Casting Call: Who should star in your marketing content?

You’ve written the script, collected the props, set the scene and . . . now you need the talent! In most cases who should star in your talent is a no-brainer (especially if you’re a solo-preneur). However, sometimes we need to be more strategic about who stars in our marketing collateral to make sure the video, ad, or other advertising content lasts the ages. Keep reading to find your scenario, and determine who is the best choice to be the next “face” of your business.

When you’re a solo-preneur: keep it internal

Like we said – when you’re a solo-preneur, the answer is a no-brainer: YOU should be the star of YOUR business! One-man companies thrive on being the face of their business: not only do you build trust in your audience when the person on the screen arrives at their front door, at the same time you’re also strengthening your brand.

You’re a family-fun company: keep it internal

Similar to the solo-preneur, family-run operations (we’re talking strictly family – mom & pop, father/son, close relatives) thrive on having the same familiar faces be the stars of the show. That’s why we recommend you and your employees staying in the video: not only does it save you money, but you’re showing the power of family when it comes to shopping local. Not to mention, it’s pretty fun when a customer comes in and says they saw you on the TV!

You’re a company with 15+ employees: send out the casting call

Having filmed and promoted video and static brand assets for a variety of companies, the struggle is always the same: we want to save money on marketing by keeping the casting internal, but when an employee leaves – for good or bad reasons – the company has to re-film or re-shoot all over again to keep the marketing content current, which ends up costing more in the long run. That's why if you're running a company that that hires more than just your immediate family members, we recommend going external for your talent.

Similarly, when you’re a larger company, it’s important to remember that Diversity and Inclusion can (and should!) play a large role in your marketing efforts. There’s a reason why movies like Disney’s Encanto and Turning Red are breaking box office records: representation of all people is incredibly important, and by showing only one type of person, you might be losing out on business.

When in doubt . . . animate!

Remember – you don’t ALWAYS have to use real humans in your marketing content. While animals with voice-overs also make a great option for that real-life feel, sometimes animation can speak more to what message you’re trying to achieve (and can often-times defy the laws of gravity!). Animated content can also make light of inconvenient truths: for example, if you run a plumbing operation and have a special emphasis on . . . unclogging . . . it’s much easier to make fun of these things when they’re animated than in real life.

I am an expert in writing scripts, filming, and editing videos to post as reels on Instagram, use as advertisements on Youtube, or even to use on the big screen itself during your local news channel. Whether you’ve already pre-selected your stars or want me to do the casting for you, can you rest assured that your final product will be – should I say it? Achanting.