Choosing the Right Video Production Style for Your Business

If you're thinking about making a video for your business, you're already on the right track. Videos can help you grab attention, tell your story, and connect with your audience in a way that sticks. However, the success of your video marketing hinges significantly on one crucial decision: choosing the right style for your videos.

Whether it’s an explainer, a testimonial, or a quick social clip, the style you choose can make a big difference in how your message lands. In this post, we’ll walk you through the different types of video styles and how to pick the one that actually works for your goals.

Let’s get into it.

First, Let’s Breakdown “Style”

Different production companies have different terms for their services. 

At Levitate, when we say “video style”, we’re referring to the look of the video (2D animation, Live Action, 3D animation, mixed media, etc.) When we say “video type”, we’re referring to the use case of the video (testimonial, social video, commercial, product demo, etc.) 

So you could have a video where the style is 3D animation and the type is a product demo.

HOWEVER, for the purpose of this blog - let’s think of style holistically. 

The right style for your business means both the look and type align perfectly with your brand, message, and intended purpose. 

Importance of Choosing the Right Video Style

The selection of an appropriate video style isn't just a creative decision - it's a strategic one. When you choose the right style for your video content, you're laying a solid foundation that supports your broader business objectives. Here's why it matters:

• Brand Fit: A good style should feel like you. It should match your brand’s vibe and keep things consistent across your marketing.
  
• Better Engagement: When your video looks and feels right to your audience, they’re more likely to pay attention and take action.
  
• More ROI: The right style helps your message land (and can likely be repurposed into more content!), so you get more value out of your video spend.

How to Choose the Right Video Style

Choosing a video style isn’t just about what looks good, it’s about what works for your brand, your goals, and your audience. Here's how to make that call:

Start With Your Brand

Before you pick a style, take a good look at who you are as a brand.

• Voice & Tone: Is your brand serious and professional, or more casual and conversational? Your video's tone should match.
  
• Look & Feel: Go for a visual style that fits your brand’s personality - clean and minimal, bold and energetic, or sleek and polished.
  
• Check the Competition: See what kinds of videos your competitors are using. What's working for them? And where is there a gap you can fill to stand out?
  

Know What Your Video Needs to Do

Once you’ve nailed down your brand vibe, get clear on the goal of your video. That’ll guide everything from scripting to style.

• What’s the Objective?
  Are you trying to explain, entertain, sell, or build awareness? Different goals need different styles. An explainer video works for education, a short social clip for awareness, or a strong testimonial to build trust.
  
• Keep It Focused
  Stick to a few key messages (2–3 max). That way your audience remembers what matters—and actually watches to the end.
  
• Define Success
  Are you aiming for clicks? Shares? Sign-ups? Knowing what success looks like helps shape the content and lets you measure if it’s working.

Know Your Audience (Like, Really Know Them)

If you want your video to connect, you’ve got to know who you're talking to. What do they care about? What are they struggling with? How do they like to consume content? The better you understand them, the better your video will perform.

Here’s how to get there:

• Do Some Digging
  You probably have your customer profile down pat, but dig a little deeper to consider the specific audience for your video. Is it for your whole audience? A specific layer of the funnel? Clients? Consider things like distribution. Will they see it on social? Get an email? Go to your site to see it? Most importantly, get to the bottom of what drives their decisions - that’s where your video content can hit home. 

• Tell Stories That Stick
  Once you know what matters to them, use storytelling to show you get it. Create scenarios they’ll relate to, and present your product or service as the solution to their problem. The more they see themselves in your content, the more likely they are to take action. Generally speaking, solving their specific pain points + highlighting what sets you apart + addressing their objections in advance + social proof = persuasive video.
  

• Test, Learn, Repeat
  Try different versions and see what gets the best response. You don’t have to create 20 videos, repurpose one to test out different lengths and formats. Watch your metrics and listen to feedback. Over time, you’ll get a clear picture of what clicks with your audience (and what doesn’t).
  

Pick the Right Video Type & Style

First things first: what type of video are you making? Knowing that will usually help dictate the best visual style to go with. Some are no-brainers (most customer testimonials are live- action), but some can vary widely (commercials & promos could be live, animated, or a mix of the two!)

Start with the Video Type

Figure out what you want the video to do, then choose the format that fits best. Here are some common types:

• Customer testimonials: Real people, real results, builds trust & cred ‍
• How-to or tutorial videos:  Great for explaining processes or products‍
• About- us or company culture: Humanize your brand & create loyalty‍
• Explainer videos: Simplify complex topics & drive action‍
• Social media videos:  Quick, punchy, and designed to stop the scroll
  

Then Choose the Visual Style

Once you know the type, think about how it should look:

• Live Action (Studio): Polished, like a commercial
  
• Live Action (On Location or Remote): Real-life, authentic feel
  
• 2D Animation: Great for explainer videos or playful vibes
  
• 3D Animation: Sleek, modern, impeccable detail
  
• Mixed Media: A blend of live action and animation styles for a custom look
  

A Few Pro Tips

If you’re on the fence about your video style, or just want to be super thorough with your decision, here are some pro tips that might help guide your decision.

Consider These Questions

• What’s the goal?
  Are you trying to educate, inspire, or drive clicks? Different goals call for different formats. Want to simplify a complex topic? Explainers work wonders. Need something fast and flashy for social? Try a sizzle reel. The video should match your goal, not the other way around.
  
• What’s your budget and timeline?
  Live and animated videos can vary a lot in terms of cost, production time, and what’s needed to pull them off. Start knowing when you need your video and how much you want to invest.
  
• Where’s your viewer in the buyer journey?
  Are you going for general brand awareness & need something short to inspire interest? Or is your viewer further down the funnel, where people need way more detail and information to drive their decision?

Tailor Your Video To Match Its Home

Where your video lives is just as important as what it says. Each platform comes with its own rules, some technical, some behavioral, and it’s worth adjusting your content to match.

• Length + Layout Matter:
  Short and vertical (9:16) works best for TikTok and Instagram Reels (think under 60 seconds). YouTube is better for longer, horizontal (16:9) content that dives deeper. (Also good for your website & sales demos) LinkedIn? Keep it sharp and professional, usually 2–3 minutes tops.
  
• Make It Easy to Watch (Anywhere):
  Lots of people watch on mute, especially on social. Add captions, subtitles, or bold text overlays so your message still lands without sound.
  
• Plan to Repurpose:
  Want more ROI from each shoot? Capture extra footage, alternate takes, or different versions while you're filming. With a little planning, you can create multiple assets for different platforms without starting from scratch every time.
  

Keep Up With What’s Working Now

Video is always changing - formats, features, and what people respond to. Staying current doesn’t mean chasing every trend, but it does mean keeping your eyes open.

• Watch What’s Emerging:
  Interactive video, clickable content, AI-personalized experiences - there’s a lot happening. Pay attention to the stuff that aligns with your goals, not just what’s shiny and new.
  
• Test Before You Invest:
  Not sure if a new format will work for your brand? Run a quick pilot. Use a low-lift version to see how your audience reacts before going all in.
  
• Let Your Data Guide You:
  Trends are great, but analytics are better. Track what’s actually getting watched, shared, and acted on. Dig into your competition. That’s where your video strategy should evolve from.
  

Ready to Make Video Work Harder for You?

Whether you need an explainer, a standout testimonial, or a full library of content to fuel your marketing, our team at Levitate Media is here to help. We make the process easy, collaborative, and focused on results. Let’s talk about what kind of video will actually move the needle for your business.