How we wrote this: we compared these frameworks with 653 classified transcripts of public reels in IShort's sample (aggregate stats only), wrote every example script ourselves, and list our sources at the bottom of the page.
Problem-Solution-Proof at a glance
| Step | What to say | 30 s Reel | 60 s Reel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook + Problem | The pain, in one line the viewer recognises. | 0–6 s | 0–10 s |
| Solution | The fix as 1–3 concrete steps. | 6–18 s | 10–35 s |
| Proof | Show it working: demo, result, screenshot, quote. | 18–27 s | 35–54 s |
| CTA | One action tied to the solution. | 27–30 s | 54–60 s |
What is the Problem-Solution-Proof framework?
PSP is a stripped-down version of classic persuasion structures. Alan H. Monroe's motivated sequence, developed in the mid-1930s for speeches, also moves from need to satisfaction to visualisation.
The extra step is proof. Robert Cialdini named "social proof" in his 1984 book Influence: people look at what others do to decide what's true. On social media, viewers have seen a hundred "this one trick" reels. Proof is how yours earns belief.
Problem
Specific and familiar. The viewer should nod in the first two seconds.
Solution
Steps they can do today, not "work harder".
Proof
Evidence on screen, so they believe it before they try it.
Types of proof, strongest first
| Proof type | Example on screen | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Live demo | You do the fix on camera, in one take | Cutting away at the key moment |
| Side-by-side result | Before and after, same angle and light | Mismatched conditions |
| Screen recording | The app, dashboard or statement itself | Hiding private data |
| Numbers | Your real metric, shown not just said | Cherry-picked outliers |
| Testimonial | A client quote or DM (with permission) | Anonymous, unverifiable quotes |
| Source | A study or official doc, named on screen | Misquoting what it says |
How to use Problem-Solution-Proof in a Reel
- Collect the proof first. If you can't show it working, you don't have a PSP reel yet.
- Open on the problem, not on you. "Your videos look dark on your phone" beats "Today I'm going to show you…".
- Keep the solution to three steps or fewer. Put each step on screen as text.
- Let the proof breathe. Give it 5–10 seconds without talking over it.
- End with one CTA. "Try it on your next video and tell me."
Problem-Solution-Proof examples (3 original Reel scripts)
Each is a 30-second script we wrote. Results are fictional examples of what to show.
Example 1: Fitness (30 s)
| Time | What you say | On-screen text |
|---|---|---|
| 0–6 s · Problem | "Your push-ups stall at ten because your elbows flare out." | Stuck at 10 push-ups? |
| 6–18 s · Solution | "Tuck your elbows to about 45 degrees, squeeze your glutes, and lower for three seconds." | 45° elbows · glutes · 3 s down |
| 18–27 s · Proof | Split screen: flared set fails at 10, tucked set reaches 14, same day, same rest. | Flared: 10 · Tucked: 14 |
| 27–30 s · CTA | "Test it on your next set and comment your number." | Comment your number |
Example 2: Personal finance (30 s)
| Time | What you say | On-screen text |
|---|---|---|
| 0–6 s · Problem | "You're paying for subscriptions you forgot you had." | Forgotten subscriptions? |
| 6–18 s · Solution | "Search your bank app for the word 'monthly', list every repeat charge, and cancel anything you didn't use last month." | Search 'monthly' → list → cancel |
| 18–27 s · Proof | Screen recording of the creator's own list: four subscriptions cancelled, total shown. | 4 cancelled (my own list) |
| 27–30 s · CTA | "Do it tonight. Save this so you don't forget." | Save it 📌 |
Example 3: Creator / business (30 s)
| Time | What you say | On-screen text |
|---|---|---|
| 0–6 s · Problem | "You don't know which of your reels actually worked." | Which reels worked? |
| 6–18 s · Solution | "Open your profile, sort your reels by views, and look at your top five side by side. Same topic? Same hook style?" | Sort by views → compare top 5 |
| 18–27 s · Proof | Screen recording: reels re-ordered by views in IShort; the top five share one hook style. | My top 5: all question hooks |
| 27–30 s · CTA | "Follow for how I turn that into next week's plan." | Follow for part 2 |
Problem-Solution-Proof template
Copy this template
CopyHOOK + PROBLEM (0-6s) Say: "[Viewer's problem, stated as a fact about them]." On screen: [problem as a question] SOLUTION (6-18s) Say: "[Step 1], [step 2], [step 3]." On screen: [step] · [step] · [step] PROOF (18-27s) Show: [demo / side-by-side / screen recording / quote] On screen: [the result, with its label] CTA (27-30s) Say: "[Try it / save / comment] [reason]." On screen: [CTA in 2-3 words]
Want prompts for each beat? Use the free video script template with Problem-Solution-Proof preloaded.
