YouTube Shorts Ideas for Local Businesses: 12 Storyboards

1. Restaurant: "Table for 12? Yes."

Goal: more group and party bookings. Length: about 20 seconds.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

A long table fully set for twelve, filmed from the end so it runs into the distance. Text: "Table for 12? Yes."

Shots

1) The table from the end (hook). 2) A server laying the last place card. 3) Sharing platters landing in the middle. 4) The private corner or room, wide. 5) The set-menu card held up to the camera.

On-screen text

"Groups of 8 to 20" / "Set menu from [price] per person" / "Private corner for [number]"

Ending

"Book a group table: call [number] or message us." Hold for 4 seconds.

Watch out

Only show a room size and price you can honor in the next month. Diners in shot need to have agreed.

2. Restaurant: the set menu, course by course

Goal: sell a seasonal or holiday set menu. Length: about 25 seconds.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

The dessert, the best-looking course, shot close. Text: "3 courses, [price]".

Shots

1) Dessert close-up (hook). 2) Starter plated. 3) Main plated, with the sauce going on. 4) All three side by side from above. 5) The table set for two.

On-screen text

Course name on each plate shot. "Available [start date] to [end date]". "Vegetarian version available" only if it is.

Ending

"Book the set menu: call or search [restaurant name]."

Watch out

Do not show a dish that will be swapped out. Put allergen information where customers order, not only in the video.

3. Café: "Your order, decoded"

Goal: fewer questions at the till and more confident first-time customers. Length: about 20 seconds.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

The menu board, with a circle drawn around the confusing item. Text: "What's a cortado?"

Shots

1) Menu board with the item circled (hook). 2) Espresso pouring into a small glass. 3) Steamed milk going in, close up. 4) The finished drink next to a regular latte for size.

On-screen text

"A shot of espresso" / "About the same amount of milk" / "Smaller and stronger than a latte"

Ending

"Try one: [price] at [street] from [opening time]."

Watch out

Describe your own recipe. Cafés make the same drink differently, so do not present yours as the only correct version.

4. Bakery: "What's left at 3 PM"

Goal: sell the afternoon stock and cut end-of-day waste. Length: about 15 seconds. Post on the day.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

A wall clock or phone screen showing the time, then cut to the half-full counter. Text: "3 PM. Still here:"

Shots

1) Clock (hook). 2) Slow pan across what is left. 3) Close-up of the best-looking item. 4) Someone boxing a dozen.

On-screen text

Item names and prices on the pan. "Open until [closing time]".

Ending

"Come by before [closing time]."

Watch out

A Short keeps being shown for days. Write the date on screen, or the post will send people for bread that sold out last Tuesday. For pre-orders and sell-out wording, see our bakery social media guide.

5. Hotel: arrival, from car park to room

Goal: direct bookings and fewer 'where do I park?' calls. Length: about 30 seconds.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

The room door swinging open onto the view. Text: "Your first 3 minutes with us".

Shots

1) Door opening (hook). 2) The car park or nearest station exit, with the sign visible. 3) The front entrance. 4) Reception desk with keys ready. 5) The corridor or stairs. 6) The room, wide, from the doorway.

On-screen text

"Free parking on site" or "5 minutes' walk from [station]" / "Check-in from [time]" / "Step-free access" only if true

Ending

"Book direct: search [hotel name]."

Watch out

Film the room type most guests book, and say which one it is. No guests' faces, cars or plates in shot.

6. B&B: the rainy-day plan

Goal: bookings in the off-season. Length: about 25 seconds.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

Rain on the window, then a cut to a warm lounge with the fire lit. Text: "Raining? Good."

Shots

1) Rain to lounge (hook). 2) A late breakfast table. 3) The nearest museum, pub or covered market, one clip. 4) Board games or books on a shelf. 5) Back to the window at dusk.

On-screen text

"Breakfast until [time] on weekends" / "[Place] is [minutes] away" / "Winter rates from [date]"

Ending

"Book a winter weekend: search [B&B name]."

Watch out

Show the off-season price you actually charge, including taxes and fees if your country requires the full price. Our hotel social media guide covers price wording.

7. Salon: "How long does it really take?"

Goal: fewer late arrivals and fewer clients surprised by the time. Length: about 25 seconds.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

A clock on the wall at the start, then the same clock at the end, side by side. Text: "Balayage: 3 hours. Here's why."

