What is Video Storytelling?

Ever cried at an advert for tea? Or felt goosebumps from a 90-second charity film? That’s video storytelling. Not just shooting a product on a spinning table. It’s the art of crafting a narrative with moving pictures, sound, and emotion—one that sticks in your audience's mind longer than the jingle from a 2000s car ad.
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Video storytelling is using video to spin a proper yarn—characters, conflict, the whole shebang. It’s not just film; it’s narrative in motion. Drama wrapped in pixels. It's the difference between a product demo and a moment that makes you feel something. It's storytelling with a heartbeat, legs, and a wicked sense of timing.

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Think of it like this: if brand messaging is the dish, video storytelling is the seasoning. Without it, bland. With it, bold.

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Basics of Video Storytelling

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Before we dive into the drama, let’s talk basics. Every good storytelling video starts with a plan. A strategy. A blueprint that asks:

• Who are we talking to? (Hint: not "everyone")
  
• What do we want them to feel?
  
• What’s the change we want them to go through?
  
• What’s our budget, timeline, and where will this live (social? telly? a castle wall?)
  

Then comes the good stuff: script, storyboards, shot lists. It doesn’t need to be Spielberg-level, but it must be deliberate.

And remember: story first. Always. Even for an explainer video. Even for a 10-second TikTok.

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Video Storytelling Tips & Elements

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1. Character over product

Don't show the shoe. Show the person running in it. Bleeding for a win. Smiling through sweat. Let people see themselves.

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2. Conflict is king

Every story needs friction. A problem. A tension. Even a playful one. Without conflict, there’s no hook.

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3. Voiceover or dialogue that sings

Don’t just read facts. Make the voice feel like a mate or a mentor. Or that slightly rogue nan who tells it like it is.

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4. Show, don’t tell

Video is a visual medium. If you can show it, don’t say it. A look can do more than a paragraph.

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5. Keep it short and sharp

Respect your audience’s time. If you’re not grabbing them in 5 seconds, you’ve lost them to a cat video.

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6. End with a bang

The final seconds should hit hard. Whether it’s a call to action, a twist, or just a moment that lingers.

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Benefits of Storytelling in Video

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We live in a world of scrolling thumbs and goldfish memory spans. A good story stops the scroll. A great one rewires how people feel about your brand story. As behavioural science says: facts tell, stories sell.

• Emotional connection - Story taps into heartstrings. Not sales copy.
  
• Brand recall - People forget stats. They remember feelings.
  
• Stronger marketing strategy - Videos that tell stories boost click-throughs, shares, and conversions.
  
• SEO-friendly - Google loves video. Especially ones that keep people watching.
  
• Multi-platform gold - A great story works on your homepage, Instagram, and your gran’s WhatsApp.
• Don’t forget subtitles - Around 85% of videos on Facebook are watched on mute. Make sure your video production supports this from the get-go.
  

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Video Storytelling Examples

Need inspo? We’ve rounded up some bangers from the last five years-each packed with punch and proven results:

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1. Apple - The Whole Working-From-Home Thing

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A playful yet heartwarming take on remote work struggles, featuring the "Underdogs" team juggling chaos and creativity.

• Stats: Over 42M views on YouTube; widely praised for its humour and relatability.
  
• This piece nailed the balance of product placement (MacBook, iPad, FaceTime) and human storytelling.
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2. Nike - You Can't Stop Us

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A split-screen masterpiece weaving together athletes from different sports and backgrounds, showing unity and resilience.

• Stats: 60M+ YouTube views, Cannes Lions Grand Prix winner.
  
• The editing is surgical, the message emotional. It hit every storytelling goal: inspiration, identity, inclusion.
  

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3. Dove - Toxic Influence

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A bold dive into how beauty advice affects girls' self-esteem, using real mother-daughter conversations.

• Stats: 5.2M+ views and covered by Forbes, Ad Age, and others.
  
• Emotional connection? Off the charts. And it aligns perfectly with Dove's long-term brand storytelling.

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4. Barclays – All to Play

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Launched to support women in football, this campaign uses a fictional team of girls navigating real-world pressures and triumphs.

