Visual storytelling isn’t just a fancy buzzword – it’s an effective way to tell stories that strike a chord with your audience. In an age where attention is a scarce resource, images and video have never been more important in your communication.
But what is visual storytelling and how do you use it strategically in your marketing? We dive into that here.
What is visual storytelling?
Visual storytelling is the art of telling a story through images, video, graphics and other visual elements. It’s not just about showing something pretty, it’s about creating emotional resonance and conveying a message so that it is noticeable and remembered.
Good stories engage. And when you tell them visually, you can:
- Maintain attention for a longer period of time
- Convey complex messages quickly
- Activate emotions and build stronger relationships with your brand
Why visual storytelling works
People think in pictures. 90% of the information the brain processes is visual, and visual stories are remembered much faster than text alone. When you combine that with good storytelling, you get a form of communication that sticks.
Visual storytelling works especially well when you:
- Must present your brand in a simple and inspiring way
- Want to differentiate yourself from the competition
- Creating engaging content for social media
- Have complex products or services that require explanation
How to work with visual storytelling
1. Start with a strong core narrative
Before you get started with camera and graphics, you need to know what the story is. What do you want to tell? What do you want the audience to feel, think or do? Use your company’s core narrative as a foundation – and build from there.
2. Use moving images and real people
The live format allows you to show emotion, mood and authenticity. Interviews, case videos, behind-the-scenes and customer testimonials work really well.
Tip: Use real employees and customers. They add credibility and make the story human.
3. Think in feelings – not functions
Forget for a moment how fast your service is or how advanced your product is. Instead, show how it feels to use it. What problem are you solving? What changes in the customer’s life? This is where visual storytelling has its power: it can make the audience feel it.
4. Use graphic design and animation
Visual stories aren’t just video. Infographics, animated explainer videos, illustrations and visual layout on your website also play a role. Make sure the visuals support the story.
Visual storytelling with SEO
You might be thinking: “But SEO – isn’t it all about text?” Yes and no. Search engines can’t feel your video yet, but they can read everything about it. That’s what you need to work with:
- Alt texts on images
- Transcribing videos
- Metadata and file names
Blog posts and articles that complement your visual stories with keywords (such as visual storytelling, video marketing, brand storytelling)
It all contributes to your visual content being found and seen.
Visual stories we remember
We quickly forget what someone said. We remember how they made us feel. And that’s exactly what visual storytelling can do.
So if you want to create content that engages and converts, let us help you.
Fill in the contact form with your video request. We’ll get back to you with a price and help you get started with visual storytelling.
