Creating Online Content the Right Way

Someone watching an advertisement can decide in as little as 3 seconds whether they will continue to watch or not. That is a small hurdle to overcome if you know how to properly tell a story.

If you think about it, creating video content is really having the ability to tell a story so well that it is irresistible to the viewers. It is literally the science of persuasion, or storytelling at its very best. And you have to leverage opportunities with your online marketing to make your story so tantalizing and contagious that it will add value to the viewers who are watching. Now, you may be wondering how to express not only the significance of your story but also the value that it will bring to the consumer. Here is something to consider:

Online content comes in many shapes and forms. It has been the forerunner for radio and television advertisement since the beginning of the 1930’s, and has grown exponentially from there. You can’t walk into a store or drive down the street without seeing an advertisement of some sort‒ enticing you to buy. Our culture is saturated in it, and we also rely heavily on this type of content to help us decide exactly what we will be purchasing.

Now back to where we started‒ creating your online content the right way. There are really no words to express how important it is to have great online content. In fact, it has been reiterated over and over throughout the year on how to do this. But you must understand just how critical it is to create the perfect image and story in a video that will convey a message to your target audience. The world already has the technology to distribute your content 24 hours a day… actually whenever someone demands it… so we must be ready to provide the innovation of storytelling at its best.

How To Be A Dynamic Story Teller

Dynamic storytelling is nothing more than bringing a few common elements together that symbolizes the essence of your brand. Then, it’s all about creating a brand experience for the viewer that can be shared across all types of platforms.

Cavemen started out with stick figures. Now days we have computer programs, royalty free sound effects, high-tech video cameras, and social media platforms to help us develop and create strategic ways to tell a story. You no longer have to be a technical genius to figure this stuff out. This is a huge creative opportunity as it allows content creators to construct something positive while growing a successful business out of what they are doing.

Alright, here is the next important item to factor into your marketing strategy.   Since viewers tend to have very short attention spans, what are some ways to build upon this truism and use it to your advantage?   Give them something to be emotionally connected to. The reason for this is to immediately engage with your audience. They need to make a connection with your content… and do it very quickly. Good storytelling is creating content that holds the interest of your viewers because they couldn’t wait to find out what is going to happen next. If you can build a great video story that resonates with your target audience along with new prospects who are looking at your unique content for the first time, then you have just succeeded.

Online Video Is The Future of Content Marketing

Five years ago, life was a little different and video was consumed in a different way. But with the onslaught of online video, it quickly changed the way people received their information, entertainment, and how they socialized with each other. Video dominates the market as billions of unique viewers reach for this type of platform to fulfill their needs.

Forrester’s researchers describe it like this: “If a picture paints 1,000 words, then one minute of video is worth 1.8 million.” Video content is engaging and accessible to everyone. It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to make a short video for your business. Actually, you can’t even begin to realize the worth of return on your video investment as you grow your target audience and expand your community.

After reading through all of this you’re probably wondering where to start so you can get it right the first time. Well, here is what happens for 99% of all content creators: They win some and they lose some. It’s not always going to be perfect the first time. But finding content that has value as well as sharing a great storyline that is worth telling will always get more engagement than by not trying at all. So just start with something, work with what you have until you find what resonates with your audience, and create more content that emotionally charges, entertains, and informs at the same time.

Here are some really great ways to take that first step to get the ball rolling:

• Set goals for each day, week, and month. These should be small incremental goals that slowly build upon your businesses success. And make sure you work towards a yearly goal that you want to accomplish with your video content. This helps you to develop your story, allows it to progress during the year with purpose and value, and sets your audience up to grow emotionally connected as they see the value of your content.

• Use online video to tell your story. Try breaking your story into sections by offering your target audience the chance to see the rest of the story in the following week. Viewers love to see what happens next… so create some storylines that help you create anticipation with this type of focus.

• Don’t be afraid to weave an anecdote throughout your story. This technique along with clear visual aids will allow you to communicate better. Video is just a clever shortcut to reinforcing the setting, characters, plot, details, and backstory of your content.

Even though we have focused a lot on online video content this past year, probably the best words of wisdom is to practice, practice, and practice some more. Practice really does make you better at finding that perfect niche you are searching for. Your audience will see that you are dedicated by the way you are promoting your brand and find themselves inclined to continue watching your content no matter what you create.

It’s all about the potential that really matters. Keeping your audience engaged with great story content will ultimately show them how passionate you are about your brand, your products, as well as your ever growing community of loyal followers.