How to Write a Whiteboard Video Script: Steps + Templates

Ever wondered what makes whiteboard videos so captivating? 

It’s not just the catchy message—it's the script, my friend!

But let's be real—when it comes to writing a whiteboard video script, it can feel like scaling Mount Everest. 

Anyone can ideate, but translating your idea into a script?

That's where many hit a roadblock.

Since the video concept of a whiteboard video is so dependent on the flow of the script, the entire creation needs to go hand in hand strategically. 

If you also want to create such a video and the sole thing stopping you is not knowing how to write a whiteboard video script, don’t give up just yet.

Our guide is here to help! 

Here, we’ve broken down the entire scripting process into 10 easy steps and have also included templates to kickstart your scripting journey. 

So, trust the process and get started!

1. How to Write a Whiteboard Video Script: Step-by-Step
   1. Step 1: Define Your Objective and Audience
   2. Step 2: Determine the Length of Your Video
   3. Step 3: Choose the Main Character for Your Video
   4. Step 4: Create a Brief
   5. Step 5: Start Writing Your Script, Section By Section
   6. Step 6: Outline Your Script
   7. Step 7: Edit Your Video Script
   8. Step 9: Be Ready For Post-Storyboard Script Changes
   9. Step 10: It’s Not Final Until It’s Recorded
2. 3 Whiteboard Video Script Templates
   1. How-to Whiteboard Video Script Template
   2. Educational Whiteboard Video Script Template
   3. Product Tour or Explainer Video Script Template

How to Write a Whiteboard Video Script: Step-by-Step

What’s a song without a melody? Similarly, what’s a video without a script?

The script is the foundation—the skeleton that holds everything together.

So, if you want to create standout whiteboard videos, you’ll need to start with a solid script.

But how do you get started?

Begin by defining your objective and target audience. Let’s learn exactly how in the steps below-

Step 1: Define Your Objective and Audience

Every video serves a purpose. What's yours?

Decide what you want viewers to do after watching—buy your product, change a habit, etc.

Once you have the answer to these questions, you’ll know what exactly you want to share in the video.

This clarity will guide your script.

You also need to know who your audience is.

Remember–speak to them, not at them. 

Prioritize understanding who exactly you're reaching and what will make them listen. 

Focus on solving your audience's problems with your product. 

Writing with a specific target in mind deepens your connection with the audience and increases the video’s effectiveness.

Now, once this step is completed, you need to reach a consensus on the duration of the video.

Step 2: Determine the Length of Your Video

The answer to ‘What to Share’ is ready, now let’s decide how long the video is going to be. 

When you know what duration you have in hand, you have a reference point.

It lets you plan accurately what amount of info you'll be able to cover in that one video.

How can this be of help?

It lets you decide how many points you’d like to discuss.

Remember don't try to convey too much in too short of a time.

Even if you have time to discuss many points, don’t add too many to your script.

Why?

Well, more points simply mean less time in hand for discussing each one.

What this will do is—‘not let your main point shine’.

Basically, dilute its impact.

Many writing experts push the idea of one-message script for a good reason.

The more time and effort you are able to dedicate to the main point of your video, the more it will resonate with viewers.

But, what to do if you have multiple messages?

Arrange them based on their importance.

Then determine the sequence in which they will appear in your script.

Consider the order of your points carefully for maximum retention—viewers are more likely to remember a point that is introduced early and then revisited, rather than one mentioned only at the end of the video.

Now, with your script's main message and flow in mind, it's time to choose your main character. Let’s see how in the coming point.

Step 3: Choose the Main Character for Your Video (Optional)

Characters play a monumental role in visual storytelling and can be a great addition to your whiteboard video.

So, before you start crafting your script, you can decide to go with a main character or persona for the video.

This will help put focus on storytelling rather than just promoting an idea, making it easier for your audience to connect.

Your main character could be your ideal customer, CEO, celebrity, your product, or narrator in your brand voice. 

If you're unsure who your main character should be, think about your goals and target audience. 

Consider who your buyer persona would trust to hear from at this stage.

Once you've decided on your main character, outline their—traits, quirks, and voice. 

This helps create a recallable and relatable character for your audience. 

Next step, determine how this character relates to your product. 

Will you explore their background or share a specific experience where your product made a difference?

