Today, the smallest startups are facing the same challenges as the largest brands–standing out online. As AI is transforming the way businesses get discovered online, video is important forever. Luckily, with easy yet powerful video makers like Animoto, anyone can create professional and engaging videos, regardless of budgets or video expertise. And you can do the same!
Here are examples of how three different brands used Animoto to tell their stories, make connections, and reach new audiences through video.
Despite their different industries, these stories share common threads: authenticity, visual storytelling, and the power of video. Let’s dive in to learn more about how they did it, and how you can too.
Rescue Chocolate: Inspiring change through storytelling
The challenge:
Rescue Chocolate is an artisan chocolate company with a cause. Every bar sold helps support animal rescue organizations, with a special focus on misunderstood breeds like Pit Bulls. After a controversial bill was passed that would have increased the number Pit Bull euthanizations, Founder Sarah Gross needed to spread the word and gain support fast.
The video strategy:
Sarah combined clips of adorable rescue dogs, her chocolate-making process, and messaging about the company’s mission into one powerful video. By sharing their emotional story, amazing impact, and urgency of the situation, they were able to create a video that mobilized an online audience.
The video:
The results:
- Garnered over one million views after going viral
- Attracted widespread support from animal lovers and new audiences
- Significantly boosted brand awareness
- Helped drive donations for dog rescues across the country and save more Pit Bulls through increased visibility and funding
The takeaway:
When you pair storytelling with visuals and music, your mission becomes magnetic. Especially for cause-driven brands, video creates an emotional connection that inspires action like no other medium.
Read Rescue Chocolate's full story
Peanut Blossom: A blogger’s recipe for viral growth
The challenge:
Tiffany Dahle runs Peanut Blossom, a lifestyle blog focused on family-friendly recipes and activities. Like many bloggers, she was searching for ways to expand her reach beyond her regular readership and increase engagement on social platforms.
The video strategy:
Tiffany used Animoto to repurpose a photo-heavy blog post into a quick, engaging video. With step-by-step images, helpful captions, and a soundtrack to match, she transformed a static recipe post into a scroll-stopping video for Facebook.
The video:
The results:
- Achieved 1.4 million+ views and 42,000+ engagements
- Surpassed typical reach of just 1,200 views
- Helped grow the blog’s audience and social following
- Contributed to an increase in affiliate revenue
- Demonstrated how a single video can create viral-level exposure for content creators
The takeaway:
Content creators of all sizes can turn existing assets like blogs into high-performing videos. Video doesn’t need to be long or complex to drive massive reach—it just needs to be clear, on-brand, and shareable.
Read Peanut Blossom's full story
City Girl Flowers: Small florist landing big clients
The challenge:
City Girl Flowers is a boutique floral studio known for its modern floral designs and community-centric approach. Founder Jodi Rowson wanted a way to showcase her team’s artistry and the behind-the-scenes magic that sets their business apart.
Jodi had her hands full and wasn’t an experienced video creator, so she needed a way to quickly and easily turn her photos and clips into pro videos.
The video strategy:
Using Animoto, Jodi created a short video that blended images of her floral arrangements, footage of her team at work, and a warm, personal message. With upbeat music and captions that matched her brand’s tone, the result was a video that not only looked professional but felt authentically "City Girl."
The results:
- Reached 24.5K viewers through social sharing
- Secured three new corporate accounts
- Expanded services to include a subscription-style floral offering for a local business
- Transformed a creative showcase video into a powerful driver of business growth
The takeaway:
Video is more persuasive than static photos because it helps potential clients envision the experience and trust in the professionalism of your brand. With Animoto, you can easily turn photos into impressive videos in minutes.
Read City Girl Flowers' full story
How to bring the power of video to your business
Inspired by these success stories? You don’t need to be a video pro or have a big budget to start seeing real results. Whether you're a solopreneur, small business owner, nonprofit, or content creator, you can easily harness the power of video with a few smart strategies.
Here are some practical tips to get started:
- Start with what you already have: Use existing photos, product images, customer testimonials, or blog content. Repurpose them into simple slideshows or explainer videos with music and text overlays.
- Leverage Animoto’s templates: Save time and skip the guesswork by starting with a customizable video template designed for your industry or use case.
- Tell a story, not a sales pitch: Focus on what makes your business human—your mission, your team, your customers. People connect emotionally with stories, not just features.
- Keep it short and focused: Aim for 30 to 90 seconds. Short videos are more likely to be watched to the end and shared.
- Stay on brand: Choose colors, fonts, and music that reflect your brand’s personality.
- End with a strong call-to-action: What should viewers do next—visit your website, book an appointment, donate, or share? Be clear and direct.
- Test, post, and learn: Don’t wait for perfection. Try different types of videos and track engagement. Learn what resonates and refine as you go.
Ready to dive in? Sign up for a free Animoto account and follow along with this step-by-step guide.
Create videos with big impact and little effort
Whether it’s landing corporate clients, expanding a mission-driven movement, or skyrocketing blog engagement, these three stories show that video marketing is within everyone’s reach.
Video is cost-effective, it’s fast, and most importantly, it works.
If you’re ready to get more eyes on your business or cause, take a page from their playbooks. Start with a story, add some visuals, and hit play. Your next big win might be just one video away.