Find reels that already use Problem-Solution-Proof
Install IShort and transcribe them. Sort any public profile's reels by views or Viral Score, click Transcribe on a top reel, and read its script beat by beat. Free on Chrome and Edge.
Add to Chrome Add to EdgeProblem-Solution-Proof vs PAS vs Before-After-Bridge
| Framework | Ends on | Use when viewers… |
|---|---|---|
| Problem-Solution-Proof | Evidence | Feel the pain but doubt the fix |
| PAS | The solution | Don't yet feel how bad the problem is |
| Before-After-Bridge | The method | Need to picture the result first |
When not to use Problem-Solution-Proof
- You have no real proof. Faking it, or implying results you didn't get, costs trust. In health and finance it can break platform rules.
- The payoff takes months. A 90-day result doesn't fit a 30-second proof beat. A hero's journey tells long transformations better.
- The topic is an opinion. Opinions need arguments, not demos. Try a myth-busting script.
What IShort's reel data shows
From IShort's data: Only 4 of 653 classified scripts in our sample followed Problem-Solution-Proof end to end, too few to publish a reliable number. Most viral reels use a lighter structure, so the useful signal is in how they open:
73% of scripts named the topic in their first sentence; the median hook was 12 words.
The median English script was 166 words, spoken at about 3.4 words per second.
| Hook type (first sentence) | Reels | Median views |
|---|---|---|
| Number / list (“5 habits that…”) | 30 | 448k |
| Question (“Ever wondered why…?”) | 82 | 386k |
| Stop / don't (“Stop doing this…”) | 21 | 368k (small sample) |
| Bold claim | 74 | 230k |
| Personal story (“I…”) | 79 | 116k |
IShort's sample: 1,227 public reels that IShort users chose to transcribe (July–September 2026). 653 transcripts (567 English, 86 Hindi in Devanagari) could be classified by keyword rules. Because users mostly transcribe reels that already did well (median 206k views), treat these as patterns in successful reels, not proof of cause.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Problem-Solution-Proof framework?
Problem-Solution-Proof is a three-step script structure. You name a problem the viewer has, show a concrete solution, then show proof that the solution works, such as a live demo, a before-and-after result, a screenshot or a customer quote. The proof beat is what separates it from a plain tip.
What counts as proof in a Reel?
The strongest proof is something the viewer sees happen: a live demo, a side-by-side result or a real screen recording. Next come numbers you can show on screen, then testimonials and expert sources. A claim you only say out loud, with nothing on screen, is not proof.
How is Problem-Solution-Proof different from PAS?
PAS (Problem-Agitate-Solution) uses its middle beat to make the problem feel worse and ends on the solution. Problem-Solution-Proof skips the agitation and ends on evidence. Use PAS when viewers don't yet feel the pain, and PSP when they feel it but doubt the fix.
Where should the proof go in a short video?
Usually after the solution, as the last beat before the CTA. If your proof is very visual, like a dramatic result, you can flash it in the first two seconds as the hook and then explain the problem and solution. That is a proof-first variant of the same framework.
Can I use Problem-Solution-Proof without a product?
Yes. The solution can be a free method, and the proof can be your own result or a demo. Many educational creators use it for tips, then mention their product or freebie in the caption.
Sources
- Monroe's Motivated Sequence — Grand Valley State University Speech Lab: five steps, developed by Alan Monroe in the mid-1930s.
- Social proof — Wikipedia: term coined by Robert Cialdini in Influence (1984).
- Monroe's motivated sequence — Wikipedia overview.
Compare all 12 structures on the reel script frameworks hub, or turn a reel you like into a script with reel to script.