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Story Formats

Video comes in many shapes and styles, each with its own strengths, uses, and considerations. The right format depends on your goals, audience, and message. From people-led storytelling to animated explainers or event highlights, each approach offers a different way to engage and connect. Below are some of the most effective formats and what makes them work.

Marmite customer story for Microsoft

Customer Stories

Nothing is more persuasive than a peer’s experience. Customer stories show results in a way audiences trust, blending human impact with business outcomes. The key is focusing on real benefits rather than product features. Using the customer’s own words creates content that’s both credible and emotionally engaging.

Qlik product promo teaser – Visualisation

Product Promo Teaser

Audiences don’t want 45-minute webinars. They want relevant, digestible hits they can self-serve. Product Promo Teasers are short, persona-led videos, each focused on a single message for a single buyer type. Cinematic UI cut-throughs and simplified visuals keep things clear and watchable, turning technical features into benefits that stick. Released as a series, they help people quickly find what matters and keep them coming back for more.

Accenture CoPilot for financial services

Product Promo Visualisation

Product Promo Visualisations turn abstract capabilities into something tangible. They can build clear scenarios around a real user or customer journey, then show the interface as it would appear in use with states changing, data flowing, outcomes achieved. In 3–4 minutes, stakeholders grasp the value far better than from specs, slideware or long webinars. Use them to launch products, explain new features, support bids, power sales demos, or enable internal teams. They can be created for specific deals with a generic version for reuse across markets and campaigns, turning a single brief into a long-term asset.

Unily Brand Video

Brand Videos

Brand films build emotional connection by telling stories about values, purpose, and people. They work because audiences respond to meaning, not slogans. High production values make them memorable, but authenticity is non-negotiable. If the story feels like spin, trust is lost. The goal is inspiration and belief, not hard sell.

CDW Workspace Episode 1: The Birthday Cake

Micro Dramas

Stories are easier to remember than facts, which make micro dramas powerful. By wrapping messages inside drama, audiences absorb your ideas through emotion and narrative. The balance is key. Too much entertainment and the message gets lost; too much instruction and engagement drops. Done well, the communication feels effortless and sticky.

Reshaping your Business with Microsoft

Animated Explainer

Animation simplifies the complex by visualising what can’t be filmed. Its strength is clarity. Abstract ideas become accessible when broken into clear, visual steps. Keeping visuals simple, purposeful, and aligned with the script ensures creativity supports the message. When balanced, explainer animations make learning effortless.

CDW Microsoft Roundtable

Chat Show

Chat shows or roundtables showcase multiple perspectives, sparking energy and variety. They work best when discussions feel spontaneous yet well-managed. Strong moderation keeps conversations sharp and inclusive, giving each voice space without drifting off-topic. The real value comes from audiences seeing debate and diversity of thought, not scripted agreement.

Qlik Visionary Voices in AI Episode 1

Virtual Filming and Remote Roundtables

Remote filming makes it possible to gather global voices quickly and efficiently. It’s effective when logistics prevent in-person shoots, but quality depends on planning. Clean framing, good audio, and clear guidance keep footage consistent. Smart editing means content captured in different places and times can be brought together seamlessly, even appearing as if everyone is in the same room.

“How to create a high quality promo video” by Rich Interactive

3D Digital Studio

Virtual studios create impact by placing people in sleek, immersive environments. They allow big ideas without costly sets, making content feel high-end and modern. They require good lighting, precise camera angles and a natural performance, and with green screen, you can film people anywhere and at different times, then bring them together into a polished production that looks like TV broadcast quality.

AQA Milton Keynes Tour

Presenter - Led

A strong presenter brings clarity, trust, and personality. Seeing a real person helps audiences connect and believe in the message. The key is authenticity. An engaging, confident delivery that feels conversational rather than scripted. When the presenter is genuine, the video feels credible and human, not staged marketing.

Qlik Event Wrap

Event Videos

Events don’t end when the lights go down. Capturing them extends their impact. Strong edits highlight atmosphere, ideas, and key moments, creating content that drives future engagement. They’re also a powerful opportunity for content capture, with customers, employees, and influencers in the room, you can record interviews and assets for future campaigns.

HSBC customer story for Microsoft

Interview Style Talking Heads

Interviews work because they feel natural and unscripted. Good interviewing techniques unlock honest insights and memorable stories, giving content authenticity and authority. When done well, a talking-head interview feels like overhearing a valuable conversation, not listening to a marketing pitch.

AQA Examiner Recruitment campaign

Day in the Life

Following someone through their routine makes abstract ideas tangible and relatable. The appeal lies in authenticity. Real moments, not staged ones. Success depends on planning enough to capture key points while keeping things natural. Done well, the format humanises roles, products, or industries, making them easier to understand and trust.

Microsoft Education Campaign

Social Media Videos

Social platforms demand speed and clarity. The best videos hook viewers within seconds and deliver a single clear message. Bold visuals, captions, and sound-off optimisation are essential. Success comes from simplicity. Snappy edits that earn attention without overloading detail. They should spark curiosity, leading audiences to explore more.

Iplicit Not For Profit Podcast

Podcast

Podcasts succeed because they feel intimate. Listeners tune in regularly, building loyalty and trust. The format works best when hosts are engaging and conversations flow naturally. High audio quality is a must, as poor sound undermines credibility. With a clear editorial focus, podcasts become a platform for thought leadership and long-term connection.