In a world of digital marketing, some might say commercials are a thing of the past. Commercials are still relevant, we have to view one every time we try to watch a video, stream cable, or if we’re just trying to listen to music.
There are many reasons for the continued relevance of commercials!
First, commercials reach a wide audience whether you realize it or not. They air on TV, before movies, and even on radio stations. You run into them while watching videos on YouTube or Hulu, too. There are few places where commercial advertising isn’t welcome, such as streaming services that consumers pay for so they can avoid commercial interruptions from their music or video entertainment.
Second, commercials are designed to be persuasive. They use all the techniques of film production to capture our attention and then deliver a message that is intended to change our behavior. This makes them very powerful marketing tools.
Finally, commercial advertising is a crucial part of film production. Whether you’re a director, producer, or editor working behind the scenes of a commercial shoot, commercial work can be just as important and demanding as any other type of film production.
What should every 30-Second commercial have?
If you’re interested in commercial filmmaking, it’s important to understand the key elements that every commercial should have. Here are five of the most important elements to keep in mind:
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A Clear Message and Strong Narrative
The first and most important element of any commercial is a clear message. What is the commercial trying to sell? What does the product do? Why should the viewer care? The commercial must answer these questions quickly and effectively. If the commercial is too vague or confusing, viewers will simply switch the channel or fast-forward through the ad, if at all possible.
A strong narrative doesn’t necessarily mean that it needs to be a story-driven commercial, but the commercial should present the message in an engaging way that keeps their attention until the very end. Whether you’re working on a documentary commercial or something more lighthearted, make sure the commercial has a strong narrative arc that will keep viewers hooked.
The writing of the commercial should be concise and compelling, with carefully chosen words that grab the viewer’s attention and drive home the commercial’s message. Keywords and hashtags aren’t just for online use they’ve always been an important part of successful marketing campaign! Buzzwords and keywords will grab your audience’s attention quickly and easily, so don’t leave them out!
Creating the narrative of a commercial is typically done by a professional commercial writer who understands how to write for commercials specifically. If you choose to work with a marketing company, most agencies and production companies already have a team of writers on staff.
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A Distinctive Style
A commercial must also have a distinctive style. It should be visually interesting and memorable so that it stands out from all the other ads the viewers are bombarded with on a daily basis. The commercial should take advantage of all the techniques of film production, from music and visual effects to drama and humor.
How you come up with your style will depend upon your target audience. You can better understand your target audience by creating a Buyer Persona. You’ll be better equipped with information that will help you decide between different styles, such as animation or live action, as well as what kind of tone would be appropriate for your commercial.
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Strong Visuals and Effects
Commercials also need strong visuals. Whether you’re working on a commercial for TV or online advertising, your video should be high-quality and visually appealing. This means using professional lighting, camera equipment, editing tools, and so on.
You’ll get the best results when you have strong visuals in your original video footage and add more in post-production. Skimping on post-production processes can really hurt a commercial. You want to make sure that you’re adding in well-done voiceovers, music that really adds to the style of the commercial, and awesome graphics if the production calls for them.
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A Call to Action
A commercial should also have a call-to-action. This is the final step in the commercial’s persuasive message. The viewer should be left with a clear idea of what they need to do, whether it’s buying the product, visiting the website, or calling the toll-free number.
Call-to-actions are important for every kind of marketing material you put out into the world. If you audience doesn’t know what you want them to do, they’re going to ignore your commercial and move on with their lives. The call-to-action needs to be clearly stated, not just alluded to. This is why commercial writers often use buzzwords, keywords, and hashtags. They add a sense of urgency to your commercial that will compel viewers to take action.
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A Strategic Advertising Campaign
Finally, a commercial needs to be part of a larger advertising campaign. This can involve different kinds of media, including print, online, radio, and TV. It’s important to create a strategy for how all these different pieces will work together to create a cohesive campaign.
Your commercial should be just one part of your larger marketing efforts. You need to make sure that it fits in with the rest of your campaign and that viewers will be able to see the commercial as part of a larger whole. The commercial also needs to work well with the other ads that are included in your campaign, from voiceovers, music, to visuals effects.
If you’re looking for ways to create a commercial that’s high-quality, memorable, and effective at persuading viewers to take action, be sure to include these five important elements. Whether you’re working with an agency or producing your commercial in-house, these tips will help you write a commercial that will stand out from the crowd and capture the attention of your target audience.
How can I create a 30-second commercial without any experience?
Creating a commercial on your own probably isn’t the best idea if you don’t know what you’re doing or don’t have the proper equipment. In fact, it might even save you money in the long run to work with an agency in order to create your commercial!
Agencies like C&I Studios already have the knowledge, equipment, and human-power to create commercials for companies like yours. Not only can we film great footage for any kind of commercial or film production, but we can create animations, graphics, add in music and handle all of your post-production needs. We can help you to create voice-overs, write scripts, and even help you to come up with a comprehensive advertising campaign that will ideally be successful in reaching your target audience.
So if you’re looking to create a commercial without any experience, working with an agency like C&I Studios might be the best way to create one that is high-quality, professional, and effective at persuading your viewers to take action. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you with commercial production!
In the end…
The elements we’ve listed above are just a few of the key elements that every commercial should have, including those that run a mere 30 seconds. If you’re interested in commercial filmmaking, keep these elements in mind and you’ll be well on your way to creating successful and persuasive ads.
Whether this means purchasing a product or service, contacting a business for more information, or simply remembering the commercial long after it has ended, all commercial success ultimately comes down to leaving an impression on your viewers. So, take the next step and contact us! We’ll help you to create a commercial that fits your brand, message, and products; that you’ll be proud to share everywhere and anywhere that you can!