5 Reasons Why Documentary Storytelling Makes Great Content
We all aspire to do more creatively. To tell our story. To attract a loyal audience of fans and customers.
A documentary approach presents your expertise at the highest level while building a deep and authentic short form library.
And it’s one of the most effective content strategies today is because it creates a genuine artistic connection with your followers.
Finding ways to connect creators or brands to their audiences through storytelling helps us do exactly that, while delivering real results that can have an outsize impact.
Here’s 5 reasons why we see this working better than ever today.
1. People Crave Human Experiences
We all have a radar for detecting sponsored content. It’s a necessity of modern life where we are inundated with social media and advertising.
Authentic storytelling works on a different level because your goal is not to sell but to educate, inform, and inspire your audience to follow along.
All the while you are in fact building your perfect audience, and building a real relationship with them.
2. Lived Experience is Fascinating
Trailer for our latest feature doc THE LEGEND OF KINGDOM COME
I love working with artists, creators, and outsiders who see the world in their own unique way.
Especially in my filmmaking work with comic book artists, where we get to present some pretty remarkable storytellers in their own light, there is a sweet spot where we use our artistry to shine a light on their excellence that really captivates the right audience.
Stories that make us feel something stick with us. Cliché but true.
3. It Yields the Best Short Form Content Too
These longer stories give us a huge library of short form repurposable content that we use to reach the niche in tons of different ways.
Doc storytelling gives an opportunity to present a new way for the audience to see the world, and you in it.
Sometimes it’s about telling a branded story, but even better is to make something real that your audience can connect to.
Once they trust you from an authentic connection it superpowers your message.
Perfect stories are forgettable. The ones that work are messy. It’s the shaky voice during an interview, the candid moment caught on camera. These often are the best organic content you can create.
4. Authenticity Builds Trust
BTS From a Recent Short Form Doc Style Campaign
When people sense that a story is authentic, they’re more likely to trust the brand. Authentic content says, “This is who I am,” without pretense. In a world where so much is curated and staged, this level of vulnerability is rare and meaningful.
Trust is built through small meaningful actions over time. Doc content does exactly that, while building a larger tapestry of your story.
5. It’s the Way of the Future
Short Form Clip from an Upcoming Feature Doc Project
Entertainment companies are struggling to stay relevant because audiences have moved on. YouTube, Reels, Tik-Tok — I don’t even need to give you the metrics, we intuitively know this is where audiences hang out.
The model that works today is all about building your niche audience — via podcasts, organic social content, long form high-profile documentaries, and yes some paid ads too.
Building a library of content is still the best way to build your brand for the long term, and there are so many ways to score wins along the way.
Is Your Story Working for You?
Documentary isn’t about having the perfect narrative. Authenticity resonates more than perfection ever could.
Yes, it starts with strategy – but as we find what works for your audience we push and iterate in the direction that gets results.
If you’re interested in exploring how authentic storytelling can shape your content check out some of our campaigns and send us a message about how you can level up your content!
