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Hi NBM fam! Neil Barnes here, and welcome to my blog, where I share with you out-of-the-box ideas for digital media. In this post, I will show you how you can use storytelling techniques to create captivating videos for family businesses.
Family businesses are the backbone of our economy, but they often face tough competition from big box stores. How can they stand out and attract new customers? One of the best ways is by telling their unique stories through video content.
Stories are powerful because they connect with people’s emotions, values, and aspirations. They also help build trust, credibility, and loyalty. But how do you tell a good story through video? Well, it’s not as hard as you might think. You need to follow some basic steps and elements that every story needs.
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The Elements of a Good Story
A good story has five essential elements: a protagonist, a goal, a conflict, a resolution, and a lesson. Let’s see what they are and how to use them in your video.
The Protagonist
The protagonist is the main character of your story. It could be you, the owner of the family business, or one of your employees or customers. The protagonist should be relatable, likable, and authentic. You want your viewers to care about them and root for them.
For example, if you run a family bakery, your protagonist could be your grandmother, who started the business from scratch and passed on her recipes and passion to you. Or it could be one of your loyal customers who come to your bakery every morning for a fresh croissant and a friendly chat.
The Goal
The goal is what the protagonist wants to achieve or accomplish. It could be something personal, professional, or social. The goal should be clear, specific, and meaningful. You want your viewers to understand why the protagonist wants it and how it will benefit them.
For example, if your protagonist is your grandmother, her goal could be to keep the family tradition alive and pass on her skills and knowledge to the next generation. Or if your protagonist is one of your customers, his goal could be to surprise his wife with a special anniversary cake from your bakery.
The Conflict
The conflict is what prevents the protagonist from achieving their goal. It could be an external obstacle or an internal struggle. The conflict should be challenging, realistic, and relevant. You want your viewers to feel the tension and suspense of the situation and wonder how the protagonist will overcome it.
For example, if your protagonist is your grandmother, her conflict could be that she is getting old and frail and can’t work in the bakery anymore. Or if your protagonist is one of your customers, his conflict could be that he forgot to order the cake in advance, and your bakery is sold out.
The Resolution
The resolution is how the protagonist overcomes the conflict and achieves their goal. It could be through their own actions, the help of others, or a twist of fate. The resolution should be satisfying, surprising, and inspiring. You want your viewers to feel happy, relieved, and motivated by the outcome.
For example, if your protagonist is your grandmother, her resolution could be that you step up and take over the bakery, promising to keep her legacy alive. Or if your protagonist is one of your customers, his resolution could be that you find a spare cake in the back and save his day.
The Lesson
The lesson is what the protagonist learns from their experience. It could be about themselves, their business, or their customers. The lesson should be valuable, universal, and memorable. You want your viewers to remove something meaningful and useful from your story.
For example, if your protagonist is your grandmother, her lesson could be that she is proud of you and trusts you to carry on the family business. Or if your protagonist is one of your customers, his lesson could be that he appreciates your bakery and service more than ever.
The Steps of a Good Video
Now that you know the elements of a good story, how do you put them together in a video? Well, you need to follow some basic steps that every video needs: a hook, an introduction, a body, a conclusion, and a call to action. Let’s see how they work and how to use them in your video.
The Hook
The hook is the first few seconds of your video that grabs the attention of your viewers. It could be a question, a statistic, a quote, or a teaser. The hook should be intriguing, relevant, and catchy. You want your viewers to be curious and interested in your words.
For example, if your video is about your family bakery, your hook could be something like:
“Did you know that 90% of family businesses fail within the first generation? Well, not this one. Let me tell you why.”
“What if I told you that the secret to making the best croissants in town is not the ingredients but the story behind them?”
“Meet Mary, the 85-year-old owner of the oldest bakery in the city. She has a story, and you won’t believe it.”
The Introduction
The introduction is where you introduce yourself and your business name (if applicable), explain what your video is about (your topic), and tell what your viewers will get from watching it (your value proposition). The introduction should be brief, clear, and engaging. You want your viewers to know who you are, what you do, and why they should care.
For example, if your video is about your family bakery, your introduction could be something like:
“Hi, I’m Neil Barnes, and welcome to Neil Barnes Media, where I share out-of-the-box ideas for digital media. Today, I will show you how to use storytelling techniques to create captivating videos for family businesses. In this video, you’ll learn how to tell your unique story, connect with your customers, and stand out.”
