What’s the Hook?

We’re all busy. You have to get their attention and engage them in the first few seconds. It can be an interesting fact, a question, cool music, great videography, maybe it’s just text. Either way: You have but seconds.

Simplicity is better.

Shorter is Better

Keep it short.

Good Production Values

Video that is framed, shot, lit and edited well makes your brand look better. The same goes for the performance (either acting or documentary style interviews). It’s all about presentation – the same thinking that keeps you from going to work in your pajamas.

This example is very well shot but I don’t really think they did a good job of keeping the audience in mind, it just seems like ‘chest thumping’ to me.

Tell Me a Story

The architecture of a story is wired into human beings to be engaging. The story format of “thishappened, then that happened, but then this other thing happened, so I then did this” is a captivating format to all of us, we can’t look away. Use it to your advantage.

Make it Memorable

Nothing makes me cringe like watching a corporate video that I just know cost a small fortune but will be forgotten as soon as it’s over. By making an impression, you are making it memorable and in turn getting far more bang for your buck.

Funny as it may be, this example is very memorable, even if it suffers in other areas like production values. – still, I’ll bet it did wonders for this company.

Engage Emotion

This is the true power of video: The combined emotional effects of story, music, message, beautiful visuals, what other media format has that power to engage you emotions on so many levels in so short a time?

Be On Brand

The best corporate videos frequently do all of these things but in a way that is consistent with the brand, but not always. You might have great results with a very silly video for a law firm, or it could backfire. In a way, being off brand can redefine your brand, which surely is one of the powers of video. This one is sticky, you just have to trust your gut, and sleep on it!

Mobile and Social Media Ready

Mobile and Social Media are here. You have to make sure your video planning takes them into account and that you know that your content will work in both spaces. Be sure to consider how to optimize for things like SEO, social sharing, other languages if relevant. In general I’d say just think through what happens once it goes live: make a plan, make a list!

Have a Purpose

I have a new mantra: One video, one goal. So many corporate videos seem to ramble on about how great the company is but it’s just not clear what the objective is. Frequently, videos seem to have too many goals and so they end up not meeting any of them very well. Videos aren’t always meant to be infomercials, they might be brand building or to boost awareness, just know why you are producing video and then you can better stay on target.