Stealing Like an Artist: How to Ethically Borrow YouTube Formats

The “Be A Magician” Strategy: Applying Proven Tricks to New Audiences

Paddy Galloway’s core concept: Like a magician performing classic tricks for new towns, creators should adapt successful video formats (“tricks”) from other niches for their audience. Don’t reinvent constantly. See a “24-Hour Challenge” working in gaming? Apply it to learning a language. See a “Mythbusting” format thriving in science? Use it for fitness claims. Bringing a proven structure to a niche that hasn’t seen it feels fresh and leverages established engagement principles, often yielding better results than trying to invent something entirely new every time.

Stealing Like an Artist: How to Ethically Borrow YouTube Formats

Borrowing formats isn’t plagiarism; it’s building on existing ideas, like artists learning from masters. Ethical adaptation means:

Borrowing the Structure, Not the Content: Take the framework (e.g., “Versus,” “Levels,” “Case Study”), not the specific topic, script, or unique creative elements.
Making It Your Own: Fill the structure with your original research, expertise (E-E-A-T crucial), personality, and niche-specific insights.
Adding Value: Ensure your adaptation offers a fresh perspective or superior execution.
It’s about using proven skeletons and building your unique creation upon them.

Case Study: Permaculture Channel Uses Comparison Format (Sahara)

Andrew Millison, in the permaculture niche, didn’t just explain desert greening. He brilliantly adapted a powerful visual comparison framework. His viral thumbnail showing barren desert versus lush greenery side-by-side is a classic “Before & After” or “Contrast” structure often seen in fitness or renovation niches. By applying this visual comparison format (familiar elsewhere but perhaps unexpected in permaculture) to his specific, compelling topic (Sahara transformation), he created an instantly understandable and highly intriguing package that resonated far beyond his core audience.

Case Study: Astrophotography Channel Uses “Levels” Format (Time Investment)

Ian Lure Astro broke through by adapting the “Levels” format. This structure (comparing results based on varying levels of time, effort, or cost) is common in challenges (“$1 vs $1000”) or skill progression videos (“Day 1 vs Year 1”). He applied it to his niche: “Photographing the Milky Way in 10 Minutes / 1 Hour / 24 Hours.” This transformed a potentially standard tutorial into a compelling comparison, visually demonstrating the impact of time investment and leveraging a proven, engaging framework familiar to YouTube audiences from other genres.

Applying the “Versus” Framework to YOUR Niche ($1 vs $1000 Item)

The “Versus” framework creates instant conflict and comparison. Adapt it:

Cooking: “Store-Bought Pasta Sauce VS Homemade ($5 vs $20 Challenge).”
Fitness: “Bodyweight Workout VS Gym Workout (Which Builds Muscle Faster?).”
Tech: “Budget Laptop VS Premium Laptop for Video Editing.”
Art: “Digital Painting VS Traditional Painting Speed Challenge.”
Finance: “Investing App A VS Investing App B (Beginner’s Guide).” (E-E-A-T vital).
Identify comparable items, techniques, or concepts in your niche and structure a video around their direct comparison.

Applying the “Levels” Framework to YOUR Niche (Beginner vs. Pro, Cheap vs. Luxury)

Structure content around progressive tiers:

Skill Progression: “Learning [Skill]: Day 1 vs Week 1 vs Month 1.”
Budget Tiers: “[$10 vs $100 vs $1000] [Niche Product] Test.”
Effort Levels: “Cleaning My Garage: 1 Hour vs 1 Day vs 1 Weekend Transformation.”
Expertise Levels: “Explaining [Concept] to a Child vs Teenager vs Adult.”
Time Investment: “Mastering [Technique] in 1 Hour vs 10 Hours vs 100 Hours.”
This framework visually demonstrates differences based on investment, appealing to viewer curiosity about results at different stages.

