How to Choose the Right Style of Video

The digital landscape is increasingly leaning towards video as the content medium of choice. Whether it's a business presentation or a social media campaign, video plays an integral role. 

However, the question remains: What type of video style should you go for? 

The choice is crucial because  different video styles serve different purposes and drive different outcomes, but come with their own set of challenges.

In this blog article, we'll break down the main video styles to help you decide the one that’s right for you.

Live-Action Style Videos

1.Talking Head Videos

When to Use: If you need to deliver straightforward information directly to your audience, then talking head videos are ideal. They work great for educational content, product or service explanations, and FAQs.

Benefits: These videos are typically easier and less expensive to produce. The audience gets a clear, undistracted medium through which to receive information directly. It’s a great way to establish an intimate connection with a particular speaker or leader, due to the direct eye contact with the subject. 

Considerations: The risk with talking head videos is that they can become monotonous if not executed well. Varying camera angles and incorporating B-roll footage can make the video more engaging.

2. Vlog Videos

When to Use: Ideal for more casual, personable content. Vlogs are perfect for behind-the-scenes footage, lifestyle content, and personal storytelling.

Benefits: The informal style makes it easy to connect with your audience. Vlogs often require less pre-planning and can be more spontaneous, making the content seem more authentic.

Considerations: While vlogs are relatively easy to produce, they can tend to be boring and drag unless they are targeting a specific niche that the viewer is invested in.

3. Interview Videos

When to Use: When you want to introduce expertise, varying opinions, or testimonials into your content, interview videos are the way to go.

Benefits: It’s much easier and comfortable recording experience for the interviewee if they are actually an expert and not an actor with experience being on camera. This helps the style feel more like a genuine conversation and helps to reduce awkwardness in delivery from the interviewee.

Considerations: Interviews require a certain level of planning and potentially multiple camera setups. They also depend heavily on the chemistry between the interviewer and the interviewee to keep the content engaging.

Animated Video Styles

When to Use: Animation is perfect when you need to explain complicated concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. They're often used for explainer videos, complex product demos, or when you need to create a fantastical setting that would be too expensive or impossible to shoot in real life.

Benefits: Animated videos allow for complete creative freedom, letting you bring complex data and abstract ideas to life. They are also universally engaging, appealing to both kids and adults alike.

Considerations: These can be quite costly and time-consuming to produce, especially if you're looking for high-quality animation.

Viostream specializes in producing animated video services, which you can learn more about here.

Captioned Videos

When to Use: This style is most effective for short social media videos where users are likely to be scrolling without sound, tutorials, or when you're repurposing existing content and wish to add context.

Benefits: When there’s a closed caption system that can be accessed with an e-reader, captions allow those who require aid to still engage with the content. Text overlay videos are particularly effective in conveying your message silently.

Considerations: Text overlay videos may not capture emotional nuances well since there’s often no spoken dialogue or facial expressions involved. Make sure the text is easy to read and doesn't overwhelm the visuals.

Viostream’s team can help you to add captions to your videos. Connect with our team to learn more.

Live Streaming Video

When to Use: These are best for real-time events, Q&A sessions, big announcements, or when you want to take advantage of the “fear of missing out” (FOMO) that live events can create.

Benefits: Live videos allow for real-time engagement with your audience, providing an opportunity for direct interaction through comments and live reactions.

Considerations: Because it’s live, there’s no room for post-production editing. Everything has to be planned to the smallest detail beforehand, and you’ll need a reliable internet connection to avoid any streaming issues.

360-Degree Video Style

When to Use: If you want to offer an immersive experience like a virtual tour, extreme sports footage, or an interactive training module, 360-degree videos are for you.

Benefits: These videos provide a highly engaging and interactive experience for the viewer, giving them the control to view the video from multiple angles.

Considerations: 360-degree videos require specialized equipment and software for both shooting and editing. They can be expensive to produce and may require the viewer to have specific viewing gear (like VR goggles) or software to get the full experience.

Selecting the right video style can make or break your content. Always consider your target audience, the message you wish to convey, and your available resources when choosing a video style. 

Each style comes with its own set of opportunities and limitations, so choose wisely to make the most impact.

Learn how Viostream’s talented video editors can turn basic video clips into excellent marketing content that can attract new customers and retain existing ones.