Shots

1) Two clocks (hook). 2) Consultation, hands and hair only. 3) Painting sections. 4) Processing time, sped up. 5) Toning at the basin. 6) Blow-dry finish, back of the head.

On-screen text

Time stamp on each step: "15 min", "60 min", "40 min". Last frame: "Book 3 hours. Arrive 5 minutes early."

Ending

"Book online or call [number]."

Watch out

Use your real timings. Get the client's written consent even for back-of-head shots, and do not edit the result. More in our hair salon guide.

8. Barber: the price list in 20 seconds

Goal: fewer 'how much is a fade?' messages. Length: about 20 seconds.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

Clippers switching on, close up, with the sound. Text: "Every price. 20 seconds."

Shots

1) Clippers (hook). 2) A finished skin fade, side angle. 3) A beard trim with a hot towel. 4) A kid's cut on a booster seat (with a parent's consent). 5) The price board, held steady.

On-screen text

Service and price on each shot: "Skin fade [price]", "Beard trim [price]", "Under 12s [price]"

Ending

"Walk-ins [days], bookings [days]."

Watch out

Update it the day prices change, or take it down. An old price in a Short that keeps being shown will be quoted back to you.

9. Gym: the quiet hours

Goal: win people who avoid gyms because they are crowded. Length: about 20 seconds.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

A wide shot of a nearly empty gym floor. Text: "Hate a busy gym? Come at 2 PM."

Shots

1) Empty floor (hook). 2) A free squat rack. 3) An empty row of treadmills. 4) The changing room, empty and clean. 5) The timetable board with quiet hours highlighted.

On-screen text

"Quietest: weekdays [hours]" / "Busiest: [hours]" / "Free first visit" only if you offer it

Ending

"Come in at a quiet time: [address area]."

Watch out

Base the hours on your own check-in data, not a guess. Show no body-transformation claims. Our gym guide lists result claims to skip.

10. Clinic: "Getting here, parking and step-free access"

Goal: fewer late or missed first appointments. Length: about 25 seconds. No patients appear.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

The clinic's front door from the pavement. Text: "First visit? This is our door."

Shots

1) Front door (hook). 2) The nearest bus stop or car park, with its name visible. 3) The ramp or lift, if you have one. 4) Reception, empty, with the sign-in screen. 5) The waiting area, empty.

On-screen text

"Parking: [where]" / "Bus [number] stops [distance] away" / "Step-free entrance" only if true / "Please arrive 10 minutes early"

Ending

"Questions before your visit? Call [number]."

Watch out

Film outside opening hours. No patient names on screens, no appointment lists, no one in the waiting room. Say nothing about treatment results.

11. Shop: three gifts under [price]

Goal: gift sales in the weeks before a holiday. Length: about 20 seconds.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

Three wrapped gifts in a row, one being unwrapped. Text: "3 gifts under [price]".

Shots

1) Wrapped gifts (hook). 2) Gift one in hand, label and price visible. 3) Gift two. 4) Gift three. 5) The wrapping station at the counter.

On-screen text

Name and price on each gift. "Free gift wrap" only if it is. "In store and online until [date]".

Ending

"Visit [street] or search [shop name]."

Watch out

Only show stock you have enough of to last the life of the Short, and say 'while stock lasts' if not. For holiday deadlines, see our Christmas posts guide.

12. Florist: day 1 versus day 7

Goal: repeat customers and fewer 'my flowers died' complaints. Length: about 25 seconds.

Hook (0 to 2 s)

Split screen: the same bouquet on day 1 and day 7, still fresh. Text: "Day 7. Here's how."

Shots

1) Split screen (hook). 2) Cutting stems at an angle. 3) Clean vase, fresh water. 4) Adding the flower food sachet. 5) Moving the vase away from a radiator or fruit bowl. 6) The bouquet on day 7.

On-screen text

"Cut 2 cm off the stems" / "Change the water every 2 days" / "Keep away from heat and fruit"

Ending

"Order this week's bouquet: [street] or call [number]."

Watch out

Film a real bouquet over a real week. If day 7 does not look good, the Short is telling you something about your stock. See our florist guide for peak-week planning.