The art of storytelling has been a skilled used by humans for thousands and thousands of years. Through this period, the way we tell stories has evolved. From face-to-face interactions to digital media, storytelling is a powerful way to express a narrative. Storytelling can be used in marketing and corporate strategies, branding efforts, business presentations as well as eLearning. We can now easily share our unique stories with a vast range of people, with the help of Calgary digital storytelling. Calgary digital storytelling is the practice of creating a short story by combining a narrative with image, music or other sounds. These stories are short in length and aim to influence the viewer.
Bite-sized storytelling or telling stories within a short time or context, whether it is a 15 seconds video or a short-length story, is a concept that holds much appeal. Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook have all embarked on the trend of making use of bite-sized videos to send messages. These videos are effectively opening doors to untried and new projects that are useful to brands and non-profits. So, how can you use this tool to reach out to a large audience base? Here is everything you need to know about Calgary digital storytelling.
Stories are necessary to understand the world we live in identifying where we belong in it. The way we express thoughts and ideas has evolved with the invention of text, video and digital media. The invention of such platforms has allowed us to tell stories in interesting and unique ways. We are no longer confined to presenting our reader with a wall of text, in fact, excessive text can overwhelm your audience. Our fast-paced world combined with humans’ visual nature has to lead the popularity of visual storytelling. An excellent story told with high-quality visuals will leave a lasting impression on the minds of your audience.
Conveying a complex message in a matter of seconds requires skills. Failing to properly communicate your message with your audience will lead to a failed campaign and a low ROI. So, how do you tell a compelling story within seconds? This is how it’s done:
Keep your message simple and stick to one message. Bear in mind that you do not have much time to address your audience, you must get straight to the point. When time is at a premium, it is imperative to be clear and stick to one message. Everything in your story should relate to your message. Consider this when choosing music and visuals. It is all about the message! Your advertisement goal will go a long way in deciding the content of your message. Your story must relate to your goals to realize the desired effect on your audience. Once you have determined your goal you can craft your central message. Also, do not leave your audience flat by just entertaining and informing them, as much as possible; direct them on what to do next.
Disorganized storytelling does more harm than good. A structured format lays a solid foundation for your story. Do not try to reinvent the wheel in 15 seconds, stick to the classic story arc. This involves a hook or beginning, the emergence of the central idea of confrontation and a resolution. Bear in mind that a logical and solid structure is what makes stories stick to the minds of your audience.
Emotions are what storytelling is all about! And if you can evoke emotion in 15 seconds, you are doing something right! Put yourself in the mind of the viewer. What will make them laugh or cry? Use characters that are similar to your target demographic, it will allow them to relate to your content. If your audience does not relate emotionally with your story, they would not care about the message you are trying to convey. Conflict, character, challenge, tension, action, and resolution are story elements that go a long way in making stories appeal to the mind of audiences. When your stories lack these elements, it may fail to attract their attention.
Will people be listening with sound; will the screen be vertical or horizontal? The platform used to engage your audience will go a long way in determining how your content should be created. If users are likely to have the video muted, consider using subtitles or write a story that can be told visually. Orient your content either vertically or horizontally depending on the platform. If your content will be viewed on an Instagram story, then opt for vertical, if it is a YouTube ad, consider horizontal. When you consider the platforms of your audience, you will be able to create the most effective content.
To determine what platforms your audience will use requires you to know them. Your marketing goals are the first place to start. When you have your goals lined up, you can determine who your audience is and where they spend time.
Making your story come alive for your audience requires paying attention to detail. Vivid and strong details within the short time frame of digital content will help your audience connect with the story and boost your credibility.
Our ability to tell stories is what drives us. When you incorporate this into your digital marketing content, you are more likely to achieve your business goals. Get started telling your story today, we can help. Click Here to learn more.
