Lights, Camera, Action! Get Paid to Write Short Video Scripts
Lights, Camera, Action! Get Paid to Write Short Video Scripts
“I walked into the nearest ad agency and asked if they needed any help. After talking with the creative director for about 10 minutes, I had four projects – two TV commercials and two press releases.”
Phil had just completed AWAI’s Accelerated Program for Six Figure Copywriting, and was bent on getting his first paid assignment.
Fortunately, he ended up with much more. Those two TV commercial projects he landed led to more work with a local TV channel and a video production company. And that’s how Phil started making money in the video script writing niche.
When Phil first started, he’d get $40 an hour to write a 30-second script.
Today he commands $200 to write these 30-second scripts. And here’s the cool part: This means writing 70-80 words, which takes Phil 1 to 2 hours max.
Some of these scripts are for TV commercials promoting local businesses.
But here’s the thing …
In this niche, you’re not limited to writing TV commercial scripts. In fact, the fastest growing part of this niche is in online video marketing. That’s when a business puts up a short video clip on their website in an effort to get the visitor to take an action.
Check out these stats from digital research firm comScore for the month of March 2008:
U.S. Internet users viewed 11.5 billion online videos during the month of March 2008, a 13% net gain over February 2008 and over 64% gain over 12 months ago.
73.7% of the total U.S. Internet audience viewed video online.
84.8 million viewers watched 4.3 billion videos on YouTube, alone!
With so many opportunities to reach prospective customers, video marketing is something a company can’t afford to miss out on.
Best of all, the same principles apply, whether you’re writing a 30-second TV spot or a 30-second online video.
Here’s Phil’s advice for writing video scripts that produce results for your clients. (You’ll notice it’s not that different from writing a great sales letter.) …
1. Figure out your client’s USP. Many times a client will already know what their USP is. But if they don’t, you’ve got to find out what makes them unique. Since you only have 30 seconds to showcase the business, it’s crucial that you get this step down. Think: “Why would someone choose to do business with your client over one of their competitors?”
2. Have a big idea. In a sales letter, your big idea carries the promotion all the way to the close. In a short video, your big idea is your overall theme or concept. How will you position your client’s USP? What is the best, most-effective way to convince your viewers to do business with the company? For instance, if you’re doing a video for a restaurant, maybe the USP is that it’s the most popular restaurant in town (literally) because of the unique dishes and unmatched service. If that’s the case, then show a line outside the door, with people waiting. Then maybe show people having a wonderful dining experience.
3. Add credibility. Credibility in a sales letter helps build trust in the company and the claims it’s making. The same goes for video. Credibility sources for video can include the owner of the company, experts in the industry speaking highly of the business, third-party mention in the media (think CNN, Oprah, or 60 Minutes), or happy customers describing their experiences with the company and its products and/or services.
4. Make it dynamic. Static videos, where there’s just one person talking to the audience, are often perceived as a flat-out sales pitch. Remember, people don’t want to feel like they’re being sold. Instead, make it dynamic. Do this by showing the product in action. Show happy customers enjoying the benefits it provides.
5. Include a call to action. If it’s a TV commercial, encourage viewers to call the company’s phone number or go to their website. For example, if you’re selling time shares, it could be something like, “To get your free brochure today, call xxx or visit GetMyBrochuredotcom.” Or let’s say it’s a video on a landing page. You could tell the viewer to sign up for the company’s free e-zine.
6. Read it out loud. If this is critical when it comes to writing traditional sales letters, it is doubly important when writing a video script. Phil quickly found out how important this is when he was asked to do the voice over for the script he’d written. It completely changed his perspective when it came to actually writing the script. You realize how slow the cadence of the spoken word is, and notice any places that are awkward or don’t make sense. Plus you identify areas that could make the person doing the voice over stumble.
Writing for the video-marketing niche can be both lucrative and rewarding. Just follow Phil’s proven advice and pretty soon, you’ll be an in-demand, video script writer.
Lights Camera Action Get Paid to Write Short Video Scripts - To learn more about this author, visit AWAI’s The Golden Thread 's Website.
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“I did something bold,” says AWAI Wall of Famer Phil LeMaster.
“I walked into the nearest ad agency and asked if they needed any help. After talking with the creative director for about 10 minutes, I had four projects – two TV commercials and two press releases.”
Phil had just completed AWAI’s Accelerated Program for Six Figure Copywriting, and was bent on getting his first paid assignment.
Fortunately, he ended up with much more. Those two TV commercial projects he landed led to more work with a local TV channel and a video production company. And that’s how Phil started making money in the video script writing niche.
When Phil first started, he’d get $40 an hour to write a 30-second script.
Today he commands $200 to write these 30-second scripts. And here’s the cool part: This means writing 70-80 words, which takes Phil 1 to 2 hours max.
Some of these scripts are for TV commercials promoting local businesses.
