7 Film Characterization Techniques to Improve Your Brand on Social Media
If you’re a small business owner, you know how important it is to make your brand stand out on social media. In a world filled with content, it’s easy for your posts to get lost in the crowd. But what if you could make your brand more memorable by creating a unique personality, just like a well-crafted character in a film?
Using techniques from film characterization can help bring your brand to life and boost your social media presence in a powerful way. Here’s how small businesses can use film-inspired strategies to create engaging commercial videos that captivate audiences.
Show Off Your Brand’s Physical Appearance
In movies, the way a character looks gives us an instant impression of who they are. Likewise, your brand’s visual style on social media should communicate your brand personality at first glance. Consistency in colors, fonts, and overall style can help followers recognize and relate to your brand.
A Brand Story Video is a great way to visually introduce your brand’s “look and feel.” This type of video is perfect for showcasing your style in a way that aligns with your brand identity. Imagine a wellness brand using earthy tones and natural backgrounds in their video to evoke a sense of calm and health—this helps reinforce the brand’s values visually.
Use Dialogue to Capture Your Brand Voice
In film, dialogue reveals a character’s personality and values. On social media, your captions, responses, and comments serve as your “dialogue” with followers. Whether you want to sound professional, friendly, or humorous, maintaining a consistent voice is crucial for building trust and engagement with your audience.
A Customer Testimonial Video allows real people to speak on behalf of your brand, helping to convey its values authentically. Testimonial videos add credibility and build emotional connections. For a small business, the speaker’s tone in a testimonial can communicate warmth, trustworthiness, and authenticity, making your brand feel more relatable.
Show Actions to Highlight Brand Behavior
Just like a character’s actions in a movie reveal their values, your brand’s actions are displayed through the type of content you post and how you interact with followers. For instance, sharing behind-the-scenes (BTS) content or engaging with comments shows your brand’s personality “in action.”
A Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) Video gives your audience a peek behind the curtain, showing your team at work, your process, or a day in the life at your business. This transparency builds trust and helps your brand feel more human. A small bakery, for example, might post a BTS video of staff preparing ingredients, showcasing their dedication to quality and love for the craft.
Reveal Your Brand’s Motivation
Movies often use a character’s internal thoughts to show what drives them. Similarly, sharing the “why” behind your brand—its purpose, goals, and mission—helps your audience connect on a deeper level.
A Founder/Brand Mission Video reveals your brand’s core values, helping followers understand what makes your business unique and why you do what you do. A nonprofit could feature its founder discussing the motivation behind the cause, fostering empathy and support from viewers.
Share Your Brand’s Backstory
Every character in a film has a backstory that shapes who they are. Likewise, sharing your business’s journey—from its beginnings to where it is now—can make your brand more relatable and inspire loyalty.
A Company History Video highlights your brand’s origins, challenges, and achievements, giving followers a deeper understanding of your journey. A tech startup could create a video about its early days and growth, showing innovation and perseverance.
Incorporate Symbolism to Reinforce Brand Identity
Movies often use symbolism to communicate deeper meanings about a character, like colors or specific objects associated with them. You can use similar symbolism in your social media content to create brand associations and make your brand more memorable.
A Brand Identity or Culture Video uses recurring symbols or themes (like specific colors, emojis, or hashtags) to reinforce core values and make the brand easy to recognize. For example, a sustainable brand might use visuals of nature, like leaves or water, in their videos to emphasize eco-friendly values.
Show Your Brand’s Character Arc
In film, a character arc shows transformation over time. Your brand’s arc can include improvements in products, services, or even changes in mission over time, making your business more relatable as it “grows” with its audience.
A Case Study or Success Story Video highlights the transformation your business can bring to customers, showing your brand’s impact and value. A fitness brand might feature a client’s journey from struggling with fitness goals to achieving success, demonstrating the brand’s role in the transformation.
When it comes to standing out, making your brand feel like a “character” your audience can relate to is invaluable. Consider which of these video types might best suit your brand’s story, and start creating content that captivates, inspires, and grows your small business’s online presence.
