Watch the corresponding video to this post on LinkedIn by clicking here.
In this video, I'm going to reveal some of the secrets of video storytelling, and how you can use them to create videos that connect with your audience on a more personal level.
What’s up! I’m Sid, and I’m the owner and director of Sudden Inception Productions, where we create engaging and effective videos that help businesses grow and realize their full potential, with our story-first approach.
For the sake of explanation, Video storytelling at its very basic level, is the skill of using audiovisual elements to craft a narrative that connects with your viewers. It's not just about demonstrating what your product or service can do, but how it can solve their problems or fulfill their desires. It's about sparking an emotional response that motivates them to act.
But, how do you create a video story that works on any platform? Whether it's YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, each platform has its own audience, format, and purpose. How do you adapt your video story to fit each one?
Well, you better keep watching because I'm about to tell you!
Know your audience. Before you start creating your video story, you need to know who you're talking to, and what they care about. What problems might they be having that you could solve with your product or service? How do they consume video content and where? Create a detailed buyer persona, and tailor your video story to their needs and expectations.
Know your goal. What do you want to achieve with your video story? Do you want to raise awareness, educate, entertain, or persuade your audience? Do you want to generate leads, sales, or loyalty? Define your specific and measurable goal, and make sure it's relevant and realistic. If this sounds familiar then you know that crafting an effective video story involves a strategic approach to make it effective, and an appropriate use of your time and money.
Know your platform. Each platform has its own best practices and guidelines for video storytelling. For example, YouTube, historically, has been, and still is, great for longer, educational, or entertaining videos - but with YouTube shorts, shorter and more visually appealing videos succeed on the platform as well, while behind-the-scenes style videos are actually trending right now, on Instagram. You need to know the optimal length, resolution, format, and style for each platform, and adjust your video story accordingly. This can be done simply by re-editing existing content, but in some cases it might require you to make something entirely unique for each platform.
Know your message. What is the core message you want to convey with your video story? What is the value proposition, the unique selling point, or the main takeaway for your audience? Craft a clear and concise message that summarizes your video story in one sentence, and make sure it's consistent throughout your video.
Know your structure. A good video story has a clear and logical structure that guides your viewers from the beginning to the end. A simple and effective structure is the three-act structure, which consists of: - The introduction, where you set the scene, introduce the characters, and present the problem or challenge. - The conflict, where you show the obstacles, complications, and risks that the characters face, and how they try to overcome them. - The resolution, where you show the outcome, the solution, and the call to action for your viewers. Even the most compelling and complicated stories can be boiled down into this 3 act structure, so you’d better get familiar with it.
Know your hook. The hook is the first few seconds of your video story that grabs your viewers' attention and makes them want to watch more, sometimes it's as short as the first 2 seconds (this is specifically important on Tiktok and Instagram). It can be a question, a statistic, a quote, a teaser, or anything else that sparks curiosity and interest. You need to make your hook as compelling and relevant as possible, and match it to the platform and the audience you're targeting. This doesn't necessarily mean over-the-top or flashy, sometimes simple is better!
Know your emotion. By this I mean, the feeling you want to evoke in your viewers with your video story. You can use a combination of various techniques to arouse emotions, such as music, sound effects, voice-over, facial expressions, body language, colors, and lighting.
Know your style. The style is the tone, mood, and personality of your video story. It can be humorous, serious, formal, informal, or anything else that reflects your brand and your message. You need to use a consistent and distinctive style that sets you apart from the competition and appeals to your audience.
These are some of the video storytelling techniques that you can use to create videos that work on any platform. If you follow these steps, you will be able to create engaging and effective videos that connect with your audience and grow your brand.
Learn more by checking out these links below:
The art of video storytelling and why it matters for your marketing - Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/blog/post/video-storytelling/
This article explains what video storytelling is, and how you can use it for your marketing strategy.
What is video storytelling and how to use it? – Outbrain Blog. https://www.outbrain.com/blog/video-storytelling
This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to make a storytelling video, and why it's a powerful marketing tool.
10 Video Storytelling Strategies That WORK (With Examples!)
This article shows you 10 of the best storytelling strategies you can use for your videos, and gives you examples of each one.
8 Powerful Video Storytelling Tips | Renderforest. https://www.renderforest.com/blog/video-storytelling-tips
This article gives you 8 key video storytelling tips to help you create effective videos and connect with your audience.
If you don’t want to do any of this yourself, Sudden Inception Productions is here to help. We have the skills and experience to make awesome videos for your business, and walk you through a personalized video strategy for you.
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