Making content for social media can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Everyone’s doing the usual “how-to” videos, but they don’t always get people’s attention. They’re helpful, but often get lost in a sea of the same old stuff. If you want your videos to stand out, get shared, and connect with people, try these.
Here are four social media video ideas that spark curiosity and build real connections: Challenge Videos, Mistake Videos, Storytelling Videos, and better How-To videos!
People love watching someone try something new or tough and wondering, “Will they pull it off?” It’s all about the surprise and seeing real effort, which makes it feel genuine and fun.
Making mistakes and figuring things out on the spot, that kind of real stuff is exactly what people want to see.
Here are some tips for your own challenge videos:
Pick a challenge that fits what you do but has a bit of a challenge or risk to keep it interesting.
Show your honest reactions, whether you’re frustrated, excited, or shocked.
Nobody wants to mess up, and that fear of making mistakes is something everyone gets. You can use that to your advantage in your videos by turning a boring topic like “how to clean your brass jewellery” into something more eye-catching, like “The common jewelry care mistake that’s dulling your handmade pieces (and how to avoid it).”
Mistake videos work because they feel urgent and helpful, and they add a little suspense, people want to watch so they don’t fall into those traps themselves.
Here’s how to make mistake videos that grab attention:
Find common slip-ups or myths in your niche.
Use punchy, attention-grabbing titles and intros.
Show what goes wrong when someone makes that mistake, either visually or by telling a story.
Always finish with a clear tip or fix to give real value.
For example, Baabuk might share, “The biggest mistake ruining your wool footwear, and how to keep them looking fresh.” Ajiri Tea might highlight, “The common tea brewing mistake wasting flavor every time.” Collingwood-Norris Knitwear could talk about, “How not storing your knitwear properly is shortening its life, here’s what to do instead.”
Here's a simple example from Laura Jackson.
People have been telling stories forever and social media is no different. Storytelling videos are all about sharing real experiences, whether it’s something personal, a client’s journey, or even a funny behind-the-scenes moment. These kinds of videos help people connect with your brand on a human level and keep them watching until the end.
It could be a story about overcoming a challenge, a big win for a customer, or just a relatable moment that shows the real side of your business. These stories make your brand feel real and memorable.
Here’s what makes a good storytelling video:
Think about the story arc! A story arc is the journey a story takes from a beginning that introduces a challenge or conflict, through rising action and a climax, to a resolution that shows change or a takeaway.
Start with something that grabs attention and makes people want to keep watching.
Keep your story simple and focused on one clear message.
Use real visuals and genuine emotions to bring the story to life.
Finish with a takeaway or ask your viewers to do something.
How-to videos are still super useful, especially when you want to teach something or show how your product works. But by themselves, they usually don’t get as much attention as challenge, mistake, or storytelling videos.
To make your how-tos more interesting:
Mix in ideas from the other types, like turning it into a challenge or pointing out common mistakes people make.
Tell a story around the tutorial, why the skill matters to you or how it helped someone.
Keep things moving fast and visually fun with quick cuts, captions, and graphics so people don’t lose interest.
Start with a hook that promises a useful tip or cool result right away.
When you jazz up your how-to videos like this, they’re way more likely to get shared and watched all the way through, which means more people see them and your message gets out there.
People scroll through social media super fast and don’t stick around for boring stuff. If your videos surprise them, make them feel something, or get them involved, they’re way more likely to stop and share.
Challenge videos are great because we all love a bit of suspense and seeing someone push themselves.
Mistake videos work because people want to avoid messing up, they’re curious and a little scared.
Storytelling videos help you build trust and make a real connection.
And upgraded how-to videos mix helpful tips with fun and stories to keep things interesting.
Using a mix of these ideas gives you a solid plan that keeps your content fresh and makes people want to come back for more.