Applying “Exclusive Access” Framework Beyond Celebrities (Local Spots, Unique Skills)

You don’t need NBA finals access to use this framework. Leverage your unique access:

Job Access: “Inside Look: What a [Your Job] REALLY Does All Day.”
Location Access: “Exploring the Abandoned [Local Landmark] (Exclusive Tour).”
Skill Access: “Secrets Only [Your Skill Level – e.g., Master Baker] Know About [Topic].”
Community Access: “A Glimpse Inside the World of Competitive [Your Hobby].”
Event Access: “My Backstage Pass Experience at [Local Festival].”
Identify what you can show or experience that most viewers can’t, and frame content around that unique perspective.

Applying Listicle Frameworks Creatively (Beyond “Top 10 Tips”)

Elevate lists using angles inspired by Ali Abdaal/Paddy:

Unique Angle: “5 [Niche] ‘Hacks’ That Actually Make Things WORSE.” (Mythbusting list).
Targeted Audience: “Top 3 [Niche Tools] for Absolute Beginners.”
“Puzzle List” Framing: “The 4 Pillars of [Achieving Goal] (It’s Simpler Than You Think).”
Intriguing Premise: “7 ‘Obvious’ [Niche Rules] You’re Probably Breaking.”
Benefit-Driven: “My 5 Go-To [Niche Practices] for Saving 1 Hour Every Day.”
Focus on a specific hook, benefit, or unique perspective within the list structure.

Taking Challenge Formats (e.g., 24-Hour Build) into Unexpected Niches

Challenges create stakes and narrative. Adapt them creatively:

Writing: “Write a Novel Chapter in 24 Hours Challenge.”
Learning: “Learn Basic Japanese Greetings in 1 Hour Challenge.”
Business: “Create a Business Plan from Scratch in 3 Days Challenge.”
Art: “Paint a Masterpiece Using Only 3 Colors Challenge.”
Minimalism: “Live with Only 50 Items for 30 Days Challenge.”
Apply time, budget, or resource constraints familiar from gaming/lifestyle challenges to your specific niche for an engaging twist.

Using Storytelling Archetypes (Hero’s Journey) Across Content Types

Classic narrative structures aren’t just for fiction. Apply them to:

Tutorials: Frame learning as the “hero” (viewer) overcoming obstacles (difficulty) with your guidance (mentor) to achieve mastery (reward).
Reviews: Tell the “story” of using the product – initial expectations (ordinary world), specific challenges faced (trials), final verdict (resolution).
Case Studies: Structure around a protagonist (person/company) facing a problem (call to action), implementing a strategy (journey), achieving results (transformation).
Using these deep-seated archetypes makes even informational content more resonant and engaging.

Adapting Interview Formats (Like “73 Questions”) for Your Niche

Move beyond standard Q&A. Adapt unique interview styles:

“73 Questions” Style: Rapid-fire questions while moving through an interesting space (creator’s studio, expert’s workshop). More dynamic, reveals personality.
Wired Autocomplete Style: Have experts answer the most searched questions about their field. Addresses real audience curiosity.
Hot Ones Style: Interview while engaging in a shared challenge/activity (spicy wings, building something). Creates vulnerability/humor.
“5 Levels” Style: Expert explains a concept to different levels of understanding (child, teen, undergrad, grad student, peer). Demonstrates expertise clearly.

The “Day in the Life” Format for Non-Vloggers (Professionals, Hobbyists)

This format works beyond lifestyle creators. Showcase specific roles:

“Day in the Life of a Software Engineer During Crunch Time.”
“Day in the Life of a Beekeeper During Honey Harvest.”
“Day in the Life of a History Researcher in the Archives.”
“Day in the Life of a Competitive Chess Player Pre-Tournament.”
Focus on the unique tasks, challenges, environment, and mindset associated with that specific profession or deep hobby, offering viewers an insightful glimpse into a different world.

“How It’s Made” Format Beyond Manufacturing (Software Dev, Art Creation)

The appeal of seeing a process unfold applies broadly:

Software/App Development: Show screen recordings of coding, UI design, debugging stages.
Art/Music Creation: Time-lapses or step-by-step breakdowns of painting, sculpting, composing, recording.
Writing Process: Discussing outlining, drafting, editing stages for a book or script.
Digital Marketing Campaign: Showcasing the steps from strategy to ad creation to results analysis.
Revealing the creative or technical process behind intangible results satisfies curiosity and provides educational value.

