Whether you want to create a blog, work with a team of videographers, launch a YouTube channel, promote a business, or pursue a profession in marketing and communications, there is one fundamental denominator that can contribute to your success. That is understanding how to create great visual content that will help you engage with your target audience more effectively.

Here are five tips to help you plan out a creative video:

1. Have a set of goals in mind

Before you begin your creative process, you should first determine what your video’s goal is. Ask yourself, what do I hope to achieve with my video? Is there anything I’d like my viewers to do once they’ve watched it? Is there a specific message or story I’d like to share? Make sure you ask yourself the correct questions and write down clear and coherent objectives; this will guide the content plan.

2. Motivate your audience.

If you want your visuals to connect with your audience, you should ensure they ‘feel’ something. Emotions drive action. As a result, you should use emotions in your videos in a thoughtful and planned manner. Whatever emotion you’re attempting to create – happiness, amusement, joy, or excitement – make sure you think of ways to make an emotional impression on your audience. Make sure to convey this to the videographers and those on the content planning team.

3. Stick to the KISS principle.

KISS stands for “Keep it Short and Simple.” The average human attention span is now 8 seconds while the average length of time spent watching a single internet video is 2 minutes. Create brief videos that deliver a clear message instead of using overly sophisticated formats. Before you start recording your video, write a script or an outline so you don’t lose time attempting to find out a storyline.

4. Investigate your channels

Make sure you’ve identified all of the platforms you want to use when creating your video content strategy: Facebook, your website, Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, and your blog. Once you’ve decided which channel(s) to use, start looking into best practices, video formats, successful stories, and audience behavior. This will give you a better sense of how to efficiently reach your target audience.

5. Be a storyteller

Storytelling can be used to inspire your audience and communicate the proper message. A good story is something that everyone enjoys. We are moved by stories that entertain, motivate, challenge, anger, and affect us.

If you are stuck, or need assistance with your videos, consider hiring a professional video content creator or a videographer to help get the process moving in the right direction.