Format Matters – Storytelling Beyond Content

Today, storytelling is no longer just about content, but above all about format. Winners are those who create the most engaging formats, which requires creativity, knowledge of social platforms, and storytelling skills. Communication is increasingly intertwined with entertainment, which is why it’s essential to know how to craft formats for brands. Formats that enhance the brand’s proposition and engage audiences like a TV series, a song, or an entertainment talk. This talk will cover how video podcasts for brands are born, companies bringing their formats live (for example, in theaters), storytelling in-store or outside stadiums (like Heinz). It will also explore events, books created to tell a company’s story, and UGC campaigns involving creators and brands. After looking at early examples—did you know “Funiculì Funiculà” was one of the first branded content pieces in history?—we’ll examine case studies that revolutionized seemingly unchangeable sectors (Kings League transformed football, Fantasanremo introduced gamification to music) and learn how to write a format, from idea to execution.