Mythbusting Format Applied to Any Field (Fitness, Finance, History)

Debunking common misconceptions is a universally appealing format:

Finance: “5 Retirement Myths That Could Cost You Dearly.” (E-E-A-T vital).
History: “Common Misconceptions About the American Revolution.”
Science: “Debunking Viral ‘Science’ TikToks.”
DIY: “Woodworking Myths That Waste Your Time and Money.”
Health: “Separating Fact from Fiction: Common Diet Fads.” (E-E-A-T vital).
This format establishes authority by correcting misinformation, provides clear value, and often generates strong engagement due to challenging common beliefs.

Reaction Format Applied Critically (Analyzing Art, Strategy, Design)

Elevate reactions by adding expert analysis:

Art Critique: An artist reacting to famous paintings, explaining technique/composition.
Strategy Breakdown: A chess master reacting to key tournament games.
Design Review: A graphic designer reacting to popular logos or website designs.
Architectural Analysis: An architect reacting to famous building designs.
Code Review: An experienced programmer reacting to code snippets.
Use the reaction structure as a vehicle for delivering your niche expertise (E-E-A-T), teaching viewers how to analyze or evaluate within your field.

Case Study Format Applied Broadly (Business Success, Scientific Discovery)

The structured breakdown of a real-world example works anywhere:

Scientific Discovery: “Case Study: How Penicillin Was Discovered (The Full Story).”
Historical Event: “Case Study: The Strategic Decisions Behind D-Day.”
Marketing Campaign: “Case Study: Analyzing Wendy’s Viral Twitter Strategy.”
Personal Achievement: “Case Study: How I Learned Spanish in 6 Months.”
Social Phenomenon: “Case Study: Understanding the Rise of TikTok.”
This format provides concrete examples, detailed analysis, and actionable takeaways applicable across many fields.

Identifying Universal Frameworks That Transcend Niches

Recognize core structures applicable anywhere:

Comparison: A vs B (products, techniques, results).
Transformation: Before & After (skills, fitness, projects, situations).
Journey/Quest: Overcoming obstacles to reach a goal (challenges, learning, travel).
Problem/Solution: Identifying a pain point and offering the fix (tutorials, advice).
Explanation/Deep Dive: Unpacking a complex topic or mystery (science, history, case studies).
List (Angled): Curated information with a specific hook/perspective.
Mastering these universal frameworks provides a versatile ideation toolkit.

Workshop: Let’s Adapt a Viral Format to YOUR Channel!

Interactive video idea:

Choose a Viral Format: e.g., “$1 vs $10,000 Challenge.”
Explain Its Core Appeal: Comparison, aspiration, extremity.
Invite Audience Niches: Ask viewers (e.g., cooking channel, book channel, gardening channel) how they could adapt it.
Brainstorm Adaptations Live: e.g., “$1 vs 100BookstoreHaul,""100 Bookstore Haul," "100BookstoreHaul,"" 1 vs $50 Community Garden Plot.”
This collaboratively demonstrates the “Magician” strategy, showing how universal formats can be creatively applied across diverse niches.

The Risk of Poor Adaptation: Making Sure the Format Fits

Forcing a format onto an unsuitable topic feels awkward and fails. Risks:

Doesn’t Make Sense: Applying a “Speedrun” challenge to a slow, meditative craft.
Loses the Core Appeal: Adapting a visual comparison format for a purely audio topic.
Feels Forced/Inauthentic: Trying a comedic format if your brand is serious and authoritative.
Before adapting, ask: Does this structure genuinely enhance this specific topic? Does it align with my channel’s voice and audience expectations? Ensure the format serves the content, not the other way around.

Adding Your Unique Spin When Adapting Formats

Ethical and effective adaptation requires more than just copy-pasting structure:

Inject Personality: Deliver the format with your unique voice, humor, perspective.
Add Niche Expertise: Fill the structure with your deep knowledge and insights (E-E-A-T).
Improve Upon It: Can you execute the format with higher quality, better visuals, or deeper analysis than where you saw it?
Combine Formats: Blend elements of different structures for a novel twist.
Your adaptation should feel inspired by, but distinct from, the original source, offering unique value.

