The Styles of Popular Videos

Want to make an amazing video, but not quite sure where to start?

Let's take a quick look at the common styles of popular videos to provide some inspiration.

We will then take a more in depth look at each popular video style and hear about some successful case studies in each category. This should give you some good ideas as to what web video styles you may like to consider.

15 Popular Video Styles

1.) Funny Videos

On the internet, comedy is king. People love to laugh and funny videos have been proven time and time again to be extremely popular on the internet. If they are spectacularly funny, they can often go on to become a hit viral video.

2.) Weird Videos

As humans we are often fascinated by the strange and weird things in life - the conspiracy theories and the mysteries of the unexplained. The web has always been a haven for bizarre information, and web videos are no exception.

3.) Extreme Videos

Extreme videos usually cover a wide range of extreme sports and stunts - the dare-devil acts fueled by adrenaline. Skydiving, base jumping, snow boarding, skateboarding are just some of the popular examples commonly seen.

4.) Celebrity Videos

We all want to know what is going on in the lives of celebrities, and so celebrity gossip videos have really taken off in popularity. They are often satirical in nature, like Michael Buckley's hugely successful Youtube show 'What the Buck?'

5.) Gross Videos

As much as I'd like to keep this list relatively sophisticated, I can't ignore the statistics on Youtube. It is really obvious that there is a mass appeal for gross videos. All one has to do is look at the number of websites dedicated to Fart Videos to realise there is an enormous audience out there waiting with baited breath to watch these funny videos.

6.) Animation Videos

Animations are popular videos when it comes to entertaining, creating short films, or presenting a message in a memorable way. There are many styles of animation from stop motion (often involving people, objects, and leggo people) through to 2D and 3D animation, and claymation.

7.) Demonstration Videos

Demonstration videos are a popular style when it comes to showing off a product and the results it can produce. They can be very effective at selling and are often embedded on product websites.

8.) Shocking Videos

Viewers love to shocked - to learn the shocking truth behind some fast food scandal or to see that something shocking has actually been proven to be real. These popular videos often provoke a strong reaction in the viewer.

9.) Tech news videos

With web technology in a state of rapid change, tech news videos often present a summary of the latest findings, products & company launches on the web, helping you to sort through all the information overload so prevalent on the internet.

10.) Inspirational Videos

We all love to feel inspired, and it can be a great way to brighten up your day by watching an inspiring video. It is easy to see why they become popular videos as people often bookmark them, or forward them to friends.

11.) Sexy Videos

Sex sells - it's a fact, so it's obvious that sexy videos are going to be popular in the online world. Although I'd like to point out here, that these videos don't have to explicit. Some of the popular web commercials currently circulating the internet are a cleverly marketed combination of some comedy with cleavage.

12.) Music Videos & Dance Videos

Bring on the beat. There is a wide range in these styles - from the music clips released by famous singers/bands and their record companies, to bands independently creating and releasing their own music videos, to all the funny amateur dance videos out there (of which there is an abundance). A good catchy tune can stick in the viewer's mind for quite some time.

13.) How to Videos / Instructional Videos

People love free information and how-to videos are a fantastic way to provide real value to your viewer. There are how to videos out there on a wide range of topics - from software video tutorials through to yoga breathing techniques. What knowledge do you have to share?

14.) Personal Videos

We are often curious about other people's lives - to hear their stories, to relate to people with similar interests. Personal videos often feature insights into a person's life as they sit in front of the camera and vent about what is going on for them in their life, or their views on various topics.

15.) Travel Videos

Travel videos are tipped to be one of the next big things in the realm of online video. They are like a moving holiday brochure giving the viewer a feel for a destination and its tourist attraction. Some hotels are also creating videos to give potential guests a tour inside their premises.

Take Action

The style that you focus on will really depend on two main factors:

• Who is your audience?
• What is your purpose / aim behind the video?

As you begin creating your web videos, you may find that you develop a combination of several different styles.

When you create your own personal style, your videos become more unique, recognizable and reinforce your brand.

Stumble It!

Return from Popular Videos to Web Video Virtuoso