14 Jul Using Video to Humanise Your Brand

In today’s saturated digital market, people aren’t just buying products or services – they’re buying into people, values, and stories. That’s where humanised video storytelling makes all the difference with powerful video content turning faceless brands into relatable, trusted names.

When we work with clients to create videos to humanise their brand, we focus on more than just shooting beautiful footage – we dig into the how and why behind the message. Here are a few strategies we use to create authentic brand storytelling through video:

1. Make It Personal

People relate to people. That’s why we encourage brands to feature real employees, real customers, and unscripted behind-the-scenes moments. There’s magic in seeing the face of the person who designs your products, packs your orders, or answers the customer service phone. These individuals are your brand’s story.

2. Focus on Authenticity

Audiences don’t want perfect. They want real. Absolutely there is a place for a perfectly worded script, but when it comes to videos aimed at building connection, unscripted and natural is the way to go. A little stutter or laugh on camera is far more endearing than a rehearsed marketing line. Authenticity builds trust. It’s raw, it’s honest and it works.

Let the corporate mask fall – as even the best story falls flat if it sounds robotic or overly polished. Today’s audiences, especially younger generations, have a strong “authenticity radar.” They can spot a sales pitch a mile away. When people speak in their own words, even if it’s imperfect, it feels true and that’s what resonates.

3. Showcase Company Culture

What’s it like to work at your company? What do your team members value? What rituals, traditions, or quirks make your workplace unique? Transparency builds trust and customers are more likely to buy into what you do when they understand how and why you do it.

Office life, team outings, celebrations, and leadership messages help audiences see the human side of your operations. Culture videos not only connect with customers – they help with hiring, retention, and internal morale. We’ve seen companies use these as onboarding tools and social media gold.

4. Highlight Customer Stories

One of the most emotionally compelling ways of using video to humanise your brand is to tell your customers’ stories – not your own, and making heroes of your clients. Focus on who your customer is, what problems they faced, and how your brand fits into their journey.

Whether it’s a small business owner overcoming a challenge or a family using your product in a meaningful way, these stories let your audience see your impact through someone else’s eyes.

Auckland City Toyota video

5. Leverage Emotional Storytelling

Emotion drives action. We always look for the heartbeat in every story: What’s at stake? What changed? Who grew? The most powerful videos don’t just inform – they move people. Even in a corporate setting, there’s room for moments that make people tear up, smile, or reflect. That’s the stuff people remember and share.

6. Use Different Formats

There’s no one-size-fits-all video. The format should serve the story. Here are a few of our favorites for humanising your brand:

• Employee Spotlights – Short profiles of individual team members doing what they do best. Great for social content and internal use.
• Day-in-the-Life Videos – Follow someone from morning to end of day. Real, immersive, and engaging.
• Founder Stories – Go deep on your brand’s origin. What inspired the beginning? What values is the company founded upon?
• Mini Documentaries – Tightly focused, documentary-style pieces that explore a customer’s journey, your mission, or your culture.
• Message-from-the-CEO – Personal, informal videos from leadership that feel more like a conversation than a scripted presentation.

Connection Over Perfection

At the end of the day, human-centered storytelling is about connection. It’s not about being script perfect. In fact, imperfection often makes you more relatable.

The brands we’ve seen grow most meaningfully aren’t the ones with the flashiest videos – they’re the ones with the most real videos. The ones brave enough to say, “Here we are. This is who we are, our purpose. And we want you to know us.”

Let’s chat about using video to humanise your brand – we’d love to help you bring your story to life.

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