The alarm rings. You groggily turn over to flip it off, and maybe grab “just 5 more minutes”. It’s the standard wake up experience most of us enjoy, the “start” to our day. But what about after the alarm? Ever wondered what that was like for others? Well, come to find out, so do your customers. Which is why “Day in the Life” videos are so popular online. And which is also why we’re taking you through the steps of how to create a fun and effective one.
What IS a “Day in the Life” Video?
It is just as it sounds, to be honest: a video that captures the step-by-step process of someone’s daily life. And for brands, it works as yet another great way to capture effective video content.
It’s also flexible, meaning you can approach it from a couple different ways. For one, you can film it from the viewpoint of one of your customers, showcasing their daily life and how your product enhances it. Or, if you’d prefer, highlight a team member’s daily routine, promoting your brand simultaneously. In both cases, you are gaining brand exposure and much more (as explored below).
Reasons to Use “Day in the Life” Videos
So, what exactly are all the benefits of using “Day in the Life” videos? Well, for starters, they’re popular. With 6.2 billion views on TikTok and 68,000 videos on YouTube with the hashtag #dayinthelife, the appeal of this sort of video is obvious.
They also boost the relatability factor exponentially. Think about it. Have you ever been a fan of someone or something, and wondered what it’s daily life was like? So have most people. Inviting them in to your daily experience is both intimate and a great reminder we all have a lot in common.
And last (but definitely not least), it provides an opportunity to introduce your product and/or service. Whether following a customer or employee’s day, these give you ample chances to showcase your product through its value as well as externally through logos and product placement.
Elements that Make a Great “Day in the Life” Video
Where to start when creating your video, and what do you include? While there can be many elements to factor in when it comes to great video, “Day in the Life” videos do not have to be that complicated. That being said, there are some features you’ll want to include in yours to ensure it’s at its most effective.
- Have a relatable protagonist. Whoever you decide to profile, make sure they have a thorough knowledge of your brand and product, as well as a personality that will shine on camera. In short, the more down-to-earth and genuine they are, the better for the final product.
- Highlight your product or service. As said above, ensure you highlight your product/service via the use of logos and/or product placement throughout the video.
- When filming a customer, show their initial problem and your product’s ultimate solution. Ask them, How do you use our product everyday? And how does it solve daily issues that may arise without it?
- If filming an employee, highlight why they love working for your company, and how it enhances their life. This is fantastic for brand awareness, as well as great for team morale.
- Use angles and movement to help create depth. Doing this will help create much more interesting and beautiful shots.
- Include solid lighting and clear audio for better audience reception.
- Be specific with video length. This can vary, depending on platform and how detailed you are going to be with the video. Anywhere from 60s to a full 15+ minutes could work, just make sure it’s not too long so you don’t lose your audience.
Ways to Tell Your Story
Your approach to capturing a “Day in the Life” video has some options. What perspective are you telling it from? To help you decide this factor, we’ve outlined a few ideas below.
- Chronological Order. While this is generally incorporated in all styles of “Day in the Life”, being specific with time of day throughout the video really makes the viewer feel a part of the process.
- First Person Perspective. This one we recommend, as it promotes the best connection possible, told through the eyes of the person in question.
- Third Person Perspective. This one also works, and can be used if you’d rather be the one responsible for narration and delivery.
- Interview Style. You could also interview the person being profiled, and play footage above the audio, or film on the spot while they work and do their day. This one, however, is more involved, so weigh how much time and resources you’re allocating for the overall production.
Examples of Solid “Day in the Life” Videos
To help kickstart your creativity (and also give you some extra fun!), we’ve included some great examples of “Day in the Life” videos below. Starting with…
A more formal approach. This is a very specific corporate approach. Rather than detailing every moment of their employees days, they highlight the overall look of it, while also focusing on what and why their team loves what they do.
Casual and fun! This one below is a pretty standard approach to a “Day in the Life”. It’s fun, gets to the point, and is more about a general “role” (that of a TV Producer) than about a specific company or individual.
“Day in the Life” of a specific event. One of our team members (and blog writer 😉 ) covered this day in her life awhile back. Again, it takes a more “fun” approach, while covering an event and topic most viewers would find entertaining and helpful.
Get Creative
At the end of the day, sharing your day with others is a gift. It’s inviting them into your reality, to connect with you on a deeper level, as well as find the fun in what we consider “boring” sometimes.
After all, it really is all about perspective when it comes to creating great video. How do you capture having your morning coffee that makes it enticing and more enjoyable? What about your commute? Any fun sights along the way you’ve grown to take for granted?
This is your cue to get creative, and start capturing the magic of your daily experience. By doing so, you’ll inspire others to jump onboard, and start building genuine connection.