How Adapting Formats Can Refresh a Stale Channel

If your channel feels stuck in a rut, doing the same thing repeatedly, adapting new formats offers revitalization:

Injects Novelty: Introduces fresh structures for you and your audience.
Sparks Creativity: Forces you to think about your niche in new ways.
Reaches New Viewers: A different format might attract segments of your potential audience who didn’t resonate with the old style.
Tests New Directions: Helps identify potentially successful new content pillars or styles for the future.
Borrowing structures can be a low-risk way to experiment and break out of creative stagnation.

Using Frameworks to Simplify Content Creation

Proven frameworks provide structure, streamlining the process:

Ideation: Easier to brainstorm within a defined structure (e.g., “What can I compare for a ‘Versus’ video?”).
Scripting/Outlining: The format provides a ready-made narrative arc or sequence (e.g., 3-Act Structure, List points).
Editing: Knowing the structure helps organize footage and plan transitions.
Audience Understanding: Viewers familiar with the format know what to expect, reducing confusion.
Leveraging frameworks avoids starting from a completely blank slate every time, increasing efficiency.

Analyzing Top Creators Outside Your Niche for Format Ideas

Your best format inspiration might come from unexpected places. Regularly watch successful channels in entirely different fields:

How does a top science channel explain complex ideas?
What makes a history documentary channel’s storytelling engaging?
How does a comedy sketch channel structure its jokes?
What visual techniques does a travel vlogger use?
Look for underlying structures, editing patterns, and engagement techniques you can borrow and adapt, bringing fresh perspectives back to your own niche.

The “What If We Combined X and Y?” Framework Synthesis

Create novel formats by merging existing ones:

Combine “Challenge” + “Tutorial”: “Can I Learn [Skill] in 24 Hours? (Following This EXACT Tutorial).”
Combine “Case Study” + “Interview”: “Deconstructing [Company]’s Success + Interview with the CEO.”
Combine “Versus” + “Day in the Life”: “Living Like a Minimalist vs Maximalist for a Week.”
Combine “Mythbusting” + “Reaction”: “Reacting to Viral [Niche] Myths & Debunking Them.”
Synthesizing frameworks leads to unique, multi-layered content ideas that stand out.

Adapting Title and Thumbnail Styles Across Niches

Packaging inspiration is also transferable:

Notice tech channels using clean, minimalist thumbnails with one key stat? Try a similar visual clarity for your finance video’s key takeaway.
See gaming channels using highly expressive faces? Could a toned-down version work for your reaction video?
Observe intriguing question-based titles in educational content? Adapt that structure for your DIY project reveal.
Borrow effective visual principles (clarity, contrast, intrigue) and title structures (curiosity, benefit), applying them with your niche-specific content.

Taking Educational Formats into Entertainment Niches (and Vice Versa)

Blend genres for unique appeal:

Education → Entertainment: Use a “Case Study” format to analyze a funny viral video’s success. Use “Mythbusting” for comedic effect on absurd beliefs.
Entertainment → Education: Use a “Challenge” format to make learning a skill more engaging. Use storytelling techniques (Hero’s Journey) to frame a historical explanation. Use “Reaction” format for expert analysis.
This cross-pollination makes learning more fun and entertainment more substantive.

How Brands Can Adapt Creator Formats (Like Red Bull Did)

Brands succeed on YouTube when they adopt native formats:

Red Bull: Used the “Versus” comparison format (Drone vs F1).
Potential Target Show: Could adapt “Supermarket Sweep” (Challenge/Game Show format).
Potential Shopify Show: Could adapt “Starter Story” interviews (Case Study/Interview format).
Brands should analyze successful creator formats relevant to their industry/values and adapt them authentically, focusing on providing entertainment or value first, rather than pushing product-centric corporate formats.

Documenting Your Framework Library: Building an Idea Toolkit

As you identify successful, adaptable frameworks (Versus, Levels, Challenge, Case Study, Mythbusting, How It’s Made, Day in Life, etc.), keep a running list or document. For each framework:

Note its core structure.
List examples of where you’ve seen it work well.
Brainstorm potential ways to apply it within your niche.
This personal “Framework Library” becomes a powerful, go-to resource for efficient and effective ideation whenever you need fresh content concepts.

