The 3 Most Engaging Storytelling Video Types

When your story becomes your strategy

Not every business starts with a massive ad budget.

And frankly, in a world that scrolls faster than it listens, not every dollar spent buys attention.

But attention — real, meaningful, connected attention — is still worth pursuing.

And that’s where video comes in.

Today, we don’t just watch content.

We follow emotions.

We remember what makes us feel something.

And this is exactly why storytelling in video form works — when it’s done right.

But “storytelling” has become such a catch-all term, it’s easy to forget what it actually means.

True storytelling doesn’t just entertain.

It doesn’t just sell.

It helps people see themselves in your brand — and trust what they see.

Here are three storytelling-driven video types that continue to engage, connect, and convert — especially when crafted with intention.

1. Explainer Video

— Show how you help, simply and clearly.

Explainer videos do just what the name suggests: they explain.

But the best ones don’t start with a pitch.

They start with a problem — a moment of friction that your viewer instantly recognizes.

And then, gently, they guide the viewer toward a solution:

your product, your service, your idea.

There’s no need to be flashy.

In fact, simplicity is often the strength here.

Whether made with animation, stock footage, live action, or motion graphics,

the goal remains the same:

clarity.

Cost range:

A talking-head style video can range from $500 to $1000.

Higher-end productions with visual effects or custom animations may range from $1,000 to $5,000+.

When done right, an explainer video becomes a door —

one that invites your audience into your world, without overwhelming them at the threshold.

EXAMPLE BY JCCA

Brand: @prolonfmd

Influencer: @freddiesdaughter

2. Tutorial Video

— Teach with generosity, build with trust.

Once your audience has heard of you, they’ll want to know more —

not just what you do, but how it works for them.

Tutorial or “how-to” videos are the natural next step after an explainer.

Where the first one offers clarity, this one offers confidence.

It answers the questions they didn’t know how to ask,

and shows them how your solution lives in the real world.

This isn’t just teaching — it’s relationship-building.

Cost range:

Typically $500–$1000 per finished minute, depending on production needs and graphics complexity.

And, a tutorial doesn’t need to feel technical.

When grounded in empathy and clarity, it becomes a subtle form of storytelling — one that says, “I see what you’re trying to do, and I’m here to help.”

3. Narrative Video

— Tell a story worth remembering.

Narrative videos are where storytelling shows its full power.

This isn’t a list of features.

It’s not even a product demonstration.

It’s a world.

And your brand is simply living inside it.

These videos — whether short films, branded documentaries, or emotionally driven montages — do something rare in the marketing world:

they slow people down.

They hold attention.

And, most importantly, they create meaning.

A good narrative video doesn’t scream “Buy me.”

It whispers, “We see the world like you do.”

And that’s what turns strangers into loyal audiences.

Cost range:

Typically starts around $20,000 and scales with story complexity and production quality.

If that sounds like a big investment — it is.

But so is trust.

And trust is what narrative content builds best.

EXAMPLE BY JCCA

🖋 Story First, Strategy Follows

No matter which type of video you create, your story is the throughline.

Not your camera. Not your gear. Not even your script.

It’s the intention behind it all — the feeling you want to leave behind.

Because in the end, storytelling isn’t a technique.

It’s a way of being seen.