The Top 10 Short-Form Video Writing Styles for Social Media Videos

Here are ten of the most effective writing styles for short-form video content that consistently perform well on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

These styles help you not only promote your products and services but also engage, educate, entertain, and ignite curiosity in viewers:

 
1. Hero’s Journey (Hollywood Hero)
  • Structure: Introduce a relatable protagonist → describe a significant challenge → protagonist faces struggle → achieves success or learns valuable lesson.
  • Example: “I tried every marketing tactic and nearly gave up—until I discovered this one method…”
2. Curiosity Hook
  • Structure: Start with a provocative or intriguing question → tease a surprising fact or unexpected outcome → reveal answer subtly linked to your product or service.
  • Example: “Ever wondered why million-dollar companies use this one weird trick?”
3. Listicle (Quick Tips)
  • Structure: Numbered or bullet-pointed actionable insights → concise, clear, and useful content → conclude with a call-to-action related to your product/service.
  • Example: “3 ways to instantly make better videos—tip #2 changed everything for me.”
4. Problem-Agitate-Solution (PAS)
  • Structure: Clearly identify a relatable problem → amplify emotional frustration around it → present your product or service as the ideal solution.
  • Example: “Tired of your ads not converting? It’s frustrating watching money burn away, but here’s how I fixed it...”
5. Myth-Busting
  • Structure: Introduce a common misconception or popular myth → directly debunk it → educate audience with real facts or practical solutions.
  • Example: “Everyone says you need expensive gear for viral videos—here’s why that’s completely false.”
6. Before & After Transformation
  • Structure: Show initial struggle or starting point → highlight the turning point (your product or service) → vividly depict the impressive outcome or transformation.
  • Example: “Watch how my editing went from amateur to pro with just this single app.”
7. Storytelling (Mini Case Study)
  • Structure: Brief but engaging story about real people or yourself → share their struggle and the journey → clearly showcase how your product improved their life.
  • Example: “Meet Anna. She struggled to get any traffic—then one simple tweak changed everything.”
8. Controversial Opinion (Hot Take)
  • Structure: Lead with a bold or contrarian statement → justify your perspective clearly → link your reasoning seamlessly to your product/service.
  • Example: “Stop using hashtags on TikTok—here’s what actually works better…”
9. Educational Explainer
  • Structure: Offer direct value through quick, easy-to-follow explanations or how-to’s → end by suggesting deeper solutions tied to your product/service.
  • Example: “Here’s how I grew my email list by 5,000 subscribers in one month—step by step.”
10. Trend Riding
  • Structure: Identify a trending format or viral challenge → creatively adapt it to include your product/service message → leverage existing audience interest.
  • Example: “Here’s me jumping on the AI-trend, but making it practical for entrepreneurs like you.”

Feel free to use these styles as adaptable frameworks that can really enhance your content, grab attention quickly, and gently lead viewers to connect with your amazing products and services.

Interested in having a GPT create these scripts for you? Take a look at the

Stay connected with the most current Marketing News, Strategies, Tips , and Case Studies!

Join our monthly marketing magazine to receive the latest news and updates from our team of professional marketers and copywriters.
(Don't worry, your information will not be shared.)

Subscribe to the Bi-Weekly Marketing Magazine
Close