Testing Adapted Formats: Measuring Audience Reception

When you try adapting a new format:

Introduce it Clearly: Maybe briefly explain the new style in the intro.
Monitor Key Metrics: Pay close attention to Audience Retention (AVD). Does this format hold attention better or worse than your usual style? Where do people drop off?
Check Engagement: How does the comment volume and sentiment compare? Do viewers seem to enjoy the new approach?
Analyze CTR: Does the packaging for this new format attract clicks effectively?
Use data to validate whether the adapted format resonates with your audience.

**The Importance of Understanding Why a Framework Works Before Adapting It**

Don’t just copy a format’s surface elements. Understand its underlying appeal:

Why does “Versus” work? Taps into conflict, comparison, desire for a clear winner.
Why does “Levels” work? Shows progression, appeals to curiosity about different investment levels.
Why does “Mythbusting” work? Corrects misinformation, establishes authority, generates debate.
Understanding the core psychological driver or value proposition helps you adapt the format more effectively and ensure your version retains that essential engaging element.

Adapting Short-Form Trends (TikTok/Reels) for YouTube Long-Form

Short-form trends can inspire elements within longer videos:

Quick Cuts/Fast Pacing: Use faster editing in certain segments (intros, montages) inspired by TikTok energy.
Trending Challenges/Themes: Adapt the concept of a viral challenge into a more in-depth long-form exploration.
Sound/Meme Integration (Use Carefully): Briefly reference popular sounds or memes if relevant and fits your brand.
Text Overlay Styles: Borrow visual ideas for emphasizing key points.
Use short-form as inspiration for specific techniques or segments, not necessarily the entire video structure.

Adapting Podcast Formats for Engaging YouTube Videos

Make audio-first formats visually interesting:

Debate Shows: Use split screens, dynamic graphics showing key points, audience polls.
Narrative Podcasts: Add archival footage, animations, B-roll visuals to illustrate the story.
Interview Podcasts: Use multiple camera angles, insert relevant visuals/clips being discussed, highlight key quotes with text.
“Roundtable” Discussions: Ensure clear identification of speakers, use graphics to track discussion flow.
Focus on adding visual layers that enhance, not just accompany, the audio content.

Taking Gaming Formats (Challenges, Speedruns) into Other Niches

Game structures are inherently engaging. Adapt them:

“Speedrun” Concept: Apply to tasks like “Cleaning My Entire House: Speedrun Challenge” or “Learning [Software Feature] Speedrun.”
“Achievement Hunting”: Frame a learning process around unlocking specific milestones.
“No Damage Run”: Apply to DIY projects (“Completing This Build With Zero Mistakes Challenge”).
Resource Management: Frame budgeting or time management videos like resource sim games.
Gamification principles can make mundane tasks or learning processes more fun and structured.

Adapting Travel Vlog Formats for Local Exploration or Business Tours

The journey structure works beyond exotic travel:

Local Exploration: Apply travel vlog storytelling (goal, challenges, discoveries) to exploring your own city’s hidden gems or neighborhoods.
Business “Tours”: Use the format for behind-the-scenes looks at different departments, facilities, or processes within a company.
Event Coverage: Frame attending a conference or festival like a travel journey with specific goals/experiences.
The core structure of documenting exploration and discovery is highly adaptable.

Using Cooking Show Formats for DIY or Craft Tutorials

Cooking shows have refined presentation techniques adaptable to other how-to content:

Ingredient/Material Reveal (“Mise en place”): Clearly lay out all necessary tools/materials upfront.
Step-by-Step Demonstration: Clear, well-shot close-ups of each crucial action.
Engaging Host Presentation: Enthusiastic, clear explanations (like a TV chef).
“Beauty Shot” Finish: Showcase the completed project appealingly at the end.
Time Stamps/Chapters: Break down the process into clear stages.
This borrows familiar, effective teaching structures.

