The famous author C.S Lewis once quoted, “You can make anything by writing.” Writing is a wonderful way to bring life to an idea or concept that is planted in your mind. Here at Buzzworks Animation, we dedicate our time and energy to put into writing your ideas and concepts, before we proceed to producing your brainchild in the form of a video.
Before getting started on any video, you need a script that’s going to engage and entice your listeners and viewers. Your revolutionary ideas need to be put into a cohesive flow, built with the right words – so your message will be conveyed with utmost effect.
Script writing requires thought and effort. Writing a fresh draft and editing it to precision can take anywhere between 2 to 5 days. Writers first have to understand the concept of your ideas before they can put it into a script. If script writers misunderstand the concept, the whole script will be wrong, resulting in the entire video production going wrong. We don’t want that now, do we?
Did we scare you?
We hope we did.
We’ve compiled a few insightful tips to help you get started on writing your next best script. Keep reading! 😉
Tip #1: Do not overload your videos with a ton of information
Ever heard of the phrase, “Too much information!” or “TMI”?
The reason why most of you never paid any attention to your school teachers is because 1) there was too much information in one period, and 2) it was boring as hell. As a writer, you’re going to have to plan out every word and punctuation. You’re also going to have to calculate the rhythm and tone of your script so that the video and the voice overs will both be at an accurate pace.
Typically, an explainer or commercial video ranges between 30 seconds and 3 minutes, depending on the content that’s being covered. According to Yum Yum videos, 160 words can be fit into a 1-minute video, but only when it doesn’t contain any pauses. This too, depends on the pace of your voice-over.
Just like those moments you zoned out your teacher’s droning, your main aim is to not send your audience to sleep, especially before they’ve digested the message. Keep your scripts brief and concise. Practice KISSing [Keeping It Short & Simple] and keep them wanting more! Otherwise you’ll be losing viewers faster than a politician’s promise on Election Day!
Tip #2: Know Your Audience
You won’t screen a fried chicken commercial to a group of vegans, would you?
You need to understand that what an 18-year old college student finds appealing isn’t necessarily appealing to a 40-year old housewife. Producing a video for an audience with varying interests, experiences and audiovisual preferences requires a range of approaches.
While it’s safe to say that a bunch of young people might enjoy a colourful and upbeat video, the same cannot be assumed for a different age group. However at the end of the day, good script writing boils down to ensuring that your audience can identify with your story. That’s why script writers have to brainstorm ideas that will create a strong bond between the audience and the brand. Will the video offer a solution to a problem the audience is facing? Will it make their lives more convenient? Will the video be able to change the audience’s perspective?
Keep in mind that the more your viewers identify with your brand, the higher the chances of them choosing your product over the others.
Tip #3: Quit gushing about your brand
You probably won’t like it when your neighbour continuously brags about their new car to you, am I right? The same thing applies to writing scripts and producing videos. Bragging about your brand is not going to help engage your audience, it’s going to irritate them. Being a braggart will only chase your potential customers away and give you a bad reputation.
Your viewers are keen to know how your product or service will improve their quality of life and what issues will it help solve. Listing every single award and accolade is the simplest way to potentially lose customers. Raving continuously about your brand in the script may be tempting but you really want to resist the urge to do so.
Ask yourself these questions, and answer them before you begin drafting your script.
WHAT : What does your product/service do/offer?
HOW : How does it solve the customers’ problem?
WHY : Why should they choose your brand?
Remember, your job is to “sell the product”, not the brand. Let the customers decide for themselves if the brand is worth raving about. In fact, leave the praising to the customers.
Tip #4: Remember to always include a creative call-to-action (CTA)
We hope you’ve heard of CTA. But if you haven’t, we’re not judging.
…but are you serious though?
CTA a.k.a call to action is exactly what its name says; it urges your audience to take action. One famous and annoying CTA we often find on websites are like this one, “Grace was 180 pounds yesterday. Today she’s 70 pounds lighter. CLICK ON THIS TAB to find out how.”
On the world wide web, CTAs appear in various mediums such as apps, websites and blogs requesting that you “Sign Up”, “Subscribe” and “Click Here” to get a free voucher.
CTAs can be direct or indirect – but either way, it is used to influence audiences to trust you, trust your video and trust your product. Choose clear and concise language when writing your script’s CTA and don’t overcomplicate instructions for your audience.
So there you have it – tips on how to write an awesome script when you produce videos. Script writing won’t come easy when you start off the first time, but with constant practice and by setting realistic goals, you’ll eventually write one that you’re really proud off. Don’t get disheartened when you run out of ideas and don’t stress yourself out. Take a break, take a nap and then get writing again. Happy trying!
