Close your eyes and imagine. You’ve just woken up on a rainy Saturday morning. You have no work to complete, no traffic to sit in, and no chores to do. You have the day completely to yourself to do anything you wish. For many people, this day would consist of one of the following: having a movie day, watching a marathon of Netflix television series or curling up on the couch with a good book. These three things have at least one thing in common – storytelling.
Words matter. It’s why books, television shows and movies have never gone out of style. Storytelling has withheld the test of time. Stories have been passed down for generations. Even cavemen told stories using drawings. The methods of storytelling have evolved over time from drawings, to verbal, to written books, and now, to video. People want to know your story. It creates a bond and a vulnerability to let someone hear your story. The same concept applies to brands.
It’s all about the consumer relationship, and part of making relationships work is to let people get to know you. However, even the most avid readers will most likely pass on the offer to read a book on your company, and binge television watchers will probably keep scrolling past that brand documentary, so we’re left with one option (okay, there are more options, but we’ve determined this one is the best) – a short video.
Think about it. Which Super Bowl commercials do you remember the most? There are some from years ago that are still relevant today because of the story they told. (We’re tearing up just thinking about Jeep’s 2013 Super Bowl commercial, Dodge Ram’s 2013 “God made a Farmer” commercial and Budweiser’s years of puppy commercials).
When creating your story’s video, it’s important to remember a few things.
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Your audience
Your audience is ultimately the people you are trying to sell to. What’s most important to them? Themselves and their loved ones! Putting those people at the center of the message will catch their attention and make the video relatable to them.
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The truth
You want a great story. You want to spark emotion and give your watchers all the feels. Maybe you already know the great story you’ll tell, but if you don’t know what your story is, don’t be tempted to fabricate one. (We can work with you to pull out the great story we know you have – everybody has one!)
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The goal
Not every story needs to make the consumer cry. Some videos ignite empowerment or encourage a certain behavior (i.e. donating, recycling). Think about what kind of brand you are and what fits best with your audience; then, set your goal.
Storytelling was, is and always will be the way to connect with others. When you can’t connect with your audience face to face, video is the next best way to break down those barriers and let your consumers get to know your brand. Still don’t know where to start? It all starts with an idea. Contact us to begin brainstorming ideas, and let’s make your story known.