Adapting Unboxing/Review Formats Beyond Tech (Books, Experiences, Software)

The core appeal of unboxing (anticipation, reveal) and review (assessment) applies broadly:

Book Reviews: “Unbox” a new book, share initial impressions, then give a deeper review after reading.
Experience Reviews: “Unboxing” a travel package or event ticket, then reviewing the actual experience.
Software Reviews: “Unboxing” (installing/first look) followed by in-depth feature review and usability assessment.
Subscription Box Reviews: Classic application showing reveal and assessment of contents.
The format taps into anticipation and the desire for informed opinions.

Taking Documentary Styles into Personal Vlogging

Elevate personal vlogs with documentary techniques:

Investigative Angle: Frame a personal experience as an exploration or investigation into a topic (e.g., exploring a personal health issue becomes investigating treatment options).
Interviews: Include insights from experts or other people involved in your story.
Archival Footage: Use old photos or home videos for context.
Structured Narrative: Employ clear acts, rising tension, resolution.
Thematic Focus: Center the vlog around a deeper question or theme beyond just daily events.
This adds depth and substance to personal storytelling.

How Niche Constraints Can Inspire Creative Framework Adaptations

Sometimes limitations force creativity. If your niche is:

Visually “Boring” (e.g., coding): Forces you to rely on creative graphics, analogies, strong narration frameworks.
Highly Technical: Pushes you to adapt simple explanation frameworks (like “5 Levels”) or strong visual metaphors.
Requires Privacy (e.g., therapy insights): Leads to innovation in anonymous storytelling, animation, or metaphorical representation.
Constraints aren’t always bad; they can necessitate finding novel ways to adapt existing frameworks effectively.

Avoiding “Format Fatigue” Even When Adapting Proven Structures

Using the same framework repeatedly (even a good one) can become stale. Avoid fatigue:

Vary the Content within the Framework: Ensure each “Versus” video compares truly different, interesting things.
Introduce Subtle Twists: Add a small new rule to a challenge format, or a unique angle to a case study.
Mix Frameworks: Don’t only do comparison videos; blend in other structures (tutorials, vlogs).
Refresh Presentation: Update graphics, music, editing style slightly over time.
Keep the core structure recognizable but find ways to make each application feel fresh.

The Role of Personality in Making Adapted Formats Your Own

A framework is just a skeleton; your personality brings it to life. Two creators can adapt the exact same “Challenge” format, but the results will feel vastly different based on:

Their unique humor or reactions.
Their level of expertise or vulnerability shown.
Their specific storytelling choices and narration style.
Their editing flair and visual aesthetics.
Injecting your authentic self is crucial for making an adapted format feel original and connect with your audience.

Adapting Frameworks for Live Streams (Interactive Polls, Q&A Structures)

Make live streams more structured and engaging than just rambling:

Structured Q&A: Collect questions beforehand, group them thematically, use on-screen graphics.
Live Debate Format: Host guests with opposing views, use polls for audience voting.
Interactive Tutorial: Walk through steps live, using chat for questions/feedback.
Tier List / Ranking Format: Rank items in your niche live based on chat input or pre-defined criteria.
Live Challenge: Attempt a challenge format live, sharing the process and reacting to chat.
Frameworks provide direction for interactive, real-time content.

Using Frameworks to Pitch Ideas (To Brands, Collaborators, Teams)

Referencing established frameworks makes pitching easier and clearer:

“We propose a ‘Versus’ style video comparing your product to competitor X.” (Instantly understood).
“Let’s do a ‘Day in the Life’ showcasing your company culture for recruitment.”
“Our collaboration could follow a ’73 Questions’ format in your workshop.”
“We can adapt the ‘Mythbusting’ framework to address common industry misconceptions.”
Using shared language based on known formats helps stakeholders quickly grasp the concept and potential appeal.

A Database of Adaptable YouTube Frameworks (Versus, Levels, Journey, etc.)

This topic suggests creating a resource (video, blog post, downloadable) listing common, powerful frameworks:

Comparison Frameworks: Versus, Tiers/Levels, Before & After.
Journey Frameworks: Challenge, Quest, Transformation, Day in the Life, Travelogue.
Explanation Frameworks: Case Study, Deep Dive, Mythbusting, How It’s Made, Tutorial.
Interaction Frameworks: Interview variations, Q&A, Reaction, Debate.
List Frameworks (Angled): Top X (with unique hook), Puzzle List.
Categorizing these helps creators easily find structures to adapt.