“Hello, everyone. I’m John, and this is my family bakery, John’s Bakery. We’ve been in business for over 50 years, and we’re known for our delicious and fresh pastries. In this video, I will share how we started, grew, and survived the industry's challenges.”
“Hey, guys. I’m Lisa, a loyal customer of Mary’s Bakery. I’ve been coming here every morning for 10 years and can’t get enough of their amazing croissants. In this video, I will tell the story of Mary, the bakery's owner, and how she inspired me to pursue my dreams.”
The Body
The body is where you tell your story using the elements I mentioned before: the protagonist, the goal, the conflict, the resolution, and the lesson. The body should be structured, coherent, and emotional. You want your viewers to follow your story, feel your story, and remember your story.
For example, if your video is about your family bakery, your body could be something like:
“The protagonist of our story is Mary, the 85-year-old owner of the oldest bakery in the city. She aims to keep the family tradition alive and pass on her skills and knowledge to the next generation. Her conflict is that she is getting old and frail and can’t work in the bakery anymore. She resolves that I step up and take over the bakery, promising to keep her legacy alive. Her lesson is that she is proud of me and trusts me to carry on the family business.”
“The protagonist of our story is John, the owner of John’s Bakery. His goal is to grow his business and reach new customers. His conflict is that he faces tough competition from big box stores that offer cheaper and faster products. He resolves that he uses storytelling techniques to create captivating videos that showcase his unique story, quality products, and loyal customers. His lesson is that he attracts more customers who value his story and service more than the price and the convenience.”
“The protagonist of our story is Lisa, a loyal customer of Mary’s Bakery. Her goal is to surprise her wife with a special anniversary cake from the bakery. Her conflict is that she forgot to order the cake in advance, and the bakery is sold out. She resolves that John, the owner of the bakery, manages to find a spare cake in the back and saves her day. Her lesson is that she appreciates the bakery and the service more than ever.”
The Conclusion
In the conclusion, you summarize your main points, restate your value proposition, and thank your readers for reading. The conclusion should be concise, powerful, and positive. You want your readers to feel satisfied, impressed, and grateful by the end of your post.
For example, if your post is about your family bakery, your conclusion could be something like:
“So, that’s the story of Mary, the owner of the oldest bakery in the city, and how she inspired me to take over the family business. I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something valuable from it. If you did, please leave a comment and share it with your friends and family. And don’t forget to subscribe to Neil Barnes Media for more out-of-the-box ideas for digital media. Thank you for reading, and see you next time.”
“So, that’s how I use storytelling techniques to create captivating videos for my family bakery, John’s Bakery. I hope you found this post helpful and informative. If you did, please leave a comment and share it with your friends and family. And don’t forget to subscribe to Neil Barnes Media for more out-of-the-box ideas for digital media. Thank you for watching, and see you next time.”
“So, that’s the story of Lisa, a loyal customer of Mary’s Bakery, and how she surprised her wife with a special anniversary cake. I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something valuable from it. If you did, please leave a comment and share it with your friends and family. And don’t forget to subscribe to Neil Barnes Media for more out-of-the-box ideas for digital media. Thank you for watching, and see you next time.”
The Call to Action
The call to action is where you invite your readers to take the next step. It could be to subscribe to your blog, visit your website, follow you on social media, or contact you for more information. The call to action should be specific, urgent, and compelling. You want your readers to act on your offer and stay connected with you.
For example, if your post is about your family bakery, your call to action could be something like:
“Do you have an inspiring story that you want to share? Email me at neilbarnesmedia@gmail.com or message me on Facebook Messenger. I would love to hear from you and feature your story on my next blog post.”
“Do you want to try our delicious and fresh pastries? Visit our website at johnsbakery.com and place your order online. We deliver to your doorstep within 24 hours. Hurry, limited stocks available!”
“Do you want to see more of Mary’s Bakery and their amazing croissants? Follow me on Instagram at @lisalovesmarysbakery and watch my stories and highlights. You’ll also get exclusive discounts and offers from the bakery.”
Create Now.
So, that's how you use storytelling techniques to create captivating videos for family businesses. I hope you found this blog helpful and informative.
Do you have an inspiring story that you want to share? Email me at neilbarnesmedia@gmail.com or message me on Facebook Messenger. I would love to hear from you and feature your story on my next blog.
Thank you for reading, and see you next time. Remember, God loves you! Bye!
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