The Beginner's Guide To Video Script Writing

I’ve had a lot of fun learning how to write video scripts. It’s one of the most interesting and fulfilling things I’ve done as a writer, but it can be overwhelming at first.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but here are some tips that will help you take your first steps into this exciting world.

How I Write a Movie Script (Beginners Guide)

Takeaways
1. Video scriptwriting requires understanding the elements that make it engaging.
2. Explore practical examples to craft impactful scripts for videos.
3. Learn essential tips and techniques for captivating your audience.
4. Consider critical aspects like audience, message, and execution in scriptwriting.
5. Social media scripts play a crucial role in brand presence and audience connection.
6. Hook your audience from the beginning and use storytelling to make scripts compelling.
7. Practice reading the script aloud for a natural delivery.
8. Include a clear call-to-action to prompt desired viewer actions.
9. Coordinate with the video production team to align script with visual elements.
10. Keep the script concise and focused on the main points to maintain viewer engagement.

Start With An Outline (Or Mind Map)

The first step to writing a script for your video is to create an outline. An outline is simply a list of the main points of the story you want to tell.

A good video script outline will help you structure your video so that it flows smoothly and makes sense for viewers, which are both very important for creating compelling content.

An outline also helps you keep track of what’s most important: people are more likely to watch videos that have useful information than those that don’t have any value at all!

Writing a compelling video script requires a good understanding of the elements that make it engaging. Our guide on How to Write a Video Script with Examples provides valuable insights and practical examples to help you craft impactful scripts for your videos.

The Five ‘W’s

The five W’s are the most important questions you should ask yourself when writing a video script. They help you to determine the most important elements of your video, and organize your thoughts in a way that makes it easier for you to write well-structured scripts.

Who is the main character? What is their goal? Where do they want to go? When do they want to get there? Why do they want this so badly?

Why Should You Watch This Video?

There are a few reasons why you might want to watch this video. One is that it’s free and doesn’t require any money from you. Another is that I’m very confident about my abilities as a writer, so if you want your script written well and professionally, I can do it for you.

Last but not least, when people watch videos on YouTube they usually click on other videos because they liked what they saw in the first one. If my video helps inspire something valuable in yours then all the better!

Who Is Your Audience?

Your audience is the most important part of your video script. Think about who will be watching it and why they would watch it. This means that you need to ask yourself some questions about your audience:

Are they young or old?
Are they male or female?
Where are they from?

Think about their interests, level of knowledge, and purpose for watching the video. Once you’ve got an idea of who your target audience is and what their goals are, you can start considering how best to create a script that will satisfy them all!

Want to dive deeper into the art of video script writing? Our expert overview on Video Script Writing Explained covers essential tips and techniques to captivate your audience and convey your message effectively through scripts.

Where Will The Video Be Used?

It’s important to know where the video will be shown so you can decide how you want it to look. If your audience is in a small room with low light, consider using very little text and providing more visual cues to help them follow along.

If they are working out or walking outside, you’ll probably want your video to be less text heavy and more visual.

It also helps to think about what the user will be doing when watching your video. Will they have their device in hand or on their desk? Are they standing up or sitting down?

You’ll want to keep this in mind as well when deciding how much information should appear on-screen at any given time: if someone is watching something while standing up (and therefore using two hands).

Then it makes sense for them not only to see what’s going on but also read all of the details without needing too much space taken up by the text itself.

This can also translate into keeping an eye out for subtitles if there aren’t many words being spoken during a scene then avoid having subtitles appear over people’s heads!

When Do You Need This Video By?

A lot of people think that shooting a video is the most time consuming part of making a YouTube video, but it’s actually not. If you have enough time and resources, editing can take up most of the time that you have available.

And then at last there’s posting on YouTube which will take another chunk out of your schedule. So before we get into writing scripts, let’s discuss how much time each step takes so we can plan accordingly.

I’m going to assume that you already know how long each step takes (i.e., how long it takes to shoot a scene and how long it takes for someone else who does editing for me).

Let’s say we’ve got two weeks total for pre-planning (scripting), shooting and editing; then one week after that in which we’ll post our final product onto YouTube or Vimeo (we’re working with these two platforms because they’re free).

What Are The Main Points Of The Story You Want To Tell?

You have to know what’s most important in the story you want to tell. Your audience can only process so much information, so if you’re not clear on what your main points are, they won’t be either.

Now write a logline. A logline is a summary of your video that gives the viewer an idea of its content.

To do this, use a hook (aka a lead) at the beginning of your script to grab their attention and make sure it’s clear what genre or category belongs under this label as well as how many episodes there will be before asking them for money or hitting pause on their binge session because they need more time with these characters!

Crafting a successful video script goes beyond just the words on the page. Learn about the critical aspects to consider in Writing an Effective Video Script and create videos that leave a lasting impact on your viewers.

Write A Brief Summary Of Your Video Idea

A video script is a summary of your video idea. This helps producers understand what you want to achieve and how, which makes it much easier for them to find the right person for the job you do!