• Stats: 5M+ views and growing; shared across grassroots clubs and schools across the UK.
• It’s local, empowering, and connects brilliantly with community-led brand storytelling

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5. John Lewis – The Beginner

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This Christmas ad follows a man learning to skateboard for a heartfelt reason you only discover at the end.

• Stats: 11M+ views; widely discussed across UK news and social media.
• The emotional payoff lands with warmth and surprise, a John Lewis staple.

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6. Amazon – Joy Ride

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Three elderly women recreate their youth with a spontaneous sled ride, sparked by a single Amazon delivery.

• Stats: 9M+ YouTube views; recognised for its feel-good factor and cross-generational appeal.
• A masterclass in short-form emotional storytelling with a universal message

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7. British Heart Foundation – This is Science

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A striking, cinematic ad showcasing the unseen science behind heart disease research and its real-world impact.

• Stats: 2M+ views within the first month; featured in national health campaigns.
• It combines visuals, purpose, and narrative flow to showcase real human stakes.

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Video Storytelling Techniques You Should Try

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Mix it up. Stories don’t all wear the same trousers. Whether you’re selling shoes or saving whales, there’s more than one way to move your audience.

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Animated Video

Use motion graphics to simplify big topics and make complex ideas digestible. Perfect for explainer video formats, especially in tech, fintech, or education sectors.

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Docu-style

Go raw and real. Use real people, unscripted words, and authentic settings. Ideal for charities and brands with purpose-driven stories.

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Mini-series

Build anticipation with multiple short episodes. Think Netflix meets LinkedIn, perfect for campaign rollouts or sharing behind-the-scenes evolution.

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Behind-the-scenes

Pull back the curtain on your process or team. People love seeing the humans behind the brand. Bonus: it builds serious trust.

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User-generated

Turn your customers into your storytellers. It’s genuine, cost-effective, and super engaging. Nothing beats real voices sharing real experiences.

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Storytelling Goals & Marketing Strategy

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Every brand film needs a "why." Ask yourself:

• Are we trying to spark emotion?
  
• Solve a pain point?
  
• Show how we’re different?
  
• Get clicks, shares, or make someone cry a bit?
  
  

Your marketing strategy should align with your story. A fast-paced launch campaign needs energy. A sustainability pledge? Depth. Honesty. Maybe a little grit.

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Video Formats & Production Tips

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Whether it's widescreen cinematic or square for the 'gram, video format matters. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

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How to Connect With Your Target Audience

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Don’t shout at the void. Speak to someone specific. Tailor your tone, visuals, and script to your target audience. Know your audience. Then whisper your message in their language. For example:

• Marketing Manager wants speed, results, and to not be bored.
  
• Brand Director needs strategic substance wrapped in bold visuals.
  
• Charity Comms Give her emotion. Real people. Not gloss.
  
  

Creating a Killer Video Script

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This isn’t your deep-dive, frame-by-frame kind of script tutorial. Think of this as your high-level game plan-the skeleton before the skin. It’s where structure meets spark, and every line earns its place.

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1. Start with a hook - a line, shot, or stat that slaps.
   
2. Set the scene - where are we, what’s happening, who’s feeling what?
   
3. The build - raise tension, build momentum.
   
4. Climax - the big moment, reveal, punchline.
   
5. Resolution - tie it back, make it human.
   
6. CTA - tell them what to do next (watch more, donate, shout at their boss).
   
   

Our Take? Stories That Don’t Suck Win.

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Here at Simply Thrilled, we don’t just shoot pretty shots. We build stories with soul. Stories that slap, sing, and sometimes spill tea. And we’ve got the receipts.

Since 2017, we’ve clocked over 50 million views, 2,000 telly broadcasts, and more than 70 five-star reviews. Why? Because when the story’s strong, the stats follow. And that’s the real win.

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Conclusion: Get a Free Video Quote

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So if you’re tired of forgettable brand films and explainer videos that feel like they were written by a fax machine, give us a shout. Whether it’s a campaign with clout or a storytelling video with punch, we’re your gang.

Want to see how we’d tell your story? Book a free call with our team. Apply for a free quote - Talk to our video experts.