Write a Television Promo Script

Write a Television Promo Script

Write a Television Promo Script : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.

Television promo scripts are short promotional blurbs that are often read during a television program. They should last no more than a couple of seconds, since a program is already airing or the director will soon cue a commercial. Writing a short, concise, yet effective promo script takes some skill and talent. However, anyone, even someone with no experience writing one, can easily learn to do it. If you need to learn how, read the steps outlined below as a guide for writing your own script.

• Know what your promo is about. First, know the purpose of the promo script you need to write. Ask the product or brand manager what exactly needs to be said, especially if contact numbers must be broadcast. Learn the mechanics of the promo and, if the product has a tagline, make sure you get it right.
• Make a draft. Once you know the basic details of the promo, start writing a draft of what needs to be said. After you have all the basics written down, start adding promotional and catchy words that will make your audience listen. A sample draft for a travel promo could read: “Expert Travel announces its 25th year of providing fun and easy packaged tours with a ‘Fly one, Fly all’ promo! All you need to do is to book a flight from April 1 to June 30, and you instantly get a chance to win an unlimited flight pass for 6 months!”
• Make another draft. Unfortunately, great scripts do not come from one draft alone. You will write several drafts, each with a slightly different approach, to make sure you get what the product manager needs. Be prepared to write at least 5 different versions, and expect several revisions of each. This is normal in script writing.
• Include other materials, such as audio clips and visuals. Depending on the type of promo and the amount of time you have, you can insert brief audio clips, such as the product jingle, to further enhance the recall factor of your commercial script. You can also include visual props, especially if you know you will be on camera while reading the script. If you have a product sample with you, that is even better, so the camera can zoom in on it. If you are promoting a concert tour, a sample poster would also be great.

Once all your materials are in place and your draft is approved, try doing a mock run of the commercial and record it while you rehearse so you can catch any inappropriate words or actions while reading the script. This is the equivalent of proofreading your work for a commercial script. Remember to keep the brand in mind as you deliver, since this is all about the product.