If you’re here, we’re betting you desperately want to say something out loud that you don’t feel like you should.
So we’ll say it for you.
Ready?
You’re tired.
You’re tired of content for content’s sake. Tired of the endless scroll, the pressure to post, the constant demand to create more just to keep up. We all feel it—the crushing weight of an internet drowning in noise. And for what? Because the marketing playbook says we should. Because the algorithms demand it. Because if we stop, we’ll disappear.
But here’s the truth: content isn’t moving the needle. Not like it used to.
Content is exhausting. What cuts through isn’t content. It’s signal. Meaning. Storytelling. A message with real human connection in mind.
If you’re reading this, odds are you’re struggling to define that message. Maybe you’re planning a marketing video but can’t quite articulate the story. Maybe you’re rolling out a campaign but don’t know how to frame it so people actually care. Maybe you’re just sick of making noise and ready to say something that matters.
That’s what this is about.
Imagine a vintage radio. At first, all you hear is static—a mess of noise with no meaning. But with careful tuning, a signal emerges, crisp and clear. That’s what your marketing message should feel like. If you don’t fine-tune your message, turning up the volume won’t help. More content, more posts, more noise—it’s just static. The real impact comes when you dial in the right message.
A strong message starts with answering five key questions. Not fluff, not filler—just clarity.
1. The Core Problem: What’s Plaguing Your Audience?
• What’s the biggest frustration your customers face that leads them to you?
• What’s stopping them from getting the outcome they want?
• What happens if they don’t solve this problem?
People don’t take action unless there’s a reason to. What’s pushing them to search for a solution? Define that, and you have the foundation of your message.
2. The Industry Status Quo: What’s the “Wrong Way” That’s Failing?
• How does your industry typically address this problem?
• Why doesn’t that approach work?
• What do customers assume they need—but actually don’t?
Most industries follow a script. But what if that script is broken? If you can pinpoint where conventional wisdom is failing, you instantly position your message as a signal in the noise.
3. The Breakthrough: How Is Your Solution Different?
• What’s the single most important belief that makes your solution work?
• If customers truly understood one thing about your business, what should it be?
• How do you make things easier, faster, or better than anyone else?
This is where your message shifts from problem to solution. If your audience only remembers one idea, make it this one.
4. The Emotional & Practical Stakes: Why Does This Matter?
• What’s at risk for customers if they don’t change?
• How do they feel before they work with you? How do they feel after?
• What’s a common “aha” moment your customers have when they work with you?
Facts don’t move people. Feelings do. Your message needs emotional weight—something that makes people lean in.
5. The Big Idea: What’s the One Belief That Could Change Everything?
• If your business could be summed up in one powerful belief, what would it be?
• What’s the most controversial or counterintuitive truth about your industry that people need to hear?
This is your headline, your rallying cry. It’s the idea that makes people stop, think, and remember you. Like these:
“Got Milk?”
“Open Happiness.”
“The Few. The Proud.”
“Belong Anywhere.”
“Because a Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste.”
“No Child Should Grow Up Hungry.”
“It’s Not TV. It’s HBO.”
“The Ultimate Driving Machine.”
“Because the Earth Needs a Good Lawyer.”
“Every Kid Deserves a Champion.”
“Imagine a World Where No One Fights Cancer Alone.”
“We’re Not Just Building Homes, We’re Building Hope.”
“You Don’t Need More Content. You Need More Connection.”
“The Right Story, Told the Right Way, Changes Everything.”
“Not All Who Wander Are Lost—Some Are Just Finding a Better Way.”
“When We Stand Together, Change Becomes Possible.”
“What Happens Here, Stays Here.”
“Stronger Than Yesterday.”
“Think Small. Dream Big.”
“Because You’re Worth It.”
“Just Do It.”
“Think Different.”
“Eras Tour”
What makes all these so great?
• They’re simple – No fluff, no jargon.
• They’re emotional – They tap into desires, frustrations, or aspirations.
• They’re magnetic – They don’t just describe a product/service. They create an identity for the audience.
Want to craft one for your brand? Start with what your audience should believe—not just what you sell.
Less Noise, More Meaning
The problem with most marketing today isn’t effort. It’s direction. It’s not that people aren’t trying—it’s that they’re spending all their energy creating content without a message that actually matters.
Marketing isn’t about content. It’s about connection.
When you stop feeding the content machine and start telling stories that matter, everything changes.
So here’s the challenge: Cut the noise. Find the signal. Say something that actually moves people.
And if you’re not sure where to start, we can help.
the
we're storyteller studios
In 2013, we started leveraging the power of documentary-style film for brands and causes in our hometown of Springfield, Illinois (hence our affinity for Lincoln).
Since then, we’ve worked with clients nationally and traveled to cities including Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Des Moines.
No matter where you are, we’d be honored to serve your brand next.
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Every effective marketing video relies on three essential ingredients that make it resonate with audiences and drive results—discover what they are and how they can make your next video project a success.