3 Keys to Video Announcements That Work

“What did you shoot it on?”

Film makers will unanimously tell you this is their least favorite question. And they hate it for a good reason. Film is about sharing a story. It’s about communicating. It doesn’t matter if you are shooting on an iPhone or a Red Epic, it is about creating content that makes a connection.

That’s why instead of talking about warp stabilization or if you should shoot your announcements in 6k (if you can, why not), we want to give you a simple three step process to writing video announcements that is sustainable and just plain work.

1. What are you announcing?

We know what you’re thinking… “Duh!” But it is amazing how often you can watch a two minute promo and walk away thinking “so what is it?” Church ministries and events become so common place for church creatives that sometimes we assume everyone knows what we are talking about. Don’t fall prey to this thinking and leave people in the dark. Clearly describe what you are doing, where you are doing it, and when. You don’t need to describe every small detail. A quick 10 seconds describing the core concept will do the trick. Make sure this is the first thing you do.

2. Why are you doing it?

This is where the connection is made. You already explained clearly what you are doing, everyone is on the same page. Now it is time to explain why it’s valuable and why the viewer needs to be involved. Similarly to what we touched on a few weeks back in our blog “Stop Telling and Start Showing”, this type of marketing is not about telling the world how great your events are; it’s about providing value and leading your viewer to it. If you cannot easily describe the value of your event to the viewer, then perhaps you need to rethink your event.

3. How can someone take a next step?

The last piece of your announcement puzzle is providing an action step your audience can take today to get involved. This can be as simple as “sign up in the lobby” or “like the page on Facebook”.  All that matters is creating an opportunity for the viewer to get involved as quickly and easily as possibly. Attention spans are short; make sure you cash in on the connection you made as quickly as a possible.

With these three simple steps, you can create announcements that will connect with your audience and encourage them to get involved. Before you go buy that new lens or put in the that green screen. Remember: it’s the not camera; its the content.

If you want to share your story better, connect with us here.