You’re ready to tackle that video project you’ve been planning and you’ve decided to record a self-shot video for your main message. Where do you begin?
Writing a video script is the first step, no matter what kind of story you want to tell. The script is the engine that drives your entire production and writing a great one will ultimately help you produce a great video.
Video scripting can unnerve even the most experienced wordsmiths but put your mind at ease! We’re here with a few simple tips to help you create a killer video script, regardless of your experience level.
Start With a Purpose
Before putting any words down on paper, figure out a framework for your entire video production and use it as an outline for your script. Ask yourself questions like:
- Who is our audience? What pain points do we want to solve for them?
- What other key points do we want to make?
- Are there additional resources we can use to tell our story like existing footage, stock footage, photo images, artwork?
- Do we want a video production company to provide post-production services for us?
Once you’ve outlined these kinds of details and the purpose of your video, you’re ready to start writing. Here we go.
Write for Your Audience
Your messaging should be clear, easy for you to read, and even easier for your audience to understand. Engage your audience by speaking their language so it resonates with them. You also want your words to have an easy tone, like you’re having a conversation. Do your best to replace industry buzzwords with natural phrases that you’d use when talking to a good friend. Keep most sentences short but mix up the lengths a little. It creates a nice rhythm and pace for your video plus your audience will hear and understand your message better.
Create an Attention Grabber
You may have heard that every good story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. While this framework is essential for storytelling, focus on your video’s opening. It’s the thing that hooks your audience from the start and makes them want to watch more. Whether it’s a snappy phrase, a question, unexpected info, or an ingenious workaround, figure out first how you’ll grab your audience’s attention. Your video should flow from there.
Tell Your Viewers What to Do Next
Don’t forget to write a solid call to action (CTA) into your script. The CTA helps your audience know what to do after they’ve watched your video, such as:
- Contact you
- Schedule a demo
- Sign-up for a webinar or a blog subscription
- Download your content
- Share the video
- Take a survey
Your CTA involves the reason you’re shooting the video and why you want to connect with your audience.
Read Your Script Out Loud
To make sure your video flows and feels natural, read your script out loud and time it. This will give you an idea of the total run time. Be sure to leave room for the editors to have flexibility in the edit.
Some words and phrases read great on paper, only to feel wrong when you hear them spoken. Reading your script out loud will also help you better understand how your message will come across in your video. You’ll also be able to spot tongue-twisters pretty quickly and you’ll have the time to tweak your script to make it less stumbling, bumbling, or tongue-tied.
Make it Easy to Shoot Your Video
Before you hit record, break up your script into small, easier-to-memorize chunks (remember the three-part method of storytelling?). This way, you’ll be talking instead of reading. You’ll be less likely to rely on cue cards or a teleprompter for your lines, you’ll feel more comfortable on screen, and you’ll sound more like a human and less like a robot. Later, the chunks of video can be edited together and smoothed out artistically using B-roll, graphics, jump cuts, animation, and post-production moves. That’s where New Pace comes in!
Need Post-Production Service for Your Self-Shot Video?
Nothing can replace the face-to-face business we took for granted in the past. Yet in a remote digital-forward workforce, post-production work can be a great video communication solution.
Our team at New Pace will serve you safely and remotely, delivering quality content every time. Our expertise and process enable us to understand your needs and execute reliably – on time, and on budget.
See how we can help you develop great video content through post-production. Give us 30 minutes and we’ll give you three video ideas you can execute yourself.
Let’s connect if you have questions, comments, or concerns about shooting your own video, or questions about video editing and post-production.
