Writing Engaging Video Scripts

Most short-form content today follows the same structure: Hook → Message → CTA. But the best-performing ones follow a story arc, which keeps viewers engaged. This is what it looks like: → The setup: Introduce a relatable situation or challenge. Make your audience see themselves in it. →The conflict: Highlight the struggle or problem. Build curiosity to the peak. → The turning point: Introduce an insight, realization, or a sudden twist that changes the perspective. → The resolution: Deliver the solution, takeaway, or transformation in a way that feels rewarding. For example, instead of saying: Here are 3 ways to make your reels go viral. → Try something around this: I made five reels last month. Four flopped. One blew up, just because of these 3 reasons. One makes you read/listen. The other makes you feel. Save this and try this next time you're writing! P.S. What type of content do you prefer reading? Short form or long form?

I started documenting my life on YouTube 5 years ago. The results so far: 2,260,618 impressions, +7,436 subscribers, 8 new team members, and +4 bookings/month. Here’s exactly how I make each video: – 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭: 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 I would NOT invest in a fancy setup or 10-step production workflow. I stick to simple hardware: 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮: DJI Osmo Pocket 3. It’s compact, portable, records in 4k, and has a built-in wireless mic for clear audio. 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 (if I want even higher-quality audio): Osmo Mini Mic. 𝗦𝗗 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱: SanDisk Extreme microSDXC 256GB for reliable, high-speed recording. 𝗦𝗦𝗗: SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD for durability. Samsung T7 1TB SSD for fast, sleek storage. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮: 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 A vlog should be raw and authentic, not highly polished. That honesty is what builds trust and relatability. My approach: • Imagine I’m speaking to a younger version of myself or a trusted peer • Share my real thoughts, challenges, and insights • Focus on progress, not perfection 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯: 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 Each vlog covers 1-7 days. For each day, I break the recording into 3 parts: 𝟭. 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸-𝗜𝗻: introduce the day, set the stage Here I’m telling my audience what my goals are for today. This is our first check-in, I haven’t done them yet. 𝟮. 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: reflect on the day’s progress so far This might actually be several small clips I record at different moments - preparing for/wrapping up meetings, brainstorming, even just walking into the office. 𝟯. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽-𝗨𝗽: recap the day Here I’m talking about what went well, what challenges I faced, and what I’m focusing on tomorrow. On top of this, I base each day of the week around a certain theme: • Day 1: Personal Introduction • Day 2: Planning & Routines • Day 3: Industry Insights • Day 4-6: Real-Time Updates • Day 7: Weekly Wrap-Up    𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟰: 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 The goal is polished, not perfect. I follow this workflow: 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: Use CapCut, iMovie, or Adobe Premiere Pro. 𝟮. 𝗖𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: Remove pauses or repetitive points. 𝟯. 𝗔𝗱𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Use B-roll (shots of your workspace, team, or environment) to smoothen transitions. 𝟰. 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀: Add captions for accessibility and clarity. BONUS: I have a full-time editor helping me. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟱: 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 This is how I multiply the impact of each vlog. I put full-length (20min+) videos on YouTube with custom thumbnails and casual titles. I repurpose short clips for LinkedIn & Instagram posts, focusing on professional insights. And I make 30-60 second highlights with engaging captions for Insta/TikTok. Give it a go and let me know how it works out :)

You might think your biggest video mistake is poor lighting or bad audio. But worse still is writing for readers instead of listeners. I talk to executives from companies of all sizes, and I hear the same worry: “I know my stuff inside out. But the moment the camera turns on, I sound so… stiff.” And so they give up. Video gets 36% more engagement on LinkedIn than other formats, and 98% of Fortune 500 CEOs who use social media choose LinkedIn as their primary platform. If you're not comfortable on camera, you're missing a powerful, scalable way to broadcast your leadership and build genuine credibility. So rather than give up, look to the root of the problem, which usually is using the wrong script. Most executives write video content the same way they write presentations or emails. But writing for the eye and writing for the ear are completely different disciplines. For example: Writing for the eye: "Our advanced analytics platform enables comprehensive data aggregation and synthesis, facilitating granular customer segmentation and predictive behavioral modeling for optimized marketing attribution and enhanced ROI." Writing for the ear: "Our tool helps you pull all your customer data into one place. So instead of guessing, you actually see what makes them tick. You'll know who your best customers really are, what they need next, and where to find more of them." AI can bridge this gap. - Take any written content you've created (a long email, a presentation slide, a blog post). - Ask Anthropic Claude or ChatGPT to "Rewrite this as talking points for a conversational video. Make it sound like I'm explaining this to a smart colleague over coffee, not presenting to a board. Use shorter sentences. Inject natural pauses. Focus on conversational bridges instead of formal transitions. Avoid jargon." The difference will be immediate. You'll get concise, fluid language designed for the ear, not the eye. - Record yourself delivering those talking points. Don't aim for perfection, just capture your natural delivery. - Use a transcription tool like Otter.ai to get the transcript. - Feed that transcript back to AI with a prompt like: "What specific words or phrases make this sound stiff? Where could I add more natural bridges? How can I sound more like I'm chatting casually with a peer?" You'll start sounding like the sharp, engaging expert your team already knows, not the corporate speaker you think you need to be. #VideoMarketing #ExecutivePresence #AIStrategy #LinkedInVideo