But remember—not all whiteboard videos have a protagonist.

So, you can make one even without a main character.

Just ensure that all other essential elements are included in it.

After you are done deciding all this, make sure to draft a brief.

Step 4: Create a Brief

Now that you have locked in your objective, target audience, video duration, and main character, the next step is to create a brief.

What does it do though?

It documents the answers to key project questions, clarifying the—who, what, when, where, and why of your video.

Imagine you're nearly done editing when your boss suddenly wants to overhaul half of your video—that's a major issue. 

Such challenges can affect your whiteboard animation video cost, timing, and even the overall campaign. 

However, with a brief in hand, you can refer back to the goals and project plan agreed upon with your team and assert, "Actually, that's not what we decided on."

Thus, a brief can be a great help to you and your whiteboard team.

While drafting it, you need to stay focused on your goals, topic, and key takeaways.

It doesn't need to be super fancy or follow a specific format, it just needs to answer critical questions to craft an effective video script-

• What is the specific topic of the video? (For example, if you're in the fitness industry, the topic might be "effective workout routines.")
• What are the main points viewers should learn from the video?
• What is our call to action? What do we want viewers to do after watching?

You can use Google Docs to create a dynamic brief that can evolve over time. This will allow your team to collaborate seamlessly.

Once you've chosen a topic and outlined your brief, it's time to start drafting your video script. 

Start by writing your script as discussed below.

Step 5: Start Writing Your Script, Section By Section

Keep it clear and concise! 

Your script's main goal is to effectively deliver your message, not win awards.

A good script helps you communicate your message effectively while still sounding natural and conversational.

1. Write Conversationally

Writing a script is unlike writing college papers or marketing reports.

They are all about conveying ideas in a conversational and audience-centric way.

For example, for scripting, "I'll show you how it works" sounds more natural than "I will demonstrate how it functions." 

So, always keep your sentences short and simple, and avoid using compound sentences.

Also, be cautious with metaphors. 

While they can be great for building everyday conversation, they are quite risky for whiteboard video scripting. 

Using multiple metaphors can confuse your audience and clash with the visuals.

Here are some other mistakes to avoid while creating a whiteboard animation video.

2. Write with Pictures in Mind

Now, you shouldn’t forget that we are talking about writing whiteboard video scripts and they are quite different from the usual explainer scripts.

Whiteboard scripts are a race against the clock! 

You need to craft a captivating story that unveils alongside the visuals, all within a tight timeframe.

Remember—the script whispers, but the visuals shout! 

Whiteboard animation is rooted in the concept of ‘show don’t tell’, it's the visuals that truly draw viewers in and make them eager to hear your message.

Each aspect of your script is further broken down in the visuals in a way that visuals almost act as an aid to the script.

So, while scripting, you’ll have to think visually.

As you imagine your scene, think about which visuals will complement it and what the voiceover artist will say as it unfolds.

The most amazing thing about whiteboard videos is that they are very effective because visuals explain a lot.

They reduce the need for many words. 

For such videos, aim for 150-160 words per minute for a clear message. 

You just need to write concisely so the visuals can tell the story. 

For example, instead of saying, "This is Maya. Maya is a student who uses a walking cane. Today, Maya needs to attend a lecture."

Simply write "Maya needs to attend a lecture." The artists will illustrate her using a walking cane and attending a lecture hall.

Writing this way can be challenging, but by focusing on visuals, you’ll be able to create clearer and more memorable content.

3. Make it Thorough

Your script should cover more than just the dialogue. 

If your video needs multiple shots, characters, or scenes, include these details in the script as well. 

Your main aim should be to make the script as detailed as possible.

This will let your whiteboard artist understand all the details and make the video seamless.

4. Write for the Audience and the Platform

Speak their language! 

Try crafting a conversational script to connect with your audience.

Adjust its humor, tone, and inflection accordingly. 

For instance, if you are making a short Facebook whiteboard video, you should stick to choppy sentences and fragments. 

On the other hand, for a longer explainer video on your website, be thorough in your explanations.

5. Script Every Single Word

You might think that you can just jot down key points for a script and improvise the video, especially if you're knowledgeable about the topic.

However, this might end up giving birth to a bigger problem.

It’ll be difficult for you to communicate your message clearly and concisely.

This can also lead to a lot of rework.

