4 (more) formats you can always count on
These video formats are tried and true, part two.
1. Expert Reacts
People love reaction content. It’s one of the most popular genres on Youtube. Bringing in experts takes it a step further. Grey’s Anatomy has some pretty wild storylines (like someone planting a bomb INSIDE a guy), watching a real doctor react to this stuff is funny, but you can also often learn something.
Pop culture examples: Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Director’s commentary, Experts react by Gamespot.
2. The Origin Story
Everyone loves a good origin story. Yeah, Spider-man got bit by a radioactive spider, but all the stuff with Uncle Ben is important too because it shapes how he uses his powers. Every brand/founder has an origin story, sharing it with your customers can be a great way to build loyalty.
Pop culture examples: Every Marvel movie, How I Built This, biographies and biopics.
3. Myth-Busting / Truth or Trash
This is a spin-off of expert reactions, but it’s worth its own section because the “mythbusters” genre is just that good. The show Mythbusters was massively popular and has inspired a ton of copycats. Testing common opinions in your industry is a great way to get eyeballs and establish authority.
Pop culture examples: Science Vs, Fact or Fiction,” fitness creators testing viral TikTok hacks.
4. Ticking Clock
Adding a deadline is a simple shortcut to make things ten times more watchable. That’s why movies always show us the timer on a bomb. More pressure, more suspense, more intrigue! The bonus here is that time-saving is a common Saas selling point, so this lets you show that off.
Pop culture examples: MasterChef, 24 (the show), Extreme Makeover
Between these four and the last email, you’ve got eight proven video formats now. What are you waiting for? Get out there and start filming!
Don’t know which one to pick? Don’t overcomplicate it, they all work. Roll some dice, spin a wheel, or just ask your fav LLM to pick one.
P.s. should I do some Mythbusting of my own over on Youtube? Lemme know.
—Ademola