I've written 50+ UGC-style video ad scripts for D2C brands. And while I cannot say it there's an EXACT formula, I can point out the 5 elements that builds a winning script. Here they are: 1. Problem/story: The best scripts tell an authentic story that sparks interests. Think of a situation around your product that triggers a problem. 2. Solution: Since you opened a loop, you'll now close it by positioning your product as a solution. These two parts are pretty straightforward. 3. Benefits: Features is what your product has and benefits are what it does for your customer. A jeans could be ultra-stretchy. But the fact that you can wear them anywhere, anytime is the ultimate flex for the customer. 4. Outcome: The before-problem subject was a different person. The after-problem subject will be a totally new one. Your product helps cross that bridge. Make sure to state the amazing transformation. 5. Objections: Not every product solves a problem and it doesn't need to. But even if it did, you'd need more than problem/solution messaging to stand out. Why? The market might be too saturated. A good script fights objections by highlighting how your product does it different and better than the competition. Bonus: Social Proof: While UGC ads look like a testimonial, it's not obvious. The market is becoming more sophisticated now. People know that brands pay for most of this stuff and real actors are hired to do the job. But if you can highlight amazing reviews in your video, that gives a vote of confidence. People will feel more compelled to check out your product if any other person than the one being paid to make a video says something positive. This might feel like a more video editor's job but it's up to you as a creative strategist/copywriter to select amazing reviews. What do you think makes a great ad script? Let me know in the comments! P.S. While these are some elements, remember that a good script, even though just words, shows more than it tells. Don't forget to include specific and descriptive language that targets core emotions. Hope this helps! Follow #OKCreative for more. #copywriting #scriptwriting #creativestrategy #advertising

I love creating something out of nothing. Shoots are awesome, and nothing beats the ‘it’s a wrap’ moment. But I’ve a sweet spot for animation, 3D, CGI videos, and that magic. This includes: 1. 3D Product Videos: Bring products to life with stunning realism. 2. CGI Effects: Create visuals that are impossible to shoot in real life. 3. Animation: Tell complex stories in a simple, engaging way. 4. Motion Graphics: Add dynamic elements to keep viewers hooked. 5. VFX: Enhance live-action footage with seamless effects. ☑ The foundations: 1. Storyboarding: Plan every scene meticulously. 2. Modeling: Build detailed 3D models. 3. Texturing: Add realistic surfaces and materials. 4. Lighting: Set the mood and highlight key elements. 5. Rendering: Produce high-quality final images. 6. Post-Production: Polish and perfect the final video. ☑ Leverage the right tools to polish your content: 1. Software: Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D, After Effects 2. Plugins: Redshift, Octane, Arnold for realistic rendering 3. Resources: HDRI maps, texture libraries, motion capture data ☑ Optimise every facet of your video production, from: 1. Pre-Production: Planning and scripting 2. Production: Shooting and capturing footage 3. Post-Production: Editing, effects, and final touches 4. Delivery: Formats, platforms, and distribution ☑ You always need to care about: 1. Consistency in style and quality 2. Balancing creativity with technical constraints 3. Keeping up with industry trends and updates 4. Collaborating effectively with your team 5. Managing time and resources efficiently ☑ Ensure every element showcases your expertise and creativity. Embrace a production strategy that includes: 1. Smart project planning and execution 2. The 80/20 rule for focusing on impactful elements 3. Timely feedback and revisions for quality control 4. Consistent updates and learning for continuous improvement Watch below a 3D Product video my team created for Denali Bags in the past.