So, don’t be lazy and script every single word.

This way you’ll be organized during storyboarding and save time in the editing process.

Now, let’s move on to outlining the script.

Step 6: Outline Your Script

Hook 'em from the start! 

Write a strong introduction that grabs viewers' attention and provides clear direction for the whiteboard artists to create impactful visuals.

Here’s how to start:

1. Introduction

In the realm of video marketing, first impressions matter a lot and you just have a few seconds to make a mark.

The intro is your golden moment to make a lasting impression!

What can strong Intros do?

Intrigue your viewers, inspire them, or ignite their curiosity with a powerful hook that keeps them glued to their screens.

How do intros unfold?

First, they set the stage by explaining the situation. 

Then, they reveal the main idea or topic. 

Lastly, they give viewers a sneak peek of what will be discussed next.

There are multitudes of approaches to starting an introduction, but what I like is an approach where both you and the audience are characters in the story.

Human brains love visual stories.

So, when you include yourself and your client in the story, it becomes more relatable and makes you a partner with your client.

2. Conflict

Of course, what’s a story without a conflict?

Conflict ignites viewers, propels the story forward, and sparks emotional engagement.

In your script, conflict is addressed as—a Pain Point.

Pain points are your audience's problems - your video's solutions.

When you have the intro and conflict in place, it might sound something like this: 

"Imagine this: you're late and rushing to catch a flight, only to realize your suitcase zipper has broken. It's a nightmare scenario we've all faced. But with ZipFixer's innovative repair kits, you can fix it in minutes and never miss a flight again."

3. Main Points

Intro crafted? Excellent! 

Now, let's ensure that the script's main point gets your focus.

Initially, when you are writing down your points, don’t fret too much about the small details.

Since you are still in the process of outlining, you don't need to nail down the exact wording just yet. 

If writer's block hits you while writing point A, start with Point B. 

Later, you can arrange these points accordingly.

Make sure to give each point adequate attention, especially the more critical ones, and include all your key facts.

4. Conclusion

Outlining complete? Now, craft an impactful conclusion that inspires viewers with a clear call to action.

This is a very pivotal part of your script. 

Without it, your video’s message won’t have much of an effect on your viewers.

They won’t know what to do with the message.

So, always Include a call to action.

For instance, ask viewers to contact you or volunteer at a specific location, buy your product or service, etc.

Whiteboard videos are anyway a great medium to help people remember information, so use them to engage your audience effectively.

Once all the elements of the script are in place and you have your first draft ready, it's time to edit!

Step 7: Edit Your Video Script

You can’t expect your first script draft to be perfect.

You need to do two to three rounds of edits to chop off any unnecessary words in your script.

These are some tips you can follow to edit your raw writing into an actual script-

1. Give Yourself a Break

Finding mistakes in things you've created is an art, not everyone masters.

To accurately see where your writing needs improvement, you’ll need to detach yourself from it.

Give your script some breathing room! 

After the break, you’ll have a fresh perspective that’ll help you edit better.

2. Check for Transitions

Think of dialogue and actions as the oars of your storyboat. 

They move your narrative forward on its journey.

Your job is to weed out any moments in the script that feel too awkward or abrupt.

Next, include details that will make it easier for your viewers to understand what's happening.

3. Cut the Extras

What’s the use of great dialogues and interesting writing when they are not advancing your story?

No matter how good something is, if it's not useful where needed, it won't be of any use.

So, edit such parts, and if you think they can help with later projects save them.

Step 8:  Finalize Your Script: Read, Record, and Review

There’s a difference between written and spoken words—-both play differently.

So, it's important to read your script aloud and record yourself doing so. 

Then, listen to it with someone else to get fresh feedback—they might catch things you missed.

This process helps make your language more conversational and your sentences shorter.

It helps adjust anything that sounds too formal, stiff, robotic, or otherwise unsuitable for the message you want to convey.

Now that you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how to say it, you need to finalize your script to a ‘good enough’ level. 

You'll then be free to move on to the storyboarding stage! 

However, is it still art if it’s simple? No!

There’s a catch with the next stage, let’s see what.

Step 9: Be Ready For Post-Storyboard Script Changes

There is a slight problem that often occurs once your script is storyboarded.

It changes!

I think this happens because the storyboard images make you see how the message will unfold.

