Oh, hi!
A few weeks ago, I was talking with a foundation team about their video strategy. They had beautiful, high-end productions that captured their big events but almost no engagement. When we pulled the numbers, some videos didn’t even break 100 views. Sound familiar?
What’s really going on here?
Most teams don’t have money for content at all. And when they do manage to find dollars, they pour them into the wrong places, like big event recaps instead of the steady stream of authentic, human storytelling people actually respond to.
This client did exactly that. Perfect event videos. Minimal storytelling in between.
Here are moves that every team should tattoo on their whiteboard:
✅ Use story categories — and keep them simple.
Customer Journeys. Impact in Action. Voices of Employee Leadership.
Three or four buckets. Endless possibilities.
✅ Short, authentic formats outperform expensive ones.
Thirty-second clips. Quote cards. Before-and-after shots.
These make impact visible without blowing your budget.
✅ Test and learn.
Use engagement metrics from smaller videos to see what messaging and formats actually connect. Then decide if it’s worth investing in something bigger along the same themes.
✅ A story bank saves everyone’s sanity.
One shared place for photos, quotes, clips, and ideas — searchable, taggable, reusable.
This alone is a game-changer for overworked teams.
✅ Build the capacity, not the dependency.
Not every team member needs to be a videographer but every team can contribute to storytelling.
Consider:
Quarterly “capture days.”
Workshops on mobile editing.
CapCut and Canva templates everyone can use.
Internal team members designated to capture moments across initiatives.
Small freelance support only when the work truly requires it.
This is how you move from documenting your work to sharing its meaning.
This week, test the simplest version of a Story First workflow:
1️⃣ Pick one project your customers care about.
2️⃣ Capture three quick assets on a phone:
A candid quote
One behind-the-scenes photo
A 15-second “why I do this work” clip
3️⃣ Turn them into a carousel or reel.
4️⃣ Post once before, once during, and once after the moment.
You need more stories told simply, told consistently, told by the people doing the work and the people impacted by it.
That’s how trust grows.
That’s how impact spreads.
That’s how organizations stay connected to the people they serve.
Talk soon,
—Dana
Sponsored by Orlo
This month, we’re proud to be supported by Orlo, the digital engagement platform built for the public sector.
From social media management and archiving to AI insights and customer service management, Orlo helps teams streamline communications, stay responsive, and build public trust—whether it’s crisis comms or everyday updates.
🎤 Want me to speak at your next event?
From virtual keynotes to in-person workshops, I partner with city teams, associations, and organizations to talk about what’s next in digital engagement, citizen experience, and government storytelling.
