Tips for creating short video scripts

A script is the outline needed for shooting a short video, or a screenplay. The script interpretation follows the principles of human brain memory. The left brain remembers language, the right brain remembers vision, and emotional resonance makes it hard to forget. Reasonable planning of the script's structure and logic and forming a style can make it easier for users to remember, thereby increasing the attractiveness of the content. Next, I will introduce several writing techniques for short videos of different types and styles in script creation.

Tips for writing "teaching knowledge" scripts

If you want to increase the volume of your videos quickly, knowledge sharing videos are a good choice. Only by passing on the knowledge you are familiar with in your industry to people in unknown fields and reflecting the value of the video can you get more likes and attention. There are many forms of this type of video output, which can be divided into: pure skill methodology output, quality-related science videos, and test-related knowledge, etc. You can find a teaching method that suits you based on your own industry, product positioning, and customer focus, and create videos that match the tone of your own products.

1. Popular science knowledge. It usually grabs the audience's attention with surprising and little-known facts.

For example, we often see "useless little-known knowledge" and "serious knowledge". Structure: opening slogan + content introduction (encyclopedia-style simple explanation) + ending slogan.

This type of video has fixed slogans at the beginning and end to deepen the user's memory. This is programmed content. When users see this account, they will think of the fixed slogan. Here is a fixed sentence pattern recommended: "Do you know XXX?" For example, "Did you know that every banana contains trace amounts of radioactive radiation?"

2. Skill-based knowledge. If your knowledge is more practical and skill-based, then listen carefully to the following. Structure: directly address the problem + (guide with praise and comments) + analyze the causes and provide measures.

The first step is to state the pain point. Here are three ways for you:

1. Get to the point. Use 1-2 sentences to point out the pain point, such as "The number of views is only a few hundred or dozens each time. How can I increase the number of views?"

2. Ask rhetorical questions, such as “Are you still writing in three paragraphs?” to resonate with users.

3. Authoritative denial, such as "As an experienced teacher, I have seen too much during my 20 years of teaching." From the beginning, you should make people feel that you are a leading expert in this field.

The second step is, after the target user is attracted by your introduction, tell him in one sentence what problem you will solve in the next few seconds. The purpose of this step is to stabilize people's hearts.

The third step is to state the methodology in detail. Note that the methodology must be simple and easy to understand, preferably in the form of mnemonics or clear steps so that the audience can quickly get started at a glance.

Finally, add a slogan.

Tips for writing scripts for "show products"

Before users receive the goods, all the buyers’ knowledge about the product comes from the video, so a video that can impress buyers is crucial. How to write a short video script for product show?

Structure: Target the crowd (attract attention) + raise questions (associated pain points) + introduce products (solve problems) + suggest actions (promotion/conversion)

If the effect is still not good, then it must be that some step was not done properly?

• Determine the audience: Make the target audience feel that the content is special
• Ask questions: The question scenario should be targeted.
• Introduce the product: Don’t just talk about its good features, but talk about how it is useful.
• Action: Create a sense of urgency to motivate buyers to take action.

So how can we make the target audience feel that the content is special? Recreate the other person's image in your mind, understand the age of the target users, imagine their preferences, the problems they face, and what they desire most in their hearts. Make the problems situational and more targeted. Consumers’ pain points are problems, and raising questions is also a process of creating an emotional atmosphere. Only when there are emotions will there be needs, and only then can content retain people.

If you want to talk about the product accurately, you have to think from the user's perspective. When talking about the effect, you have to think about what will happen with this? For example, if the pants have a good shape, they should be described as showing thin legs and covering wide hips; when talking about the scene, express the sense of ownership in the scene, such as the product display link, try-on, trial use, and tasting, to make the scene better. When talking about time, the more specific the better, such as "finish a universal speech in one minute." There is also a technique called defeating the "enemy" which is a higher level of precision, such as "defeating the elephant's legs to make your legs look thinner."

Finally, create a sense of urgency and tell buyers why they should buy now. For example, offer free shipping if you buy now, discounted prices, limited time and quantity, and promotions only available today. Take advantage of the "fear of missing out" to create a herd effect, and let individual actions drive others.

Tips for writing scripts for "showing the process"

Normally we also post our work and daily life on Douyin, but the number of likes is not high. Why is that? Let’s take a look at how to post a video of the sun-drying process.

Videos showing the process of something have three main features that make them attractive: satisfying curiosity, obtaining information, and providing emotional value.

For example, "How to disassemble the drawer rail" fully satisfies the user's curiosity

“How to make pickled fish” allows everyone to get information on how to make pickled fish.

The video "Hotel Records" embodies emotional value. Users feel healed after watching it, and they feel happy through a better life.

The entry point can be chosen from the industry, such as "A day in the life of a salesperson" to show off the daily work routine. Starting from the process, you can shoot how the products are processed, how they are sold, how they are picked, etc. These contents are still very popular on Douyin. At the same time, emotions can be integrated to make users feel comfortable.

After the entry point is determined, it is time to study how to write the script. Here is a script model for the exposure process. Killing part＋process shots＋“entry point”

The killing part is the most exciting part of the video and must be placed at the very beginning. For example, in a cooking video, the finished dish will definitely be shown at the beginning of the video. If you show the preparation and cutting of ingredients at the beginning, it will not be attractive enough.

The pace should be fast during the shooting process. You can use a lot of materials to switch the screen, add music at the right time, and provide enough information, which will make users find your video interesting.

The "entry point" is reflected in the overall content of the video. For example, "How to disassemble the drawer rail" The entry point is to obtain information, which will make people feel rewarding.

Finally, I would like to emphasize again that the process of posting videos must have a certain sense of rhythm. You can choose some music with a strong sense of rhythm, combined with stepping on the beats, switching transitions, and a slow rhythm will not achieve the desired effect.

Tips for writing a story

For a good story, structure, language, conception and material selection are all indispensable. The most influential factor is the structure. Where does a good story structure lie?

Tip 1: Good things come in the beginning and bad things come in the end. Bad things come first, good things end.

Technique 2: Lay out events 25% + create conflicts 50% + resolve events 25%. More time is spent on creating the ups and downs of conflict, while the build-up and resolution can be streamlined. This is how excellent movies are made. In "Dangal", "bad things start" - suffering from no one to inherit his legacy, and in the end "good things end" - the daughter becomes a wrestler. The most time-consuming part in the middle is the conflict: training the daughter - the daughter becomes aware - loses the game - joins the national team - meets an unscrupulous coach - receives training from her father. Short videos are not that long, so how should we reverse it?

Case analysis: By describing the life of migrant workers in Beijing, this video received 2.37w likes. Specific content:

The story curve is also the emotional experience of the audience when watching the movie. Following these two principles, the story will be more attractive.

Summary: Today, the editor mainly proposed some writing skills for four different styles of video creation: "teaching knowledge", "showing products", "showing processes" and "telling stories". The script teaches us how to shoot, what to shoot, how long to shoot, and how to combine it with sound and picture. I hope that through the above sharing, our shooting will be smoother and we can shoot better content to attract more attention.