Did you know that 92.7% of internet users worldwide watch videos each week? Staggering, right? Chances are your target audience is scrolling through interesting video content right now. So, are you ready to make sure your brand is part of their digital experience while they are surfing the internet?
But which type of video content is right for your brand?
From explainers to documentaries, product demos to corporate videos, there are many types of video content that can enhance your video marketing strategy. Let’s explore the top types of video production so you can avoid any creative block with your video ideas.
Examples and Types of Video Production
With over a decade of experience working in the video production industry, we know what works for the brands and what doesn't. So, here are the top types of video production that can help you achieve your desired results.
1. Documentary
Documentary films are a powerful medium to present real-world issues, personalities, and stories, making them a valuable video type for businesses. They come in various forms and offer a unique perspective on the subject matter. Based on your business goals, you can choose the type of documentary you want to create - whether it’s a poetic or participatory documentary, it all depends on what you want to communicate to your audience. Typically, documentaries run between 30 and 90 minutes, so it’s essential to deliver a strong, impactful message within that time frame.
Creating a successful documentary requires professional expertise to achieve the desired results. Here’s how Starbucks delivered an excellent result with their documentary.
This documentary tells an emotional story using Starbucks as the backdrop. It focuses on a mother who copes with the loss of her daughter by joining a scrapbooking club that meets at Starbucks. The club founder’s testimonial shares how Starbucks provides a comfortable and welcoming space for such gatherings.
2. Promotional video
Whether you offer a product or service, promoting it effectively is essential. This is where quality promotional videos come into play. These videos capture the audience's attention and convey a message in a compelling way. It’s crucial to tailor your promotional videos to the format that works best on the platform you're using. While each promotional video type has a unique purpose, they all share the goal of promoting a service, product, or brand.
Promotional videos are designed to inspire action—whether it’s making a purchase or signing up for a service. To be successful, they need to grab the audience's attention (especially with their declining attention span) and motivate them to do something. While producing a promotional video, you must record one long promotional video and then edit it into shorter clips for use across different platforms, especially social media.
A great example of a successful promotional video is from Dollar Shave Club's ad.
This viral ad generated 12,000 sign-ups within the first 48 hours. That’s not all. Since its release, it has amassed 28 million views on YouTube, with 4.75 million of those views happening in the first few months. Now that’s how you do a promotional video!
3. Product demo
Product demonstrations have been around since the early days of the digital ecosystem. They help potential customers understand the product and its value proposition. You can shoot your product demo and, to maximise impact, pair it with a testimonial video for better conversions.
Here’s an example of a time-tracking app that shows how simple a product demo video can be.
While this is a digital product demo, you can also showcase physical products, giving potential customers an inside look that could lead them to choose your product. Sounds like a win-win!
4. Explainer videos
You might be wondering about the difference between product demos and explainer videos, right? Don’t worry - you’re not alone. A product demo shows how a product works, while an explainer video breaks down a concept or service. Explainer videos make complex ideas or products easier to understand. They make complexity digestible. Animated explainer videos are especially popular with businesses because they’re flexible and can suit various needs. The style of the explainer video also varies depending on the product or service.
For example, tech products often use graphics and animations to illustrate complex features, while lifestyle products may rely on customer testimonials and storytelling for a more personal touch. Have a look at this YouTube Short by Grammarly, which highlights three features from its business version that help users improve their writing and productivity.
5. Corporate videos
Corporate videos offer a range of options, from training materials and compliance guides to behind-the-scenes footage and testimonials. These videos can be tailored for both employee and customer engagement, depending on your needs. The most common types are training and informational videos, often used for onboarding and ongoing employee education.
Here's a straightforward example of a corporate video format:
6. Entertainment videos
If you are in the music or travel industry, creating entertainment video clips is a great way to engage your audience. Music videos, for example, bring songs to life by adding visuals that enhance the story and emotion. These can range from simple to high-budget productions, depending on the artist's vision. Entertainment videos, like films or series, can be produced by creators or large production studios. Bigger studios usually have larger budgets, allowing for more detailed storytelling and higher-quality production.
One notable example is Michael Jackson’s Scream, which is one of the most expensive music videos ever made 15 years ago.
7. Educational videos
Do you want to share your industry experience with your audience, students, or employees? Educational videos are essential for learning, as they clearly explain specific concepts—such as how blockchain works. Unlike multi-step training videos, educational videos focus on teaching one topic at a time.
These videos can range from formal lessons and TED talks to online courses or informal tutorials on specific topics, as shown in the example below. Irrespective of the type of video production you want to create, you need high-quality that which can showcase your professionalism to the viewers.
Benefits of Video Production
Let’s be honest - video isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’ anymore. It’s the frontman of your brand band, turning browsers into buyers, doubters into believers. Good video production boosts engagement, simplifies complex messages, and builds trust faster than you can say “skip ad”. Whether it’s a bold brand film or a heartstring-tugging charity story, video captures attention where words fall flat.
For internal comms, it’s a brilliant morale booster and training tool. For marketing, it’s your loudest (and loveliest) shout. Plus, video lives everywhere - your website, socials, email campaigns, even the big screen if you're feeling fancy. But here’s the kicker: it’s not just about eyeballs. It’s about connection. A well-crafted video says, “We see you. We get you.” And that? That’s marketing gold.
How Much Does Video Production Cost?
Ah, the million-pound question. Or more accurately, anywhere between £1,500 and £50,000+. Why the range? Because video production isn’t a one-size-fits-all gig. A short animated explainer filmed in your office costs far less than a multi-location brand film with drones, dolly shots and a cast of twenty.
Think of it like booking a band. You can get a brilliant busker or you can go full Glastonbury headliner. Both have value, depending on what you need. At Simply Thrilled, we’re transparent from the start. We’ll work with your budget, not around it. So whether it’s a £3k punchy promo or a £25k mini-doc with all the bells and whistles, you’ll know exactly where your money’s going - and more importantly, what it’ll get you. (Spoiler: it’s always something banger-worthy.)
How To Choose the Right Video Production Service
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Choosing a video agency shouldn’t feel like blind speed dating. You want chemistry, sure - but also credibility, creativity, and clear communication. Start with their showreel. Does it make you feel something? Laugh? Think? Click “replay”? Good. Next, check their experience. Not just “how long they’ve been doing it” but “who they’ve done it for” and “what results they got”.
Then, vibe check. Are they full of jargon or full of ideas? Do they care about your brand - or just the invoice? At Simply Thrilled, we like to keep it personal. Direct contact with the director. One point of contact, no faff. And always, always fresh thinking.
Because your video deserves more than stock footage and safe bets. It deserves sparks, stories, and a team who actually gives a monkeys. We, at Simply Thrilled, have decades of experience in the video product industry. We have worked with leading brands nationally and globally from different niches. Our team can handle end-to-end video production processes from planning, filming, and marketing. Share your details so that our team can put in their hard work into your project, so you can focus on your core business operations. Book a direct call with our director.
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