Let’s face it, b-roll is beautiful. It’s polished, cinematic, and can add atmosphere to your content. But if b-roll is your whole content plan – or worse, if you’re buying generic footage that isn’t even about your product – it’s not helping your brand. It’s hurting it.
The Allure of Buying B-Roll
For time-strapped teams, buying b-roll can seem like a shortcut. Footage libraries and agencies promise high-quality visuals you can quickly plug into ads, landing pages, and social content.
But here’s the catch: Most of the time, it’s not about *your* product. It’s not your team. It’s not your customer. It’s a generic visual – made to look pretty, not to perform.
The Reality Check
When you purchase b-roll that’s:
- Not shot for your brand
- Not featuring your product
- Not aligned to your values or audience
…it becomes decoration, not persuasion.
That’s why your site still struggles to convert. Why your social posts get ignored. And why your content *feels* disconnected, even if it *looks* great.
What You’re Missing: Story + Specificity
Modern shoppers want to know *how your product fits into their life* – not just what it looks like in soft lighting. That comes from:
- Real voices
- Real stories
- Real customers
It doesn’t come from stock video of someone petting a dog, sipping coffee, or lacing up sneakers – unless those are *your* customers doing it.
B-Roll Works *With* a Story – Not Alone
There’s still a place for b-roll – but it should *support* a real narrative. A real person saying, *“Here’s how this changed my life,”* with a glimpse of them using your product. That’s memorable. That’s trust-building. That’s what converts.
A Better Way to Create Video Content
With a platform like StoryTap, you can:
- Capture real customer stories at scale
- Let AI guide video capture + B-roll integration
- Own all footage – no licensing confusion
- Build a brand library that’s 100% specific to you
Don’t spend money on visuals that don’t tell your story.
Start collecting real video content that performs, with or without the b-roll.
FAQs:
- Can I still use purchased b-roll with StoryTap?
Yes, but it works best as supporting footage layered into authentic customer stories. - Isn’t b-roll faster to get than original content?
It can be, but it lacks specificity and connection, which impacts performance. - How can I make my own branded b-roll?
Combine StoryTap’s customer stories with your own footage, or use the built-in tools to guide what kind of visuals will support each story.
Ready to learn more?
Book a demo to see how StoryTap can help you collect and share organic video content, or try it for free.