Storytelling is science AND art. Those startups that don’t tell stories in their marketing? Yeah, you’ve never heard of them. They never make it to the surface. If you want to captivate your audience, focus on these 3 storytelling techniques: 1/ Tap into the senses I once heard a speaker describe a marketplace. As he spoke, I could almost smell the rich aroma of spices. Cumin, turmeric, coriander. A touch of lavender. The chatter of vendors haggling with customers. Rhythmic clanging of metal pots and pans. The vibrant colors of fresh produce and handwoven textiles. I could almost feel the rough texture of burlap sacks under my fingers. Engaging all five senses makes your audience feel like they’re in the middle of the story. Describe sounds, smells, textures, and tastes. Anchor your story in a tangible setting. Create emotional connections to characters and settings. 2/ Subtext is as powerful as text What’s not said can be more powerful than what’s spoken outright. Think of it as the art of the unspoken — where the real story lies beneath the surface. Use dialogue that hints at deeper meanings (i.e. what’s the character really thinking?) Use actions and reactions to reveal emotions (i.e. show inner conflicts through subtle cues). Build tension with the unsaid and let your audience read between the lines and fill in the gaps. Subtext adds layers and depth. Depth equals engagement. 3/ Contrast is king Juxtaposition makes your story more compelling and memorable. It’s about mixing contrasting elements to surprise and engage your audience. Combine humor with serious themes. Use lighthearted moments to underscore deeper messaging. Mix the ordinary with the extraordinary (i.e. place everyday characters in extraordinary situations). It goes without saying: All of this applies to stories for your startup, across your: → Landing page copy → In-product content → Emails and social posts You name it. Experiment with these techniques. Refine your approach. Stories will transform your messaging from mundane to mesmerizing.

YouTube Shorts are the 'NEW' cold email. Most brands don’t get this yet, but the smart ones already use it to convert more with less. When you send a cold email, you’re not trying to sell immediately. You’re trying to get noticed. Deliver value fast. Spark curiosity. Make the reader want more. That’s exactly how Shorts work. You have 2 seconds to hook. 15–30 seconds to solve one specific problem. Then, a soft CTA will pull them deeper. If your Shorts aren’t written like cold emails: tight, punchy, value-first, you’re just posting for views, not for leads. And now that YouTube has launched this ‘inflated views’ feature, it will only bring more noise if you’re not strategic about it. Here’s how to use Shorts strategically, like cold emails: → Make Pain-Point Driven Content Talk to one person with one problem. Don’t sell the product. Solve something tiny and specific. “If your project management still feels messy, try this 1-minute reset.” “Tired of hair fall? Here’s what most shampoo brands don’t tell you.” → Use CTAs Like a Direct-Response Marketer Your CTA isn’t always “Buy now.” Sometimes, it’s moving one step deeper. Keep it casual but intentional: “I broke this down fully in the link below.” And then hyperlink to your long-form video. Keep the session (time) longer to sell faster. → Don’t Go Viral for the Wrong Crowd Vanity metrics are a trap; 10M views mean nothing if 9.9M aren’t your customers. Design your content for the buyer, not the broadest audience. Unqualified views inflate dashboards. Qualified content builds pipelines. The best-performing Shorts are short, specific, and strategically selfish. They aren’t trying to please everyone. They’re trying to convert the right ones. Treat every Short like it’s your cold outreach. Make it irresistible. Deliver value upfront. And build a CTA bridge into your funnel. You don’t need to go viral. You need to convert silently. Just like this post, solve one key problem, and you will win the shorts game. It will act as a direct cold outreach that finds the right customer and gets them to convert all by itself.

