Video Storytelling vs. Video Production

Ron Watermon • February 19, 2023

What You Need to Know to Create Effective Video Content

St. Louis, MO – February 19, 2023 - In the world of video content, it can be tough to decide whether to focus on video storytelling or video production.

Do you want to create a beautifully crafted video with top-notch technical elements, or do you want to craft a story that will move viewers to tears (or at least to take action)?

Well, why not have your cake and eat it too? By investing in good professional video storytelling, you can have the best of both worlds: a technically polished video with a compelling story that will connect with your audience and drive results.

I’ve banked my career and a significant amount of my personal savings on this simple idea that is foundational in the formation of our company STORYSMART. You can get professional production that tells a memorable story on screen if you go into it with the storytelling mindset first.

--An example of a simple but powerful story we did for our client INSynergy --

Here's what you need to know to create effective video storytelling that moves the needle for your brand.

Know your audience: Understanding your target audience is key to creating video content that resonates with them. What stories matter to your target audience? Whether you're targeting potential customers or existing ones, knowing their pain points, values, and preferences will help you create a story that speaks directly to them.

Focus on the story: While technical elements like lighting, sound, and camera angles are important, the heart of any good video is the story. Whether it's a heartwarming tale of triumph over adversity or a comedic skit that will make viewers laugh, a compelling story is what will keep viewers engaged. You don’t need a big budget to tell a good story. Focus on that first and then be creative in telling the story. When Steven Spielberg was directing Jaws the studio had invested a lot in a mechanical shark that kept breaking down so he improvised by using those scary water level shots where we didn’t see that shark. His storytelling has kept me close to shore most of my life.

Use emotion to your advantage: Video storytelling is all about evoking emotions, so use that to your advantage. Whether it's humor, empathy, excitement or in the case of Jaws fear, tap into the emotions that will resonate with your audience and drive them to take action (swimming close to shore where they can see what is below them).

Make it visually stunning: Of course, while the story is the most important aspect of your video, it still needs to look good. Invest in high-quality equipment and hire a professional to ensure that your video is visually stunning and technically polished.

Measure your results: Once your video is complete, make sure to measure its impact. Track views, engagement, and conversions to see how well your story resonated with your audience and how effectively it drove results.

So, there you have it: the key to creating effective video content is to focus on both video storytelling and video production. By investing in good professional video storytelling, you can create videos that are both technically impressive and emotionally impactful, helping you connect with your audience and drive results.

And as a bonus, you'll finally have an answer to the age-old question: "Why did the video cross the road?" To get to the other side of the screen and into the hearts and minds of your audience! It is time for you to get STORYSMART and invest in telling your stories with video.

--Ron Watermon with ghostwriting assistance from OpenAI (ChatGPT)


About STORYSMART


You have a story to bring to the screen, but you don't have the time or resources to do it yourself. Telling your story well with video can be hard. And let’s be brutally honest. No app will turn you into a great filmmaker. Few can produce a do-it-yourself (DIY) video or film we actually want to watch, much less remember.

To do justice to your story on screen, you need the right skills and equipment, not to mention time, money and talent.

That is why STORYSMART developed our premium video storytelling as a service. We help clients tell their story in the amazing way they deserve with a proprietary done-for-you video storytelling service unlike any other.

STORYSMART provides a nationwide premium video storytelling service that empowers clients to have their stories told professionally while retaining their intellectual property rights as though they did it themselves.

STORYSMART provides clients an experienced television reporter or journalist filmmaker to help them tell their story following our proprietary high-integrity brand journalism system. Our transparently priced premium services for agencies, businesses and families ensures that each client gets an authentic, high-quality story they own the intellectual property rights on forever.


About Ron Watermon

Ron Watermon is the founder and CEO of STORYSMART, a premium video storytelling technology startup that empowers anyone to have their stories told professionally while ensuring they retain the intellectual property rights on their productions.

A creative and innovative communications leader with nearly three decades of experience, prior to founding STORYSMART, Ron was responsible for modernizing the St. Louis Cardinals communications by leading the team’s investment in video storytelling, brand journalism, fan engagement and social media.

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