But here’s the thing …
In this niche, you’re not limited to writing TV commercial scripts. In fact, the fastest growing part of this niche is in online video marketing. That’s when a business puts up a short video clip on their website in an effort to get the visitor to take an action.
Check out these stats from digital research firm comScore for the month of March 2008:
U.S. Internet users viewed 11.5 billion online videos during the month of March 2008, a 13% net gain over February 2008 and over 64% gain over 12 months ago.
73.7% of the total U.S. Internet audience viewed video online.
84.8 million viewers watched 4.3 billion videos on YouTube, alone!
With so many opportunities to reach prospective customers, video marketing is something a company can’t afford to miss out on.
Best of all, the same principles apply, whether you’re writing a 30-second TV spot or a 30-second online video.
Here’s Phil’s advice for writing video scripts that produce results for your clients. (You’ll notice it’s not that different from writing a great sales letter.) …
1. Figure out your client’s USP. Many times a client will already know what their USP is. But if they don’t, you’ve got to find out what makes them unique. Since you only have 30 seconds to showcase the business, it’s crucial that you get this step down. Think: “Why would someone choose to do business with your client over one of their competitors?”
2. Have a big idea. In a sales letter, your big idea carries the promotion all the way to the close. In a short video, your big idea is your overall theme or concept. How will you position your client’s USP? What is the best, most-effective way to convince your viewers to do business with the company? For instance, if you’re doing a video for a restaurant, maybe the USP is that it’s the most popular restaurant in town (literally) because of the unique dishes and unmatched service. If that’s the case, then show a line outside the door, with people waiting. Then maybe show people having a wonderful dining experience.
3. Add credibility. Credibility in a sales letter helps build trust in the company and the claims it’s making. The same goes for video. Credibility sources for video can include the owner of the company, experts in the industry speaking highly of the business, third-party mention in the media (think CNN, Oprah, or 60 Minutes), or happy customers describing their experiences with the company and its products and/or services.
4. Make it dynamic. Static videos, where there’s just one person talking to the audience, are often perceived as a flat-out sales pitch. Remember, people don’t want to feel like they’re being sold. Instead, make it dynamic. Do this by showing the product in action. Show happy customers enjoying the benefits it provides.
5. Include a call to action. If it’s a TV commercial, encourage viewers to call the company’s phone number or go to their website. For example, if you’re selling time shares, it could be something like, “To get your free brochure today, call xxx or visit GetMyBrochuredotcom.” Or let’s say it’s a video on a landing page. You could tell the viewer to sign up for the company’s free e-zine.
6. Read it out loud. If this is critical when it comes to writing traditional sales letters, it is doubly important when writing a video script. Phil quickly found out how important this is when he was asked to do the voice over for the script he’d written. It completely changed his perspective when it came to actually writing the script. You realize how slow the cadence of the spoken word is, and notice any places that are awkward or don’t make sense. Plus you identify areas that could make the person doing the voice over stumble.
Writing for the video-marketing niche can be both lucrative and rewarding. Just follow Phil’s proven advice and pretty soon, you’ll be an in-demand, video script writer.
Lights Camera Action Get Paid to Write Short Video Scripts - To learn more about this author, visit AWAI’s The Golden Thread 's Website.
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John PowerJohn Power, founder of Biltmore Franchise Consulting, has extensive experience developing and marketing franchises and business opportunities. He has been in and around franchising for over twenty years. From 1980 through 1990 he conceptualized, organized, and developed the American Video Association. He grew AVA to 2,000 national members, before selling the company it 1990. It was later merged into another home video marketing company. From 2000 to 2005 he worked as a contract marketing and human resources consultant to several local and national companies. In 2005 Mr. Power began working as a franchise development consultant on a full-time basis. Since that time he has helped more than three dozen companies initiate and develop their franchising program. He notes that there are many companies interested in developing a franchise program, and who need his specialized assistance. Mr. Power is a “hands-on” franchise consultant. He said, “I am the ‘nuts and bolts’ person who tends to the details for my clients.” Mr. Power holds a B.S. degree with a major in Marketing. See: www.biltmorefranchise.com You may contact Mr. Power at: jpower@biltmorefranchise.co - Visit John Power's Website |
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Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
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Leanne Hoagland-SmithAre your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales or business success or one of the many who have failed to change? Are you tired of being told you are like everyone else? Then you may find my first book on sales of interest. Be the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits, The Keys to Unlocking Sales available at Amazon or at http://www.processspecialist.com/red-jacket.htm. This book is a reflection of my no-nonsense approach to improving sales to overall business results. If you are truly committed to making sustainable changes, then I can help you secure a positive return on your investment because I focus on executable solutions not telling you the problems you already know you have. From training to corporate (group) coaching to executive one on one coaching, my approach is to assess, create awareness, build a goal driven action plan and then execute. The bottom line question is "Not do you or your employees know it, but do you or they want to do it?" Please call for a free strategy session at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
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