What Parenting Twins Taught Me About Writing Copy That Grabs Attention POV: It’s 7 AM. One twin’s crying over socks. The other just dumped cereal on the floor. Coffee? Still untouched. Parenting twins is the ultimate communication boot camp. If I can hold their attention (and sanity), writing engaging copy is a breeze. Here are 8 copywriting tricks inspired by navigating twin dad chaos—with a side of wisdom from legends like Ogilvy and Halbert. 1. Trust Comes from Credibility If I tell my kids, “We’re going to the park,” and then drag them to the grocery store instead? Trust = gone. Your audience feels the same. Research. Know your stuff. Show up as reliable. Because if you break their trust, they won’t stick around. 2. Interest Sparks Engagement Parenting hack: You don’t get them to pick up toys by saying, “Clean up.” You say, “Let’s see who can clean up faster—ready, set, go!” Your copy needs that same energy. Truth sells, but only when it’s fascinating. Make your words fun, bold, and irresistible. 3. Your Personality Is the Secret Sauce Parenting is messy, chaotic, and sometimes hilarious. And that’s what makes it relatable. In copy, don’t hide your quirks. Be YOU. Personality isn’t just memorable; it’s magnetic. People don’t connect with robots—they connect with real, flawed, funny humans. 4. Your Headline Should Scream Clarity Imagine this: “Breakfast!” versus “Pancakes with extra syrup, ready now!” Guess which one gets their attention? Headlines matter—80% of readers decide whether to keep scrolling based on your headline. Use the 4 U’s: Urgent, Unique, Useful, Ultra-Specific. 5. Beauty Lies in Simplicity “Go put on your shoes” is better than “Locate your footwear and adorn your feet.” Keep it clear. Write for the chimp (thanks, Eugene Schwartz). Simplicity isn’t dumbing it down—it’s making it accessible. 6. Leverage Your Audience’s Needs Want happy twins? Always have snacks. Want happy readers? Give them what they’re hungry for. Whether it’s solutions, entertainment, or inspiration, tailor your content to their cravings. 7. Make Your Copy Skimmable My twins skim every plate of food before deciding what’s worth eating. Readers do the same with content. Use: - Headlines - Bullet points - Short paragraphs - A mix of fonts or formats Make it digestible. Nobody wants a wall of text. 8. Learn the Rules—Then Break Them Parenting isn’t about strict rule-following. It’s about adapting on the fly. The same goes for copywriting. Speak your audience’s language. Break rules when it makes your message sharper, clearer, and more engaging. Bottom line: Parenting twins is wild, unpredictable, and full of lessons. And one of the biggest? If you can make a toddler listen, you can make anyone listen. What’s one “copywriting rule” you’ve learned from real life? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear your stories!

I often hear things like: "Just add a few clips and put some music, it’s hardly a 30-minute task, right?" "Why is this taking so long? It’s just a simple video." "Do something new but quickly?" Many people think making a video is as simple as cutting clips and adding music. But behind every engaging video, there’s a process — creative, technical, and time-consuming. Here’s what really goes into it, step by step: 1️⃣ Idea & Concept — Every great video starts with a clear idea & purpose. No shortcuts here. 2️⃣ Scriptwriting — Words that resonate, inform, and engage your audience. 3️⃣ Finding the Perfect Stock Videos / Footage — Searching for high-quality clips that fit the mood, message, and style. 4️⃣ Voiceover Recording — Crystal-clear narration that connects emotionally. 5️⃣ Design Elements (Graphics, Text Animations) — Visuals that enhance the story, not clutter it. 6️⃣ Choosing the Right Music / Sound Design — The soul of the video. Sets the tone & keeps viewers hooked. 7️⃣ Transitions & Effects — Smooth, subtle, but impactful. Makes everything flow seamlessly. 8️⃣ Final Editing & Syncing Everything — Where all the puzzle pieces come together perfectly. 👉 It’s not magic. It’s method, patience, and creativity. 👉 Respect the process. Value the craft. #VideoEditing #ContentCreation #CreativeProcess #BehindTheScenes #BrandStorytelling

Your hook is great… but your third line sucks. Everyone says, 𝘍𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘛𝘈. But what about everything in between? If your hook grabs attention but the next lines bore your audience... ...they’ll 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 make it to the CTA. And if your CTA isn’t clear? Your post achieves 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘔𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵? Write as if 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 is a hook. Every sentence must pull the reader into the next. If one line feels out of place, the flow breaks and they stop reading. Want to keep your audience hooked until the end? Here’s how: 1. 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽. Make them need to keep reading. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰 90% 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭... 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬?” 2. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄. Break your copy into short, skimmable lines. 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: Each line must connect naturally to the one before. 𝗕𝗮𝗱: “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘛𝘈 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘉𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵.” 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘴 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘛𝘈 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯?” 3. 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁. Show them what’s at stake. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵? 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘵.” 4. 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. Speak to their frustrations and desires. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?” 5. 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗧𝗔. Guide them with precision. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲: “𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘉2𝘉 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯? 𝘋𝘔 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 '𝘓𝘌𝘈𝘋𝘚' 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴." Now look at this post. Every line flowed so smoothly, you didn’t realize you’d read it all. That’s how your audience should feel too. P.s. what's your best strategy to keep the audience hooked until the end?