The Future of Format Innovation: Where Will the Next Big Structures Come From?

Predicting future dominant formats is hard, but might involve:

Deeper AI Integration: Formats leveraging AI analysis, generation, or personalization.
Increased Interactivity: More sophisticated ways for audiences to influence content in real-time or asynchronously.
Platform Blending: Formats seamlessly integrating Shorts, Long-form, Live, Community features.
AR/VR Integration: Immersive formats leveraging new technologies.
Hyper-Personalization: Content structures adapting dynamically based on individual viewer data (complex).
Innovation often comes from technological shifts or creative synthesis of existing ideas.

Cross-Pollination: How Niches Influence Each Other’s Formats Over Time

Formats rarely stay confined to one niche. Successful structures naturally spread:

A challenge format popular in gaming gets adapted by fitness creators.
A documentary storytelling technique gets used by tech reviewers.
A beauty tutorial structure influences how DIY crafts are taught.
This cross-pollination happens organically as creators seek inspiration and audiences respond positively to effective formats regardless of the original niche. Observing this spread helps identify robust, transferable structures.

Legal Considerations When Adapting Formats (Avoiding Direct Copying)

While formats themselves aren’t typically copyrightable, be mindful:

Don’t Copy Specific Creative Elements: Avoid lifting unique graphics, scripts, music choices, or highly distinctive stylistic elements directly from another creator’s adaptation of a format.
Focus on Structure: Adapt the underlying framework (e.g., the idea of comparing $1 vs $1000 items), but execute it with your original content, visuals, and analysis.
Give Credit (Optional but good practice): If heavily inspired by a specific creator’s take on a format, a brief acknowledgment can build goodwill.
Ethical adaptation respects the line between structural inspiration and plagiarism.

Training Your Team (or Yourself) to Think in Frameworks

Develop the skill of recognizing and applying formats:

Actively Analyze: When watching any YouTube video, consciously ask: What is the underlying structure or framework here?
Deconstruct Examples: Break down successful videos into their core structural components (hook, rising action, climax, resolution, etc.).
Build a Framework Library: Document common structures you observe (as mentioned earlier).
Practice Adaptation: Regularly take a known framework and brainstorm how to apply it to your niche topics.
This shifts thinking from just “what video to make?” to “what structure best serves this idea?”

The Most Underutilized Framework You Could Adapt Today

While subjective, potential underutilized frameworks might include:

“5 Levels” (Expert Explains): Highly effective for demonstrating expertise (E-E-A-T) but less common outside pure education/science niches. Could be adapted widely.
Structured Debates: Formal debates with clear rules/timing are rare but could be highly engaging for controversial topics.
Historical Deep Dives (Applied Broadly): Using rigorous historical analysis methods on non-history topics (e.g., “The History of a Meme,” “The Evolution of Smartphone Design”).
Look for effective structures common in one area but surprisingly absent in yours.

A Checklist for Adapting Frameworks Successfully

Before adapting a format, check:

Clear Understanding: Do I grasp the core structure and why it works?
Niche Fit: Does this format genuinely enhance my topic and align with audience expectations?
My Unique Spin: How will I make this adaptation distinct and valuable with my own content/personality?
Deliverability: Can I execute this format effectively with my resources/skills?
Ethical Considerations: Am I borrowing structure ethically, not plagiarizing specific creative elements?
Packaging Potential: Can this adapted format be packaged compellingly (Title/Thumbnail)?

Mastering the “Magician” Mindset: Paddy Galloway’s Guide to Format Adaptation

Paddy’s “Be A Magician” philosophy is about strategic efficiency and leveraging proven engagement:

Observe Widely: Look beyond your niche for successful formats (“tricks”).
Understand the Core Appeal: Know why the trick works on audiences.
Identify New Audiences: Find niches where the trick hasn’t been performed (or done well).
Adapt Skillfully: Apply the structure with your unique content and context.
Deliver with Confidence: Execute the adapted format effectively.
It’s about smartly applying universal principles of engagement rather than constantly struggling for radical, untested originality.