Here are some tips for writing an effective video script:

The problem should be the same as your video idea. In other words, if you want a solution to “I suck at guitar” then make sure that problem is in there too.

The solution should also be similar. In this example we would say “I will learn how to play guitar” or “I will teach myself how to play guitar.”

Keep it short because no one wants to read anything longer than they have time for or longer than they care about reading (unless they are paid).

Now Write A Logline

Now that you’ve written your treatment, it’s time to write a logline. A logline is a one-sentence summary of your video that helps people decide if they want to watch it or not.

It can be used in the industry and by yourself as a way to pitch an idea and help you better understand what the video is about.

So how do you write a good logline? First, think about what makes your idea unique and compelling: What problem will this solve? What will make people want to watch this content? And remember, keep it short! No more than five words.

Use A Hook To Grab Their Attention

A hook is a brief summary of the problem, solution, and benefits. It’s not just a way to grab your audience’s attention it also helps you organize your thoughts so you can write more clearly. Keep these points in mind when writing hooks:

What’s the problem?
How does it affect them?
How will they feel once they’ve solved it (better/worse)?

Hooks are also a great place to introduce some of the key points that follow in your script. You may want to include pricing information or tell them where they can go for help if they have questions after reading your script.

Frontload Key Messages

Frontloading is a technique used to help people remember what they have read. It’s a way to make sure that your key messages are remembered and not lost in the message.

It’s also helpful for keeping your audience engaged, because it keeps them interested from the start of the script until the end.

So, how do you frontload? Simply put, it means putting your most important points first! For example: instead of saying “I want to make sure everyone understands how important this idea is,” try saying “This idea is essential because…”

Ready to take your video scriptwriting skills to the next level? Explore the Ultimate Complete Guide to Video Script Writing for a comprehensive walkthrough that covers everything from ideation to execution.

Set Up The Problem

The most important part of any script is the problem. You want to set up the problem early on, so you can spend the rest of your video explaining why it’s important, how it affects people and what they should do about it.

If you’re writing a video for an organization or company, make sure you explain how this issue affects them specifically.

Tell Them How To Solve It

If you want to get your point across, tell them how to solve it.

The value of your product or service should be front and center in your script. You’ve got to explain exactly what the problem is, why it’s a problem, and why they should care about solving it.

And then you need to explain exactly how you can help what you have that will make everything better. Make sure this information is all laid out clearly so people know exactly what they need from you once they decide on reading further.

Once the reader understands their problem and has been convinced of its severity (and yours as a solution), give them step-by-step directions for how they can buy what you offer or just get more information by clicking a link or calling an 800 number.

Don’t worry: If someone is interested in buying what you sell, they won’t mind taking some simple steps toward doing so!

Bring It Home

Think of your script as a conversation with the viewer. You have an introduction, some body text, and a conclusion. At the end of the video, you should bring it home by reminding them why they should take action now.

Bringing it home is also known as “conclusion”. This is where you tell viewers what to do next after watching your video or how to reach out to you for more information if needed.

Call To Action

The call to action is the final piece of your script. It’s the part where you tell viewers what you want them to do once they’ve finished watching your video.

Here are some tips for creating effective calls to action:

Be specific about what action you want viewers to take and make it easy for them to do so.

For example, if I was writing a script that teaches people how to create a website using Wix, I might say something like “To start designing your website, just click on this link here… and you’ll be taken straight into their design tool!”

Make sure your call-to-action makes sense within the context of each individual video or series of videos (e.g., don’t ask people who just watched an informational video about “how they can become rich with cryptocurrency”).

Social media offers vast opportunities for businesses, and writing compelling video scripts is key to success. Discover how to write engaging scripts for social media marketing in a fun and easy way to connect with your audience and boost your brand presence.

Conclusion

If you’re just getting started with video, we hope this guide helps you on your journey. It’s important to remember that the script is only part of the equation you also need great audio and visuals to tell your story in the best way possible.

That being said, it’s always good to know where you’re going so that everyone involved in making your video knows exactly what they need to do their part! Good luck out there!

FAQs

How to start the video scriptwriting process?

Answer: Begin by understanding your target audience and the core message you want to convey. Plan the structure and flow of your video before diving into the scriptwriting process.

What are some tips for writing an attention-grabbing video script?

Answer: Hook your audience in the first few seconds, use storytelling techniques, and keep the script concise while focusing on your main points.

How can I make my video script sound natural?

Answer: Practice reading the script aloud, use conversational language, and consider the tone and pace to make it feel authentic.

Should I include a call-to-action in my video script?

Answer: Yes, a clear and compelling call-to-action encourages your viewers to take the desired action after watching the video.

How do I ensure my video script aligns with the visual elements?

Answer: Coordinate with your video production team, align the script with the visuals, and ensure that both aspects work harmoniously to convey your message effectively.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.

The Beginner’s Guide To Video Script Writing