A survey conducted by Google states that 67% of travel-related video views were for brand or professional videos release. Further, audiences consume travel-related videos before deciding where to go or get there. These statistics show that the marketing value of travel videos has become a tactical content asset for tourism or tour operators.
Moreover, travel videos are an excellent way to position your brand. Their uses are plenty on websites and social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.
Let’s dive into some insights to help you create compelling travel videos for your brand.
Important Video Aspects
Storytelling Travel Videos
The art of storytelling is more important than ever. Travel videos are no exception and benefit from captivating storytelling to be effective. Today, it's not only about looking good or great production value – it's about telling a story that resonates with the audience.
You can capture relevant story types in your videos: travelogues, documentaries, vlogs, interviews, etc. A good travel video invariably has a beginning (introduction), middle (body), and end (conclusion). Remember these three parts when planning the storyboard.
Why miss this opportunity with many creative ways to tell stories through audiovisual mediums? What do you think makes humans human? The ability to communicate emotions with each other via language is what makes us unique. It's how we develop connections with people and make an impact on people who watch them online!
Find Your Story:
- You, the traveler, are the protagonist in your story.
- Let your surroundings be the needed supporting characters.
- Capture powerful natural and human elements that evoke emotions from viewers (e.g., sunrise, wildlife, a smile).
- Find a message/meaning for your video—what's the story? What does it mean to you? Make it relatable.
Write The Script
The script is the backbone of your video. Without it, your video will be directionless and unfocused. You need to convey what you want to say and how you want to say it.
The script is where you can experiment with the story flow and the most critical lines. Also, at this stage, write down the shots you need to capture to have an idea of what footage you remain when filming. Some people break scripts into sections like Storyline, Dialogue or Memorable Quotes, B-Roll List, Locations List, and Crew List.
Invest In Good Equipment
Don't expect to tell a good story if you don't equip the right tools. Good video equipment investment will allow enhanced creative shots and add a professional look.
Suppose you don’t have money to spend on a super high-quality camera. Get amazing shots with your phone, provided it has the right features. A stabilizer or a gimbal is an essential piece of equipment if you want to shoot a smooth video while walking around or running. Get a tripod and use it as much as possible when shooting your scenes for even better stabilization.
Shoot B-Rolls
B-rolls are extra scenes that add visual interest, so you don't just have a talking head for a video. Think of them as related shots, not your primary subject or focus. For Example, shoot interestingly lit random scenes of a cityscape, people walking down the street, sidewalk eateries, the hustle-bustle or the quiet, depending on the content.
Use A Tripod
A tripod will help capture steady shots and avoid shaky footage. Tripods are handy when shooting time-lapses, interviews, and sceneries like sunrises or sunsets.
Consider Various Lenses
One of the most important things to consider is the lens to use as a photographer. Your budget will determine the type and number of lenses, including the camera bag size. Using one or two lenses is a newbie problem/issue that affects video quality. If finances permit, consider using a variety of lenses available to shoot in any light and capture wide and tight shots without moving around much.
You'll also want to consider whether you should use the zoom or prime lenses for your shoot (prime means that it's not capable of zooming). Zoom lenses are great for traveling because they're versatile – you can walk around with one lens all day, taking photos from many perspectives.
Editing
Do not worry about over-editing the travel video before publishing it. If you feel that a scene is dragging or that there’s something off, use a video editor. There are many ways of editing videos and multiple tools that can help bring your vision to life.
Mindfully Choose Music
Travel videos convey their message through audiovisual elements. A travel video aims to transport the viewer into another part of the world while in another. Audio plays a crucial role in triggering senses and creating a sense of excitement and interest.
Choose an appropriate track that can be used as background music or a filler while not talking in the video.
Conclusion
As the world returns to normalcy post-pandemic, a tremendous rise in online video-content consumption is taking popular content online. Use the tips mentioned above to produce compelling videos that will attract your target audience and help gain better retention and ROI.
