What's a hype video and how to create one for your church

A hype video is a short video designed to generate excitement, anticipation and engagement for a particular cause, event or promotion. 

Like a short commercial or promotional video, these 30-second to three-minute videos are often created for athletic events or movies. In the context of a church, a hype video can captivate and inspire the congregation, entice people to attend events or encourage them to join a campaign or ministry. 

Specifically, a hype video might be used to:

• Announce a sermon series. For example, a sermon on “running the good race” might include a video of an athlete racing toward the finish line.
  
  
• Promote vacation Bible school. VBS creators often promote their curriculum with a short clip that can be shared on social media and with the congregation.
  
  
• Invite people to attend an annual holiday event. A montage of clips from the previous year’s event can give an idea of what attendees can expect and help garner volunteers.
  
  
• Encourage congregants to give more. A story resonates better than a financial statement.
  
  
• Excite an audience about a particular ministry. A brief video is a great tool to help your audience learn more about a ministry and how they can get involved.
  
  
• Introduce a new staff member. Give your congregation a chance to meet and get to know staff members with a promo reel.

Hype videos are great to use during your Sunday morning announcements, as a sermon tool, in small groups and, especially, with your online audience. Since social media platforms often prioritize videos over text posts, videos can help increase how often your post is shared and help you to reach a broader audience.   

Here are nine steps to create your very own hype video:

1. Gather your media. Collect high-quality video footage, digital photos and audio files that are related to whatever you are promoting and the message you want to send. If you don’t have these on file, ask your congregation to submit photos or clips. Don’t know where to start? Check out this all-in-one guide.
   
   
2. Craft a narrative. Determine the story or message you want to convey. Outline the key points and sequence of visuals to ensure a cohesive and engaging narrative. Incorporate testimonials to add credibility and authenticity. Remember, these videos are short. So, don’t write a book. Keep your message succinct.
   
   
3. Choose a hype video creator. You can hire a professional to create a video for you, or you can download one of the many free or reasonably priced tools and do it yourself. Compare programs to make sure that the one you choose meets your church’s specific needs and technical requirements.
   
   
4. Follow the program’s instructions to import the digital files.
   
   
5. Choose a template. Keep the design, color schemes and overall branding consistent with your church's image to maintain a cohesive and recognizable identity.
   
   
6. Customize and edit the video. Add your uploaded clips, photos or text. Choose from program options to include music, voiceovers, transitions and animated elements. Provide closed captions or subtitles.
   
   
7. Incorporate a clear and concise call to action such as “register for this event,” “sign up now,” “share this video,” “give here” or “visit this site.”
   
   
8. Once complete, save the file and download it onto your device. Some applications give you the option to download various formats specific to different social media platforms. Ensure that the hype video is optimized for mobile devices since a significant portion of the audience will very likely view the video on a smartphone or tablet.
   
   
9. Share the video on screen during worship services as well as on various social media platforms, the church website, in emails and in digital newsletters.

With easier-than-ever video creation tools, you can discover what the hype is all about. Capture excitement and drive participation with a church hype video. Create yours today.