curiosity, inspiration) is far more likely to be shared and remembered.

II. Increasing Your Views (for Visibility and Clicks)
Even the most interesting content won't get views if people can't find it or don't click on it.

Craft Irresistible Titles and Thumbnails/Headlines:

Value Proposition: Your title/headline must clearly indicate the value the user will receive.

Spark Curiosity: Use power words, numbers, and intriguing questions (without being "clickbait") to make the user feel they must click.

High-Quality Thumbnails (for video): These should be eye-catching, high-resolution, and accurately represent the video's content, often featuring bold text or an emotive face.

Optimize for Search (SEO):

Keyword Research: Create content around topics your audience is actively searching for. Incorporate relevant keywords into your titles, descriptions, and tags.

Timeliness: Jump on trending topics or align your content with current events to gain a traffic boost (e.g., "how-to" guides for a new software update, or commentary on breaking news).

Make Sharing and Interaction Easy:

Strong Call to Action (CTA): End your content with a clear, concise instruction: "Like this video," "Subscribe for more," "Leave a comment with your thoughts," or "Share this with a friend."

Encourage Engagement: Ask direct questions in your content or use interactive elements like polls and quizzes to prompt comments and discussion.

Easy Sharing: Ensure your content platforms have prominent and functional social sharing buttons.

Consistency and Distribution:

Post Consistently: Establish a regular schedule so your audience knows when to expect new content. This builds anticipation and loyalty.

Repurpose Your Content: Turn a video into a blog post, a blog post into a series of social media graphics, or a series of tweets into an article. Distribute your content across all relevant platforms.