And, with this newfound clarity, the script might require some adjustments to ensure the message is perfectly conveyed.

Don’t be surprised if it happens.

It's just a sign of progress!

Step 10: It’s Not Final Until It’s Recorded

Your written script forms the basis for the final recording.

This audio track syncs with the animation. 

And, if it includes a new sentence or concept not in the written script, you’ll need to integrate the same into the animation flow. 

Once recorded, your script is finalized—officially! 

Transcribe it, and you’re all set to animate.

Here’s how you can make a whiteboard video in 9 easy steps. Check it out!

3 Whiteboard Video Script Templates

After learning how to write a whiteboard video script, it's time to put it into practice.

Here's a template for a 60-second whiteboard script. 

Just remember, this is a sample script, so feel free to tweak it to fit your company, product, or service perfectly.

You can use this template as a framework to script whiteboard videos for-

• Education
• Explanations
• Marketing
• Internal communications
• Employee onboarding
• Presentations
• Talks
• Social media content

Here are some whiteboard video script templates for the most common types of videos:

1. How-to Whiteboard Video Script Template

To make an effective how-to video or tutorial, you should follow these steps-

• Hook: Clearly state what you're going to teach and why it's valuable.
• Intro: Introduce the topic quickly.
• Steps: Break down the process into easy-to-follow steps without overwhelming the viewer with too much information. Use transitional words to signal when you are moving to the next step.
• Call to Action: Provide a clear and concise next step, like where to get help, find more resources, or try your product or service.

Here's an example of a good whiteboard video script that explains how to start blogging-

2. Educational Whiteboard Video Script Template

When creating an educational video script, you need to keep it concise and easy to understand. 

Viewers mostly prefer shorter videos.

So, focus on delivering 3-5 key points effectively.

Here's a template for your educational video script:

• Hook: Capture viewer attention and clearly state what they will learn.
• Intro: Quickly introduce the topic and explain why it's important to watch.
• Takeaways: Present 3-5 tips, facts, or insights. Keep each takeaway brief and relevant.
• Call to Action: Guide viewers on their next steps. Offer additional resources or invite them to take further action, like joining an email list.

For a better understanding of the types of videos we're talking about, check out this whiteboard educational video on 'Introduction to Marketing' created by Study.com. You can watch it here.

Study.com effectively delivered educational content in this video while also promoting the benefits of its online education platform.

It killed two birds with one stone.

Here’s a whiteboard script formulated based on the above-mentioned video

3. Product Tour or Explainer Video Script Template

Explainer videos, like how-to or educational videos, should simplify the topic into manageable pieces. 

They shouldn’t overwhelm viewers with too much information or details that aren't relevant to the main message, whether they are introducing a product, service, or concept.

Here's a simple script for an explainer video:

• Hook/Intro: Explain what the video will cover and why it's important to the viewer.
• Main Points/Features/Steps: Present 3-5 key points that explain the product, service, or process concisely.
• Conclusion/CTA: Summarize the main points, emphasize their significance, and provide a clear call to action for the viewer.

To understand how product explainer videos work, you can check out this DCHomeBuzz YouTube video

This video shows how brands can effectively use animation in their marketing strategies. 

It showcases DC HomeBuzz's services and expertise in the real estate field, building trust and confidence among potential clients.

Now, let's see an example of a whiteboard product explainer video script inspired by the above video.

Conclusion

And just like that, we've reached the final scene of our whiteboard video script blog.

Along the way, we've covered everything from setting goals and understanding our audience to fine-tuning every word in the script.

Now, what's the secret sauce for creating a standout whiteboard script?

Is it all about being a good writer?

Not quite!

It's actually about writing like you're chatting with a friend and using vivid words that paint a clear picture.

Remember— less is more.

Avoid drowning your script in fancy metaphors or too many words!

Let the visuals steal the spotlight.

Now, it's time to put this new knowledge into action.

Grab your notebook, brainstorm the story, nail down your characters, gather all the details, and dive into your script.

‘Write, stumble, try again.’

Remember, every epic journey starts with a single step.

So, kick off your journey with our whiteboard script writing guide.

Get out there and whiteboard like a pro!

Once you've mastered scripting, you'll need info on the best whiteboard animation softwares to bring your video to life.

We've covered this in our other blog, so check it out!